What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 16 Apprehension
Su Mo was startled and turned her head to look.

Holding an iron ruler, with the character "壮" (zhuang, meaning strong/resolute) on his chest—Yao Shitou, a soldier in the Zhuangban Baiyi (a type of labor service).

He was somewhat taken aback.

Although both the fast and strong shifts were three shifts of yamen runners, their functions were different, and they didn't have much direct contact with each other on a regular basis.

Neither I nor the other person are particularly familiar with each other.

Judging from his tone, he probably didn't intend to report it to the authorities.
He took a breath, smiled, and said, "So it's Brother Yao. You gave me quite a fright."

"Is it Brother Yao's turn to patrol the East Market today?"

Yao Shitou gave Su Mo a strange look, then chuckled, "You little rascal, you've got some nerve!"

"Don't you know that the old master has already issued an arrest warrant to bring you to justice?"

Su Mo actually laughed: "Really?"

Yao Shitou was speechless.

"Would I lie to you? You really don't know, do you?"

He really didn't lie to Su Mo.

The county magistrate personally issued the arrest warrant, and the clerk kept a close eye on it.

The constables of the fast-track yamen dared not be evasive.

Most of the fast-track classes were mobilized to conduct a large-scale citywide manhunt for Su Mo!

Of course, the yamen runners understood perfectly well.

Based on Chen Qian's way of doing things.

Nine out of ten have already sent Su Mo out of the city.

Their large-scale search was mostly just for show, for the county magistrate and the registrar to see.

If you've done your best and still can't catch the person, don't blame yourself!

The area outside the city is so vast, with continuous mountains and dense jungles. If people have escaped, where am I supposed to find them?

Therefore.

Yao Shitou was surprised to see that Su Mo was still in the city!
Su Mo narrowed his eyes: "Brother Yao, why didn't you report me to the authorities?"

Yao Shitou rolled his eyes: "What kind of official am I talking about!"

"Our squad is responsible for guarding the city and patrolling. What business is it of ours to arrest criminals! They might even blame us for meddling!"

"Zhou Laizi is a despicable scoundrel. To curry favor with the clerk, he even gave away his own sister. It's truly despicable. He even stole his colleague's woman. He deserved to be beaten!"

Unlike the shrewd and worldly-wise Chen Qian.

Zhou Laizi had a very bad reputation among the menial servants.

Su Mo was a low-key person, and thanks to Chen Qian, he had a good impression on the old men in the government.

The worst thing is comparison; the bias of petty officials is self-evident.

Yao Shitou quietly pulled Su Mo to a corner.

He lowered his voice and said, "You need to leave the city right now!"

"If we go through the south gate, it should be fine."

"Zhu Daye, who guards the south gate, has always been at odds with Zhou Laizi, and they have quite a grudge against each other."

Even if I see you, I'll pretend I don't see you nine times out of ten.

He paused, then added, "There are too many eyes and ears in the East Market; you can't hide here!"

Su Mo naturally understood what he meant.

If the fast-track team really puts in the effort, finding the person in the city will be a piece of cake!

Kuaishou and Bushou, though few in number.

But all the thugs, beggars, thieves, prostitutes, pimps, people from all walks of life, and even wandering knights-errant could be informants for the fast-track.

If a wanted criminal dares to show their face, there's a 90% chance they won't escape.

Don't think that those in the fast-track class are just freeloaders.

It all depends on whether they get serious or not.

The two were talking.

Two white-clad guards dressed in fast-paced uniforms suddenly emerged from the alley, coming face to face with Su Mo and Yao Shitou.

The four of them looked at each other.

Su Mo coughed, about to speak.

The white-clad servant on the left suddenly said, "The weather is really nice today."

The servant on the right echoed, "Yes! It's a beautiful, sunny day."

And so, the two of them looked up at the sky and brushed past Su Mo.

Su Mo...

I glanced at the backs of the two white-clad soldiers.

Then he looked at Yao Shitou.

Speechless.

These two servants, can you please stop acting like that!
Seeing Su Mo's expression, Yao Shitou couldn't help but laugh and said, "If it were someone else, they might lock you up and take you back to the yamen to claim credit."

"But those two guys are addicted to gambling, they definitely won't target you!"

Completely bewildered, Su Mo frowned and asked, "What does arresting me have to do with gambling?"

"This is a huge deal!" Yao Shitou chuckled. "The government has set up a betting pool, betting on whether your third uncle can survive this ordeal!"

"To avoid suspicion, the fast-track team didn't open a betting pool. These two guys specifically came to the strong-track team and each placed a bet of thirty coins!"

He couldn't help but sneer: "If we arrest you, won't we lose all thirty coins?" "As long as your third uncle is alright, we can get three hundred coins, even if it's a tenfold compensation!"

"I'd rather die than arrest you!"

He paused, then added, "Most importantly, if we arrest you, it will implicate Chen Qian and offend countless colleagues who placed bets!"

You can actually do that!

Su Mo has finally learned something new!
He couldn't help but ask, "And you?"

"we?"

Yao Shitou scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Cough cough, it was only three hundred coins, not much... not much..."

Su Mo was speechless.

He calls others gambling addicts, because if someone bets thirty coins, he bets three hundred!

No wonder I reminded myself at the beginning that I could leave the city through the south gate.

Needless to say, it was definitely my uncle's doing!
Since the clerks and officials wouldn't side with them logically or emotionally, let's change their stance by focusing on their finances!
As long as the three shifts of yamen runners don't take him back to the yamen.

They cannot convict themselves.

He remains at large.

Chen Qian is safe and sound.

The gamblers, on the other hand, received their money without any trouble!
good for everyone!
A perfect win-win situation!
Even if the tumor is disgusting, you can only grit your teeth and accept it.

If they really drag Chen Qian into this, and expose the truth for no reason, will the other officials agree to it?
Is that yamen runner or clerk clean?

The clerks were quite adept at using delaying tactics.

So many cases just disappear after being dragged on!

It's not a case involving life or death!

The most important thing is.

The clerks all knew that this was the clerk trying to establish his authority.

Once the clerk establishes his authority and gains status, his voice will be heard more.

Whose power are they seizing?

Of course, it's our county magistrate!
Your Excellency, are you angry that the courier team failed to catch Su Sheng because they were incompetent?

I only got angry when I caught Su Mo!

You can say the people in the fast class are bad, but you can never say they're stupid; they naturally know what to do!
Figure this out.

Su Mo was once again amazed by her uncle's prowess!
This move perfectly captured everyone's attention, from top to bottom!
Although it will cost a lot of money, it's better than losing your life!

As long as the clerk is defeated, his prestige will soar. With the help of salt smugglers outside and the cover-ups of clerks and runners inside, why should he be afraid of not getting the money back?

Nevertheless, Su Mo couldn't help but ask, "Brother Yao, is my third uncle alright?"

Yao Shitou rolled his eyes: "Your third uncle is cunning and shrewd, what could he possibly do!"

"With the clerk hovering right under his nose in the county government office, Ma Da Liuzi was nearly driven to his death by anger!"

He paused, then said, "You should worry about yourself first!"

"Get out of the city immediately!"

"If the fast train can't withstand the pressure from Ma Daliuzi and he mobilizes all the city's surveillance networks, you won't be able to escape even if you want to!"

Yao Shitou was worried that Su Mo would be arrested.

He threw away three hundred coins into the water!
Su Mo smiled and was about to speak.

A surprised voice rang out: "Hey! Young man, what a coincidence!"

Su Mo looked in the direction of the sound.

It was quite unexpected.

"It's you?"

"Aren't you on duty at the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Gao Xin explained, "I just took on a mission to deliver a message, and I didn't expect to run into you here, little brother!"

"Unfortunately, I have official duties to attend to and cannot delay!"

"I'll treat you to drinks another day!"

Su Mo hurriedly said, "Brother, what are you saying!"

"If anyone should be treating, it should be me!"

Gao Xin waved his hand: "We'll talk about it later!"

He paused, glanced at Yao Shitou out of the corner of his eye, and asked with slight surprise, "Brother, didn't you say you were on the fast shift? Why are you patrolling the market here, doing the work of the strong shift?"

Su Mo's eyes darted around, then he smiled wryly and said, "I am indeed from the fast class, but I'm being chased by them. I'm thinking about whether I should turn myself in!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Xin laughed heartily: "Brother, you're joking!"

"With Commander Lin around, who in Changping County would dare to lay a finger on you!"

"I'm really not saying anything more! Goodbye!"

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Su Mo and quickly left!

After Gao Xin left.

Su Mo turned her head and saw that Yao Shitou's face was pale and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

"Su Leng... Brother Su, are you... acquainted with the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Yao Shitou's voice trembled as he stared at Su Mo in disbelief!

(End of this chapter)