"My lord, since the madam arrived, your complexion has improved with each passing day!"
An hour later, Wang Bing arrived at Han Mo's study, laughing heartily.
"Naturally. How about it? Shall I help you set up some property in the city? Then we can bring your wife over, and you can be reunited!"
For Han Mo's brazenness, such a joke was but a minor matter.
"That would be wonderful, but it will likely take some time to bring them over. With this ongoing turmoil, it's better to stay put than to move!"
Wang Bing said as he cupped his hands towards Han Mo.
"Alright, enough joking. Here's a transfer order, you might want to take a look!"
After the servant served tea, the two sat down again. Han Mo then took out the transfer order from the Privy Council.
"What does my lord mean?"
After a glance at its contents, Wang Bing immediately looked up at Han Mo again, his eyes filled with sincerity, not a trace of joy.
Logically speaking, documents from the Privy Council were almost equivalent to imperial decrees.
However, the situation was special. The conflict in the southeast had not yet ceased, and Han Mo still held the title of Pacification Commissioner for the Liangzhe and Fujian coasts.
If he were to obstinately refuse to release the person, he could use the excuse of "a general outside the capital is not bound by imperial orders" to reject the document.
In fact, he had already done so twice before, without even consulting Wang Bing beforehand.
"Given our friendship, I won't mince words with you. This is the third document. I've already rejected the previous two, and now I want to hear your own opinion!"
After a deep look at Wang Bing, Han Mo finally spoke.
"The third one?"
Hearing Han Mo's words, Wang Bing's pupils visibly contracted.
"Is this Marshal Tong's intention?"
"Indeed!"
There was nothing to hide about such matters, so Han Mo stated it directly.
"Wang Bing is grateful for your lordship's profound friendship, but the documents have already been rejected twice. If I reject it a third time, I fear Marshal Tong will bear a grudge against you..."
Wang Bing said, forcing a bitter smile.
"You don't need to worry about that. In my current position, even if he bears a grudge, he can't do anything to me for now. I just want to know what you think. You must have a clear understanding of what Mr. Shao told you before, right?"
There were many things Han Mo couldn't say, but Shao Bowen could.
Before Shao Bowen went to sea, he had cautioned Wang Bing many times, and everything that needed to be said had already been said. At this moment, Han Mo only wanted to hear his own choice.
After all, in the original history, Wang Bing was trapped and died in Taiyuan City because of this transfer order.
Three thousand loyal souls defended Taiyuan for two hundred and fifty-three days, three thousand against eighty thousand. One could imagine the ferocity of the battle at that time.
"My soldiers' families and dependents are mostly in Hedong. If I keep them here for my own selfish desires, I fear they will resent me in the future. I am grateful for your lordship's friendship, but please stay out of this matter!"
After a moment of silence, Wang Bing finally made up his mind.
He knew Tong Guan's methods too well.
As for why this transfer order existed, he knew it clearly. It was nothing more than the instigation of that scoundrel Xin Xingzong behind the scenes.
If he continued to stay here, Tong Guan would likely start targeting Han Mo.
He didn't care about sacrificing his own life, but he didn't want to implicate Han Mo any further at this time.
"I told you not to worry about Marshal Tong. I have my own ways of dealing with him!"
"My lord, your subordinate still believes that man can conquer nature. Please grant my request!"
Wang Bing said as he stood up and bowed respectfully to Han Mo.
"Since your mind is made up, I will say no more. You may proceed to Taiyuan to take up your post. As for the subsequent matters, I will not stand idly by..."
After a moment of hesitation, Han Mo said decisively.
"Thank you, my lord, for granting my request!"
After a few more exchanges, Wang Bing turned and left.
Watching his retreating back, Han Mo suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
But he quickly recovered. There was still time, and it was not too late for everything!
What Zhong Shidao and Zhe Kexun could not achieve, he might be able to.
"Brother Mo, that fat Feng is outside clamoring to see you. He's been making a fuss several times already. What do you think..."
As Han Mo was lost in thought, Chun Tao suddenly walked in and said softly.
"He wants to see me? Let him in!"
After a slight hesitation, Han Mo spoke.
"Yes!"
Chun Tao agreed and turned to walk outside. Before long, she returned to Han Mo's study with Feng Yuanbao.
"What brings you here this time?"
After Chun Tao left the room, Han Mo asked.
"Replying to my lord, I... I want to... I want to serve by your side..."
After a long hesitation, Feng Yuanbao finally spoke again.
"What?"
Hearing him say that, Han Mo was stunned.
Han Mo naturally couldn't stand by and watch after the Feng family suffered such a disaster. After all, this fellow was an acquaintance from his early days.
Moreover, with the restrictions imposed by the war, Zhe family's business expansion had also been significantly impacted, and they did not need so much copper for the time being. Therefore, Han Mo directly paid him all the copper he owed him at once.
He had originally thought that after this disaster, this fellow would honestly find a place, buy a house and land, and live out his life peacefully. But he never expected him to say such a thing today.
"I wish to serve by your side! If my lord does not dislike it, all matters of commerce can be entrusted to me to handle!"
After gritting his teeth, Feng Yuanbao said directly again.
"I say, Feng Yuanbao, have you gone mad or something?"
Hearing him say that, Han Mo couldn't help but burst out laughing.
This fellow, holding hundreds of thousands of guan of copper, wanted to come and work for him. He really didn't know whether to call this fellow shrewd or foolish.
"My lord, you are wise. This humble one has thought it through these past few days. Without your lordship's protection, no matter how much copper I earn, I am merely a fat sheep in the eyes of others."