The kerosene lamps were dim and pungent, and wisps of green smoke rose into the air, illuminating the small houses, reflecting two slender shadows.

Birmingham, as the second largest city in the UK, naturally has electric lights, but the cost is high, and ordinary families simply cannot afford it. Kerosene lamps are more affordable, with only half a bowl of kerosene to light up for three hours, and the cost is one-fifth of that of electric lights.

Hilya used the dim light to cut her father's hair and beard, and when she put down the spatula, she took out a letter from a drawer.

The envelope, which was identified as coming from the Birmingham Police Service, stated that demobilized soldiers would be recruited to join the Birmingham Volunteer Police, use their spare time to perform policing on a voluntary basis, wear uniform, have the same rights as regular police officers, and receive a grant.

Volunteer police officers are temporary workers, community service police are full-time contract workers, and only regular police officers have an establishment......

"I asked the messenger to change who was invited, which means you can't have Adolphs and Beach replace you. Of course, you can also say no, but a salary of £3 and 10p a week ......"

In 1917 a police officer was paid £2 and 8 pence a week, significantly less than other skilled workers, who expected to be paid £3 and 10 pence a week after training.

This was due to the fact that at that time, a large number of police officers were lost and went to the armed forces, and they lost four rest days a month, adding a lot of tedious and cumbersome work.

The 1918 police strike in London took the government by surprise, but the government reacted quickly and threatened that those who had struck would be fired.

Sergeant Nevelle McCready, Commissioner of the London Police, declared: Strike, must be crushed once and for all! Otherwise, I don't think you'll ever be at peace with the police in this country.

This may seem like a contradiction, but in fact it is oppression and threat.

The post-war period was chaotic in various industries, gangs, Bolsheviks, the IRA, the aristocracy...... They are all vying for the top position and defending their own interests!

And extinguishing the burning flame by thunder means is a reasonable and fast means used by the Zhengfu!

Sir McCready's threat brought the strike to a complete failure, but he never thought it would backfire...... has been pressed for a long time, even if he is dying, he wants to turn over and see the blue sky.

The consequence was the disappearance of police officers from large areas of the city, Friday, August 1.

That is, the beginning of the bank holiday weekend, with massive looting in various regions, looting clothing stores, grocery stores, department stores, and even musical instrument stores!

Establishments selling alcohol became the main targets, and large quantities of alcohol were looted.

There was a quote in the New York Times at the time: The sound of huge flat glass windows shattering echoed in the air!

Armed British soldiers, repeatedly using bayonets, armoured vehicles, and magistrates reading out the Riot Act, continued the riots and looting.

It was not until Sunday, when the looting subsided after a massive attack by non-striking police and special armed police using batons, and the strike came to an end.

The British government then studied it for two weeks and introduced an improved pay scale, starting at £3 for 10p a week and £4 for 10p a week for experienced (regular police officers).

It is also officially granted the formal body of the 'Police Federation' of the force to represent ordinary officers.

Is this a good thing? No, there are pros and cons. The law also prohibits police from taking industrial action, meaning that police officers can no longer participate in strikes.

and fired all police officers who 'defected', in the words of Home Secretary Edward Short, and many were blacklisted for future employment.

In November 1918, Britain held its first general election since World War I, and it was at this time that Edward Edward, Secretary of State for the Home Affairs, and Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for the Army and Air Force, entered the Cabinet.

The period after the strike subsided, the acceleration of demobilization and the return of military personnel to civilian jobs brought a temporary calm to the industrial and policing sectors.

That's why Russell Campo received an invitation from the Birmingham Police Department, or a 'letter of introduction' to prove that he was going to the police station to join the volunteer police force.

"Sylya, I'll go to work, you don't have to worry."

Russell looked up at his beautiful daughter, raised his hand to stroke her head, and said with a smile: "Don't be cautious with me, if you have something to say, I am your father, and we are a family." ”

"Okay, Dad...... I have some thoughts for you. Adolph and Beechcraft are adults, and I want them to be apprenticed to a light weapons factory or to an Austin Motor Company, even if it is a small earning, but it is a legitimate career. ”

"If left unchecked, they are likely to be taken advantage of by street hooligans to do stupid things."

Russell pointed to the cigarette on the table, and Shirya picked it up and took one out of his mouth, put it in his mouth and lit it, and said, "What do you think, I asked Adolphus what he meant when I sent him back tonight." Neither Adolphs nor Beechcraft wanted to be apprentices, they didn't want to earn a dead wage and see the end of the job when they opened their eyes. ”

Hirya frowned, "What do they want to do?" Gangsters? ”

"Since they don't want to, don't persecute it, otherwise it's counterproductive. Don't you know the personalities of Adolphus and Beech? Let them stay at home for the time being, and talk about it when I join the company, maybe we can start a small business. ”

"Small business? But we don't have the money......"

Russell raised his hand and patted Shirya's shoulder and said, "Judging from the current situation, not all small businesses need capital. Go back to bed, you wake up early tomorrow, and if there's a guest visiting, whoever is going to wake me up, you know? ”

"Okay."

The house has four rooms, the upstairs two are the main house and Aiyin's room, and the downstairs two are the houses of the brothers Shirja and Campo.

The knives on the shelves in the kitchen are polished, the floor is spotless, and the items are neatly arranged.

It can be seen that these are all the credit of Shirya.

Following.

Not long after the sun rose, Shirya was making breakfast while Adolphs and Beech were out carrying firewood and tidying up the hallway.

Like her father, Ai Yin slept in the house.

The originally noisy Lanpo Street instantly quieted down, and an Austin elf car 'buzzed' and stopped in front of No. 12 Lanpo Street.

】

Adolphe and Beechcraft straightened up and saw two fashionably dressed men in octagonal hats with razor blades sewn into the brim.

This made their hearts pause for a moment, and they only felt a boom, as if the sky had fallen.

"Is this Russell Campo's home?"

Adolphus and Beach looked at each other and nodded slowly, "Yes." ”

"Are you the sons of Campo?"

"Yes."

It was Tommy and his third brother John, and as for the eldest Arthur? Because I was drunk last night, I am lying in bed like a dead pig at the moment.

Last night, Tommy fell into a deep sleep after being knocked unconscious by a palm, and slept until dawn, which was very sweet.

Half an hour ago, Tommy, who was asleep, was woken up by Uncle Charlie banging on the door, and Uncle Charlie rushed to his room in a panic and told the reason.

The batch of arms that the Razors got by accident was stolen!

The boatman Colly, who was transporting to the old tobacco docks, is missing!

When Tommy heard the news, he was stunned.

He immediately sent someone to investigate, looking for Koli and the lost ship, as well as eyewitnesses.

Eventually, the lost boat was found on the waterway near Grimm Prison, but there was nothing left on it.

And Colley did not return home, and asked the two men who had gone to pick up Colley last night, and they said that they had seen Colley at the old tobacco dock, but Colley did not drive the boat into the dock, but drove to Smart Pier, saying that Charlie ordered it.

But Charlie never gave such an order...... Tommy asked the two of them personally, did he really see Coley?

They nodded in conviction: "Although I didn't see the face, the body silhouette and voice are Coley!" ”

"What time?"

"It was around 11:40."

Tommy frowned, thinking of the uninvited guest who had come to Shelby's lair last night, and he felt a bit of a coincidence.

Russell was suspected, but Russell and Tommy met and talked at 11:50, during which there were only 10 minutes to spare, and Russell Campo couldn't do such a tedious thing in 10 minutes.

It would take more than ten minutes for one person to carry the munitions, and the boat would have to be driven to the vicinity of Grimm Prison and then detoured to Watertree Lane...... No matter how you calculate, there is not enough time.

But he was still skeptical of Russell, and if Colley collaborated with him to steal arms? Or there are other accomplices, no one can say.

The loss of arms is a trivial matter, mainly because I am afraid that someone with a heart will use arms to make a fuss.

That's undoubtedly playing with a knife on the head of the razor party, and it's up to others to comb any hairstyle.

Other than that, there don't seem to be many drawbacks, and there are some benefits, such as quietly getting rid of a troublesome thing.

But Tommy's disappointment is that he can't use arms to deal with the IRAF and the police in Sinn Féin, and he can't find a living space in the gaps.

Aunt Polly clapped her hands and said, "This is God's will, he is protecting our Shelby family!" ”

Tommy didn't say anything, just shouted to John and went out the door to 12 Lampo Street.

Ignoring the Campo brothers, he stepped through the door, just in time to see a girl placing breakfast on the table.

Hirja was stunned when she saw the two of them, looked at the Campo brothers behind them, and heard Tommy say, "Let Russell Campo come out to see me." ”

"Wait a minute."

Sylya turned and stepped upstairs and knocked on her father's door.

"Dad, two gentlemen are looking for you."

Russell opened his eyes and lifted the quilt, got up and opened the door, and said, "Who?" ”

"Razor on the brim, Shelby."

"Go to your sister's room and stay there."

Hirya nodded, pushed the door into the next room, closed the door gently, and sat down on the chair next to Ai Yin's bed, quietly looking out the window, not knowing what she was thinking.

Russell rubbed his face and walked downstairs, pointed to the two silly boys standing at the door, and said, "Come in, meet the leader of the Razor, don't stand there stupidly." ”

Adolphus and Beachy looked at each other, their eyes filled with wonder and fear. But hearing their father's words, they still walked in the door with small steps and came to Russell's side.

Tommy and John sat on the couch, smoking with their legs crossed.

"Mr. Campo, you must know very well what the reason for the interruption is. You came in and out of the prostitute's lair last night and visited my room. ”

John was stunned, he hadn't heard Tommy say this at all, otherwise he wouldn't have been so indifferent when he entered the door just now, but would have burst out and overturned the roof!

"What? He treats you like a prostitute? Tommy..."

"John, this is a matter for me and Mr. Campo, please be patient."

Russell sat down at the table and picked up the bread, beckoning Adolphus and Beechcraft to sit down and dine together, these two silly boys were stunned, although they were a little afraid of Shelby in their hearts, but this was in their own house, and his father was next to him, so he ate breakfast and gobbled it up, and looked at Tommy and John with scrutinizing eyes from time to time.

Seeing the two sons so competitive, Russell chuckled and said, "For the sake of my daughter, there is no choice. Can Mr. Shelby forgive me? ”

"Of course, I'm known to be a generous person."

Tommy is not generous, he is afraid......

Can a person who can sneak into Shelby's lair quietly be a simple person?

Besides, he was holding a custom-made Colt pistol in his hand at the time, if it was stolen, who would believe it? Except for this thing captured on the battlefield, it can only be given by a big man in a high position!

Thinking of these two points, Tommy, who prides himself on being smart, does not dare to do anything to the Campo family.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have come with John, but the Shelby family would have come out!

"Mr. Campo, I lost my things, are they with you?"

Russell was stunned for a moment, and looked up at him, "What's it?" Do you think my family is poor and I steal in your room? ”

Tommy frowned, and as he looked at Russell's puzzled expression, he felt that the loss of the arms had nothing to do with him.

"No, no, I'm just politely checking. I heard that Mr. Campo was so sad some time ago that he neglected the family ......"

Russell said with a calm face: "If you come to pierce my heart, I will make your heart full of holes." ”

"My heart is already broken."

Tommy took out a cigarette and lit it, crossed his legs and said, "I don't mean to offend, I just want to ask if you have a job, if not, the Shelby family is always welcome, and I will give you a weekly salary higher than that of the director of the Austin Motor Company." ”

"I've received an offer to volunteer from the Birmingham Police Department and will be reporting tomorrow......"

When John heard this, he was about to burst out when Tommy pushed him back.

He glared at Russell and didn't say a word.

Tommy nodded and got up: "Okay, I wish you every step in the police world." ”

"I heard that a chief inspector has come to the police station, do you have any information about him?"

Tommy was just about to leave, then turned his head and said, "His name is Campbell, and he has a good track record in cleaning up Sinn Féin in Belfast for the past four years. But he never served in the military, and he has always been in the civil service. ”

In 1916, Sinn Féin in Ireland participated in the anti-British Easter uprising, which was brutally suppressed by the British, and 15 leaders were executed.

It was this purge that Inspector Campbell was involved in at the time.

In the February 1917 election, Roscon won the election, which symbolized the official rise of Sinn Féin. Then, in December 1918, in the British parliamentary election, 73 out of 103 seats were won!

Sinn Féin won an unprecedented victory.