As soon as the sun rose, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter how bold the bandits are, they dare not go ashore to rob in broad daylight.

Officials from all walks of life rushed back to the government office to report their safety to the prefect.

"Thanks to the Lord's command and strict defense, the thieves were frightened!"

"It is true that those who are good at fighting do not have great achievements."

"It is a great blessing for the people of Suzhou to have the protection of the governor!"

"Now is not the time to sing praises." Cai Guoxi felt refreshed by the flattery, and all the fatigue in his body was swept away. He ordered Zhang Tongpan to send the boat camp to Xishan to investigate and find out where the mysterious fleet came from.

Judge Zhang responded in a hurried voice, and the official Liu from the palace came in quickly.

"Your Excellency, urgent news from Kunshan County!" Tuiguan Liu presented an official letter with three red chicken feathers stuck to it to the prefect.

Looking at the urgent letter, Magistrate Cai quickly tore off the sealing wax, took out the letter and took a look.

The officials only saw the governor's face change several times, and then he called out to Zhang Tongpan.

"No need to go."

"What's going on?" Judge Zhang looked back in confusion.

"The people in Dasheng Bay are not pirates."

"What is that?" the officials asked in unison.

"The Gunners from Kunshan County."

Prefect Cai handed the letter to Tongzhi Wang who was standing nearby, and many officials came over to watch.

I saw an official document from Kunshan County saying that they were shocked to learn the day before that the county’s disaster relief grain and the people transporting it were robbed by pirates, and they demanded a ransom within three days, otherwise they would kill them.

Because the news reached the county the next day, there was no time to wait for instructions from the government. Magistrate Zhao had no choice but to report it and send a battalion of gunmen to organize a rescue...

~~

The face of Wu County Magistrate Yang Chenglin turned ugly at that time.

Xishan was under the jurisdiction of Wu County, but he didn't even know about the pirates. Moreover, he was also subject to cross-border law enforcement by Kunshan County, which was a slap in the face of Magistrate Yang.

Moreover, Zhao Shouzheng, the magistrate of Kunshan, was supposed to succeed him as the governor of Wu County, but was forced to go to Kunshan by the officials and gentry of the provincial capital.

How could County Magistrate Yang not think about this? Was the man surnamed Zhao trying to disgust me on purpose, or was he trying to disgust me on purpose?

Upon learning that the people occupying the West Hill were not pirates, Governor Cai and his men felt much more relaxed.

"Although it was a false alarm, human lives are at stake. It is better to believe it than not to believe it."

"Yes, this shows that the governor is mature and prudent! It is a blessing for the people of Suzhou!"

"Just treat last night as a drill. If there is a real gang incident in the future, we won't be so flustered..."

"Alright, alright." Prefect Cai raised his hand, signaling the flattery to stop, and asked curiously, "Didn't they say the bandit nest was on Dalei Island? Why did they run to Xishan again?"

He glanced at Yang Chenglin and said, "Xishan is your jurisdiction. Please ask County Magistrate Yang to take people to check out what's going on. If the hostages haven't been rescued yet, please help."

"This..." County Magistrate Yang felt disgusted.

"I know you feel uncomfortable, but Taihu Lake is so big, and they didn't know the bandit nest must be in your jurisdiction. Don't take it too seriously."

Prefect Cai knew Mr. Zhao's background better than his subordinates. Although he could not be friendly with him due to his family background, he did not want to offend this iron-clad champion with a strong family background.

"Yes, sir." County Magistrate Yang had no choice but to respond in silence.

After successfully throwing the bag to his subordinates, Governor Cai yawned and stood up and said, "It's okay, everyone go away and stop talking nonsense here."

~~

Magistrate Yang left the government office in a depressed mood and took a sedan chair to the bank of Xu River.

This is the hardship of being a county magistrate in a suburb. The county magistrates in other counties are all very powerful. But he is like a bullied daughter-in-law, not only does he have to follow the rules, but he is also ordered around by his mother-in-law.

The Wuxian County's gunner camp was still patrolling the riverside, so County Magistrate Yang called on Qiu Dianshi, who was in charge of arresting thieves and maintaining public security, and brought two hundred gunners on five sand boats to rush to Xishan.

We arrived at Dasheng Bay in the afternoon and saw nearly fifty large and small boats moored at the pier. We could vaguely see people moving around in the village.

Magistrate Yang did not dare to approach rashly, so he ordered the small boat to be untied and sent officials to check it out first.

While waiting for a reply, Qiu Dianshi asked County Magistrate Yang.

"County Master, what are the rules later?"

"Let's first see if they are the beggars from Kunshan." Yang Chenglin sat on a chair, fanning himself with one hand and holding a teapot with the other.

"If so, tell them to get out of here and we'll take care of it. When will it be the turn of beggars to run wild in Wu County?"

"I understand." Qiu Dianshi nodded and rubbed his hands excitedly.

Most of the credit for suppressing the bandits goes to Wu County.

~~

After the meal, the officers returned.

"How is it?" Magistrate Yang closed his folding fan and asked the official who had just boarded the boat.

"My Lord, the bay is indeed the Kunshan gunner camp." The officer quickly replied, "They have been on the island for two days to suppress the bandits."

"Is that so?" Magistrate Yang heaved a sigh of relief, at least there was no danger now. Then he became angry again, fanning himself anxiously and asking:

"Not finished yet?"

"It is said that some pirates have fled into the mountains with hostages, and they are searching every mountain."

"Who is leading the team in Kunshan?" Qiu Dianshi asked in a deep voice.

"It is said to be the son of Magistrate Zhao."

"Kunshan County is too arrogant. Not even a proper official came." Qiu Dianshi sneered and said, "We can save ourselves the trouble now. Let him go right away."

"Zhao Hao?" But County Magistrate Yang's expression changed, and the frequency of fanning himself increased significantly.

"What's wrong, County Master?" Qiu Dianshi was very surprised. "Is there something extraordinary about that young master?"

"No, nothing..." Magistrate Yang covered his twitching mouth with his fan, and then told the official:

"Go, ask them if they need help. Be polite."

"Uh..." Qiu Dianshi and the other officials stared at each other.

Didn't you say you wanted them to get out? Why are you helping them? You have to be polite?

Magistrate Yang had no intention of explaining. He paced back and forth on the deck with his hands behind his back, wondering what he was thinking about.

After a while, the official came back and reported:

"They said they have enough manpower. If our county wants to help, please provide 900 servings of vegetables, fruits and meat. They can pay double the price..."

"Oh, I got it." County Magistrate Yang nodded as if he had swallowed a fly, and then resolutely ordered to return.

"Master, isn't he just a son of a yamen official? Is he that scary?" On the way back, Qiu Dianshi finally couldn't help but ask.

"Lao Qiu, you should pay more attention to what's happening outside in the future, and stop focusing on your little piece of land all day long." County Magistrate Yang sighed and shook his head.

He had heard of Zhao Hao's name a long time ago.

The youngest millionaire and founder of science in the Ming Dynasty, a man with five successful candidates in the imperial examinations, who lectured at the Lingji Palace and was a doctoral student bestowed by the emperor and gave lectures on the imperial classics every day.

The eldest princess' godson, the teacher of three grand secretaries, the fig leaf of the Ming Dynasty poetry world, the vice chairman of Xishan Company, the god-like man who makes the young cabinet ministers kowtow to him!

As a county magistrate, he couldn't afford to offend any of them...

Oh, by the way, Master Zhao is also the first human to go to heaven.

Who can withstand this?

ps. Second update. I think it’s because I ate sashimi. I’ve been eating at home for the past few months and I can’t eat spicy or raw food anymore. My iron stomach is gone. I haven’t finished writing the third update yet, so wait.