Chapter 22: Planning for the Militia (Seeking follow-up reading and collection!)

Lv Xianba was full of smiles, appearing as if he had come to see an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

Behind him, two sturdy men followed.

Lv Xianba walked in with big strides. Without waiting for Yin Chengtao to speak, he sat down on the opposite side on his own. The two sturdy men behind him stood on his left and right, their gazes arrogant.

Yin Chengtao said with a faint smile, "Gang Leader Lv came just in time; the wine and dishes have just been served. Please!"

Lv Xianba was not polite either. He poured himself a glass of wine, swept his gaze over Yin Qi and Yin Xuan, and finally landed on Master Chen, saying, "Presumably this is Master Chen?"

Master Chen bowed perfunctorily, "Greetings, Gang Leader Lv."

Lv Xianba drank the wine in his glass and laughed heartily, "Master Chen, I am also a martial arts practitioner and admire experts the most. I don't know how many silver dollars a month you get for teaching boxing at the Yin family? Why don't you come to my Caohe Gang; I will give you fifty silver dollars a month."

Yin Chengtao and Yin Xuan's expressions changed, and they couldn't help but look at Master Chen.

This Lv Xianba was truly ruthless. If he really poached Master Chen, then in the short term, the Yin family would really be unable to do anything to the Caohe Gang and could only be manipulated by the other party.

Master Chen said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Gang Leader, but this old man is doing quite well teaching boxing at the Yin family."

Lv Xianba's face sank slightly, and he continued to increase the bid, "One hundred silver dollars!"

Yin Chengtao's expression was gloomy, and he said unhappily, "Gang Leader Lv, I asked you here to discuss business, but you are poaching right in front of me. Is it that you don't take me seriously at all?"

Lv Xianba laughed, "Master Yin, don't be offended, I just couldn't help myself when I saw an expert. Let's eat first, I'm hungry too. Whatever business there is, we can talk about it after eating."

After saying this, he didn't wait for Yin Chengtao to speak and started eating on his own.

His movements were rude, simply like bandits passing through.

Yin Chengtao frowned and didn't pick up his chopsticks, just watching Lv Xianba eat quietly.

Yin Xuan clenched his fists secretly; he was angered by Lv Xianba's barbarism and unreasonableness.

Yin Qi just watched coldly.

This Lv Xianba looked like a reckless man, but he had quite a few schemes.

It's just a pity they were all used in the wrong way.

Half an hour later.

The table full of wine and dishes had been almost completely swept away by Lv Xianba.

His mouth was full of grease, and he drank directly from the wine pot.

Finally, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve, leaned back in his chair contentedly, and said, "Such good wine and dishes, I haven't eaten them for a long time. Thank you for the hospitality, Master Yin. The meal is finished, whatever Master Yin wants to talk about, we can start."

Yin Chengtao said, "I hope Gang Leader Lv can show mercy; my Yin family is willing to offer three thousand silver dollars every year!"

"Three thousand silver dollars, Master Yin, are you trying to dismiss a beggar?"

Lv Xianba said bluntly, "As far as I know, the annual profit of all your Yin family's industries combined is at least one hundred and fifty thousand silver dollars. Giving me only three thousand, pfft..."

Yin Chengtao frowned slightly and asked, "I don't know how much Gang Leader Lv wants?"

Lv Xianba opened his mouth like a lion, "Still the same as before, I want thirty percent of your Yin family's annual profit. Of course, if you are willing to set a fixed amount, that would be fifty thousand silver dollars."

Yin Xuan couldn't help but shout angrily, "Fifty thousand silver dollars, why don't you go rob someone!"

Lv Xianba's eyes narrowed slightly, like a viper sticking out its tongue, and he sneered coldly, "Robbery is against the law. Although I, Lv Xianba, can't be on the stage, I also know how to abide by the law."

Stared at by Lv Xianba, Yin Xuan felt cold all over, his pupils widening.

Yin Chengtao stared at Lv Xianba, and Lv Xianba did not avoid his gaze at all.

After a long time, Lv Xianba stood up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Master Yin. I have things to do tonight, so I will take my leave first. The conditions are laid out here; the Yin family can consider them carefully. Whenever you have considered them, you are welcome to find me."

After saying this, he walked away straight.

Listening to the sound of footsteps going downstairs, Yin Xuan couldn't help it anymore and said angrily, "Father, this Lv Xianba is too arrogant. He has no intention of negotiating with us at all; he wants to eat the Yin family."

Yin Chengtao was equally angry and felt it was very tricky.

At this time, Yin Qi suddenly spoke, "Father, logically speaking, how could his mere Caohe Gang dare to fight our Yin family, and still have such an appearance of being determined to eat us? I guess he must have someone supporting him behind the scenes."

The Yin family just didn't want to take the crooked path, otherwise, they could pull out the people from the factory and directly destroy the Caohe Gang.

Although they could do this, they couldn't, otherwise the Prefect wouldn't be able to sleep.

He had naturally guessed long ago that the Caohe Gang had someone supporting them.

It was just that hearing this from Yin Qi's mouth, he was a bit surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Oh, do you have any way to deal with this Lv Xianba and the Caohe Gang?"

Yin Qi nodded and said, "I have an upper and lower strategy."

Yin Chengtao became interested and smiled lightly, "You even have an upper and lower strategy, learning from the strategists of the Three Kingdoms. Let's hear it."

Yin Xuan was also very surprised.

Yin Qi said, "The lower strategy is to capture the ringleader first. Ask Master Chen to take action, capture Lv Xianba, force out the mastermind behind the scenes, and then take the opportunity to control the Caohe Gang. Master Chen, with your strength, capturing Lv Xianba shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Master Chen said calmly, "Although this person is an expert in Dark Jin, he has lived in a high position for a long time and has neglected his practice. His feet are a bit unsteady; capturing him shouldn't take ten moves."

Yin Chengtao shook his head, "No. There are too many people watching our Yin family; we must not make mistakes. You should tell me the upper strategy."

If the Yin family controlled the Caohe Gang, let alone the government, other families would probably not be able to sleep peacefully either.

The Caohe Gang was the largest gang in Shaoxing Prefecture, controlling all waterways, with over a thousand direct members and thousands of indirect laborers.

Yin Qi nodded and continued, "The upper strategy is to apply to the government to organize a militia. Nowadays, the situation is chaotic, bandits outside the city are rampant, and people rebel from time to time. The government also encourages local areas to organize militias, so the application shouldn't be difficult. If we can organize the militia, with people and guns, what is the mere Caohe Gang?"

Yin Chengtao and Yin Xuan's eyes lit up.

Why didn't we think of that?

Organizing a militia is often something only large local clans can do.

On one hand, there is a practical need to avoid being looted by chaotic people;

On the other hand, there is capital, because the militia has to be supported by oneself; the government doesn't pay salaries, and they have to listen to the call.

With the Yin family's foundation, even supporting an army of ten thousand wouldn't be much of a problem.

Yin Chengtao looked at Yin Qi unexpectedly and couldn't help but praise, "This strategy is feasible. Qi'er, it really is 'three days apart, one must look at each other with new eyes.' It's just that your brother and I are busy with business and don't understand it. Finding someone trustworthy to be responsible for the militia is really not easy."

Yin Qi was waiting for this moment.

He recommended himself, "Father, you forgot about me! This militia can be my responsibility."

"You?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====

"You?"

(End of chapter)