Signing in the Republic of China: starting from a foot patrol

Chapter 177

With the moon hanging high, in a spacious and bright room in the county government office, Lin Hongfei was drinking and having fun with Liang Wanyi, a gentry from Jiangdu County, and Liang Wanyi's youngest son, Liang Zongyu.

As they drank glasses of wine, everyone's faces turned red and the smell of alcohol was slightly drunk. They lost their usual seriousness and swearing from time to time.

At this time, Lin Hongfei said to Liang Wanyi: "Master Liang, I have heard that before coming here, the Liang family has established a foothold in Jiangdu County since the Ming Dynasty, and it has continued until now. This is also a century-old family."

When Liang Wanyi heard it, he immediately enjoyed it. He laughed heartily, and said modestly: "I don't dare to be a century-old family, but I'm just a country rich man!"

"Hey, you can't say that, no matter how you say it, the Liang family is the largest family in our Jiangdu County!" Lin Hongfei praised.

Liang Wanyi wanted to be more modest. At this moment, Chu Liangyi pretended to be drunk and said, "Isn't the Ren family the largest family in Jiangdu County? That's what people said when I was in Huaishui County."

As soon as these words came out, Liang Wanyi's expression suddenly turned strange, but he suppressed it quickly.

On the other hand, Liang Zongyu, Liang Wanyi's youngest son, was obviously unhappy, and looked at Chu Liangyi quite sharply.

"Shut up, is it your turn to speak, get out!"

Lin Hongfei shouted angrily, and kicked Chu Liangyi off the table.

Immediately afterwards, he apologized to Liang Wanyi and said, "Master Liang, I'm sorry, I am a teacher from Huaishui County who I hired halfway, and said that he is familiar with the situation in Jiangdu County."

"As a result, I don't understand farts. My money for hiring a teacher is wasted!"

Liang Wanyi smiled slightly, as if he didn't take it seriously, and instead said with relief: "Master Chu is right, Commander Ren's Ren family is indeed the largest family in our Jiangdu County."

When Lin Hongfei heard it, he put on a puzzled expression: "Master Liang, I'm really curious about this matter."

"Before coming to Jiangdu County, I heard that the commander came to Jiangdu County begging all the way when he was in his 30s."

"How did this beggar become what he is today in the past few decades?"

"What does he rely on?"

Speaking of this, although Liang Wanyi concealed it very well, Lin Hongfei still noticed a trace of contempt and disdain flashing in Liang Wanyi's eyes.

However, Liang Wanyi did not explain directly, but said with a laugh: "Hey, Zhu Yuanzhang can change from a beggar to an emperor, and Ren Commander can change from a beggar to a militia commander. What's so strange about that?"

But Liang Zongyu on the side couldn't help but said: "Hehe, what do you rely on, rely on that donkey-sized object in his crotch!"

"Zong Yu, don't talk nonsense!" Liang Wanyi stopped immediately.

However, Liang Zongyu continued: "I'm talking nonsense. Everyone doesn't know that he, Ren Anfu, first relied on the widow, and later became the concubine of the county magistrate's wife."

"In the end, when the county magistrate left office, he and the county magistrate's wife played tricks on the boat where the county magistrate was sitting, and then..."

"To shut up!"

Before Liang Zongyu finished speaking, Liang Wanyi's eyes widened, and his sharp gaze made his youngest son Liang Zongyu shut his mouth immediately, not daring to speak.

Seeing this, Lin Hongfei immediately smoothed things over to ease the atmosphere, and then changed the subject: "Master Liang, as I said before, Mr. Lin came here just to make money."

"At the reception banquet that day, what you said was correct. The county magistrate has to pay attention to his name and integrity to make money."

"I came up with a solution, what does Master Liang think?"

Liang Wanyi smiled: "What method, please tell the county magistrate!"

"It's very simple, two words, suppress bandits!"

"There are many bandits in Jiangdu County. If I collect bandit suppression taxes from the people of Jiangdu in the name of suppressing bandits, what do you think?" Lin Hongfei looked expectant.

Liang Wanyi nodded: "Well, this is indeed a good idea, but nowadays the common people are almost becoming troublemakers, and it is not easy to collect taxes to suppress bandits!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Hongfei immediately said: "That's why I asked Mr. Liang to help. I know that Mr. Liang is quite famous in Jiangdu. If you can help me, it will not be easy to collect taxes from bandits."

"Master Liang, don't worry, I won't let you work in vain. The tax collected will be divided according to the previous rules, and we will share it!"

Hearing this, Liang Zongyu looked surprised, but Liang Wanyi stroked his beard and kept silent with a meaningful smile.

After a moment of silence, Liang Wanyi said: "County Lin, you shouldn't ask me for help in tax collection. After all, I'm a rich man from the countryside."

"The one you are looking for should be Commander Ren. He has a gun in his hand, so it is easier to collect taxes."

Hearing this, Lin Hongfei sneered, showing a look of disdain: "He, forget it, if I ask him for help, let alone three sevens, I can't get one nine."

"No way, Commander Ren is very polite..." Liang Wanyi said.

"Hehe, Mr. Liang doesn't know something. My ancestor is old with Governor He in the province. Before I came here, I paid a special visit to his old man."

"The old man told me that Commander Ren is collecting money everywhere now..." Lin Hongfei stopped lighting a cigarette when he said this.

Liang Wanyi was confused by these words, he paused, stared at Lin Hongfei and waited for the next sentence.

Lin Hongfei took a deep breath and exhaled a puff of smoke before continuing, "Commander Ren has a big plan. He not only wants to get a division commander with the 3000 troops on hand."

"Our Jiangdu County belongs to the Jiangbei region. He intends to seek the post of Jiangbei guard envoy. With both military and political power in his hands, he has the final say on the entire Jiangbei region!"

"However, unlike Governor He, he is from the old Beiyang, and the higher-ups don't regard him as one of their own at all."

"So, for this matter, he did not hesitate to find someone through his connections, and sent out a lot of money like picking up for nothing."

"It's just for Governor He, that's all!"

Lin Hongfei pretended to be mysterious and stretched out five fingers.

"That's not counting for the higher-ups!"

"If I ask him for help, he will swallow all the bandit tax!"

"hiss!"

"This surname is Ren. He always says that he is content with finding a regimental commander. He never thought he would be a guardian envoy!" Liang Zongyu said with a look of surprise.

Liang Wanyi still didn't show any attitude, just chuckled a few times, and said haha: "No way, Commander Ren still understands the rules, you can rest assured about that."

I have to say that Liang Wanyi is indeed an old fox. After a banquet, although he said a lot, if you look closely, what he said is correct nonsense.

It seemed that his tone was very firm, but there was no clear attitude of agreement or disagreement in his words.

After a banquet, Lin Hongfei seemed to gain nothing.

After Liang Wanyi and Liang Zongyu were sent out of the county office, Lin Hongfei stretched his muscles and his drunkenness disappeared immediately.