The prince is more stable

Chapter 243 Celebration Banquet
In Yanfu Palace, the welcoming banquet was held in Daqing Hall.

Zhao Xu was in high spirits today and broke several precedents in a row.

Daqing Hall was originally the place where the emperor and his ministers held formal court meetings. In order to welcome Zhao Xiaoqian, Zhao Xu actually held a banquet here.

This shows how much Zhao Xu valued Zhao Xiaoqian, and also how satisfied Zhao Xu was with the outcome of the Song-Xia War.

The ceasefire agreement between the two countries was sent back to Bianliang a month ago, and the whole of Bianliang was in an uproar at that time.

Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, it has never signed such an advantageous agreement. In the past, the people of the Song Dynasty mostly heard news of defeat, and then they kept signing alliances and ceasefires, and sending a certain amount of tribute every year.

The authorities have to put on a brave face and pretend to be strong to the outside world, saying that the superior country stopped the war in order to prevent the people of the world from being harmed, and that the neighboring countries are all brother countries and the superior country cannot bear to see them fighting each other.

In short, it’s not that I can’t win, it’s that I don’t have the heart to win.

Neighboring countries are all brothers. It’s okay to quarrel with each other on a daily basis, but there is no need to resort to violence.

Like a weak patient, China is trying to intimidate a powerful enemy with a cowardly attitude. This is both pathetic and ridiculous in the eyes of neighboring countries.

And Zhao Xiaoqian was serious this time.

They attacked the military headquarters, destroyed the capital, plundered the tribes, and beheaded no less than ten thousand people, forcing the Western Xia to sue for peace, cede six cities, and become a vassal of the Song Dynasty.

In the face of absolute strength, there is no need for words. The law of the jungle prevails between countries, and whoever has the bigger fist is the boss.

It is worth mentioning that the letter of submission from Li Qianshun, the king of Western Xia, arrived in Bian Jing earlier than Zhao Xiaoqian.

After Li Qianshun returned to the capital Xingqing Prefecture, he began to drastically eliminate the Hou party and cultivate and place his confidants. Almost all the officials in the capital were replaced, and a thorough reshuffle was carried out.

It was also thanks to Zhao Xiaoqian that he laid a good foundation for Li Qianshun.

On the night when the Song army broke into the capital, in accordance with Zhao Xiaoqian's principle of leaving no prisoners and no future troubles, all officials and generals with a little power in the capital were killed by the Song army.

After Li Qianshun returned to the capital, the court he took over was almost two-thirds vacant, most of whom were members of Empress Dowager Liang's party.

Under such circumstances, it would be extremely easy for Li Qianshun to cleanse the court.

Li Qianshun was also a man who knew the times. After the situation in the Xixia court stabilized, he immediately submitted letters of credence to both Bian Jing and the Liao capital, singing praises of peace and trying hard to portray Xixia as a weak and pitiful creature.

In the next few years, Xixia will maintain this image and develop in a low-key manner.

In the memorial to Bian Jing, Li Qianshun not only pledged allegiance, but also praised Zhao Xiaoqian, saying that the Duke of Anle was "loyal and patriotic" and that the Song army was "a righteous army."

It is obvious that Zhao Xiaoqian led his troops to burn, kill, loot and do all kinds of unscrupulous things in the territory of Western Xia, but he was praised so highly by the people involved.

The national law of the jungle is such a cruel reality.

Daqing Hall, a palace banquet.

Zhao Xu forced Zhao Xiaoqian to sit side by side with him. The ministers accompanied him and the Taichang Temple was filled with singing and dancing.

Today, Zhao Xiaoqian was the undisputed protagonist. All the ministers came to toast him and said a lot of flattering and absurd words.

Even Zhang Dun, who had always been at odds with Zhao Xiaoqian, had to come over with a smile to express his respect for Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xu was extremely excited today, and he drank with all his heart, chugging one cup after another.

Zhao Xiaoqian took advantage of the happy moment at the banquet to explain things to Zhao Xu in a low voice, especially when he heard that there were censors in the court who impeached him for allowing his soldiers to plunder.

There is nothing to explain about this matter, it is already a fact. Zhao Xiaoqian meant that he could ask Zhao Xu to let it go.

Zhao Xu, slightly tipsy, waved his hand nonchalantly, "What a big deal! Let them rob! The soldiers are fighting on the front lines, shouldn't they be allowed to seek personal gain? From ancient times to the present, every elite and valiant army that captures a city and seizes land has committed murder, burning, and looting. I won't ask, and no one in the court will either!"

"Last time Zhou Zhi brought up this matter at court, your father jumped out... Haha! It's a shame Zi'an didn't see the excitement. I almost laughed so hard that my stomach hurt, but I could only keep a straight face and keep silent. I was so stifled!"

Zhao Xu paused for a moment and said slowly, "I want to be a capable ruler. The army is out on the battlefield, and they are all fighting for me. Even if I can't help the soldiers, I will definitely not hold them back. I won't care about trivial matters."

Zhao Xiaoqian breathed a sigh of relief. There were some things that the monarch and his subjects could pretend to be confused about, but there were some things that had to be brought to the table and made clear. This had nothing to do with the right or wrong of the matter itself, but was mainly a matter of attitude.

The crime of "allowing soldiers to plunder" can be serious or minor. If you don't care about it, someone will make a fuss about it.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a senior official named Li Jing who was severely punished for this crime. Of course, the crime was superficial, mainly because his achievements were so great that they threatened the emperor. Even a strong and open-minded person like Li Shimin felt uneasy, so he used this crime to severely punish him. As a result, for the rest of his life, Li Jing not only dared not lead troops again, but also dared not leave his home.

Zhao Xiaoqian also constantly reminded himself not to repeat Li Jing's mistakes. He must keep a clear head and never become complacent, no matter how great a victory he won. Otherwise, even a small crime could bring him to ruin.

After a pause, Zhao Xu turned to look at Zhao Xiaoqian and whispered in his ear, "You were vague in your memorial about the Xiazhou Rebellion. How did Empress Dowager Liang of Western Xia... die?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was shocked and betrayed his teammates without saying a word: "Sir, this matter has nothing to do with me. It was done by the Liao envoy Xiao Guangjing!"

Zhao Xu looked at him with a half-smile: "Xiao Guangjing, the Liao envoy? Isn't he wearing the same pants as you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said sternly, "The government has wronged me greatly! Although my family is poor, I will never share a pair of pants with anyone else!"

"Family...poor family?"

Zhao Xu pushed him and said angrily, "Is this what I'm talking about? Is this the point? Tell me the truth, how did Empress Dowager Liang die?"

There was no intention to hide this matter from Zhao Xu, so Zhao Xiaoqian honestly recounted the whole story.

Zhao Xu's expression was solemn after hearing this. He glanced at him and sighed, "You guys are too... foolish!"

After a pause, Zhao Xu's lips curled up into a smile again. "However, Empress Dowager Liang died for the best. If she hadn't died, there would have been no peace in the northwest of the Song Dynasty. Zi'an made a decisive decision at the critical moment and handled this matter appropriately. His contribution is immeasurable."

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked and said, "This matter has nothing to do with me, nor with the Great Song. The poisoning of Empress Dowager Liang was done by the Liao envoys. The Great Song deeply regrets this."

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Not bad, not bad, the Song Dynasty is deeply sorry!"

The emperor and his minister were chatting and laughing at the palace banquet. Seeing their closeness, the ministers in the palace could not help but feel jealous and envious.

After this battle, the emperor's favor with the Prince of Chu was probably even higher, and Zhao Xiaoqian became more and more favored by the emperor.

That position and that royal favor are what everyone dreams of.

Among the ministers, even Prime Minister Zhang Dun snorted after seeing this, and drank a glass of wine alone. A noble man like the prime minister of the time would never admit that he was jealous.

At this moment, a hand suddenly stretched out from Zhang Dun's right, holding a glass of wine.

"Mr. Zhang, please drink."

Zhang Dun turned his head and saw King Zhao Hao of Chu looking at him with a simple and honest smile.

Zhang Dun's face suddenly darkened.

He did not forget that the old man had thrown a tantrum and cursed in front of his house, and even urinated in public.

This incident is not very harmful, but it is extremely insulting.

From then on, for a long time, Zhang Dun became a topic of conversation and joke in the court and the streets, and the city of Bianjing is still talked about today.

But Zhang Dun still had no way to take revenge.

How to avenge this? Should I go to the gate of the Prince of Chu's mansion and pee there?
Zhang Dun was so angry that he had no choice but to try his best to maintain his composure as prime minister and not argue with the old man.

As a result, at today's banquet, Zhao Hao was arranged to sit with Zhang Dun.

This was not a deliberate arrangement by the palace servants, but a seating order determined according to everyone's status and rank. Zhang Dun was the prime minister of the current dynasty, so he naturally sat in the first seat among the ministers. However, Zhao Hao was a prince, and the protagonist of today's palace banquet was his son, so he naturally sat in the second seat.

The two enemies were arranged to sit together.

The revenge for the peeing on me has not been taken yet, and now this old guy comes over with the audacity to toast me.

Do you really think that I, the prime minister of this dynasty, have no temper?

So Zhang Dun also raised his glass and forced an ugly smile towards Zhao Hao.

"Your Highness, let's drink together!"

...Okay, the prime minister really has no temper. In front of the emperor and his ministers, and on such a festive occasion, would Zhang Dun dare to overturn the table?

We are all adults, don’t do such childish things!
(End of this chapter)