The prince is more stable

Chapter 352 Whatever You Want
Today, Zhao Xiaoqian came to the palace for more than just to receive instructions.

In fact, this was a consultation between the emperor and his ministers.

As a new official with such an important mission, Zhao Xiaoqian could not have set off with a group of personal guards.

Being a local leader requires too many people and things. In the future, when writing memorials, there is no knowing how many levels they will have to go through. The Political Affairs Hall alone has rejected countless of his memorials. Many things will never be delivered to Zhao Xu.

So taking advantage of today's opportunity, Zhao Xiaoqian might as well ask for it in person.

Now is not the time to be polite, you must be decisive and ask for things.

"Since the emperor has said so, please forgive me for being rude. To be honest, when I went to Zhending to take up my post, I did want to ask the emperor for something." Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly.

Zhao Xu laughed heartily: "I knew you wouldn't be polite to me. I'm also prepared to be blackmailed by you. Just speak up."

Zhao Xiaoqian calmed himself down, pondered for a moment, and said, "First, I want power."

"You are the prefect of Zhending and the governor of the western route of Hebei. You can control all officials, generals, soldiers and civilians in the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of Zhending. The political and military power have been given to you. What other power do you want?" Zhao Xu said puzzledly.

"I seek the power to decide whether Hebei Province should declare war on the Liao Kingdom. If Liao cavalry invade the border, it will be urgent and I won't have time to ask the emperor for permission to dispatch troops. Even if I send a message by express horse, it will delay important military matters and everything will be over."

Zhao Xu thought about it and felt that this request was not excessive. He sent Zhao Xiaoqian to Zhending Prefecture to take up his post, one of whose missions was to fight against the Liao Kingdom. If the two countries were at war, Zhao Xiaoqian would have to ask for permission from Bian Jing before he dared to send troops, which would indeed delay the important matter.

"Okay, I approve," Zhao Xu said cheerfully. "After Zi'an takes office, if the Liao cavalry incurs a border attack, you can decide on your own to dispatch troops and then report to the court after the battle."

Zhao Xiaoqian was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I have some concerns. The military power you have granted me is too great, and there will definitely be criticism in the court. I'm afraid that the emperor will..."

Zhao Xu waved his hand and said, "This is not your concern. When you invented the flintlock rifle, you decisively gave me the secret recipe. If you had second thoughts, you wouldn't have done so. If you were the enemy, relying solely on flintlock rifles to rally troops, honestly, no one in the Song Dynasty could stand up to you."

"You trust me, and I will not doubt you. Your actions long ago proved your loyalty."

Zhao Xiaoqian was moved and said, "I thank the emperor for his trust."

When people are moved, they are inevitably impulsive. Zhao Xiaoqian blurted out in a fit of rage, "Your Majesty trusts me, so I have to show my appreciation. How about this? I'll show off to you. My father is staying in Bian Jing. If you find any sign of disloyalty on my part, please take my father's head as a sacrifice..."

Zhao Xu was stunned. Was he so generous? He just deposited his father's head like that?
For a moment, Zhao Xu really doubted whether he was the biological son of his uncle, the King of Chu. He had to go back and find the imperial physician and midwife of that year to confirm whether they had seen with their own eyes that Zhao Xiaoqian was born from the womb of the Queen of Chu.

"Uh, Zi'an, you're too serious. This is totally unnecessary!" Zhao Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Your father is also my uncle. I cannot bear the charge of parricide..."

Zhao Xiaoqian thought about it and nodded, "It does seem a bit unfilial. Never mind, I'll just pretend I never said anything."

The corners of Zhao Xu's mouth twitched slightly. It was more than just "a little bit". Just for what you just said, you should be hanged in front of the Taimiao to apologize.

"Let's talk about the next thing." Zhao Xu sighed.

"I need more people." Zhao Xiaoqian said bluntly.

"who?"

"I want 30,000 soldiers from the Dragon Guard Battalion in Bianjing, including the commander-in-chief Zhong Jianzhong, Zong Ze, and Zhe Keshi from the northwest."

Zhao Xu said in surprise, "Longweiying and Zhong Jianzhong are both easy to deal with, but Xibei Zhe Keshi..."

"After the Song-Xia War, Xixia has submitted to the Song Dynasty. I estimate that there will be no war in the northwest within the next ten years. Zhe Keshi is a famous general of the Zhe family. He is brave and can serve under my command."

Zhao Xu thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll give it all to you. Zi'an, you'll have a lot to take care of when you go to Zhending Prefecture. I don't want you to waste all your energy fighting openly and secretly with the officials and generals under my command. It would be better to replace them with people you trust so that you can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"I thank you for your generosity."

"Any more?"

"Yes." Zhao Xiaoqian knew that he couldn't be polite now. Once he left Bian Jing, it would be much more troublesome to get people and things. If he just had to submit the memorial through the Council of State, Zhang Dun might disgust him to death.

"You say." Zhao Xu smiled easily. It was not difficult for him to get power and people. It was just a matter of an imperial edict.

"After gaining power and having people, the ministers still want things."

"What does Zi'an want?" "First, money and food, then flintlock rifles and gunpowder and iron balls, and finally armor and war horses."

Zhao Xu smacked his lips and suddenly felt a toothache.

"The Firearms Supervisor has been working day and night to forge flintlock rifles. They have now fully equipped the 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion. I have heard from Zhong Jianzhong that the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion have been well-trained and are ready to go into battle. Is a flintlock rifle enough for each of the 30,000 soldiers?"

Zhao Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment and said, "It's enough, but not enough either. If we fight, flintlock rifles will inevitably wear out, and the gunpowder and iron balls will wear out even more. I hope the court will replenish them regularly. The Firearms Bureau should allocate a portion of its monthly output to Zhending Prefecture, and the rest should be used to equip the three armies."

"I'm sure."

"As for armor and war horses..." Zhao Xu sighed and said, "The Song Dynasty lost Yanyun and has no land to raise horses. War horses are indeed scarce. I can give you 10,000 war horses from the Bian Jing Imperial Guards. Don't think it's too little. This is all I can give you."

"Ten thousand war horses are enough. After I take office in Zhending, I will find a way to get some war horses myself."

Zhao Xu continued hesitantly, "The issue of grain and money is a bit of a problem. Autumn has just arrived, and the local autumn taxes will take some time to be transported to Bianjing. We can't send them to Zhending right now. However, I will allow you to collect grain locally. You can withhold some grain from the prefectures and counties in western Hebei and send it to the Hebei army."

Zhao Xiaoqian was in a complicated mood at the moment.

Zhao Xu agreed to whatever he asked for, which shows that Zhao Xu was determined to recapture Yanyun at any cost.

Even though he agreed readily now, in fact, Zhao Xu would still have to argue and haggle with the court officials about these things he promised at the court meeting later.

Zhao Xu agreed despite such great pressure, so now the pressure is on Zhao Xiaoqian.

If he fails to achieve some results in Zhending, not only will Zhao Xu feel uncomfortable, but he will also be unable to shut up the civil and military officials in the court.

I gave you so much, everything you asked for, and this is all you came up with? Go drink poison and kill yourself, you bastard.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but feel his scalp tingling.

No matter what, after arriving at Zhending Prefecture, the first thing he did was to go to war with the Liao people and defeat part of the Liao army to establish his authority, otherwise it would be difficult to report to his superiors.

Zhao Xu sat upright on the chair and said, "Zi'an, if you want anything else, please speak up quickly. If you miss this day, I won't be so generous."

Zhao Xiaoqian fell into deep thought.

Money and food were provided, firearms and ammunition were provided, talents were provided, power was provided...

It seems like I have everything I need.

But now Zhao Xu was sitting right in front of him, and he was acting so generously. It was just as he said. If he missed today and asked for something again, he might not be so generous.

Not to be missed.

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a long time, finally gritted his teeth and said, "Since Your Majesty is so generous, I am offended... If Your Majesty is willing, why not give me a few stunning beauties? When I am away from home, I need someone to take care of my food, clothing, and daily life. To be honest, I can't bear any hardship..."

Zhao Xu looked up at him in astonishment, his eyes filled with shock.

How the hell do you have the nerve to say that?

Big brother, did I ask you to go out for an outing? Go and fight the Liao people!
You actually want a stunning beauty...

Seeing that there was something wrong in Zhao Xu's eyes, Zhao Xiaoqian's heart immediately died.

He knew that if Zhao Xu was sane... he probably wouldn't give it to him.

"Just kidding, haha, I was just joking to ease the serious atmosphere." Zhao Xiaoqian laughed dryly.

Zhao Xu said quietly, "The atmosphere isn't serious anymore, but it's become awkward. Zi'an, have you noticed?"

"Just pretend I didn't say anything."

(End of this chapter)