piratefiction Chapter 60 How much silver is needed to take Qin Hu's head from the Black Tiger Gang?
Chapter 60 How much silver is needed to take Qin Hu's head from the Black Tiger Gang?
"Oh? What a coincidence." Zhang Yuan smiled appropriately and looked up at Wang Wei. "When Chief Escort Wang rescued the people in Songshi Town, he took the lead and was incredibly righteous. I admire him greatly."
"From now on, we'll be neighbors. If the镖头 (bodyguard/escort) needs any help, just ask. My teacher is Chen, the county magistrate, and my martial arts master is Zheng, the head of the Panshi Martial Arts School. In Fengming County, perhaps we can do our bit to help."
He deliberately pointed out his two powerful backers, both to demonstrate the weight of his network and as a subtle test.
Let's see how well these two "Zhenwuwei" understand their local roots.
Moreover, he didn't believe that Wang Wei had come to his home specifically to pay respects to Zhang Zhenshan.
Wang Wei laughed heartily, appearing very cheerful: "Good! With Young Master Zhang's words, I feel much more at ease!"
He then frowned slightly, revealing a troubled expression. "Speaking of which, there really is a difficult problem right now. The security company is set up and the facade is up, but the manpower of the guards and bodyguards is hard to gather in the short term."
"There are quite a few martial arts practitioners in Fengming County, but they are a mixed bag, with good and bad among them."
"As a newcomer, I dare not easily recruit people whose backgrounds I do not know, for fear of jeopardizing the reputation of the escort agency and the trust of our clients."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan gently stroked the rough rim of the teacup with his fingers, pondered for a moment, a glint of inspiration flashing in his eyes, and looked up, saying, "What Chief Escort Wang is concerned about is very true. When traveling the martial world, the most important thing for a bodyguard is to know his background and be loyal and reliable."
He paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.
"If the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) is trustworthy, this matter... might not be difficult."
Wang Wei and Xu Zhiyuan both focused their gazes on him, their eyes filled with questions.
Zhang Yuan continued, "My father had many comrades-in-arms in the Northern Frontier Army back then, with whom he shared life and death."
"Some of them later retired from the military and returned to their hometowns, and many settled down in the county and neighboring villages."
"They are mostly veterans who have survived countless battles. Their martial arts skills may not be top-notch, but they are loyal, brave, reliable, and trustworthy. They are also well-versed in the art of battle formation and coordination, making them perfect martial arts instructors for escorting goods."
He remembered that Zhang Gu had mentioned that many veterans were living in poverty and relied on the Zhang family for assistance, which made him even more determined.
"However... most of them struggle to make a living after being discharged from the army. If Weiyuan Escort Agency could offer them a stable and well-paid job, I think they would be willing to come and serve. It would also... give my father's former subordinates a stable livelihood."
The study was quiet for a moment.
Wang Wei's face instantly lit up with a delighted smile. He slapped his thigh and turned to Manager Xu, saying, "Old Xu! See! I told you young Master Zhang was a prodigy, he'd definitely find a way! And here it is!"
His tone was full of praise and "unexpected delight".
Xu Zhiyuan smiled slightly and nodded to Zhang Yuan: "Young Master Zhang's suggestion is excellent. As a descendant of a loyal martyr, you are concerned about your comrades and can also solve the urgent problem of the escort agency. It is truly a win-win situation."
He changed the subject, adopting a consultative tone.
"I just don't know how long it will take to contact these old brothers. With the security agency about to open, it's indeed a bit urgent."
"This is not difficult," Zhang Yuan said confidently. "We just need to have someone familiar with the route send the message to each village, explaining that Chief Escort Wang of Weiyuan Escort Agency is benevolent and offers generous treatment. We should get a response soon. It will take three to five days, or at most ten days to gather a dozen or so skilled men."
As he spoke, his gaze naturally turned to the study doorway, and he called out loudly, "Zhang Shi!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Shi, who had been quietly waiting outside the door, immediately jogged in, followed by two other clever-looking little beggars.
Although their clothes were worn and tattered, they stood straight, their eyes filled with respect for Zhang Yuan.
Zhang Yuan said to Wang Wei, "Head镖师 Wang, Manager Xu, this is Zhang Shi, and here are Zhang Zhu and Zhang Liang."
"These men are quite well-connected in Fengming County, and they're quick-witted. Your escort agency is newly established, so you must need manpower to run errands for many trivial matters."
"If you don't mind, let a few of them go and help out first, to get familiar with the environment. They're familiar with all sorts of people in the city, and the streets and alleys, so they might be able to lend a hand."
Zhang Yuan's move was driven by profound intentions.
Firstly, by getting Zhang Shi and the others out of the dangerous area and into a security escort agency with ties to the Zhenwu Guard, their safety would be temporarily assured.
Secondly, it also provides these children with a temporary place to stay and an opportunity to learn.
Thirdly, being under Wang Wei's nose also served as a disguised form of "hostage" or "connection," making the relationship between the two parties closer.
Looking at the group of teenagers, Wang Wei knew perfectly well that they were both "helpers" sent by Zhang Yuan and people he was entrusted to look after.
As a member of Zhenwuwei, he had already learned all about Zhang Yuan's information when he arrived in Fengming County.
This includes the conflict between Zhang Yuan and the Black Tiger Gang.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to visit at this time.
His smile grew even warmer, and he nodded repeatedly: "Good, good! We've been needing just such clever young men! Then I'll have to trouble you young brothers! Learn well from the masters at the escort agency; you won't be treated unfairly!"
The matter was settled, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Zhang Yuan's gaze swept across Wang Wei and Xu Zhiyuan's faces, then he suddenly spoke casually, "Chief Escort Wang, it's excellent that Weiyuan Escort Agency is based in Fengming County. However..."
He paused slightly, a hint of youthful "doubt" in his voice: "There's something I don't understand."
"As far as I know, Fengming is not a major city, and there are few wealthy merchants coming and going. Few ordinary merchants can afford to hire bodyguards to protect large quantities of goods. For a security escort agency to establish itself here, relying solely on this kind of business, I'm afraid..."
He didn't finish speaking, but simply raised his eyes, his clear gaze looking directly at Wang Wei, as if he were genuinely worried about the livelihood of a new neighbor.
Wang Wei's warm smile remained unchanged, but a barely perceptible glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. He leaned forward slightly and asked, "Oh? Then, in Young Master Zhang's opinion, what kind of business do I... do?"
Zhang Yuan seemed taken aback by the question, glancing somewhat awkwardly at the silent Xu Zhiyuan beside him. He then lowered his voice, almost whispering with a youthful air of mystery, and asked, "I've heard some idle gossip in the martial arts world, saying that some escort agencies, ostensibly engaged in escort services, are actually... running black market businesses?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "black market": "They set up stalls in various places to buy and sell... things that can't be brought to light, or deadly information, and even... take on some 'dirty jobs'? Many underworld figures make a living from this kind of business."
Wang Wei was clearly taken aback.
Xu Zhiyuan, who was standing to the side, paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the teacup, and his lips twitched very slightly for a moment.
Neither of them expected that Zhang Yuan would mistake their Zhenwuwei's secret agents in this area for black market transactions.
After a brief silence, Wang Wei's smile returned, and he said ambiguously, "Young Master Zhang is young, but he's quite knowledgeable. Heh, in this world... when you're in business, it's all about making money through harmony."
"As long as the price is right and the channels are reliable, some 'special' businesses... are not impossible to do."
He skillfully shifted the topic from "whether it is being done" to "whether it is feasible to do it".
Zhang Yuan's eyes immediately lit up. He leaned forward, eager to confirm, and pressed, "Then... if you want to 'buy' a head, for example... Qin Hu from the Black Tiger Gang, how much silver would it cost?"