The prince is more stable

Chapter 202 Northwest Pillar
Humans are emotional animals, this is absolutely true.

Thirty thousand troops rushed to the battlefield, and all 30,000 of them were born by their mothers and raised by their fathers, but Zhao Xiaoqian was still particularly concerned about Zhang Xiaoyi's safety because he had a blind old mother at home.

If anything happened to him, I would probably not survive. It has nothing to do with material things. My only spiritual support is gone, so how can I not collapse?

But Zhang Xiaoyi was so stubborn that he wouldn't listen to kind words of advice and would run away when forced. Zhao Xiaoqian really didn't know what to do with him.

"What can you do by sneaking into Xixia?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked him rationally.

Zhang Xiaoyi said honestly, "I don't know. Let's sneak in first and see."

Zhao Xiaoqian: “…………”

What an impromptu answer! It's like a woman shopping in a mall, not looking for anything in particular, just browsing around first.

"I always feel that you are doing something stupid, but in order to protect your self-esteem, I don't know how to tell you tactfully that you are doing something stupid..."

Zhang Xiaoyi: "...Marquis of a county is already quite euphemistic."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "That's good. Be obedient and go back. When I return triumphantly, I'll drink with you for three days and three nights, and then help you find a wife."

"No!"

"You..." Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "Fine, do whatever you want, I don't care. If you die, I will take care of your mother until she dies."

"Thank you."

Zhao Xiaoqian then began to take out money, searching out all the silver and valuables on his body and giving them to him.

"Poor family, rich road. Take this little money with you. It's worth about one or two thousand taels. You should be able to do well in Xixia. ... But I still want to ask, what the hell can you do?"

Zhang Xiaoyi took the money without hesitation and smiled, "My greatest skill isn't running errands, but making friends. I've been in Bianjing for five years, and all the idlers in Zhouqiao area call me brother. That's my skill."

Zhao Xiaoqian was slightly moved.

The future King of the Dark Night of Xixia!
What a passionate and childish name!

"You... go ahead, but don't wear tight pants, don't ride a will-o'-the-wisp, and don't dye your hair yellow." Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes and waved.

Zhang Xiaoyi was puzzled, but still looked at him deeply, then turned and left.

Riding on a horse given to him by Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhang Xiaoyi, like a lonely knight, charged alone against the injustice in the world.

Zhao Xiaoqian lowered his eyelids for a long time, then said calmly, "Order the army to continue moving forward."

These are turbulent times and no one can stay out of it.

…………

The distance from Bianjing to the northwest is not far. The army first left Bianjing, then passed Yan'an, turned north, and headed straight for Weizhou on the border between Song and Xia. Zhang Yu's Northwest Army was stationed in Weizhou, and the Longwei Camp had to hurry to meet Zhang Yu.

The army had been marching for half a month and had already traveled half the distance when the Imperial City Bureau finally managed to play a role and passed on some information.

Since the Shimen City bunker was ambushed by the Western Xia army, the Western Xia captured more than 20 Song army forts in succession. During the days when the Song court discussed sending troops and the Longwei Camp was on the road to the expedition, the Western Xia army was unstoppable and captured more than ten Song army forts.

Zhang Yu had been managing the northwest for many years and had built more than 30 forts along Huanqing Road, most of which had now fallen into the hands of the Western Xia.

Of course, the Song army also resisted.

Zhang Yu led the Northwest Army to fight back and actively defend, and made the decision to clear the countryside. He moved all the people within 200 miles of the Song-Xia border to the rear, and then led the Northwest Army to fight fiercely with the Western Xia for every fort and village.

The number of casualties is not specific. The Imperial City Office reported that the Song army had suffered more than 3,000 casualties, and the Western Xia army had suffered about the same number. The combat effectiveness of both sides was actually the same.

Although the Song Dynasty was weak, its border troops were still quite combat-effective. They had been stationed on the border for a long time and had to fight the enemy for their own survival. After all, they still had some of the fierce fighting spirit of tigers and wolves eating cows.

After listening to the battle report, Zhao Xiaoqian looked a little solemn.

Well, the war had been fairly even so far. Although the fort had been largely occupied, Zhang Yu had not given up resistance, preventing the Western Xia army from advancing. Given the circumstances of the Song Dynasty, Zhang Yu was already quite remarkable.

Hopefully, the Dragon Guard Battalion will not let him down and can play a decisive role in this war.

Unfortunately, among the 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion who went to war, only 5,000 were equipped with flintlock rifles.

The time was too short. It took only half a year from the invention of the flintlock rifle by Zhao Xiaoqian to the mass production of the firearms.

The manufacture of flintlock barrels was a very difficult process. The Firearms Inspectorate summoned hundreds of craftsmen, but the yield rate of barrels was still very low. Only one out of ten barrels was qualified, especially the spiral rifling inside, which was even more difficult.

So for half a year, the Firearms Bureau worked day and night, but still only produced more than 5,000 flintlock rifles.

This is also the reason why the Song Dynasty has not yet adopted a tougher diplomatic approach toward its powerful neighbor. Advanced weapons are not enough, and it needs to continue to survive and develop.

Five thousand muskets were already able to play a role on the battlefield, but they could only adopt a defensive posture strategically.

Judging from the current war situation, Zhang Yu's Northwest Army is having a hard time defending and they urgently need reinforcements from the court.

After summarizing and analyzing the intelligence, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the Longwei Camp to speed up its march.

After another half a month, the weather became increasingly colder, especially as we moved further northwest, the temperature dropped drastically.

When Zhao Xiaoqian led the Dragon Guard Camp to finally arrive in Weizhou, all he saw was a vast expanse of white. The heavy snow even covered the roads, and only the outline of Weizhou's city wall could be seen in the distance.

Outside Weizhou City, a group of civil and military officials stood quietly at the city gate.

Zhang Yu was an old man in his sixties. He was wearing a purple official robe. A thick layer of snow had fallen on his shoulders, and it was obvious that he had been waiting for a long time.

Behind him stood an armored general, who was about forty years old, with thick eyebrows, a wide mouth, a rugged appearance, and a burly figure. Standing in the snow, he was like a straight javelin, intimidating.

This man's name is Zhe Keshi, and he is a descendant of the famous Northwest Zhe Family Army.

There are few folk legends about the Zhe Family Army in later generations, but it was stationed in the northwest border and resisted the Western Xia for many years, making countless contributions to the Song Dynasty. Although there are few folk legends about it, it is very remarkable in history books.

Zhang Qie and Zhe Keshi were the two pillars of the resistance against Western Xia in the northwestern border. One of them was the governor of Huanqing Road, and the other was the military commander of Huanqing Road. Both of them held military power.

As for the civil and military officials behind the two men, most of them were local officials from Qingzhou, Weizhou and other places, as well as generals under their command.

Everyone waited in the snow for a long time, and Zhe Keshi looked a little impatient.

Zhang Qie still stood in the snow without moving, as steady as an old dog.

"General Zhang, where does this Zhao Xiaoqian come from? Why have we been waiting for him here for so long?" Zhe Keshi couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Qie opened his eyes, glanced at him, and said calmly, "A relative of the royal family, the Prince of Chu, and a colleague in Bianjing sent a letter saying that he is quite famous for his literary talent and is very favored by the emperor."

Zhe Keshi frowned, "Why would the government send a playboy, a man who lives a life of luxury, to lead the troops to help? Could it be to give him a chance to advance?"

Zhang Yu said coldly, "Don't talk nonsense! How can you guess the emperor's intention? I heard that this prince of Chu is quite capable. You must not treat him with disrespect."

Zhe Keshi snorted coldly, "The army is not like the splendid Bianjing. Everything depends on fists and military achievements!"

Zhang Yu turned his head and looked at him, saying, "He is the Deputy Envoy of Huanqing Road, appointed by the government. Not only that, he also has the responsibility of supervising the army."

The word "military supervisor" left Zhe Keshi speechless for a moment.

For the military generals on the frontier, the military supervisor is like the golden hoop on the monkey's head, and they cannot afford to offend him.

Zhang Qie sneered: "You are so arrogant, keep on being arrogant. If you have the guts, go to him and continue being arrogant."

Zhe Keshi's burly body unconsciously shortened a few inches and he took two steps back in a low-key manner.

I'm already honest, please let me go.

(End of this chapter)