The prince is more stable

Chapter 358: Master's Skills
Strictly speaking, Zhao Xiaoqian's trip to Zhending with the Dragon Guard Battalion was not a formal expedition, but rather a "taking office."

As for the 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp, they are Zhao Xiaoqian's confidence.

Of course, after taking office, the war will definitely start. Even if the Liao Kingdom voluntarily withdraws its troops, Zhao Xiaoqian will find ways to provoke trouble and deliberately create friction with the Liao Kingdom, thereby launching a small-scale war.

War is the continuation of politics. Zhao Xiaoqian was well aware of the pressure Zhao Xu was facing from the attacks of his ministers. In order to shut up all the civil and military officials in the court, the Song Dynasty urgently needed a victory on the border.

Just one piece of good news can help Zhao Xu solve all his troubles.

Not only Zhao Xu was under pressure, but Zhao Xiaoqian was also under pressure. In fact, he was under more pressure than Zhao Xu.

If Zhao Xiaoqian didn't do something great during this appointment, he would be embarrassed to return to Bianliang.

After all, when he returned, he saw Zhao Xu with saliva all over his head and face, looking at him with resentment in his eyes. The scene was really sad.

The team marched very slowly. Among the 30,000 soldiers in the Dragon Guard Battalion, only 10,000 were cavalry, and the remaining 20,000 or so were on foot.

Due to the loss of the horse-breeding areas in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, the Song Dynasty was in great shortage of war horses. Even in the imperial guards guarding Bianliang, the number of cavalry was small.

The ten thousand war horses under Zhao Xiaoqian's command were gathered for him by Zhao Xu with gritted teeth.

After leaving Bian Jing and walking for twenty miles, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the entire army to stop, set up camp on the spot, and cook.

The first day of departure was mainly a symbolic ceremony. Unless there was an urgent military situation, the team did not need to move in such a hurry, which would affect the morale of the troops.

Zhao Xiaoqian doesn't have to worry about setting up camp, Zhong Jianzhong will arrange everything. He is the actual commander of the Longwei Camp.

Zong Ze was also among them. Zhao Xiaoqian personally asked Zhao Xu to ask for Zong Ze to come over, and also included Zhe Keshi who was far away in the northwest. At this time, Zhe Keshi should have received the transfer document from the Privy Council and was traveling day and night towards Zhending Prefecture.

Zhong Jianzhong, Zong Ze, Zhe Keshi... Zhao Xiaoqian brought all the talented and famous generals who would shine in the future under his command.

These talents will be his solid team in the future, and he can use them with confidence without worrying about them having ulterior motives.

After all, their character and ability have been officially certified by history books.

I have to say, it feels great to cheat.

It was like choosing a wilted stock that seemed to be dying, but only Zhao Xiaoqian knew that this stock would soon soar into the sky, and he had already bought it in advance, just waiting for the skyrocketing market in the near future.

Thirty thousand soldiers and horses, together with civilians transporting supplies from afar, set up camps in an endless stretch, and the vast expanse of white looked like a plain covered with heavy snow.

Zhao Xiaoqian's tent was set up in the middle of the army, surrounded by the tents of hundreds of imperial guards including Chen Shou, which were spread out in a plum blossom shape around the tent, and secretly guarded the tent tightly in the middle. Once there was an accident in the camp, imperial guards from all directions would rush to the scene to provide protection and support.

Chen Shou and other imperial guards were cooking. Zhao Xiaoqian's food was different from that of ordinary soldiers, and Zhao Xiaoqian did not like the hypocritical behavior of eating and living with the soldiers.

Follow me and I can make you rich. When there is a war, you just have to fight. As for what I eat in my daily life, it is none of your business.

This is Zhao Xiaoqian’s simplest idea.

Zhao Xiaoqian sat in the tent for a while, studied the map of the area around Zhending Prefecture, and when he felt a little depressed, he slowly walked out of the tent.

Chen Shou and other imperial guards were busy at work. Whole lambs were sizzling on the grill, and the aroma filled the air.

Zhao Xiaoqian swallowed his saliva and turned his head inadvertently, only to see Jia Shi and a dozen other masters gathered in another group.

Although both Chen Shou's and Jia Shi's groups were protecting Zhao Xiaoqian, it was obvious that the two groups did not get along with each other at all. They ate separately and did not even exchange the most basic greetings and chats with each other, just like strangers.

Jia Shi and other masters were also cooking. Half of them were cooking meat. Large chunks of meat were rolling in the pot. After they were cooked, they were sprinkled with some salt and taken out. A bamboo chopstick was inserted into the meat. It was eaten with a huge Hu pancake. They took a bite of the pancake and then a big bite of the meat.

Zhao Xiaoqian's pupils trembled.

Meat, how can you cook it like this? Just cook it and sprinkle salt on it and that's it? You really are not picky eaters!
Zhao Xiaoqian closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight. To someone with a discerning palate, such a crude cooking method was like watching a group of people eating shit, and enjoying it so happily...

No more eyes.

So, how did Jia Shi and his group of muscular men develop their muscles? Can this way of eating meat lead to such a muscular body?

"Hey, Brother Mengnan, come here!" Zhao Xiaoqian waved at Jia Shi.

Jia Shi put down the delicious cake and meat in his hands and ran quickly to Zhao Xiaoqian.

"What instructions does the prince have?" Jia Shi bowed respectfully.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "If you don't know how to cook, you might as well ask Chen Shou for advice. Under my guidance day and night, these guys have already acquired some of the skills of a master chef."

Jia Shi grinned naively and said, "No need for that. I'm used to eating this way. I'm happy to have meat to eat. Why should I be picky about the taste?"

Not far away, Chen Shou, who was cooking, seemed to have heard the conversation between Zhao Xiaoqian and Jia Shi. He snorted sullenly and looked at Jia Shi with a look of dissatisfaction. Zhao Xiaoqian's protection had always been the responsibility of Chen Shou and his fellow imperial guards. But before the expedition today, His Royal Highness the King of Chu had inexplicably added a dozen more men to the Crown Prince's arsenal, rumored to be martial arts experts.

As Zhao Xiaoqian's personal bodyguard, Chen Shou felt insulted.

Doesn't Your Highness trust us brothers and think that we can't protect the prince?

This group of so-called masters only look like they have bulging muscles. Who knows if they are fakes? If a crisis comes, can they scare away the enemy by relying on their bulging muscles?

Facing the unfriendly looks from Chen Shou and other imperial guards brothers, Jia Shi acted as if he saw nothing and still looked calm and honest, like an old farmer squatting on the roadside watching the scenery after the autumn harvest.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked him over and couldn't help asking, "Brother Mengnan..."

"Uh, Prince, my name is Jia Shi, and I am not worthy of being called a macho man." Jia Shi had to interrupt.

"Well, okay, Brother Jia Shi, I have a question I'm curious about. You masters must have some special martial arts skills. Would you mind telling me the names of your martial arts skills? For example, Nine Yin Bone Claws, Star Absorbing Technique, Dugu Nine Swords, etc...."

Zhao Xiaoqian rubbed his hands together with a hint of excitement. A living martial arts master was right before his eyes, so surely the secret manual couldn't be just a figment of the imagination? What man doesn't have a dream of becoming a martial artist?

Jia Shi looked at him in confusion. The names of the Kung Fu that the prince mentioned sounded very advanced, but they had never practiced any of them and had never even heard of them.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I have never heard of what you are talking about, let alone practiced it. Most of the so-called martial arts are based on Tai Chi and Xingyi. Forgive my ignorance and know nothing about what you are talking about."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes widened in surprise: "Tai Chi? You know Tai Chi?"

Then I felt something was wrong. Wasn't Tai Chi created by Zhang Sanfeng? But wasn't Zhang Sanfeng born in the late Song Dynasty or early Yuan Dynasty? Why did Tai Chi exist today?

Jia Shi was quite knowledgeable about Kung Fu, so he patiently explained, "I've never heard of the 'Zhang Sanfeng' that the prince mentioned."

"But Tai Chi Chuan already had its prototype as early as the Liang Dynasty. It is said to have been created by Han Gongyue of the Liang Dynasty. It later went through several dynasties, and was refined and improved by generations of predecessors such as Xu Xuanping and Li Daozi of the Tang Dynasty, eventually becoming the complete Tai Chi Chuan we know today."

Zhao Xiaoqian became increasingly curious: "Is Tai Chi a martial art for health and fitness, or can it be used to kill enemies?"

Jia Shi smiled bitterly and said, "Any kind of boxing was created by our ancestors to kill people. If it's just for health and fitness, there are other ways to improve your health, such as the Five Animal Frolics. The purpose of us practicing boxing and martial arts is to kill people, and what we practice are all killing techniques. The same is true for Tai Chi."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up. This Jia Shi was probably not a fake. This guy was really something.

"Come on, show it!" Zhao Xiaoqian invited warmly.

Jia Shi was stunned: "Show what?"

"Tai Chi, let me see Tai Chi that can really be used to kill the enemy."

Jia Shi hesitated for a moment and said, "Killing skills can only be used when there is an enemy, and they are fatal moves. Without an opponent, I don't know how to display them."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Shou, who had been listening to the noise not far away, suddenly said, "I'll walk a few moves with you."

As he spoke, Chen Shou slowly walked over.

Zhao Xiaoqian rubbed his hands excitedly. Here it comes, let’s fight!
Unexpectedly, Jia Shi just glanced at Chen Shou lightly, then shook his head, ignored him, and turned to look at Zhao Xiaoqian and smiled.

"I am very stupid. If you really want to see me demonstrate my skills, why not let me show you my strength?"

Without waiting for Zhao Xiaoqian to answer, Jia Shi had already walked to a cart next to the general's tent, squatted down in a horse stance, gathered his energy into his dantian, and suddenly roared. He then lifted up a cart carrying grain and fodder with both hands like a weightlifter. The cart stayed in the air for a moment before slowly lowering it.

This action immediately attracted thunderous applause from the surrounding imperial guards and masters. Even Chen Shou, who was at odds with him, showed a look of horror, and the dissatisfaction in his eyes had long disappeared.

The cart was not heavy, and it was loaded with about two hundred kilograms of grain. Adding the weight of the cart itself, Jia Shilu's hand weighed almost three or four hundred kilograms.

Whether in the underworld or in the military, there is a saying that goes, "One force can defeat ten skills." It means that as long as you are strong enough, you are basically invincible.

It has to be said that Jia Shilu's move won everyone's respect.

The army is a place where strength is valued. As long as you are strong enough, others will be convinced even if they are reluctant. Just look at Chen Shou's expression at this moment and you will know that he has been convinced.

Not only Chen Shou was convinced, but Zhao Xiaoqian was also convinced.

Zhao Xiaoqian took out a white handkerchief from somewhere and walked forward to wipe the sweat off Jia Shi's face. His tone was so gentle that it almost made water come out.

"Brother Jia Shi, was I too loud just now? Did I scare you? Ah, such strong chest muscles, so hard... Can these chest muscles help me block arrows on the battlefield?"

"Absolutely not!" Jia Shi's face turned purple. "Your Highness, you'd better give up this idea immediately."

(End of this chapter)