With the opinions of the Prime Minister and the Emperor aligned, the remaining matters were simple.
Although this turn of events was hasty and not entirely honorable, it was made palatable by the territory of Yingping and Luan as a safeguard, making it somewhat acceptable for Emperor Zhao Ji.
After a hurried imperial edict was issued, the task of delivering it was once again entrusted to Wang Anzhong.
If one were to consider who was the most dejected at this juncture, it would undoubtedly be Liang Shicheng.
He had finally managed to sideline Tong Guan, only for this seemingly defeated opponent to make a comeback at the last moment!
Like a cooked duck flying away, Liang Shicheng shut himself in his study upon returning to his residence from the imperial palace. After a long while, he called his godson, Shun Xi, over with a somber expression.
"Godfather, do you need something from your son?"
Upon hearing that Liang Shicheng had summoned him, Shun Xi scurried to Liang Shicheng's side.
"I have a letter here. Take it yourself and deliver it to the Zhe Family Merchant House. Remember, you must hand it to the Head Merchant Zhe personally!"
After scrutinizing him deeply, Liang Shicheng retrieved an envelope from his sleeve and handed it to Shun Xi.
"Don't worry, Godfather. I will handle this matter perfectly!"
Receiving the envelope with both hands, Shun Xi bowed to Liang Shicheng with a wide smile and turned to leave.
Compared to the powerful figures in court, Liang Shicheng currently placed more trust in young Han Mo.
It wasn't that those individuals lacked the ability to bring down Tong Guan; rather, each of them had their own networks of influence to consider. Due to various factors, those capable of acting were unable to, while those willing to act lacked the means.
After much thought, Han Mo seemed to be the most suitable person at this time.
Even with carrier pigeons, it was already dusk the following day when Han Mo received the message.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
In Zhe Yourong's chamber, noticing Han Mo's furrowed brow, Zhe Yourong paused her embroidery.
"Indeed, something has happened. The cooked duck has flown away..."
Upon seeing this news, even Han Mo couldn't help but sigh. Did Tong Guan truly have the destiny to become a prince?
He had schemed against him to this extent, yet the man was still able to make a comeback?
"The cooked duck flew away? The matter in Bianliang?"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Zhe Yourong also sat up straight.
"You should read it yourself..."
Han Mo never kept anything from Zhe Yourong.
After all, when one held too many thoughts in their mind, they always sought someone to confide in.
At this moment, the only person he could trust one hundred percent was Zhe Yourong.
As husband and wife, they were one entity, sharing prosperity and adversity, so there was no question of betrayal.
"Tong Guan is to atone for his crimes with meritorious service?"
After reading the contents of the note, Zhe Yourong's eyes widened.
The matter in Hebei was on the verge of finalization. To atone for his crimes with merit at this time clearly meant elevating him.
"His luck is truly extraordinary. Zhang Jue actually defected to him at this critical juncture. It's truly a case of man proposes, heaven disposes..."
Even Han Mo couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth at this absurd outcome.
According to the original timeline, Zhang Jue's affair would have occurred at least a few months later. But now, with his intervention as a butterfly, everything had been thoroughly disrupted.
Although Zhang Jue's matter seemed to require at least two or three months of maneuvering, Han Mo understood in his heart that Zhang Jue's defection was the catalyst for the Song-Liao conflict.
Once the Jurchens learned that Zhang Jue had defected to the Song, the last remaining alliance between the two sides would be shattered!
After a moment of tender affection, the Song and Jin would be left with nothing but open warfare!
Thinking of this, Han Mo's head began to ache again.
According to the original history, after Zhang Jue defected to the Song dynasty, he first defeated the Jurchen expeditionary force, but was then heavily defeated by the larger army that followed, fleeing all the way to Yanjing City.
The Jurchens impolitely presented a letter of state to the Song Emperor. To appease the Jurchens, under the leadership of the surrender faction within the Great Song, Zhao Ji could only order Wang Anzhong to kill Zhang Jue and hand over his entire family to the Jurchens for disposal.
Only then was a superficial peace temporarily maintained. After a few months of brief peace, the Jurchen Emperor Wanyan Aguda died, and the Jurchens marched south again, marking the beginning of the Jingkang Incident...
But now there was a significant problem. Almost all members of the surrender faction had been progressively removed from the court by Han Mo.
At this time, the court was dominated by the neutral and war factions!
If the Jurchens sent another letter of state, it would truly signal the start of a full-scale war between the two sides.
"Who cares? Isn't it just Tong Guan? Even if he becomes a prince, what of it? In the end, he's still a eunuch and cannot have heirs. There are so many imperial princes in the Great Song, they won't miss a mere imperial prince of a different surname!"
Seeing Han Mo's troubled expression, Zhe Yourong could only frown and try to comfort him.
"Things are not as simple as you think. Never mind, let's not discuss this for now. Instead, write to your mother now and tell her your pregnancy is progressing, and she should bring your younger siblings to Mingzhou to set up some businesses!"
After some hesitation, Han Mo decided to make preparations for future events as early as possible.
The men of the Zhe family were generals, and it was their duty to die for the country. However, Han Mo could not bear for the women and children of the Zhe family to die in the midst of war.
"But I still have at least a few months, right? Isn't it too early to have them come now? And Mother is still needed to manage things at home..."
"I'll tell you the truth. A major war between Song and Jin is about to begin. Within half a year at most, the territories of Lin, Fu, and Feng will become the front lines!"
As the situation had escalated to this point, after much deliberation, Han Mo decided to tell Zhe Yourong the truth.
After all, for the Zhe family, the territories of Lin, Fu, and Feng were their foundation. Without a strong enough reason, how could they possibly give them up?