Start Being a Vassal King Today - Chapter 12

[Chapter 12 Oil and salt are expensive!]

Busy three days.

Almost everyone in the palace helped, and the recruitment of tenant farmers and pro-military personnel was largely over.

It’s just that in these two matters, the field is divided, but the recruitment of the pro-army is not ideal.

“Your Highness, the pro-army has recruited a total of more than 5,600 people, and there is still a long way to go before it is full.” Chang Wei was distressed.

Although the number of people who came to sign up was intermittent, he estimated that at most 8,000 people could be recruited from Yan County.

“It’s not bad.” Zhao Xu shook his head.

The population of Yan County is here, and the young and strong are rare.

The most important thing is that out of the 380,000 households in Yan County, at least 256,000 households have been turned into their vassals by various means.

These people may yearn for the palace, but with the contract signed with the wealthy family, they can only look at the palace and sigh.

“That’s the only way?” Chang Wei was not reconciled.

Not to mention beating the Beidi people with this little force, it is hard to suppress the wealthy private soldiers in Yan County.

“The king didn’t say that he was only recruiting in Yan County.” Zhao Xu smiled suddenly, “The rest of the troops will be handed over to the king. The most important thing for you now is to train soldiers. This is why we are sitting in Yan County. Stable guarantee.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Chang Wei clasped his fist heavily, like a firecracker exploding.

Then, he raised his head, with a pleading expression on his bearded square face, “Your Highness, now we have soldiers, but what do you think of the food, clothing, equipment, armor and weapons?”

Zhao Xuwen I can’t help but feel a pain in my flesh.

What should come, is still here.

In ancient times, raising soldiers was a big expense for any country and force.

Sometimes even half of the country’s taxes are spent on the army.

He can’t escape this rule.

The more than 5,000 people in the royal family’s army are not simple numbers, but more than 5,000 mouths.

“How much money do you need?” Zhao Xu asked.

“According to the decree, the imperial court allocated the North Camp of Yan County to the royal army, and the general went to see it. The armor and weapons in the warehouse of the camp are only enough for a thousand people, and they are all rusty.”

Chang Wei had already prepared, He took out a booklet from his arms and handed it to Zhao Xu with both hands.

Zhao Xu opened it and looked at it. Chang Wei listed in detail how much food, military uniforms, salary, and various armor and weapons were needed.

This month’s expenditure is about 40,000 taels.

Zhao Xu was sweating. A quarter of the staff would consume 40,000 taels a month. Wouldn’t it be 160,000 taels for a full staff?

The money I earned from selling ice-making techniques wouldn’t take me a few months at all.

“Sure enough, the family has a big business and a lot of expenses.”

Zhao Xu sighed, and had to find ways to continue to make money.

Otherwise, the soldiers would not be able to support him, and he would really be unable to turn himself over.

Picking up a pen, he signed the booklet and stamped it with the king’s seal.

Zhao Xu said: “Give me the armor, weapons and military uniform, and you can get the rest from Qin’s accountant.”

“Yes.” Chang Wei went happily.

Liu Fu stayed with Zhao Xu.

At this time, both of them were in the gatehouse in the front yard of the palace.

Liu Fu said: “It stands to reason that the armor, weapons and uniforms of the pro-guard army should be in charge of the military commander of Yan County, but now that the government office of Yan County is in charge of Zhang Kang, I am afraid that he will inevitably pocket his own money and use second-best items as good ones.” .”

Zhao Xu nodded, such an important matter, naturally there can be no mistakes.

This can directly affect the combat effectiveness of the royal family’s pro-army.

As for the current Yan County government office, he does not trust it at all.

“Today’s government offices are basically reduced to the playthings of wealthy families, and they are filled with children of wealthy families. If you use the government offices to order Yan County, there will be people who will hinder it, so it’s better to start a new one.” Zhao Xu said after a while.

Liu Fu’s eyes lit up, Yan Wang and him thought of getting together.

After these few days of contact, he admired King Yan’s strategy more and more.

“The lower official also thinks the same way. Since the old broom can’t sweep the floor, I’ll replace it with a new one and build a new government office for my own use in the palace. Anyway, the palace doesn’t expect the government office to collect taxes for the palace now.” Liu Fu said.

“Well, that’s not bad.” Zhao Xu smiled.

The most basic function of the government office for the palace is to collect taxes.

The corrupt government office in Yan County couldn’t do it.

As for the implementation of government orders and the like, the people of Yan County have almost become vassals of the wealthy clan, so what else can they do.

It’s better to build a government office to manage the people on the property of the palace.

In the future, when the nobles in Yan County are rectified, this government office can take over Yan County.

“When I was studying, I met some children from poor families. They were full of talent and learning, but had no way to become officials. They could only make a living by selling paintings and copying calligraphy on the street. If His Highness does not dislike them, Xia Guan is willing to introduce them to His Highness.” Liu Fu said.

He is also selfish, that is, he doesn’t want to work with those wealthy children.

“It is the best time for the palace to employ people.”

In Dasong, the opposition between poor and wealthy families is common.

In the current situation, only these poor children can do things for themselves.

Liu Fu was overjoyed, “I’m going to visit them right now, and invite them to come.”

Zhao Xu nodded, thinking of something, he said: “When I go, I’ll call the staff from the Yan County Dental Shop, Said that the palace has big business with him.”

“Dentistry?” Liu Fu was surprised.

This tooth shop is a place for buying and selling slaves, specializing in reselling people.

He has seen the gear of the tooth shop a few times.

He thought to himself that Zhao Xu might feel that there are too few servants in the palace and wants to buy more.

So without asking too much, I went.

After Liu Fu left, Zhao Xu left the palace.

Since waking up, his activities were basically in the palace, and he hadn’t even been to the nearby streets.

Now, everything is proceeding step by step.

He was also able to find time to wander around.

“Whose yards on the left and right sides of the Wangfu belong?”

Yanwangfu faces east and west, and there is a spacious street in front of the Wangfu.

There is a compound on each side of the palace, which is much larger than the palace.

Sandwiched between these two courtyards, his palace looks even more shabby.

“Returning to Your Highness, one courtyard belongs to the Dong family, and the other belongs to the Lu family. Originally, these two courtyards plus the current palace are the real palace, but…” As soon as

Zhao Xu went out, he was immediately accompanied by twenty guards to protect him. .

Chang Wei was busy with the affairs of the pro-guard army.

The most capable subordinate was selected to serve as the new commander of the guards, named Xu Lie.

According to Chang Wei, in addition to being able to shoot, this Xu Lie is also very good at bow and arrow.

“But what…” Zhao Xu asked.

Different from Chang Wei’s Gang Zhi, Xu Lie has a bit of a Confucian style, and his speech is also gentle.

“However, Manager Liang sold it to Dong and Lu’s family.” Xu Lie was cautious.

“Liang Cheng!” Zhao Xu frowned, which evoked a very bad picture in his memory.

This Liang Cheng was the most trusted eunuch of Emperor Zhao Heng.

In recent years, Emperor Zhao Heng has indulged in pleasure and ignored political affairs, and many powers have fallen into his hands.

The reason why he came to Yan County.

A large part of it was due to Liang Cheng.

This Liang Cheng is a complete snob.

Zhao Xu is crazy and stupid, he is just a waste, and his mother’s family has no power or influence.

He naturally had no scruples about his going out of the feudal domain, and tried his best to get money, and he didn’t care about his life at all.

“Since they are all in the courtyard of the palace, then take them back. You send someone to visit the Dong family and the Lu family, and say that the king has invited you.” He said.

(end of this chapter)