"Your humble servant Han Mo pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Returning to the Hall of Fu Ning, Han Mo was considerably more composed.
Compared to his previous audiences, Han Mo was now far more at ease.
"You've arrived? This room is too stuffy. Accompany me for a stroll in the Imperial Garden!"
Seeing the spirited Han Mo, even Zhao Ji had to admit that he was indeed growing old.
"Yes!"
Sensing the profound weariness in the Emperor's words, Han Mo immediately understood. He had likely guessed correctly by at least eighty percent.
The matter that could trouble the ruler of a nation so deeply was probably nothing other than a lack of funds.
"Do you still remember that article you wrote? The one you penned during the Imperial Examination!"
After all, May was fast approaching, and the weather in Bianliang City had begun to warm up.
The entire Imperial Garden was now filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Exotic blossoms from all regions were in full bloom at this time.
Zhao Ji waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs and palace maids to remain where they were. He directly led Han Mo to a nearby pavilion.
"Your servant certainly remembers!"
With the Emperor speaking so plainly, Han Mo naturally picked up the conversation.
"I have read your article, but those matters are likely things only you can accomplish yourself!"
The article was merely a simple proposal. To bring the matter to fruition, countless connections needed to be navigated.
For days, Zhao Ji had been searching for suitable candidates, but after much deliberation, he had found no one who met his expectations.
He himself was an extremely astute individual. Many things he saw, but chose to feign ignorance.
To him, Han Mo's plan was essentially a lifesaver.
At this moment, he was unwilling to bring forth a host of corrupt officials and have his last hope destroyed.
Therefore, after much thought, he realized that the one who could untie the knot was the one who tied it. The only person who could truly help him accomplish this task seemed to be Han Mo himself.
"The court is full of capable individuals; Han Mo does not deserve such high praise from Your Majesty!"
"Very well, it is only the two of us here, so do not speak such empty words! Shall we, as sovereign and subject, speak our hearts to each other today?"
"Your Majesty..."
Although he knew the Emperor was trying to win his favor, truthfully, Han Mo felt a sense of overwhelmed gratitude from these words.
An Emperor personally wishing to confide in a county magistrate of the eighth rank. If this were to spread, who knew how many eyes would pop out.
"Let me be blunt with you. The reason I sent you to Nei Huang was both a test and an opportunity!"
Zhao Ji was quite pleased with Han Mo's expression of being overwhelmed.
"Opportunity?"
"Indeed. I am giving you an opportunity. Within Nei Huang, the people are filled with resentment, and bandits run rampant. If you can quell the banditry and allow the people to live in peace and contentment within a year, I shall grant you a chance to rise to prominence in a single step!"
As Zhao Ji spoke, he reached into his sleeve and produced the scroll that Han Mo had written.
Han Mo's heart also stirred with excitement. This was the Emperor's direct decree!
Especially so, during the reign of Emperor Huizong!
If this were during the reigns of Emperor Zhezong or Shenzong, such words would merely be for listening.
After all, the promotion of officials below the fifth rank had little to do with the Emperor.
Even if the Emperor issued a special decree for promotion, no one would dare to accept it.
It wasn't due to affectation, but rather because upon accepting such a decree, one would bear the stigma of being a favored upstart for life.
However, there was no such concern during Emperor Huizong's reign. After all, it wasn't only Prime Minister Wang Fu who had risen this way.
The Emperor's confidantes, which of them hadn't ascended at rocket speed?
It was just that the difficulty of the Emperor's task was indeed quite high!
In one year, to first eliminate bandits and then address the people's livelihood – this was almost an impossible mission.
"Your Majesty, what if I fail to complete it?"
Han Mo asked softly.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, do you understand?"
Zhao Ji smiled but offered no further explanation.
However, his meaning was clear: if Han Mo could not prove his abilities, even with the Emperor's appreciation, he would likely have to rise step by step as usual.
"Your Majesty, extraordinary times do indeed call for extraordinary measures!"
After a moment of hesitation, Han Mo said softly.
"That is natural. I am sending you to serve as an official, not to be sent to your death! State any requirements you have without hesitation!"
Hearing him say this, Han Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This made sense!
To quell banditry and stabilize the people's livelihood in one year, there were too many things he needed to do. He couldn't accomplish it all by himself.
Moreover, he was, after all, merely a minor county magistrate with very limited authority. To achieve these goals, he truly needed a powerful mandate.
"The banditry in Nei Huang is rampant, but the local garrisons in Hebei are already rotten. I wish for a contingent of elite soldiers! A hundred men would suffice!"
Emperor Taizu had established the system of local garrisons and imperial guards, which was originally sound.
The local garrisons were to defend the four directions, and the imperial guards were to suppress the realm. However, the problem was that the Northern Song Dynasty's flawed military system had no provision for retirement. Every year, capable soldiers were selected from the local garrisons and border armies to join the imperial guards.
Every year, old, weak, and disabled soldiers were also sent to the local garrisons. Coupled with the court's emphasis on civil over military affairs and the belief that good men did not become soldiers, this had become a universal perception among the populace.
Although the court had numerous methods to replenish its troops, generally speaking, the largest sources were recruited refugees and convicts. Combined with corrupt officials siphoning off salaries and exploiting soldiers, over a century of this had led to the abysmal combat effectiveness of the local garrisons across the land.
Even Emperor Zhao Ji had to admit that what Han Mo said was indeed the truth.
"That is naturally not a problem. Tell me your second requirement!"
"Within Nei Huang, the bandit leader Li Mao'er has amassed a force of nearly ten thousand men. I wish to request two brave individuals from Your Majesty to serve as commander and deputy county magistrate!"
Having addressed the issue of troops, the next naturally was that of generals.
Since one might as well handle everything at once, Han Mo stated his request without hesitation.
"The court is in need of capable individuals at this time. Whom do you desire?"
This was a natural expectation, and Zhao Ji did not make things difficult for him.
"Your Majesty need not worry, both of them are currently idle in Bianliang!"
Both Wu Jie and Wu Lin were formidable men, and Han Mo naturally would not miss this excellent opportunity to enlist them.
"Oh? Do they hold any official rank?"
"The two brothers are both ranked as officers of the seventh grade, Wu Gong Lang."
Han Mo quickly replied.
"Seventh grade? That is sufficient for a commander. Then it shall be as you wish. Report to Grand Councilor Tong of the Bureau of Military Affairs later and state that it is my will!"
The Emperor, not even interested in asking their names, readily agreed to two seventh-grade military officials.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The Emperor telling him to directly approach Tong Guan was clearly a favor!
Otherwise, the Emperor could have simply issued an imperial decree or written a note to Tong Guan, why would he need to engage in such conversation with him?
Although Hebei was originally Liang Shicheng's territory, Tong Guan was still the Grand Councilor of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Moreover, with the court about to implement plans in Hebei, affairs in Hebei would still fall under the purview of Grand Councilor Tong.
"Do you have any other conditions? State them all at once!"
Seeing Han Mo hesitate to speak, Zhao Ji found it rather amusing.