Chapter 137: Catching the Squire and Taking Advantage of Him

Seeing Cheng Long getting up to leave, Yang Kenan, Liu Cheng and others looked at each other. Zhou Susu was anxious for a moment and ran directly to him, holding his arm and begging: "Along, Marshal Hong didn't mean to reject you. There is still room for negotiation. Don't leave! Can you give me some face?"

The Cheng family army has nearly 30,000 people, and all of them have guns. If such a private army is left in Pucheng without control, no one will be able to sleep well.

Mrs. Yang was no exception.

But she was more afraid that Cheng Long would be ostracized, turn into a demon, and become an out-and-out murderous demon.

"Okay, I'll give you face."

Cheng Long took advantage of the situation and returned to his original position.

He was just taking advantage of the situation to avoid Marshal Hong from making various demands.

Negotiation is actually no different from buying clothes in a mall. You first find faults and then lower the price.

Hong Jin was worried that the Cheng family army had become wild and would not obey orders. His core purpose was to prepare to break up the Cheng family army and sideline Cheng Long.

For example, transfer a few regiments out first to learn under others for a period of time, and then transfer a few regiments back. By the time Cheng Long's subordinates are replaced, the Cheng family army will be in name only.

However, although Cheng Long returned to his seat after being persuaded by Mrs. Yang, the atmosphere was still awkward and it was a bit awkward for a while.

After about twenty seconds of silence.

Hong Jin, who was over 50 years old, laughed heartily and said, "General Cheng, I haven't dealt with young people for a long time. My thinking is a bit rigid and I always like to talk in a roundabout way. I and my comrades welcome the Cheng family army joining the National Defense Army. It's just that there is a little dispute about the division of the garrison territory..."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Then let me be frank. The total strength of the National Defense Army is 25. There are seven legions with a total number of 3 to 5 people. The Second Legion is under my direct control..."

"Our sphere of influence is mainly concentrated in the four provinces of Yunnan, Yunnan, South Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi. Yunnan and South Guangdong are completely protected by the National Protection Army and are the two places with the most stable situation at the moment."

After Hong Jin briefly introduced the National Defense Army, he said frankly: "If you lead the Cheng Family Army to join the National Defense Army, you can only use Pucheng, Shanghe County, and Shitoucheng as your bases. These places have relatively low tax revenues, but after they become stable, you can expand your garrison area to the north."

"Expanding northward?"

Cheng Long frowned.

Doesn't this mean he should capture cities and territories?

If you have this idea, why do you need to join the National Protection Army?

"Yes, expanding northward, but not actively, but passively..."

"All the northern warlords want to expand and unify the country. Cao Ying is not an exception. Others will continue to attack cities and territories in the south. When the army approaches Pucheng, Shanghe County, or the towns near Shitoucheng, the city defense forces in those places will not be able to withstand the attack and will naturally ask for help from our National Defense Army. By then..."

Hong Jin didn't say what came next, but his intention was very clear. As the saying goes, it is easy to invite a god but difficult to send him away. It is not easy to invite the National Protection Army without paying some price.

People die in war.

The difference is that the National Protection Army has ideals and revenge, does not actively expand, does not wantonly plunder the wealth of the people, and last year it sent troops to Tibet to quell the rebellion.

However, when the time is ripe, the National Protection Army will inevitably change its strategy from passive expansion to active expansion.

the reason is simple.

The country cannot be in constant turmoil!
The longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for the Central Plains. The passive strategy adopted now is only limited by the shortage of manpower, financial resources, weapons and other aspects.

"Marshal Hong, I can lead the army to join the National Defense Army, but I have a small request."

"Please say."

Hong Jin was delighted. The Cheng family army had nearly 28 soldiers. After joining, the total strength of their National Protection Army would soar to , greatly enhancing the overall strength of the National Protection Army.

"I need to raise some money to invest in building a factory."

"How much?"

"The more, the merrier."

"This……"

Hong Jin hesitated for a while and said, "I can help you raise a maximum of 100,000 yuan. We can't take out more than that. After all, we are the National Defense Army and we never plunder the people's money. Our income is all from taxes, and everyone lives a tight life."

"It doesn't matter. I'm already very satisfied with a hundred thousand dollars."

"Okay, Brother Cheng, the money you need and the official franchise authorization documents will be delivered on the same day."

"Then it's up to Brother Lao Hong."

The two generals, whose negotiations had almost broken down before, actually started calling each other brother and younger brother after reaching a cooperation, and their change of tone was quite smooth.

But this is the situation that Yang Kenan, Liu Cheng and others want.

Otherwise, if the negotiations break down, the Cheng family army, which dominates Pucheng, will inevitably be regarded as a thorn in the side by the National Protection Army, and a war will be fought sooner or later.

How great it is now!
The Cheng family army became the Eighth Army of the National Protection Army. Marshal Cheng, who might have endangered Pucheng before, also officially became the general commanding an army of the National Protection Army, responsible for guarding Pucheng, Shanghe County, Shitoucheng and other places. Everyone's safety was better guaranteed and life became more and more hopeful.

"Brother Cheng, I have official business to attend to, so I won't stay any longer."

"Brother Hong, please do as you please."

Send Hong Jin away.

Cheng Long turned his head to look at Liu Cheng and other gentry, and said with a smile: "Boss Liu, if I ask you to borrow money now, I wonder how much you can lend me?" "Ah~~" Liu Cheng widened his eyes and was stunned.

Just now I was feeling lucky that Marshal Cheng didn't ask them for money, but asked Marshal Hong to raise money instead. How come he has set his sights on me in the blink of an eye?

"Boss Liu, are you unwilling to lend me money?"

Cheng Long narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of coldness.

In the entire court, only Zhou Susu could see that he was pretending and deliberately intimidating Liu Cheng and others.

But she did not intend to expose the truth. Among the gentry and landlords of that era, only a few were good people. Some were loan sharks, some were bad grain merchants, and some even ran casinos and brothels.

Fortunately, no one in Pucheng dares to resell the longevity cream and bring harm to the people.

"Ah~~ No, no, I'm happy to help you, Marshal..." Liu Cheng wiped the cold sweat off his face and waved his hand to explain: "It's our honor if you ask us to borrow money, but I don't know how much money you need?"

"Of course, the more the better!"

A familiar answer.

Cheng Long really isn't afraid at all of borrowing too much and not being able to pay it back.

"Marshal Cheng, I'm short of money lately, so I can't lend you much. The most I can lend you is 5,000 yuan... No, I'm giving you 5,000 yuan, and you don't have to pay it back."

Although Liu Cheng was cunning and sly, he still did not dare to play any tricks when facing Cheng Long, who possessed extraordinary skills and controlled an army. He changed his words temporarily, hoping to spend money to avoid disaster.

It would be somewhat embarrassing for the richest man in Pucheng to lend 5,000 oceans to the Marshal. But if he gave 5,000 oceans to Cheng Long in one go, the nature of the matter would be different.

This is a lot of money. Uncle Jiu helps people catch ghosts and read feng shui, and it only costs three or five dollars each time.

No more than ten yuan at most.

"Boss Liu, have you often suffered from weak waist and knees, fatigue in your limbs, bad mood, and sometimes forgetfulness in recent years?" Cheng Long's inexplicable words made Liu Cheng look confused.

He just responded blankly: "Marshal Cheng, how did you know?"

There is still a question. If he marries seven concubines, anyone would suffer from kidney deficiency!
Cheng Long raised his lips slightly and said with a smile: "Boss Liu, if I can help you get well and make you lively again, how much money can you give me?"

"This..." Liu Cheng thought Cheng Long was not satisfied and wanted to blackmail him, so he said with a bitter face: "One, ten thousand is okay?"

"Okay, of course. But if you can give me a little more, I can also help you lose weight. I want you to have a strong body like a teenager and become as vigorous as me." Cheng Long raised his eyebrows at Liu Cheng.

"Really?"

A light suddenly lit up in Liu Cheng's eyes.

He was obviously remembering the night when he entertained Marshal Cheng.

During the break, the Marshal asked his seven concubines to keep him company. Isn't this a display of vigor and strength?
"Of course, I never lie."

"Then I'll add another ten thousand and give you twenty thousand dollars."

Liu Cheng gritted his teeth and said a number that made him feel extremely distressed.

"Okay, it's settled."

Cheng Long waved his hand and did not give Liu Cheng a chance to regret. He then followed the same method and asked the other dozen or so gentry and landlords in Pucheng for 100,000 yuan.

But he didn't take the money and do nothing.

After confirming the amount that Liu Cheng and others were willing to pay, he took them to the guest rooms in the backyard one by one and spent four people's worth of blood and energy to regulate the bodies of Liu Cheng and his group.

To be willing to be willing, to be willing to have a reward.

The effect of spending four people's blood and energy to get things done is immediate.

That night, Liu Cheng and others delivered the agreed money to Cheng's house and showed incomparable awe to Cheng Long. It was obvious that after returning home, these people couldn't wait to experience the wonderful feeling of regaining their strength.

"General Cheng, I didn't expect you to be a miracle doctor. I, Old Liu, admire you very much..." Liu Cheng, who was the last one to leave, invited him warmly, "Are you free tonight? My seven concubines miss you very much and would like to serve you for one night."

"Uh..." Cheng Long was about to agree when he saw Jingjing, who had a graceful figure and beautiful curves, walking out of the room in her newly bought cheongsam, so he quickly changed his words and said, "I'll go another day when I have time. Forget about tonight."

Although each of Liu Cheng's seven concubines is not as good as Jingjing, the advantage of one plus one plus one... plus one is also obvious. After experiencing it once, it is difficult to refuse a second time.

"Haha, okay, okay, Marshal Cheng, you can come whenever you want, or you can send someone to ask them to come and serve you together." Liu Cheng was happy. As long as Marshal Cheng still cared about the seven concubines in his family, he would not have to worry about not being able to ask the Marshal to treat them if they fell ill in the future.

"Brother Long, what are you guys talking about? You seem to be having such a good time."

"Marshal Cheng, I'll take my leave now."

Seeing Jingjing coming to Cheng Long's side, Liu Cheng looked at her with a look of intelligence.

"Hey, someone came to give me money, how can I not be happy?"

Cheng Long pointed to the boxes of dollars on the ground.

With this money, he could go to Citibank, the British Isles, Europe and other places to purchase advanced weapons production lines, recruit down-and-out technical workers, and bring the workers and their families to the Central Plains to assist him in building arsenals and technical schools.

Of course, if you really want to accomplish these things, 22 yuan is definitely not enough.

Therefore, the most important thing Cheng Long needs to do now is to exchange the money for best-selling products, use the storage bar to take them abroad to sell them, and then exchange them for the production lines, technical drawings and workers he needs.

(End of this chapter)