Now this was in the presence of the Crown Prince, and even if he wanted to go back on his word, it seemed a bit too late.
After all, his relationship with the Crown Prince was still not very stable. While he could now provide protection for the Crown Prince,
Liang Shicheng knew himself best. Those like them who had followed Emperor Huizong had committed countless wicked deeds. Now, he had reached the highest echelons of power.
As the saying goes, flowers do not bloom for a hundred days, and people are not favored for a hundred days.
If he did not secure a fallback plan for himself at this moment, how could he guarantee a peaceful end?
Just as Han Mo had calculated, Prince Yun's side was already brimming with talent. His presence or absence made no difference.
At best, he was merely adding a touch of beauty to a brocade. But it was different for the Crown Prince.
Currently, the Crown Prince had no powerful protector. Although he held the righteous title, he lacked the strength to ensure his own safety.
Was this not the perfect opportunity for him to enter the game?
He would provide protection for the Crown Prince and ensure his smooth ascension to the throne.
Once the Crown Prince ascended, he could naturally enjoy his twilight years.
With the wealth he had accumulated, even if he were to retire to the mountains and forests now, it would be enough to sustain him for several lifetimes.
Although he had been tricked by Han Mo today due to a moment's carelessness, compared to leaving a bad impression of going back on his word with the Crown Prince, what were these things?
"Well said, young man, you truly have a good plan. I underestimated you, this Grand Commandant!"
Liang Shicheng smiled and then cast a meaningful glance at Han Mo.
"Grand Commandant, you jest. This is not a trap set by this humble one, but rather your intention to fulfill it! Grand Commandant, please rest assured, this humble one will never embezzle your good intentions. General Zhe will surely be deeply grateful to you!"
Since the benefits had already been reaped, it was time to give him some face.
After all, these meaningless pleasantries required no responsibility. Within the span of a few sentences, he had helped Liang Shicheng regain his dignity, while he himself had gained the advantage. Was this not a win-win situation?
"Alright, there's no need for more pleasantries. You, young man, are quite interesting. I haven't seen such a sharp youth in many years! Now that the benefits have been secured, let's get to the main point!"
Seeing Zhao Huan's thoughtful expression, Liang Shicheng smiled without offering further explanation, instead urging Han Mo to present the real goods.
"Grand Commandant, please take a look!"
As Han Mo spoke, he took out the thin ledger from his sleeve and handed it over.
As Liang Shicheng accepted the ledger, Zhao Huan immediately stood up and leaned his head over.
This made Liang Shicheng feel somewhat uneasy. After all, they had been by the Emperor's side for so long; who among them didn't know the others?
Furthermore, his connections with Cai Jing were not insignificant. If these things were truly seen by the Crown Prince, then it was likely...
However, now that Zhao Huan had already leaned in, he had no choice but to open it.
With a heart full of apprehension, Liang Shicheng finally opened the ledger.
The first entry in the ledger was dated the seventh day of the fourth month of Daguan Year Three. Liang Shicheng's heart tightened.
At that time, his relationship with Cai Jing was still in its honeymoon phase, and they frequently exchanged letters and financial dealings.
If this ledger truly contained anything unfavorable to him, it would be like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet.
But as he flipped through, Liang Shicheng suddenly noticed that a page seemed to be missing from the ledger.
Based on the dates, if he remembered correctly, it should have been Cai Jing's birthday gift to him.
That year, he had spoken favorably of Cai Jing to the Emperor and helped resolve a major problem for Cai Jing.
In gratitude, Cai Jing had sent him jewelry and property worth a hundred thousand guan.
Yet, such crucial information had simply disappeared.
Since Cai Jing had recorded this, it was clearly meant to be a trump card for the future.
He himself would never have torn it out, so it was evident that this must have been Han Mo's doing.
When Zhao Huan was not paying attention, Liang Shicheng looked up and gave Han Mo a deep glance. Coincidentally, Han Mo also looked up and smiled, cupping his hands in greeting.
Liang Shicheng immediately understood. It was indeed this young man. This young man's calculations were truly profound.
"As expected of a hero emerging from youth! With this, I fear our Chancellor Cai will have to return home to tend his retirement!"
Liang Shicheng spoke, casting another meaningful glance at Han Mo.
"May I ask the Grand Commandant, how do you plan to handle this ledger after you receive it?"
As soon as Liang Shicheng finished speaking, Han Mo asked again.
"How to handle it? Since Chancellor Cai has committed such actions, he should naturally accept responsibility and retire! This information only needs to be subtly revealed to him, and that should be enough, shouldn't it?"
After a long period of hesitation, Liang Shicheng decided to tell the truth.
If it were anyone else asking him, he would certainly have responded with official pronouncements.
But today, there was no one else around, and the performance of this young man before him made him feel incredibly impressed.
Therefore, he simply revealed his true thoughts, also to see what Han Mo would do.
"And what if Chancellor Cai plays dumb?"
Han Mo did not answer his question but retorted instead.
"Are you suggesting that Chancellor Cai would even abandon such a matter of reputation?"
Liang Shicheng's pupils contracted, but he had to admit that Cai Jing was indeed very likely to do such a thing.
After all, Cai Jing had not yet found a suitable successor.
Although he commanded countless underlings, a person truly capable of taking his place had yet to emerge.
His painstakingly cultivated successor, Cai You, had now become his political adversary. This matter had become a joke in the court.
If he couldn't even manage his own son, who would believe that such a person could manage the officials in the imperial court?
Yet, this person had indeed done so, and had been doing so with great success for decades, wielding immense power.
"Grand Commandant, you jest. Reputation? How much is reputation worth? Is it worth more than the position of a national minister?"
Han Mo let out a cold laugh and spoke directly.
Liang Shicheng fell into a long silence. If he were to hand this over to the Emperor, the Emperor would definitely inquire about the missing contents of the ledger.
Moreover, as long as this item originated from his hands, it would be like mud falling into a crotch – even if it wasn't feces, it would look like it.