Liu Bei and Li Mengxi walked to the city wall. Liu Bei bowed his hands in salute. Before he could say anything, the county magistrate flicked his sleeves and said, "Humph!"

With a snort and a look at Liu Bei, the county magistrate walked away.

Liu Bei stood there, feeling very embarrassed.

"My lord, stay!"

Li Mengxi called as the county magistrate passed by.

"My lord, can you please discuss tonight's events in private? I will give you an explanation!"

If Li Mengxi seems to be submissive or admits his mistake, it is actually a delaying tactic. It is absolutely impossible to admit his mistake, so what is wrong with taking food from a powerful man? It is absolutely impossible to surrender. The dog emperor cannot make Li Mengxi submissive, and it is impossible for a mere county magistrate.

The purpose of delaying the attack was to have an opportunity to negotiate face to face with the county magistrate.

It's good to have a chance to talk. If the county magistrate closes the door and refuses to talk about how to get the grain bounty, is it really necessary to hang the county magistrate up and beat him up and ask him where the grain bounty is?

Not that step yet.

The county magistrate looked at Li Mengxi who was bowing in a respectful manner. The county magistrate was angry at Li Mengxi's previous persecution. Seeing that Li Mengxi was now respectful, the county magistrate wanted to ignore it and hesitated for a few seconds. The county magistrate wanted to hear Li Mengxi's explanation and made up his mind.

Idea, the county magistrate said in a stiff tone, "Then let's see what excuse you have for disrupting the county government office to seize grain!"

After saying this, the county magistrate left without stopping.

When the county magistrate left, Li Mengxi straightened up, with no trace of respect on his face.

Li Mengxi then went with the county magistrate, and Liu Bei had no choice but to follow behind.

Liu Bei completely lost his initiative. He followed Li Mengxi as if he were a guard.

Li Mengxi and Liu Bei came to the county government office once. They were drinking and eating duck in the main hall of the county government office. The servants lit the lamp and left. The lights in the hall were bright.

As soon as Li Mengxi came to the main hall, he saw the county magistrate sitting in the middle, a few short years back, with a straight face.

Li Mengxi thought for a moment, turned a blind eye to the short tables placed on the left and right of the hall, and walked directly towards the county magistrate's short table.

After walking over, Li Mengxi took advantage of the situation and knelt down on the side of the short table, only an arm's length away from the county magistrate.

Because of Li Mengxi's move, the county magistrate was not happy. He stood up in disgust, stayed away from Li Mengxi, and sat down on the other side of the short table.

The county magistrate and Li Mengxi sat facing each other.

Liu Xuande had nothing to do here, so Liu Xuande found a place to sit down casually. Liu Bei looked at Li Mengxi uneasily.

It is not that he is afraid that Li Mengxi will cause trouble, but that he is afraid that Li Mengxi will suffer a loss due to the anger of the county magistrate.

Li Mengxi looked across at the county magistrate, who had a sullen expression on his face and looked unhappy. Li Mengxi's expression was as usual. He raised his hand in a casual salute, and then took it back, which was regarded as a greeting.

"Sir, we had a secret discussion before, to take the food from the powerful and divide it into 28 accounts, so as to use the powerful without harming the people.

Your Excellency had agreed that day, but why did you lie to me?

This book talks about taking the food of the powerful, why do you take the food of the common people instead?

I really think that this is a child with a yellow mouth, and you can’t play tricks on me!”

Li Mengxi glared angrily and punched the short table with his fist, making a thud sound.

The county magistrate snorted coldly, with a pair of small eyes full of contempt, "So what? You are the one who robbed the granary. I will let the prefect know about it soon. I will see how you will explain it!"

The county magistrate's threat was very straightforward.

Li Mengxi was unmoved. He looked at the county magistrate with an indifferent expression, "Why are we robbing? It's obvious that you want to raise food to fight against the thieves, and our army has strong soldiers and horses. You will give me all the food and grass to help our army fight against the thieves."

purpose.

It’s your lord, you’ve been waiting for me.”

Li Mengxi insisted that the grain was given by the county magistrate.

When the county magistrate heard this, he was angry. He stood up and pointed at Li Mengxi's nose and cursed, "How did I ever give you food?"

"Someone said yes, that's right." Li Mengxi looked indifferent, with a smile that would kill anyone.

"You...you," the county magistrate's hands shook in anger, he snorted coldly, clapped his hands, and sat down again. He stared at Li Mengxi and sneered again and again, "Okay, you kid is lying, you are someone

If I give you food without any proof, who will believe it?"

Li Mengxi smiled, "If your Excellency said that you did not want to give food to our army, I think you are going back on your word. Your Excellency is also empty talk, and no one is willing to believe it!"

Li Mengxi fought tit for tat without falling behind in the slightest.

He seized on the loopholes in ancient administration. In ancient times, administrative procedures were bound to be inferior to those in modern society. Government expenditures were well documented, the procedures were rigorous, and various seals were stamped one after another.

Even in modern times, under the strict process system, there are still various ways to enrich one's own pockets and take advantage of others.

In ancient times, if an official of the size of the county magistrate wanted to take grain out of the warehouse and give it to someone, he might have a seal as proof, but it was even more likely that he would not have it. It is also normal to have nothing.

Therefore, if you get the food, you will die without proof.

It can be said that the county magistrate did not want to give the grain to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei can also say that the county magistrate originally gave the grain to be used to fight off thieves, but then went back on his word.

Both sides have no evidence and are relying solely on their words.

Even if we go to the prefect, we still have two sides to talk about.

At that time, without any evidence, who is right and who is wrong will depend on who is easy to offend.

The one who is not easy to offend is right, and the one who is worthless is wrong.

Liu Xuande had strong soldiers and horses, and was the most powerful man in Zhuozhou. Liu Bei was not easy to offend, but he was also worth winning over.

Therefore, when the grain is in your hand and it is said that it was given by the county magistrate, it must be given by the county magistrate to beg the thieves.

It has to be yes even if it’s not.

The county magistrate is a smart man, not stupid.

The county magistrate stared at Li Mengxi, his expression uncertain, and he was thinking of countermeasures.

Li Mengxi put his hand on the low table and played it lightly with his fingers. The county magistrate was anxious, but he was not impatient.

After a moment, the county magistrate suddenly sneered, "What a sharp-tongued kid you are."

After saying this, the county magistrate changed his tone and asked sternly, "I didn't promise you food and grass! I didn't even ask for food and grass. You have food in your hands, and they came to rob the people! This is robbery!"

If you don't return the food to me, I'll see how you deal with it when someone reports it to the prefect!"

After speaking, the county magistrate glared at Liu Bei below.

Liu Bei made a show of getting up to argue. Then, Liu Bei remembered something, sighed and shook his head, lowering his head and refusing to argue.

In the opinion of the county magistrate, Liu Bei has been taken care of.

I don’t know, but Liu Bei felt that the county magistrate had failed.

Li Mengxi smiled and shook his head. He raised his head and laughed twice. The preparations he had made in advance actually came in handy.

It’s up to people to plan things, and it’s up to people to make things happen.

After laughing, Li Mengxi took back his smile.

"The county magistrate said that our army entered the city to seize grain. You must not say that. It was the county magistrate who ordered the collection."

"When did I give the order! There is no basis or evidence!" the county magistrate sarcastically said. At this time, he used his spear to attack his shield. The county magistrate felt very happy.

"Yes!" Li Mengxi clapped his hands and leaned forward. He looked at the county magistrate with a focused gaze, "I have proof, I have proof!"

Li Mengxi spoke word by word.

Then, under the eyes of the county magistrate, Li Mengxi reached into his sleeve and slowly took out a roll of something.

While the county magistrate was surprised, Li Mengxi stood up, stood up, took a step back, and slowly unfolded the notice that he had unveiled that day in front of the county magistrate.

"Look, your lord, this is your order to collect grain, and it has your official seal on it.

The red seal of cinnabar is as bright as new.

May I ask, sir, can this be used as a certificate?" Li Mengxi smiled.
Chapter completed!