The prince is more stable

Chapter 351: Official Training
In fact, Zhao Hao did not want Zhao Xiaoqian to go to the border town to take up his post. To him, Zhao Xiaoqian was his only hope in this life.

There was only this one descendant of the King of Chu left. How could Zhao Hao bear to let this one go to the war-torn border between Song and Liao?

But Zhao Hao could not disobey the order, nor could he control Zhao Xiaoqian's life. When the child no longer needed his parents' support and could walk independently, his parents could no longer interfere with any decisions he made for his life.

So Zhao Hao could only focus on Zhao Xiaoqian's personal safety.

The sky may collapse and the earth may sink, but his son's life must be preserved. This is Zhao Hao's bottom line.

Zhao Xiaoqian did not object to Zhao Hao's insistence. After all, he would have a few more experts around to protect him. Would he really compromise on his own safety?

After agreeing to follow Zhao Hao's arrangements, Zhao Xiaoqian put on his official uniform and ordered Chen Shoushou to prepare the carriage.

After receiving the imperial edict, one must go to the palace to listen to instructions. How to carry out the work after taking office, what to do next, how to arrange political and military affairs, everything must be arranged by Zhao Xu.

The saying "The emperor is far away and the sky is high" is not true in the Song Dynasty.

Throughout the Song Dynasty, the central government attached great importance to centralization of power. Any local official who disobeyed the central court's orders would suffer a miserable end.

If one wants to be a local emperor in a remote area of ​​the Song Dynasty, he must be extremely stubborn, or have a large number of soldiers who are loyal only to him and unaware of the imperial court, so that the emperor and his ministers in the capital have to be wary of him.

The imperial edict had already decided on the official appointment, so Zhao Xiaoqian put on his official uniform and went out to get on the carriage.

After entering the palace gate and walking to the outside of Funing Palace, Zheng Chunhe was standing in the corridor outside the palace, with a smile on his face. He took the initiative to greet them when they met.

"Please wait a moment, my Lord. The Emperor has just woken up and the eunuchs are waiting for him to wash up. You will be summoned soon."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded, looked around, took out a real estate deed from his arms, and quietly put it into Zheng Chunhe's hand.

Zheng Chunhe was stunned, but Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "I don't know what Eunuch Zheng likes, so I have to make the decision myself. My father once bought a number of properties and houses in Bianjing, but most of them were unused. So I chose a three-story house in the city outside Xuanqiu Gate and gave it to Eunuch Zheng. I hope you don't mind."

Zheng Chunhe was shocked, his eyes gleaming with surprise. He hurriedly said, "This, this, this...how can this be possible!"

As he said this, he made a move to push the real estate deed out, but Zhao Xiaoqian held his hand and slowly pushed it back.

"We are all family, so why are you being so polite to me, Eunuch Zheng? The Chu Palace doesn't lack this little property. It doesn't matter if it's more or less. Eunuch Zheng is already in his twilight years, and he'll need a place to go when he retires. If you don't mind, this house can be your place to spend your remaining years."

Zheng Chunhe's eyes were red with gratitude. Eunuchs were a special group in ancient times. They were too embarrassed to return to their hometowns when they got old because their clan ancestral halls would not accept them.

The house Zhao Xiaoqian gave away today obviously touched Zheng Chunhe's heart. It was equivalent to giving him a home to spend the rest of his life. The impact of this was much greater than giving gold and silver.

Taking advantage of the situation and reluctantly putting the property deed into his arms, Zheng Chunhe said gratefully, "Your Excellency is so kind, I won't say anything more. In the future, if you have any instructions, as long as it is not detrimental to the government, I am willing to go through fire and water for you."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed and said, "You're being polite. Haha, I don't mean anything else. I just want to make friends with Eunuch Zheng and establish a good relationship with him."

"The house has been unused for many years. I have recently ordered the craftsmen to begin renovations. All the furniture and furnishings that needed to be replaced have been replaced, and all the servants have been hired. If Eunuch Zheng needs anything else, please feel free to ask. There is no need to be formal between you and me."

Zheng Chunhe responded with emotion and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "I'll have the palace steward find you later and show you the way. The house is not far from Xuanqiu Gate, also known as 'Zheng Gate'. Eunuch Zheng lives in Zheng Gate, so it complements each other perfectly."

"I am about to leave Beijing to take up my post in Zhending Prefecture, so I would like to congratulate Eunuch Zheng on his new home in advance."

Zheng Chunhe beamed, thanking him repeatedly, his expression and tone more respectful than ever. When he looked up, Zhao Xiaoqian could sense it, a look of loyalty, one he gave his master. A thought flashed through his mind, and Zhao Xiaoqian knew Zheng Chunhe had returned.

Thinking of Zhao Ji, who was determined to become the empress dowager, from today on, Zhao Xiaoqian had placed a hidden chess piece in the palace. One day in the future, this hidden chess piece might play a significant role.

A young eunuch walked out of the Funing Palace and respectfully told Zheng Chunhe that the emperor had finished washing and summoned Zhao Xiaoqian to meet him.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Zheng Chunhe looked at each other silently. Zheng Chunhe smiled and turned sideways, inviting Zhao Xiaoqian into the hall.

When Zhao Xiaoqian entered the Funing Palace, he saw Zhao Xu at first sight.

Zhao Xu didn't look very well, his face was pale, and it was obvious that he had stayed up all night again.

Who says being an emperor is so comfortable? If you are a foolish ruler, it's fine. You can be as absurd as you want as long as you are not afraid of being condemned by history books. But if you want to be a wise ruler, the huge empire and heavy state affairs fall on your shoulders, and your daily workload is many times greater than that of an ordinary person.

When they met and exchanged greetings, Zhao Xu did not treat him as an outsider. He held a bowl of rice porridge in his hand, sipped it and raised his chin, indicating that Zhao Xiaoqian should find a place to sit down.

"Your Majesty, I have just received an imperial edict and will be leaving soon. I came to the palace now to listen to your instructions." Zhao Xiaoqian said humbly.

Zhao Xu hummed and said, "Do you know what you are going to do when you go to Zhending?"

"Yes. In addition to resisting the Liao cavalry invading the border, we must also investigate and observe the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, first accumulate intelligence, and then look for opportunities to recapture Yanyun."

Zhao Xu nodded with satisfaction. "That's right. If it were just to fight the Liao cavalry, I wouldn't have needed to use a butcher knife to kill a chicken. Our real goal is Yanyun. If Zi'an can recapture it, not only will your achievement be unparalleled, but I will also be able to offer sacrifices to my ancestors and hold my head high before their portraits in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, it is not easy to recapture Yanyun. If I fail to do so within three to five years, please do not blame me."

Zhao Xu waved his hand casually and said, "I know. The Great Song Dynasty has been established for a hundred years. So many capable emperors and wise ministers have failed to accomplish this. I certainly don't expect you to accomplish it in three to five years."

"What you need to do is lay the groundwork and accumulate resources in advance, whether it's intelligence, military strength, or weapons and horses. Accumulate them and wait for the right opportunity. If this opportunity doesn't come within three to five years, then wait ten, twenty years. In short, I hope to see Yanyun within my grasp within my lifetime."

"I understand. I will live up to your expectations and do my best to get things done."

Zhao Xu smiled happily: "That's right, as long as we, the king and his subjects, work together, I don't believe there is anything we can't accomplish!"

"Whatever Zhending Prefecture needs, whether people or materials, I will provide unconditionally. All our efforts are focused on reclaiming Yanyun. I will devote the entire nation's strength to this cause. Do you understand my determination, Zi'an?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was slightly moved.

He knew that Zhao Xu was determined to recapture Yanyun, but he did not expect his determination to be so firm.

Zhao Xu was determined to do something that seemed harder than climbing to the sky, and he was willing to do it regardless of the cost.

You could say he was ambitious or that he was brave enough to learn from his mistakes, but in his eyes, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were a must-win.

From another perspective, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a man of great talent and strategy.

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly realized that if he did not produce any results in recovering Yanyun within three to five years after taking office in Zhending, he would have a hard time reporting back.

The pressure is a bit too much!
(End of this chapter)