"How about it? Do you still choose Prince Xin now?"
Fan Zheng Guo said, looking at Han Mo with schadenfreude.
"Can someone whom the Emperor dislikes not ascend to the Emperor's position?"
After a brief silence, Han Mo once again puffed out his chest.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
Fan Zheng Guo suddenly burst into loud laughter, his voice piercing the sky.
Before long, he was rolling on the ground, overcome with laughter.
"Uncle, are you alright?"
Although Han Mo had to admit that what he had just said was indeed a bit impetuous, he didn't expect it to make this fellow laugh like this. Looking at him rolling on the ground and laughing wildly, Han Mo couldn't help but lean forward and ask in a low voice.
"This is the first time in my life I've seen such a foolish fool as you!"
After a long while, perhaps having run out of energy from laughing, Fan Zheng Guo sat up, pointed at Han Mo, and patted his chest.
"Then, Uncle, are you willing to lend me a hand?"
However, at this moment, Han Mo suddenly bowed deeply to Fan Zheng Guo again and asked earnestly.
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
The answer was the same sky-piercing laughter.
"Uncle, are you willing to help me!"
Han Mo bent over again, bowing respectfully!
"Hahahaha, it's just a journey through the officialdom! I, this old man, will join this excitement!"
After laughing for a good while, Fan Zheng Guo finally stopped laughing, deliberately stood up, returned Han Mo's bow, and then said.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Hearing him say that, Han Mo immediately said excitedly.
"Don't thank me yet, I have a few conditions!"
Before Han Mo could finish speaking, Fan Zheng Guo directly interrupted him.
"Please speak, Uncle!"
"I want to talk to Prince Xin alone!"
"That's no problem at all. Uncle, you set the time, and I'll arrange it. However, the sooner the better, because His Highness will be going on an expedition soon!"
"The second matter, I heard that you, my boy, are good at making money?"
"Uncle, you might as well draw it out. As long as it's within my capabilities, I won't haggle!"
Han Mo said heartily.
"The cost of improving the rice seeds!"
"I, this boy, will bear it all!"
Before Fan Zheng Guo could finish his sentence, Han Mo directly interjected.
"Good boy, you truly are a hero emerging from youth! Since you've said so, I, this old man, will accompany you through the officialdom once more! However, you know me, the intricate schemes and deceptions in the officialdom are not my strong suit..."
Fan Zheng Guo's tone became noticeably less confident at this point.
However, Han Mo understood this point, as Fan Zheng Guo was not good at scheming.
And being in Bianliang City, especially in the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, even if he wanted to avoid it, he couldn't.
"Uncle, please rest assured, there will be people to offer advice to Uncle in official matters!"
"Hahahaha, you are truly interesting, boy. I'm convinced! If any of my Fan family's younger generations were like you, why would my Fan family's lineage be unsupported..."
At this point, Fan Zheng Guo said with a wry smile, shaking his head again.
"You flatter me, Uncle. I swear here that as long as Han Mo is alive, if the Fan family is in trouble, Han Mo will not hesitate to face mountains of knives and seas of fire, even to death!"
Having finally managed to win over this old man, Han Mo was now going all out to make grand promises.
"Uncle, I've brought a carriage. Shall we...?"
"Let's go back. After all, what I've done here was all for naught!"
Thinking of the half a year he had spent working here in vain, Fan Zheng Guo felt a surge of frustration.
Returning to the small thatched hut near his home, Fan Zheng Guo changed his clothes and then followed Han Mo back into the luxurious carriage, heading towards Bianliang City.
"It's getting late today, how about Uncle comes back to my residence to rest? My grand-uncle would be very happy to see Uncle visit!"
Seeing that it was almost noon, Han Mo quickly asked tentatively.
"There's no rush for that. Instead of choosing a day, let's do it today. How about we go to Prince Xin's residence?"
Fan Zheng Guo suddenly said with a smile.
"That would be excellent!"
Han Mo had originally planned to find some time tomorrow or the day after for Fan Zheng Guo and Zhao Zhen to meet. However, he hadn't expected Fan Zheng Guo to be so impatient.
But since he had brought it up himself, it saved Han Mo a lot of effort, so he agreed without hesitation.
After all, Liang Shicheng had specifically instructed Han Mo to be at Prince Xin's command and await his orders. At this time, visiting him didn't seem like a big deal.
"Turn the carriage around and head to Prince Xin's residence!"
"Yes!"
Although Prince Xin's residence was indeed bustling with visitors at the front gate, few people could actually enter the mansion.
"Take this, we'll use the back door!"
Looking at the heavily congested front gate of Prince Xin's residence, Han Mo took a token from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Fengnian.
With the token, Han Mo and his party didn't even need to get out of the carriage; they entered Prince Xin's mansion directly through a small side gate in the back courtyard.
"Brother Han, why are you here? And who is this? Lord Fan!"
Upon hearing that someone had arrived at the back courtyard with a token, Zong Ying immediately came to greet them.
However, before he could finish speaking, he suddenly saw the man in sackcloth standing beside Han Mo, who turned out to be the renowned Fan Zheng Guo.
"Is His Highness at home? I want Lord Fan to take over as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"
Although the Emperor had granted the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue to Zhao Zhen, Han Mo spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for negotiation.
Hearing Han Mo say this, Fan Zheng Guo was indeed somewhat surprised.
He had originally thought Han Mo would be more tactful, at least in front of Zong Ying. But he had never expected him to be so forthright.
What surprised him even more was that Zong Ying, standing opposite them, didn't show any signs of opposition. Instead, he looked as if it was only natural.
Had he misjudged?
Was this kid the foremost strategist by Prince Xin's side?
"His Highness is waiting in the study. Lord Fan, shall I escort you there?"
Zong Ying said, while earnestly performing a junior's bow to Fan Zheng Guo.
"If that is the case, I would be much obliged!"
Since he was already here, Fan Zheng Guo was now even more curious about Prince Xin, so he agreed without thinking.
"Don't leave yet. We'll chat in a bit. I happen to have something to discuss with you!"
Seeing that Fan Zheng Guo had agreed, Zong Ying suddenly turned his head and quickly said to Han Mo.
"Then I'll wait for you here. But you need to be quick, I have other matters to attend to later!"