"Sir, what are you doing? Have you forgotten that you've already said these things before?"
Seeing Shao Bowen's earnest demeanor, Han Mo couldn't help but smile and say.
"Cough—cough—cough—"
"I said those things before just to fit the occasion. Today, I mean it sincerely!"
Being pointed out by Han Mo, Shao Bowen felt a little embarrassed. After clearing his throat a few times, he said somewhat awkwardly.
"Sir, you are not serving me, but this is our shared ideal, and the common goal we are striving for!"
Hearing him say this, Han Mo also became unusually serious.
"My lord is right. Shao is being shallow in that regard! But as the saying goes, a snake cannot move without a head. My lord, if you have anything to command, please do so directly!"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Shao Bowen was stunned for a moment, then reacted and cupped his hands towards Han Mo again.
"Alright, sir, you don't need to be so excited. I've been on the boat all the way, and I'm really exhausted right now. Why don't you find me a place to rest for a while?"
Seeing his solemn look, Han Mo smiled and patted his shoulder.
"The best room in this inn has already been prepared for my lord. The bathwater upstairs has also been drawn. My lord might as well take a bath and have a good sleep, and we can discuss matters after you've rested!"
"It's good that sir knows me. Unlike that dullard outside, who still doesn't know what he should be doing up to now!"
As Han Mo spoke, he suddenly missed Xu Fengnian.
Although Xu Fengnian was young, he was far more reliable than Jiang Yan in taking care of Han Mo in all aspects.
"My lord should rest first. We can talk about other things after my lord wakes up!"
Hearing Han Mo say this, Shao Bowen also chuckled.
After a pleasant bath and a night's sleep, Han Mo felt like he had come back to life.
"My lord, the Pu family members are being escorted away today. Would you like to go and see?"
As Han Mo was savoring the fish porridge, Shao Bowen walked in and asked.
"I won't go at this time. You can make the arrangements as you see fit. However, you must remember these people. If they manage to escape, they will all be a scourge!"
After hesitating for a moment, Han Mo said directly.
"My lord, please rest assured, everything has been arranged properly. The ship escorting them will sail directly into the deep sea and will only turn north after three days. Lieutenant Li will personally lead the escort!"
Hearing this, Han Mo finally felt relieved. With Li Bao in charge, it shouldn't be a problem to deal with just a few people.
"Yes, then do as you think best. By the way, I heard that cotton is already being planted outside Quanzhou City. I wonder how their harvest is this year?"
Han Mo wanted to promote cotton on a large scale and develop it into an industry. Naturally, he needed to understand cotton and its yield per mu in the Song Dynasty at this time.
He also wanted to know about issues like pests and diseases that occurred during cotton cultivation.
"I haven't paid much attention to that, but I think Lord Long should be aware of it..."
"Lord Long?"
"The Prefect of Quanzhou, Long Haoting, courtesy name Weishi!"
Seeing the doubt on Han Mo's face, Shao Bowen quickly said.
"What kind of person is he?"
Han Mo asked casually as he reached out to serve Shao Bowen a bowl of porridge.
"His ancestors once served as the Military Governor of Nanchang and the Marquis of Pingnan, so he can be considered to come from a noble family. However, he is indeed different from other officials. If I were to be precise, he is rather like my lord..."
After hesitating, Shao Bowen carefully chose his words.
"What do you mean?"
Hearing this, Han Mo became more interested.
"Let me put it this way, as the Prefect of Quanzhou, he is at least a fifth-rank official, right? Other prefects in his position, at this time, should at least have a net worth of a million in Quanzhou City, with hundreds of servants. Yet, not only does he have no assets in Mingzhou City, but his household has only two elderly servants in total, and his own wife is the one taking care of the elderly madam!"
Hearing this, Han Mo was stunned.
"If you put it that way, then this person is indeed quite interesting. But you say he's like me? That's a bit far-fetched. Am I as miserable as he is?"
Han Mo had to admit that Long Haoting had indeed surprised him. After all, given the income level of officials in the Song Dynasty.
Even with the current soaring prices, a fifth-rank official, by convention, could afford to keep more than ten servants.
Moreover, based on his income level, in addition to his own living expenses, he should at least be able to save a hundred strings of cash annually.
To have his life reduced to such a state, Han Mo was truly curious about what kind of person this fellow was.
"I say he is very similar to my lord because almost all of his monthly salary is used by himself to subsidize the villagers! Any surplus is also used by him to buy all sorts of strange and unusual things!"
"Strange and unusual things?"
"I can't quite explain the specifics. I don't know what he wants those things for. If my lord is interested, why not pay him a visit today? Anyway, the matters in Quanzhou will not be completely handled by my lord in a short period of time, and he will eventually have to meet the Prefect."
Regardless, Han Mo currently also holds the position of Commissioner of the Coastal Defense of Liangzhe and Fujian. Coastal cities like Quanzhou fall within Han Mo's jurisdiction.
Moreover, if Han Mo were to make any major moves in the future, he truly could not bypass him as the Prefect.
"That makes some sense. I had originally planned to visit the Quanzhou Navy today. Hearing you say that, it seems I really should go and see this Lord Long first!"
"I believe he will not disappoint my lord. If you can recruit him into your ranks, it should be a good help to my lord!"
Shao Bowen said with a smile while drinking porridge.
"Is he the first official to be praised by you like this?"
"I am not praising him; I am merely stating the facts. He does have his merits, but he also has his detestable points. However, overall, compared to other officials in Quanzhou, he is indeed a talent!"
"Then I will go and meet this anomaly today. Sir, you just go and attend to your own business. By the way, if you have time, help me keep an eye on the Maritime Trade Office. These corrupt officials and rascals have been greedy for so many years; it's time they spit out some of it!"