"Thank you, sir!"
"It's alright. Don't dwell on today's events. Once we reach the Pacification Commissioner's office, I'll arrange for your household registration to be updated. Let the past be the past!"
Seeing her tear-streaked face, Han Mo spoke as he took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to her.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Alright, it's in the past. Everything is in the past!"
Upon returning to the post station, Han Mo once again found the station master and arranged for Liang Hongyu to have a separate room.
He also specifically instructed Jiang Yan to go to an outer clothing shop and purchase several sets of clothes for Liang Hongyu according to her build.
"Young Master, are you fond of this woman?"
As they were about to leave, Jiang Yan asked with a sly grin.
"Which eye of yours saw that I'm fond of her? Stop spouting such nonsense here, it will ruin the reputation of the young lady!"
Han Mo felt it was important to clarify this matter of principle. He didn't want things to become ambiguous with her. This was supposed to be a good deed, and he didn't want it to turn into a bad one in the end.
Although Han Shizhong was still nowhere to be seen, finding his wife was a tremendous gain for Han Mo this time.
After resting for two days in Jingkou, Han Mo specifically had two carriages prepared.
On one hand, riding a horse was quite tiring. On the other hand, with a lady accompanying them at this time, while they could ride horses, it would be inappropriate for an unmarried young lady to do the same.
After completing this matter, Han Mo felt much more relaxed.
As for whether Xin Xingzong was alive or dead, Han Mo no longer cared.
At least, based on the current situation, even though history had been drastically altered due to his actions, the people who were supposed to be here were still gradually making their way here for various reasons.
In the original history, wasn't Xin Xingzong the one who snatched Han Shizhong's credit?
Since he had already appeared, wasn't Han Shizhong far behind?
With no pressing matters, Han Mo no longer rushed his journey. The trip from Jingkou to Suzhou City, which should have taken at most three to five days, took Han Mo a full 10 days.
"I say, Brother Han, why are you traveling so slowly? You caused quite a scene in Jingkou ten days ago, how are you only arriving in Suzhou City now?"
As soon as Han Mo entered Suzhou City, Zong Ying came knocking.
"How did you know I caused a scene in Jingkou?"
Hearing his words, Han Mo was stunned. Had Xin Xingzong arrived already?
"What do you think? You beat a commanding general to such a sorry state. Do you really think the county magistrate surnamed Fang would dare to conceal it for you?"
Hearing this, Han Mo couldn't help but chuckle.
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be the case.
The two of them had parted on such bad terms, and not only was Xin Xingzong injured, but he was also severely humiliated by Han Mo in the end.
Although a significant portion of it was self-inflicted, if Xin Xingzong had given up on life and ended it himself on the way, then Fang Jing, a mere county magistrate, would truly have no way to clear his name, even if he jumped into the Yellow River.
"That fellow brought it upon himself. There was nothing I could do. I saved his life, and he actually attacked me. If I hadn't taught him a lesson that day, I might have lost my own life to him!"
Although Han Mo had intentionally provoked Xin Xingzong that day, ultimately, it was Xin Xingzong's own doing.
A general who led troops into battle, yet couldn't even defeat a civilian official. If he had escalated the matter himself, what kind of general would he be in the future?
Therefore, Han Mo was now completely unconcerned and didn't take the matter to heart.
"Alright, we both know each other. Tell me honestly, what kind of beauty is it that makes you go to such lengths?"
Zong Ying said, winking at Han Mo repeatedly.
"Don't start. The reason I acted that night was because Xin Xingzong was in mortal danger. It has nothing to do with the young lady. If you say such things, you'll ruin her reputation!"
Han Mo had to give a few words of caution to this man who was so loose-lipped.
"Alright, alright. Let's talk about this later. The Prince is waiting for you at his residence!"
"Now? Did something happen?"
Hearing this, Han Mo immediately realized that the situation must have become more dire. Otherwise, why would Zhao Zhen be so eager to see him?
"Last night, Hangzhou fell..."
"Hangzhou city was breached?"
Han Mo's eyes widened.
Hangzhou city, with its high walls and deep moats, how could it have been so easily captured?
"The Pacification Commissioner of Liangzhe Circuit, Chen Jian, and the Imperial Envoy for Investigation, Zhao Yue, were killed. Only the Prefect Zhao Ting managed to escape..."
"What about the military supplies in the Hangzhou prefectural treasury?"
Han Mo quickly asked.
"What do you think..."
At this point, Zong Ying could only manage a wry smile.
"That damned old scoundrel!"
Now, Han Mo started to get a headache.
The military supplies near Muzhou falling into Fang La's hands was already enough to arm Fang La with hundreds of thousands of troops.
Now that Hangzhou city had fallen, and Fang La obtained the money, grain, and military supplies stored in the Hangzhou prefectural treasury, it was likely that in a short period, the number of troops under his command would swell by another one to two times.
"Tell them to wait here. Let's go see the Prince first!"
"Mm!"
Given what had happened, Han Mo understood that the most crucial thing at this moment was to come up with a plan quickly.
Although the fall of Hangzhou city had little to do with Zhao Zhen, as long as he held the position of Pacification Commissioner of the Southeast Circuits and couldn't stabilize the situation, it was his dereliction of duty.
"I say, Brother Han, why did you take so long on the road?"
As he followed Zong Ying to the Pacification Commissioner's office and saw Zhao Zhen again, Han Mo realized that Zhao Zhen had lost a lot of weight.
"Let's not talk about my affairs first. Let's discuss the current situation. I've heard about Hangzhou. How many troops does the Prince have at his disposal?"
Since only the three of them were present, Han Mo spoke more casually.
"The elites gathered from various circuits amount to less than 50,000 men. The Imperial Guards and auxiliary forces gathered along the way add up to about 150,000, but their combat effectiveness..."