The prince is more stable

Chapter 201 Two-Faced Dad
When the army sets out, there are not many familiar people.

There weren't many really. In this team of 30,000 people, the only people Zhao Xiaoqian knew were Zhong Jianzhong and Zong Ze. He didn't know the rest.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but feel a bit of poetic sentiment about life, like the way life is a passing experience, like loneliness in the hustle and bustle of the world, like trying barbecue tonight, thinking a leg of lamb would be a bit of a stretch...

The 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp left the camp, and the roads were lined with onlookers.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not look back, because Zhao Hao said that he did not like to say goodbye, and he was probably not in the crowd. As for his wives and concubines, if they were there, he would not look back.

Like Zhao Hao, Zhao Xiaoqian also likes meeting people and hates parting.

If we have to part after a moment of meeting, it is better not to meet at all.

So the 30,000-strong army marched westward in a mighty force, and soon moved away from the city of Bianjing and disappeared from people's sight.

Amidst the huge crowd of onlookers, a low-key carriage lowered its curtains.

Zhao Hao's eyes reddened and he sighed.

He hated saying goodbye, but he came after all.

He left the city without any entourage, only himself and an old coachman, who was said to have followed Zhao Hao for many years.

A sturdy man in his thirties approached Zhao Hao's carriage quietly. The amazing thing was that although the curtain of the carriage was lowered and no one could be seen inside or outside, Zhao Hao seemed to know that there was someone outside the carriage.

Zhao Hao in the carriage did not say a word, and the man outside the carriage did not say a word either.

After a long time, Zhao Hao's low voice finally came out.

"Dispatch a few capable men to the northwest, infiltrate Xixia, and help my son. I want my son to achieve great merit this time. Do you understand?"

The man outside the car responded in a low voice.

Zhao Hao continued, "A few months ago, the assassins who killed my son in the dark alleys of Zhouqiao have not been found yet?"

The man hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. The assassin shot the prince from a distance of dozens of steps away without leaving any trace. It is really impossible to investigate..."

Zhao Hao frowned, his tone growing colder: "Kill all the people responsible for investigating the assassins, and replace them with another group to investigate."

The man was startled and said respectfully, "Yes."

Inside the carriage, Zhao Hao remained silent. The man waited for a while, and when he saw that he had no other instructions, he turned around and left quietly, disappearing into the crowd.

Zhao Hao inside the carriage suddenly revealed his familiar cynical expression. He lifted the curtain, patted the driver on the shoulder, and said with a chuckle, "Hurry up, hurry up. I'm staying at Widow Zhou's house tonight."

He took out a small jade box from his arms, which contained a pill the size of his little finger. After swallowing it in one gulp, Zhao Hao's fat cheeks turned slightly red and his breathing became short and rapid.

"Horse faster, whip the tiger, whip the bull! I am now terrifyingly strong! Haha."

…………

The general led the army westward with his banner raised, and at dawn the army marched with the sound of flutes.

Regardless of victory or defeat in the Song-Xia War, Zhao Xiaoqian was not worried about his own safety. After all, he was surrounded by 800 imperial guards inside and outside. If something happened, it would be as humiliating as being hit to death by a piece of tofu.

Even if he was defeated and had to flee for his life, Zhao Xiaoqian was confident that he would be the fastest deserter.

For him, the most difficult thing was not fighting, but marching.

Really, I have read so many frontier poems in my previous life, and I always thought that the frontier areas described by the poets were full of rough and heroic poetry, such as "lonely smoke rising in the desert" and "cattle and sheep can be seen when the wind blows the grass low."

Now Zhao Xiaoqian had a question: were those frontier poets airdropped to the outside of the Great Wall?
Don’t they write about how difficult the march was?
After leaving Bianjing City and heading west, the road gradually became rugged and muddy after only walking a dozen miles.

Riding a horse is not an easy thing. It is fun for a while and you can enjoy the pleasure of controlling the horse, but after riding for a long time, your legs start to feel numb and the skin on the inside of your thighs will feel hot and painful from being rubbed by the saddle.

As soon as he left Bianjing City, Zhao Xiaoqian felt a little regretful.

Back then in the Council of State, when Zhao Xu ordered him to go with the army, he should have argued for it. He could have thrown a tantrum and cried like a ghost in the Council of State. As long as he didn't feel embarrassed, the ones who would be embarrassed would be those old foxes.

Compared to the comfortable days at the palace, the various inconveniences on the march made Zhao Xiaoqian feel even more miserable. "When do we set up camp? I'm tired," Zhao Xiaoqian turned around and asked Chen Shou beside him.

Chen Shou was stunned: "Sir, we are only a dozen miles out of Bianjing City. It's still early, not even noon..."

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we let the main army go first? I'll set up a tent and take a nap, then catch up with the main force when I wake up."

Chen Shou's face looked a little grim: "Sir, in this desolate wilderness..."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly came to his senses. Yes, if you are left alone in the wilderness, your safety cannot be guaranteed.

If you happen to meet a hero from Liangshan, use your poor acting skills to sell some wine, put some mandrake and knockout drugs in him, knock him down and lure him into the mountains to become a bandit. This would be a big surprise in life.

"I'll hold on a little longer." Zhao Xiaoqian gritted his teeth.

Just as he finished speaking, a guard from the Imperial Guards rode up to him and said, "Prince, there's someone waiting on the road ahead. They say it's your friend."

"Who?"

The Imperial Guards often followed Zhao Xiaoqian and were very familiar with his social circle. Upon hearing this, they said, "Zhang Xiaoyi."

Zhao Xiaoqian opened his eyes wide in shock.

After a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian met Zhang Xiaoyi.

Zhang Xiaoyi was dressed in a short shirt and leggings, looking like someone who was going on a long journey. But Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't figure out why this guy would abandon his blind mother and run out of the city.

Thirty thousand troops passed by in an orderly manner. Zhao Xiaoqian squatted on the side of the road, looking at Zhang Xiaoyi with a puzzled look.

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled naively, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Are you going on a long journey?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Zhang Xiaoyi nodded.

"Are your injuries healed?"

Zhang Xiaoyi patted his injured thigh vigorously, indicating that he was intact and as brand new as if he had just been restored to factory settings.

"Okay, one last question. What are you going to do? If it's not important, I'll send someone to help you get it done. Now you go back and take care of your mother." Zhao Xiaoqian said.

Zhang Xiaoyi stared at him and said slowly, "I'll follow you to the northwest, then sneak into Xixia to see if I can help you."

Zhao Xiaoqian gasped in shock: "Did you...did you take your medicine today?"

Zhang Xiaoyi said calmly, "I'm not sick. The Marquis went to war to kill the enemy and make contributions for the country. I don't have such lofty ambitions. I just want to help a friend."

"Go back! You sneaked into Xixia, you are so arrogant. Did your family run Xixia? I have 30,000 troops under my command, and they all fight bravely at the command of a single commander. Do you need your help? The one who really needs you is your mother, and you just abandoned her at home? You are such an unfilial thing!" Zhao Xiaoqian scolded.

"Everything has been arranged at home. I have someone to help take care of my mother. The Marquis needs me even more. I must help you. If you don't agree, I will find another way to go to Xixia by myself."

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoyi was as stubborn as a donkey.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed angrily: "Scalding meat? Aren't you afraid of being scalded by boiling water? You've got the wrong person to be a scoundrel in front of me. Someone come here!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xiaoyi ran away and rushed into the woods on the side of the road. He disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the dense woods in surprise. He didn't expect this guy to be so nimble. He must be quite something.

I'm helpless. After thinking about it carefully, it seems that there is really no way to deal with the rolling knife meat. If it is an enemy, it is easy to deal with. With one order, thousands of arrows will be fired...

Unfortunately, this guy happens to be a friend.

"Come out, I won't catch you anymore." Zhao Xiaoqian shouted helplessly at the woods.

The bushes rustled a few times, and Zhang Xiaoyi's face appeared again, still smiling at him innocently.

(End of this chapter)