Prince of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 139 Li Goudan Receives Protection Fee
Gao Ming had known for a long time that Li Goudan had an eye for money, so Gao Ming had to remind him at this time.

"Li Goudan, you have to remember, I am asking you to collect protection fees, not to steal money. I don't blame you for taking a piece of money that should be charged, but if you should charge a piece of money, you can collect it." If this matter gets to my ears, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Li Goudan immediately patted his chest firmly.

"His Royal Highness, don't worry, I don't dare to tarnish your reputation even if I die!"

Seeing Li Goudan's pose, Gao Ming smiled and nodded.

"It's good to know, you have to know, there are a lot of people staring at us now, I'm fine, it's nothing to be impeached by the judge, but you are different, you have been promoted too fast, and some people have been jealous Now, if they catch you, even if you don’t die then, I’m afraid you will have to cut your balls and become a eunuch.”

As soon as Gao Ming finished speaking, Li Goudan shuddered suddenly, then clamped his legs tightly, and shook his head like a rattle.

"No, no, a few days ago, a matchmaker just wanted to propose marriage to me. I can't cut this egg!"

Seeing his terrified expression, Gao Ming secretly laughed in his heart, but on the surface he still looked very serious.

"It's good that you know, so when you collect protection fees, you have to pay attention to it and figure out what the other party is selling before making a move. You can only charge less and not more. There are so many vendors in Chang'an City, and we don't lack that few pennies." , and we have to protect them after collecting money, and we can’t let others think that we collect money for nothing.”

Hearing what Gao Ming said, Li Goudan was puzzled again.

"Protect? How to protect?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Ming couldn't help but hit him on the head with a chestnut.

"I have already said that the protection fee is collected. Naturally, they have to be protected, otherwise it will not be an open robbery? Anyway, when the time comes, you should remember that all traders who have paid protection fees should pay close attention to them, and don't let the ruffians The bastards make trouble for them."

Speaking of this, Gao Ming hastily added another sentence.

"Use of force can also be used when necessary. These ruffians in Chang'an City should also be dealt with. For those guys who interfere with our collection of protection fees, catch and beat them one by one, until their parents don't know him, as long as they don't beat them to death. It's fine to kill the disabled."

Now Li Goudan understood completely, and he nodded immediately.

"His Royal Highness, I understand, I will help you collect protection fees!"

After finishing speaking, Li Goudan turned around and was about to leave, but before he could take a step, Gao Ming grabbed him.

"What do you mean by 'help me collect protection fees'? This is the hundred knights I sent to maintain the commercial order in Chang'an City. As for the money given by the street vendors, it is their voluntary protection fees. You can't force them, understand?"

Li Goudan is also a clever person, and he nodded immediately after hearing Gao Ming's words.

"Understood, I got it, the lower official said something wrong just now, the lower official was confused for a while, and I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will forgive me!"

Seeing that he was so sensible, Gao Ming nodded again, and then gave him his waist card next.

"It's good to know, this is my badge, you take it to the military camp outside the city and give it to Hegan Chengji, let him transfer some people to you, work hard, don't let me down!"

Hearing Gao Ming's words, Li Goudan patted his chest again.

"Your Highness, don't worry, I will handle this matter beautifully for you."

"I hope so, go ahead and remember we charge by the day!"

"Yes, the officer understands!"

Li Goudan agreed, and left the palace with Gao Ming's badge, and took a carriage to the barracks outside the city. When he saw Hegan Chengji, he immediately took out Gao Ming's badge.

"I was ordered by the crown prince to come here to mobilize a hundred cavalry guards to perform tasks in Chang'an City. This is His Royal Highness' badge!"

After Hegan Chengji saw Gao Ming's waist badge, he didn't talk nonsense, and directly assigned all the hundred cavalry guards in the barracks to Li Goudan, and even he himself was willing to serve as Li Goudan's deputy.

Although in He Gan Chengji's eyes before, Li Goudan was just a lowly liar, but that was yesterday.

Now Li Goudan is a member of Zhongshushe who is at the fifth rank, but he is still a captain of Zhenwei from the sixth rank. Li Goudan is not only six ranks older than him in official position, but also a celebrity in front of the prince. , so Hegan Chengji could only lower his airs.

"Uh...Master Li..."

After leaving the barracks, Hegan Chengji cupped his hands at Li Goudan with a smile on his face.

"What is the mission given by His Royal Highness this time?"

When Li Goudan heard Hegan Chengji's words "Master Li", he felt very happy, he nodded and told Hegan Chengji what Gao Ming said before.

"This time we are going to Chang'an City to maintain the... business order, in order to protect those merchants from being bullied by hooligans, and collect some protection fees by the way, and then you will act according to my wink!"

"Yes!"

Soon, Li Goudan and Hegan Chengji and his party came to the gate of Chang'an city in mighty force. After seeing the badge of Baiqiwei, the city gate guards did not dare to stop them and let them go immediately.

After entering Chang'an City, Li Goudan immediately found the busiest place on the street, and then shouted at the top of his voice.

"I was ordered by the crown prince to come to maintain the... that business order in Chang'an City. All the vendors who paid the protection fee will be protected by my hundred cavalry guards. If someone bullies you or makes trouble for you, we will The Hundred Knights stand up for you!"

The folk customs of the Tang Dynasty were tough, and the people's fear of officials was not as serious as that of later generations, so as soon as Li Goudan finished speaking, a little old man came over to ask.

"My lord, what exactly is your protection fee?"

Hearing what the little old man said, Li Goudan laughed immediately.

"The protection fee, as the name suggests, is the fee we charge for protecting you."

Now the little old man understood.

"Oh, the little old man understands, how dare I ask my lord, how much is the protection fee you want to collect?"

Li Goudan had expected that he would ask such a question a long time ago, and immediately burst out laughing.

"Haha, you really are a sensible person, but as I said just now, we are protecting you this time under the order of the prince, so the protection fee also varies from person to person. Let me ask you, what business are you doing?" What is the value of the sale?"

Hearing Li Goudan's question, the little old man immediately pointed to the bamboo basket on his back.

"Little old man sells Hubing, it's worthless, two Hubing is worth a penny!"

After speaking, he was worried that Li Goudan would not believe it, so he put it on the ground from the bamboo basket and opened it for Li Goudan to see. Looking at the mustard cakes in this bamboo basket, Li Goudan nodded immediately.

"Well, it's indeed bullshit. Your business is small and profitable. It's not easy. The protection fee is a penny."

When the little old man heard this, he was a little surprised and asked again.

"My lord, did you just say... a penny?"

"Correct!"

Li Goudan nodded immediately.

"It's just a penny. As long as you give me a penny, whoever dares to trouble you today, I will definitely not spare him!"

Hearing Li Goudan's categorical words, the little old man who sold the mustard pancakes suddenly showed surprise.

"Is it really only a penny?"

As he spoke, he took out a penny from his pocket unconfidently, but when he saw Li Goudan stretching out his hand to him, he seemed to have made up his mind, and immediately took out a small bunch of copper coins from his pocket and put them in the pocket. Li Goudan's hand.

"My lord, Liu Er in the south of the city is too deceitful, and I still hope that my lord will make the decision for the little old man!"

Hearing what he said, Li Goudan suddenly smiled, took a penny from the small string of money, and then put the rest of the money back into the little old man's hand, and then smiled at him.

"It is said that a penny is a penny. This is the order of His Royal Highness, and I dare not disobey it. As for the Chengnan Liu Er you mentioned, I don't care about the past. If you want to sue him, you have to go to the Yamen, but It's different now."

As he spoke, Li Goudan immediately pointed to the Hundred Knights standing behind him.

"Did you see them? If Liu Er and Liu San dare to bully you again, you will come to them, understand?"

"understood!"

"If you understand it, let's do business!"

"Thank you sir!"

The little old man picked up his beard and left, while Li Goudan continued to bark to the side.

"Who else wants to pay protection fees? Hurry up!"

The onlookers watched for a long time, and seeing that Li Goudan and others really only charged the little old man a penny just now, they immediately walked forward with a penny.

"My lord, I am a fish seller, and I have to pay this protection fee!"

Seeing this scene, Li Goudan immediately glared at him.

"The one who sells the Hubing cakes pays a penny, but you want to pay a penny for the fish seller? Go, go, and don't come here to cause trouble!"

As soon as Li Goudan finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter from around, and the old fish seller blushed, so he asked Li Goudan angrily, "Then how much do I have to pay?"

After listening to his words, Li Goudan nodded this time.

"Since you are a fish seller, then it will be calculated according to the fish you sell, and you will pay me as much as you make from selling a fish, and you will never lose money!"

It has to be said that in Datang, the credibility of the officials is still good. As soon as Li Goudan finished speaking, the fish seller immediately took out five cents from his pocket and handed it to him.

Seeing this scene, the people around immediately understood and gathered around to pay the money.

"My lord, the villain sells pork. This is the villain's protection fee, three Wen."

"The villain sells mountain goods, this is the villain's seven coins."

"grown ups……"

Seeing so many people coming to pay, Li Goudan started to collect money with a smile.

"Don't rush, come one by one!"

With the first one as a demonstration, the vendors in the back have a reference, so naturally they follow the example, first say what business they are in, and then hand over the money, because there are acquaintances next to them, and no one dares to Lying, everyone is telling the truth.

Just as Li Goudan was enjoying collecting money, a cry came from beside him.

"Over there, an old man selling sesame seed cakes was beaten!"

Hearing this sound, the surroundings suddenly fell silent, and the vendors who were paying money also stopped their movements.

Seeing this scene, Li Gou, who was collecting money, suddenly turned dark.

(End of this chapter)