Arrest

Su Mo was suddenly startled and turned his head.

A constable from the Strong Squad stood there, holding an iron ruler, a large "Strong" character emblazoned across his chest—Yao Shitou.

He could not help feeling somewhat astonished.

Although the Fast Squad and Strong Squad were both among the three squads of yamen runners, their duties differed, and they normally had little direct contact.

He and Yao Shitou could hardly be called familiar.

Judging by his tone, he had no intention of reporting him?

Su Mo drew a breath, smiled, and said, "So it's Big Brother Yao. You startled me."

"Is it your turn to patrol the Eastern Market today, Big Brother Yao?"

Yao Shitou gave Su Mo an odd look, then chuckled. "You brat, you've got some real nerve!"

"Could it be you don't know that the County Magistrate has already issued an arrest order to bring you in?"

Su Mo actually smiled. "Really?"

Yao Shitou was speechless.

"Could we possibly lie to you? You really didn't know?"

He truly had not been deceiving Su Mo.

The County Magistrate had personally signed the arrest order, and the Registrar was keeping a death grip on the matter.

The Fast Squad constables naturally did not dare to go through the motions halfheartedly.

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

Of course, the constables knew perfectly well what was going on.

Given Chen Gan's way of handling things,

there was a ninety percent chance he had already sent Su Mo out of the city.

Their grand search was mostly for show, so the County Magistrate and Registrar could see that they were doing their best.

They had done everything they could. If they could not catch him, no one could blame them!

The area outside the city was vast, with endless mountains and dense forests. If someone escaped, where were they supposed to find him?

That was precisely why

Yao Shitou was so astonished to see Su Mo still in the city!

Su Mo narrowed his eyes. "Big Brother Yao, why didn't you report me when you saw me?"

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

"Our Strong Squad is responsible for guarding the city and patrolling. What does catching criminals have to do with us? We might even get blamed for meddling in someone else's business!"

"Leper Zhou is no man at all. To curry favor with the Registrar, he even gave away his own younger sister. It's truly disgraceful. He also stole a fellow constable's woman and deserved to be beaten!"

Unlike the smooth and capable Chen Gan,

Leper Zhou's reputation among the menial workers was terrible.

Su Mo kept a low profile and had benefited from Chen Gan's influence, so he had left the old hands at the yamen with a fairly good impression.

Everything was afraid of comparison; the Subordinate Clerks' sympathies needed no further explanation.

Yao Shitou quietly pulled Su Mo into a corner.

Lowering his voice, he said, "Get out of the city, quickly!"

"You should be fine if you leave through the southern gate."

"Zhu Big-Eyes, who guards the southern gate, has never gotten along with Leper Zhou. They have quite a grudge between them."

"Even if he sees you, there's a ninety percent chance he'll pretend not to."

After a pause, he added, "The Eastern Market has too many eyes and too many people. You can't hide here!"

Su Mo naturally understood what he meant.

If the Fast Squad really put their backs into searching the city, finding someone would take mere minutes!

The Fast Hand and Arrest Hand were not very numerous,

but every city ruffian, beggar, thief, brothel girl, pimp, member of the assorted trades, and even those high-flying martial heroes might serve as the Fast Squad's informants.

As long as a wanted criminal dared show his face, there was a ninety percent chance he would not escape.

Don't think the Fast Squad lived off free meals.

It all depended on whether they were serious.

The two were talking when

two constables in Fast Squad uniforms suddenly emerged from the alley, coming face-to-face with Su Mo and Yao Shitou.

The four stared at one another.

Su Mo coughed and was just about to speak.

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

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

Just like that, the two lifted their heads to gaze at the sky and brushed past Su Mo.

Su Mo...

He looked at the backs of the two Fast Squad constables.

Then he looked at Yao Shitou.

He was speechless all over again.

Could these two constables stop putting on such an act?!

Seeing Su Mo's expression, Yao Shitou could not help laughing. "If it were anyone else, they might lock you up and take you back to the yamen to claim the credit."

"But these two fellows are inveterate gamblers. There's no way they'd arrest you!"

Su Mo was utterly baffled. He frowned and asked, "What does arresting me have to do with gambling?"

"It has everything to do with it!" Yao Shitou chuckled. "The yamen has opened a betting pool on whether your Third Uncle can survive this calamity!"

"The Fast Squad is avoiding suspicion and didn't open a book, so these two fellows deliberately came to the Strong Squad and bet thirty copper coins each!"

He could not help sneering. "If they arrest you and bring you in, won't those thirty copper coins be lost completely?"

"As long as your Third Uncle is fine, the odds are one to ten. They'll get three hundred copper coins!"

"Only a fool would want to arrest you!"

After a pause, he added, "Most importantly, if they arrest you and implicate Chen Gan, how many fellow constables who placed bets would they offend?"

It could actually be done this way!

Su Mo had truly broadened his horizons!

He could not help asking, "What about you?"

"Me?"

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

Su Mo was speechless.

He called the others gambling fiends when they had bet thirty copper coins, yet he had bet three hundred!

No wonder he had advised Su Mo from the start to leave the city through the southern gate.

There was no need to say it. This was definitely his maternal uncle's handiwork!

Since the Subordinate Clerks would not stand on their side out of reason and principle, then he would change their position through their money pouches!

As long as the three squads of yamen runners did not bring Su Mo back to the yamen,

they could not convict him.

He could remain free.

Chen Gan would remain safe.

And the gamblers would smoothly collect their winnings!

Everyone would be happy, and everyone would benefit!

A surefire win-win for all!

No matter how disgusting Big Wart Ma was, he could only pinch his nose and accept it.

If he stubbornly dragged Chen Gan into it, needlessly lifting the lid on old scandals, would the other Subordinate Clerks agree?

Was any constable or Subordinate Clerk truly clean?

The Subordinate Clerks were extremely slick at using delay as a tactic.

How many cases had disappeared after being dragged out long enough?

It was not as though this was a major case involving someone's life!

Most importantly,

the Subordinate Clerks all knew that the Registrar was trying to establish his authority.

Once the Registrar established his authority, his standing would rise and his say would carry further.

Whose authority was he taking?

Naturally, that of their County Magistrate!

Would the County Magistrate be angry because the Fast Squad worked incompetently and failed to catch Su Mo?

He would be angry if they caught Su Mo, wouldn't he!

You could say the Fast Squad's people were bad, but you absolutely could not say they were stupid. They naturally knew what to do!

Once he thought this through,

Su Mo sighed again at how formidable his maternal uncle was!

This move had everyone, high and low, firmly in the palm of his hand!

Although it would cost a good deal of silver, that was still better than losing his life!

Once they crushed the Registrar, their prestige would soar. With salt smugglers helping them from outside and Subordinate Clerks and constables covering for them within, would they have to worry about not making the money back?

Even so, Su Mo could not help asking, "Big Brother Yao, is my Third Uncle all right?"

Yao Shitou rolled his eyes. "Your Third Uncle is an old fox. What could happen to him?"

"He's swaggering around inside the County Yamen under the Registrar's nose, and he hasn't managed to anger Big Wart Ma to death!"

After a pause, he 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 mobilizes every informant in the city, you won't be able to escape even if you want to!"

Yao Shitou was worried that Su Mo would be arrested.

Then his three hundred copper coins would be tossed into the water!

Su Mo smiled and was just about to speak

when a surprised voice came over. "Hey! Little brother, what a coincidence!"

Su Mo looked toward the voice.

He was immediately astonished.

"It's you?"

"Weren't you stationed at the Imperial Guard Office?"

Gao Xin explained, "I just received a messenger assignment. I didn't expect to run into you here, little brother!"

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

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

Su Mo hurriedly said, "Big Brother, what are you saying?"

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

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

After a pause, he glanced at Yao Shitou from the corner of his eye and asked, somewhat curiously, "Didn't you say you were with the Fast Squad, brother? Why are you patrolling the market here, doing the Strong Squad's work?"

Su Mo's eyes shifted. Then he gave a bitter smile. "I am with the Fast Squad, but the Fast Squad is currently hunting me. I was wondering whether I should surrender myself."

Hearing this, Gao Xin burst out laughing. "You're joking, brother!"

"With Captain Lin here, who in Changping County would dare lay a finger on you?"

"I really must be going! Farewell!"

With that, he cupped his hands toward Su Mo of his own accord and hurried away!

After Gao Xin had left,

Su Mo turned his head and saw that Yao Shitou's face had gone pale, tiny beads of sweat covering his forehead.

"Su Len... Brother Su, are you acquainted with the Imperial Guard...?"

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