Chapter 43 Scapegoat

The yamen runners were getting angrier and angrier.

"The people above did something wrong, but we have to suffer with them. How can this be justified?"

"That's right. We are just following orders. Why should we suffer like this?"

"Those officials are fine. They just didn't have food for one day. We have been hungry for three or

four days. We only have one bowl of soup every day. If this continues, I'm afraid I will starve to death!" "We are all human beings. Why should our lives be worse than those of officials?"

"I don't care. It's those officials who can't get out. What does it have to do with a small runner like me?"

"I want to go out. I want to eat!"

As he said this, a yamen runner ran out.

Strangely, this yamen runner was not stopped by the people. They just watched him leave quietly.

This scene was so bizarre that the yamen runner got goosebumps all over his body for no reason.

If he could get out, does that mean he could go out and ask for help?

If he could ask for help and please the masters, he might even be promoted. Such an opportunity is hard to find!

The yamen runner thought about it, changed into a cloth and planned to go out for help, but he didn't expect to be blocked by his family.

"Where are you going?"

"Don't you want to offend the goddess?"

"You bastard, that's the goddess!"

"Now the goddess only wants the lives of those dog officials. If you anger her, what if she wants the lives of our whole family?"

The family locked the yamen runner up without saying anything and didn't let him go out.

Many yamen runners in the county government had left, and none of them came back, as if they had disappeared into thin air.

Gradually, the people in the county yamen dared not go out. They could only lie weakly on the ground, waiting for death to come.

Outside the county yamen, new food appeared every day, even oil, vegetables, and meat.

The appearance of these foods was regarded by the people as the goddess's affirmation of them, and more and more people participated.

The people were worried that these officials would cheat and run away, so except for going to the toilet, everyone refused to leave, and even set up pots outside the county yamen to cook.

The people in the county yamen were still hungry, but there was smoke outside the county yamen. This was a complete torture for the people in the county yamen.

The county magistrate now didn't even have the strength to sit up, and could only lie paralyzed in his armchair.

The others were not much better than the county magistrate. They were all in a trance, obviously having gone through a lot of torture.

The yamen runner beside the county magistrate said in a daze: "My lord, I don't think we can wait for the reinforcements to come."

The chief clerk held his breath and spoke intermittently. "My most...most loyal subordinate...has been out for several days...has not come back, it seems...is dead."

None of the people who went out came back, and there was no news of any reinforcements. If it wasn't an accident, how to explain it?

The county magistrate's eyes flashed with a hint of viciousness.

"Don't these bastards just want to use 18 officials as a blood sacrifice?"

"Then we will give them to him!"

Hearing this, the officials were shocked.

In order to avoid being sacrificed, they would rather endure hunger these days and dare not bring up this topic again.

But will they still be sacrificed in the end?

They were filled with despair.

"What are you panicking about!"

"You are all my right-hand men, how can I bear to let you go!"

The county magistrate tried to sit up straight to make himself look more dignified.

"What I mean is, why don't we select 18 people from the yamen runners and give them official titles?"

The chief clerk was a little hesitant when he heard this.

"Is this possible?"

"I'm afraid these runners won't agree."

"Won't agree?" The magistrate snorted coldly, "Why shouldn't they agree?"

"With their lives, they will only be runners even if they work until death. I have given them the opportunity to bring honor to their family. They can die as officials appointed by the court. This is their honor!"

"Go ahead, select eighteen loyal and obedient ones."

The magistrate glanced at the runners who had been following him, "Such a good opportunity, I'll give it to you first."

"How about I give you the position of chief clerk?"

The runner knelt on the ground in panic, "Sir, I am already satisfied as long as I can follow you. I don't want to be a chief clerk. Please don't let me go to die!"

"Huh? How can you call it going to die? This is clearly a cultivation for you."

"But I respect you, sir, and don't want to be a clerk..."

"I...I want to follow your path and become someone like you."

The officer knelt on the ground, digging his hands into the wooden floor.

His finger bones had turned white, and it was obvious that he was extremely reluctant.

Seeing this, the county magistrate laughed: "Oh!"

"So you want to be the county magistrate, no problem!"

"I will now appoint you as the acting county magistrate, are you satisfied now?"

The officer raised his head, his black eyes flashing with incomprehensible emotions.

He was silent for a long time, as if he had nothing to say.

The retreat was blocked.

"Okay~"

His voice trembled slightly, and it was hard to tell whether it was fear or joy.

"Hahaha, don't worry, my good boy. After you die, I will bury you according to the county magistrate's specifications, and your family will also be taken care of accordingly."

The county magistrate laughed loudly.

The chief clerk looked at the officer with satisfaction: "Master, this subordinate Mo Ming is a sensible one. May I know his name?"

"It is not important to judge a hero by his origin. A name is just a nickname. It does not matter what it is called."

As long as the tool is easy to use, who cares what it is called?

The county magistrate stroked his beard and looked at the yamen runner with satisfaction.

Although this yamen runner had only recently come to his side, he was very sensible and obedient, and had strong ability to do things. The most important thing was that he was very smart and always knew what he wanted.

It was a pity that he originally wanted to promote this person to be the new county lieutenant.

Although he said it lightly, he knew that it would be difficult for someone to agree to die for them. At this time, it would be more convincing to push out a confidant.

Look, my confidant has agreed. If it is a bad thing, how can I bear it?

Sure enough, after seeing that the county magistrate's confidant had agreed, many yamen runners also agreed after a simple hesitation.

So, eighteen yamen runners in official uniforms appeared in front of the people.

When Gan Tian heard about this, she was shocked by the shamelessness of these dog officials.

[These dog officials are so shameless! ]

[But fortunately, it was all in Dad's plan. Dad really has no plan left. He is awesome. ]

Gan Fanren's ears turned red when he heard the little girl's praise. He

felt embarrassed to be praised by a good girl.

He coughed a few times deliberately and said loudly: "I heard from the shopkeeper that the adults in the county government have come out. I think there should be a good show to watch."

"Let's go, son and madam, let's take our daughter to watch the show."

The family came to the outside of the county government in a mighty manner.