Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 388 The New Year Has Come*
"What qualifications do I have to not let him go?" Meng Changqing asked back.

"Local officials are supposed to supervise each other. Young Master, let alone you are at the same level as him, even if you are one level lower than him, as long as we have solid evidence, we can report him. I don't believe that the Daliang court will allow a county official to collude with bandits."

Meng Changqing turned his head and looked in all directions.

The expression on Bafang's face changed from determination to hesitation, "Did I say something wrong?"

"That's right." Meng Changqing said, "It's because you are right that this world is ridiculous."

Bafang saw Meng Changqing turn around and leave, and immediately followed him, saying with a smile: "Master, I was just talking nonsense, don't take it to heart."

Meng Changqing slowed down his pace. "I understand what you are saying and thinking. I don't want to embarrass Uncle Wei by not pursuing the matter of Yangmen County colluding with the bandits."

"But Lord Wei is a fair official. We have evidence, so I don't think he will ignore it."

Meng Changqing asked back: "Where is the evidence?"

Bafang turned around and looked towards the door reflexively, "Those three people just now..." Putting everything together, Bafang was surprised and frightened, "Could it be that Mr. Hua was also in collusion with Mao Chunfang?"

Meng Changqing said: "I guess Lord Hua has the same concerns as me, but he just doesn't want to cause trouble when Lord Wei leaves office."

"Officials are afraid of trouble, how can the people seek justice?" Bafang said, "The food and drink of the bandits cannot possibly be earned through their own labor, right? Should the people who are robbed by them just because the officials are afraid of trouble, just accept that they are unlucky?
Knowing that he is such a high-ranking official, they still allow him to stay in the position. Isn't this just officials protecting each other?

Master, I really can’t stand it.”

"I can't stand it either," Meng Changqing said, "but I don't dare to mess with him. It's because of selfishness and I don't have the courage."

"I know that Lord Wei has helped you, so you don't want to cause trouble at this time." Bafang said: "But I don't understand why Lord Hua did this, could it be that Lord Wei also did him a favor?"

"I can't even straighten my own back, let alone talk about others." Meng Changqing shook his head and sighed, "After all, the danger on the dangerous mountain has been eliminated, which is good for me and Beishan County.

As for the people who were persecuted by the bandits, I feel guilty. "Meng Changqing always knew that people's hearts were like light-colored cloth, which was easy to dye, but he didn't expect that his heart was also a piece of cloth that turned black so quickly.

It turns out that what can distort right and wrong is not only the temptation of interests, but also the friendship that is hard to repay.

It started snowing again in Liangzhou.

The snow that covers the sky cannot cover up the suffering and ugliness in people's hearts.

Meng Changqing bought some wine and meat and went to Hongjia County to thank Hua Rujin.

During the meal, the two chatted and laughed normally, and no one mentioned the affairs of Yangmen County.

Things in this world never depend on whether people are willing or not. They will happen and will pass just like that.

After the winter month, the twelfth month also disappeared. The sixteenth year of Yongxing was completely over, and the new year arrived.

In the seventeenth year of Yongxing, on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Meng Changqing wrote a congratulatory message, put on his new official uniform and went to Liangzhou Prefecture.

When passing through Yangmen County, he met Mao Chunfang, who was going to Liangzhou Prefecture, on the official road in the county.

"Mr. Mao, Happy New Year." Meng Changqing stepped forward and greeted him first. "It's snowing today, why didn't Mr. Mao take the car?"

Mao Chunfang smiled and replied, "Master Meng didn't take the car either."

Meng Changqing followed with a smile, "Look at what I said. It's cold and the snow is hard to clear, so riding a horse is more convenient than taking a car."

Seeing them smiling at each other, Bafang deliberately slowed down and fell behind Chu Mufeng.