The prince is more stable

Chapter 355 Preparations for Leaving Beijing
From Jia Shi's neurotic words, Zhao Xiaoqian knew that he was telling the truth and was not bragging.

The truth is nonsense. If Zhao Xiaoqian faced an attack by fifty enemy soldiers, he would be beaten to a pulp. So, what's there to be proud of? How can you have the nerve to say such cowardly words in such an arrogant tone?
Zhao Xiaoqian turned his head to look at Zhao Hao, silently accusing him with his eyes.

Look who you found for me!

Zhao Hao laughed and glanced at Jia Shi casually.

For some reason, Jia Shi suddenly shuddered and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. My mission is to protect you, not to fight in battle. Besides, no matter how advanced my martial arts skills are, they are often like a mantis trying to stop a chariot when facing an attack from a military formation, vulnerable to a single blow."

"Even the most powerful martial arts masters in the world would be crushed by an army. After all, fighting alone is completely different from a combined force."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded. He had also led troops and fought on the battlefield, so he naturally knew better the power of an army forming a battle array to attack the enemy.

But... can't you be more low-key if you can't beat me? You insist on calling yourself a master, a master who was beaten to a pulp. How the hell do I have the nerve to carry him around?

Below Jia Shi, this group of masters consists of about ten people.

Unfortunately, there is no stunning female master as imagined, and there will probably not be that kind of bloody plot where a female bodyguard falls in love with a male president and risks her life to save him.

Zhao Hao instructed the steward of the palace to arrange food and lodging for this group of masters, and then the father and son walked into the backyard and strolled side by side.

"Qian'er, these masters were hired by your father with great difficulty. If you encounter any danger in Zhending Prefecture, they will protect you."

Zhao Xiaoqian asked doubtfully, "Father, are you sure they are all masters? Were we deceived?"

Zhao Hao said unhappily, "I am almost a spirit, how could I be deceived?"

Zhao Xiaoqian snorted: "Who knows..."

When he first came here, Zhao Xiaoqian knew that his father had given all his money to Qingyang Lao Niubishi of Yuqing Palace, leaving nothing behind.

Qingyang Lao Niu Bi gave Zhao Hao some elixirs that could neither cure diseases nor kill people, commonly known as "health products".

Is the plot familiar?
Anyway, Zhao Xiaoqian really wanted to call the police.

Now Zhao Hao says that he is about to become a spirit, which is really unconvincing.

"Father, I only have Chen Shou and the others by my side. I really don't need these experts. How much did you spend on hiring them? After I arrive in Zhending Prefecture, can I sell them on the second-hand market?"

Zhao Hao's eyes widened in shock, and he took a deep breath: "Your idea..."

Then Zhao Hao said decisively: "No! You can't sell it. He's a master!"

"I promise to sell it at a good price and not let my father lose money."

"That won't work either!" Zhao Hao's cheeks twitched violently, as if he was about to have a stroke.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed.

To be honest, he didn't have much confidence in this group of masters. Although they all looked like muscular men, they were just for show.

Having lived two lives, he knows one thing very well: a true master will not show it on the outside. The thinner and listless a person is, the more likely he is to be a master, such as someone sweeping the floor with a broom, lying on the side of the road begging, etc.

On the contrary, people like Jia Shi, who are covered in muscles and are afraid that others cannot see how strong he is, are very likely to become cannon fodder.

Rich women may prefer this kind of person, but it would be a bit naive to expect him to protect herself.

So Zhao Xiaoqian didn't want this group of masters from the bottom of his heart.

However, Zhao Xiaoqian changed his mind and thought that if he really couldn't sell them, he could find some rich women for them after arriving in Zhending Prefecture and let them entertain him and generate income. This would be a win-win solution.

"Okay, I'll take them."

After opening up a new idea, Zhao Xiaoqian readily accepted it. Zhao Hao was surprised and asked, "Did it change so quickly?"

"Even if it's a piece of toilet paper, it has its...well, anyway, the child accepted it."

Zhao Hao laughed heartily with relief: "Very good! Just accept it, Qian'er. These people can be trusted. When you encounter danger, you can trust them with your back. I promise that they will protect you with their lives."

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at him curiously.

Can the loyalty of a hired expert be so high?

Thinking of the last assassination attempt on Zhao Ji and what his mother Feng had said about Zhao Hao being no simple man, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly seemed to understand.

It is likely that Jia Shi's group of experts were not just hired with money, they also have an unusual relationship with Zhao Hao.

They should be the tip of the iceberg that Zhao Hao deliberately revealed in front of him under his mysterious aura.

Zhao Xiaoqian has already vaguely touched upon Zhao Hao's secret. Of course, this is on the premise that Zhao Hao himself is willing to reveal the secret to his son.

In that case, it would be impolite to let Jia Shi and the others receive the guests...

Zhao Xiaoqian's mind was in a mess, but Zhao Hao said slowly, "Qian'er, as you go to Zhending Prefecture to take up your post, I have only one thing to tell you."

"Father, please speak."

"Officials and commanders must be ruthless and avoid showing softness. Be ruthless to your enemies, but also to your own people. Only by being ruthless can you establish your authority and command the officials and soldiers under your command with ease, without them daring to disobey."

"Don't think that if you treat your officials and soldiers with kindness, they will obey you. You are wrong. They will only think that you are easy to bully and that you, an official sent by the court, are nothing more than that."

"If your superiors are too kind and righteous, the consequences will be that they bully their superiors and those below them, and they will only gather a group of flatterers around them. When they are in danger, they will scatter like birds and beasts. This will be detrimental to your governance of the region and command of the army."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded in agreement.

Zhao Hao's eyes were deep as he patted his shoulder and sighed, "On this journey to Zhending, you must do your best. Your father hopes that you will continue to make great achievements. I'm a terrible father, and there's not much I can do to help you. I can only do my best to pave the way for you and make your journey as smooth as possible."

…………

Organize the army, gather food, weapons, ammunition, war horses, armor...

Everything is being prepared in an orderly manner.

The imperial edict to mobilize troops has been announced in the Longwei Camp. More than 30,000 soldiers of the Longwei Camp were excited. From Zhong Jianzhong on down, the soldiers faced north and bowed, thanking the emperor for giving them the opportunity to make achievements.

During this era, most armies in the country adopted a passive attitude of avoiding war, except for the Dragon Guard Battalion.

During the Song-Xia War, Zhao Xiaoqian led 5,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp deep into the heartland of Western Xia, capturing cities and territories along the way and eventually conquering the enemy capital.

Not to mention the rewards for military merits, just the money that the soldiers looted along the way and put into their private pockets made these 5,000 soldiers a fortune, allowing their families to live a rich life.

Perhaps in this era, only these 5,000 people deeply understand what "a cannon shot is worth a fortune" means.

As the commander-in-chief of the Dragon Guard Camp, Zhong Jianzhong was awarded the title of baron and the honorary title of "doctor" based on his merits after the war.

The generals and soldiers made a fortune after this battle. In terms of morale, military spirit, and positive attitude towards war, no one in the entire Song Dynasty was more eager for war than the Dragon Guard Camp.

Now that the imperial edict has been issued, the 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp will once again accompany Zhao Xiaoqian to attack Zhending Prefecture. Doesn’t this mean that the opportunity to make a fortune has come again?

As a result, the entire Dragon Guard Camp was in jubilation, and everyone was extremely excited, which frightened the palace servants who were announcing the decree. Those who didn't know thought that the Dragon Guard Camp had mutinied.

After the eunuch who announced the decree left, without waiting for Zhong Jianzhong's orders, the soldiers began to pack up on their own initiative, counting their weapons, horses, armor, and some of them were packed, loaded onto vehicles, or carried with them, completing their preparations for the expedition in an orderly and swift manner.

(End of this chapter)