"My son-in-law, the official has summoned you back for a report at this time. Could it be that..."
Two days later, Han Mo finally received the imperial decree, delivered by swift courier with a golden seal, from Liang Shicheng.
"What's there to fear? All he wants is money, isn't it? Besides, I'm not the one footing this bill?"
As Han Mo spoke, his face was filled with disdain.
The Cai family had already prepared the ships overnight. All he had to do was deliver the goods on those ships to Bianliang.
Not only was this money not pocketed, but it had to be handed over under Han Mo's name.
It could be said that this time, they had truly tried to steal a chicken and ended up with a ruined hen.
"While that may be true, the accounts haven't been fully tallied yet. If you depart so quickly, what if there are...?"
As Jiang Yan spoke, he glanced at Han Mo's expression with some concern.
"Don't worry. If the Cai family doesn't want any trouble, they won't falsify the numbers. They know the gravity of the situation."
Compared to their worries, Han Mo treated the matter with complete indifference.
"Then we won't tally them?"
Jiang Yan's eyes widened in surprise.
"We still need to tally them, but there's no need to exert so much effort. Later, you'll take my written instruction and find the stewards of a few major families. Ask them to each spare fifty accountants to help with the tally!"
"But, will that work?"
Upon hearing that Han Mo wanted their people to be in charge of the tally, Jiang Yan was the first to express his concern.
After all, these people were all from the major families. If anything went wrong, Han Mo would be the one taking the blame.
This was no small sum of money!
Tens of millions of copper coins. If something truly went wrong, the Han family's meager fortune would be lost.
"Rest assured. After they finish the tally, deduct seventy million guan from this sum and use it as the deposit silver for the seven major families at the Maritime Trade Office. If the goods they provide in the future have issues, the compensation share will be deducted from this sum first!"
"Ah?"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Jiang Yan felt his mind reeling.
So, whose money was this seventy million guan?
If it belonged to the seven major families, they themselves couldn't move it. If it belonged to the Maritime Trade Office, it seemed their accounts couldn't be accessed like this either.
"Alright, you just do as I say and deliver the message. I don't think they're foolish enough to argue with me about this!"
In any case, once this money reached Bianliang, it would either be spent on feasting and entertainment, or it would be embezzled by corrupt officials.
Rather than letting that happen, it was better to create a pretext and deduct a deposit from the Maritime Trade Office.
This would facilitate his next steps and actions. As for whose account this money was in, did that really matter?
"Yes!"
Hearing him say this, Jiang Yan didn't dare to ask further.
"We've only been settled for a few days, and now we have to return to the capital?"
Jiang Yan had barely left when Zhe Yourong pushed open the door and walked in.
"When you're in officialdom, you can't help yourself. You two stay well in Mingzhou. I estimate that after this first lunar month, we'll be able to live peacefully here for a year or two!"
As Han Mo spoke, his right hand also unceremoniously pulled Zhe Yourong into his embrace.
"It's daytime now..."
Just as Han Mo was about to get more intimate, Zhe Yourong quickly pushed him away.
She was the head wife now. If people saw this, how could she maintain her dignity...
"What's wrong with daytime?"
Han Mo pouted, looking unsatisfied.
"Whatever you want tonight, but not during the day..."
With a hint of shyness, she dropped these words and even forgot why she had come. She turned and fled as if escaping.
"Life is truly tedious!"
Watching the retreating figure of his beloved, Han Mo could only let out a helpless sigh.
However, fortunately, Lord Han's boredom didn't last long. Soon, Li Yueyang, smelling the scent, hurried over.
"My lord, I heard that you are returning to the capital for a report?"
Upon seeing Han Mo, Li Yueyang asked somewhat nervously.
"Yes, there's such a matter, but it's only to return for the New Year. I'll likely have to rush back before the fifteenth!"
In a small place like Mingzhou, a golden seal courier was something that might not be seen even once in ten or twenty years, let alone something that could be hidden from the prefect. Therefore, Han Mo didn't hide anything and spoke directly.
"May I ask if there is anything you need this subordinate to do?"
Although Han Mo spoke casually, Li Yueyang's heart was a little uneasy.
After all, a golden seal courier had been dispatched. How could things possibly be as relaxed as Han Mo described?
His life was still in Han Mo's hands. From any perspective, he absolutely did not want to see Han Mo in trouble.
"Just handle the granary matters properly. But I'll say this upfront: pay all the laborers their wages. Don't play any tricks with me on matters like this!"
Han Mo naturally knew what he was worried about, but this could also be considered a small test for him, so he could only feign ignorance.
"Yes!"
After being rebuffed, Li Yueyang didn't dare to press further and could only respond to Han Mo with a dejected tone before turning and walking out.
Escorting the fleet to the capital might be troublesome for others, but for Han Shizhong, it would be much easier.
After all, he had already traversed this path before, and the situation now was much better than before.
The forces of all the rebel armies were basically suppressed in the eastern and western Jiangnan circuits and parts of the Liangzhe circuits. Traveling by water was much safer than traveling by land.
A large portion of the new warships of the Mingzhou navy had already been refitted. Even if they encountered any unlucky small-time thieves, they would likely be sent into the sea by Han Shizhong and his men before they could even get close.
After calling Han Shizhong into the study for a private conversation of more than half an hour, Han Mo returned to his bedroom.
The young couple had only recently reunited, and now they were facing parting again. Although it was a brief separation, it still brought a sense of profound reluctance.
Throughout the entire night, the affections between them were naturally not for outsiders to hear...
The next morning, after clearly handing over his current duties, Han Mo once again boarded a fast boat, bringing Jiang Yan and a few guards, and headed straight for Bianliang...