After listening to his words, Wang Xiang let out a bitter smile, his disciple had indeed been corrupted!
Before, the master and disciple spoke directly to each other, but now Zhao Zhen was even using military strategy on him…
Though his heart felt heavy, for the sake of his future, he immediately began to ponder deeply.
"Your Highness, why don't you ask Han Mo?"
After much thought, Wang Xiang still had no clue. Just as he was about to give up, a not-so-great idea suddenly flashed through his mind.
Upon hearing his words, Zhao Zhen almost rolled his eyes to the heavens.
If he wanted to ask Han Mo, would he still need to waste his breath here with him?
"Does Master have no other solutions?"
Frowning, Zhao Zhen, though not blaming him, still asked.
Hearing this, Wang Xiang felt a wave of awkwardness.
Zhao Zhen clearly didn't want to ask Han Mo…
"Your Highness, at this time, you really shouldn't…"
Although Wang Xiang knew it was not quite appropriate to say such things at this moment, thinking about how this matter might affect his future, he still braced himself and spoke.
"Sir, do you know what you are saying?"
Giving him a fierce glare, Zhao Zhen heavily slammed his hand on the table in front of him.
"Your Highness, those who achieve great things are not bound by trivialities. If you continue to delay now, the situation you face in the future will only be more troublesome. As long as you ascend to that supreme position, won't Han Mo, no matter how talented or accomplished, still have to kneel before you?"
"Alright, alright, I'm a bit tired. Sir, you should go back and rest early!"
Even though he knew what was being said made sense, Zhao Zhen was still somewhat agitated and waved his hand, signaling him to leave.
"Yes…"
Seeing his sullen expression, Wang Xiang, having been rebuffed, could only bow to him with a bitter smile and turn to leave the room.
"Someone, prepare the carriage!"
After stewing for half an hour, Zhao Zhen finally let out a long sigh and gave instructions to his subordinates outside the door.
"Yes!"
——————————————————
"Young Master, it's so late. You should have some food now!"
In the post house east of Suzhou City, seeing Han Mo constantly sitting at the table, writing and sketching, Jiang Yan hurried forward and said softly.
"No hurry, wait a moment. Right, have them prepare a pot of good wine. A distinguished guest will be arriving shortly!"
Although speaking, Han Mo didn't even lift his head.
"Someone will come at this hour?"
Hearing him say this, Jiang Yan asked with some surprise.
"Just do as you're told, why so many questions?"
"Yes!"
"Brother Han!"
Before Jiang Yan's voice could even fall, Zhao Zhen's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Your Highness!"
With a sudden turn of his head, seeing Zhao Zhen unexpectedly, Jiang Yan was truly startled.
"Your Highness, why have you come at this hour?"
Seeing Zhao Zhen appear, Han Mo also immediately stood up and cupped his hands in greeting.
"It's nothing much, really. It's just that I've been feeling quite vexed lately, so I couldn't sleep, and came specifically to see what Brother Han is doing?"
Hearing Han Mo's question, Zhao Zhen coughed dryly and casually found an excuse for himself.
"Your Highness is different now from before. You carry a heavy burden. Your Highness must take care of your health!"
Hearing him say this, Han Mo almost laughed out loud. This fellow truly suffered from pride. Since Zhao Zhen didn't offer an explanation, he decided to play along.
"Brother Han, you haven't eaten yet this late?"
Looking at the food box in Jiang Yan's hand, Zhao Zhen quickly changed the subject again.
"I've been a bit bogged down with matters, which has caused this delay. I apologize for making Your Highness wait!"
As Han Mo spoke, he bowed to Zhao Zhen again.
"Speaking of which, it is my fault. Leaving Brother Han here in Suzhou City, I fear the official documents from Mingzhou must have piled up into a mountain!"
"Your Highness is joking. Although the accumulated documents are indeed quite a lot, it hasn't reached that extent yet!"
"Speaking of which, I am actually a bit hungry. Brother Han, you don't mind me joining you for a meal, do you?"
Seeing that Han Mo was not taking the bait no matter what, Zhao Zhen simply brought out his shameless skills.
"Your Highness is joking. I only fear that the meal is too simple and will be an insult to Your Highness!"
"Brother Han, what are you saying? In these times, the common people can barely make ends meet. How can I pursue extravagance?"
Although he said this, when he reached out to open the food box, he was truly stunned.
Inside the entire food box, besides a large basin of rice, there was only a plate of mixed wild vegetables and a plate of tofu. The only items that could be considered meat were probably the two palm-sized salted fish…
"Does Brother Han usually eat like this?"
After his lips moved a few times, Zhao Zhen finally asked.
"Your Highness may not know, but the grain shortage in Suzhou City is worsening by the day. If Your Highness doesn't find a way to stabilize grain prices and transport grain from other regions, I fear the common people will even eat the rice seeds they planned to plant this year…"
"Is it that serious? How have I never heard my subordinates mention it?"
Hearing his words, Zhao Zhen was shocked all over.
If the situation was as dire as Han Mo described, then this was no joke. The Jiangnan region was originally the main source of tax revenue for the imperial court. If the people here had no rice seeds, what would the imperial court do in the autumn of next year?
"If Your Highness doesn't believe me, after returning, you can go to the Suzhou Prefecture Office to look at the documents there. It's not just Suzhou City; the situation in the entire Southeast Six Circuits is not good. After this great war, it is the common people who suffer…"
Han Mo spoke while arranging all the items from the food box.
"Does Brother Han have any good suggestions?"
After much hesitation, Zhao Zhen finally asked.
"I wouldn't call them good suggestions, but Your Highness cannot accomplish this matter here. To save these common people, Your Highness must find a way to return to the capital early…"
"Return to the capital?"
"Exactly. The southeastern region can no longer accommodate so many troops. Besides the necessary forces, Your Highness should also allow the remaining troops to return to their native places, so that the people of the southeast can have a respite!"