"What is it you want to say, you brat?"
After taking several deep breaths, Li Gang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and pushed all the pebbles onto the ground.
Even though he had already rehearsed his thoughts several times in his mind, this kind of deduction still made him break out in a cold sweat all over his body.
"With the nation facing impending danger, I would like to ask, if Uncle Li has the opportunity to issue a decree and become a minister, are you willing to support this world for the sake of all living beings?"
"Are you kidding me, kid?"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Li Gang was stunned.
He was just a small tax official. If it weren't for Han Mo's meddling, who knows what schemes he had employed, he probably wouldn't even have secured his current position as an advisor. What was he talking about, issuing a decree and becoming a minister? Wasn't that nonsensical?
"What if Uncle Li truly had such a day?"
Bianliang had already fallen into the hands of the Jurchen. Han Mo was almost certain that this catastrophe would begin soon. As the first prime minister to step onto the stage during this cataclysmic disaster, Han Mo really did not want Li Gang to repeat his previous mistakes.
The strength of one person was limited. In the original historical timeline, Li Gang's personality was too stubborn, and moreover, no one in the entire court could help him. Therefore, he could only be besieged by the surrender faction and had to retreat from his stage sadly.
However, since Li Gang had fallen into his hands, Han Mo certainly did not want to see this scene happen again.
"If such a day were to come, Li Gang would naturally serve with all his heart until death!"
Seeing Han Mo's serious expression, Li Gang also said with a light smile.
"Uncle Li's thoughts are indeed good, but if I were Uncle Li, the first thing I would do upon ascending to the position of minister would be to purge the opposition forces in the court!"
"Must first pacify internal affairs before repelling external enemies? Isn't this approach a bit too radical?"
Li Gang said dismissively upon hearing Han Mo's words.
"There is an old saying. Have you heard of it, Uncle Li?"
Seeing his dismissive look, Han Mo asked again.
"Tell me about it."
As they drank cup after cup of wine, Li Gang's eyes grew brighter. He hadn't chatted with a junior for such a long time. His own sons were as timid as quails in front of him.
Let alone being able to stand in front of him and converse fluently and engagingly like Han Mo!
"Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are difficult to guard against!"
"It sounds simple, but it's not easy to do! The treacherous factions in the court have already formed a united front. Pulling one thread will move the entire body. It's not easy to deal with them!"
Although Li Gang admitted that Han Mo's words were indeed very reasonable, he still felt a little unconvinced.
"One person's strength is certainly impossible. Has Uncle Li not considered uniting like-minded people?"
In order to help Li Gang find a different path, to change Li Gang's fate, and to change the fate of the Song Dynasty, Han Mo was truly trying his best to enlighten him at this moment!
"Are you trying to form factions for selfish gain, kid?"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Li Gang's expression immediately turned grim. Since the reformist and conservative factions began their struggle, it had never stopped. As it developed to this point, everyone in the court shied away from the mention of factional struggles!
"Uncle Li, do you know why Cai Jing could rise and fall three times and ascend to the position of minister four times? Do you know why Prince Yun, as a prince, could suppress the Crown Prince so completely?"
Han Mo's two consecutive questions immediately silenced Li Gang.
Why were the upright gentlemen in the court kicked out of the court, wasn't it precisely because the petty people were forming factions?
"The only way to defeat factionalism is to form factions! The Song Dynasty is now on the verge of collapse. If Uncle Li and like-minded individuals work together for the welfare of the people of the world, is that considered selfish gain?"
Although this was clearly sophistry, these words truly resonated with Li Gang.
"Kid, did you plan this today? Did you calculate all this before coming here to tell me this?"
After staring at Han Mo for a long time, Li Gang finally spoke again.
"After we parted in Bianliang, Uncle Fan Zheng Guo once told me that you, Uncle Li, have the talent of a prime minister, but you are suppressed and unfulfilled! Since that time, these words of mine have been brewing!"
"You fellow, I think you've planned everything, just waiting for me to fall into your trap!"
Upon hearing this, Li Gang couldn't help but laugh again.
He wondered where such a small person had so many schemes. This little ninety-nine jin of his body was truly ninety-nine jin of scheming!
"How can this be a trap? Uncle Li, if you say that, you are truly wronging me!"
"Why don't you tell me, with whom do you plan to form a faction?"
Seeing Han Mo eagerly feigning injustice, Li Gang unceremoniously patted him on the back of his head.
"Actually, Uncle Li should know most of the main candidates. Old Master Xu Churen of Hebei counts as one, Uncle Fan of Bianliang counts as one, Nie Shan, the Left Attendant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, counts as one, Zhang Shaoyou, the Vice Prefect of Kaifeng Prefecture, counts as one, Zong Ze, the Prefect of Cizhou, counts as one, and also Zhong Shidao, the Deputy Commissioner of the Six Eastern Circuits. Additionally, there's my father-in-law, my grandfather, and Grand Commandant Liang Shicheng, who only counts as half a person!"
After Han Mo finished speaking, even Li Gang couldn't help but gasp.
He then realized that Han Mo had unknowingly woven such a large net.
Fan Zhengguo was already considered a vice minister. After Zhong Shidao returned to Bianliang, he would at least be a signatory to the Bureau of Military Affairs, and if the opportunity was good enough, perhaps even a deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs!
What Xu Churen had done in Hebei was almost common knowledge throughout the court.
The entire Hebei region, from being rampant with thieves to being under his administration, in just under a year, he had not only provided a large amount of grain and fodder for the entire Hebei war situation but had almost single-handedly supported Tong Guan's rear support with the Hebei region.
Although Tong Guan had suffered consecutive defeats, Xu Churen's achievements were undeniable. Once the Hebei war situation had a conclusion, as long as he returned to the capital, a position as vice minister would likely not be lacking!
When calculated in this way, although Han Mo's great net was somewhat lacking in middle-level officials, its high-level influence was truly enviable!