"High promotion? I don't see any opportunities for high promotion. With Grand Chancellor Tong overseeing everything..."
As Zhong Yanchong spoke, a wry smile appeared on his face.
After all, everyone in the world knew that Tong Guan was notorious for backstabbing his subordinates. If the battle was won, the primary credit would undoubtedly go to him.
And if it was lost, the responsibility would fall entirely on those below him.
This alone would have been enough, but what was even more disgusting was Tong Guan's consistent and blind command.
Wasn't it this very fellow who forced Liu Fa to march during the Battle of Shuofang back then, leading to the complete defeat of the army?
Of course, victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare, and perhaps some might still try to argue in his defense.
But the problem was that Tong Guan, afterwards, concealed the defeat and presented it as a victory, shifting the blame for the loss of troops and disgrace of the nation entirely onto Liu Fa, which was truly disheartening!
Up to this point, the entire situation in the northwest remained far from optimistic, all due to Tong Guan's reckless orders.
With such a Grand Chancellor leading the army, simply being able to keep one's position was already a stroke of luck from heaven. How could Zhong Yanchong dare to hope for any promotion?
"Who can say for sure what will happen in this world? How can you be so certain that your grandfather will definitely lead the army north with our Grand Chancellor Tong?"
Han Mo sneered, saying with a hint of amusement.
"What do you mean by that? The imperial army has already arrived, and now all the supplies and equipment are ready. Once the arrow is shot, can it be recalled?"
Seeing Han Mo's confident demeanor, Zhong Yanchong was momentarily stunned.
"Of course, there's no recalling an arrow once it's shot, but you can change the target!"
Han Mo said with a mysterious smile.
"What have you heard? Or is there something I don't know?"
Zhong Yanchong quickly lowered his voice and asked.
"I can't say anything right now. If I tell you, the plan won't work anymore!"
Han Mo said with a mysterious smile and then fell silent.
"I say, you hang around with those monks and Taoists all day. Be careful you don't get labeled as a demon and dealt with someday!"
Zhong Yanchong glared at him dismissively. Although he felt resentful, he was helpless.
After all, he understood Han Mo's personality well. If this kid wanted to play coy, no amount of questioning would yield any results.
"If there were any other way, do you think I would resort to such a unconventional method?"
Han Mo smiled and said no more.
Setting aside Fang La's personal motives, the reason he was able to cause such a stir and continuously capture several prefectures and counties.
Wasn't the underlying reason that the people of the southeast could no longer bear the oppression?
When they couldn't even afford to eat, what else could they do but rebel?
Han Mo felt a sense of helplessness that such a butcher's job was entrusted to a renowned general.
"My lord, that Lord Ma has returned with his men!"
As the two were talking, Xu Fengnian's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
"Well, what's coming is coming. But isn't his bathing speed a bit too fast?"
Han Mo spread his hands in helplessness. He had even resorted to such tactics, yet he couldn't even stall for an hour. This truly made him feel very frustrated!
Now, he could only hope that Lu Ying and the others would act swiftly and efficiently, and absolutely not stir up any more trouble.
"Let's go. If it's destiny, we can't avoid it. If it's misfortune, we have to face it!"
Zhong Yanchong tidied his clothes, took a deep breath, and then stood up.
"Easy for you to say!"
Han Mo glared at him dismissively and then followed Zhong Yanchong out of the room.
"Military Advisor Ma, what is this?"
When the two arrived at the entrance again, Ma Zhiyou had already changed into a brand new official uniform.
Moreover, there were still water stains on his hair. It looked like he had just finished bathing, changed into clothes, and rushed back immediately.
"Secretary Zhong, I apologize. I have a military order from Grand Chancellor Tong. Please step aside for now!"
Indeed, this time Ma Zhiyou gave Han Mo no opportunity at all.
Before they could even exchange a few words, he was already intending to clear the area.
"Military order?"
Zhong Yanchong's pupils contracted, but he didn't say anything, simply stepped aside, and yielded the scene to Han Mo.
"Speaking of which, it is truly an honor. I never expected that I, a mere county magistrate, would receive a military order from Grand Chancellor Tong!"
Han Mo smiled and stepped forward, cupped his hands towards Ma Zhiyou, tidied his clothes, and then straightened up again.
"Magistrate Han, this is the military order from Grand Governor Tong. Take a look for yourself!"
As Ma Zhiyou spoke, he also cupped his hands towards Han Mo and produced a booklet, handing it directly to Han Mo.
Han Mo took it and glanced at the contents. He skipped the pleasantries at the beginning and the mutual back-patting in the middle, directly reaching the part about interrogating Yelü Cha and the others.
Seeing this, Han Mo let out a cold laugh in his heart.
Fortunately, just as he was about to say something, he saw Lu Ying in the distance nod at him.
"Magistrate Han, have you seen it clearly?"
Seeing Han Mo close the booklet, Ma Zhiyou asked directly.
"Replying to your excellency, your subordinate has seen it clearly!"
"Since you have seen it clearly, then please, Magistrate Han, hand over the people and the relevant files!"
As Ma Zhiyou spoke, he deliberately glanced at Zhong Yanchong beside him.
At this moment, he was the most likely person to come out and disrupt things.
If he were to produce some military order here as well, then this matter would only devolve into endless quibbling.
"Well, according to reason, upon receiving a military order, your subordinate should naturally obey without fail!"
"In that case, what are you waiting for? Let's go, we should go and bring them in! Grand Chancellor Tong is waiting!"
Although Zhong Yanchong maintained an appearance of being an outsider, he had to guard against this fellow from causing trouble behind his back. After all, this was Hebei Circuit, and any further delay would still lead to worries about unforeseen circumstances!
"My lord, don't be so hasty! Didn't I just say that? According to reason, it's like this!"
"Han Mo, are you defying orders?"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Ma Zhiyou's expression immediately turned ugly.
"Military Advisor Ma, I don't think you need to get so agitated. I never said I would defy orders. It's just that, the people you want to interrogate have committed a crime."
"Committed a crime?"
Ma Zhiyou's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"That's right. Just a moment ago, all of them contracted a sudden illness and died of it..."
"Han Mo!"
Ma Zhiyou's face suddenly turned ferocious. This excuse was too perfunctory.
Although it was true that sometimes prisoners in the jail would die of illness for various reasons, so many people dying at once was simply treating him like a fool!