Magistrate Cao was very busy with official duties during this period and went to bed very late every day. Especially after the bandits of Qianniu Mountain were wiped out, some bandits still escaped. Qing'an Prefecture issued a task to all counties to pursue and kill these remaining bandits, and to ensure that no future troubles were left.
Zhao Cheng's successful entry into the city at night was related to the county government's recent decree that any bandit activity discovered must be dealt with promptly.
Magistrate Cao had not been asleep for long when he was startled awake by the urgent drumbeats and jumped out of bed.
The beating of the drum at midnight must indicate a major event. Magistrate Cao dared not delay and immediately changed his clothes, eager to go to court as soon as possible.
The yamen runners were also awakened, not knowing what had happened, and they all got out of bed and rushed to the county yamen hall.
The soldiers and yamen runners at the gate were helpless; the matter had escalated, so they had no choice but to lead Zhao Cheng toward the county government hall.
At this moment, Magistrate Cao was already seated in the main hall, and the yamen runners also rushed over. Perhaps because they had just woken up, they were yawning incessantly and could not even stand up straight.
Magistrate Cao slammed his gavel, and the bailiffs immediately sobered up and stood at attention.
"Who is beating the drum? Bring them up to the hall."
At this moment, Zhao Cheng had arrived in the main hall. He stepped forward and took out the letter.
“Your Excellency, bandits have been discovered in Shuixian Village and Wangba Village. This is a letter from my young master to you. You will understand once you read it.”
"So it's you. You came here specifically to deliver a message." Magistrate Cao finally recognized the person who had come.
"Yes, Your Excellency, the three bandits who appeared in Shuixian Village have been captured. Several bandits in Wangba Village are temporarily staying at the home of a man named Wang Xiang, one of whom is the bandits' second-in-command." Zhao Cheng handed over the letter after speaking.
Magistrate Cao opened the letter, quickly glanced through it, and his face lit up with delight.
The bandit leader and his men were fast asleep; arresting them now would be like catching turtles in a jar.
Capturing the bandit leader would be a great achievement, and perhaps my position could be promoted. Scholar Zhao, you are truly my benefactor.
"Well done, Zhao Zhuangshi! You subdued the three bandits who robbed the village and even went to the city overnight to deliver a message. You've worked hard. I will personally lead men to Wangba Village to capture the bandit leader, and then go to Shuixian Village to escort the three bandits away." Magistrate Cao stood up and said.
"Thank you, Magistrate. I'll return to the village immediately. Mules aren't as fast as horses, so I need to hurry." Zhao Cheng finished speaking, bowed to Magistrate Cao, and turned to leave.
Magistrate Cao immediately mobilized his troops, selecting more than twenty capable and shrewd constables who mounted fast horses and left the county town, galloping towards Wangba Village.
By the time Zhao Cheng arrived at Narcissus Village on his mule, it was already daylight.
Last night, Zhao Cheng went to the county town to deliver a message, and the whole family stayed up all night.
After Zhao Cheng left, Zhao Xian realized that the city gates were closed at night, and Zhao Cheng couldn't enter the city at all. He could only enter the city at dawn. He blamed himself for not thinking things through.
It is estimated that by the time Magistrate Cao received the letter, the bandits had already fled, and there was no point in sending troops to capture them.
Sigh, such a great opportunity has been missed.
Zhao Xian waited in frustration until dawn. As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw Zhao Cheng riding back on a mule.
Zhao Xian was overjoyed, knowing that Zhao Cheng's return to the village at this time meant he must have met Magistrate Cao.
"Zhao Cheng, has the letter been delivered? Have you met with Magistrate Cao?"
"I handed the letter to Magistrate Cao, and after reading it, he immediately dispatched troops. If nothing unexpected happens, the government should have captured those bandits."
"Great! The city gates are closed at night, how did you get into the city?"
"The county issued a notice that there were no time restrictions on providing information about bandits, and when I entered the city, the city gates were indeed closed."
So I said I wanted to see Magistrate Cao to provide important information about the bandits, and the soldiers guarding the city opened the city gates and let me in.
Upon arriving at the county government office, in order to see Magistrate Cao as soon as possible, I banged on the large drum at the entrance, forcing Magistrate Cao to hold court that very night. That's how I got to see him.
"Haha, you're really something." Zhao Xian nodded approvingly. He knew that Zhao Cheng was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also intelligent and wise, a rare talent for generalship. Now that he was working for him, it was truly a blessing from heaven.
"The magistrate of Cao County said that after capturing the bandits in Wangba Village, he would come to Shuixian Village to escort these three bandits back to the city."
"I wonder if those bandits in Wangba Village have been caught yet. We mustn't let them escape. And that Wang Xiang, he's even more despicable than the bandits," Zhao Xian said with some worry.
Just as Zhao Xian finished speaking, they heard a rapid sound of horses' hooves approaching.
When the family heard the sound of horses' hooves outside, they all came out of the house, knowing that the government officials had arrived.
Soon, several warhorses arrived at the gate, and the yamen runners were fully armed, including Magistrate Cao. Perhaps because the departure was too hasty, Magistrate Cao was still wearing his official robes.
Several yamen runners dismounted and helped Magistrate Cao down from his horse. Magistrate Cao was a civil official, and it was truly not easy for him to travel back and forth with these yamen runners on and off horseback.
At this moment, Magistrate Cao was in excellent spirits, and he must have had a good day.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Magistrate." The family members all knelt down upon seeing Magistrate Cao.
"Please rise quickly. This isn't my first time here. Don't be so polite next time." Magistrate Cao's voice was particularly gentle today.
"Magistrate Cao, how is the situation at Wangba Village? Have the bandits been captured?" Zhao Xian asked.
"Haha, we've caught them all, not one of them escaped!" Magistrate Cao said excitedly.
“Wangba Village is relatively close to the county seat. When we arrived in the village, it was not yet fully light. We first found the village head, who then led us to Wang Xiang’s house. We surrounded the house and then broke down the door to enter.”
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