Chapter Fifty: United Front and Suppression

  Qin Kan's guess was correct.

  The subordinates who were very polite on the first day of meeting may not be polite every day. Compared to the newly appointed Bai Hu, the prestige of Tu Zongqi seems to be slightly higher than that of Qin Kan, a weak and bookish scholar.

  Maybe more than just a little bit.

  The next day at dawn, everyone had arrived. After Qin Kan checked the name list, he ordered everyone to disperse and go about their duties. However, more than 100 people in the courtyard refused to leave, causing a commotion. Wang, the officer, shouted several times but was unable to calm them down.

  Qin Kan smiled and calculated the time, it should be today's trouble.

  With a gentle and pleasant expression, Qin Kan gazed at Tu Yang, knowing that he was involved in this matter.

  "Painting the general flag, brothers, if you have any dissatisfaction, you represent everyone and tell me."

  Tu Zongqi still showed great respect, bowing his head and clasping his fists: "Lord Qin, the fault lies with me for not having taught him properly."

  Director Ding, who was standing beside him, hesitated for a moment and also bowed his head and clasped his fists in apology.

  "Speak your mind, don't hide anything." Qin Kan said calmly.

  Tu Zongqi hung his head and said: "Brothers, we haven't received our salary for three months. We all have families to support, and although being a Brocade Guard sounds prestigious, we also need to buy rice to eat..."

  Qin Kan turned his head to look at Wang Si Li, and Wang Si Li hastily leaned in close to his ear and whispered.

  Qin Kan finally understood that although the Jin Yiwei's salary was issued every month, according to the rules, only 30% of it was paid by the East City Thousand Households Office, and the rest had to be collected by each hundred households themselves from merchants. This collection fee was called "Ping An Silver", which actually meant about the same as the protection fees in the underworld of previous dynasties. Although the Ming dynasty was said to be in its heyday during the Hongzhi era, the national treasury still showed a clear lack of funds, and naturally would not spend too much silver on the imperial guards. However, with tens of thousands of Jin Yiwei and Dongchang guardsmen across the country, everyone had to make a living somehow. Thus, this "Ping An Silver" came into being, and also became a legitimate income that was tacitly acknowledged by the imperial court, including the emperor and civil officials.

  The area under Qin Kan's jurisdiction was the most prosperous area in Nanjing, with brothels, casinos and shops lining up, it should be rich and wealthy, but unfortunately, these shops had the backing of powerful officials and nobles, who would a small Jin Yi hundred dare to collect from?

  This has resulted in the current situation, just like a group of beggars guarding a treasure mountain, except for drooling at the treasure mountain, no one dares to move a finger.

  Qin Kan blinked: "Is that all?"

  Tu Zongqi was somewhat stunned, listening to Qin Baihu's tone, as if this matter didn't count at all?

  "Does Commander Bai think this matter is not worth mentioning, and it doesn't matter that we brothers are starving and suffering?" General Tu's tone was no longer polite.

  After hearing this inflammatory remark, the emotions of more than a hundred people in the courtyard were stirred up, and although they did not dare to curse loudly, their gaze at Qin Kan also became several degrees more hostile.

  Qin Kan sighed and said: "My point is just that this matter is really too easy to solve..."

  "How can we solve it? We hope Master Bai will teach us." Tu Zongbai pressed on with an air of urgency.

  "Commander Tu, you lead the team, take your brothers to patrol the streets. If you see any shops or brothels that don't please you, just take action and rob them. Whatever you get is yours. If anyone asks, just say it's with my permission, Qin Baihu..."

  Zhu Gao and over a hundred brothers were overjoyed: "Is this really true?"

  "Really."

  "Brothers, let's go! With Qin Baihu's words, what are we afraid of?"

  A large crowd suddenly disappeared without a trace.

  "Wang Si's face turned deathly pale: 'Qin...Sir Qin, this, this can't be done, it will lead to disaster...'"

  Just as he finished speaking, Tou Zongbai led over a hundred people back with a loud whoosh.

  "Director Qin, ... you deceived me." General Tu's gaze at Qin Kan was filled with accusation and... hurt?

  Qin Kan awkwardly said: "You've all seen through this..."

  "We've done the deed, and now you're saying you had nothing to do with it? Am I supposed to take the fall?" General Tu's eyes were very sharp, but his reaction was a bit slow.

  Qin Kan laughed and said: "That makes sense... otherwise, I'll write a letter of authorization, in black ink on white paper, stating that Qin Baihu has ordered you to rob the shops..."

  Tu Zongqi nodded with joy: "This is very good."

  Bang!

  A loud slap.

  The weak scholar Qin Kan suddenly turned his face and, in front of his subordinates, slapped Tu Yang's ear with a loud slap. The courtyard fell silent, with over 100 people staring at Qin Kan in shock.

  Tu Zongqi covered his left cheek, with a fierce glint in his eyes.

  Qin Kan shook his wrist as if in pain and said coldly, "You don't want to take the blame, can you just watch as Officer Shang takes the blame? What use is a subordinate like you to me? Is it to stab me in the back?"

  Tu Zongqi's face was gloomy, but his more than 50 subordinates gradually became noisy, everyone felt indignant for Tu Zongqi and their hostility towards Qin Kan deepened.

  Qin Kan ignored them and walked straight into the inner room, carrying out a large bundle and slamming it to the ground.

  He pointed to the nearby Ding Zongqi and said, "You, come over and take the silver. Each of my brothers will get five taels, and each helper will get two taels. This will cover you for a few days. I'll think of a way to deal with the silver later."

  Ding Zongqi stared at Qin Kan in disbelief, his subordinates also showed joy on their faces. Among the more than 100 people, nearly half of them instantly had a good impression of Qin Kan.

  This is a very realistic thing, whether it's pulling or suppressing, silver is the real thing. Sometimes it can even buy loyalty, although it's only temporary loyalty. For Qin Kan, this is enough.

  Ding Zongqi was delightedly leading the silver, while more than 50 brothers under Tu Zongqi's command fell silent. Their expressions were complex, with anger and envy mixed together.

  The higher the prestige, the deeper the friendship, but with an empty stomach at home, what's the use of prestige and friendship?

  Qin Kan stared at Tu Zongqi, sneering: "Tu Zongqi really has backbone, but you haven't come to take the silver yet. Do you plan to use your backbone to fill your brothers' bellies?"

  Zhu's gloomy face turned alternately pale and blue, looking even more unpleasant than if he had been slapped in the face.

  The longing gazes of his brothers behind him were like thorns on his back, making General Tu's entire body feel icy cold.

  At last, Commander Tu's knees went soft and he knelt down with his head bowed, saying: "Lord Qin, I know my fault."

  Qin Kan said coldly, "From now on, everyone will eat from the same pot. We are all brothers. What does it mean to be brothers? It means that at any time, in any place, and under any circumstances, you can entrust your back to each other without any defense. This is what it means to be brothers! Only when five fingers are clenched together can they form a fist. You are just like a plate of loose sand, and sooner or later, someone will take advantage of you!"

  Tu Zongqi suddenly raised his head, staring at Qin Kan, obviously still somewhat dissatisfied.

  "Lord Qin, the young master of the Wei State's public house crippled our previous hundred officials. If he comes to bully us again, will you dare to help your brothers?"

  Qin Kan's eyes widened in a fierce stare, his killing intent fully exposed: "If he dares to come, I dare to fight!"

  This sentence Qin Kan said with great confidence, other dignitaries he really didn't dare to provoke, but Xu Pengju...

  "Alright, I'll remember that." General Tu bowed his head and gave Qin Kan a loud kowtow.

  Qin Kan understood his meaning. If in the future he couldn't help his brothers get out of trouble, then this favor would have to be repaid double. At that time, his prestige in the hundred households would be gone.

  Qin Kan let out a slight sigh of relief, the mess in front of him was finally temporarily sorted out. He glanced sideways and saw that the package filled with silver had been completely emptied, lying flat on the ground. For some reason, Qin Kan's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears poured out uncontrollably.

  Wiping away tears, Qin Kan choked out some words of encouragement: "Brothers, take the silver and go home to buy rice for your families... be sure to save, save a bit..."

  Damn tears, no matter how hard I wipe, they just won't stop...

  With a wave of his hand, Qin Kan turned around and returned to the inner chamber without saying a word.

  Ding Zongqi was covered in mist and water: "Lord Qin is fine, why are you crying?"

  Wang Si's eyes were fixed on Qin Kan's back, filled with sighs and emotions: "A man can still be a hero even if he cries, but sir, you are shedding tears for the hardships and difficulties of your brothers!"

  Ding Zong was stunned for a moment, and the five-foot-tall man's eyes were also red-rimmed. With a thud, he knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Qin Kan's inner chamber, and said loudly: "Your Excellency is kind-hearted, my brothers are blessed, I, Ding Shun, swear here that I am willing to die for Lord Qin!"

  Splish splash!

  The courtyard was filled with people kneeling all over the ground.

  After everyone left, a painful scratching sound came from inside the room, Qin Kan's voice was almost inaudible.

  "My blood and sweat... money! Damn it..."

  P.S: There is still something at night...

  Delighted to discover that this book is actually ranked first in Sanjiang, even surpassing San Shao. Overjoyed and yet nervous... Please everyone, let's make an effort and continue voting for Sanjiang, we must keep this ranking!

  Three Rivers tickets are available every day and free of charge, everyone helps each other.

  I was kind enough not to expose the fact that the alliance leader used to be called "Most Beloved Yue Rong" in the past.