"Don't be too quick to refuse," the Prime Minister said to Tang Mo. "In fact, this is just the beginning of a cooperation, with many more things to come. The King can offer you… and even more than what Shireck can."
He watched as Tang Mo made himself comfortable in the room's guest chair, with one leg casually crossed over the other.
This gesture was interesting because, according to his thoughts, or rather his understanding of the Shireck Consortium, a Shireck manager like Gis would certainly have taken the most prestigious chair in the mayor's office under such circumstances.
However, the young man before him was interesting. Although the mayor had vacated his office, he still did not sit in the mayor's place.
What was more interesting was that he did not show much respect towards the Prime Minister, indicating he was not without pride.
A young man who could find his place, had pride and yet understood human feelings and social interactions was rare to see these days.
This could mean a lot of things, so the Prime Minister became even more interested in this young man. He felt that this time, he had come to the right place.
"I am all ears," Tang Mo said as the Prime Minister was thinking about these matters.
The Prime Minister began with an aspect that caught Tang Mo off guard; he hadn't expected the Prime Minister to be so blunt and offer such a proposition.
Clearly, the Prime Minister had come prepared. He had researched Shireck and also investigated Tang Mo. He knew that their conflicts were fundamentally irreconcilable.
Thus, he could be very direct and to the point, "First, the King can help you strike against the Shireck Consortium's private army when Shireck makes a move on you, thoroughly resolving the Shireck influence within the Kingdom!"
Tang Mo was not particularly impressed by this and just shrugged, replying, "His Majesty the King would be doing this to help himself… Plus, he'd actually be using me. So, this can't be considered as you helping me!"
"Maybe so, but what comes next is indeed helping you," the Prime Minister said with a smile. "After dealing with Shireck, all the mines owned by Shireck will become your private property!"
"Now that is quite intriguing," Tang Mo admitted, not expecting the King to be so bold as to offer such a substantial wealth to win over a businessman like himself.
The Prime Minister then continued with their terms, "However, the mines in which Shireck has shares must revert to state ownership."
This was an exchange, a division of Shireck's wealth. If they could strike against Shireck together and completely drive Shireck's influence out of the Leite Kingdom, then both sides would have a huge pie to split.
"The ones in Northern Ridge, are they to go to the Earl?" Tang Mo asked. "In the opposition to Shireck, Lord Earl's interests are aligned with those of the Kingdom."
"The King can agree to that. You are smart to secure benefits for yourself in situations like these," the Prime Minister said with a smile, agreeing readily.
He knew that Tang Mo was not fighting for the Earl's benefits, but for his own. The majority of the Northern Ridge Earl's mining interests were essentially in Tang Mo's grip, so when Tang Mo asked for mines on behalf of the Earl, he was in effect asking for himself.
Tang Mo nodded in satisfaction, "Is there anything else?"
The Prime Minister then threw out another condition that took Tang Mo by surprise, "If you stay out of the Kingdom's politics and foreign affairs, then… the King promises you the opportunity to succeed as the Minister of Finance."
This was something Tang Mo had not expected at all—the King, far away in King City, was actually willing to trade a Minister of Finance position to bargain with him.
Such an offer gave Tang Mo a vast scope for operation, a chance to earn a great deal of money.
In this way, it was as if the King was using a long-term benefit to buy Tang Mo's support in resisting the Shireck Consortium.
Indeed, both parties had aligned interests on this issue, and there was a basis for cooperation, especially given the King's evident sincerity.
Feigning shock, Tang Mo widened his eyes in surprise, "Goodness me, promising a title and a reward?"
"You could say that, aren't you tempted?" the Prime Minister asked with a smile.
Tang Mo nodded, "To be frank, I am very tempted."
"Then you agree?" the Prime Minister asked without a second's hesitation.
"Why not?" Tang Mo said with a smile, prompting a momentary pause from the old Prime Minister, who then showed a joyful expression.
He said to Tang Mo with a smile, "In that case, congratulations, Lord Baron!"
"Hmm?" Tang Mo blinked in confusion, then turned to the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister continued to explain to Tang Mo with a smile, "The King has promoted you to a Baron of the Leite Kingdom, but you need to prepare 3,000 K1 Quick Guns. I will arrange for someone to handle the handover, and at the same time, bring the Baron's credentials to you."
Tang Mo nodded, feeling a small surge of happiness at finally securing the title of Baron, "That really is good news. However, 3,000 Gold Coins, not a coin less."
"Of course!" The Prime Minister looked at Tang Mo and reminded him, "You should understand that you are no longer a vassal of Northern Ridge; you are now part of the nobility! Your fief will be arranged in Brunas... this is His Majesty's reward to you."
To tell the truth, granting Tang Mo a noble title was the King's strategy to divide the alliance between Brunas and Northern Ridge.
The purpose of awarding Tang Mo a noble title was to make him unwilling to remain willingly under the Earl of Northern Ridge. This was tantamount to planting a rift between Brunas and Northern Ridge.
As expected, the Prime Minister heard the answer he wanted to hear. Tang Mo seriously corrected the Prime Minister's statement, "You might have misunderstood something... I have never... been a vassal of Northern Ridge. I am just a merchant, nothing more."
The Prime Minister walked up to Tang Mo and looked down at him sitting in his seat, his tone suggestive of an alliance, "Believe me, compared to the Earl of Northern Ridge, His Majesty the King is a better choice! Once Shireck's influence is driven out of the kingdom, I will recommend that His Majesty promote you to Viscount of the Kingdom. Wealth and power, beautiful women... you will have it all."
"Hm, I'm looking forward to it," Tang Mo said, arms crossed over his chest, seeming quite interested in the proposal.
When the two men emerged from the office, all the officials waiting outside heard the Prime Minister's hearty laughter, "Hahaha! Lord Baron indeed is an interesting person, I quite enjoy the feeling of doing business with Lord Baron."
"For the Prime Minister to show such support is truly flattering..." Tang Mo responded with a modest demeanor, appearing so very natural.
However, Wes, who stood by the door, picked on a sensitive piece of information in their conversation: the Prime Minister addressed Tang Mo as Lord Baron, instead of Mr. Tang.
This meant that Tang Mo had now become a noble of the kingdom, transforming from a knight of the Earl of Northern Ridge into a true member of the nobility.
Although just a Baron, he was completely different from a commoner. Even the lowest rank of nobility was still above the common people.
Of course, this kind of thing was actually a "custom." The nobility of the Great Ming Dynasty faced nothing but being ingredients in the pot before the rebel Li Zicheng and the barbarians from Manchuria.
So if everyone is a noble, naturally, they should preserve some decorum, but if everyone is a barbarian, whether someone is a noble or not is utterly useless.
But there is a difference between serving a noble or not. Sometimes class might be worthless, but it undoubtedly is class.
Serving a King compared to serving a commoner businessman does make a bit of a difference when spoken out loud. Even though Tang Mo would likely not heed the Leite Kingdom King's commands, on the surface, he still appeared as a fair and loyal young gentleman who paid his taxes and respected the old and the young alike.
Simon, standing by, appeared thoroughly pleased. When he had first joined Tang Mo, Tang Mo was but a merchant, but now, it seemed Tang Mo had all but officially become Lord Baron.
"Congratulations, Lord Baron!" Solon was the first to congratulate Tang Mo.
The Mayor was taken aback, then realizing what had happened, also quickly congratulated him, "Truly, congratulations are in order for Lord Baron!"
Simon and Wes hurriedly congratulated Tang Mo as well, "Congratulations, Lord Baron!"
"The appointment hasn't been issued yet, I'm not a Baron, so it might be better for everyone to hold off on the congratulations," Tang Mo demurred.
The Prime Minister, not waiting for him to continue declining, immediately interrupted and said, "Although the appointment has not yet been issued, I assure you as the Prime Minister that Mr. Tang is definitely going to be promoted to Baron, and it's okay to congratulate him in advance."
This was completely against the rules, as the King's command had not yet been delivered, and prematurely offering congratulations was indeed presumptuous.
Yet, everyone present seemed to be unconcerned, with the Prime Minister himself taking the lead, which left people pondering the implications.
At the very least, it appeared to everyone that Tang Mo's honeymoon period with the kingdom had begun, and the kingdom's higher echelons had tacitly, even supportively acknowledged Tang Mo's de facto control over Brunas.
"Brunas is in your hands now," the Prime Minister patted Tang Mo's shoulder with a look of entrustment.
Tang Mo smiled and tilted his head slightly, "Rest assured, Prime Minister, in my hands, it will be far better than in the hands of those from the Shireck Consortium. After all... they want power, while I... am a merchant, only responsible for making money."
"So now, we are firm allies," the Prime Minister deliberately announced this to everyone present.
"Wes, remind Parker later to prepare 3,000 Quick Guns and hand them over to the King's Military as the Prime Minister wishes," Tang Mo instructed Wes after seeing off the Prime Minister.
"Congratulations," Wes said, looking at Tang Mo.
Tang Mo, surprised, glanced at Wes, "You think this is good news? Forget it..."