As he spoke, Lu Ming looked at the most unusual one among the burly men around the campfire. He looked like a thin young man with dark skin, missing one leg, and leaning on a crutch.
Lu Ming smiled at him: "Sixth Brother, do you think I'm right?"
The young man had no expression at first, still picking at the beef, as if he didn't know Lu Ming was talking to him. But the dark man, who was as strong as an iron tower, stared at him with eyes as big as copper bells, "How did you know that? This is impossible! There is no third person in this world who knows that!"
The young man showed helplessness on his face. He turned to look at Lu Ming and smiled slightly: "Boss Lu is really powerful." Although he was smiling, it was a bit forced, and he was vaguely uneasy, because his identity, as "Hei Laoliu" said, should not be known by a third person in this world.
The several burly men who were grilling beef with the young man were all dumbfounded. They looked at the young man and then at the big black man.
Obviously, they didn't know what was going on either.
The one roasting beef with them was Shen Qing, the sixth divine fortune teller among the eight leaders. It seemed that he was the first to follow the Sixth Master. Among the Eight Vajra, although Shen Liuge was weak and even had no strength to shoot due to his mobility problems, he was always well-prepared and his words always carried weight. The other seven were a little afraid of him.
Lu Ming looked at Shen Qing and smiled slightly: "Shen Taisheng, from Linhai City, Andong, the sixth in the family, was wanted for murder, and fled here with his loyal servant Tiejun, right?"
Shen Qing's expression changed again and again, and he said calmly: "I didn't kill anyone, I was wronged!"
Lu Ming nodded: "So, we are a bit similar."
Shen Qing snorted coldly, thinking that Lu Ming was mocking him.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "You really want to know how I know this secret that no third person should know, right?"
Shen Qing said calmly, "Boss Lu, it would be better if you could let me die with a clear conscience." He added, "Boss Lu's gun is pointed at my forehead, right? To be honest, with Boss Lu's character, he would not have wanted my life this time, but since Boss Lu knows all my details, I miscalculated! It seems that I can't escape this disaster. But Boss Lu, Tiejun is stupid and won't hurt anyone. If I plead for him now, it would seem that I am hypocritical. Boss Lu, please decide for yourself."
Lu Ming looked at him and shook his head gently: "Although you are very proud and call yourself a fortune teller, in fact, this world is very cruel. No matter how much you calculate, it is not as good as the white ocean and colorful banknotes. Your head is only worth 10,000 red banknotes!" He turned his head to look at Li Xiaoerduo who had a gloomy face beside him, "Li Ba, come over here!"
Li Xiaoerduo was stunned. This was different from the original plan.
Chen Qing looked at Li Xiaoerduo's expression, gritted his teeth and nodded: "Old Eight, I think I treated you well, forget it..." He sighed, "I just want to know, how did you know?"
Li Xiao'er took a few steps back and said nothing.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "You, this loyal servant, once slept with Li Ba and got drunk. He accidentally talked in his sleep, and he mentioned your name in his hometown accent, calling you Young Master. I asked someone to check and found out it was you. Your murder case caused quite a stir in the local area."
"You bastard! You bastard!" Tiejun glared at Li Xiaoerduo angrily, turned around and took a few steps, then knelt down in front of Chen Qing and kowtowed, "Master, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I promised you not to drink, but one time, Li Xiaoerduo took out some good wine to tempt me, and I couldn't help it!"
Shen Qing sighed softly and shook his head, "It's time, it's fate... It's none of your business!"
"Boss Lu, hurry up...if you delay, something bad will happen..." Li Xiaoerduo couldn't help but remind him.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Why do you want to fight? Bad people die because they talk too much, don't you understand?"
Li Xiaoerduo was stunned, and asked in surprise: "Boss Lu, are you going to change your mind?"
Lu Ming smiled again: "What change of mind? The plan you told me? Kill Hei Laoliu, Tiejun is a fool, you can control him, you want to be the real Hei Laoliu, rely on Tiejun to give orders, and then slowly eliminate dissidents, and then lead the team to join me? But think about it, all the plans were offered by you on your own initiative, I didn't agree to anything, but I promised you one thing, that is, even if the matter is exposed, I will protect you! I will definitely keep my word!"
Li Xiao'erduo's face turned pale and blue.
Lu Ming said again, "Stand over here. I will take you to Donghai and help you hide your identity. You will have 10,000 yuan in savings, which is enough to buy a house and a car. If you can find a good job, as long as you work hard, you will have a comfortable life in the second half of your life. And you will live in peace. It is a hundred times better than living on the edge of a knife and not understanding what is happening today."
Li Xiao'erduo was dumbfounded, but when he saw the gangsters staring at him as if they were going to kill him, his heart trembled. He hurriedly took a few steps and stood behind Boss Lu and his group.
Fortunately, it seems that Boss Lu is a man of his words. No matter what, since I have sold him such a big secret, he will not burn the bridge after crossing it.
In fact, by doing this, he was already risking his life, so he gave the ten thousand yuan to his mistress and hid it. Even if he died, the child in her belly would have someone to rely on in the future.
Ben had also made preparations. After Boss Lu got rid of Hei Laoliu, he would also take care of the worst-case scenario by himself.
"You won't kill me?" Shen Qing looked at Lu Ming with a little surprise in his eyes.
"Why should I kill you?" Lu Ming smiled and said, "If I want to kill you, it doesn't have to be so troublesome. Take your gang for example. It's very simple for me to make them disappear. I can give them 5,000 yuan each. As long as they believe that they can get these 5,000 red notes safely, do you think they will come down the mountain and join me immediately?"
"Why? Because bandits, no matter how much you want to have rules and use morality to restrain them, a mob is still a mob. They are all for food. As long as there is another way out, most people are willing to be a bandit who may lose his head at any time."
"You talk about morality every day, but in fact, your group has no real path to keep going. If there is no path, what morality can you talk about?"
"You understand this, too. So, from the day you went up the mountain to become a bandit, you let your loyal servant lead the way, because you know that you can't carry things on your shoulders or lift things with your hands. If you become the leader of the bandits, you will never be able to control those rebellious and ambitious thugs. Again, you know that gangs have no morals and are the product of destroying social rules. So what rules are there to talk about? You can be the boss, even if others are more brutal than you, they can still be the boss."
"And Tiejun is actually a tough guy with good marksmanship. When he comes to this lawless mountain area, he seems to be fierce and vicious enough. He is not afraid of anyone in a fight, right?"
Lu Ming talked eloquently, and Shen Qing's expression changed constantly. Finally, he sighed deeply, "You are right, Boss Lu, it seems that I underestimated you after all."
Lu Ming looked at the black man again and smiled, "In a civilized land, no matter how unruly Tiejun is, how strong his bones are, or how good his marksmanship is, what does it matter? But in a civilized land, he will always be a servant, very humble. So, at that time, Tiejun was loyal and reliable, and he also enjoyed the respect that only a servant of the Shen family could enjoy."
"But I've been in this mountainous area for a few years now, Tiejun. Do you think this place is better or a civilized place is better?"
Lu Ming looked at the big black man with a smile.
The big black man snorted coldly and ignored Lu Ming.
"Why do I have to listen to this powerless guy in everything? I am Hei Laoliu, why can't I make the decision on anything? Why do I have to be so respectful to him behind his back?"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Tiejun, am I right?"
Chen Qing turned around in astonishment and looked at the servant and brother who had followed him here from thousands of miles away and depended on him for life.
The big black man just sneered and said nothing.
"Li Ba said that he was suspicious of you and that's why he found an opportunity to force you to drink. It wasn't accidental. You accidentally let him know a few times, right? In your opinion, among the Eight Vajra Kings, Li Ba is the most cunning and cruel, right?"
"You think that after Li Ba knows the truth, he will kill Chen Qing and secretly control you, because you have always pretended to be very happy with his words, right?"
"But in fact, this idiot Li Ba is actually your pawn."
Li Xiaoerduo also looked at the black man in disbelief. This guy is so cunning? !
Lu Ming smiled again: "However, you still have a trace of conscience, or rather, there is a natural rule that constrains you, so that no matter how vicious your plan is, you have never thought of killing your young master with your own hands."
"So, I'll spare your life, and you don't have to wait for the person you arranged. Now, hold your head and come over here."
The black man snorted coldly: "You..."
With a light "puff" sound, a little yellow sand splashed in front of the black man's feet.
Lu Ming said coldly: "On the count of three, it's your forehead. Now squat down and come over with your head in your hands."
“One…” Lu Ming looked up and made a 1 gesture.
There is a soft "puff" sound.
With a scream of "Ah", the black man staggered and half-crouched on the ground, holding his calf and staring at Lu Ming angrily, "You just counted to one!"
Lu Ming smiled, "Yes, that's why I told you to come over here in three seconds. This shot will just be a scratch, the next shot will really hit your leg, and three will be in the head!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and was about to make a gesture.
The big black man gritted his teeth, squatted down with his head in his hands, moved over very quickly, and kicked up gusts of yellow sand.
Sun Bo took two steps forward, gently stretched out his hand, and pressed his neck.
The big black man was startled and felt as if he was pressed down by a mountain, unable to move.
Lu Ming looked at Shen Qing, who was now dazed, with a look of distraught expression on his face.
The big men beside him were so shocked by this sudden change that they didn't know how to react.
Lu Ming said calmly, "Lao Liu, if I tell you right now, you are finished. The Black Lao Liu Gang will immediately fall apart and disappear. Do you believe it?"
Shen Qing smiled bitterly and came back to his senses, “Yes, you are right, so Boss Lu, how do you want to deal with me?”
"But if hundreds of bandits split into several or even dozens of small gangs, it would be even more difficult to manage, and that's not what I want. So, Lao Liu, I'm going to show you a way. Only on this way can there be morality!"
Lu Ming waved at him: "Sixth Brother, come here!"
In this situation, Shen Qing smiled bitterly in his heart. He called himself a divine fortune teller in vain, but now he was completely suppressed and had no power to fight back.
Leaning on a cane, Shen Qing slowly moved over.
Lu Ming waved to Liu Sili and He Mojun again: "Sili, sister-in-law, you come too."
Liu Sili and He Mojun watched this thrilling gang strife drama from beginning to end. When they looked at Lu Ming again, their eyes were even more different.
If we say that even if this Mr. Lu is here to divide the cake only because of his relationship with the new county magistrate, then I am afraid that how the cake of Longgang County is divided in the future will all be decided by Mr. Lu, including the four major coal mines, which will probably also have to change their flags.
He Mojun was completely speechless. Sanzi, was it because he had a high fever or something that he had a blocked orifice before, and then he became like this? Some literary novels have this kind of plot.
The two of them were lost in thought and walked over as they were told.
As Lu Ming reached out his hand, Heitou took out some small notebooks and red-headed documents from his briefcase and handed them to Lu Ming.
Shen Qing, Liu Sili and He Mojun had gathered around him by this time.
"Here, these are the letters of appointment for the three of you, and also the county office document regarding the new division of the western mining area." Lu Ming smiled and distributed the documents and small notebooks to them.
The small red-covered book is a letter of appointment from the county government.
The official document from the county government stated that due to the constant banditry in the western mountainous areas, in order to ensure the people's safe and stable living, the mining industry's prosperity and smooth flow, and to protect the people from banditry, all the towns in the west were unified and designated as "Longgang County Xiping District", with a district office established in Sansha Town.
According to the official document, Xiping District, which is within a hundred miles of the mountainous area, consists of a total of more than a dozen coal mining towns in the west, including Sansha Town and Jingyang Town.
A series of people were appointed in the official document.
Liu Sili was appointed as the district chief of the district office.
There is another deputy district chief, named Du Deling, who was originally the mayor of a coal mining town.
A district court was also established, with He Mojun as the first judge.
There are also appointments to the Finance and Taxation Office, Government Affairs Office, Police Office, etc.
The other red-headed document was a document to persuade the Hei Laoliu gang to surrender, proposing a special amnesty for all the crimes committed by the Hei Laoliu gang.
Shen Qing was appointed as the director of the Xining District Police Station and the head of the Xining District Militia.
The Xiangshan Gang of the Hei Laoliu Gang may, at its discretion, retain fifteen members to serve as police officers in the police station.
Among the remaining bandits, fifty of those who are good at doing good will be retained to join the militia and do labor service instead.
The rest were given resettlement allowances and sent to various towns in Xining to be re-registered as citizens.
Lu Ming smiled at Chen Qing at this time, "Sixth Brother, your letter of appointment and this second red-headed document will only take effect after you wipe out the Old Jackal Gang. Otherwise, it would be meaningless to recruit you, right? Of course, my people will cooperate with you."
He added: "The performance of this good person and the second-best person in destroying the Old Jackal Gang can be used as the first assessment."
Chen Qing was silent for a while: "I understand." These officials have always been good at controlling their subordinates, and a blank check can make everyone brave.
"Sixth Brother, this is the real way. Although you are disabled, with this red-seal letter of appointment, you are the root. No one will think that they can replace you by killing you! This is the social order, the real rule." Lu Ming glanced at Shen Qing's expression, and said, "Also, when the new equipment from the East China Sea comes, the mines here will increase. Even your brothers who have been disbanded will have a stable meal. However, it is necessary to suffer a little and be tired. You can't help those who really can't stand it. How can you help them if they are used to being lazy and greedy? Because those who are lazy and greedy become bandits, then it is not unfair for them to be imprisoned or even beheaded!"
"You still have six King Kongs. You decide how to arrange them. Gather them for discussion. As I said before, my people will listen to your arrangements for the time being. You tested their firepower this morning, right? You should have some idea of what they can do."
Shen Qing smiled bitterly: “What if I don’t agree?”
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Didn't you see that the official document recruiting you was sent separately? If you don't agree, this official document will be the same as if it never appeared."
"Actually, I have no other choice but to agree." Shen Qing sighed softly: "If you want to say, you can say that you are my benefactor, but I have never played the role of a marionette. I have always been the one pulling the strings in the back, not the puppet in the front."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "You'll get used to it in the future. In fact, it's a blessing not to have to use your brain too much. I really hope there will be such a day!"
Shen Qing was stunned, and instinctively wanted to roll his eyes, but in his heart, he inexplicably had a better impression of the young Boss Lu. Although, he was so mysterious and unpredictable, and he used to be very arrogant, but compared to him, he had no power to fight back at all.
Brains are one thing, but as he said, this is not the right way, so, a bunch of rabble, they don't even have to do anything, they can just give you money and kill you.
Lu Ming added: "We need to hurry up and eliminate the old jackal. You should know that the old jackal is colluding with the city government police. Don't wait for him to come up with a letter of appointment. If that happens, we will be in trouble."
Shen Qing nodded gently.
"Boss, I won't say anything else!" Liu Sili finally seized the opportunity and moved closer to Lu Ming.
He was a smart man, so he removed the "Lu" from "Boss Lu".
He used to say that he was the mayor, but in fact these coal towns are at the same level as administrative villages in other places.
Today, he has truly ascended to the highest rank of an eighth-grade official.
He Mojun also came to Lu Ming, very surprised, very incredible, and even a little worried, "Third son, although I studied law in school before, I haven't touched it for many years, and now I don't know what many new federal laws are like..."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Federal laws cannot reach here either. Local people should apply federal laws appropriately and combine them with local regulations to find a balance. If a judge really comes from outside, there will probably be a civil uprising in a few days. Besides, no one will be willing to come!"
"So, sister-in-law, whether the rule of law can be restored in Xining depends on you. And in a broader sense, we are just a spark. In the future, the rule of law in Longgang, even the whole Heishan, and even worse, the whole Jiangning Province, will be started by you, sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law, you used to be very brave. You even contradicted my father. Why are you getting more and more timid now? Are you scared by this challenge?"
Looking at Lu Ming who was full of energy when talking about "Sparks Spreading Across the Prairie", He Mojun felt dazed again. He couldn't connect the third son with the young man in front of him.
He sighed softly, "Sanzi, you have really changed a lot, and I have changed a lot too. Looking at you, I think of my ideals when I was in college, and suddenly I feel ashamed." He added, "I will think about it carefully. Anyway..., thank you!"
Lu Ming wanted to say that elder brother would also want me to do this, but after thinking about it, he swallowed the words back. He thought that although he said it unintentionally, the listener might take it to heart, so he should not disrupt other people's current lives.