Ding Zuopeng stared at him with lightning eyes, feeling very angry in his heart. Who didn't know that Ma Junjie and several bandits in Mangdang Mountain were all brothers, and the bandits and militiamen were almost ready to wear a pair of crotchless pants, so how could they have the idea of Donghe Town?
But every month he paid him on the road was actually road protection fee for the bandits, but he paid not a penny less.
At this time, Mei Changyuan finally found a reason to refuse, and said with a smile: "Since we can't agree on the same opinion, let's put it aside and discuss it later."
"The county magistrate's words are wrong."
Han Baihang looked on with cold eyes. He raised this matter and naturally wanted to facilitate it. At this time, he chuckled and said: "We can't agree on the same opinion, so I want you to make a clear decision, Mr. County Magistrate. I have a little suggestion here. Why don't you listen to it?"
Listen. Since all parties have candidates, and it's hard to distinguish between them, why don't we each take a step back, straighten Xue Lin, and promote Ma Junjie to deputy commander. I remember that Sun Ji, the guard captain under your command, County Magistrate, leads the troops well.
He was also promoted to deputy commander, and he will be in charge of recruiting troops in the future. What do you think?"
His method is very simple. There is only one piece of meat, and everyone will make a lot of money for it. What is missing is a fair person to divide the piece of meat, and his status as an outsider allows him to say these words so that everyone can accept them.
.
Ding Zuopeng agreed without thinking and could make Xue Lin the leader of the vigilante group. He was the biggest winner, so why not do it.
Xu Wangtang has no objection. His power in Yongcheng is mainly in the militia. Since Luo Huzi was deposed, he has lost an arm and his strength has been greatly reduced. He can no longer compare with Ding Zuopeng. It is better to get some benefits than nothing.
Not as good as that.
The most embarrassing person is Mei Changyuan. As the county magistrate, he wants power but no authority. He wants no one. Even his right to speak is questioned. With his character, it is natural that if there are ten thousand people who disagree, the leader of the vigilante group will
It's up to him to decide, but the situation is stronger than the situation. Now even Han Baihang supports Ding Zuopeng. He can't twist his thigh with his arms. Han Baihang's last proposal also considers his interests, and let the guard captain Sun Ji be the deputy commander of the militia. Then
He was like driving a nail into the militia. In the future, he could not help but form his own team, and he could also help people up at the right opportunity. After thinking about it for a long time, he could only relax and said: "Since no one objects, then
Let Deputy Commander Xue act as the commander, and wait until the banditry is over to see if his performance becomes a regular one."
Although he agreed, he was unwilling to make Ding Zuopeng laugh too happily. The word "acting" meant that Xue Lin had the actual status of the leader, but without the name of the leader, he was just taking over temporarily, which made him unable to express his pain.
.
Ding Zuopeng just smiled. Once a person goes up, he will never go down. He has this confidence.
Han Baihang shook his head inwardly. Mei Changyuanwen was too popular and lacked some generosity. How could he be directly promoted to Xue Lin as the official leader, which would facilitate personal relationships and ease mutual antagonism.
However, the matter finally came to an end. Ding Zuopeng did not object, and the tax collection could proceed. Mei Changyuan accidentally set up four tax names, and Ding Zuopeng rejected two of them. But even if he collected two tax names, it would still be the same.
It was quite a sum of money, not to mention half of it belonged to Han Baihang. He immediately burst into laughter.
Ding Zuopeng pledged a donation on the spot on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and paid a one-time tax of 40,000 yuan. Mei Changyuan also smiled. With the money, he could not only redeem his concubine, but also replenish his pockets.
Starting with Ding Zuopeng, the tax collection naturally went very smoothly. The big households in the city donated money one after another, and the big households pledged donations, so the people in the city had no choice but to pay. In this way, a tax of 70,000 yuan was collected.
On the other hand, the warning that the bandits were approaching the city was also sent out, and the people were all in danger. The county quickly went to notify people in various towns and villages about the bandits, and asked the people to go to the city to take shelter.
It was already five or six o'clock in the afternoon when this series of events was completed. At this time, the bandits who came down from Mangdang Mountain had already reached the outskirts of Yong'an Town.
…
When Xu Wangtang returned to his house, the first thing he did was to call his eldest daughter-in-law Ding Qingyao. In fact, there was still a layer of family affection between him and this daughter-in-law. Before this marriage, the relationship between the Ding and Xu families was still very good. Ding Qingyao married
When she was young, things happened, and her husband died early. She said she was his daughter-in-law, but in fact, Xu Wangtang treated her as his own daughter. In his heart, he also felt unfair to Ding Qingyao, and deliberately left the affairs of the house to Ding Qingyao to make decisions, but she was actually taken care of.
He had to be in good order, so he was willing to discuss some things with Ding Qingyao.
"Next time I see your father, remind him that Mei Changyuan is nothing to worry about. Han Baihang is the big problem. This person is not simple, not simple." Xu Wangtang said meaningfully.
Hearing that her father-in-law used two very different words to describe Han Baihang, Ding Qingyao couldn't help but be a little more curious about what kind of person her father-in-law was. He was so arrogant that even his father, Ding Zuopeng, had never put it in his eyes. If he wasn't the eldest son,
Xu Jingan's death had hit him hard. It was hard to say who was in charge of Yongcheng today. It was the first time that he could describe a person in more than simple terms.
Ding Qingyao said in surprise: "Isn't Han Baihang just a soldier? What's so special about him?"
Xu Wangtang smiled and said: "What's wrong with the soldiers? Look at the commander-in-chief on the table. That one is not a soldier. These are troubled times. It is the soldiers who have the final say in this world. Your father, Ding Zuopeng, said what he said in Yongcheng.
Well, it's not that I'm afraid of bandits and respects soldiers. On the other hand, your father-in-law and I are from a soldier's background, and bandits have to respect me. Even if I meet the Guardian Envoy of Guide, I, Lao Xu, still have some face, so
Soldiers should not be underestimated. Those who have guns these days are the masters. I say that Han Baihang is not simple. What is not simple is that he is different from the past garrison officials who only cared about getting rich and enjoying themselves. His ambitions are much greater. Look at him.
Taking advantage of the differences between your father and Mei Changyuan, the fishermen benefited from both sides. Take today's matter as an example. Which one of the tax collection and the militia matters has something to do with him, but he insisted on promoting these two things.
He satisfied Mei Changyuan and showed favor to your father. You think he is just looking for trouble, but I think he wants to form another force besides your father and Mei Changyuan."
Ding Qingyao said: "But the officers and soldiers always have to change their defenses. My father can spend money to clear the way and transfer Han Baihang away."
Xu Wangtang nodded and said: "Yes, you have hit the point, so next time I see your father, tell him to transfer Han Baihang away as soon as possible, otherwise things will be difficult to handle if you sit there for a long time."
Ding Qingyao nodded. Sometimes she didn't understand Xu Wangtang's thoughts. She said that he and the Ding family didn't deal with each other, but sometimes they helped each other in everything. But to say that they had a good relationship, the two families were already like fire and water, and they never interacted with each other. It was really contradictory.
.
"Dad, there's something I want to ask you." Ding Qingyao hesitated and said.
"you say."
Xu Wangtang took a sip of tea and did not forget to ridicule Ding Zuopeng and said: "This tea tastes good. What's so good about foreigners' coffee? It's as bitter as coptis. Drinking too much will damage your teeth. Your father is just arty."
, insisting on relying on foreigners, and not thinking about the foreign style of Yongcheng, a remote and remote place, who dares to show off the foreign style with a shameless face, it is simply embarrassing to our ancestors. "
Ding Qingyao was used to hearing such words at home and was not angry. He just said, "I heard from my father that Luo Huhu asked bandits to kidnap the county magistrate's wife. Dad, do you know?"
Xu Wangtang nodded and said: "I know that Luo Huzi and Zhu Chunzi are brothers."
"Then this was your instigation?" Ding Qingyao asked with a frown.
Xu Wangtang laughed dumbly and said: "I, Xu Wangtang, will go to Mei Changyuan when something happens. If he doesn't attack women, he is not considered a hero. This matter was Luo Hu's own initiative, and he was also forced by Mei Changyuan.
, I have lost my position as the leader of the regiment, who can do it without resentment?"
"Having said that, we can't go any further now." Ding Qingyao said softly: "Father, please advise Luo Huzhu to let him go. It's not good for a woman's family to go to a bandit den, and you just said that Han Baihang is not simple.
, I heard from my father that he is very concerned about this matter, so don’t cause trouble to our family because of this matter."
Xu Wangtang laughed and said: "Qingyao, you are kind-hearted. Well, the Luo bearded man is outside the city. I will ask him to let him go. He dare not disobey."
