As Yan Ying finished speaking, Han Mo directly entered with Han Shizhong, Jiang Yan, and others.
This left Yan Ying completely embarrassed.
The bailiffs who were busy packing the various ornaments on the table also froze.
"You must be Lord Han..."
After a few dry coughs, Yan Ying quickly tidied his disheveled clothes and walked forward, feigning composure.
"I dare not claim such honor. Compared to you, the commissioner of the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office, my official position is merely that of a beggar!"
As Han Mo spoke, he casually took out a rhinoceros horn carved ornament from a nearby box.
"Captain Han, I ask you, if this item were taken to the market outside, how many copper coins could it fetch?"
After playing with the ornament in his hand for a moment, Han Mo suddenly threw it to Han Shizhong and asked.
"Replying to Your Lordship, this item is worth at least 3,000 strings of cash!"
"Then, according to this, the value of just this one box of items must be tens of thousands of strings of cash?"
Glancing through the box with its scattered ornaments, Han Mo asked with a cold smile.
"Replying to Your Lordship, these items combined are worth at least 50,000 strings of cash. If we were to count everything in this room, the value would likely be at least 100,000 strings of cash!"
As Han Shizhong spoke, he deliberately took half a step back towards the door.
At this moment, the two bailiffs who were preparing to slip away were awkwardly frozen in place.
"Lord Yan, do you have anything to say?"
As Han Shizhong finished speaking, Han Mo immediately smiled and looked at Yan Ying beside him.
"This, this..."
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, a fine layer of sweat broke out on Yan Ying's forehead.
"I've long heard that the commissioner of the Maritime Trade Office is a lucrative position that fattens one's trousers with oil. I never expected to see it for myself today!"
Looking at Han Mo's half-smiling expression, Yan Ying no longer dared to talk nonsense.
"Lord Han, you, you've misunderstood..."
"Misunderstood? I haven't misunderstood at all! Don't you dare tell me that all these things were bought with your own salary! You, a mere seventh-rank official, want to buy all the items in this room. I'm truly curious, where did you get this money from?"
As Han Mo spoke, he pulled over a chair and sat down casually.
At this, not only Yan Ying panicked, but even the minor officials around him began to tremble.
These individuals were all shrewd individuals; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to thrive in this yamen.
The ability to read people and situations was their livelihood.
From Han Mo's current actions alone, they could infer that Han Mo had come specifically to deal with Yan Ying today.
If they remained oblivious at this moment, their end would likely be near.
"Lord Han, this subordinate has his own ways of making money and comes from a wealthy background. It's not unreasonable for me to buy some items to display in this office, is it?"
Swallowing hard, Yan Ying gritted his teeth and spoke directly.
"I'll give you one last chance. Where did all these things come from? Think carefully before you answer!"
As Han Mo spoke, he gave Han Shizhong a signal.
Han Shizhong immediately clapped his hands, and soon several soldiers brought in two bailiffs, bound and gagged.
Seeing the two men tied up, their mouths gagged, Yan Ying's heart sank.
"It's fine, I have plenty of time today to listen to your tall tales. You can weave your story here, and explain everything clearly. If even one thing doesn't match up, then this will become quite interesting!"
Han Mo held the authority to act independently, and moreover, this matter was ultimately within the jurisdiction of the Maritime Trade Office.
If Han Mo insisted on dealing with him today, it would be difficult for other local officials to intervene.
"Han, stop playing these games with me! I'm telling you, if you dare to touch me today, believe it or not, someone will deal with you tomorrow!"
Seeing that persuasion wouldn't work, Yan Ying immediately resorted to threats.
"Hahahaha, since you've said so, it seems I'd be letting you down if I didn't deal with you today! Three years ago, you came to Quanzhou alone, riding a skinny donkey, dressed in ragged clothes. In just three years, your assets in Quanzhou city alone have reached nearly a million strings of cash. And now you're telling me about your ways of making money? Do you think a mere Li Yan can protect you?"
Han Mo spoke as he slammed his hand heavily on the table.
"You, you..."
"What about me? Guards, arrest him and escort him back to Bianliang immediately!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, the bailiffs standing nearby immediately knelt down without a second thought.
If they couldn't understand this, they truly would have wasted their time in the Maritime Trade Office for so long.
At this time, with rebellions rampant everywhere, these rebels hated corrupt officials the most.
Those they captured were either fried in oil or had their heads set ablaze. Matters like skinning and stuffing with straw were also common.
Furthermore, even if they weren't captured by the rebels, as long as Han Mo's men were reliable, they could drag this old fellow outside the city to a secluded spot and finish him with a single blade. Would anyone then seek verification from the rebels?
"Han Mo, you just wait, you just wait!"
In the entire room, only Yan Ying remained dazed, not understanding what was happening.
"Are you prepared to return to Bianliang City with Lord Yan, or are you prepared to honestly confess your own deeds?"
Han Mo spoke as he looked again at the bailiffs kneeling inside and outside the room.
"My, my, my Lord..."
At this, everyone present suddenly panicked.
Yan Ying, the commissioner of the Quanzhou Maritime Trade Office, was on the verge of losing his head. Naturally, these people did not dare to resist Han Mo's orders at this moment.
However, they knew their own situations clearly. They did not have the protection of being Jinshi scholars. If they confessed all their crimes, who could guarantee that Han Mo would not turn his back on them?
"Captain Han, take my token and summon five hundred soldiers. Surround the entire Maritime Trade Office. Call out names according to the roster. By the time it gets dark today, whoever honestly confesses their deeds and repays all embezzled money within three days will have this matter treated as if it never happened. But after three days, if I find out, I will let them see clearly how the Great Song Dynasty law is written!"