Hearing Yin Shigang's report, Zhu Ping'an's good mood disappeared in the blink of an eye. Since last month, Qingzhou, Yanzhou has been robbed caravans, at the beginning, Dengzhou did not care, the military intelligence department collected a lot of information, but because the scale is small, so it is not included in the scope of attention, now after all, it is a troubled time, business travel robbery is very common.

However, on the third day of the fifth month, a joint horse team of the Dengzhou merchant group was robbed in Qingzhou, and the 300-strong merchant group did not leave a single living mouth. After investigation by the spies of the Military Intelligence Department, the method was exactly the same as that of several previous robbery and murder cases, and it can be determined that the same group of people committed it. Since then, Dengzhou has begun to pay attention to the gang of robbers.

The Military Intelligence Department initially guessed that the target of this gang of robbers was the merchants in the Dengzhou Trade Zone, and if the case is not solved for a long time, it will affect the operation of the entire trade zone. To say that the Dengzhou Military Intelligence Department has a thorough eye line on the Shandong side, but it is quite difficult to investigate this group of robbers. The Military Intelligence Department estimated that the total number of this gang of robbers was about 500 people, and they were fierce and belonged to a premeditated and organized criminal gang, but they did not find many clues when they spread the net, and these hundreds of horse thieves came and went without a trace, and they did not leave the slightest trace, and even after committing the crime, they actually knew how to clean up the battlefield and take away all the traces, including the corpses of the people who died in battle, the blood stains of the wounded, including the arrows used, etc., so as not to leave a chance for the military intelligence office that came later.

In this way, Zhu Ping'an was alarmed, this group of horse thieves and robbers was ruthless, and their advance and retreat were very methodical, and the practice of ambushing the merchant group was quite characteristic of a soldier, so that there was a great conspiracy hidden behind the whole thing.

At this time, the sea was also not calm, and the merchant convoy was in the waters of Dengzhou, and it was attacked continuously, and there was a lot of loss of people and goods. But it's obvious who is behind it. The sea area of Dengzhou has been cleared by the Denglai Naval Division, and the sea has become much calmer, and even Liu Xiaodao and other large groups of pirates have begun to change their identities to maritime merchants.

In addition, after Zheng Sen left Dengzhou, the Zheng family sent Zheng Hongkui to negotiate again, intending to take forty percent of the share of the hollow glove white wolf in the trade zone, but Zhu Ping'an sternly refused. Seven or eight times out of ten, this thing on the sea was made by the Zheng family.

But what about this land-based matter, could it be that the Zheng family is also a ghost?

"The Qixiang Merchant suffered heavy losses, and only one person escaped from the caravan of more than 200 people, and the goods were looted. The method is the same as before, not a single living mouth has been left, our people have already inspected the entire environment, only found some traces of camping and campfires nearby, and nothing else. Qixiang's Shaodong family was desperately rescued by his subordinates, and he fell down the hill to get rid of the pursuers, and the robbers mistakenly thought that he had fallen to death, and the sky was dark, so he saved his life and insisted on returning to Dengzhou. ”

Yin Shigang looked left and right, lowered his voice and said: "There is another difficult thing, this Qixiang is the first customer of our insurance bank, a few days ago the Dusi Yamen solved the dispute between merchants in the trade zone, this Qixiang's old owner is grateful to Dade, and personally sent gifts to the Dusi Yamen but was driven out by the marshal." There was nothing to be done, so in order to repay the favor, he went to the insurance bank to buy an insurance policy of 2,000 taels of silver for this trip to Jiangnan. Now the merchants have begun to rumor in private, I don't know if the government will pay compensation for this ......! ”

Zhu Ping'an was stunned for a moment, and then laughed. I didn't expect this Qixiang's old club to make such a fuss. On that day, I just happened to help some merchants solve a small trick of a wealthy family in Dengzhou to bully people and use some ruffians to harass merchants and occupy shops. But I didn't expect that this Qixiang owner would become the first customer of the insurance bank that has been unattended since its establishment.

In this way, the bad thing becomes a good thing. Nowadays, the caravans have been robbed repeatedly, and the people in the trade area are unstable, but they can take advantage of this incident to stabilize the feelings of the merchants, and by the way, officially introduce the meaning of the insurance bank to everyone.

Zhu Ping'an didn't say anything more, and immediately led one hundred and ten personal guards, as well as Guo Chai and Yin Shigang to the trade zone.

When they arrived at the trade zone, the chengguan brigade sent someone to report that the injured young owner of the Qixiang firm had been sent to the Dengzhou No. 1 Hospital next to the trade zone for treatment.

Dengzhou No. 1 Hospital, which is also Zhu Ping'an's invention when he reorganized the structure of Dengzhou, the current first hospital director is Ma Fu Wang, and now he has changed his name to Ma Yide. The hospital is directly under the Yamen of the Dusi Division, and Ma Yide is also an official in Dengzhou who is now officially compiling the five products.

Although Ma Yide's medical skills are average, he has been following Zhu Ping'an for some time, and this set of management art is learned quickly, after all, he is still a confidant, and the hospital will have to bear the responsibility of field rescue in the future, so Zhu Ping'an arranged for him to come to the battle. Anyway, there is no need for him, the dean, to personally go into battle for diagnosis and treatment, and now Dengzhou is full of talents, and there are no less than 20 famous doctors in Shandong alone.

In addition, the Department of Western Medicine was specially set up, and several Western doctors were invited to sit for consultation, although the business was light, but Zhu Ping'an asked Ma Yide to take the lead in setting up the "Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Research Group", and began to gradually promote the research method of mutual assistance between Chinese and Western medicine, laying the foundation for the development of medicine. After all, some of the treatments of Western medicine still have a positive effect on field bandaging and rapid treatment of wounds, which will play an important role in the future war stage.

Dengzhou No. 1 Hospital is an area protected by the new army, just on the west side of the trade zone, divided into two large compounds, one is responsible for receiving daily treatment, and the medical needs of the huge floating population in the trade zone can be fully satisfied. The other is the research center of Chinese and Western medicine, which is guarded by 100 new soldiers.

When Zhu Ping'an arrived, Qixiang's young owner had just finished bandaging. Speaking of which, he didn't have any major wounds. It's just that when he fell down the hill, he got a lot of bruises, and he fled to Dengzhou for his life, and the fatigue of all the way made the whole person faint as soon as he met the guards of Dengzhou.

At this time, the Shaodong family had just woken up, and when they saw Zhu Ping'an coming in person, they were immediately startled, struggling to get up, but Zhu Ping'an waved his hand. Ma Yide shook his goatee and came over, "Dashuai, this person's injury is not serious, as long as the dressing is changed regularly every day after bandaging, it will be fine, but there is no need to be hospitalized, just go home to recuperate!" ”

Zhu Ping'an nodded, and then ordered to prepare the carriage and personally send the Shaodong family back to the Qixiang shop in the trade zone. This scared him a lot, but Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but say it, insisted on carrying him to the carriage of the Dusi Yamen, and came all the way to the trade area.

On the way, a personal guard was instructed by Zhu Ping'an to go to the Dusi Yamen to invite Hong Fatzi to come over.

In less than a month, there were four robberies in a row, and all of them were aimed at Dengzhou businessmen, leaving no one alive.

Therefore, a large number of businessmen have temporarily closed down, gathered together to ask for an explanation, and more good people are discussing in private, this Qixiang is the first customer of the insurance company, and now he has been robbed, I don't know if the government will pay it. Most people scoffed at it, only the government made money from the hands of the merchants, and where had they heard that the government would lose money to the merchants. This insurance bank is nominally the property of the Trade Zone Management Committee, but everyone knows that this is Zhu Ping'an's private property, will Zhu Dashuai pay money out of his own pocket for a businessman? Wouldn't opening this insurance line become a good deed?

When everyone was gossiping, the news came back, and I heard that Zhu Dashuai personally sent Qixiang's young owner back, and now he has arrived at the street of the trade zone. When everyone heard this, they flocked to Qixiang again.

The old owner of the Qixiang business had already gotten the news, leading a family of old and young, up and down cadres and so on outside the door, and when all the businessmen gathered around, Zhu Ping'an's horse team had also arrived in front of the business.

Zhu Ping'an did not get off the horse, but sat upright on the horse, and ordered his subordinates to carry the young owner down, the old owner was grateful, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing, Zhu Ping'an ordered someone to help him up, looked around at the swarming businessmen, and first made a gesture around.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the big guy must have already known about the Qixiang. Recently, there have indeed been several tragic cases of merchants being robbed in our trade zone. Although it is not in Dengzhou, the official empathizes. The trade zone was first built, if it were not for your enthusiasm, the trade zone would never have today's situation, here this official will say in front of you, within two months, Denglai water division, Dengzhou soldiers and horses will all be dispatched, even if this gang of robbers is hiding outside Dengzhou, this official also vows to uproot it, and return you a peaceful season. ”

Everyone applauded again and again, Denglai Sailor, Dengzhou soldiers and horses were all dispatched, there were tens of thousands of troops, it was not easy to find a group of horse thieves, it seems that this Zhu Dashuai was really enraged, since he came to Dengzhou, except for the inexplicable Siwei mutiny at that time, when have I seen him use such a thunderous method.

Zhu Ping'an pressed his hand down, "Also, you are all businessmen who have traveled all over the world, in order to eliminate the evil, this official also needs your help, after all, the yamen has limited manpower, and I also ask you to spread the news, but if there is news of this gang of robbers, send it to our Dengzhou Metropolitan Military Intelligence Department, and if it is found to be true, this official will reward 1,000 taels of silver!" “

As soon as the words fell, someone around was already shouting, "Don't worry, Dashuai, exterminating this group of horse thieves is for the benefit of our businessmen, how can you accept the money of the yamen." I'll wait for this to spread the news and mobilize the same people in Shandong, whether it is black or white, as soon as there is news, immediately notify the yamen! ”

Zhu Ping'an smiled and arched his hand again, "Then there will be labor, but since the official has already opened his mouth, this reward is still indispensable!" ”

While speaking, Hong Fat Man galloped over, his fat face was flushed, he turned over and dismounted in front of Zhu Ping'an, presented a stack of account books to Zhu Ping'an, and said loudly: "Back to the handsome, the documents of the Qixiang Insurance Bank are all here, please take a look!" ”

Zhu Ping'an didn't take it, but asked, "Have you verified it clearly?" ”

"Back to Dashuai, clearly, on March 29, Qixiang went to the insurance bank in the trade zone to buy the insurance of the Jiangnan trade, and the terms stipulated that all goods suffered losses in Denglai, except for natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, thunder and lightning, our insurance bank should pay compensation in accordance with the terms and conditions! On the book, the seals and signatures of the insurance bank and Qixiang are complete! ”

Zhu Ping'an smiled and clapped his hands, "Then there's nothing to say, it just so happens that everyone is here today, so let's pay in front of the big guys!" ”

"Yes!"

Hong Fatzi did not drag the mud and water, and waved his hand not far away, and everyone realized that there were two mule carts outside, and a total of five wooden boxes were placed on the carts.

While everyone was talking, the soldiers had cleared a road, and the mule cart came to the door of the Qixiang. The old owner of the Qixiang seemed to have guessed something, waved his hand again and again, and jumped to his feet in a hurry.

Zhu Ping'an said: "Old man, don't worry, the insurance bank is also doing business, the terms of the contract are clearly written, who should bear the responsibility must be borne, business is nothing more than the word integrity, without these two words, how can business be done for a long time?" ”

Zhu Ping'an's words suddenly silenced everyone around him, and they were thoughtful.

The wooden box was moved down and neatly placed in front of the gate of the Qixiang, and Hong Fatzi handed a contract to the old club, "The insurance bank will pay compensation for the Qixiang insurance, according to the standard of two thousand taels of silver, a total of 18,865 taels of silver should be paid to you, the silver in this wooden box has been counted, please send someone to collect it!" “

The old boss looked at Hong Fatzi, and then looked up at Zhu Ping'an, his face suddenly flushed, and he didn't know what to do for a while, so he had to use all his strength to stomp his feet, "Sin, sin!" The adult is righteous, the little old man is grateful, and he will collect something, come and load the silver into the car, and immediately send it to the money bank in our trade zone to be saved! ”R1152