"This is not up to me, I'm afraid!"
Although he knew it was out of goodwill, Han Mo smiled and refused.
Liang Shicheng was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered.
Indeed, as Han Mo had said, this matter was not up to him; even Liang Shicheng might not be able to interfere.
Han Mo's previous article was written so well that not only did the Emperor praise it to the skies, but even the Grand Commandant, Liang Shicheng, couldn't find any fault with it.
Everything was reasoned and justified, showing how much could be achieved and how much money would be gained. It wasn't just an article; it was a financial plan.
The Great Song Dynasty's annual imperial revenue could reach tens of millions of guan. However, only those in high positions like Liang Shicheng understood how desperate the Emperor was for funds.
Why had Cai Jing remained in high office for so many years, even when countless censors impeached him, yet the Emperor still protected him with all his might?
Why did the people Cai Jing promoted, who were clearly not good individuals, have their misdeeds overlooked by the Emperor?
In short, it all came down to one word: money!
The current Emperor pursued perfection in every aspect of his life, enjoying only the finest and most exquisitely prepared food.
The imperial kitchens alone, serving the Emperor's meals, numbered over three hundred.
Many of these individuals dedicated their entire lives to mastering just one or two dishes.
And the people who assisted them were even more remarkable.
There were even chefs specifically designated to julienne scallions, ginger, and garlic. Such meticulousness would be hard to believe even in later ages, but in this era, it was a reality within the palace.
Beyond this, the Emperor demanded the best in all aspects of his life.
The Emperor enjoyed tea, and all his tea sets and leaves were of the highest quality.
The stationery he used for writing and painting consisted entirely of priceless items.
While inkstones were expensive, they could be reused.
Compared to other items, inkstones were not that costly.
As the most discerning Emperor, he used Chenxin Hall Xuan paper, Li Tinggui ink for writing, and his imperial brushes were exceptionally particular.
The process of making the Xuan brushes used by Emperor Huizong was extremely intricate.
To ensure the Emperor's satisfaction, the eunuchs completely cordoned off several mountains near Xuancheng.
Each year, they dispatched special personnel to capture male rabbits from the mountain streams, taking only a small tuft of black double-arrow hair from their backs.
Then, people would meticulously select these rabbit hairs, choosing only those of consistent length and thickness. It took nearly a thousand rabbits to gather enough for a single brush.
The cost of each brush almost reached a thousand guan!
Emperor Huizong, known as the Emperor of Calligraphy and Painting, had an astonishingly high consumption of brushes.
He would generally replace his brushes every month, and when painting, he used anywhere from dozens to hundreds of brushes.
In a single year, the expenditure on brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones alone neared a million guan.
As for the concubines in the inner palace, their expenses were beyond mention. The world said Cai Jing and Tong Guan ruined the country, but were they solely responsible for all of this?
Now that Cai Jing was leaving, the Emperor naturally needed to find a capable hand to amass wealth for him.
At least, as it stood, Liang Shicheng was almost certain that the Emperor's chosen successor was Han Mo.
"You speak the truth; this matter is indeed as you say. I will remember this favor today, and if you need anything in the future, do not hesitate to come to me!"
After smiling, Liang Shicheng said no more.
His biggest trouble of the day had been resolved, and it was naturally inconvenient for him to linger here any longer.
"Your Excellency the Grand Commandant is too kind. Han Mo's words were merely spoken in jest after drinking; please consider them as such. If anything goes wrong, this humble one will not take responsibility!"
Having been involved in so much scheming, Han Mo felt a bit guilty.
Without thinking, he quickly added another layer of protection for himself, ensuring that if anything unforeseen happened, it would not be attributed to him.
"Hahaha, you young rascal. Alright, you all continue your celebrations. By the way, when is your grand wedding scheduled? I could come and grace the occasion."
Liang Shicheng had been navigating the officialdom for many years, so he naturally understood Han Mo's subtle intentions.
However, this only made him admire Han Mo more.
He had seen many talented scholars over the years, but typically, their lives were not particularly smooth, especially in the official circles.
These individuals were generally arrogant due to their talents, disregarded their superiors, and did not understand the meaning of self-preservation.
Although this term sounded pejorative now, in Liang Shicheng's view, only those who could protect themselves were trustworthy.
After all, if you couldn't even protect yourself, how could anyone trust you?
In the officialdom of the Great Song, the demise of a regime often followed the fall of an individual. Only those who survived and remained in high positions were the true victors!
As for those who failed in their struggles and were cast out, what use was their vast talent?
He was willing to make political investments in these young people, but the prerequisite was that they must demonstrate their intelligence and value.
From what he saw, Han Mo was performing exceptionally well in this regard, which was why he had made the offer just now.
"It hasn't been finalized yet, but it will likely be in early May. If Your Excellency the Grand Commandant is willing to come, this humble one will personally send the invitation!"
Although Liang Shicheng was not a saint, he was currently one of the few people in the court whom Han Mo could leverage.
Since Liang Shicheng had offered his assistance, Han Mo was naturally unwilling to let such a good opportunity slip by.
"Very well, then that shall be all for today. You were called out from the banquet by me. Please explain this to your father-in-law when you return!"
"Your Excellency the Grand Commandant is too polite. It is Han Mo's honor to be of service to you!"
Han Mo smiled, bowed again, and then turned to descend from the carriage.
"Oh, right. This is a gift from this humble one to Your Excellency the Grand Commandant. Please accept it graciously!"
As Han Mo alighted from the carriage, he saw the personal maid of Zhe Yourong standing nearby holding a box. He immediately reacted and said smilingly to Liang Shicheng.
"Since that is the case, I shall not refuse! Today, this Grand Commandant has also been fortunate enough to share in the joy of the Zhuangyuan Lang."
Liang Shicheng did not decline Han Mo's gift and immediately had someone accept it.
Inside the gate, seeing Liang Shicheng accept the gift through the crack, Zhe Yourong finally breathed a sigh of relief.