The prince is more stable

Chapter 322 The Hot-blooded Emperor
People who have lived two lives tend to look at things more calmly and objectively than their peers.

If it were someone else, at the age of nineteen, upon hearing that the enemy country was attacking the border, he would immediately become passionate and an absolute advocate of war, and his goal of war would be to destroy the country and the race.

However, Zhao Xiaoqian lived two lives and saw many things more clearly.

When a person, or a group of people, are carried away by passion, few people think about the price they will have to pay.

The price will not be paid by those high and mighty, but will be passed on to the people at the bottom.

Zhao Xiaoqian thought of it.

All living beings suffer, but he is not a Buddha and cannot feel compassion for them.

But if he can speak for the people within his ability, he will certainly not refuse.

If the two countries start a full-scale war, what will the ordinary people have to endure?
Because of the war, how much tax will be added every year? Farmers' families need to send several children to join the army. Who will farm the fields for the remaining elderly and weak in the family? After the war, how many of those young and strong people who went to the battlefield can come back alive?

The bigwigs in the court will not consider these issues. What they consider are their own interests: the interests of the country, the interests of the family, and their own personal interests.

The lower class people? Just grass and insignificant grass. Haven’t you heard that “spring breeze brings new life”?
However, Zhao Xiaoqian in his previous life was a real lower-class person. Although he was born into a wealthy family in this life, he always unconsciously puts himself in the position of the lower-class people when thinking about problems.

This is the reason why Zhao Xiaoqian advised Zhao Xu to start a war today.

It's not that you don't dare to fight, but the time has not come yet. At this time, you might as well let your fists gather strength for a while.

With the advent of firearms, Zhao Xu now has a unique temperament of being ambitious and ostentatious, and Zhao Xiaoqian must calm him down.

If an emperor often loses his temper, it will be a disaster for the entire country.

The matter has been discussed and decided, and the result reached by Zhao Xu and the three envoys of the Privy Council is the final result.

An envoy will be sent to the Liao Kingdom today to question the Liao cavalry's border attack. In short, we must first occupy the commanding heights of morality and justice so that we can have the initiative in resisting the Liao cavalry.

After the meeting, Zeng Bu and the other two said goodbye to Zhao Xu and left the hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace, Zeng Bu turned to look at Zhao Xiaoqian, stroking his beard and smiling: "I was really worried just now, fearing that the Duke of Zhao and the emperor were thinking the same thing and planning to go to war with the Liao Kingdom. I didn't expect the Duke of Zhao to be so calm, which comforted me greatly."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "We will have to fight sooner or later, but not now. Envoy Zeng knows better than I do that the Liao Kingdom wants to test the Song Dynasty's combat capabilities and will definitely force the Song Dynasty to take action."

Zeng Bu nodded and said, "Although we are only sending envoys to question them this time, the court should also prepare the military equipment, food, and soldiers. Once the war begins, the court will not be too hasty."

Unable to help but glance at Zhao Xiaoqian, Zeng Bu sighed, "I really can't believe you're only nineteen years old this year. Your intelligence doesn't seem like that of a young man..."

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked. "Does Prime Minister Zeng mean that I'm possessed by an old ghost?"

Zeng Bu smiled and said, "Although it's a bit rude, to be honest, sometimes I really think so."

General Xu, standing by, suddenly laughed and said, "It's rare for the three of us in the Privy Council to be together. Why not have a small gathering today to welcome our new colleagues to the Privy Council? What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Zeng Bu said with a chuckle, "Very good. I've heard that Lord Zhao is a playboy, and all the brothels in Bianjing are owned by people from Changshu. So, let Lord Zhao choose the location, and Minister Xu and I will gladly agree."

Zhao Xiaoqian's face turned black. When the hell did I get the reputation of being a playboy?

Isn’t it just that I went to Zuihuayin a few more times? I’m an undercover agent!

Do you understand what an undercover agent is? The kind who endures humiliation and bears heavy burdens.

Since Zeng Bu and General Xu asked him to choose the place, Zhao Xiaoqian decided not to be polite.

They are both very old, so there is no need to find young girls for them.

A tree of pear blossoms overshadows a crabapple tree. The poem is very beautiful, but the picture is too ugly.

Each person could make do with a fifty-year-old woman. Zhao Xiaoqian smiled maliciously and was about to say where to go when hurried footsteps were heard in the hall. Zheng Chunhe appeared in the sight of the three.

Zheng Chunhe saluted the three men, smiled respectfully, and then said to Zhao Xiaoqian, "Duke Zhao, please stay. The emperor will summon you alone."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and smiled at Zeng Bu and General Xu.

Zeng Bu and General Xu were filled with regret. They had originally planned to experience the romantic life of Bianliang with Zhao Xiaoqian, but now their plan was ruined.

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered and said, "You two should just feel sorry for it. If you knew that I had originally planned to give you two fifty-year-old aunties, you would probably cry out loud now."

Inside the Funing Palace.

Zhao Xiaoqian entered the palace and bowed. Seeing Zhao Xu calmly reviewing memorials, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Your Majesty summoned me alone, is it about the Liao cavalry attack on the border?"

Zhao Xu put down the memorial in his hand, stood up, walked up to him and said with a smile: "Yes, and no..."

Motioning Zhao Xiaoqian to sit down, Zhao Xu sat beside him and sighed, "The Liao Kingdom wants to test the fighting power of our Song Dynasty. In fact, I also want to test the fighting power of the Liao Kingdom."

"During the Song-Xia War, our royal army, equipped with flintlock rifles, swept through the cities and military bases of Western Xia with overwhelming force. If Western Xia was like this, what about the Liao?"

"I truly want to know the outcome. If it can be proven that the Song Dynasty's current military strength can suppress the Liao Kingdom, from now on, the Song Dynasty's national policy, diplomacy, military deployment, strategy and tactics will all change. If victory is reported, it will also be more conducive to the implementation of the Song Dynasty's new domestic policies..."

Zhao Xiaoqian opened his mouth to speak, but Zhao Xu waved his hand and smiled, "I know it's not appropriate to start a war now. I just want to tell you that a war between Song and Liao is inevitable. The court has already begun preparing military equipment and food supplies."

After a pause, Zhao Xu slowly said, "I called you here alone so that you can prepare yourself..."

"What preparation?"

Zhao Xu stared at Zhao Xiaoqian and said in a low voice, "Preparation to take up the post of prefect of Zhending."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled, but quickly recovered.

He had been mentally prepared for this. When Zhao Xu issued an edict to award the position of prefect of Zhending, he had actually laid the groundwork. He knew that this position was not given randomly.

Zhao Xu continued, "Zi'an, do you know why I transferred you to be the prefect of Zhending?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Zhending Prefecture borders Liao territory to the north and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the east."

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Chatting with smart people is really a pleasure!"

"That's right, what I desire are the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at him speechlessly.

I just talked him down, but now he's causing trouble again. Why is this young man so easily overwhelmed?
I've talked about the pros and cons of fighting and not fighting so much, it seems you didn't listen to a word I said, right?
"Has the emperor stayed up all night again? Why don't you take a nap first and we can talk when you wake up?" Zhao Xiaoqian sighed weakly.

He could be the prefect of Zhending, but to take back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun... To be honest, Zhao Xiaoqian was not sure. It was too difficult. He didn't know how to do it.

The only way to recover it peacefully is to negotiate with the Liao Kingdom. Unless the Liao Kingdom's rulers and ministers are all idiots, they will not agree to return this excellent strategic location and horse-breeding land to the Song Dynasty.

The withdrawal of force brings us back to the old topic. As I said before, it is not appropriate to start a war now.

The flintlock rifle was invented by Zhao Xiaoqian, but he was not so arrogant as to think that he could conquer the world with the flintlock rifle alone.

The outcome of a war depends on people. Weapons are actually secondary, no matter how powerful the weapons are.

What Zhao Xiaoqian is thinking about now is how to extinguish Zhao Xu's hot-blooded and immature spirit.

Worry, this country will fall apart without me.

(End of this chapter)