According to Xie He's request, Zheng Ying found more than thirty hoodlums and ruffians for Xie He. They were all famous hoodlums in Yinxian County. Each of them had the ability and courage to wreak havoc. They were the best of the worst.
These people had no concept of law in their eyes. Unless a knife was placed on their necks, they would not feel fear. Or even if they did, they would not admit it unless they were really going to die.
This was the situation at the moment.
In the government office of Yin County, more than thirty local ruffians and hooligans were pointed at with fifty flintlock muskets by Xiao Ruxun's personal guards. Their faces were deathly pale, and they were trembling in fear as they knelt before Xie He.
Xie He sat in the seat of honor and drank tea calmly. Next to her sat a puzzled Zheng Ying.
Of course, Zheng Ying did not speak. Xie He asked him not to speak until the ruffians spoke first.
In this strange atmosphere, the ruffians spent an extremely unbearable 30 minutes. Finally, one of the most courageous ruffians couldn't help but open his mouth.
He spoke to Zheng Ying. They all knew Zheng Ying.
"General Zheng, we … didn't we agree that as long as we don't make trouble, we will be allowed to live?"
He looked at Zheng Ying timidly. There was no confidence in his voice.
Being pointed at by dozens of flintlock guns, he indeed had no confidence.
Zheng Ying ignored him. He looked at Xie He with even more confusion.
Xie He took another sip of tea. Holding the teacup, she looked at the group of kneeling ruffians.
"Do you know why I called you here?"
Seeing that Zheng Ying did not speak, but the plain-looking civil official next to him spoke, the ruffians focused their eyes on Xie He again.
"I … I don't know."
It was the boldest ruffian who spoke.
"You don't have to be nervous. I didn't call you here to make trouble, nor to kill you. I have something to ask of you."
Something to ask of me?
Holding a gun to my head to ask for help?
The ruffians looked at the fiendish officers and soldiers and the black muzzles. They swallowed and did not dare to say anything.
"May I ask, Master, what do you need us to do? As long as we can do it, we will definitely not refuse!"
This was the good thing about local ruffians. They were afraid of power but not of virtue. As long as they had enough power, they would be very obedient and sensible.
Zheng Ying nodded in satisfaction, then let the soldiers put down their guns.
"Don't worry, what I want you to do won't be difficult. It just happens to be what you're best at."
What we do best?
Swindle, kidnap, steal?
The ruffians looked at each other, their heads full of question marks.
"You're all good at bullying the weak, aren't you? You bully those honest people in and out of the city, snatch some of their stuff, and give them a few punches. You're good at this, aren't you? "
The ruffians were even more confused. They looked at Xie He in disbelief.
"Please enlighten me, Master."
Xie He smiled.
"It's very simple. There's a family that I would like you to bully."
Huh?
The ruffians looked at Xie He, then at each other, and then at Xie He.
"May I ask, Old Master, whose house is this?"
Xie He put down the teacup in her hands.
"Big Cliff Village, Rong family."
When the ruffians heard Xie He's words, they were all shocked.
Rong family? The most powerful tyrant in Big Cliff Village, the one who owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land?
We … go and bully them?
The ruffians felt as if they had heard something wrong.
Hence, the leader of the ruffians looked at Xie He in confusion.
"Old Master, that Rong family, is it the tyrant who owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land?"
Xie He nodded.
"Yes, it's that Rong family, the tyrant who owns tens of thousands of acres of fertile land."
The ruffians all had a look of disbelief on their faces.
"Old Master! That Rong Corporation is … is one of the most powerful families in the Yinxian County. We're just local ruffians. It's fine for us to bully small businessmen, but against that kind of … Master, I only want to eat. I don't dare to ask for anything else! "
The most courageous ruffian took the lead and kowtowed to Xie He. The others followed suit and howled in grief.
"Shut up."
Xie He said calmly. The ruffians immediately became obedient and no longer dared to make a sound. They looked at Xie He with trepidation.
"I'm not asking you to die. I'm just giving you a way to make a fortune."
Xie He stared at the thirty over ruffians and said: "The Rong family is rich. If you can get your hands on some soup, it'll be enough to feed you for years. Why not?"
The ruffians had a bitter look on their faces.
Do you think we don't know? Do you think we're only willing to bully ordinary people and businessmen? Do you think we dare to go against those tyrants? Isn't that courting death? Which one of their guards isn't better than us? Which one of them doesn't have connections in the county government?
"Old Master, it's not that we don't want to, it's that we don't dare to …"
The local ruffians briefly explained their difficulties.
"Of course I know your difficulties. That's why I'm not only asking you to go. I'll also bring the army to go with you."
Raid the house?
The ruffians' eyes immediately lit up.
If it was raiding the house, the situation would be completely different. Not only could they keep their lives, but they'd also receive unimaginable benefits. Why not? But … why bring us along?
A few of the more intelligent ruffians reacted, but they weren't in a hurry to rejoice.
"If you want to stir up trouble, let the Rong family make the first move. As long as there's blood, I can immediately mobilize the army to raid the Rong family's house. That's why I need your help."
Blood?
The ruffians were all stunned.
"Don't worry, I can guarantee your lives, but I'll need you to do the slightest bit of harm. As long as you do that, I'll have an excuse to cripple the Rong family. After that, I'll reward you handsomely. And after that, I'll need you to join the farmers' association."
The local ruffians looked at each other. They were getting more and more confused about what the official meant.
"In short, if you follow me and do whatever I say, not only will you keep your lives, but I can also guarantee that each of you will receive at least thirty taels of silver."
Xie He's high price caused the ruffians' eyes to widen.
Thirty taels of silver?
They didn't even dare to dream of such a large sum of money.
Immediately, a few people's eyes turned red, and they looked eager to try. However, there was also a group of people who looked calmer.
"But if you don't follow me, I won't force you. However, this is a secret, and I can't just watch it leak out. So, I'll have to ask you to shut your mouths forever."
Xie He waved his hand, and the soldiers who had put down their guns raised their flintlock pistols in unison.
The pitch-black muzzles were pointed at the ruffians, and their hearts filled with endless fear.
Zheng Ying frowned as he watched the scene unfold before him, feeling even more puzzled.
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