With just a glance, Han Mo lost interest in wasting any more words on him.
This fellow was now at his wit's end. Cai Jing was dead, the Cai family was thoroughly ruined, and even Cai You had chosen to lie low. For a lackey like him to only think of begging for mercy now was clearly taking advantage of a kind soul.
Though Han Mo didn't mind having a few fair-weather friends in officialdom, he had no interest in taking in such ungrateful wretches who constantly thought of biting the hand that fed them!
"Sir, Lord Han!"
After casually dropping a sentence, Han Mo, without the slightest hesitation, strode through the vice-gate.
"Lord Cai, it is late. You should return to your residence and rest. My lord has traveled a long distance and has been busy all day. He is already exhausted. Please show consideration for your superior!"
Having been by Han Mo's side for so long, Jiang Yan understood his thoughts perfectly. Seeing Cai Yunting about to follow him into the mansion, she immediately stepped forward to block him.
Only after the mansion gate closed again did Cai Yunting collapse onto the ground in despair.
Originally, if he had begged Han Mo for mercy when the incident occurred, there might have been a slim chance of reconciliation. But now, there was no possibility of peace between them.
Han Mo's silence clearly indicated his intention to settle scores later!
He himself was no innocent; he had a head full of secrets. As long as Han Mo wanted to catch him, he could be crushed instantly!
"Pass down the order. If he comes again, have him thrown out. Also, after dinner, do a favor and send someone to the Quanzhou naval camp to have a detachment of troops ready on standby!"
"Yes!"
With a cold snort, Han Mo no longer bothered wasting his energy on Cai Yunting.
In any case, when the emperor had sent the memorial back to him, he had already implicitly allowed Han Mo to handle it as he saw fit.
It was only because Han Mo had been so busy that he hadn't had the time to deal with it, which had allowed this fellow to live until now.
"Sir, what are we mobilizing troops for? Do we need to inform the prefectural office?"
"Did you get water in your brain from seasickness today?"
Hearing Jiang Yan's nonsensical words, Han Mo shot her a glare.
Wasn't that prefect kneeling outside the door at this very moment?
"I..."
"Enough. Just carry out my orders. If Cai Yunting is sensible, I will spare his family. If he is not, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
With another cold snort, Han Mo didn't bother explaining further. He ate a simple meal and went to his room to sleep.
Outside Han Mo's mansion, Cai Yunting, filled with anxiety, waited until late into the night. Suddenly, he heard the neighing of horses.
When he saw the battle flag of the Quanzhou navy, he stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.
"Let's go. Back to the residence..."
After a long silence, nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Cai Yunting finally stood up and returned to his carriage.
"Sir, aren't we waiting any longer?"
Hearing his words, the coachman beside him couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"No need to wait. Waiting any longer would be too foolish..."
With a bitter smile, Cai Yunting let out a sigh and despondently closed the carriage door.
The next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Han Mo received news of Cai Yunting's death.
"Send someone to his home and see if there's anything we can help with. Have someone assist with the funeral arrangements!"
With a casual instruction, Han Mo turned and went back to sleep. This fellow had finally started to understand after causing so much trouble!
Cai Yunting's death surprised many, yet it was also an expected outcome. The entire officialdom of Quanzhou was now thoroughly subdued.
Those officials who had harbored any hope were now completely disheartened. Everyone understood that from this day forward, everyone in Quanzhou would have to follow Han Mo's lead!
Han Mo did not hesitate. The day after Cai Yunting's death, he directly submitted a memorial recommending his nominal elder uncle, Han Zao, for the position of Prefect of Quanzhou!
It was only at this point that Han Mo realized how useful the vast network his ancestor Han Qi had left for their descendants had been!
As long as there was a brilliant individual within the clan, the immense power managed by the family could immediately be put to use.
With this network, Han Mo had an endless supply of capable individuals at his side.
Perhaps they were not intimately familiar with each other, but their shared bloodline had already bound them to the same chariot!
They prospered together and suffered together. Under such circumstances, even if there were minor disagreements, he didn't have to worry about being stabbed in the back!
Compared to those with ill intentions, using one's own people was far more reliable!
After finishing the memorial recommending Han Zao, Han Mo immediately wrote two more letters. One was sent by carrier pigeon back to the驸马府 (Fù mǎ fǔ - Prince Consort's Residence) in Bianliang, and the other was specially delivered to his old home in Xiangzhou.
Regardless, this was a matter of procedure concerning a nominal elder, and it had to be followed.
Although this matter was far from finalized, given Han Mo's influence in the imperial court today, he was almost ninety percent certain that the emperor would approve this appointment.
Although there was a slight suspicion of nepotism, even looking at the tens of millions of guan (a unit of currency) in annual revenue, the emperor could only grudgingly accept such a minor position!
Moreover, Han Zao was the descendant of a prominent chancellor and had passed the imperial examinations. For him to serve as a mere fifth-rank prefect was not an unprecedented event!
"Sir, news has arrived from Hedong!"
Ten days later, the imperial decree for Han Zao's appointment had not yet reached Mingzhou, but news from Fuzhou had already been delivered to Han Mo through the channels of the Zhe family's merchant guild.
"Oh?"
Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Han Mo's spirits immediately lifted.
Matters in Liangzhe and Fujian were manageable, but the situation in Hedong had been weighing heavily on Han Mo's mind.
The Zhe family's foundation was in Fuzhou, and that was unavoidable. If war broke out between the two countries, Fuzhou would likely become the frontline immediately!
After inspecting the wax seal on the letter, Han Mo reached out and opened the envelope. However, as soon as he finished reading the contents, Han Mo felt a chill run down his spine...
"Hoo..."
"Send someone to find out where Yanwen and the others are now?"
"Sir, has something happened?"
Hearing Han Mo's question, Jiang Yan quickly asked.
"It's possible... war is truly coming..."