Of course Zhang Zhao refused, and even wanted to kill Zhao Biao. He deserved to die for ruining the people's wealth.
"General Zhao, why don't you go into the palace? What are you doing here?"
The eldest princess's carriage happened to pass by, and seeing the two men at loggerheads, she immediately stopped to greet Zhao Biao.
"Greetings, Her Royal Highness, the Princess. I seek an audience with His Majesty and am about to enter the palace."
"Then let's go together. I also want to see the emperor."
Zhao Biao glanced at Zhang Zhao, decisively got on the princess's carriage, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why do you look so grim? What happened?"
"Thank you, Your Highness, for rescuing me. Zhang Zhao embezzled military pay, took bribes, and committed serious crimes. I have evidence to present to the Emperor."
"Is he so bold?"
"Yes, I never thought that my former colleagues would become so unfamiliar. They are all dazzled by wealth and fame."
The princess smiled and said, "General Zhao wouldn't be like that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sold off your treasures. General Zhao is the pillar of the country and the model of a military commander."
"You're complimenting me."
Zhao Biao blushed. He was not afraid of being poor, but he was afraid of being seen by the woman he loved.
What man doesn’t care about face?
With the help of the eldest princess, Zhao Biao successfully met Emperor Xuande. What happened next was nothing to say. The evidence was conclusive, so Emperor Xuande sent the Imperial Guards to confiscate the Zhang family's property. The entire family was imprisoned, and the Dali Temple cooperated to thoroughly investigate the case.
"Lord Zhao, your report has been meritorious, and I am deeply gratified. Your second son is away on duty, and there is a vacancy for the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. I will order his transfer back."
Zhao Biao quickly knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Go down first. The issue of those who are drawing salaries without working must be thoroughly investigated. Lord Zhao, do you dare to do this?"
This was an offensive task, equivalent to going against the entire military system, but it was also an opportunity. Zhao Biao said without hesitation: "For the emperor, I will sacrifice my life."
"Okay, Zhao Aiqing, please step aside first. I will appoint you as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Please prepare."
"I thank you Lord for your kindness."
Zhao Biao's title of General of Cavalry was just an honorary position. When there was no war, he had no soldiers and only a fixed thousand followers. However, the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War was different. He was in charge of the logistics, conscription, pensions and other matters of the national army. He was a real important official of the six ministries.
When Zhao Biao left the palace, he felt a little bit overwhelmed. Fortune and honor are achieved through risk. His second son became the commander of the imperial guards, a close minister to the emperor. He was so old, yet he could become the Minister of War. It was hard for him to believe that such a huge fortune had fallen upon him.
It was all the blessings that Letong brought to the Zhao family. Ever since Zhao Letong regained his sanity, the Zhao family has been blessed with good things. Now, there is even more wealth and prosperity waiting for him. Zhao Biao is very ambitious. He wants to be a good minister and protect his daughter. No one can bully his daughter anymore.
Inside the Yangxin Palace, Emperor Xuande and the eldest princess continued their conversation. The eldest princess was somewhat dazed and asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, aren't you offending people by asking General Zhao to do these things?"
Emperor Xuande said: "Someone has to do it. The number of military generals is a problem. I am worried about it. Whether Zhao Aiqing can make this sharp knife depends on his ability.
Didn't I appoint him as the Minister of War? It's not like he's working for nothing. Sister, you really care about the Zhao family."
The Princess said, "How could I not care about my benefactor? I'm just afraid that General Zhao will be retaliated against. Such a loyal and patriotic general is hard to find. You must protect him well, otherwise I will never forgive you."
Emperor Xuande was somewhat helpless: "Of course, your benefactor is my benefactor, don't worry, sister."
The princess blushed and said, "Emperor, tell me, do you want to give the Zhao family some more bargaining chips?"
"What chips?"
The eldest princess is not a lazy person. She has been able to support Beirong for so many years, so she is very brave and responsible. "Do you want to have another brother-in-law?"
“Ahem…”
Emperor Xuande coughed and looked at the eldest princess in disbelief. She said frankly, "I'm not even forty yet. I still have a long life ahead of me. How can you bear to let me spend the rest of my life in loneliness?"
Emperor Xuande: "But would Lord Zhao be willing?"
"That depends on your sister's ability. The Zhao family is also in need of a mistress. I like my daughter Letong very much, and being her stepmother will also fulfill my wish.
Your Majesty is well aware of what my good nephews are thinking. Perhaps with Le Tong's blessing, I can even give birth to a child of my own."
Emperor Xuande was shocked by his sister three times, and finally said: "Sister, as long as you are happy."
He had already made up his mind. Even if Zhao Biao was unwilling, he had to force him to agree. It was his blessing that his royal sister liked this old gang.
The Zhang family's affairs shocked the government and the public, and Zou Jinglan was the most desperate. She had only been Madam Zhang for a few days, and her family was about to be confiscated? What should she do?
He didn't even have the chance to ask the Zhao family for help. His entire family was searched and sent to the Dali Temple's prison.
Even if there was no private treasury of Zhang Zhao, only the public property was seized, more than 500,000 taels of property were confiscated, not counting the land and shops. The court was in an uproar. Zhang Zhao was quite good at hiding things, and he actually embezzled so much property.
Now no one dared to plead for him, and Zhao Biao was also alienated by his colleagues. Who knew if his next target would be himself?
Before Zhang Zhao's case was over, Emperor Xuande issued another decree, appointing Zhao Biao as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, leaving his former colleagues far behind. He had to stand in the front rows during court sessions and could no longer slack off.
His colleagues regretted it so much. If they had known that they should curry favor with him, maybe he would have shown leniency to them.
The court was shocked, thinking that the emperor was going to reuse the Zhao family.
However, the decree to transfer Zhao Guo, the second brother of the Zhao family, back to the capital to serve as a close minister to the emperor was never issued. The Zhao family was too powerful and did not need to be high-profile.
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