After the greetings, Han Baihang got straight to the point and said: "I came here this time, firstly, to visit President Ding, and secondly, to send you an invitation. I held a banquet at Desheng Tower at noon. You must come to appreciate it. The third thing is,
Discuss something with President Ding."
Ding Zuopeng asked suspiciously: "What's the matter?"
Han Baihang looked at him, took a deep breath and said, "Collect taxes!"
Ding Zuopeng leaned back suddenly, with a sneer on his face, and said slowly: "Captain Han, you are here to act as a lobbyist for Mei Changyuan, and you will definitely make things difficult for me."
Han Baihang said sternly: "No, how dare I embarrass President Ding? It's just that collecting taxes is related to the plan to suppress bandits. I ask for President Ding's forgiveness and accommodation."
Ding Zuopeng said quietly: "I want to hear how tax collection can hinder the suppression of bandits. If Company Commander Han lacks military expenditures to suppress bandits, our Yongcheng Chamber of Commerce can raise it no matter how much it is. Why do you need to borrow the help of the county magistrate? You want my forgiveness?"
Please be accommodating, I would like to ask you, Captain Han, to forgive me and be accommodating."
Han Baihang's smile faltered, and Ding Zuopeng's words were impeccable, blocking his subsequent words. He had to rack his brains to think of a fallacy to convince Ding Zuopeng, and said with a smile: "President Ding, don't be angry, listen to me first."
Ding Zuopeng snorted coldly.
Han Baihang stood up and walked around: "With all due respect, President Ding's vision is only limited to Yongcheng, which is a bit short-sighted."
Ding Zuopeng was extremely angry and laughed back: "I, Mr. Ding, have lived for forty years, and you are the first person who dares to say that. Okay, okay, I, Mr. Ding, have eyes like beans, and I am all ears to listen to Captain Han's far-sighted remarks."
"I dare not say anything big, but Gao Zhan is indeed a little better than President Ding." Han Baihang said unceremoniously: "Does President Ding know the current situation in the country?"
Ding Zuopeng showed a trace of sarcasm on his face and said: "You really think that I am a villager in the mountains. I don't know the situation in the outside world. You might as well tell me that newspapers from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are placed on my desk every day. What happened in Beijing and what happened in Shanghai?"
What happened, what happened in Guangzhou, I know everything."
Han Baihang shook his head and said: "The reporter's words can only be trusted to 30%. Then I will ask President Ding whether it is better to live in peace and prosperity or in the current troubled times."
"No need to ask, of course it will be a peaceful and prosperous age." Ding Zuopeng said.
"Then how many years do you think it will take for the Republic of China to turn around the troubled times?" Han Baihang asked again.
Ding Zuopeng thought for a moment and said in an uncertain tone: "It will be okay in another ten years."
Han Baihang shook his head, smiled, and said in astonishment: "I think it will take thirty years for the troubled times of the Republic of China to come to an end."
“Alarmist!”
Ding Zuopeng's expression changed slightly. Even a wealthy man like him often felt precarious in these troubled times. Now that he heard Han Baihang's assertion that it would take thirty years to calm down this troubled world, it was hard for him to accept it.
"Time will verify my judgment. This troubled world has just begun." Han Baihang said meaningfully.
Ding Zuopeng said impatiently: "Captain Han, even if what you say is true, what does it have to do with tax collection?"
Han Baihang smiled and said: "What I mean is, why should Mr. Ding stick to the small place of Yongcheng? Looking outward, there is a vast world, and why should you be as knowledgeable as County Magistrate Mei?"
Ding Zuopeng suddenly smiled and said: "Yongcheng is a small place, but it still supports 400,000 people. My Ding family has been passed down for several generations. It has already taken root in Yongcheng. I, Ding, don't have too high ambitions. I can't keep the inheritance passed down by my ancestors."
Once the foundation is laid down, I will be satisfied.”
"Can you hold it?"
Han Baihang asked back and said: "Even if President Ding drives away County Magistrate Mei, other county magistrates will take office. Can you guarantee that all the county magistrates will obey orders and be willing to be puppets on strings? I can't see everything.
It is normal for things to go from strength to strength and then to decline. No matter how big a wealthy family in this place is, they are just a piece of fat in the hands of the warlords. I have met County Magistrate Mei, and it is not difficult to get along with him as a person.
The provincial government also has a lot of backing. If you ask me, it’s better to have mutual benefits and win-win results. Magistrate Mei governs with simplicity, Chairman Ding promotes prosperous commerce and trade. I’m here to protect the environment and the people. Everyone has their own place and gives peace to the people of Yongcheng. Why bother to fight for it?
Go and hurt the harmony."
Ding Zuopeng looked at Han Baihang with even more surprise. These words were not like coming from the mouth of a brave warrior, especially the words of mutual benefit and win-win, which were quite refreshing. However, these words did not move him at all.
, a person like him is so determined and conservative, how can he be easily swayed by someone's words? Moreover, in his eyes, Han Baihang is just a low-ranking garrison company commander. In the past, when the garrison commander was there, he didn't dare to hurt him.
He didn't agree with the rules. Just then, the maid brought tea. He raised his hand and said: "Captain Han, please use it." He deliberately changed the topic.
Han Baihang drank a big sip of Dutch water with ice and felt refreshed. Ding Zuopeng refused to answer, so he had to make Ding Zuopeng give in. This was related to his right to speak in Yongcheng in the future. If he couldn't do it with literature, he would use martial arts. He
He sat upright and looked at Ding Zuopeng with a half-smile, and said: "President Ding, if you just charge a little tax, you must give me this face."
Ding Zuopeng suppressed his smile and said: "Captain Han will definitely give you some face. After a while, I will ask the chamber of commerce to send a thousand oceans of labor expenses to your army. You can leave this matter alone."
"Money, I, Mr. Han, are really not short of money." Hearing this, Han Baihang took out several pieces of paper from his pocket. The most conspicuous chapter in it was a blood-stained Bank of Communications check, with an amount of five hundred thousand in capital letters. This
This is exactly what Han Baihang gained from capturing Duan Zhigui on the float.
Ding Zuopeng was secretly surprised, and was stunned for a moment. Five hundred thousand was an astronomical figure, and considering his wealth, it was not even half a million. He couldn't help but secretly become afraid, wondering who Han Baihang was, at such a young age.
To have such a huge sum of money, what is his background?
When Han Baihang saw that the check had restrained Ding Zuopeng, he quickly collected the check again. This money was the capital for his livelihood. If one day he could no longer survive in the military, this money would be enough to make him rich for a lifetime. He stood up and said: "Ding Hui
Commander, if you don’t say anything, I will just treat it as consent. I accept this favor and won’t bother you anymore. I’ll visit you another day!”
After saying that, he walked away without waiting for Ding Zuopeng's answer. Ding Zuopeng did not get up to say goodbye, but looked at Han Baihang's back with complex eyes, and after a while he uttered: "Yongcheng is going to change."
"Dad, if the weather is going to change, it will be fine tomorrow."
The gauze curtain in the living room was opened, and Ding Qingyao walked out and said: "Mom said you have to go out to socialize at noon. What social entertainment can be more important than my daughter."
Ding Zuopeng came back to his senses, looked at his daughter dotingly and said with a smile: "Qingyao, I can't eat this meal with you today, dad has business to do."
Ding Qingyao pouted and said: "What's the matter? I just invited you to dinner with the surname Han. He doesn't look like a good person. He kept staring at me when he came in. Dad, you should teach him a lesson and teach him what politeness is."
"
Ding Zuopeng laughed loudly and said, "You said Han Baihang, it's not time to teach him a lesson yet."
Ding Qingyao said: "Dad, I just heard you two talking. This guy named Han is too arrogant. He dares to talk to you like this."
"Han Baihang is an interesting person. I really can't figure him out. I've already sent people to find out his background. If he has a strong background, I will naturally give him some credit. Otherwise, I have to treat him submissively." Ding Zuopeng
A trace of sternness flashed across his face, and then he changed to a smile, and said kindly: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Qingyao, you just returned to Xu's house a few days ago, why did you come back to your parents' house again, Xu Wangtang?"
Ding Qingyao was unhappy and said with red eyes: "Dad, you don't like me coming back."
Ding Zuopeng said softly: "Silly girl, how can dad not like you coming back? Dad hopes that you can serve as my father's daughter for the rest of your life. This is not because you are afraid of others gossiping. Xu Jingan died early, which hurt you at such a young age.
Being a widow, dad sometimes thinks that he should just break up with Xu Wangtang and let you go back to your parents' home, so that you won't have to worry about getting married and finding a good home in the future..."
"Dad, please stop talking."
Ding Qingyao shook her head stubbornly and said, "My father-in-law asked me to come back this time!"
"Why did Xu Wangtang ask you to come back?" Ding Zuopeng asked suspiciously.
Ding Qingyao said: "My father-in-law asked me to tell him that Heifeng Village went down to plant a flag in order to retaliate against the officers and soldiers for suppressing Heifengkou, so that you can make preparations in advance."
Ding Zuopeng was furious after hearing this: "Xu Wangtang is indeed connected with the bandits. He still refuses to accept it even after the death of one of his sons. This is because he wants the whole family to die."
