Han Mo smiled, then cupped his hands towards brothers Wu Jie and Wu Lin before turning and walking out.
"Go ahead, Brother Han, but hurry back!"
The Wu brothers had been troubled by this matter for so many days. Now that their worries were suddenly lifted, they naturally drank heartily.
Soldiers were always forthright. When the mood struck them, they'd drink directly from the wine jar.
By this time, Han Mo was already slurring his words, and the two brothers weren't faring much better.
"Brother Han has something on tonight. No matter, the three of us will continue drinking!"
Although he didn't know why Han Mo placed so much importance on the two of them, Zhe Kucun understood that Han Mo intended to befriend them.
Despite Han Mo being a junior, his recent string of accomplishments was enough for Zhe Kucun to stand by him without question.
"Today is Brother Han's day of triumph on the golden list. Who would be so tactless as to seek him out here?"
Hearing Zhe Kucun's words, Wu Jie instinctively replied.
"Big Brother, you've had too much to drink!"
As soon as he spoke, Wu Lin reacted immediately and quickly interrupted him.
Although it appeared on the surface that Zhe Kucun's official position was not much higher than theirs, the Zhe family had hereditary control over Linfu and Fengsan prefectures. His influence in court was something they could not afford to offend.
Moreover, the future of both of them was now tied to Han Mo.
Offending Zhe Kucun at this time would be digging their own grave.
"It's nothing major to tell you, as long as you two don't spread it around outside! The one looking for him is precisely an official from Grand Commandant Liang!"
Zhe Kucun gave the brothers a meaningful glance before slowly raising his wine cup and speaking.
"Grand Commandant Liang?"
Wu Jie's mouth twitched, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.
The seven-tenths or so of drunkenness he had just had vanished instantly, and he became completely sober.
In Bianliang City today, who else could be referred to as Grand Commandant Liang?
"Grand Commandant Liang is currently undecided on some matters and wishes for Han Mo to help him make a decision!"
Although Zhe Kucun did not know Han Mo's intentions in winning over the two brothers, it did not stop him from trying to rein them in for Han Mo's benefit.
In the fifty-three ranks of military officials in the Northern Song Dynasty, Grand Commandant was the highest level.
This position alone indicated the immense power of Liang Shicheng. Moreover, he was the emperor's most trusted person, without exception!
That Liang Shicheng would seek him out already spoke volumes about Han Mo's capabilities.
After a brief moment of silence, the Wu brothers became noticeably more reserved.
Seeing their demeanor, Zhe Kucun was inwardly delighted.
Although he also came from a family of generals, the Zhe family's rule was that male descendants, upon reaching adulthood, had to rise through the ranks from corporal based on their own abilities.
Having served in the army for so many years, he naturally understood the thoughts of these low-ranking officers.
Simply winning them over was rarely enough to gain their loyalty, and it could even lead to inviting trouble if not handled properly.
Using them while also being cautious was the way to manage people. Periodically putting them in their place would benefit both Han Mo and the Wu brothers.
Han Mo might be young and inexperienced, but as an elder, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
"Grand Commandant, why have you come in person?"
When Han Mo arrived at the back door, he found a luxurious carriage parked outside.
Han Mo had assumed it was Liang's steward or something similar. However, as he approached the carriage, the window was suddenly pushed open from the inside, and Han Mo saw that Liang Shicheng himself was sitting in the carriage!
"Today is a joyous occasion for you, and I shouldn't have come to disturb you. However, I am feeling quite troubled, and I don't know who else to turn to. Do you have any free time now?"
Liang Shicheng was not wearing his opulent official robes, but a simple scholar's robe.
His hair was casually tied back with a green jade hairpin, making him look like a recluse Daoist priest.
"Grand Commandant invites me, so of course Han Mo is free. However, Han Mo has drunk quite a bit today, and my drunken ramblings might disappoint Your Excellency!"
Han Mo understood what was troubling the man. Cai Jing's intentions were clear; he was clearly playing a game of feigned retreat to advance.
He wanted to secure one or two positions as the guard of the four capitals, thereby giving his officials a chance to regroup.
However, his appetite was too large. Liang Shicheng could let go of the positions of the guard of the Southern and Western capitals.
But the position of the guard of Daming directly touched Liang Shicheng's core interests, and he would never let it go easily.
The crucial problem, however, was that due to Wang Ge, Liang Shicheng had completely lost control of the situation.
If he were to continue to contend for it now, it was likely that not only would there be no favorable outcome, but it would also incur the emperor's displeasure.
Understanding the logic was one thing, but being able to swallow one's pride was another.
"As the saying goes, truth comes out after drinking. I truly wish to hear what the drunken words of you, the top scholar, sound like. Come, get in the carriage!"
Liang Shicheng smiled and directly invited Han Mo into the carriage.
Han Mo took a deep breath, shook his slightly dizzy head, and managed to sober up a bit. With the help of Liang Shicheng's attendant, he climbed into Liang Shicheng's carriage.
"Grand Commandant, are you troubled by the matter of the Daming guard?"
After settling into the carriage, Han Mo smiled and got straight to the point.
"It seems you haven't drunk as much as you said!"
Liang Shicheng smiled, neither admitting nor denying it.
"If it's about this matter, then Han Mo might be of little help!"
Han Mo said casually with a smile.
"I am willing to pay a certain price. Is that still not enough?"
Liang Shicheng took a deep breath and looked at Han Mo again.
"Grand Commandant, if one is too fixated on the gains and losses of individual cities and territories on a chessboard, it's likely that not only will there be no good outcome, but it will also lead to the complete defeat of other areas. If you lose, you must concede!"
"Then let me rephrase. As long as this position does not fall into the hands of Cai Jing and Prince Yun, can we then strategize?"
Liang Shicheng gritted his teeth and said again.