Because of the phenomenon that officials in the court were extremely wealthy, the emperor also began to think deeply.

But what he was thinking about was not anything else but the fact that his ministers together were almost richer than himself.

So the emperor, who felt more and more that something was not right, began to summon Zhao Ji.

"It's ridiculous that a mere minister can be so rich. Find an excuse to rob a few more houses."

"Let me see if you are the only one who is so rich or if they are all richer than me!" The emperor became angrier and angrier as he spoke.

Zhao Ji remained calm on the surface, but he felt something was wrong in his heart.

Even if these court officials are corrupt, the emperor has just carried out a fundraising campaign in the name of Hua'an County. If they were to suddenly confiscate their property again, I'm afraid the court would be uneasy.

Furthermore, the emperor was not doing this for the sake of the people, but rather because he was jealous of the wealth of his court officials.

However, Zhao Ji has now offended the prime minister, and the only one who can compete with the prime minister is naturally the emperor, so even if the person in this position is a pig, Zhao Ji must keep it stable.

"I obey your order, but I have been busy transporting disaster relief funds to Hua'an County recently. Why don't I secretly arrange for someone to investigate first, and then search the house and take inventory when I return?"

Zhao Ji is now a popular figure around the emperor, so the emperor is willing to listen to him.

When the emperor heard that Zhao Ji did not delay things and arranged the itinerary very reasonably, and he did not need the money right away, he agreed.

According to the procedure, Zhao Ji should have stepped down, but he did not leave. Instead, he knelt down in front of the hall again.

"Your Majesty, the disappearance of the previous batch of disaster relief silver is strange. If you say that there are no forces behind this, I am afraid that even a commoner would not believe it..."

"So I dare to ask your majesty to reward some capable generals, and finally some brave men in the army, so that I can accompany me to Hua'an County!"

When the emperor heard this, he knew that Zhao Ji wanted the army to transport it.

If there were individual court officials below, the emperor would have to think deeply and suspect whether they wanted to seize military power, rebel, or form a clique for personal gain.

But this is Zhao Ji. What is Zhao Ji? He is the seal holder of the Imperial Household Department!

What is Silijian?

That’s where eunuchs stay!

How could a eunuch who has no roots and no descendants possibly seek power and usurp the throne?

So the emperor waved his hand generously and said, "I will transfer 3,000 Black Iron Guards stationed in Kyoto to you, and let the Black Iron Guards' deputy general Tian Zhao accompany you. You must send the disaster relief funds and properly resettle them!"

"I don't want a refugee riot to happen in our great country!"

The emperor gave the instructions, and Zhao Ji's drooping hair covered the gleam in his eyes.

"I obey your order!" Zhao Ji smiled and walked out of the palace, heading straight for the Black Iron Guards outside Kyoto!

Zhao Ji had a general understanding before that in this era, this dynasty had five armies, namely the Black Iron Guards stationed in Kyoto, responsible for the security of Kyoto, and the other two armies supporting the four directions.

The eastern frontier was guarded by the Bronze Guards, also known as the Li Family Army, because they were led by Li Qing, a veteran who was still able to mount a horse and kill ten men at the age of fifty.

The Yellow Guards, also known as the Yellow Earth Guards, guard the wasteland in the west because they are surrounded by yellow earth every day. The general guarding the wasteland is a young general in his twenties who is good at using double maces.

The north was equipped with white-robed cavalry, because most of the people in the north were nomadic people who were good at riding and shooting. The army was led by a female general. When Zhao Ji learned about this, he was extremely shocked.

The young eunuch who introduced the situation also sighed: "The Yun family was full of loyal and brave men, but only one girl was left. No one was willing to go to the north to fight the barbarian, so the girl picked up a five-foot-long sword, splashing blood with every step, and rushed forward."

"The emperor saw that this woman was very capable, so he appointed her as a general, but she was the lowest-ranking general among the four generals. Many officials in the court also took advantage of her because she was a woman and often withheld military pay."

Zhao Ji was very curious about this female general, and thought to himself that if he had the chance in the future, he would definitely meet her!

The south is mostly transported by water, so it is the Sea Dragon Guard, and the one in charge of the military is indeed a general who was sent there, Ling Feng!

"Ling Feng, is he related to the Prime Minister?" Zhao Ji asked the young eunuch at that time?

The young eunuch looked around until he was sure that there was no one around, then he said, "This person has no direct relationship with the prime minister, but if you look at the family tree, he is the prime minister's.

A direct descendant of the family!"

"Also, over the years, even though the South is rich, the court has never withheld military pay from the South!"

When Zhao Ji heard this, he knew that the prime minister at least had control of the military power!

Zhao Ji was walking and reminiscing, and when he raised his head, he had already arrived at the Black Iron Guard camp.

Zhao Ji remembered that when he asked about the Black Iron Guards, the young eunuch was hesitant to speak, and finally sighed: "Nowadays, the Black Iron Guards are mostly stepping stones for the children of the Kyoto aristocratic families to gild their reputations. Few of them have been promoted based on their own strength. The most they have been promoted is deputy generals, and all the credit has been taken away by the chief generals from aristocratic families!"

This young eunuch was not a specialized intelligence officer, so it can be seen that what he said was basically known to ordinary people.

Zhao Ji came with the imperial edict in his hands, so the generals in the camp were respectful and knelt to welcome him when the camp opened.

While reading the imperial edict, Zhao Ji was wondering whether Tian Zhao, the deputy general appointed by the emperor, was a child of an aristocratic family or someone who had worked hard to get promoted.

There doesn't seem to be any land-owning nobles in the court?

"Tian Zhao, step out of line. You will have to obey the orders of the Lord Seal-holder from now on!" The commander was a delicate and fair-faced young man, and his tone was frivolous.

It was obvious that he looked down on eunuchs, even those who held seals!

"I obey your order!" Another strong and powerful voice sounded.

Zhao Ji looked up and saw a sturdy and powerful man. The man looked burly but had a delicate face. Unfortunately, there was a scar running from under his eye to the corner of his mouth, which completely disfigured his appearance!

At first glance, Zhao Ji knew that this person had fought his way up through blood and rain.

Zhao Ji nodded to the commander-in-chief: "The emperor has appointed Deputy General Tian Zhao to assist me. The commander-in-chief must be very busy. Deputy General Tian will help me with the matter of recruiting troops. No need to bother the commander-in-chief."

The commander touched his nose. He originally wanted to watch the fun, but now that Zhao Ji had said this, no matter how thick-skinned he was, he could not stay any longer.

Zhao Ji said gently: "Deputy General Tian, ​​please lead the way!"

Tian Zhao nodded expressionlessly, then took Zhao Ji to the military training ground, where yellow dust was flying everywhere and there were shirtless strong men everywhere.

Zhao Ji smiled slightly. He didn't expect that the Black Iron Guard was quite contradictory. The generals in the army were basically from aristocratic families, but the ones who shed blood and sweat on the training ground and on the battlefield were the children of the poor.

But think about it, how can a child from aristocratic family endure the hardship of daily training?

"Deputy General Tian, ​​I want three thousand soldiers with clean backgrounds. Please arrange them." Zhao Ji remained silent all the way. Just when Tian Zhao thought that Zhao Ji would not make any requests and was just going through the motions, he was slightly stunned when he heard Zhao Ji's words, and then nodded randomly.