C11 Greetings to the Prefecture Magistrate

"Just take a carriage with me." Hsu Shen instructed Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was overjoyed, but on the surface, he pretended to be calm and collected: "Understood, Master Xu."

He followed Hsu Shen out of the mansion. Liu Tie had already prepared a carriage and was waiting outside. Xiao Yan stepped forward and stretched out his arm.

Hsu Shen looked at him approvingly and helped him into the carriage. Then Xiao Yan followed and got in.

As the saying goes, a Heaven and Earth Sovereign's personal teacher was an existence similar to his parents in ancient times. If anyone dared to be disrespectful to his teacher, he would be sentenced to death.

Xiao Yan sat on Hsu Shen's carriage, so Xiao Shi had no choice but to follow behind the Xu Residence's carriage.

"..."

"Have you gathered all the food this year?"

Within the magistrate court, a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance spoke out.

"Venerable County Magistrate, we've basically paid for the food this year. However, there are still some places that we still can't hand over." At the side, Wang Wenn from the Young Manor said respectfully.

Shaofu is a county subordinate officer in charge of finance.

County Magistrate and Lee Huai frowned when they heard that. "Hmph, these troublesome people are really outrageous. They even dare to delay the payment of the royal food."

"Have the three elders of the village urge them to quickly hand it over. Don't tell me they want me to pay taxes in arrears?"

The sound of footsteps came from outside the room. It was the Registrar Official.

"Venerable County Magistrate, Mr Xu requests an audience."

"Master Xu?"

Lee Huai waved his hand at Wang Wenn, "Alright, you may leave. No matter what, you must gather the grains and rice within five days. I am going to pay my respects to Master Xu."

Even if it was the entire Donglai Country, they would not dare to slight Hsu Shen, who had passed on his legacy. He, Lee Huai, immediately stood up and tidied up his clothes, making sure there were no impolite places before walking into the reception room.

"Haha, Elder Xu, you came from afar to find me. Is there something important?"

Xiao Yan looked up when he heard this laughter. He saw a dignified middle-aged man with three wrinkles on his forehead walking in. He seemed to be used to frowning and giving orders, and was wearing his official uniform. It was probably County Magistrate.

"You flatter me. Brother Li is under the Emperor's command and is busy with official matters. I don't mind waiting for you." Hsu Shen stood up to welcome him, while Xiao Yan also stood up.

"Oh?"

When Lee Huai saw Xiao Yan behind Hsu Shen, his eyes flashed: "This isn't Mr Xu Lin'er, right?"

"Of course not, this is a bad disciple, Xiao Yan." Hsu Shen shouted at Xiao Yan, "Zhongce, you're not coming to see Venerable County Magistrate yet?"

Uncle Bo Zhong Ji, Xiao Yan was the second oldest in the family and also the eldest brother. However, he died a long time ago, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to inherit the Marquis of Longevity.

Xiao Yan took a step forward, placed his palms together, and bowed.

"Student Xiao Yan. Greetings, Venerable County Magistrate."

Lee Huai was also a smart person. Upon hearing Xiao Yan introduce himself, he immediately understood who he was.

Good boy, I thought that Zhang Fen had set his eyes on this Xiao Family Field and even Old Man Xiao would die.

Lee Huai rolled his eyes and smiled, "Oh, so it's Longevity Yang Duke. Since I'm under Elder Xu, I should study the history. Elder Xu is a scholar, so if I follow him, I can definitely understand it."

Hsu Shen and County Magistrate suddenly became serious after being polite for a while.

"Does County Magistrate know about the Way of Taiping?" Hsu Shen enunciated each word clearly.

"Taiping Road?"

Lee Huai thought about it and frowned, "Could it be those few Taoists with yellow scarves?"

"Exactly, Venerable County Magistrate must not let his guard down!"

Hsu Shen said in a serious tone, "My disciple Xiao Yan has seen for himself, that Taoist Tai Ping has openly put talismans into the city to win over people's hearts. The people admire him, and what if Taoist Tai Ping plotted against the people inside and outside the city to benefit them?"

Lee Huai scoffed and said in a disapproving manner, "Master Xu, you are just a few wild Taoists. Even if you bewitch some stupid people, what can you do? The defenders of the city are no pushovers either. "

Xiao Yan couldn't help but open his mouth, "Venerable County Magistrate, please listen to me. Master Xu is not just talking nonsense!"

"Hmm?" Lee Huai frowned again. It was fine if Hsu Shen said that, but this Xiao Yan was just a small figure like Longevity Yang Duke. How could he dare to talk to him like that?

Hsu Shen was also unavoidably dissatisfied. Xiao Yan just followed behind him and listened. How could he interrupt?

"The Taiping Way is well-organized, led by the Great Deer County's Zhang Jiao. That Zhang Jiao is secretly developing his followers on the surface to cure the disease, but right now, he has secretly set up thirty-six forces in the thirteen prefectures!"

"The smaller side has around seven to eight thousand people, while the bigger side has over ten thousand people. Once we start, we will have hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses. How can we underestimate them?"

Xiao Yan could not help but want to speak because the Darkhan Empire had been pacified for far too long, almost two hundred years. Ten generations of people had never experienced war, and after the yellow cloth insurrection broke out, many local officials were confused, and who knew how many counties and counties were taken down by the Yellow Ribbon Bastard in the early stages.

Emperor Guang Wu, Liu Xiu, was from the Nanyang, but even the Wan City of the Nanyang of the County of Nanyang were taken over by the Yellow Ribbon Bastard.

Lee Huai said with a sullen face, "How did Young Master Xiao know about this? With such a tight organization, perhaps only the higher-ups of the Taiping Road would know about it, right? "Could it be …"

Swish!

Lee Huai's gaze was like a shining dagger, piercing towards Xiao Yan, causing Xiao Yan's body to tremble.

"A few days ago, a Daoist Taiping tried to come to my manor to bewitch people. He was captured by Wu Tie and forced to come out after a fierce beating." Xiao Yan slowly said while pretending to be calm.

"Capturing a random Taoist warrior is probably just a piece of nonsense. How could he casually reveal the secret of the Cimicry Sect?" Lee Huai sneered.

"Alright, I'm in awe of Duke Xu, but there's no need to speak nonsense in this county magistrate court, is there?"

Lee Huai waved his hand and said impatiently, "This county is busy with official business. If there is nothing else, please return with your disciple."

"Right."

Halfway through, Lee Huai turned his head and said, "Master Xu, teach well. I don't want to make you laugh, hmph!"

With that, Lee Huai left.

Hsu Shen was so angry that his face turned red. He was a scholar, and no one had dared to talk to him like this in all these years. If it wasn't for him trying his best to keep up, Hsu Shen would probably be trembling in anger.

Plop!

Xiao Yan immediately knelt on the ground, "Master Xu, this student has given Master Xu some face, damn it!"

Hsu Shen glanced at Xiao Yan and took a deep breath, "Forget it, this Lee Huai is too arrogant. Sooner or later, he will be in trouble. Hmph!"

Xiao Yan followed Hsu Shen respectfully and escorted him out.

"Capture a member of the church?"

Wang Wenn from the Young Manor had a gloomy face. He called for a Yamen Runner and whispered a few instructions to him.

"Do you understand?" Wang Wenn said coldly.

"Don't worry, young master. I understand."

The Yamen Runner sang a song and ran out.

Wang Wenn's eyes were fixated on the carriage that Hsu Shen and Xiao Yan were riding.