"Alright, it's getting late. You should go down and rest. Tomorrow morning, we can travel together with the fleet escorting the copper coins!" As Han Mo said this, he couldn't help but stretch his body with a long yawn.
Things were no longer the same. If it were in the past, Zhao Zhen would have surely ordered Han Mo to have people deliver the copper coins to Suzhou City.
But at this moment, Zhao Zhen truly had no such trust left.
The moment Han Mo agreed, Zhao Zhen immediately dispatched the escorting fleet.
However, Han Mo didn't mind it too much. Doing so actually saved Han Mo a lot of effort.
Moreover, with them as companions, Han Mo's safety on this journey was greatly assured.
No matter who dared to do anything to him, they would have to consider how Zhao Zhen would react.
"Yes!"
The dejected Jiang Yan finally returned to his room, as Han Mo's decision was irreversible.
The next morning, Han Mo, along with his attendants, set off by sea along the coastline, heading north with the warships escorting the copper coins.
Navigating close to the shore was actually quite pleasant. Although it was already winter, there had been no significant winds or waves recently. After four days of sailing, Han Mo's ship finally arrived at Mingzhou City.
"Brother Mo!"
"Brother Mo!"
The moment Han Mo disembarked, he saw the little girl standing on the pier, waving joyfully at him.
"As expected, you arrived first. How is it? Are you getting used to Mingzhou?"
Looking at Chun Tao's face, flushed red by the sea breeze, Han Mo smiled and gently patted her little head.
"Second Brother!"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Han Yan leaped down from a nearby carriage with a smile and rushed into Han Mo's embrace.
To be honest, this was the first time the siblings had been separated for such a long time.
"Why are you here too?"
Although the two were not related by blood, perhaps it was due to the influence of this physical body, but Han Mo felt a peculiar sense of closeness to the two little girls.
"Why shouldn't I be here? You all went south and left me all alone in Bianliang City..."
As Han Yan said this, her eyes welled up with tears.
"Alright, alright, I didn't leave you all alone. It's just that Bianliang City is safer. But since you're here, let's go. We should enter the city first!"
Although Han Mo was speaking, his eyes were constantly scanning in the direction of the carriage.
"No need to look. Second Sister-in-law didn't come today. Ever since she arrived in Mingzhou City, she hasn't been feeling well and has been lying in bed for several days!"
Seeing Han Mo looking around, Han Yan playfully punched him.
"Is that so? Did you call a doctor? Is it perhaps a problem with acclimatizing to the local environment?"
Hearing her say that, Han Mo immediately became nervous.
After all, in this era of scarce medical resources, acclimatization issues, if severe, could be life-threatening.
"We've already consulted a doctor. The doctor said it's a common cold and will be fine after a few doses of medicine. It's quite windy here, so let's head back to the city first!"
Seeing Han Mo's worried expression, the little girl couldn't help but smile.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go. We should get in the carriage first. I've brought quite a few gifts for all of you on this trip. When we get back, you two can pick out whatever you like!"
There were so many spoils of war this time, and among them were indeed many exquisite items. Han Mo certainly understood the principle that too much purity leads to no fish.
Thus, he, as the Commissioner of Maritime Trade for all routes in the Southeast, had also benefited considerably this time.
He had spent several thousand guan to purchase nearly a carriage load of seized goods from the Maritime Trade office's warehouse…
But now, it was just perfect. These items could serve as gifts for the two little girls.
"Really?"
Hearing Han Mo say this, Han Yan's interest was immediately piqued.
"Of course, it's real. When we get home, you can pick whatever you want!"
Han Mo said with great generosity.
"Second Brother!"
"Stop fooling around, we're in the carriage, be careful, or it might overturn!"
Having returned to Mingzhou City, when the carriage finally stopped, Han Mo himself was somewhat surprised by the luxurious mansion before him.
"This is?"
"Second Sister-in-law said that you might be living in Mingzhou City for a long time from now on, so she had this mansion specially bought!"
As Han Yan said this, her face was full of smiles.
If this fact weren't truly before her eyes, even she herself wouldn't dare to imagine it.
Just last January, to save a little copper coin, they had even been reluctant to buy charcoal.
Now, even such an expensive mansion could be bought on a whim.
"That's true, this mansion looks quite nice!"
After looking around, Han Mo nodded in satisfaction.
He should have handled this matter earlier, but he had never found the time.
"Sir!"
"Sir!"
The moment Han Mo stepped through the mansion gate, a dishevelled middle-aged man rushed forward and grabbed Han Mo's leg.
"Who are you!"
His sudden action truly startled Han Mo.
If this weren't his own home, he would have wanted to kick him away.
"Sir, it's me! Feng Yuanbao!"
When the man raised his head, Han Mo finally saw clearly that the man kneeling on the ground was Feng Yuanbao.
"You, how are you here?"
This time, Han Mo was truly a bit surprised.
"Sir, you don't know, I, I have such a miserable life..."
As Feng Yuanbao spoke, he began to wail loudly again.
"How about you get up first? Let's talk somewhere else. This isn't a place to talk!"
Looking at his tearful state, Han Mo's mouth twitched.
However, he could vaguely guess what had happened. With the situation in Hebei as it was, how could someone like him, a stranger with so much copper coin, fare well?
If Han Mo were there, perhaps his life would have been better. But with Han Mo heading south for various reasons, the successors who took over naturally wouldn't let go of such a fat sheep.
"Sir, you must do me justice! If it weren't for Captain Lu and the young brother Yue, my life would have been lost in Neihuang County..."
Feng Yuanbao spoke while sobbing loudly, looking like a wronged child who had found their parents.
"Alright, you wait for me in the side chambers with them. Let me change my clothes and I'll be right there!"
As soon as Han Mo heard that the matter involved Lü Ying and Yue Fei, he immediately became serious.