"General Zhong, this is news from Bianliang!"
Three days later, while Zhong Shidao was examining the documents sent from the Pacification Commissioner's office, Zong Ying suddenly walked in.
"Why do you have time to visit me today?"
Seeing Zong Ying walk in, Zhong Shidao asked with a surprised smile.
"My father obtained some good wine a few days ago, so he specially asked me to deliver two jars to you, uncle. I saw they were coming to deliver something to you, so I took on this task!"
As Zong Ying spoke, he took out a small booklet from his sleeve.
"What is this?"
"These are documents transferred from the Pacification Commissioner's office, regarding the defeat in Hebei!"
As Zong Ying spoke, he handed the document directly to Zhong Shidao.
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Zhong Shidao's interest was immediately piqued. He took the document and began to read it.
"Our Grand Councilor Tong really is a dog that cannot change its ways!"
After a brief glance, Zhong Shidao's face was filled with disdain.
"But unfortunately, His Majesty believes him now..."
Zong Ying said this with a sense of shared misfortune.
Although he was not a military general, seeing Tong Guan once again shift all the blame for the defeat to his subordinates, how could he remain indifferent?
"If we are to be honest, I should thank that talented scholar Han!"
After letting out a long sigh, Zhong Shidao finally spoke.
"Why do you say that, old sir?"
Zong Ying asked curiously.
"If he hadn't strongly advised me to go south, perhaps I would be the one taking the blame right now!"
Zhong Shidao couldn't help but laugh at himself as he said this.
"If you were here, General, it certainly wouldn't have ended up like this!"
Zong Ying did not take this very seriously.
"You don't need to flatter me. Forget about me, as long as Tong Guan remains in that position, even if Sun Tzu were to be resurrected, the war would still end up like this!"
"General, be careful with your words, walls have ears!"
Hearing Zhong Shidao's words, Zong Ying quickly cautioned him.
"Even if someone overhears it, what of it? If they are capable of doing it, are they afraid of others talking about it? I've had enough of these cowardly wars!"
Thinking that he, a renowned general of his generation, now had to clean up the mess for a bunch of corrupt officials, Zhong Shidao felt an inexplicable sense of frustration.
"General, why must you be like this?"
As Zong Ying spoke, he quickly pushed open the door and looked around.
"Alright, I won't discuss this with you any further. How is your father's health recovering? I heard he has petitioned the court to retire?"
After shaking his head with a bitter smile, Zhong Shidao changed the subject.
"My father's health has improved a lot, but his temper is truly too stubborn..."
As Zong Ying spoke, he felt a sense of helplessness.
Zong Ze's temperament was naturally stubborn, and after the incident last time, how could he possibly swallow his pride?
Even with his son's repeated persuasion behind the scenes, it was still to no avail.
"It would be a good thing for your father to leave this world of fame and fortune!"
After a moment of silence, Zhong Shidao suddenly said.
"My father said the same thing, so I didn't say anything more at the time, but..."
As he said this, Zong Ying's face showed a look of helplessness.
His father was getting old, and now he was an official serving Zhao Zhen. After this parting, it was likely that the father and son would be separated by death...
"Alright, I understand your difficulties, but in officialdom, one cannot control oneself! By the way, how is the issue of money and provisions? If it drags on any longer, there will be serious trouble!"
After a moment of contemplation, Zhong Shidao shifted his attention back to the main issue.
He did not want to be like Tong Guan. The situation had finally been brought under control, and if there were any further setbacks, their months of effort would be in vain!
"Minister Wang is handling the grain issue. We don't know how their preparations are going, but you don't need to worry about the copper coins, old sir. Judging by the time, the escort sent by His Highness should have already departed from Guangzhou..."
"If we are to speak of it, this talented scholar Han is indeed not simple. If it were anyone else, where would they get these millions of guan..."
Hearing this, Zhong Shidao finally felt relieved.
The army still had some provisions, but the copper coins needed for military pay were sorely lacking. The deficit was so large that Zhong Shidao now saw copper coins in everything.
"While that may be so, some people do not think that way..."
"I feel like you have something to say, don't you?"
Upon hearing Zong Ying's words, Zhong Shidao immediately detected his hidden meaning.
"This is information someone leaked to me. Old sir, you might as well take a look..."
After giving Zhong Shidao a deep look, Zong Ying once again took out a small slip of paper from his inner pocket.
"Is this news reliable?"
After reading the content on the slip, Zhong Shidao's expression immediately turned grim.
"If the news were unreliable, I wouldn't dare to trouble you, old sir!"
"I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I will not stand idly by on this matter. It seems these fellows are truly willing to pay a heavy price, tsk tsk tsk, eight million guan in copper coins to buy Han Mo's life..."
"Brother Han has likely touched their sore spot this time, otherwise they wouldn't go to such lengths!"
Seeing Zhong Shidao's exclamations of wonder, Zong Ying couldn't help but sigh.
"Cutting off someone's financial path is like killing their parents. What is there to be surprised about? Let alone him, wasn't Wang Jiepu the same back then?"
Hearing Zong Ying's words, Zhong Shidao also said with a smile.
"How can that be compared? Prime Minister Jiepu back then had the hopes of the whole nation on him, while Brother Han..."
"You underestimate him. Although he doesn't have the same reputation as Wang Jiepu, he also doesn't have Wang Jiepu's stubborn temper. I actually think you don't need to worry about him. I believe he has his own methods. We just need to pass this information on to him, and he will naturally find a way to deal with these people!"
"It's not that I'm worried about those people, I'm worried about His Highness..."