The prince is more stable

Chapter 223 The Mysterious Hero
Zhao Xiaoqian rode into the city on horseback.

It was already bright at this time, and the morning light enveloped the city. Everywhere you looked, there was devastation.

The smoke of gunpowder had not yet dissipated, and the people of Western Xia were kneeling on the roadside, trembling, and had no choice but to submissively welcome the commander of the Song army into the city.

Beside the people kneeling on the roadside were many corpses that had not been cleaned up in time. The sound of horses' hooves trampled the blood that had not yet dried on the ground. Most of the tall and short houses on the roadside had been burned down.

The fire was out, and wisps of blue smoke rose from the ruins. Many children who had lost their parents sat beside the ruins of their former homes and cried loudly, while the Western Xia officials who survived in Xingqing City tried hard to put on a smile and knelt on the roadside with the people to welcome Zhao Xiaoqian's arrival.

This once prosperous capital of Western Xia has now become a living hell.

In purgatory, people are crying and ghosts are laughing.

Although they were citizens of the enemy country, Zhao Xiaoqian still had some humanity in his heart when he looked at those innocent children, and he felt a little sympathy.

Keep telling yourself that this is a war, a life-and-death war.

If war were not cruel, how could we expect it to be full of singing and dancing?
Zhong Jianzhong and the soldiers of the Longwei Camp stood in line on the roadside. They were truly hard-hearted and turned a blind eye to the tragic situation in Xingqing City. Everyone's face was filled with excited smiles.

Not to mention the rewards after the war, just being able to enter the enemy's capital in this lifetime is worth dying for!
"The county marquis is mighty. He has conquered the enemy's capital and enhanced the prestige of our country!" Zhong Jianzhong said loudly with his fists clasped.

The soldiers behind him echoed in unison.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled but didn't show much happiness. Instead, his mind was in a mess at the moment.

This victory came too suddenly and was too incredible.

Until now, he still hasn't figured out how the chaos in Xingqing City broke out last night and who was causing the trouble.

Zhang Xiaoyi alone would never be able to cause such a big commotion.

Zhao Xiaoqian clearly saw last night that there were at least several hundred people fighting with the defenders on the city wall.

So, where did these hundreds of people come from? Why did they help him capture the city?

There are too many questions that need answers urgently.

"Where is Zhang Xiaoyi?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

A figure flashed out from the crowd of Dragon Guard soldiers. Zhang Xiaoyi, dressed in tattered clothes and with a face covered in black ash, stood out and clasped his fists. "Zhang Xiaoyi greets the Marquis of the County."

Seeing that he was fine, Zhao Xiaoqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He looked him up and down and said, "These days, you've been lurking around Xingqing City disguised as a beggar? How cunning!"

Zhang Xiaoyi was stunned: "What beggar?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was also stunned: "Don't you look like a beggar? All you need is a dog-beating stick..."

Before he finished speaking, there was a clang and a short stick stuck behind Zhang Xiaoyi's belt fell to the ground.

Zhao Xiaoqian felt comfortable. It was really a great honor for him. He had all the necessary costumes and could play any role well.

Now, this is called professionalism.

Zhang Xiaoyi glanced down and said suddenly, "Oh, it happened last night when we were fighting to capture the city."

Bending over to pick up the short stick, Zhang Xiaoyi said calmly, "As a warrior, it makes sense to carry a stick with you when fighting, right?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded respectfully. Not only was it reasonable, it was also very logical.

Zhao Xiaoqian dismounted and pulled Zhang Xiaoyi aside.

Zhang Xiaoyi was filled with shame and lowered his head, saying, "Marquis, I'm useless. I didn't help you capture the city last night. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head. "Don't say that. You've been a great help. I just want to ask you, was it you who released that Kongming lantern last night?"

Zhang Xiaoyi nodded.

Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly, "Just with that Kongming lantern, you have been of great help. Without it, I would have made a wrong judgment, which would have caused great casualties to our soldiers."

"Do you know how many people in the court hate me and how many people are watching me? If I make a mistake here, will those old foxes let me go? So, you really helped me a lot."

Zhang Xiaoyi hesitated for a moment, but nodded, convinced that he had indeed helped.

"What happened last night? Who were the people who helped you open the city gate?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked again.

Zhang Xiaoyi smiled bitterly: "If I said I didn't know their origins, would you believe me?"

Zhao Xiaoqian also laughed: "You saved the Milky Way in your previous life, so God gave you a divine weapon to help you achieve great things?"

Zhang Xiaoyi pursed his lips. Although he didn't understand what the "Milky Way" meant, he was sure that Zhao Xiaoqian's words were not good. So Zhang Xiaoyi sighed and simply told him everything he had experienced recently while lurking in Xingqing City.

After hearing this, Zhao Xiaoqian opened his eyes wide in astonishment. After a long silence, he couldn't help but sigh, "So it was me who saved the Milky Way... I don't remember doing this in my previous life."

Zhang Xiaoyi said, "Anyway, they wanted to help you. I just released the Kongming lantern and was saved by them."

"That man addressed you as 'Prince' in his words and said he would help you accomplish this extraordinary feat. To help you, they suffered many casualties while fighting for the city gate, and their bodies are piled at the base of the city wall."

Zhao Xiaoqian was moved and asked, "Where are those who are still alive?"

"After General Zhong led his troops into the city, they dispersed with a whistle. It's unknown whether they were hiding in the city or escaping."

Zhao Xiaoqian said in a deep voice: "Take me to see their bodies."

Zhang Xiaoyi immediately took him to the foot of the city wall.

Two hundred corpses were lined up at the foot of the wall. Before they died, they were wearing clothes of various industries: merchants, peddlers, shop assistants, common people, etc.

Zhao Xiaoqian walked forward and observed them carefully, even removing the white cloth covering their faces to identify their appearance one by one.

However, I don’t recognize any of them. It feels so unfamiliar.

The mystery in his heart became more and more difficult to solve. Zhao Xiaoqian really couldn't figure out where these people came from. He clearly didn't know these people, so why did they help him capture the city for no reason, even at the cost of their lives.

Did they take the wrong medicine?

Zhao Xiaoqian stroked his chin and fell into deep thought: "Could it be my personal charm? Do I have this thing?"

It's not impossible. There are bandits in Liangshan who admire Song Jiang's style and are willing to pay homage to him. It's impossible for a county marquis to be worse than a bandit.

The mystery without an answer will forever remain in Zhao Xiaoqian's heart.

Putting aside his messy thoughts, Zhao Xiaoqian looked at these unknown heroes who died in the battle, immediately knelt on both knees, and bowed to them three times with piety and respect.

Behind him, Zhang Xiaoyi, Zhong Jianzhong and the soldiers of the Longwei Camp also knelt and saluted.

Everyone knows that without these heroes who died in battle, it would have been impossible to capture Xingqing City.

If we talk about the real credit, it must be these unsung heroes. Unfortunately, they didn't even leave their names behind, and their precious lives are gone.

He ordered the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp to find a precious land outside the city to bury these heroes who died in the battle.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood up and walked towards the palace.

Passing by the main street of the central axis of Xingqing City, a group of armored generals were kneeling on the roadside. They knelt in front of Zhao Xiaoqian with their hands tied behind their backs. Some of them were trembling all over, some were panic-stricken, and some glared at him with a look of dissatisfaction.

Pointing at these people, Zhao Xiaoqian asked, "What's going on?"

Zhong Jianzhong said, "They are all generals of the Xixia garrison, and their ranks are not low. They didn't have time to escape from the city during the battle to capture the city last night and were captured by our soldiers."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded and was about to say something when he saw a general in his thirties struggling to stand up, but was pushed back by the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp behind him.

The captured general glared at him fiercely and shouted, "You despicable villain, how dare you attack the capital of Daxia? The Queen Mother will not let you go!"

"You rats are nothing special. If you give me one more day, I can catch the spy in the city. Can you still succeed?"

Zhao Xiaoqian frowned: "Who is this guy?"

Zhong Jianzhong, who was standing nearby, said, "The commander-in-chief of the Xixia Kingdom's cavalry is Wei Mingsha. Before we captured the city last night, he seemed to have sensed something and nearly captured Brother Xiaoyi."

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized, "Not all Xixia people are fools. There are at least a few smart ones... But I really don't like your unconvinced expression."

Then Zhao Xiaoqian's tone darkened: "Drag him away and chop him off."

A hint of fear suddenly flashed in Wei Mingsha's eyes. When he was held up on the left and right by the Song army soldiers, Wei Mingsha suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed uncontrollably.

"Hahaha, people say the Song army is a benevolent and righteous army, and the generals are all gentlemen and elegant. It seems that the rumors are wrong, and they are clearly deceiving the world and stealing their reputation!"

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately stopped the Song army officers and soldiers: "No need to drag him out, chop him off now!"

The soldiers had already revered Zhao Xiaoqian as a god, and without a word, they drew their swords and slashed at Wei Mingsha's neck.

Blood spurted into the sky, and a fresh, hot head rolled all over the ground.

Looking at the head on the ground and Wei Mingsha's expression of astonishment and disbelief before his death, Zhao Xiaoqian said coldly: "Why are you pretending to be so arrogant? Do you think I won't kill you if you laugh a few times and say a few sarcastic words to attract my attention?"

(End of this chapter)