Chapter 43: Cleverly Used to Discriminate the Scheme

Seeing that Chen Zikun was so stubborn, Liu Youjin couldn't say anything else, so he had to sigh and leave. After he left, the yard was filled with laughter. Yao Yilei said, "That Taoist priest just now was so fun and he acted so realistically."

Jian Bing said: "This kind of Taoist priest is used to cheating and pretending to be a god. It is not uncommon to act like anything."

Yan Su said: "I'm afraid this play was arranged by County Magistrate Liu. I just don't understand why he tried every means to prevent us from living in the back house. I have checked it everywhere. There are no treasure secrets hidden by secret agencies. Even if there is one, County Magistrate Liu has been in Nantai for so long, hasn't he found it yet?"

Chen Zikun said: "No matter what, I will live here and not leave. I will transfer a shift in to stand guard at night, and then there will be strange sounds and shoot directly."

Yan Su said worriedly: "What if County Mayor Liu is beaten to death?"

Everyone laughed, and Chen Zikun said, "It's my fault to kill me."

After laughing for a while, everyone went back to their own room. Chen Zikun and Yan Su returned to the second hall to discuss the matter. Yan Su said: "The archives of the six rooms in the county government office are very well preserved. There are archives of land deeds from Shunzhi to the present. There are also archives from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty in the workshop. Nantai once set up a mining supervisor to supervise the production of coal and iron ore. Until the Guangxu period, coal mines were still producing white coal. Once, the machine ships on the Huai River were proud of using Nantai white coal."

"Why didn't anyone use it later?"

Yan Su sighed: "The bandits in Jiangbei are seriously affected. The coal dug out cannot be transported out. Even if it can be transported out, there are still water bandits on the Huai River. Besides, even if it is transported out, it cannot be sold at a price. Foreigners' machines and ships use their own coal. In this way, the coal mines will not only not make money, but also lose money. Who is willing to do it?"

Chen Zikun stomped back and forth a few steps and said, "Who is in the coal mine?"

"That piece of land was taken away by Xia Dalong in the third year of the Republic of China, but it was useless in his hands and was still abandoned."

“Where is the iron ore?”

"Nantai's iron ore resources are also very rich, and it is a high-quality iron ore. It is said that Zhang Zhidong once wanted to set up an iron plant here, but in the end he chose Hanyang, Hubei."

"What is the current state of iron ore?"

"Small-scale mining and smelting, making and dozens of farm tools, are primitive family workshop-style production, and several larger iron plants in the county are controlled by Xia Dalong."

"It's Xia Dalong again, this old guy is simply a local emperor." Chen Zikun deliberately emphasized the word "earth", holding the rich coal and iron resources but doing nothing. If it's not earth, what's the point.

Yan Su smiled and said, "The country people have no broad vision and buy land if they have some money. Half of the irrigated land in Nantai County belongs to the Xia family. In order to occupy other people's fertile land, Xia Dalong has committed many sins. He has been separated by his wife and children in the past two years, and his family has been destroyed. The county government's land deed transfer files are all recorded."

Chen Zikun slapped the table: "Xia Dalong, a rich man! It is not enough to calm the public's anger if he doesn't kill him. He made so many bandits in Nantai."

Yan Su said: "Killing is definitely something you need to kill, but you can't be too hasty. Although Xia Dalong is a local tyrant, he is in a mixed relationship in the county and has a huge power. He also has strong support in the provincial capital. I have conducted some investigations these days and learned that he has a cousin who is the leader of the regiment under Sun Kaiqin, and his adopted son is Sun Kaiqin's adjutant."

Chen Zikun suddenly realized: "No wonder Sun Kaiqin has never sent troops north. It turns out that Nantai County is already under his actual control."

Yan Su said: "That's right, Sun Kaiqin is very smart. On the surface, he retains a buffer zone with the direct line, but in fact he uses Xia Dalong to control Jiangbei. If there is any slight disturbance here, he will immediately know. I'm afraid that the desk of Governor Sun is already clear."

Chen Zikun said: "Then I have to kill him even more, but killing alone cannot solve the problem. After all, we are outsiders. Have I asked the person you are looking for?

Yan Su said: "I found Gong Jiaxuan, a famous charity in the county, who was a scholar and was a scholar. He opened a money shop at home. He opened a porridge shed to give to the poor every winter. He is quite well-known among the people. He also has a son named Gong Zijun. He studied at a university in the provincial capital. He is a relatively enlightened person. If we join forces with the Gong family, we will definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Chen Zikun said: "Okay, it's not too late. Let's go to visit Mr. Gong now."

Yan Su said: "I'm afraid it's not good. I haven't broken up yet. No matter how hard I go to visit Xia Dalong first. If the news leaks out, it will be bad for Xia Dalong to suspicion."

Chen Zikun laughed and said, "My Chief of Staff, you're thinking too much. What kind of thing is Xia Dalong? Calling him a rich man is just a gangster in the countryside. He is just trying to deal with him. Besides, I just want to visit the Gong family first and let Xia Dalong eat the taste, so as to force the Gong family to our side."

Yan Su praised: "Gao, it's really high."

Chen Zikun said: "Chief of Staff, let's go to the county town and visit the Gong family. I have been here for several days and I am still having a good time in the county town."

He immediately brought the adjutant, and ordered another squad of twelve big-headed soldiers, and went out with rifles on his back.

Nantai County is square, with a large courtyard in the county government. There is a street on the east and a street on the west. The ground is paved with bluestone. Although the sparrows are small, they are all complete with restaurants, pawn shops, money shops, silk shops, and coffin shops. Originally, the people living in the county were all wealthy families, but later because of the trouble of bandits, the people living outside the city moved in. The narrow streets seemed a bit prosperous because of the crowds.

Chen Zikun first inspected the city defense affairs. He was the military escort. He was the military escort. All the soldiers in Jiangbei were under his control. The security regiment was no exception. The Nantai County Security regiment had more than 100 people and 60 Hanyang-made fast guns. The rest were muskets and earth cannons. There were three copper-made front-buckle cannons on the top of the city. They were originally purchased by Mr. Xia and are still making use of their remaining energy.

The security regiment was still the patrol battalion of the past. Now there have been several changes, but it is still Xia Dalong's private soldier. The regiment commander Qiu Fuzhao is the nephew of Mr. Xia. He is very loyal. When he saw Chen Zikun coming to inspect, he sent someone to report Mr. Xia, while accompanying him personally, climbing the city wall to look into the distance.

Chen Zikun walked around and knew what the security team was like. He had already figured out that these mobs were okay to scare the bandits, but when they met elite soldiers, they could only take over the gun.

He took a random old sleeve rifle of Tuan Ding, pulled the bullet and looked at the inside, and obviously hadn't wiped it for a long time. There were only two or three bullets used to load the bullet belt cross-body.

"Do it well!" Chen Zikun handed the gun back and patted Tuan Ding's shoulder with encouragement, which made the boy excited for a long time.

After getting off the city tower and continuing to walk east, there was Xia Dalong's house in front of him. Chen Zikun's house in Dongwenchang Hutong, Beijing was the former residence of Mr. Beile. Compared with Xia Dalong's house, he had no advantage of winning.

This big mansion is so grand. It is simply a small city. The walls are tall. The lower half is made of stone and the upper half is made of blue bricks. It is extremely strong. There are corner towers built on four corners, and there are group people standing guard with guns. There are two ferocious stone lions squatting at the gate. The door is painted with black paint and extremely heavy, and four group people stand at the gate.

What is amazing is that the regiments standing guard at the Xia family, from their mental outlook to their weapons and equipment, are completely different from the old, weak, sick and disabled people on the city wall. They generally have two guns, one long and one short, and they don’t have to take them over to see them. Just looking at the glittering bolts, you will know that the maintenance must be good. When looking at the bullet belt, it is really heavy and loaded with bullets.

The elites of the security team were lying here. It seemed that it was not easy to kill Xia Dalong.

Chen Zikun and Yan Su smiled at each other, and both knew what each other was thinking.

"The city is high and the walls are thick, and Mr. Xia is very invested." Yan Su said.

Chen Zikun smiled contemptuously: "Mr. Xia is too out of date. I don't know that there is another thing in the world called mortar."

Yan Su said: "Do you want to go in and see the terrain?"

Chen Zikun waved his hand: "Don't go."

The group of people swaggered at the door of Xia's house and just passed by like this.

Ding Fei of the group reported Xia Dalong, and Master Xia immediately said, "I didn't come in at my doorstep. What is the singing? People are coming, and where are they going?"

Chen Zikun and others walked around and came to Gong's house in the west of the city. This large mansion was not small, with white walls, black tiles, carved beams and painted buildings. Compared with the Xia family mansion, it was less ferocious and more elegant. Zhao Yufeng went forward and knocked on the door. A kind-looking butler came out and saw it. He was frightened and asked carefully: "Are you?"

"Our military envoy is here to visit Mr. Gong, please inform me." Zhao Yufeng spoke very politely. He was also a dish to eat when he saw someone. Chen Zikun's first gentry to visit must have some help.

The housekeeper hurriedly opened the door. While sending servants to report, he bent and welcomed the distinguished guests in and invited them to the living room to see the tea. Chen Zikun sat upright in the hall. Zhao Yufeng and Yan Su stood on both sides. Twelve big-headed soldiers poked two at the door, and a few more poked in the yard. Four stood at the door of the living room, majestic, and scared that Mr. Gong, who rushed over after hearing the news, almost dared to go in.

"The guards' envoys come to the humble house and are in a desperate situation. They are a death sentence, and they are a death sentence." Gong Jiaxuan hurriedly bowed his hand to apologize. He wore a white silk shirt and pants, and obviously he ran over before he could change his clothes.

Following him was a young man dressed in shirt and trousers. Chen Zikun remembered that when he entered the city, he was applauding among the crowd.

Chen Zikun smiled and said, "Gong Dashan, you are too polite. I'm going to take a walk casually. I want to understand the people's sentiments, but I came in unknowingly. It seems that we are destined to be."

Gong Jiaxuan said: "Mr. Chen appreciates the light, and the humble house is full of glory. This is the lord Zijun. Why don't you come and see him?"

The young man took two steps forward and actually reached out to Chen Zikun: "Hello, I am a student of Jiangdong University, I know you."

Gong Jiaxuan was so scared that he was trembling. His son didn't understand any rules at all. He was very close to the guards. It was not easy to mess with those who led the troops these days. If he turned against him, the Gong family would be finished.

Chen Zikun did not get angry, but stood up and shook hands with Gong Zijun, and said strangely: "This is my first time in Jiangbei, how could you know me?"

Gong Zijun said: "In the eighth year of the Republic of China, I studied in the provincial capital. At that time, I saw your name in the newspaper. If it weren't for the duplicate name, you were part of the Zhaojialou that was burned out."

Chen Zikun smiled and said, "That's all old things, so it's better not to mention them."

An excitement flashed in Gong Zijun's eyes: "Ah, it's really you. I didn't expect the revolutionary predecessors of the May Fourth Movement here."
Chapter completed!