The prince is more stable

Chapter 364 Arrival in Zhending
People's brains occasionally short-circuit, and smart people are no exception.

When Einstein was boiling eggs, he threw his watch into the beaker. What does it matter if the parts in Zhao Xiaoqian's brain occasionally flicker with sparks?

Zhao Xiaoqian gained a lot from meeting Zhen Qing for the first time today.

Not only can he save money, he might even make a small profit. If the court allocates special funds, it wouldn't be too much for Zhao Xiaoqian to deduct some money as a reward for running errands, right?

Also, Zhao Xiaoqian knew about Xiao Fengxian.

His younger sister is Yelu Yanxi's concubine, a typical in-law. After listening to Zhen Qing's introduction of her origin, you can know that Xiao Fengxian must have no ability. His only reliance is his sister. He is arrogant and domineering outside, fawning at home, and is profit-driven. He does not recognize his relatives except his sister, brother-in-law and their family.

Such a talent is simply a natural rebel tailor-made by God for Zhao Xiaoqian.

In terms of character, Xiao Fengxian is more suitable to be a spy than Xiao Wuna and his son.

When he met Zhen Qing for the first time, he gave Zhao Xiaoqian two big gifts. This man must be a lucky man, and they should interact more often in the future.

Zhen Qing was warmly treated to a delicious roasted whole lamb. Although drinking was not allowed in the army, Zhao Xiaoqian still asked Chen Shou to get a jar of good wine and drink it with Zhen Qing.

As the two of them drank together, Zhao Xiaoqian clearly felt that Zhen Qing's eyes looking at him were much more sincere.

It must be that Zhao Xiaoqian disregarded military discipline and treated him to a drink, which warmed Zhen Qing's cold heart, which had been killing fish at RT-Mart for ten years?

While drinking, Zhen Qing explained to Zhao Xiaoqian the current situation and layout of the Imperial City Division in the Liao Kingdom, and Zhao Xiaoqian secretly kept it in mind.

At this point, the entire Imperial City Administration of the Song Dynasty was firmly in the hands of Zhao Xiaoqian.

After drinking heartily, they both went to bed.

The next morning, when the Longwei Camp was preparing to break camp and march, Zhen Qing said goodbye to Zhao Xiaoqian in advance.

His identity was secret and sensitive, so it was impossible for him to travel with the Song army. If he fell into the eyes of someone with ulterior motives, he would lose his head.

The team continued to march, and at this time Zhao Xiaoqian issued another military order, ordering the scouts of the Longwei Camp to rush to Zhending Prefecture, patrol the Song-Liao border, and closely monitor the movements of the Liao army.

Three days later, 30,000 soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp, along with tens of thousands of laborers transporting supplies, arrived at Zhending Prefecture.

Riding on his horse, Zhao Xiaoqian looked at the distant city wall of Zhending Prefecture, and his heart suddenly sank.

Zhending Prefecture is an important city in Hebei Province and has always been a battleground for military strategists. However, the city walls of Zhending Prefecture that he saw at this moment were low and simple, and there was not even a moat under the walls.

If the enemy attacks the city, even the most famous general in history who is good at defending the city will not be able to hold it for more than three days.

As early as when he was in Bian Jing, Zhao Xiaoqian knew that Zhending was a border town, poor and desolate, with a sparse population, a mixed crowd of good and bad people in the city, and chaotic public security.

Now that Zhao Xiaoqian saw the city with his own eyes from a distance, he had a concrete impression of the word "border town".

Barren, desolate and bleak.

It's exactly what I imagined, there's really no difference at all.

Zhao Xiaoqian would have to live in such a poor city in the future. Thinking of this, his heart sank.

Before entering the city, an idea popped into my mind.

We must give full play to the strengths of our Chinese nation, develop business, make money, and build infrastructure.

The dignified prince of Chu, who has been staying in a barren place all year round, with nothing to offer, has a delicate personality...

The team continued to move forward. When they were about ten miles away from the city, Zhao Xiaoqian could clearly see the city gate, and saw a group of officials and generals standing outside the city gate.

The leader, dressed in purple official robes, stood outside the snowy city gate. Behind him stood a group of officials and generals several feet behind him, seemingly looking up to him as a superior. This man, about sixty years old, with a flowing white beard, looked like an immortal, detached from the mundane world. The official robes looked a bit out of place on him.

The first time Zhao Xiaoqian saw him, he thought that this man should be wearing a Taoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand, and selling health products everywhere like Qingyang Lao Niu Bizi from Yuqing Palace. Anyway, there are definitely more fools than just Zhao Hao in the world, and the market is huge and worth cultivating.

When they were about to reach the city gate, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the entire army to stop and wait, while he led more than ten riders including Chen Shou and Jia Shi forward.

At the same time, the official in his sixties also walked slowly towards Zhao Xiaoqian. The two of them walked towards each other, like a love that was running towards each other without hesitation.

When he got closer, Zhao Xiaoqian dismounted, but the official bowed to him first.

"Your subordinate, on behalf of Li Qingchen, the governor of Zhending Prefecture, pays homage to the Duke of Zhao."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled and quickly held his arms with both hands: "Li Zhifu, I have long heard of your great name. I cannot accept your courtesy. It will shorten my life."

Zhao Xiaoqian usually said polite words, whether it was "I've long admired you", "I miss you", or "I swear I'm just here for a while", but these polite words were just formalities and mostly false.

But at this moment, when Zhao Xiaoqian said to Li Qingchen, "I've long admired you," it was by no means false.

Zhao Xiaoqian had indeed heard of Li Qingchen, even in his previous life.

He was also a famous official of the Song Dynasty with outstanding abilities. According to the real historical trajectory, Li Qingchen would have been able to become the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in the future.

He was also one of the few officials in the court who was neither a member of the New Party nor of the Old Party.

Both sides tried to win over Li Qingchen, but he refused to take sides. His political views were very moderate. He believed that both the new and old laws had drawbacks, and the most suitable new policy for the Song Dynasty was to integrate the new and old laws, eliminating the dross and retaining the essence, for the benefit of the world.

Li Qingchen's ideas coincided with Zhao Xiaoqian's political views.

That's why Zhao Xiaoqian was so polite to him when they met. In addition to the official etiquette, he also respected his character.

Li Qingchen looked at Zhao Xiaoqian with curiosity in his eyes.

He took office as the prefect of Zhending in the first month of the first year of Shaosheng. At that time, Zhao Xiaoqian was still unknown. Later, Li Qingchen heard that a magical young hero had emerged in Bianliang. His various deeds were spread to Zhending Prefecture, and the story became more and more bizarre. Li Qingchen could not help but begin to doubt the authenticity of the legend.

It was not until later, when the Song-Xia War ended, that the court's report reached Zhending Prefecture, listing Zhao Xiaoqian's various achievements in the Song-Xia War. With official certification, Li Qingchen had to believe that the Song Dynasty indeed had such a magical young hero.

At this moment, when he first saw Zhao Xiaoqian, Li Qingchen had a calm expression, but he was actually very excited.

It is hard to imagine how angry the truly virtuous intellectuals of this era were at the shame of the Song Dynasty's weakness. During the hundred years since its founding, the Song Dynasty was restricted everywhere, suffered military defeats everywhere, and was threatened and held hostage by foreign enemies, who took advantage of it.

Only the Song-Xia War last year was almost the only victory in the history of the Song Dynasty that made the emperor, his ministers and the people of the Song Dynasty all proud.

At this moment, the hero who made the Song Dynasty proud was standing right in front of him. Although Li Qingchen was in his sixties, he was as excited as a fan seeing his idol.

Zhao Xiaoqian was also looking at Li Qingchen. Just now, when he heard his self-introduction, he knew that there was a word "acting" in front of "Zhending Prefecture", which meant that after he took office in Zhending, Li Qingchen would hand over his official seal and return to Bian Jing to wait for a new official position.

This won't do. Zhao Xiaoqian has just arrived and no one has helped him familiarize himself with the official environment. He hasn't had time to win people's hearts. If he lets Li Qingchen go easily, will he have to handle the remaining large amount of official business by himself?

How could the dignified Prince of Chu endure such hardship? No matter how difficult the environment was, he would find ways to enjoy himself.

The prerequisite for enjoying happiness is that there are people who are destined to be his slaves.

Being in your sixties is the best age to be a beast of burden.

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately shook his hand and said affectionately, "Prefect Niu, would you please stay and help me for a while?"

Li Qingchen was stunned for a moment, then slowly said, "First of all, my last name is not Niu..."

(End of this chapter)