Imperial County Magistrate

Chapter 534
Zhao Kang was quite surprised and quickly asked someone to invite him in.

Wu Xinyi arrived shortly afterwards. The most beautiful woman in Qingzhou was dressed in purple and looked dignified. Even in this imperial capital where beauties abounded, she was an extremely eye-catching presence.

Zhao Kang once heard Xiao Xuance say that not long after Wu Xinyi arrived in the imperial capital, many young people from wealthy families fell in love with her at first sight.

However, as the identity of his younger sister, Princess Wu Qingluan, was revealed to the world, the Wu family's status rose.

Those thoughtful young men from wealthy families felt that they were not worthy of the most beautiful woman in Qingzhou.

"National Master." Wu Xinyi called out gently.

Zhao Kang smiled: "Master, please sit down quickly. We are all acquaintances, so there is no need to call me National Master. Just call me by my name."

Feeling slightly moved, Wu Xinyi smiled and said: "That's fine, then you don't have to call me the head of the family anymore. We're not in Qingzhou, so we can just call me by my first name."

Zhao Kang nodded and asked, "By the way, why did you come here? Are you done with things in Qingzhou?"

Her Majesty the Empress and the others were heading to Qingzhou at the moment, but unexpectedly Wu Xinyi was in the imperial capital.

Wu Xinyi said: "I also arrived yesterday. I have to go back to Qingzhou soon. I heard that you have returned in triumph, so I came here to see this girl Qingluan. Now that she has joined the royal family, she is not as busy as when she was in Qingzhou. You have to follow the rules, and with his temperament like that, it’s really worrying.”

Hearing this, Zhao Kang smiled and reassured Wu Xinyi: "You don't have to worry about this. Xuance loves Qingluan very much, and His Majesty is also very fond of him."

"That's good." Wu Xinyi nodded.

Zhao Kang thought of something and hurriedly said: "By the way, I need your help with something."

Wu Xinyi seemed to have expected it: "Is it about food?"

Zhao Kang was surprised: "How do you know?"

Wu Xinyi smiled and said: "When I came back yesterday, Mr. Zhang Mingyuan from the Ministry of Revenue came to see me, hoping that I could be a middleman to mediate with grain merchants from various places."

"Let those merchants who still have food left at home take out the food and trade with the court."

Zhao Kang was somewhat satisfied. It seemed that the old man was not idle, and he was quite interested in him in private.

"Then what do you think, can this happen?"

Wu Xinyi's eyes were a bit strange: "I'm afraid the chance is not high."

Zhao Kang frowned: "How to say?"

The woman said with some embarrassment: "It's mainly because of what happened in Qingzhou last year. Many grain merchants were attracted by you..."

Zhao Kang realized that when he was in Qingzhou, the grain merchants were tricked by him because they wanted to make a fortune.

In the end, they had to sell grain at a low price. I am afraid that because of this incident, these businessmen now have a lot of opinions about the court.

Otherwise, Zhang Mingyuan, the Minister of Household Affairs, would not have asked Wu Xinyi to mediate.

Zhao Kang sneered: "Let these guys find an opportunity to make things difficult."

Wu Xinyi said: "Businessmen value profits. If the imperial court now collects grain in large quantities, they will definitely realize what is happening and use it to make profits."

"Coupled with what happened in the past, I'm afraid they won't let it go."

"It doesn't matter. After all, arms can't twist thighs. As long as they don't go too far, I can tolerate them to a certain extent. But if they go too far, don't blame me for bullying others!"

Zhao Kang snorted coldly and immediately looked at Wu Xinyi: "I have to trouble you about this matter. The army cannot fight on an empty stomach. The lack of food and grass now is a big trouble."

Wu Xinyi was surprised: "Didn't we already win? Why are we still fighting? Then you still have to lead the troops?"

Zhao Kang nodded: "Jingguo is in a critical situation now. We have to send troops to help. As soon as the food and grass are ready, I have to lead troops to help Jing. Time is a bit tight."

"I understand, then I'll have someone contact those grain merchants right away." Wu Xinyi stood up hurriedly.

Zhao Kang: "Sorry to trouble you."

"you are welcome."

Nodding slightly, without saying anything after all, Wu Xinyi left with a smile.Five days passed in succession.

Zhao Kang was preparing weapons and supplies with a group of ministers. After all, he was going to Jingguo to fight, not on his own territory.

Everything was done carelessly. After working day and night for a long time, I finally completed the planning of the food route and the march route.

Zhao Kang breathed a sigh of relief, looked at the ministers around him, and said with a thought: "Everyone, we are almost ready for war now. I have something to discuss with you next."

After hearing what Zhao Kang said, everyone couldn't help but cheer up.

Zhao Kangdao: "When Zhou Qi came to invade, because Her Majesty the Empress was injured, I had to go to Tongzhou to lead the army. We established a temporary cabinet. Do you still remember?"

The old master nodded. Because of the existence of the temporary cabinet that time, when Zhao Kang and Her Majesty the Empress were away, all military intelligence and government affairs were effectively handled.

The situation now is similar to that then. Yang Qianyun asked: "Does the National Preceptor plan to establish another cabinet?"

"Yes, but this time it won't be a temporary cabinet."

Zhao Kang said seriously: "The cabinet system is to centralize military and political power. Once the food and grass are ready, I will lead the army to go on an expedition. Your Majesty is not in the imperial capital now, so we have to use the cabinet to decide what happens during this period."

Wang Yuanqing, the Minister of Civil Affairs, said cautiously: "The Imperial Master, don't you know the members of the cabinet this time?"

The power of cabinet members is very important and cannot be compared with that of ordinary officials. Everyone present is a little excited.

Hope to be in the cabinet.

Moreover, Zhao Kang said that this cabinet is not temporary, which means that even after the war is over in the future, the cabinet will still exist.

Zhao Kang said calmly: "The cabinet member this time is Li Yuan, Minister of War."

No one was surprised. They were about to go on an expedition. It would be strange if Li Yuan, the Minister of War, did not join the cabinet.

"Zhang Mingyuan, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Master Zhang felt happy.

"Wang Yuanqing, Minister of Civil Service."

Wang Yuanqing's face suddenly glowed red.

"Yang Qian, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, since Yang Qian is not in the imperial capital at the moment, Grand Master Yang Qianyun will do the work for him."

The old master nodded: "Master, please rest assured."

"During the war, all matters will be decided by the four of you together." Zhao Kang finished the appointment.

The four people stood up quickly: "We will obey the orders of the Imperial Master."

Zhao Kang also stood up and returned the salute: "Then I'll leave everything to you."

At this time, the eunuch at the door said respectfully: "National Master, Mr. Fang has something to report."

Zhao Kang nodded and said, "Please ask Mr. Fang to come in."

Fang Shao approached Zhao Kang and whispered a few words in a low voice, and there was a coldness in Zhao Kang's eyes.

"It seems that you really have to drink the fine wine instead of the toast? Where are Mrs. Wu and the others?"

"Come to the guest house."

Fang Shao said softly: "National Master, do you want the Jinyi Guards to arrest them all?"

"No need for now, I'm going to meet with them."

Zhao Kang stood up and said to everyone present: "Let's settle it like this. From now on, everyone will perform their duties. I will definitely win this battle!"

"A big effort will win!"

(End of this chapter)