Chapter Thirty-two: The Gong Family Father and Son

  Zhang Shipei was a Confucian merchant who had also heard some interesting stories about the scholars, and now that Li Mingfeng asked, he told him everything he knew.

  Originally, Gong Zizhen's ancestors were all high-ranking officials in the imperial court, and could be called a prestigious family. By his generation, he had taken six exams and finally passed as a scholar, originally thinking that he could continue the glory of the Gong family, but unexpectedly his handwriting was extremely ugly, and he couldn't get a position in the Hanlin Academy, so he spent his whole life as a low-ranking official doing errands.

  Sorry to ancestors is nothing, but Gong Zizhen is extremely unfilial, every day scolding his own ancestors, taking out his father's and uncle's articles for severe criticism, calling his uncle's article nonsense, his father's article half-understandable.

  When he heard this, Li Mingfeng couldn't help but laugh secretly, thinking that Gong Banlun's problem was actually inherited from his father, which was really unexpected.

  Zhang Shiping saw Li Mingfeng holding back a smile, and guessed what he was thinking about. He stood up and continued to say: "Also, Gong Banlun inherited his father's bad habits of being a lecher and a gambler."

  As Zhang Shipei narrated with a tone of cold ridicule, Li Mingfeng finally understood that Gong Zizhen had once seduced the widowed Princess Bao, but after things didn't work out, he could only escape. As he ran away, the widowed princess was left in a miserable state, being expelled from the mansion and drifting for the rest of her life.

  Gong Zizhen was still addicted to gambling and eventually was found by the bailiffs of the Imperial Clan Court in a gambling den, where he ended his life with a packet of poison.

  Li Mingfeng listened to this speech and felt that Gong Banlun, such a son, was also educated by Gong Zizhen. In this Confucian education society, it is likely that only this father-son pair would scold their fathers and uncles, and seduce widows. However, Li Mingfeng just found it laughable, without any contemptuous meaning, because later generations did even more exaggerated things than this.

  Calculating that he would still have to rely on Gong Cheng and Wei Tai Ma's relationship in the future, Li Mingfeng decided to give him a 10% share of the ticketing profits. After discussing this idea with Zhang Shi Ping, since he wasn't taking money from him either, Zhang naturally had no objections.

  After discussing this matter, Li Mingfeng hinted that Zhang Shiping should leave first. As the head of the Zhang family was also a clever person, he knew there were things he shouldn't hear and so excused himself to take his leave.

  After seeing Zhang Shipei leave, Li Mingfeng took a sip of tea, composed himself, and said slowly: "Brother Qin, I suppose you've already heard that Lord Bai Gui has been dismissed from office. What are your plans for the future?"

  Qin Cheng immediately stood up from his chair, 'thud' and knelt down in front of Li Mingfeng, heavily knocking several heads: "Qin Mou has been intimidated by the adult's demeanor since he saw the adult, and at that time he made up his mind to follow the adult for a lifetime, serving the adult. This time going north is not only because of the order of Bai Gui, but also Qin Cheng's own request. Now although Bai Gui has retired, Qin Cheng's heart of loyalty still exists, and the Green Camp officers and soldiers brought by Qin Cheng are all trusted people. As long as the adult is willing to accept us, we will serve under the adult's command in the future and no longer return to Guangdong."

  Qin Cheng was ordered to escort Li Mingfeng to the capital, and now that the task is complete, even Bai Gui has stepped down. What's the point of these hundreds of Green Camp soldiers staying here? Moreover, Li Mingfeng is also worried that Qin Cheng will take these men back to Guangdong directly, because after all, he is a military officer of the Qing dynasty, and although he owes him a favor, with his stubborn personality, it's hard to guarantee that he won't abandon himself.

  Li Mingfeng had long been prepared to make a move in the Qing dynasty and create his own power, so Qin Cheng was the first pawn. What brotherly feelings, gratitude for knowing each other, Li Mingfeng did not believe in them, he only believed in benefits.

  This time leaving Qin Cheng behind is to make both sides clear their words. I can give you these benefits, what I want is your loyalty.

  Li Mingfeng stood up and pulled Qin Cheng, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet. He stretched out his sleeve to brush off the dust from Qin's knees and said, "I understand your intentions, but it's hard to guarantee that everyone who comes out with you thinks the same way."

  Qin Cheng had known since Li Mingfeng let him stay behind alone that there was something important to be said today. Although he had been following Li Mingfeng, the words of flattery in his heart had never had a chance to be spoken.

  Upon hearing Li Mingfeng's suspicious words, Qin Cheng knelt down again: "Your Honor, please be at ease. This time I have brought out people who are carefully selected, either from the same hometown or the same clan. They are absolutely loyal and not disloyal. Qin Cheng has received Your Honor's kindness and favor, and is truly grateful. Now, Qin is willing to become a slave to repay Your Honor."

  Li Mingfeng never expected that Qin Cheng would be so anxious as to go to such extremes, willing to become a slave in order to gain his trust. Although Li Mingfeng did not understand the specific procedures and details, he knew from these four words that it was definitely going to lower his identity by several levels.

  "Qin, how can you talk like that? Mingfeng has always regarded you as an elder brother, and we are like brothers. What's this about master and servant?" Liu Bei's brotherly tactics were very effective, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei never had any dissent throughout their lives. This move was one that Li Mingfeng liked a lot, and he decided to use it today.

  However, Qin Chengke was not a reckless man. Today, Li Mingfeng's abnormal behavior made him realize that the turning point of his life might have already arrived. At this moment, he had only two paths to choose from: one was to return to Guangdong and continue being a sixth-grade martial officer, without any connections or background, and it was likely that he would end up like this for the rest of his life. The other option was to completely rely on Li Mingfeng's support; although Li Mingfeng held no official position, Qin Chengke had witnessed his true power.

  If you want to rely on someone, you have to be thorough, otherwise you can't win Li Mingfeng's trust. After thinking for half a day, Qin Cheng still firmly requested to become a slave and sign a contract of sale. When Li Mingfeng saw this situation, he couldn't agree, if they signed that thing, the two people would instead become estranged.

  The two of them argued until the end but still didn't sign the contract, however some things are just understood by everyone. From then on, Qin Cheng became even more humble in front of Li Mingfeng, and Li Mingfeng also understood.

  After solving the identity positioning problem, Li Mingfeng told Qin Cheng about his plan in mind. It was nothing more than that in the chaotic years, there were long-haired bandits in the south and foreigners in the north. To settle down and make a name for oneself, one must have their own power. Qin Cheng certainly agreed with this point as well. Zeng Guofan's current prosperity was all thanks to the tens of thousands of Xiang Army troops under his command.

  Li Mingfeng doesn't have any great abilities, but he still has some silver in his hands. What he lacks are two things: one is the official document from the imperial court to organize a militia, and the other is manpower. Li Mingfeng is an outsider with no roots or foundation, but Qin Cheng is a local born and bred. As long as he holds the imperial appointment in his hand, he can rally hundreds or thousands of people with just one call back in his hometown.

  As for the permit for the militia, it's not difficult to obtain. Nowadays, in the Qing dynasty, militias are everywhere, and as long as you have some connections with the imperial court, you can easily get the official document.

  Qin Cheng listened to Li Mingfeng's plan and was extremely excited. He immediately patted his chest to guarantee that he would definitely pull out a team that could fight well.