Arresting

Su Mo was startled and turned his head to look.

Holding an iron ruler, with a "Strong" character on his chest—it was Yao Shitou from the Strong Squad's Laborers.

He couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Although the Fast Squad and the Strong Squad were both part of the three yamen squads, their duties were different, and they didn't have much direct contact in normal times.

He and Yao Shitou weren't exactly familiar with each other.

Judging by his tone, he didn't intend to report him?

He took a breath and smiled, "So it's Brother Yao, you startled me."

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

Yao Shitou looked at Su Mo with a strange expression, then chuckled, "You kid, you've got some nerve!"

"Don't you know that the old master has issued an arrest warrant for you?"

Su Mo actually smiled, "Really?"

Yao Shitou was speechless.

"Am I going to lie to you? You really don't know?"

He wasn't lying to Su Mo.

The county magistrate had personally issued the arrest warrant, and the Magistrate's Clerk was keeping a close eye on it.

The yamen officers of the Fast Squad naturally wouldn't dare to be negligent.

More than half of the Fast Squad had been mobilized, making a big show of searching the entire city for Su Mo!

Of course, the yamen officers understood very well.

Given Chen Gan's methods.

He had likely already sent Su Mo out of the city.

Their ostentatious search was more for show, to appease the county magistrate and the Magistrate's Clerk.

They had done their best; if they couldn't catch him, it wasn't their fault!

The area outside the city was vast, with continuous mountains and dense forests. If he had escaped, where would they find him?

Precisely because of this.

Yao Shitou was naturally surprised to see Su Mo still in the city!

Su Mo narrowed his eyes, "Brother Yao, why aren't you reporting me when you see me?"

Yao Shitou rolled his eyes, "Report my ass!"

"Our Strong Squad is responsible for guarding the city and patrolling; arresting criminals is none of my business! They might even accuse us of being nosy busybodies!"

"Leper Zhou is not a good person. To curry favor with the Magistrate's Clerk, he even gave away his own sister. It's truly despicable. And he stole a colleague's woman, so he deserved to be beaten!"

Unlike the smooth-talking Chen Gan.

Leper Zhou had a terrible reputation among the laborers.

Su Mo was low-key and benefited from Chen Gan's connections, giving him a good impression among the old timers in the yamen.

When you compare, the bias of the subordinate clerks was obvious.

Yao Shitou quietly pulled Su Mo into a corner.

He lowered his voice and said, "You should leave the city quickly!"

"If you go through the South Gate, you should be fine."

"Zhu Da Yan, who is on duty at the South Gate, has always been at odds with Leper Zhou. They have a significant grudge."

"Even if he sees you, he'll most likely pretend not to."

He paused, then added, "The East Market is crowded and full of people; you can't hide here!"

Su Mo naturally understood his meaning.

If the Fast Squad had truly put in a serious effort, finding him in the city would have been a matter of minutes!

Although the Fast Hands and Arrest Hands weren't numerous.

But all the local ruffians, beggars, thieves, prostitutes, pimps, people from all walks of life, and even those high-flying chivalrous individuals, could be informants for the Fast Squad.

As long as the wanted person dared to show their face, they would likely not escape.

Don't think the Fast Squad was just for show.

It all depended on whether they were serious or not.

As the two were talking.

Two laborers in Fast Squad uniforms suddenly turned out of an alley and came face-to-face with Su Mo and Yao Shitou.

The four of them stared at each other.

Su Mo coughed and was about to speak.

The laborer on the left suddenly said, "The weather today is really nice."

The laborer on the right chimed in, "Yeah! It's quite sunny and pleasant."

Just like that, the two looked up at the sky and brushed past Su Mo.

Su Mo...

He glanced at the backs of the two Fast Squad laborers.

Then he looked at Yao Shitou.

He was speechless again.

Can these two laborers just stop pretending like this!

Seeing Su Mo's expression, Yao Shitou couldn't help but laugh, "Anyone else might have locked you up at the yamen to claim a reward."

"But these two are inveterate gamblers; they definitely won't take you in!"

Su Mo was bewildered and asked with a frown, "What does arresting me have to do with gambling?"

"It has a lot to do with it!" Yao Shitou chuckled, "The yamen has set up a gambling pool, betting on whether your third uncle can survive this ordeal!"

"The Fast Squad is avoiding suspicion and didn't open any bets, so these two specifically came to the Strong Squad to each put down thirty large coins!"

He couldn't help but sneer, "If you were captured and brought to justice, wouldn't those thirty large coins be lost entirely?"

"As long as your third uncle is fine, it's ten to one, and you could get three hundred coins!"

"Who in their right mind would want to arrest you!"

He paused and added, "Most importantly, if you were arrested, it would implicate Chen Gan and offend many colleagues who placed their bets!"

You can actually operate like this!

Su Mo finally broadened his horizons!

He couldn't help but ask, "What about you?"

"Me?"

Yao Shitou scratched his head and said sheepishly, "Ahem, I only bet three hundred coins, not much... not much..."

Su Mo was speechless.

Calling them gamblers, they bet thirty coins, but he bet three hundred!

No wonder he had reminded him to leave the city from the south gate at the beginning.

Needless to say, it must have been his old uncle's doing!

Since the subordinate clerks wouldn't stand on their side based on reason and justice, they would change their stance through their wallets!

As long as the three squads of yamen runners didn't bring him back to the yamen, they couldn't convict him.

He would remain at large.

Chen Gan would be safe and sound.

And the gamblers would smoothly receive their winnings!

Everyone happy, everyone wins!

No matter how disgusting Big Wart Ma was, he could only accept it grudgingly.

If he were to directly implicate Chen Gan and stir up old issues for no reason, would the other subordinate clerks agree?

Were any of those yamen runners and subordinate clerks clean?

The subordinate clerks were extremely adept at playing the waiting game.

How many cases just disappeared by being dragged out!

It wasn't a major case involving life and death!

Most importantly.

The subordinate clerks all knew that the Magistrate's Clerk wanted to establish his authority.

Once the Magistrate's Clerk established his authority and gained influence, his say would increase.

Whose power would he be encroaching upon?

Naturally, it would be the County Magistrate!

Would the County Magistrate be angry because the Fast Squad failed to do their job and couldn't catch Su Mo?

He would only be angry if Su Mo was caught!

You can say the Fast Squad people are bad, but you can't say they are stupid. They naturally knew what to do!

After figuring this out.

Su Mo once again marveled at his old uncle's prowess!

This move has them all in a chokehold!

Even though I'll have to fork over a lot of silver, it's better than losing my life!

Once the Magistrate's Clerk is dealt with, my reputation will soar. With the private salt smugglers helping from the outside and the Subordinate Clerks and runners covering for me on the inside, what's to stop me from getting this money back?

However, even so, 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 sly, what could happen to him!"

"He was right under the Magistrate's Clerk's nose in the county office, and he didn't even manage to anger Big Wart Ma to death!"

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

"Get out of the city quickly!"

"If the Fast Squad can't withstand Big Wart Ma's pressure and they deploy all the city's informants, you won't be able to run even if you wanted to!"

Yao Shitou was worried Su Mo would be arrested.

His three hundred copper coins would be down the drain!

Su Mo smiled, about to reply.

A surprised voice called out, "Hey! Little brother, what a coincidence!"

Su Mo looked in the direction of the voice.

He was immediately taken aback.

"It's you?"

"Weren't you on duty at the Imperial Guard station?"

Gao Xin explained, "I just received a summons mission and didn't expect to run into you here, little brother!"

"Unfortunately, I'm on official business and can't delay!"

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

Su Mo quickly said, "What are you saying, Brother!"

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

Gao Xin waved his hand. "We'll talk about it then!"

He paused, glancing at Yao Shitou from the corner of his eye, and asked with slight confusion, "Didn't you say you were with the Fast Squad? Why are you patrolling the market here, doing the work of the Strong Squad?"

Su Mo's eyes darted around, then he gave a wry smile. "I am indeed with the Fast Squad, but they're currently pursuing me, and I was thinking about whether to turn myself in!"

Gao Xin heard this and burst into laughter. "You're joking, brother!"

"With Captain Lin here, no one in Changping County can touch a hair on your head!"

"I really have to go! Goodbye!"

After speaking, he cupped his hands towards Su Mo and quickly walked away!

After Gao Xin left.

Su Mo turned his head and saw Yao Shitou's face was pale, his forehead covered in small beads of sweat.

"Su Leng... Brother Su, you... know the Imperial Guard?"

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