"I am ashamed..."
"Alright, this matter is also my fault. You go and attend to your business first. Oh, right, go and prepare for me. I'm treating guests at the county yamen tomorrow night. Invite all those influential figures!"
Seeing his embarrassed look, Han Mo didn't say much more and directly assigned another task to him.
"Invite them?"
"That's right, the matter of repairing the river levee cannot be delayed any further. I fear the documents from the Transport Commissioner's Office will be held up this time!"
Han Mo was also having a headache now. He hadn't expected the Transport Commissioner's Office to send such a reckless young man.
Although it appeared on the surface that Liao Wenxing was causing trouble for him, Han Mo did not believe that this fellow had such great power to make a judge from the Transport Commissioner's Office come forward for him.
As for Zhou Ding, there was even less to say. If he truly had such capability, he wouldn't be living in such a small county town, being a county assistant.
Although Han Mo couldn't figure out who was troubling him from behind at the moment, he understood that no matter who it was, the documents from the Transport Commissioner's Office would likely be shelved.
As the saying goes, water and fire are ruthless. Other matters can be delayed, but who would dare to delay matters concerning the river course?
Although the treasury still had a considerable amount of money and grain, and even without central government allocation, the funds and grain from the treasury alone would be enough to cover the entire project's expenses.
But the key was the lack of approval from the Transport Commissioner's Office. Even with money, Han Mo couldn't use it!
The project couldn't wait. Since funds couldn't be obtained through normal channels, he could only resort to unconventional means at this time.
"Your Excellency, you mean you want them to donate?"
"At this time, this is probably the only way. Do you have any other methods?"
Han Mo shook his head with a bitter smile. At this moment, he had no other good ideas besides this one.
"I'm afraid those stingy fellows won't be willing to part with a single hair..."
Lü Ying also smiled bitterly.
He understood those people far better than Han Mo.
These fellows were all greedy, and in normal times, they would squeeze the very lifeblood out of ordinary people.
If you wanted them to donate money to repair the river levee, it would be no different from taking their lives!
"This matter is very simple. As long as you bring them here, whether they give money or not will be out of their control!"
Although what he was doing was a bit shady, this matter was related to the livelihood of thousands of households. At this time, Han Mo couldn't care about anything else.
"Yes!"
Although he didn't know what Han Mo intended to do, Lü Ying still responded and then turned to leave.
The night passed uneventfully. By the time the lanterns were lit the next evening, all the influential figures in Neihuang County had been invited to the county yamen by Lü Ying.
"Sir, most people have arrived. It's about time to begin. What do you think..."
"Since it's about time, let's begin. By the way, have the things I asked to be prepared been made ready?"
"They have been prepared, but that thing is a bit too big. I'm afraid no room in the back courtyard can fit it..."
"It's fine. After the banquet begins, you can send someone to bring that thing to the courtyard!"
"Yes!"
Seeing Lü Ying leave, Han Mo then tidied his robes and slowly walked towards the main hall.
When he reached the back hall, it was already crowded with people.
Basically, all the influential figures in Neihuang County had come today.
Even those who were genuinely unable to come had sent their stewards.
If it were the previous county magistrates, perhaps they wouldn't have shown such respect. But Han Mo was different from them. In less than a month since taking office, he had purged all the corrupt elements in Neihuang County.
Just based on this, all of them dared not be negligent.
After all, a county magistrate who ruined a family, or a yamen runner who annihilated a clan, were not jokes.
Although Neihuang County was only a few hundred miles away from Bianliang City, it was still Hebei.
If someone truly provoked Han Mo, who could guarantee that bandits wouldn't descend upon them at night?
Once your entire family was wiped out, who would care whether the official army or the bandits were responsible?
"County Magistrate is here!"
Xu Fengnian cleared his throat and shouted loudly behind Han Mo.
"Esteemed elders and virtuous sirs, Han Mo offers his greetings!"
"Lord Han, you are too kind. It should be us who pay our respects to you!"
As the leader of these people, Ma Wengui was not only the largest landlord in Neihuang County, but also the behind-the-scenes boss of the largest grain trading firm in the entire Neihuang County. Moreover, his three sons were all serving as officials in other regions.
Compared to the other timid individuals, his words carried much more weight.
"You must be Steward Ma, right?"
Han Mo smiled and then cupped his fists towards Ma Wengui.
"Lord Han is too polite. This old man is merely a humble villager, how can I be worthy of the title of Steward? That is merely an empty name!"
Although he said this, the pride on Ma Wengui's face made everyone somewhat embarrassed.
"One cannot say that. You have cultivated three pillars of talent for the court, and you specifically donated so much money and grain to the court. The title of Steward is truly deserved!"
As Han Mo spoke, he gestured for Ma Wengui to be seated.
"Lord Han is right. Steward Ma, if you don't sit, how dare we sit!"
The people behind him also began to chime in, and with this, Ma Wengui truly garnered a round of applause.
Seeing that he had garnered enough attention, he then cupped his fists towards everyone and directly sat down.
Furthermore, he unceremoniously sat directly opposite Han Mo, in the main guest's seat.
"In the blink of an eye, it has been over a month since I, this official, arrived in Neihuang County. I should have paid a visit to all of you earlier, but I haven't had the time. Today, I finally have the opportunity, so I invited everyone to gather. I see that the time is about right, why don't we take our seats and have a chat while we eat?"
Han Mo smiled and then turned to the crowd.
"Your Excellency is too kind. By rights, it should be we who host a banquet for you. Your doing so makes us feel ashamed!"
Since Han Mo had shown him ample respect, Ma Wengui naturally reciprocated.
After all, these were just empty words, and it also allowed him to display his status. He was happy to take advantage of the situation.