Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

When the yamen runner led Li Ting in, Xiao Dai served hot tea and stepped aside.

"Officer Li, what brings you here at this hour?" Meng Changqing stood up and took two steps to greet him. "Have you had dinner yet?"

"I ate some dry rations on the way," Li Ting said with a smile. "I dare not delay Prefect Zheng's important business."

Meng Changqing immediately ordered someone to prepare dinner and invited Officer Li to sit in the nearest room.

Just as the county government was preparing for dinner, the food was ready.

Xiao Dai quickly brought over several dishes and placed them in front of Li Ting, saying, "Officer Li, please enjoy."

Besides the food, there was also a pot of wine placed beside Li Ting.

Li Ting thanked him several times, then got down to business, "Does Lord Meng know anything about Xunxian Town in Bishan County?"

Meng Changqing knew perfectly well, but he pretended otherwise. "Bishan County? What happened with Lord Luo?"

“A few days ago, when you and your companions went to the Liangzhou government office, Prefect Zheng asked Lord Luo to eradicate the bad habit of human sacrifice.” Li Ting swallowed as he smelled the aroma of food wafting from the side.

But right now, it doesn't matter whether I have enough to eat or not; I must do what my superiors have instructed me to do well, otherwise I won't just go hungry for one or two meals.

“Prefect Zheng has been dealing with this matter in Bishan County for the past two days. The people in Xunxian Town are mostly unruly and rude. If Prefect Zheng wants to accomplish this, he will need the help of you gentlemen.” Li Ting said, “I have come to ask Lord Meng for his help.”

"Me?" Meng Changqing hesitated to agree. "What does Prefect Zheng want me to do?"

“Prefect Zheng wants to take action against the people of Xunxian Town and wants to borrow men from Weishan Camp. General Song has agreed, but as you know, General Song’s agreement is useless; the imperial court’s approval is required.” Li Ting said, “When we send a memorial to the capital, it takes more than a day or two to get a reply. But Xunxian Town has reached a point where action is imperative. Therefore, my lord would like to ask you to step in and request assistance from Hongjia County and Weishan County.”

When Meng Changqing heard that this was the case, he thought to himself that it was strange. Why did Zheng Jie think of asking her to invite someone?
"Oh, Officer Li, let's talk while we eat." Meng Changqing poured Li Ting a cup of wine. Li Ting accepted the cup with both hands, but dared not drink it immediately. "Lord Meng, is there any difficulty in this matter?"

Meng Changqing smiled and asked instead of answering, "Why didn't Prefect Zheng just talk to Lord Cao and the others about this? Why did he have to go through all this trouble with me?"

"I don't understand either," Li Ting said awkwardly. "It's just that the prefect assigned me this task, so I had no choice but to come here."

After thinking it over, Meng Changqing guessed that Zheng Jie was probably worried that no one would listen to her if she didn't speak up, which was why she had Li Ting find her.

Ultimately, this was all for the sake of reducing the number of women who would be victimized in Xunxian Town.

Since Meng Changqing was willing to contribute, he didn't want to refuse any longer.

“Alright,” Meng Changqing said. “Since Prefect Zheng has spoken, I will certainly do it for him.”

With Meng Changqing's words, Li Ting felt relieved.

Having completed his task, he was in the mood to eat. In front of Meng Changqing, he maintained a refined demeanor, but after Meng Changqing left, he picked up his plate and began to eat.

After he finished eating, Meng Changqing had also finished writing letters to Cao Hongxing and Hua Rujin.

Li Ting witnessed firsthand the yamen runners of Beishan County receiving the letter and sending it out.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Meng," Li Ting said. "I must return to Liangzhou to report back, so I will take my leave now."

Meng Changqing nodded, "It's dark and the road is long, Constable, please be careful on the road." (End of Chapter)