To be honest, Zhou Huai'an really didn't expect to meet such an old acquaintance here; Especially since the farewell in Guangzhou, it's really limited and weird, so I made a mark of biological characteristics.

"Governor, what's wrong?"

Yang Shigu seemed to sense something in his tone, and asked quietly.

"It's not bad, it's just that maybe the political security team will come in handy."

Zhou Huai'an said in a hesitant voice. And his subtle movements seemed to make the crowd feel something, and the temperature of watching the singing and dancing became warmer and more expected.

"Political security team? Does anyone dare to do such a reckless thing on this occasion? ”

Luo Yin frowned slightly; This made those who were secretly carefully watching and observing him suddenly speculate and conjecture for a while.

The political security team is the internal security department of the current Metropolitan Governor of the Taiping Army, and it is also the fourth semi-open and powerful department under the special (other) work (work) committee (committee), following the Social Investigation Department, the Enemy Work Department, and the Anti-Rebellion Committee;

As the name suggests, it is mainly to provide corresponding personal safety and external security means for the middle and high-level personnel within the Taiping Army; The predecessor originated during the period when the Sanjiang Army was still the first generation of Chaoxun, and under the establishment of the rear battalion, it was provided with temporary protection for some non-combatants when carrying out activities in the local area.

Mainly from the apprentice team and the direct team; Later, after gaining a firm foothold in Guangfu and becoming bigger, it further expanded the scope of corresponding functions and audiences; It has become a normal dispatch mechanism.

The main reason is that the Taiping Army has cultivated corresponding administrative backbones and experienced manpower, which is quite valuable, but it is easy to be counterattacked and reversed by the traditional old forces and the remnants of the government when implementing and implementing government decrees in grassroots townships, and there are casualties.

Therefore, a group of relatively strong-willed and ideologically competent soldiers have been specially selected to serve as escort tasks and emergency support for corresponding activities, so as to reduce the probability of being attacked and plotted by hostile elements who are stubbornly resisting during grassroots activities.

Later, after the Taiping Army came out of the mountains, the scope of activities from south to north became larger and larger, and the hole cards that needed to be governed and cleared became more and more extensive; An increasing number of officials and clerks have been dispatched to the localities to preside over the situation and to act as clerks. The original dispatch system was somewhat inadequate.

Therefore, in the great counterinsurgency after the return of Huangchao's expedition to Jiangdong and Huainan, such a low-key and infamous department was set up after learning from the pain. Specially for the corresponding level and exclusive tasks in the system, etc., to provide corresponding active (open) or passive (covert) security work.

Therefore, in terms of specific training and action mode, it is gradually decoupled from the original colorful army; There is no need to emphasize the courage and ferocity of the charge, and there is no need to highlight the strong aggression of the armor. Begin to emphasize the execution and completion of tasks without obtrusion.

And it requires a keen and meticulous observation and perception, and a sophisticated way of improvisation; And good at using all kinds of short soldiers and protective equipment in light situations, and even using non-direct lethal equipment, to deal with and confront any possible threat.

Therefore, as the last bit of remnant of the Tang Dynasty Ranger in this era. At the beginning, those who had been rangers and heroes of the green forest, house protectors, and even the ninth-rate actors in the troubled times were also specially selected to serve as instructors in hand-to-hand combat and weapon fighting skills, as well as imaginary enemies who simulated confrontation.

Later, the existence of warrior monks in the Zen sect, local generals, and other fields joined one after another, and brought some inheritances of fists, feet, sticks, fitness exercises, and medical healing, so that the manpower in the specialized field gradually became abundant, and extended to other departments such as enemy workers, social surveys, and suppression.

Therefore, in a sense, these specially appointed and regularly rotated guards are also another insurance measure and safety valve in a sense; Once these people who may have confidential content or key positions have any signs of vacillation or rebellion, they can also take measures to stop losses and remedy them as soon as possible.

After all, it is different from the traditional guards of the past who were pro-soldiers and cabinet-style private guards; From the very beginning, they choose the most determined seedlings and instill them with lofty ideas and lofty goals for a long time, most of them are difficult to buy and bewitch, or they need to pay a big price that is unbearable.

Or they may have problems with formality, dogma, and rigidity, but they are superior to most Taiping soldiers in terms of loyalty and action. Therefore, most of the Metropolitan Governor's Offices are now configured from the top down to the level of key municipalities and towns under the local counties.

In total, there are also five brigades (regiments), and they are also responsible for the training of personnel and specialties of other departments such as the Anti-Counter Committee, the Enemy Work Department, and the Social Investigation Department. Because after the Taiping Army gradually took control of the land of Wunan, it also specially set aside a number of corresponding closed areas and site layouts in Hunan to simulate confrontation drills under various circumstances.

Among them, on the basis of these manpower to form an invisible defense line, there are also carefully selected skilled fighters and fighting masters, with the elite veterans in the army who have experienced a hundred battles; Form a combat team that specializes in offensive defense, and at any time carry out thunderous suppression and capture operations against potentially dangerous objects and suspicious targets.

Therefore, compared to the left, center, and right pro-direct battalion (direct team) that needs to follow the commander to charge left and right, and at the same time act as a reserve, an honorary unit, and a disguised non-commissioned officer corps seed; They play a greater role in the city and the building, and they spend more time with them on a daily basis.

This time it was clear that they would come in handy.

You must know that in normal times, because of Zhou Huai'an's travel and public appearances, there are people in armor and chariots and horses accompanying him; At other times, they stay in the heavily protected government office meeting council members, or in the garden of the back house, and basically there is no time when these high-level elite manpower can play a role.

On the contrary, the security work and corresponding tasks assigned to those officials and important personnel under his command have repeatedly triggered alarms and made meritorious contributions. After all, what the Taiping Army did had almost destroyed the roots and foundation of the entire old vested interest class.

Whether it is out of the public heart and selfish righteousness of national hatred and family hatred, there is always no shortage of people who are unwilling to withdraw from the stage of history, and want to fight hard when their families are broken and dying. Therefore, in some areas where the intensity of conflict is greater or where banditry is rampant, corresponding members are often sent to join the "three detachments".

In this way, in addition to dealing with some possible sporadic sneak attacks and retaliation, in the event of a major crisis and serious obstacles, the relevant people can also rely on their skills and a certain probability to rush out first to report and get rescue.

"Don't worry, let's wait and see what happens. We must believe in the means and determination of our peace soldiers. Maybe there will be other surprises."

Thinking of this, Zhou Huai'an said to him widely. Because in his ever-expanding senses, he found something else.

At this time, the singing and dancing in the audience changed again, leaving only the sound of the shakuhachi blowing like a cry, and the dancers who also left the scene behind the scenes, once again had the female voice around the beam to sing the "Lotus Picking Song" full of Jiangnan charm

"Ruoye Creek Lotus Picker,

Laughing at the lotus flowers.

Sunshine new makeup water bottom bright,

The wind is fragrant and lifted in the air.

Who's on the shore is Yu Yelang,

Three, three, five, five reflect the weeping poplar.

The purple slump hissed into the falling flowers,

Seeing this, he hesitated and broke his bowels. ”

Accompanying the singing is the ringing of silver bells, a white dress with narrow sleeves and waist, plain gauze and pink edges like lotus petals, and several new dancers swaying out; I saw that between their simple and elegant arms and legs, they danced "Lotus Step Dance" like graceful swaying buds in the wind.

The skirt and dance steps that twist with the wind, the thin waist and the low brocade bust that fade away, and the snow-white slender feet with only silver bell chains are different flavors than before. And Zhou Huaian couldn't help but sigh, as if his other little hobby was also revealed.

And in the outer room of Wanghailou, where the sky is getting darker and darker, the guards on duty and the guards in armor above and below the high platform; It was also another group of people wearing chain vests and crowns, crossbows and short guns, after communicating with special gestures and completing the handover, began to quietly and quickly control the waiting carriages and horses, drivers, slaves and the like.

Then, like a clear current, the new team infiltrated and infiltrated all the important positions outside the Wanghai Tower, the portal and window, and then competed in the gesture to bow down against the wall and make a gesture of listening with a bated voice.

Then, there were some people who were as sturdy as ape's stomachs, and in this way, in the midst of the echoes and cheers in the hall, they supported each other and climbed towards the upper floor. Then, in a fleeting exclamation, it disappeared under the corridors, balustrades, and eaves.

At this time, the singing and dancing in the hall also stopped again, and one of the elders, who was the oldest among the representatives of the fathers and elders and had hair like snow, began to raise his glass tremblingly and bow forward, and slowly gave a speech and congratulations:

"May the Governor of the Metropolitan be blessed with longevity and prosperity, and his grace will be extended, and he will be extended to all people."

"Okay, it's just that if my longevity is extended, then what should you people do, do you obediently go to the eighteenth layer of hell to be your companion?"

Zhou Huai'an, who should have stood up and paid a little courtesy, smiled without moving in his seat.

- I'm the dividing line -

In the rear of Jiangling City, in the Yanei branch of the metropolitan governor Pang, there are also people who are now the first person in the government affairs association who are now left in the rear, Xiangzhou Governor Shi Shi and the judge Cao Shi Fan Xuan.

"Fan Gong! Don't you have a single idea about this? You are the first patriarch to be valued by the governor among the subordinates of the governor's mansion. ”

"Nowadays, most of the high-ranking people at all levels of the local yamen are those generals who used to belong to the righteous army, not to mention the retired soldiers who have been transferred to the local government to continue their posts."

"Those of my generation who came from a literary background can only sink into the subordinates, and they have worked hard to improve their qualifications and ranks, and they have to be restricted and angry by these vulgar and unliterate people."

"The local people in Jinghu are complicated, and they can't be stable unless they are strong, and they have to be in charge of the martial arts, but the five states in western Zhejiang are in a blink of an eye, and they are in urgent need of employing people to govern and rectify."

"Everyone is watching with their eyes, just waiting for your words, there is a backbone."