Chapter 4 Security Team

  The nation's wine culture can quickly bring two people who have just met closer together. In the private room on the second floor of Donglai Shun in Beidou, cups and chopsticks are crossed, and the atmosphere is getting thicker.

  On a cold winter day, scoop up a mouthful of mutton from the steaming hot pot and down it with a cup of old baijiu - that's what I call enjoyable.

  The third button on Li Guangbiao's uniform was already undone, and he raised his wine cup. "Gao Yang, my younger brother, I'm too happy today! From the Army Primary School to the Army Middle School and then to the Baoding Military Academy, I studied hard for two years. After entering the 13th Division, I thought I had finally made it." His eyes began to redden as he spoke.

  "Old Li, you've had too much to drink, sit down and take a rest." Gao Youcai firmly pulled over Li Guangbiao who was standing but swaying slightly.

  "I'm fine, it's all good." With a flick of his hand, Li Guangbiao brushed off Gao Youcai and raised his wine cup in a toast to Gao Yang, then downed the drink in one gulp.

  "I, Li Guangbiao, have been in the military for over a decade. I ask myself, my talents and abilities are not inferior to those who only know how to eat and drink. Hehe, after so many years, I'm still just a deputy regiment commander. And there's news circulating that the military is planning to discharge unqualified personnel, hehehe, it seems I've become unqualified now." Is Li Guangbiao drunk or using drunkenness as an excuse to reveal his true feelings to Gao Yang?

  Gao Yang smiled and picked up the cup, downing it in one gulp. "Quickly, Yuan Dian." Before he could even swallow, Gao Yang had Yuan Dian activate its filtering function to filter out the alcohol. It wasn't that Gao Yang wasn't man enough, but this 65-degree-old Baijiu was really too much for him to handle.

  Gao Youcai pressed Li Guangbiao back into his chair and instructed Yang Dong and others to take care of him, then sat down beside Gao Yang with the same old routine, one mouthful and one cup. Gao Yang also remained expressionless and returned a toast of one cup.

  "General Gao, you are aware of our situation. We have been dissatisfied with our time in the military and there have been rumors that we will be discharged. Officer Cao has asked us to come and join your ranks. Feng County is close to our hometowns, so several of us would like to follow you to Feng County to serve in the security team. Please take care of us."

  Gao Youcai also drank a lot, but his collar was buttoned up tightly and he sat upright like a pine tree. Several people stared at Gao Yang, waiting for him to respond. Even Li Guangbiao, who had been shouting loudly, fell silent.

  Gao Yang sat quietly, fiddling with the ring on his finger. The red and white faces sang, it's rare that they could still mix in Beiyang for so many years.

  "Everyone, please look at Gao Yang, willing to come to Fengxian Security Team, Gao Yang thanks you here." He stood up and toasted a few people with a cup of wine. Then he said, "Since everyone has come, the Fengxian Security Team will follow the law and military regulations, if there is any violation, I will never tolerate it personally."

  Gao Yang took out 5 ￡1000 cheques and handed them to the 5 people, saying "Since you are willing to lower your status, from now on you will be one of us. Take these resettlement fees back with you to sort out your family affairs, and report to the armory tomorrow morning."

  Several people looked at each other in dismay after receiving the check, having never seen so much money before. Gao Youcai hesitantly told Gao Yang, "Actually, there are a few more brothers who want to return to their hometown in Anhui." It seems that money can still move ghosts after all.

  Returned to the original time and space, took a hot bath, and had a good sleep. Although it was a bit of a waste of energy to filter out the alcohol, it wasn't completely gone, and sleeping with a slight buzz felt the most comfortable.

  Got up in the morning and had breakfast in the restaurant, made a few phone calls and then returned to the room and changed into 1924.

  It's not that Haoyang can't afford a house in Beijing now, it's just that he already has other plans and is only temporarily staying there.

  Gao and others set out to the military armory of the Ministry of the Army. Officer Cao, with a smile on his face, came over and said, "Brother, the Ministry of the Army attaches great importance to the banditry in Feng County, and has specially allocated a batch of weapons for the Feng County Security Regiment."

  "Thanks for taking care of me, sir." Gaoyang was also smiling happily. 100,000 pounds ah, exchanging a few officers is just a small price to pay, the main thing is still this batch of military supplies. Although it's only 1924 military supplies, as long as they can be used in the early stages, that's enough.

  It's not that we can't afford modern military equipment, but who would use a batch of AK47s without any foundation? And it's even more wasteful to produce them with energy points, it's not like we're building Gundam.

  Officer Cao handed over the transfer order signed by the Chief of the Army to Gao Yang, took a photocopy of Gao Yang's graduation certificate from the German Military Academy, and left with a smile after making an appointment for their next drink.

  Gao Yang entered the warehouse, handed a check to the warehouse manager, and then went with the manager to the office to drink tea and chat. As for the selection work, of course, it was left to the professionals to do.

  According to Gao Yang's previous arrangement, Gao Youcai and a few others selected new stocks according to the standard infantry regiment configuration. 800 unopened Han Yang-made rifles, 4 Maxim guns (unfortunately no cannons were given), but enough ammunition, hand grenades, and 200 boxes of explosives were taken. Other personal items such as uniforms, shoes, military caps, canteens, etc. were all taken in triple the amount.

  Deng Gao Yang and Warehouse Director came out together to select the goods that had been piled up together.

  Gaohao arranged for the southbound train to Bengbu, and Gaoyou and the escort team took the military supplies to the warehouse at the train station. Gaoyang accompanied the warehouse director to drink wine.

  Having arranged for someone to look after his house in Beijing, he left a note and locked the door, then boarded the train south that evening.

  There were 7 more subordinates from Anhui who graduated from Baoding Military Academy, all of whom were unsatisfactory company-level officers in the army. There was also an army platoon escorting them.

  After saying goodnight to each other in the six separate compartments of the bus, they rested. The door was locked and the signal was set before returning to the original time and space. After showing up in the hall and getting on the bus, they went to Qiao Jiangnan.

  I made an appointment with the ambassador of a certain country in Africa through an intermediary and had dinner together. The intermediary and the ambassador couple arrived together after waiting for less than half an hour in the private room.

  After mutual praise, they took their seats. Gao Yang cursed in his heart, "What's with the English? It's already 10 o'clock, we need to hurry up and earn some energy points, all this talking is just a waste."

  After three rounds of wine and five flavors, Gao Yang directly entered the topic "Mr. Ambassador, I learned from the news that your country has many refugees who cannot eat due to drought. As a kind-hearted person, my heart is very sad." He touched his eyes and continued to say to the ambassador "I want to establish a charity fund in your country, investing 2 million euros to do my best for the people of your country."

  The ambassador took the check from Gao Yang with a poker face, glanced at it and put it in his pocket. He said to Gao Yang, "Mr. Gao, I represent the people of the whole nation to thank you. You are a true philanthropist." He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "To show our gratitude for Mr. Gao's kindness, is there anything we can do for you?"

  The meat has arrived, and Gao Yang said with a smile: "Your country's folk customs are simple and honest, the products are rich, and the environment is excellent. I am very optimistic about your country's economic prospects and would like to make economic investments in your country. I don't know if I have the honor of contributing to your country's economic development?"

  The intermediary sitting next to him expressionlessly sipped his tea, but in his heart he had already cursed: "Fighting with AK47 all day, the folk customs are simple and honest, the products are rich except for stones and woods, the environment is excellent with 9 months of rain and drought, damn it, you have so much money that you don't know where to spend it, wait until you go there and aren't swallowed whole by someone, skin and bones."

  "We welcome Mr. Gao to visit at any time and our country will provide all the convenient conditions for you." The ambassador didn't mention anything about the foundation, and it seemed like Gao Yang had also forgotten about it. The host and guests were having a great time with cups and chopsticks clinking together.

  Back at the hotel, he activated the time-space shuttle and arrived in 1924. For the next two days, Gao Yang spent his days chatting in the carriage and returned to Beidou to sleep at night.

  After crossing the Huai River, they got off at Bengbu and unloaded the military supplies. The liaison team escorted them all the way to Feng County. Gao Yang didn't go with them, but instead went to visit the high-ranking officials, drinking happily at the wine table, and after receiving a check, he patted his chest and said that if there was anything, they could come find him. Feng County is under the jurisdiction of Bengbu.

  In Bengbu, I exchanged a large sum of silver dollars at a money shop.

  The next morning, Gao Yang took a bus to Feng County and caught up with the team halfway. The long team stretched for half a mile. Gao Youcai reported that many suspicious people had been lurking around since last night.

  Gao Yang smiled and didn't say anything. Before dark in the afternoon, he rushed to Feng County and first went to the county government office to visit the county magistrate and hand over official documents. Accompanied by the county magistrate, they went together to the garrison of the security team.

  Looking at the security team's barracks in Gaoyang, I was speechless. The low and dark dilapidated houses mostly had no roofs. Wearing hats askew, barefoot, dressed more tattered than beggars, the soldiers were either chain-smokers or old men, the rest were just thugs.

  With a wave of his hand, the team returned to the county town and booked the only inn. After arranging personnel and supplies, he accompanied County Magistrate to attend the welcome banquet prepared by Fengxian gentry for Gaoyang.

  After you come and go, blowing each other's trumpet, let's get down to business.

  "Zi Hou (the courtesy name given by Gao Yang to himself) the safety of this county from now on will all depend on you." The county magistrate started to flatter him.

  "County Magistrate, respected elders, I, Gao Yang, though lacking in talent, have received your great love and will certainly exhaust all my strength to protect the border and bring peace to the people." Having said that, he raised his head, drained the cup of wine in one gulp.

  "Zi Hou is a talented overseas returnee, and our county has been able to rest easy with him leading the security team." The speaker was the owner of Jinbao Pawnshop in the city. Gao Yang noticed that he had been overly flattering for a while now, either a swindler or a thief.

  He hadn't drunk two cups before he revealed his true intentions, startling Gao Yang. This guy was the fence for Liu San Dao, the biggest bandit in Feng County. He brought gifts and messages to the new security team leader, saying that from now on, whatever business Liu San Dao did, Gao Yang could take a share without lifting a finger, as long as everyone minded their own business and asked Gao Yang to turn a blind eye.

  But what's even more outrageous is that Liu San Dao sent a message saying "Can you sell me some of the military equipment in your hands? The money is easy to discuss, just name your price."

  Gao Yang coughed and took a sip of tea to cover it up, saying "Let's talk about it later."

  Returned to the inn, arranged for the soldiers to be on high alert and thought about how to solve these small matters. For Gao Yang, who possessed ultra-modern technology, these were all trivial matters, not even worth mentioning. Although he currently did not have the ability to manufacture most items.

  The next morning, a sum of money was given to each member of the escort team, asking them to stay and help temporarily. Then, bringing all personnel and equipment to the security detachment's residence, gathering everyone together to collect all weapons and documents. Each soldier received 15 taels of silver, and for each level above squad leader, an additional 50 taels were given, after which everyone was dismissed on the spot.

  The dispersal process was not smooth either, with old soldiers making a scene, begging pitifully, and some even trying to incite armed resistance. Everything was resolved smoothly after 5 gun-wielding thugs were hung on the door beam.

  Yang Dong brought people to ask the county magistrate to take a route, one village at a time, to post notices recruiting new soldiers. Directly carrying boxes filled with silver dollars to recruit people, those willing to join the security team would immediately receive 50 silver dollars as a settlement fee, and their monthly salary would be 10 yuan, the same as the regular Northern Yang army.