Yet even so, the country could not withstand having a painter emperor with extravagant tastes, who spared no expense.
To satisfy his own appetites, he was now scouring the entire nation without regard for cost.
In this process, a large number of corrupt officials were inevitably fostered.
Liang Shicheng, Tong Guan, Wang Fu, Cai Jing, Zhu Mian, Li Yan – these individuals were all masters of amassing wealth.
Especially Zhu Mian and his son; these two alone had turned the fertile lands of Jiangnan into a place where the common people could barely survive.
The "Huashi Gang" (rock and flower levy) they initiated not only incited Fang La and Song Jiang to rebellion but also brought the entire southern region of the Great Song to the brink of widespread conflict.
However, simply because they could provide vast sums of money annually for the emperor's amusement, these corrupt officials all became trusted ministers of Emperor Huizong.
With such a group of esteemed officials, coupled with the deeply ingrained problems of a bloated military, bureaucracy, and expenditure inherited by the Song dynasty due to historical reasons,
Even without the Jurchens attacking, the Great Song dynasty was likely not far from its demise.
The Jin Dynasty, to put it bluntly, was merely a catalyst for the fall of the Northern Song.
After all, looking at all the officials in the Two Song dynasties, aside from Wang Anshi and Jia Sidao, no one else dared to even mention reform.
But the reforms of these two men each had their own issues, ultimately leading to their failure.
This directly resulted in a situation where anyone who dared to propose reform from then on would face death, and to not do so was to wait for death – a truly inescapable predicament.
"Have you ever considered that if you associate with them, they will forever be a stain on your life? These people are all insidious and cunning. Are you not afraid of ruining yourself for eternity by dealing with them?"
Seeing Han Mo's persistence, Han Jiayan could only earnestly advise him once more.
Looking at Han Jiayan's pained expression, Han Mo felt a pang of discomfort.
Truth be told, he owed Han Jiayan a great deal. If it weren't for Han Jiayan's protection and assistance, he would likely still be worrying about making ends meet at this very moment.
"Uncle-Ancestor, Han Mo has received the teachings of the Han family for so many years. How could I possibly collude with them? Uncle-Ancestor, have you not heard, 'If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cubs'!"
After pondering for a moment, Han Mo ultimately decided to confide in Han Jiayan.
"You… you intend to…"
Han Jiayan's eyes widened.
"If the nation's traitors are not eliminated, the world will not be at peace! In the past, when Grandfather was not yet well-known, he could bring down four chief councilors with a single piece of paper. While Han Mo may not possess Grandfather's abilities, I am confident in dealing with a few treacherous officials!"
"You child, how can you, a mere child, get involved in such matters? You…"
Indeed, upon hearing this, Han Jiayan's entire expression changed.
He quickly stood up, opened the doors and windows, and checked them thoroughly. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, he closed them again and returned to Han Mo's side.
"Uncle-Ancestor, rest assured, hasn't Cai Jing already been cornered?"
Han Mo smiled and then lowered his voice.
"Although he has suffered a setback, a centipede remains potent even when dead. You child, you should withdraw from this as soon as possible. These matters should be left to the important figures in the court!"
Han Jiayan's previous displeasure vanished from his mind.
Compared to his own foolish sons, Han Mo at this moment was astonishingly mature.
"Uncle-Ancestor, please rest assured. This junior has a plan. Cai Jing is indeed like a centipede that doesn't die easily, but we can precisely use his dying counterattack to send Wang Fu into hell completely!"
"You…"
Looking at his confident expression, Han Jiayan's mouth twitched repeatedly, as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"His relationship with Liang Shicheng is not simple. In order to ascend, he has treated Liang Shicheng like a father for years! And Liang Shicheng's status in the critical moment is unmatched. Are you not afraid he will bite you back as he dies?"
Han Jiayan whispered.
"Since things have come this far, how about this junior shares his plan with Uncle-Ancestor?"
Seeing the anxious expression on Han Jiayan's face, Han Mo actually felt more relaxed.
The more worried Han Jiayan was, the less likely he was to betray him.
One could not go far in officialdom by oneself. At this point, even without taking the examinations, his status as a Jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examinations) was practically assured.
The person he could trust most, besides the Zhe family, was the Han Jiayan faction.
And the Great Song dynasty, because Zhao Kuangyin himself had risen through rebellion as a military general, was extremely wary of military men.
The Zhe family could help him raise funds and protect his life at critical moments; that was their limit.
To gain support in the imperial court, he had to rely on Han Jiayan.
Although Han Jiayan himself had been living in seclusion for many years, the hidden influence of the Han family was now under his control.
As long as he could gain Han Jiayan's approval, the Han family's vast political resources could be continuously utilized by him.
"Tell me, how do you plan to deal with Wang Fu?"
Han Jiayan lowered his voice and asked.
"The Emperor trusts Liang Shicheng and Wang Fu immensely. But the problem is, if Wang Fu truly ascends to the position of Grand Chancellor, and he continues to associate closely with Liang Shicheng, what do you think His Majesty will think?"
Han Mo smiled and then quietly revealed his core strategy.
Upon hearing him speak, Han Jiayan's eyes immediately lit up.
This was truly like a word that awakens a dreamer!
Before Wang Fu became Grand Chancellor, if he associated closely with Liang Shicheng, the Emperor would pretend not to see it.
But if he were to become Grand Chancellor, the situation would be entirely different. Liang Shicheng controlled the Imperial Household Department, and if Wang Fu were to also control the nation's governance.
If the two of them joined forces, it would not be impossible to even sideline the emperor…
Any emperor would find such a situation unbearable, let alone an emperor of the Zhao family, who had studied the art of balance since birth.
How could the Emperor not be wary of these two?
Unlike other chancellors, Wang Fu's rise was extraordinarily rapid due to Liang Shicheng. More importantly, he himself lacked outstanding political talent and had climbed solely through flattery.
This speed, while quickly granting him the power and position he desired, also created a significant hidden danger.
That is, he lacked his own substantial faction.
He had indeed gathered a group of people around him, but the problem was that among them, there was no one truly capable of handling state affairs; rather, the vast majority were there to cause trouble.
When Cai Jing truly withdraws from the scene, it will be when Wang Fu's true colors are revealed.
After a brief period of prominence, Wang Fu would soon make a fool of himself.
If, at that time, the Emperor discovered that he was closely associated with Liang Shicheng, and that this association was not subject to the supervision of the Imperial Palace, then his tenure as Grand Chancellor would come to an end…