Guangxi has always been a place of turmoil, and it was in Guangxi that the Jintian Uprising of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom broke out and almost wiped out the Qing Dynasty. Although the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was suppressed, small peasant uprisings still broke out from time to time in Guangxi. When Li Tong and Wang Xiaoer met with the admiral in Nanning, Guangxi, the admiral couldn't believe his eyes, this young county magistrate actually took the initiative to invite Ying to come to Guangxi to serve in Ningming County.

For Li Tong's ambition, the Admiral admired him very much, and greatly appreciated Li Tong's courage, coupled with the edict of the Governor of Liangguang, he naturally gave many cares. After Li Tong and Wang Xiaoer completed the formalities in Nanning, they went straight to Ningming County. On this day, when there were still about 20 miles away from Mingyuan County, Wang Xiaoer ordered to rest. This time, Wang Xiaoer followed Li Tong to take office, according to Deng Zixuan's arrangement, he could not go in a short time, because Guangxi was too chaotic, and he had the responsibility to protect Li Tong's safety. In addition, he has the mission of preparing for the construction of the estate and opening the way.

Ten horse-drawn carriages stopped on the side of the road, and the mountain roads on both sides were very mysterious and creepy. After setting off from Nanjing, the Admiral's words made Li Tong uneasy. Resting on the side of the road, seeing Li Tong sullen, Wang Xiaoer knew what he was thinking and said, "Lord Li! The Admiral is scaring you, you see we haven't encountered robbers along the way, so you don't need to worry. The guide told us that there are still 20 miles away from the county seat, and we will arrive in a few hours, so don't worry! ”

Seeing Wang Xiaoer's grinning appearance, Li Tong reluctantly smiled and said, "Brother Wang, frankly speaking, Mr. Deng told me about the situation in Guangxi before, but I didn't expect the bandits to be so serious. Think about it, how is it good to make trouble every day, we don't have to do anything else, live in fear all day long, I'm afraid that even the county government can't get out, how can I understand the people's feelings, besides, bandits are rampant, the lives of the common people can be imagined, no wonder the people here rebelled. ”

Wang Xiaoer was relieved: "Lord Li, I came this time to assist and protect Lord Li, don't worry, we are not afraid of the bandits coming." "Just a few dozen of you, how much of a difference can it make." Perhaps fulfilling Li Tong's words, a group of bandits suddenly appeared from the nearby hillside, and this group of people screamed like jumping monkeys, and huhula and surrounded them. Li Tong's face turned pale with fright when he saw this, and many bosses who were driving the car jumped out of the carriage and ran towards the opposite mountain. Seeing this, Wang Xiaoer reached deep into his waist and held the handle of the gun, and the other brothers also put their hands deep into their waists.

This group of bandits were dressed in tatters, holding big knives and long-haired weapons in their hands, all of them with teeth and claws, foxes and fake tigers. At this time, the first man with a dark face said with a hideous face: "According to the rules, leave the goods, let you live, and if you resist, you will be killed." Saying that it was too late, Wang Xiaoer didn't draw a single shot, and the leader was shot in the head and fell on his back.

Suddenly striking at the bandits was stupid, "Damn, put down your weapons and surrender obediently!" "Two bandits saw that things were not going well and secretly backed away and tried to escape. Two gunshots rang out behind him, and the two bandits fell to the ground and struggled a few times. "Damn, don't move, no matter how fast your legs are, you can't outrun the bullet in my hand, and if you want to live, squat down for me!" When the bandits saw that more than 20 people were holding the same and never-before-seen foreign guns in their hands, they immediately threw away their weapons and squatted on the ground with their heads in their hands.

His brothers quickly dispersed and surrounded the bandits in the middle. Li Tong woke up like a dream and suddenly came to his senses and said: "Brother Wang, it turns out that you have foreign guns in your hands, didn't Weishenme tell me earlier?" "Master Li, if you know that we have guns, can you let us carry them, you must be afraid of the government chasing you!" "You're telling the truth, what are you going to do with these bandits?" Wang Xiaoer turned around and began to stare at the bandits.

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old half-grown child was found, and Wang Xiaoer motioned for him to come over. Half a dozen children stood up tremblingly, and a thief in his 50s suddenly stood up in front of the child and said, "Official, he is still a child, please let him go!" Wang Xiaoer guessed that this half-grown child must have something to do with the old thief and said: "Old guy, as long as you identify the bandit leader's henchmen, I will let this child go!" ”

Silent! After a long time, the elderly bandits gritted their teeth and began to identify, and soon five or six of the bandits' henchmen were pulled out and shot by name, and then Wang Xiaoer ordered the bandits to bury all the dead bodies. "Brother Wang, what should I do with this group of people?" "Of course I took it away!" "It's okay, put them all in jail and report to the state capital!" "Master Li, where do you want to go, I happen to be short of manpower, so no one is here, I want to set up a security team!" Li Tong was stunned when he heard this. At this time, after the car owner who ran to the distance to avoid came back, the group continued on the road.

A few hours later, they arrived at the county seat of Ningming. Ningming County is known as the state capital, and its jurisdiction includes Pingxiang, Longzhou and other places, and it is a large county. With a strong population and a border with Vietnam, it has historically been a region of turmoil, so serving as a court official here is a chore. As soon as the men and horses entered the city gate, the soldiers at the gate heard that it was a new county order to take over the defense, and immediately reported to the county government.

When the outgoing prefectural magistrate heard that his successor was coming, he immediately dressed up and went out to greet him. This county magistrate is over 60 years old, and after more than ten years of hard work here without promotion, he was finally allowed to be relieved and returned to the field to get out of danger. When they heard the news that the county order they had taken over came, they were naturally overjoyed. “haha！ I didn't expect Lord Li to be so young, this is a bitter cold place, and Lord Li will have a bright future in the future! As soon as I saw the old guy, I complimented and praised him.

"It's really embarrassing for adults, I heard that bandits are rampant here, and the people of Li are complaining, and adults can govern to this day, and the younger generations are deeply admired!" Li Tong is polite. Seeing the bandits who were escorted over, the old guy asked and praised: "Master Li is really young and promising, and he actually captured a group of bandits, and the old man admires it." I believe that Master Li will definitely govern Dingming County into a happy land! "In fact, the old guy knows in his heart that bandits and people are rampant in the county, especially ethnic minorities.

While the two sides were polite, they entered the county government to hand over. The old guy left in a hurry, and it seemed that he was ready. Fortunately, after inspection, there were more than 2,000 taels of silver in the county treasury, which made Li Tong feel a lot of relief. That night, Li Tong and Wang Xiaoer discussed. "Brother Wang, I have no opinion on you setting up a security team, but it is not appropriate for you to recruit these bandits. They are used to killing people and setting fires, and it is difficult to guarantee that they will not do evil things in the future! ”

Wang Xiaoer said with a smile: "Master Li, I have mixed up on the road, and there is no problem in controlling these people." These guys have no way out, and they will follow me with all their hearts. In the future, I will open a trade route from Ningming County to Fangchenggang and run a manor, and I can't do it without a security team. As our business expands, so does the security team. Master Li, don't worry! All this is Mr. Deng's orders! ”

When it came to Deng Zixuan, Li Tong had nothing to say. After being silent for a while, Li Tong couldn't help but take out the letter written by Deng Zixuan, this letter has been read by Li Tong, he doesn't know how many times he has read it along the way, and he almost recited it backwards. "Ethnic policy, ethnic policy!" Li Tong muttered to himself, and suddenly his eyes lit up.

The next day, Wang Xiaoer walked into the room where the bandits lived, and when these guys saw Wang Xiaoer walking in, they were immediately so frightened that they jumped from the bunk to the ground and waited with their eyebrows low. "! You are all evildoers, and you should all be in prison. But then again, if there is a way out, you will not be a bandit! "What the official said is that we were also good citizens in the past, and we really couldn't live anymore to become bandits!" The old fellow exclaimed.

"I'll give you a way to live, are you willing to do it for me?" Huhulala, all the thieves knelt on the ground: "Official! We're willing to follow you! "It's okay to follow me, but you have to follow my rules." Then Wang Xiaoer issued several instructions and continued: "In the future, if anyone violates the rules, he will be beheaded or not, understand?" "Official! If we break the rules and voluntarily die, we will not complain! "The bandits have expressed their loyalty.

On the morning of that day, Li Tong rectified the various passes of the county government. In the afternoon, Li Tong instructed the officials to post a notice outside the county yamen, the content of which was mainly the program to be implemented after he took office. There are two important decisions in the proclamation, one is to reduce or reduce agricultural taxes, and the other is to implement an enlightened national policy. The two most important measures were like bombshells, quickly circulating in Dingming County.

Tax reduction is no joke, and no court official is so bold. Li Tong knew that with Deng Zixuan as a strong backing, he could be fearless. After the opening of the trade route in the future, the profits from commodity trading can fully make up for and support Li Tong's expenses and pay taxes and silver. In addition, the implementation of the policy of respecting ethnic minorities and eliminating their hostile behavior has won the support of the people, and you must know that 70 percent of ethnic minorities in Dingming County are ethnic minorities.

The new officials have taken office with three fires, and no matter how good the governance measures are, they are empty words, and the people need real things. A few days later, a civil case appeared in front of Li Tong, and someone beat the drum that day, and Li Tong hurriedly ascended to the court when he heard it. Soon, an old man and a young man dressed in Zhuang costumes entered the lobby. The two entered the lobby and hurriedly knelt down and the old man said: "Lord Qingtian, I waited for the small people to enter the city to sell firewood, and when I entered the city gate, I was forcibly confiscated by the soldiers guarding the city gate. ”

Li Tong said: "What you said is true? "Are the grass people willing to be punished if they speak?" "Someone! Call the guards at once! Li Tong did not hesitate. After a while, the two soldiers guarding the door entered the lobby, and they were very surprised to see that the county master did not kneel, with a contemptuous look. One of them saw the two villagers kneeling on the ground and immediately knew what was going on.

"My lord! These two Diao Min's disrespectful words actually alarmed adults. We requisition firewood and grass in accordance with the rules, please be aware of it! One of the soldiers said arrogantly. A bunch of nonsense, get on your knees! Li Tong said loudly. When the two soldiers saw dozens of strong men staring at each other, they were so frightened that they had to kneel. In fact, they didn't care about the officials on both sides. "Are you guilty?" "My lord, the requisition of firewood and grass is a general order, what are we guilty of?"

"Damn, even slandering your boss will be added to the crime, and I will be given 20 boards immediately!" "Wow!" Probably the official is used to being bullied by the soldiers, and now he can be regarded as finding an opportunity for revenge. "You can't do this, my lord!" "We were wronged!" With a pig-killing howl, the skin of the 20 killer sticks opened. "Are you guilty?" "My lord, we are guilty!" "Spare us, sir!" The two soldiers pleaded bitterly, and their former prestige was gone.

Li Tong walked down to the old and young and said, "Excuse me!" How much is your firewood worth? The old man was a little apprehensive and said, "A total of 20 tattoo money!" Li Tong instructed the treasurer to give the money to the old man and said, "Deal with it like this, I don't know if you are satisfied?" "The adult mirror hangs high, judges the case impartially, and the grass people are grateful to Dade!" The old man said. "Go down!" One old and one young were a little frightened, bowed and withdrew.

There was a rapid sound of horses' hooves in front of the Yamen of Kung Fu County, and then a Qing army officer and his men swarmed in. "Wronged us!" "Let us call the shots!" Seeing the boss, the two soldiers seemed to be looking forward to a savior, and immediately returned to the yang. The general held his head high and said majestically: "I am waiting for Lord Feng to prepare grain and grass, and your little county order has boldly punished my subordinates, if you delay the adult's suppression of bandits, what should I do?" ”

Li Tong said with a smile: "I have heard that Lord Feng has led the troops in a good way, and Qiu has not committed any crimes. Since it is a bandit, your subordinates have taken it by force, what is the difference between it and bandits, I believe that Lord Feng will never do this. "This general is always a little confused, the new county master is so determined, does he have something to do with adults?" Lord Kuang, Lord Feng is leading his troops to suppress the bandits, if the supply of grain and grass is not enough, I can't pay the difference. Now that the silver has failed, I have to make this decision. ”

"I know that you are having a hard time suppressing bandits and not disturbing the people. You and I are both contributing to the court, and as a parent official, we should help each other. But we can't suppress bandits on the one hand and stir up public resentment on the other. What is called the government forcing the people to rebel, so there will be endless troubles. When someone came, he gave the total adult 10,000 taels of silver for the purpose of raising grain and grass. He was stunned and overjoyed, and immediately threw the two wronged soldiers out of the clouds.

"Lord Kwong, my subordinates are very grateful. I will report to Lord Feng for your great help and say goodbye! After saying that, the chief shook his hands, and then ordered the two soldiers to be carried away. Seeing them walking away, Li Tong took off his official hat, only to see cold sweat on his forehead. There are about 200 soldiers stationed in the city, and it will not end well if it really makes trouble. There is no danger, Li Tong let out a sigh of relief.

Li Tong's first fire was just right, and the move quickly spread, and the prestige of the Sunny Sky Lord began to play. Soon, Feng Zicai revised a book, highly praised Li Tong's initiative, and expressed his gratitude for his great help, and inadvertently he and Feng Zicai got into a relationship. Subsequently, Li Tong announced to the county that all rebels in his territory would be pardoned as long as they put down their swords and guns.

Two months later, Wang Xiaoer assisted the officers and troops to exterminate the bandits in Ningming County. During this period, Wang Xiaoer's subordinates prepared to build two manors and set up a transportation team. The trade route from Ningming County to Fangchenggang was opened, and a large number of commodities poured into Ningming County, and a temporary new situation was formed in the desolate border fortress.