Chapter 003: The Arrangements of the Overlord

Han Mo quickened his pace and asked, "Where is my father?"

Han Zhengqian nodded slightly, his voice authoritative: "Martial arts must not be neglected; this is a fundamental skill of our Han family. If you become complacent, do not blame your great-uncle for being ungracious."

Han Qing nodded and said, "Understood, young master, I will take care of it right away and first inquire about Xiang Yuer's whereabouts"

Inside!

Where is the Black King?" Han Mo stopped in his tracks and turned to ask, "What do you want to go to the Black King for?"

The "Governor's Office of Donghai" and the "Donghai Bureau of Officials" are naturally referred to by their official names by outsiders, but among the people of Donghai, they are called the "East Office" and the "West Office" respectively

Approaching the study, Han Mo gently knocked on the door, and from inside came the hoarse and deep voice of Han Zhengqian: "Is it Xiao Wu? Come in!"

From a political perspective, Xiao Muzan is the chief official of Donghai County, the top leader, and even the Han family must exercise some caution in his presence

As the lowest stratum of society, namely a prostitute, the Han family would not openly express malicious words. However, it is undoubtedly impossible for a prostitute to enter the Han family. If such a situation were to occur, the Han family would likely face ridicule and scorn from other families in the State of Yan. Although the offspring of other families are not exempt from engaging in such sordid activities, no one would dare to brazenly bring a prostitute into their home.

"So, you fell in love with that woman after a few spring breezes?" Han Mo blinked and gave a thumbs up, saying, "Fourth Brother, you are truly emotional and so full of love!"

"Young Master, I have been training with you since you were eight years old, and it has been ten years now. If you neglect your training, you won't even be as good as a pig," Han Mo chuckled, then his expression turned serious: "Did you hear what Fourth Brother just said?"

When Han Yuan left hetushu.com, Han Mo looked at his back and sighed, "Fourth Brother, you are too timid. You are at a loss when faced with difficulties. What can be done about this?"

I can't believe it! Han Mo stared wide-eyed: "Young Master, I have told you, do not cause trouble; the time is not yet right."

Although Han Mo is a fearless and unruly character, he still feels a certain degree of trepidation in the presence of this great patriarch

... ...

Han Mo did not dare to be negligent, adjusted his attire, and asked while walking: "Do you know what you are looking for me for?"

Han Yuan forced a smile and said, "Xiao Wu, at this time, you still have the heart to joke. You know, although I want to marry Yu Xiang'er, my family absolutely does not allow it. Even if she is an innocent girl, being in a spring house makes everything unclear." After a pause, anger flashed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "But when I went there today, Xiang Yu'er had already been taken away by the Little King of Hell. Now I don't know what the situation is. I... I cannot cause a big uproar because of this. If my grandfather and father find out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable." His eyes were slightly red, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "But when I went there today, Xiang Yu'er had already been taken away by the Little King of Hell. Now I don't know what the situation is. I... I cannot cause a big uproar because of this. If my grandfather and father find out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable." His eyes were slightly red, and his voice trembled slightly: "The Little King of Hell and I have never gotten along. He knows that Xiang Yu'er is my woman. What he is doing is aimed at me, and I don't know how he will torment Xiang Yu'er."

The elderly man's face, marked by the passage of time, bore skin that had long since lost its firmness; however, his pair of eyes was exceptionally sharp, akin to a knife. Anyone who found themselves under the gaze of those seemingly cold eyes would undoubtedly feel a sense of discomfort throughout their body

Understood, Fifth Young Master!" Han Qing said with a playful smile, appearing quite excited, and asked in a low voice, "Is it that little King of Hell?" He raised his right hand, forming a palm shape, and pressed down forcefully.

On that occasion, I could not resist the persuasion of that group and went to the Aroma Pavilion to drink flower wine. Han Yuan said lightly, "That day happened to coincide with the courtesan competition, and the selected courtesan was Yu Xiang'er. They forcibly took Yu Xiang'er's plaque and sent me inside..."

"When have I ever gone back on my promises?" Han Mo helped Han Yuan up and smiled, saying, "Alright, I've told you many times, the sons of the Han family can shed blood, but they must not shed tears"

"The reason I called you here this time is to prepare you," Han Zhengqian said slowly. "Since you were sixteen, the household has been arranging for you to have a maid, but you have repeatedly refused, and I have been too busy to intervene. This time, I have found someone for you; however, since you do not like young maids, I have chosen an older one for you. Prepare yourself, as she will be moving in within the next couple of days"

Han Mo trembled upon hearing the words "Grand Patriarch" and said, "Is my great-grandfather looking for me"

Han Mo has lived for over forty years across two lifetimes. Although he is younger than Han Yuan, his psychological maturity far surpasses that of Han Yuan.

... ...

Indeed, someone has already been sent to convey the message, urging you to hurry over

"Young master, I have heard everything clearly, word for word. This is what you have taught me: when it is time to listen, I listen; when it is time to look, I look; and when it is not the time to listen or look, I must not listen or look!" Han Qing replied obediently

However, there are several taxes that the Han family cannot interfere with: first, the salt tax; second, the commercial tax

Han Yuan seemed to have great trust in Han Mo's abilities, nodding vigorously.

Because Xiao Muzan has dark skin and is treacherous in nature, the common people secretly refer to him as the Black Yama

Xiao Muzan is a member of the Xiao family, which ranks first among the nine prominent families of the Eastern Yan Kingdom. He was appointed as the governor of Donghai County, a position personally nominated by the Prime Minister, Master Xiao, and approved by the cabinet, indicating that he has influential connections and resources behind him. The Yan Kingdom is a rather peculiar nation; its political structure can even be described as somewhat distorted. Due to historical reasons, the powerful families control various rights within the empire, and imperial authority is by no means the most esteemed in this country

As Han Qing just ran onto the bridge, he saw a stout middle-aged man approaching quickly and couldn't help but exclaim, "Father, what brings you here?" This man was Han Qing's father, Han Yan, an official from the Qingli Bureau, who was referred to as "Uncle Han" by everyone in the household.

The Han family is one of the nine prominent families in the State of Yan, a distinguished lineage, and in Donghai County, it is the most esteemed family. Such a family naturally has extremely strict clan rules. According to Han Mo's knowledge, the family regulations of the Han family should not be fewer than fifty articles. Any violation of any one of them will result in severe punitive measures.

Han Bo inquired: "Is the Fifth Young Master present?"

If one were to say that there is someone in the Han family who truly fears Han Mo from the depths of his being, it would be the gloomy Grand Master Han Zhengqian, who appears somber all day long. Every time Han Mo sees him, he feels as if there are caterpillars crawling all over him, making him utterly uncomfortable

The inner room is an elegant small chamber, appearing somewhat dim, with an antique charm. An elderly man, over sixty years old with a head full of white hair, is seated behind a nanmu writing desk. On the desk, brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones are neatly arranged, while the old man holds a brush in hand, bent over the desk writing something.

Han Mo shot a glare at Han Yuan and said in a deep voice: "Fourth Brother, what good does it do to be sad and cry at this moment? Don't concern yourself with this matter; leave it to me. Go home, take a good bath, and have a nice sleep. When you wake up, I promise you will see Xiang Yuer."

What? Han Mo was taken aback, opening his mouth but unable to speak

The adult has gone to the county magistrate's office

Han Qing!" Han Mo's gaze sharpened as he whispered.

The tax revenue of Donghai County is primarily collected by the Han family, which is then remitted to the Donghai County government. Although this may seem redundant, it has allowed the Han family to firmly control the tax authority of Donghai County

Upon entering the Eastern Residence, Han Mo inquired about the whereabouts of Han Zhengqian and proceeded directly to the study in the main courtyard

The Black Yama is a nickname, and his full name is Xiao Muzan, who is the governor of Donghai County

"It seems to be a matter concerning taxes," Han Bo replied. "However, I cannot clarify what exactly it is. Young Master, it is acceptable to call out like this at home, but you must not do so outside, lest it leads to misunderstandings. You should hurry over to the East Mansion; do not keep the Grand Master waiting, as he has many matters to attend to each day. We must not provoke his anger"

Han Mo was also unsure whether the room full of books was merely for show by Han Zhengqian or if he had truly read each one in detail

"I wouldn't know!" Han Bo chuckled, "As for the matters of the Grand Master, who among the officials in these two courts would dare to inquire further?"

The little King Yan who abducted Xiang Yuer is none other than the only son of the Black King Yan. Relying on his father's power, he has committed numerous misdeeds in Donghai County, truly deserving of the title of a notorious villain. It is precisely for this reason that he has repeatedly clashed with the Han family's young men in Donghai City.

Really... is it true? Han Yuan widened his eyes, filled with a hint of surprise

Upon hearing the term "sister," Han Mo not only felt surprised but also immediately sensed the complexity of the situation.

The so-called "cultivation" by Han Zhengqian is not some divine martial arts or qigong; it is merely the "Longevity Scripture" passed down through generations of the Han family, which can only be practiced by direct descendants. In essence, it is about self-cultivation and nurturing one's character, promoting the flow of blood and energy. Its greatest effect is to enhance a person's strength by regulating the breath. It is said that the King of the East Sea mastered the "Longevity Scripture" and possessed the divine strength to easily shatter stones, which allowed him to dominate the East Sea.

Han Qing quickly approached him and respectfully said: "Fifth Young Master, are we going to take action? Since the last time we dealt with that troublesome Guo Guangdou, it has been a few months without any movement. This time we must practice, otherwise the things Young Master taught us will soon be forgotten."

Han Mo pushed open the door and immediately sensed the strong aroma of books and ink. After entering, he turned around and gently closed the door, then proceeded into the inner room. Along the way, he passed by massive bookshelves, all filled with various types of books, diverse and eclectic. It is said that this study not only houses books from the Yan Kingdom but also a large collection from the Qing Kingdom, Wei Kingdom, and even the Southern Wind Kingdom, which is greatly beneficial for understanding the general situation of each country.

These two taxes are personally collected by the Donghai County government, which means that the authority to levy these taxes is held by the county magistrate, Xiao Muzan. For this reason, there is a deep-seated conflict between the Han family and Xiao Muzan, yet both parties are wary of each other's background and power, maintaining a facade of politeness.

In front of Han Zhengqian, Han Mo appeared like a docile little lamb.

Upon seeing Han Mo enter, the old man finally raised his head and said, "Have you been practicing diligently lately?"

Han Bo nodded and quickly walked into the elegant room, where he saw Han Mo standing by the window, gazing at the scenery outside. He hurriedly said, "Fifth Young Master, the Grand Master wants to see you. There is something he needs to discuss with you, so please go quickly."

That's good, gather a few of them, and you lead them to take care of this matter for me... Do you know what to do?" Han Mo asked, stroking his chin. At that moment, his expression was stern, markedly different from the demeanor he displayed in front of Madam Han and the Second Sect Master, appearing exceptionally calm: "Be very careful, and don't cause any other issues. If something goes wrong, don't blame the young master for being unkind to you.

In Donghai County, the Han family holds the highest prestige and influence, commanding the economic and military lifelines of the entire region. However, the official highest commander is the county magistrate appointed by the court.

Practiced!