"No matter, you just said yourself that I am not an outsider to your lord, so feel free to speak if there's anything."
"Since you say so, may I not be polite?"
"That is as it should be!"
As Han Mo spoke, he also glanced at Yue Fei and the others' expressions.
"It's not really a big deal, it's just that last night some strong individuals broke into the prison and took away some accomplices. They then fled to the area of Neihuang. My lord wishes to ask for your assistance in apprehending them!"
"Is that so? Have they gone mad? Rest assured, I will definitely assist in this matter!"
Han Mo said directly, slapping the table.
"Thank you, sir!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Cui Hao quickly cupped his hands towards him.
"This is my duty, and there's no need to say more. I just don't know, where are these people you mentioned now? Do you have their likenesses?"
"That's not necessary. They are right before your eyes now!"
Cui Hao gave a cold laugh and then looked directly at Yue Fei and the others.
"Oh?"
Han Mo's pupils constricted, but he made no move.
The two attendants following Cui Hao immediately placed their hands on their saber hilts.
"You dog official! Today it's either you die or I live!"
Xu Qing had a fiery temper. Thinking that they couldn't return home at this moment, he gnashed his teeth in anger. He simply picked up his weapon and prepared to strike.
However, before he could take a step, Yue Fei had already grabbed his wrist.
After all, Han Mo hadn't spoken yet, and he could tell that this newly appointed county magistrate seemed to be not of the same ilk as this person surnamed Cui.
"Sir, these are the ones who broke into the prison last night, and they also took away several serious offenders from the jail!"
Cui Hao spoke while also looking at Han Mo.
After all, in the end, it still depended on Han Mo's attitude.
This was Han Mo's territory, and if they directly resorted to force, they would be the ones at a disadvantage.
"You say they took away several serious offenders, I wonder what crimes these individuals were convicted of? Do you have the official documents?"
Han Mo finally spoke, but his words made Cui Hao's heart skip a beat.
He had been talking around in circles for so long, all to get Han Mo to give him some face.
But who knew that this brat would agree so readily, yet now showed no intention of backing down!
"This..."
"What? You're not going to tell me you don't have them, are you?"
Han Mo's face was filled with a playful smile.
"Naturally, I wouldn't. It's just that I came in a hurry and didn't bring any..."
Those people hadn't even been interrogated, so where would he get the official documents?
At this moment, he could only beat around the bush.
"Then what kind of people are they!"
Han Mo asked again.
"Uh..."
He certainly knew Zhou Ding, but the rest were just common bandits. If he could recognize them, it would be a miracle!
"Lord Cui, you are making things difficult for me!"
Han Mo said with a cold laugh.
"Sir, as long as you help my lord apprehend the criminals today, my lord will surely reward you handsomely in the future!"
This was his last resort. Seeing that Han Mo completely disregarded it, he could only beg Han Mo with this.
"You have none of this, you don't know any of that, and you can't even say their names. How can I help you? Also, when did you say they broke into the prison?"
Han Mo spread his hands and asked again.
"Last night, around midnight!"
Cui Hao said directly.
"Midnight? Are you sure?"
Han Mo asked back in surprise.
"It wasn't just me who saw it; the guards inside and outside my county jail all saw it!"
Cui Hao quickly said.
Although he knew that this trip might be in vain, he was now in a difficult situation and could only persist stubbornly.
"Then something is not right!"
He had just finished speaking when Han Mo suddenly interrupted him.
"Not right?"
Cui Hao's heart trembled. Had the events of last night leaked out?
However, he immediately dismissed this idea. After all, the insiders of last night were the responsible parties. If this matter were to be revealed, none of them would have a good outcome.
Putting aside how they were imprisoned in the first place, simply losing prisoners under their watch would at least mean a sentence of exile a thousand li away!
"That's right, last night they were all following this county magistrate's army in searching for the disgraced official Zhou Ding. They only succeeded early this morning, and the man is still locked up in the jail!"
Damn it!
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Cui Hao felt like cursing.
He was shameless enough, but when telling lies, he still had to collude with others beforehand.
But this kid, he was lying without even preparing his script!
His ability to lie with a straight face left even him speechless for a moment.
"What? You don't believe me? You can ask them yourself! Pengju, am I right?"
As Han Mo spoke, he looked at Yue Fei with a half-smile.
Yue Fei was stunned for a moment and truly didn't know how to respond.
Wu Lin's mouth also twitched. Yes, that was right. It was just that last night, they were searching in Tangyin Prison, while he was searching in the brothels in the county town.
"Sir, we have witnesses..."
"Are you implying that I don't have witnesses?"
Although Han Mo was smiling, the threat in his words was already very clear.
"This, this... they are major criminals apprehended by the Judicial Department!"
Cui Hao was truly speechless. He was filled with frustration. He had originally thought there was a good chance, after all, in officialdom, especially among county magistrates who were also neighbors, people usually gave each other some face.
But this kid was giving them no room to save face at all!
"What? You don't trust me?"
"Of course not. I just want to remind you, sir, if the Judicial Department asks, aren't you afraid you won't be able to explain?"
Since he mentioned the Judicial Department, Han Mo immediately understood. This fellow probably had some connections there, but he didn't care about it.
"Are you trying to use the Judicial Department to pressure me?"
As Han Mo spoke, he drew the Qingping sword from the rack behind him.
"Sir, you are..."
Cui Hao immediately became nervous and genuinely felt a pang of fear.
"Do you know where this sword comes from?"
"This, this official does not know!"
"Then let me tell you. This was bestowed upon me by His Majesty the Emperor after I won an archery competition against the Jin envoys at the Qionglin Banquet!"
"His, His, His Majesty..."
A fine layer of sweat broke out on Cui Hao's forehead.
"Go back and tell your lord that I, Han Mo, never provoke trouble, but I am also never afraid of it! If he wants to test my strength, then find someone to inquire in Bianliang City. They'll tell you that I, Han Mo, am not someone to be trifled with!"
"I, Han Mo, want these people. I will give him three days to sort out the official documents. Otherwise, you can see if I have the ability to have the newly appointed Grand Controller, Lord Xu, go to his Tangyin county yamen to investigate the past account books!"