Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 561 Let's send him on his way.
"Rest assured, sir," Xu Xiaoyun said. "I always handle official business in an official capacity."

Xu Daolang kept shaking his head and sighing, "It's all over."

We have to find something out.

It was about an hour ago.

In Weishan County, Cao Hongxiang went to bed at the same time as usual.

He had barely fallen asleep when he heard his subordinates shouting outside his door, "Sir! Something's happened!"

Cao Hongxiang instantly sobered up, drew the sword from his pillow, and sat up.

"What is it?" Cao Hongxing asked reflexively, "The Yan army has attacked?"

"No," the messenger explained further, "It's people from Liangzhou Prefecture. They reported from the front that the prefect is leading a large number of yamen runners and is heading this way. They should be arriving at the county government office soon."

After hearing this, Cao Hongxing felt puzzled. "What's he doing here?"

Clearly, his subordinates couldn't answer that question.

Cao Hongxiang then asked, "How many men did he bring? Were the constables carrying weapons or ceremonial equipment?"

"Apart from the vehicle frame, no other ceremonial equipment was found."

Cao Hongxiang immediately said, "Go out through the back door and find the county constable. Tell him to gather all the officers and soldiers in the county and not to make any rash moves. They must wait for further instructions."

"Yes!"

Not long after his subordinate left, the yamen runner on duty at the gate came to report, "Sir, the prefect has arrived."

Cao Hongxiang thought for a moment, then sheathed his sword, dressed, and went to the door.

Just then, Liu Dexiang's carriage arrived.

It must be said that Cao Hongxiang's side moved very quickly; in just a short while, the county magistrate had already assembled all available officers and soldiers.

The county constable stopped when Liu Dexiang alighted from the carriage and nodded to Cao Hongxiang from two steps away.

Cao Hongxing stepped forward to greet Liu Dexiang, "Your Excellency, what brings you here so late at night?"

Liu Dexiang didn't mince words and immediately rebuked, "Enough with the idle talk, hand over Sun Xiang!" "What?" Cao Hongxiang didn't understand what he was saying.

But he quickly realized that it must have been Meng Changqing who was behind it.

If Sun Xiang is not in Liangzhou City, he is most likely to go to Beishan County. Compared with other counties, Beishan County is relatively independent, and Meng Changqing himself is extremely difficult to deal with.

Why would this person in front of him ask him for someone?

It could only be false information that Meng Changqing had given him.

It would really cause him trouble.

"Why do you say that, sir?" Cao Hongxiang said with a completely innocent face, "Isn't Magistrate Sun in the prefectural office? He's not in Weishan County."

"Hmph!" Liu Dexiang snorted coldly, and said with extreme confidence, "Since this government office has been able to find you here, it must be because we have obtained definite information."

He took two steps forward, past Cao Hongxing, and said, "Do you know how serious the crime Sun Xiang committed? How dare you protect him!"

"My lord, I truly do not understand what you are saying." Cao Hongxiang simply bowed slightly. "Prefect Sun is indeed not with me."

Liu Dexiang glanced at Cao Hongxiang and ordered the yamen runners, "Search."

"Yes!" The yamen runners accepted the order and immediately rushed into the Weishan County government office.

Cao Hongxiang secretly shook his head at the county magistrate, signaling him to hold back.

The county constable took a step back.

Liu Dexiang's men searched the county government office several times, but they still couldn't find the person they were looking for.

After the various constables reported back, Liu Dexiang's anger intensified. He took two steps up to Cao Hongxiang and demanded, "Where is he? You'd better tell the truth!"

“My lord, I have been telling the truth from the beginning.” Seeing his arrogance, Cao Hongxing decided to send him on his way. “Prefect Sun is indeed not with me; he is at Weishan Camp.”

Liu Dexiang pointed at Cao Hongxiang and said, "You two have done a really good job. I will report to the higher authorities how you colluded with each other to protect criminals."

Having said that, Liu Dexiang mounted the carriage and called out, "To Weishan Camp!"