Hearing Han Mo’s words, both Wu Lin and Lu Ying frowned.
However, they had personally experienced Han Mo’s quick wit, so since Han Mo had said so, they naturally wouldn’t stop him.
“Th-this, there’s no need for that, right?”
Just moments ago, this fellow was still arguing his case, but after only glancing at a document, he had suddenly changed his mind.
His attitude had done a complete 180-degree turn, which made Wang Lu a little unaccustomed.
Although no conviction had been made, directly shackling an official appointed by the imperial court was indeed against the rules.
But he was a person of little importance, and the so-called judicial assessor was, in essence, just a runner.
Whatever the superiors said, he could only do.
“Seeing you dawdle like this makes me angry, what the hell are you still dragging your feet for?”
Seeing the fellow being slow and indecisive, Wu Lin glared and cursed.
“Th-then, this subordinate will have to offend you…”
Surrounded by so many soldiers radiating murderous intent and a bandit-like aura, he dared not say another word. He could only take the shackles from his subordinates and personally approach Han Mo.
This experience was probably the most humiliating of his life.
Normally, when people from the Transport Commissioner’s office came to arrest someone, everyone in Hebei Circuit would be terrified and live in constant dread.
But this time, everything seemed to have been completely reversed.
Han Mo, the official to be apprehended, was now arrogant and high-spirited, while they, the officials responsible for the arrest, were all trembling with fear.
“You few, escort this adult to Daming Prefecture all the way. If they dare to disrespect this adult on the road, feel free to use your knives. If any of you let him escape, I’ll have your heads!”
Upon hearing Wu Lin’s words, Wang Lu almost fell to his knees.
Was this a court official or a bandit?
If not for the official military armor Wu Lin was wearing, he would have sincerely suspected he was being robbed at this very moment.
“Alright, it’s getting late. I think we should set off as early as possible, otherwise, we won’t reach Yuancheng tonight.”
Han Mo spoke as he, still wearing the shackles, directly boarded his carriage.
Wang Lu’s mouth twitched. Looking at the empty prisoner cart, he wanted to say something but ultimately didn’t dare to speak.
Thinking of his own life, he decisively shut his mouth at this moment.
Following Wu Lin’s orders, over a dozen imperial guards escorted Han Mo, following behind Wang Lu and his men, heading towards Daming Prefecture.
And not long after they left, several swift horses were seen galloping towards Daming Prefecture.
Judging by the clothes of those people, they were all from the Daming Garrison Command.
Wang Lu’s heart sank. At this moment, he not only didn’t resent Wu Lin but even felt a bit grateful to him.
Although he didn’t know what background this fellow named Han had, just the fact that a mere county magistrate like him could have the Director of the Daming Garrison Command personally send someone to deliver documents for him indicated that the person in the carriage was indeed not someone to be trifled with.
“Since we should arrive in Yuancheng late tonight, let’s just travel slower on the way. That way, this adult in the carriage won’t be jostled too much!”
While duties were duties, one still had to consider their own life.
After thinking it over, Wang Lu immediately instructed his subordinates.
After the incident at the yamen, these people were now all trembling. Since Wang Lu had said so, they naturally had no objections.
On the official road shrouded in a light drizzle, the group collectively slowed down again.
“Why did the carriage suddenly slow down?”
Through the thick, soft cushions, Han Mo yawned and asked casually.
“The speed of the escort ahead has slowed down. I don’t know what tricks they’re playing. Do you need me to urge them on?”
Xu Fengnian quickly asked in a low voice.
“No need. Let them be. I’ll get some sleep first!”
Although wearing shackles was indeed inconvenient.
However, with the soft cushions prepared in the carriage, it wasn’t too uncomfortable for the time being.
“Yes!”
After Xu Fengnian responded, he drove the carriage, deliberately choosing the smoother sections of the road.
The group majestically headed straight for Yuancheng, but their speed was incredibly slow. They had reached it in less than half a day when they came, riding at full speed. But on the way back, they were forced to wait until the next morning before they barely arrived.
Han Mo, inside the carriage, was indeed sore all over from sleeping, but what about the sergeants? Weren’t they also suffering?
It was still raining throughout Hebei Circuit. Although the rain on the road wasn’t heavy, traveling in such weather, even on horseback, made people feel very uncomfortable.
“My lord, we’ve reached Yuancheng.”
Seeing the city gate clearly in sight, Xu Fengnian quietly woke Han Mo.
“Give the brothers some reward money, let them eat and drink their fill in the city before returning to report!”
Glancing outside from the carriage window, Han Mo yawned and then said to Xu Fengnian.
“Yes!”
At Han Mo’s instruction, Xu Fengnian took out a gold ingot weighing a full five taels from a nearby bundle.
Although there were more than a dozen soldiers, considering the situation in Hebei Circuit at present, these five taels of gold could basically be exchanged for sixty strings of copper coins.
Divided equally among everyone, it was about four to five strings of coins per person.
Although prices were soaring at this time, with so many copper coins, it was enough for them to have a good meal and drink in the city, and even take a bath, find a discreet brothel, and have some fun!
“Thank you for the lord’s bounty!”
After receiving the reward money, all the soldiers were overjoyed.
Seeing Han Mo’s generous spending, even Wang Lu and his men felt a little envious at this moment.
Although the Transport Commissioner’s yamen was indeed a very lucrative position in the empire.
The benefits, in the end, all flowed into the hands of those high-ranking officials.
For low-level clerks like them, it was at most pocket money for drinks.
“Lord Han, we are about to enter the city. May I trouble you to move to that side?”
Seeing that the soldiers had finally dispersed, Wang Lu cautiously approached Han Mo’s carriage and said in a low voice.
“Since you’ve said so, then so be it. However, speaking of which, I’ve never actually sat in a prisoner’s cart in my life!”
Han Mo spoke as he, still in his official robes, directly climbed into the prisoner cart.
Looking at his brand-new official robes, Wang Lu’s mouth twitched.
Strictly speaking, his official robes should have been stripped off, but the problem was that since the other party had already given him so much face, it seemed a bit unreasonable to press further…