As the wealthy merchants began to rise one after another, they took their leave and departed.
Han Mo, however, remained seated in his place, not making any move to stop them.
"My lord, by doing this, you may have offended them all!"
Watching them leave, Lü Ying walked over with a bitter expression.
If he had managed to secure some funds, it would have been one thing. But now, not only had they gained nothing, but they had also offended the entire county's gentry. Lü Ying didn't know what to say.
"This is just the beginning. Don't worry. By the way, did you send the letters I asked you to deliver?"
Han Mo asked nonchalantly.
"They were sent. Sent first thing this morning!"
"Steward Ma, Steward Ma, why did you just leave like that!"
After this commotion, everyone knew they had fallen out with Han Mo.
Han Mo was, after all, a county magistrate, a father to the people. Steward Ma had three sons who were officials.
He was certainly not afraid of Han Mo. However, the remaining people did not have such distinguished sons.
Therefore, they could only come to Steward Ma for advice.
"Why stay here? Wait to be fleeced like fat sheep?"
Steward Ma sneered and got into his carriage.
Even with a scowl on his face, these people were at their wits' end. They could only follow behind him dejectedly.
"Master, they are still following behind. What do you think..."
They were almost at their doorstep, yet these people were still following. The coachman asked in a low voice.
"Let them follow. Let the people of Neihuang County see who truly calls the shots here!"
Han Mo's actions today had made them very uncomfortable. In their view, the young man had openly challenged them today.
"Steward Ma, this matter concerns everyone. Please give us some direction!"
"Yes, you cannot ignore this matter!"
"I've seen through it. This kid came for all of us today!"
Listening to their clamor, Steward Ma was inwardly delighted.
"Everyone, everyone! Since you've all come, why not join me for a cup of tea at my humble abode?"
Seeing that the groundwork had been laid, Steward Ma finally emerged from his carriage, cleared his throat, and said loudly.
"Since that is the case, we shall impose upon you!"
Seeing that the old fox had finally made his stance clear, the gentry who had managed to catch up to the Ma family were now eagerly nodding in agreement.
Surrounded by everyone, Steward Ma haughtily entered his living room.
After the servants served tea, Steward Ma took a sip and then slowly stood up.
"I say, everyone, in previous years, when repairing the dikes, it was those poor folks who did the hard labor, and we merely offered some assistance. But this year, this kid wants us to bear all the costs. Isn't that clearly treating us as fat sheep? If it were just about repairing the river dike, the cost shared among us would not be much. But if this sets a precedent, what will happen in the future?"
After scanning the crowd, Steward Ma said slowly.
"Indeed, what Steward Ma says is right. Although repairing the river dike is a meritorious deed, if we set this precedent, what will happen in the future? Will we have to pay for every disaster and calamity that befalls us?"
Seeing that the old fox had finally spoken, a few sharp-eyed individuals immediately jumped out to curry favor.
"While that may be so, what if this kid really demolishes the river dike on the west bank? What will we do then?"
After all, this was their fatal weakness. The fertile land on the west bank all belonged to the Heavenly Imperial Dynasty.
Moreover, the river dike on the west bank was built exceptionally strong. Even if the east bank became a waterlogged marsh, it would absolutely not affect that side.
In truth, many among them were even hoping for floods on the east bank.
After every flood disaster, grain prices would soar.
It was then that they would all make a fortune.
However, all of this depended on one condition: the river dike on the west bank remaining intact.
If Han Mo truly breached the dike, they would all suffer together.
"It's easy to breach that river dike, but haven't you seen whose land he pointed to earlier?"
At this point, a hint of ruthlessness flashed across Steward Ma's face.
This fellow named Han was indeed formidable. In less than a month, he had completely purged Li Mao'er, and even Zhang Huai and Zhou Ding had fallen into his hands one after another.
"That is Shenxiao..."
Reminded by him, someone immediately recalled this matter.
Although the words were not finished, everyone present was a shrewd individual, and these two words were enough!
"Brilliant! How did I not think of that! Truly, 'a family with an elder is like having a treasure.' Steward Ma, you have saved us this time!"
"If that kid really breaches the river dike, we won't have to do anything; those Daoists alone will be enough to give him a hard time! He's sending people to breach the dike tomorrow morning, isn't he? Tomorrow morning, I will personally go to Shenxiao Wanshou Palace and offer five hundred guan for incense oil money!"
"Brilliant! Let's all go together! Tomorrow morning, we'll all go together!"
As gentry of Neihuang County, they were well aware of the abilities of the Daoists in Shenxiao Wanshou Palace.
These fellows might not have much real power and usually just swindled people, but when it came to bullying men and women, each and every one of them was a master.
More importantly, they had a true National Preceptor standing behind them.
No matter how capable that fellow named Han was, did he dare to oppose the current National Preceptor?
After understanding this crucial point, the gentry naturally gathered around Steward Ma and began to flatter him incessantly.
After all, compared to the cost of repairing the river dike, what were a few hundred guan for incense oil money?
"Hahaha, alright everyone, I see it's getting late. We haven't eaten anything tonight. Why don't we have some food and drinks at my home, and tomorrow morning, we can all go to Shenxiao Wanshou Palace to offer incense?"