The prince is more stable

Chapter 246: Two Secret Reports
If first love, Bai Yueguang, is the regret that many people are unable to let go of, then the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are the regret that the emperors, ministers and people of the Song Dynasty have always had.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, also known as the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, or the Sixteen Prefectures of Youji, were located in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi around the year before last.

If people in later generations only looked at the map, they might think it was just a piece of land.

Yes, just a piece of land.

However, the strategic location of this land was very important in the era of cold weapons.

Ever since Shi Jingtang, a ruthless guy, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Liao Kingdom, the Song Dynasty has been under the shadow of the Liao Kingdom's strategic threat for a hundred years since its founding.

This piece of land is very important. It is a strategic buffer zone between the north and the south, a natural barrier for the Song Dynasty in confrontation with the north, and a horse-producing area with fertile pasture.

The Song Dynasty lost it, and not only had to face the strategic threat of the Liao Kingdom, but also lost the land where horses were produced, resulting in very few cavalry in the Song Dynasty. In order to resist the Liao Kingdom in the north, it had to find another way and develop heavy armored infantry to fight against the Liao cavalry, namely "infantry armor".

After the great victory in the Song-Xia War, Zhao Xu immediately turned his attention to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. His intention was self-evident.

This piece of land is not just land, its strategic value is too important. If the Song Dynasty becomes powerful, it will definitely take it back.

Not only Zhao Xu wanted to take it back, but Zhao Xiaoqian also wanted to.

However, with the current strength of the Song Dynasty, it can only be thought about for the time being. Zhao Xiaoqian is a very pragmatic person. He knows very well that it is difficult for the Song Dynasty to take back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

The flintlock rifle is not invincible, and this major issue concerning the destiny of two countries is not a simple military issue.

Entering the Funing Palace, Zhao Xu yawned and walked out from behind the screen, followed by a young eunuch, who stood on tiptoe and tidied up Zhao Xu's appearance.

Zhao Xiaoqian lowered his eyelids, held his breath, and bowed.

"Your Highness, I, Zhao Xiaoqian, pay my respects to the Emperor."

Zhao Xu waved his hand: "I have already said that if there are no outsiders present, you and I are brothers meeting each other without any need for formalities."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Etiquette cannot be abolished. I don't want to be so estranged from the emperor. I'm afraid that if this gets out, I'll be impeached by the censor and accused of being disrespectful in front of the emperor, which would cause trouble for no reason."

Zhao Xu sighed, "The censors are just... but I can't abolish the Censorate. Even I'm often scolded by them, like they're scolding their own son. For the sake of the so-called reputation of the emperor, I have to swallow my anger and put on a disgusting appearance of humbly accepting advice..."

"In fact, I really want to kill them, I'm so anxious!"

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed. The fact that Zhao Xu dared to say such words in front of him showed that he really did not treat him as an outsider.

Zhao Xu smiled and continued, "I was very happy at the welcoming banquet I held for Zi'an yesterday. I drank a few more cups and was probably a little drunk. I tossed and turned on the couch and couldn't fall asleep. I tossed and turned until dawn..."

"I didn't expect Zi'an to be able to drink more than me. Seeing you acting like nothing happened today, I'm really envious."

Zhao Xiaoqian was in no mood to engage in small talk with him. Such meaningless topics were awkward and the more they talked, the less they had to say.

Zhao Xiaoqian then looked at the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Zhao Xu nodded: "Play it."

Zhao Xiaoqian remained silent for a long while, his brows half closed, like Guan Gong reading the Spring and Autumn Annals at night.

Zhao Xu waited for a long time, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he couldn't help but move closer to his face to look at him curiously.

After a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly opened his eyes, and then found an enlarged face very close to him, and he could see the pores on the face clearly.

"Wow!" Zhao Xiaoqian's body shook violently and he let out a scream of horror.

Zhao Xu was also shocked and shouted along with him.

"What's your name? What's your name!" Zhao Xu, having regained consciousness, glared at him, "You're already a county lord, and it's so unbecoming of you to make such a fuss!"

Zhao Xiaoqian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Anyone who opened their eyes and found someone almost touching their face would be frightened. Even if Zhao Xu was the emperor, that face was not necessarily pleasing to the eye.

"If you have something to say, just say it! Why are you pretending to be so profound with your eyes closed?" Zhao Xu said dissatisfiedly.

Zhao Xiaoqian quickly looked around at the eunuchs and palace maids standing in the hall, but still said nothing.

This time, Zhao Xu finally received his gaze, and waved to Zheng Chunhe and others in the hall.

"Please step back. Only Zi'an and I will remain in this palace."

Zheng Chunhe received the order and led the palace maids out of the hall, carefully closing the door.

"What do you want to report, Zi'an? Why is it so mysterious?" Zhao Xu asked.

Zhao Xiaoqian said seriously, "I would like to report two things, neither of which should be known to outsiders."

"You said."

"First, I attacked the Xixia capital Xingqingfu at night. Before the attack, there was already a riot in the city. I later learned that there were about 500 rioters."

"They killed the defenders of the capital and opened the city gates for my soldiers. Therefore, in the battle to capture the Xixia capital, my troops suffered relatively few casualties, all thanks to the help of these five hundred men."

Zhao Xu opened his eyes wide in surprise: "Where did these five hundred people come from?"

"I honestly don't know. After our army broke through the city, these people immediately withdrew and hid, leaving behind only the bodies of over two hundred people who died in battle. I ordered the Imperial City Administration to conduct a thorough investigation, but to date, nothing has been found."

Zhao Xu finally sat up straight, his expression growing increasingly surprised. "After helping you capture the city, these five hundred men immediately retreated and disappeared. What... were they trying to achieve? And why did they help you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled bitterly and said, "I have no idea, and I cannot find out. This matter is of great importance, and I do not know their intentions or their origins. Therefore, I dare not mention it in my victory report. I can only report this matter to the emperor in person."

Zhao Xu smiled bitterly and said, "I am completely confused... No, what on earth are they trying to achieve?"

"For fame, for official rank, for personal gain, for anything, you helped our Song Dynasty achieve such a great contribution, and then retired without saying a word. What... was he thinking?" Zhao Xu scratched his head with his backhand. It was so itchy, but he didn't look like he wanted to grow a brain.

Zhao Xiaoqian whispered, "I believe this is a force of unknown origin, unknown to the world. So far, it seems they have no hostility towards the Song Dynasty. Without their help, my troops would not have been able to capture the Xixia capital."

Zhao Xu nodded calmly and said, "This matter cannot be abandoned. The world is clear and bright, and it belongs to the king. Regardless of whether they are enemies or friends, I will not allow such an inexplicable force to exist."

"The Imperial City Division must continue its investigation. Sooner or later, I must know the origins of this force."

"Yes."

Zhao Xu looked at him again: "What's the second thing?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said slowly, "I was ordered to lead 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Battalion back to the capital. Passing through a canyon under the jurisdiction of Hezhong Prefecture, we encountered an unknown ambush, resulting in hundreds of casualties. The enemy who ambushed us is likely an unknown force..."

Zhao Xu's face suddenly turned ashen, and he said in a cold tone, "How dare someone ambush my Great Song Dynasty's royal army? And right here in the borderlands of my Great Song Dynasty! Who is so bold!"

Zhao Xiaoqian recounted the entire incident in detail. For such a serious matter, Zhao Xiaoqian did not dare to hide anything and reported every word truthfully.

After listening to this, Zhao Xu remained silent for a long time, and his expression became more solemn.

"In my great Song Dynasty, there are so many inexplicable and unknown forces in secret. Who do they obey? What are their intentions? Could it be that they are plotting rebellion?"

Zhao Xiaoqian lowered his eyelids and said calmly, "The royal army was ambushed, and hundreds of soldiers were killed or wounded. I am guilty of negligence..."

Zhao Xu shook his head. "You've been very careful. Not only did you send scouts ahead to investigate, but you also divided the 30,000 troops into ten groups to navigate the canyon. As a commander, you've done this much. You don't need to be held responsible for what happens next."

Zhao Xu then gritted his teeth and said coldly, "Let Bingjing Wu carefully interrogate the five thieves we captured. We must make sure we get a clear result. I really want to know who this daring thief is!"

(End of this chapter)