He decided not to be patient any longer. Seeing Xiao Linglong still sitting on the desk with her head lowered after tidying up her clothes, he stepped forward, hugged her with both hands, and asked softly.
"When you feel that the country is stable and no longer needs you, will you marry me?"
Xiao Linglong was silent for a moment, letting Zhao Kang hold her, "It's too early to say this now, Xuance is still young, and other princes and ministers will not agree."
"No matter what they do, I will kill anyone who dares to object!"
Zhao Kang had a fierce look on his face, Xiao Linglong rolled her eyes, then raised her head with a very serious expression: "I will look forward to that day."
This sentence made Zhao Kang instantly full of energy, and he was still so excited after leaving the palace.
Prince Ning's Mansion.
Although he was not in the court, Xiao Feiyu could not escape Xiao Feiyu's attention.
His brows were tightened, and Xiao Feiyu's eyes showed some depth. The old man with a goatee on the side saw this and said softly: "The alliance between the two countries should not be a bad thing now, and it does not pose any threat to your highness. Why is your highness so worried?" "
Xiao Feiyu shook his head, "What I'm worried about is not the alliance between the two countries, but my imperial nephew."
The old man called him by his first name and said with a smile: "Xiao Xuance? This boy has made some progress, but compared to your talent and strategy, the prince is still far behind."
Xiao Feiyu clicked his tongue: "But behind this kid is Zhao Kang!"
With that said, Xiao Feiyu stood up and walked to the cage where he kept the canary, "I wonder now whether I thought wrongly before. The turmoil in the outer city during this time was not caused by Zhao Kang accompanying me. My nephew is fooling around, but it is Zhao Kang who is doing this."
The old man with the goatee squinted his eyes and stroked his beard while listening to Xiao Feiyu's words.
"What does Zhao Kang want the underground forces in the outer city to do? Is it to make money?"
Xiao Feiyu chuckled: "Making money? You underestimate him. If this matter is really led by Zhao Kang, then his request is definitely not small. The Noble Hall is open every month. People in Yuanjiang County deliver goods on time every month. This month alone, I will give Zhao Kang 150,000 taels of silver."
Xiao Feiyu said softly: "So he is not short of money at all. It seems that I have to find time to visit this brother Zhao."
The old man with the goatee nodded and immediately asked: "Where are Taifu Zhao and the others?"
"They can do whatever they want. It has nothing to do with me anyway."
Xiao Feiyu smiled.
…
Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division, Zhao Kang came here directly after leaving the palace without hiding his identity.
This shocked Liu Jian'an, the commander of the Military and Horse Division, and he quickly came out to greet him.
"I'm here to pay my respects to the Imperial Preceptor. I didn't know that I was neglecting the Imperial Preceptor because of his great presence. Please forgive me!"
Liu Jian'an is the commander-in-chief of the Military and Horse Division and is in charge of public security and other matters inside and outside the imperial capital. He can be said to be a powerful figure.
But in the final analysis, the official title is still a bit small, just like Chen Bing who was beheaded by Her Majesty the Empress today.
Therefore, I was still a little frightened when I saw Zhao Kang, who was not a stranger.
Zhao Kang waved his hand and said with a smile, "Master Liu, there is no need to be polite. We are not strangers either. Let's get up and talk."
"Thank you, Master!"
Liu Jian'an then stood up, came to Zhao Kang, and said cautiously: "The Imperial Master is here, but what are your instructions?"
"It's not really an instruction. I'm just asking Mr. Liu, how many people are there in your Military and Horse Department now?"
Liu Jian'an thought about it in his mind and opened his mouth to give the answer: "The National Master Mingjian, the Military and Horse Division now has more than 3,000 people including officials at all levels."
"So few?" Zhao Kang was slightly surprised.
You must know that the imperial capital is not an ordinary state capital. The combined population of the two cities inside and outside exceeds one million, but the army and horse department only has more than 3,000 people. How can it maintain public order?
Zhao Kang really didn't believe it.
Liu Jian'an gave a bitter smile and said: "My lord, I don't know. Although the Military and Horse Division nominally controls the inside and outside of the imperial capital, that is not the case in reality."
"Say it," Zhao Kang said with a smile.
Liu Jian'an began to vomit bitterly: "Except for some officials in the Military and Horse Division of Xiaguan, the other subordinate staff are like the local county police officers every day. They are either patrolling and inspecting everywhere, or they are requisitioned by other departments."
"This manpower is simply not enough. For example, if people commit crimes, the Soldiers and Horses Department will send out personnel to arrest them. If any street is not in compliance with the system regulations, we will have to send people from the Soldiers and Horses Department to adjust it. The Ministry of Criminal Affairs and the Military Department are short of manpower, and our Soldiers and Horses will also come here.
Si Tiaoren."
Liu Jian'an sighed and said: "Forget it, if there are not enough people, everyone will contribute, but the salary is too low, and the prices in the imperial capital are high. The official salary is simply not enough for the people below to support their families."
"This also makes other people even less willing to work in the Military and Horse Division. Today, there are still three people who have said they are quitting and want to go back to farming."
Zhao Kang smiled: "Why don't you go up and tell your Majesty? Add some money."
Liu Jian'an didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I have written the book countless times, but they can't even pass the household department. When those bastards mention money, they only say two words: No!"
"In the past few years, during the war, food shortages broke out in various places, so I can no longer bother Your Majesty with this matter."
Zhao Kang nodded. The situation in the Bingma Division was indeed beyond his expectation. He thought there would be some trouble.
But if this was the situation, Zhao Kangke would laugh.
After picking up the tea cup and taking a sip, he looked at Liu Jian'an and said, "Mr. Liu, I didn't expect that the situation of the Army and Horses Division would be so difficult, so I didn't hide it. I came to you today because I have something to discuss with you.
."
Liu Jian'an hurriedly said: "The Imperial Master's words are serious, please speak up."
Zhao Kangdao: "I am going to recruit a group of temporary workers for the Military and Horse Division."
Liu Jian'an was stunned: "Temporary worker?"
Zhao Kang nodded: "Yes, the number of people is about a thousand. I already have the people. It depends on whether you, Mr. Liu, can arrange them in place."
Liu Jian'an was overjoyed at first and then came to his senses and asked quickly: "Master Imperial Master, do you have your Majesty's appointment order? After all, it is no small matter to arrange official positions for so many people."
Zhao Kang rolled his eyes: "Who told you they were officers? Didn't I already tell you, they are temporary workers, non-staff members of the Military and Horse Department."
Liu Jian was confused, and Zhao Kang could only patiently explain to him the meaning of temporary workers.
They do all the dirty work and are fired if something goes wrong.
Liu Jian'an's eyes gradually widened, "Do you, the Imperial Preceptor, really mean what you said?"
"Of course it is serious. I have many of these people, but the premise is that your Military and Horse Department has work for them. Tomorrow I will ask for an imperial edict from Your Majesty to add an urban management department to the Military and Horse Department. This group of temporary workers will
Call the city manager."
Liu Jian'an murmured: "Chengguan, city manager, how wonderful!"
He was a little surprised. The insufficient number of soldiers and horses has always been his concern. Now that Zhao Kang is helping him solve it, it can be said that it has helped him a lot.
But he quickly came to his senses and asked hesitantly: "Um...Master Imperial Master, what are the salaries of these people?"
