The Thirtieth Chapter Escorting the Convoy

  After seeing off Xu Minghui, Liu Mingjiu was about to go to the cafeteria in the reception building to have a bite to eat when guard Han Zhen rushed in: "Comrade Commander, Jin Yuan Money House's Old Jin requests an audience."

  "Oh, please come in, please come in." Liu Mingjiu heard that his big client had arrived and immediately asked Han Zhen to invite Jin Jinyi in.

  "I'm here, haha. Xiao Shu, I heard that you were awarded a medal by the General, congratulations, congratulations." Jin Yixuan walked into the room with a smile, and as soon as he entered, he raised his fist to congratulate Liu Mingjiu.

  Liu Mingjiu hastily stepped forward two steps, supporting Jin Yigui: "Old Jin, congratulations, congratulations. Please sit down quickly, please sit down quickly."

  Jin Yiming smiled and looked at Liu Mingjiu, covering his rough hands with his own white and plump ones: "Don't sit anymore, I've already booked a table at the Ba Xian Wine House. Jiang San Gongzi and several high-ranking officials from the Dai Wei have already gone ahead. Today, I'm treating you to celebrate."

  "How can this be, and yet you still want to trouble yourself with the expense, I am truly grateful." Liu Mingjiu accompanied him with a smile, following Jin Yijian's lead as they walked out of the room. When they reached the entrance of the first floor, he called over Pan Yuishuang, the class leader of his own class, and handed him a 100-dollar silver note, instructing him to take the soldiers to eat. Only then did he follow Jin Yijian out of the reception area.

  After leaving the reception, Liu Mingjiu took Han Zhen and Shen Fengyuan to ride horses, following behind Jin Yiyu's sedan chair, heading straight for the largest and best Eight Immortals Wine House in Chengde. Along the way, they attracted countless passersby's attention, with a group of bodyguards surrounding Jin Yiyu wherever he went. Liu Mingjiu, sitting on horseback, was even more impressive, wearing a military uniform with three newly awarded medals on his chest, looking spirited and handsome. When passing by several brothels, the prostitutes standing upstairs, who were originally listless, also came to life, gazing at them from afar and pointing. When passing through the market, they also attracted merchants to stop hawking and watch.

  Under the gaze of onlookers, a group of people walked to the Ba Xian Wine House. Jiang Gui's third son Jiang Shu Li and others such as Gao Zheng Wei, deputy captain of the Governor's Guard, were already standing at the entrance waiting.

  Liu Mingjiu jumped off his horse and handed the reins to Han Zhen, then walked quickly towards the crowd; "Ah, Third Master, Gao Tuan Deputy, He Canshi, and several other officials, I'm not worthy, how can I be so lucky to have you all come to welcome me in person?"

  "You have made our family's military might known far and wide, and my father holds you in high esteem. As for this humble welcoming ceremony, it's hardly worth mentioning." Jiang Shulai said warmly as he grasped Liu Mingjiu's hand. The two had been acquainted since the opening of the Liuhe Commercial Firm, so they didn't stand on ceremony with each other.

  Gao Zheng also came to greet him, and when Liu Mingjiu arrived at the Military Governor's Mansion, he was the first to receive him, so they were not very unfamiliar. Liu Mingjiu, surrounded by the crowd, walked hand in hand with Jiang Shuli into the Ba Xian Wine House, walking slowly towards the elegant room on the second floor.

  After taking his seat, Jin Yiming stood up and bowed to the crowd with a fist: "Thank you all for coming. I, Bo Mingxian, am honored to host this banquet. Your presence is truly an honor."

  "Mr. Jin is too polite, Liu Xian is the most outstanding among my Yijun brothers, we have long had the intention to get to know each other, but unfortunately it's too far away, today with your invitation, we are happy to come." Deputy Captain Gao Zheng of the Guard Corps first cupped his hands and replied to Jin Yiyu.

  Liu Ming hastily stood up and also made a bow with his fists: "No, no, I'm honored to be so favored, thank you for your kindness, I will definitely visit you often in the future."

  "Alright, let's not be polite anymore. Come on, Bo Ming, I'll introduce you to them. This is Lieutenant Colonel He Yongshen from the Military Governor's Office, that's Major Jiang Xiuzhe, Deputy Commander of the First Division, and sitting over there is Colonel Kuang Zhiming, Chief of Staff of the First Division. They're all celebrities in Chengde City, so be sure to socialize with them more often."

  "He Shen, Jiang Fu, and Kuang Director." Liu Mingjiu shook hands with them one by one, then took over the conversation: "This is natural, this is natural. I hope you all won't look down on me because of my humble position and low talent."

  The crowd returned the courtesy, and then they started drinking with each other. The flattery and bootlicking at the banquet were nothing new to Liu Mingjiu, who had seen it all before. Everyone drank until afternoon before dispersing. Liu Mingjiu had drunk a bit too much, so Han Zhen hastily helped him onto his horse, and the two returned to the reception area. This time, Liu Mingjiu didn't give those people any money; everything was taken care of by Jin Yiyin.

  At night after waking up, Liu Mingjiu rubbed his bursting head and walked out of his room in a daze. Han Zhen immediately came over: "Commander Lian, you're not feeling well, why don't we head back tomorrow instead?"

  "No need, tell the brothers to get ready, we'll head back soon." Although staying in Chengde would be helpful for his future career, Liu Mingjiu still felt disgusted with such official socializing.

  He had worked hard and racked his brains to make money, not to give gifts to these so-called superiors. Just like before lunch, he gave a thousand dollars to that Xu Minghui. At this time, a Mauser M1910 pistol with 500 rounds of ammunition cost only $100 in Tianjin. And a Mauser G98 rifle could be purchased for $150 in Tianjin, including 100 rounds of ammunition. The money given to Xu Minghui was enough to fully equip a company of soldiers with Mauser rifles. Liu Mingjiu's heartache made him decide to leave this place as soon as possible.

  Very soon, with the three rows and two classes of guards ready to take over their duties. Liu Mingjiu and Han Zhen walked down the stairs, counted them carefully, and were about to mount their horses. Jin Yigao's accountant, Mr. Jin Gui, walked into the reception room with two attendants: "Ah, Director Liu is indeed leaving tonight, our boss really understands you."

  "Oh, haha, what's going on? Why is Boss Jin saying this?" Liu Mingjiu put down his hand that was rubbing his head and looked at Jin Gui in surprise.

  Jin Gui nodded: "Our boss said you would be leaving tonight, so let's come together to see you off on the same road back. It seems that you are indeed leaving tonight, and this trip will be safer for us."

  "Master Dong." At this time, another person followed behind Jin Gui and came in, who was Geng Jili, the captain of the sixth team of Liuhe Escort Agency: "I have been ordered to follow Master Jin's escort this time, and I wish Master Dong good health."

  Liu Mingjiu understood at a glance that Jin Yichen knew he would return to Jianchang tonight, and his own escort agency had also taken on the task of escorting the gold from Jinyuan Money House. This was an arrangement for him to personally accompany them on the journey once. However, the Jin family had indeed provided him with great help and had not made any excessive demands so far.

  "Hehe, then I'll personally escort you to your manor. Let's get going." Liu Mingjiu thought for a moment, glanced at Jin Gui and Geng Jilei, and walked out of the reception hall first. Han Zhen helped him onto his horse, and the group set off on their return journey to Jianchang.

  "Master Dong, if you're tired, why don't you take a rest in the carriage too?" Unbeknownst to everyone, they had already walked from dusk till midnight. Geng Jile saw Liu Mingjiu constantly rubbing his head along the way and took out a water bottle from his waist to hand it over to him.

  Liu Mingjiu took the water bottle and drank several big mouthfuls. After that, he looked at Geng Jilei: "Nothing's wrong, this Chengde boiled pot is quite strong, I'm still not fully awake now. But it doesn't matter, let's continue on our way."

  "Then you have a few more sips, this is the oat tea my mother specially cooked for me before I left home, although it's not that strong, but it also has some effect of sobering up." Geng Jilei listened to Liu Mingjiu finish speaking, and pushed the kettle back into Liu Mingjiu's hands.

  Geng Jilei's father, Geng Liang, was a colleague of Liu Mingjiu during the Fourth Company. After Geng Liang died in battle at Xi Si Liang Zi, according to the rules of the Yi Army, Geng Jilei was recruited into the 18th Regiment just after his 17th birthday. Later, when Liu Mingjiu heard about this, he had Wu Tongjin find Kang Daxuan and brought him to his own troops. Then, he was sent to escort merchants, where Geng Jilei showed bravery, calmness, and meticulous thinking, quickly establishing prestige among his comrades. When the escort team was upgraded to the Liuhe Escort Bureau, Liu Mingjiu personally worked on it and let him join the bureau. Although Geng Jilei still had a 13-year-old younger brother, Liu Mingjiu did not want another son of Old Geng to die on the battlefield. The Liuhe Escort Bureau only ran for twenty days each month, with an income more than twice that of a junior military officer, and also trained every day on the road.

  Liu Mingjiu arranged this, and it wasn't just Geng Jilei alone. The children of several other old comrades-in-arms were also arranged to join the escort agency or become logistics officers in the security team. There are two basic benefits to joining the escort agency: firstly, there is less risk of death on the battlefield, after all, no one dares to provoke "Little Flying Dragon" easily now. Secondly, the income is higher than that of military officers, and it is still under Liu Mingjiu's command. When the commercial army may be converted into a combat unit at any time, Liu Mingjiu had already told everyone when the escort agency was established. Geng Jilei's mother fully supported her son in joining the escort agency after hearing about it, and the elderly from other families also strongly supported this arrangement.

  "Where have we arrived at? It's already 6 o'clock in the morning, after we arrive shouldn't we find a place to rest?" Jin Gui poked his head out from inside the horse carriage. He had been hiding in the carriage all along and was not skilled in riding horses, a weak scholar who could follow and run for such a long distance was already a rare thing.

  Geng Jilei looked around and pulled the reins to run the horse to the front of the carriage. He recalled Jin Gui's words: "Boss, it should be Yan Zhangzi in Pingquan ahead. At this speed, we can enter Pingquan County two hours later."

  Jin Gui rubbed his dead fish eyes, looked up at the sky, and said: "Oh, then let's enter Pingquan to take a break. Director Liu, you've been riding a horse all night, come in and rest for a while too."

  Liu Mingjiu heard Jin Gui calling him and turned back to look at him with a smile: "No need, this body can still cope, you rest in the car."

  Jin Gui listened and didn't say anything else, shrinking his body back into the carriage. However, he muttered softly to himself: "We're about to enter Pingquan, why hasn't it arrived yet?"

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