"How is this possible? What did you say to the Emperor? How could he possibly grant you this kind of authority?"
Looking at the imperial decree in his hand, Shao Bowen felt as though he was going mad.
While Han Mo's accomplishments this time were indeed significant, the Emperor's reward was almost unbelievable to Shao Bowen.
The promotion to the fifth-rank Chaosan Daifu was acceptable. This title had little practical use, merely elevating Han Mo's official rank to that of a court official.
Fifth-rank meant he had progressed from a low-ranking civil official to a mid-level court official.
Once the affairs in the southeast were concluded, upon his return to the imperial court, he would be qualified to attend court and meet the Emperor directly.
While this promotion was somewhat exaggerated, given the current circumstances, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
However, the subsequent two rewards were truly difficult for Shao Bowen to accept.
"Provisional Superintendent of the Two Zhe and Fujian Coastal Circuit, and Grand Director of the Maritime Trade Office of the Southeast Circuit!"
With these two positions, it meant Han Mo was no longer just an ordinary subordinate of the Southeast Circuit Pacification Commissioner's Office!
It could be said that from this moment on, he had become the military and civil head of the Two Zhe and Fujian coastal prefectures and counties.
What made him feel even more absurd was that Emperor Huizong had added a clause at the end of the imperial decree: "Regarding matters of the Maritime Trade Offices of the Southeast Circuits, you may make decisions according to the situation!"
This statement implied that Han Mo possessed absolute discretionary power over the Maritime Trade Offices of the southeast circuits. Moreover, when making certain decisions, he wouldn't even need to report to the Emperor, but could make his own judgments!
Although the Maritime Trade Office was not particularly prominent at this time, this position had always been directly responsible to the Provincial Transport Commissioner.
Now, with the emergence of Han Mo as the Grand Director of the Maritime Trade Office of the Southeast Circuit, it meant that the Maritime Trade Office had been independently separated from the authority of the Provincial Transport Commissioner's Office.
Coupled with the concurrent position of Provisional Superintendent of the Two Zhe and Fujian Coastal Circuit that Han Mo now held, even Shao Bowen couldn't understand what the Emperor was trying to achieve.
"Isn't it simple? Just give him money!"
Seeing Shao Bowen's frantic state, Han Mo casually replied.
"Give him money? Are you joking? Can this be solved with money?"
Shao Bowen's eyes widened. After all, the court had never established this position before!
"Tens of thousands of guan, or even hundreds of thousands of guan, might be impossible. But what if it's millions of guan, or tens of millions of guan annually?"
"Cough—cough—cough—"
As soon as Han Mo finished speaking, Shao Bowen began to cough violently. How was this possible? Han Mo's words had completely overturned his understanding.
The Maritime Trade Office, such a small organization, contributed only about a million guan to the court annually.
After all, the Maritime Trade Office's duties were now equivalent to modern-day customs.
It was responsible for collecting taxes and managing foreign trade. Although maritime trade in the Song Dynasty was currently unprecedentedly prosperous, Han Mo's claim of contributing tens of millions of guan in revenue annually was preposterous, wasn't it?
"To raise 1 million guan within a month, increase the imperial court's revenue by 4 million guan within three months, and after a year, increase the imperial court's annual revenue by 8 million guan, and after three years, achieve an annual profit of 10 million guan for the imperial court – this is the reason for this imperial decree!"
Seeing Shao Bowen's intense reaction, Han Mo couldn't help but smile and say again.
"Are you joking? Unless you send soldiers to rob them directly, how could there be so much money?"
"Rob them? Where would robbing get as much money as the Maritime Trade Office?"
"Then what will you do next? Perhaps your father-in-law's family can help you with the initial 1 million guan, but where will the 4 million guan in three months come from?"
"You don't need to worry about such matters. Besides, someone has already provided this 4 million guan!"
"Is there such a foolish person in this world?"
Shao Bowen's eyes widened.
"Of course, there is. I'm having Mr. Jing help me move the copper coins!"
As Han Mo spoke, he took out the official seal he had just received and pressed it onto a written order he had just drafted.
"Move copper coins?"
Taking the order Han Mo had just written, Shao Bowen's eyes widened.
"This, this..."
This wasn't asking him to move copper coins; it was asking him to raid a household!
"Don't worry, sir. I'll have Li Bao and Han Shizhong accompany you. You'll be responsible for giving advice, and they'll be responsible for executing the tasks!"
"But, if you directly confiscate the Pu family's property, then in Quanzhou..."
Before he could finish, Shao Bowen wanted to slap himself.
This fellow had just taken over the position of Pacification Commissioner of the Eastern Zhejiang Circuit. At this time, theoretically, all civil and military officials in the entire Eastern Zhejiang Circuit should follow his lead...
Furthermore, what was cunning about Han Mo was that he didn't directly issue this order to the local government of Quanzhou. Instead, he used the privilege of the Pacification Commissioner to mobilize the Quanzhou navy!
As long as their actions were swift and he didn't leak any information, even if the Pu family heard of Han Mo's appointment as Provisional Superintendent of the Two Zhe and Fujian Coastal Circuit, they wouldn't expect Han Mo to want to wipe them out completely.
After all, most court officials didn't act like Han Mo, who would strike a decisive blow without a word.
"This is what the Qian family just sent over. All the evidence they've compiled against the Pu family, including their deceit, bribing officials, and tax evasion from the Maritime Trade Office over the years, amounts to tens of millions of guan. What's even more unbearable is that they dared to sell the subjects of my Great Song to Java. Shouldn't such a family be killed? Shouldn't their families be annihilated?"
As Han Mo spoke, he took out the documents sent by Qian Lang from a nearby drawer.
Looking at the confessions on them, even Shao Bowen fell silent.
Each confession listed the origin of the person involved and the signatures and thumbprints of all those who handled the matter.
According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, any single item from these could warrant a beheading. This thick stack, looking to be half a foot thick, rendered even Shao Bowen silent in the face of so much evidence.
"I am willing to serve Your Excellency!"
"This matter should be done sooner rather than later. Li Bao and the others are ready. I will trouble you with this, sir!"
"Then what about the Pu family's merchant ships?"
"Just seize them all, sir. Afterwards, someone will contact you. Then, you can sell those that seem to have more wood and are less capable of driving to him."
Hearing Shao Bowen's words, Han Mo immediately said with a smile.