The prince is more stable

Chapter 464 Spiritual Guide
After leaving Bian Jing, Zhao Xiaoqian's mind was all on the war between Song and Liao. When he was distracted occasionally, his attention was always on his wife. For a moment, he really forgot that Su Shi had been on a diplomatic mission to Liao for nearly half a year.

What kind of good person would be sent as an envoy to another country and stay there for half a year?

Could it be that Su Shi’s ancestor was Su Wu, who liked to herd sheep in a foreign country and challenge the limits of survival?

Zhao Xiaoqian frowned and thought for a long time, feeling that something was wrong.

"Chen Shou, go summon Zhao Xin. Also... add more ginger slices to the chicken soup and a little rice wine to remove the fishy smell."

Zhao Xin arrived very quickly. He was an officer of the Imperial City Division. As part of a very important intelligence department, Zhao Xin had always been with Zhao Xiaoqian and the Dragon Guard Battalion. However, the two armies had been fighting recently, and the task of gathering military intelligence had been handed over to the scouts in the army. Compared with the spies of the Imperial City Division, the work of gathering military intelligence was more suitable for the scouts.

When Zhao Xin saw Zhao Xiaoqian, his eyes were red, like a child who had been abducted for many years seeing his biological parents, and he almost cried.

"It's so rare to see you, but you look like you've lost your parents. Did an elder in your family pass away?" Zhao Xiaoqian felt as if he had drunk chicken soup mixed with arsenic, and his little mouth was smeared with poison.

Zhao Xin said with a mournful face, "It's rare for me to see His Highness the Prince. I've always been with the army, and during the two wars between Song and Liao, His Highness never once used the Imperial City Division. I saw it with my own eyes, and I was worried. I thought His Highness had forgotten these poor people in the Imperial City Division..."

"What you're saying is that the Imperial City Bureau is doing sneaky things. Why would I need them to spy on military intelligence when two armies are at war? The scouts in the army are better at this job than you. You guys in the Imperial City Bureau haven't had to do anything lately, and you're still getting paid for nothing, yet you're complaining."

Zhao Xiaoqian squinted at him and said, "If you truly have a heart for serving your country, I'll enlist you in the vanguard suicide squad next time. You'll launch a single-handed suicide charge against the Liao army. If you come back alive, I'll give you credit for the first merit. What do you think? Consider it."

Zhao Xin's face froze, and he smiled awkwardly, "...Your Highness just accepted the position and said nothing."

Zhao Xin then continued, "Your Highness has summoned me today. I believe you will need to mobilize the Imperial City Division. Your Highness, please give your orders. From me, the Imperial City Division, I am willing to die for you."

"I'm sorry, but you should continue to receive the imperial salary for free. We won't need you this time." Zhao Xiaoqian paused and said, "Is Zhen Qing still in the capital of Liao?"

Zhen Qing was one of the three major officials of the Imperial City Bureau and Zhao Xin's superior. Upon hearing this, Zhao Xin hurriedly said, "Yes, Zhen Gou Dang has been staying in Shangjing. It is said that he is busy making friends with the powerful people of the Liao Kingdom. Recently, Zhen Gou Dang has set his sights on a person named 'Xiao Fengxian'..."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed and said, "Send a secret letter to Zhen Qing, asking him to inquire about Su Shi's situation. Scholar Su has been on a diplomatic mission to the Liao Kingdom for nearly half a year and has yet to return, with no explanation. Have the Liao Kingdom's Imperial City Administration in Shangjing investigate this matter and report back as soon as possible."

Zhao Xin said sternly, "I obey your orders. I will have news in half a month at the latest."

Zhao Xin sniffed suddenly, a puzzled expression on his face. "Where does this aroma come from? It smells so good, it seems like chicken soup..."

Zhao Xiaoqian said seriously, "You may have rhinitis recently. Your sense of smell is deceiving you. Go back and see a doctor."

"Nose...rhinitis?" Zhao Xin said goodbye with a confused look on his face.

Zhao Xiaoqian watched him leave with a slight smile on his face.

Apart from Su Shi, His Royal Highness the Prince does not like to share food with others and prefers to eat alone.

…………

The Liao Kingdom came to the capital.

Why did Su Shi take so long to return home? Why did the sows in the Liao capital scream in the middle of the night?

Well, the two are not related.

Su Shi has been living in the inn in Shangjing, and he has been busy with social engagements recently.

It has to be said that Su Shi is worthy of being a great writer of the time. His fans are not only spread across the Song Dynasty, but he also has many fans in the Liao Dynasty.

This even included the Liao Emperor Yelü Hongji.

Yelu Hongji was actually quite inclined towards Sinology. After he ascended the throne, he actively studied the classics of the sages of the Song Dynasty, the etiquette of the Central Plains, including Taoist knowledge, etc.

Later in his later years, Yelu Hongji became obsessed with Buddhism and could not extricate himself from it, so temples were built everywhere in the Liao Kingdom, and countless people gave up farming and became monks to earn incense.

Yelu Hongji's hobby was too expensive, which was one of the reasons for the gradual decline of the Liao Dynasty.

In his early years, Yelu Hongji was also a fan of Su Shi, and he especially admired Su's poems. When he got a poem by Su Shi from the Song Dynasty, he often couldn't put it down and would sleep with it.

Unfortunately, Yelu Hongji was not only a fan, but also the emperor of Liao.

As an emperor, he was undoubtedly calm.

No matter how awesome an idol is, he can never become a moron. Yelu Hongji knows that love is restraint.

During Su Shi's diplomatic mission to the Liao Kingdom, Yelu Hongji only summoned him once from beginning to end, and then arranged for Su Shi to stay in an inn, and never heard of him again.

However, what surprised Yelu Hongji was that with the current relationship between Song and Liao, they were basically enemies without declaring war on each other, but Su Shi, the Song envoy, stayed in Shangjing and refused to return home.

Is this awkward?
Yelu Hongji couldn't understand why. "Our two countries are at war, and you're still refusing to leave. Are you waiting for Liao to pay you a salary? You're an official of the Song Dynasty, are you crazy?"

After Zhao Xiaoqian took office in Zhending Prefecture, the relationship between the two countries took a sharp turn for the worse. Yelu Hongji was busy discussing with court officials how to deal with the Song army, and for a moment he forgot about Su Shi, the Song envoy.

And what about Su Shi? He lived happily in Shangjing, thanks to his numerous fans. Every day, crowds of people crowded the door of his inn. Some scholars from Liao came to seek his advice, some arrogant people asked to debate with Su Shi, and even more were the daughters of the powerful and wealthy in Shangjing, as well as the most beautiful women in the brothels.

Su Shi was burdened with a mission and had no interest in romance. Later, after being summoned by the Liao Emperor, Su Shi changed his temperament for some reason and began to meet with fans in small batches.

Later, when fans heard that Su Shi was willing to meet them, it immediately caused a sensation in Shangjing. Fans from all sides came in droves, and more and more people gathered in front of the inn.

Su Shi was not arrogant. He would meet a group of fans, about 10 to 20 people, at a fixed time every day. The fans were ecstatic, and Su Shi also had a fake smile on his face for the sake of socializing.

Later, Su Shi frequently feasted with the dignitaries of the Liao Kingdom and got drunk in brothels. Unconsciously, Su Shi seemed to have integrated into the society of the Liao Kingdom.

However, no one still knows why Su Shi refused to leave Shangjing.

Until a few days ago, news came from Shangjing that Yelu Chun was defeated in Zhending Prefecture, and Zhao Xiaoqian, the Duke of Song, led his troops to fight against the Liao army, and all 50,000 Liao troops were wiped out.

When the news reached Shangjing, the Liao people were devastated.

The war between Song and Liao was being discussed in the streets, alleys, courts and temples. The Liao people were either sighing in grief or cursing Yelu Chun and Zhao Xiaoqian.

The news of the Liao army's defeat naturally reached Su Shi's ears. After hearing that Zhao Xiaoqian led his troops to annihilate 50,000 Liao troops, Su Shi laughed out loud in the inn, and his laughter lasted for dozens of breaths. At the end of his laughter, Su Shi burst into tears, wailed loudly, knelt in the yard, and kowtowed three times facing south towards Bianjing.

Even when the situation had become so severe, Su Shi still did not leave. He still enthusiastically met with his fans every day, had long discussions with the literati of Liao, and drank and visited prostitutes with the dignitaries, enjoying himself so much that he did not want to leave his homeland.

Later, the servants of the inn specially cleared out a large room and placed a low table and a cushion inside, and Su Shi's way of meeting his fans also changed.

Su Shi became Teacher Su and began to teach Liao fans.

The students were selected by Su Shi. Most of them were children of powerful and wealthy people who came here because of his reputation, some were descendants of generals who did not understand the Central Plains culture, and a few were die-hard fans of powerful and wealthy daughters.

These students have one thing in common: their fathers are in power, and their entire family has a low level of cultural education, and they are particularly unfamiliar with the Central Plains culture.

What an honor it was for these rough and powerful people in the Liao Kingdom to be taught personally by the world-famous scholar Su.

At this time, the powerful people in Liao Kingdom had forgotten Su Shi's identity as an envoy from Song Dynasty. They were all smiling and strictly ordered that the students selected by Su Shi must attend classes. Anyone who dared to be late, leave early or skip classes would be skinned.

A few days after the Liao army was defeated, Su Shi sat in the classroom of the inn, stroking his beard with a calm expression.

The students came in one after another, saluted Su Shi and called him "Master".

Su Shi responded indifferently. After all the students arrived, he took a sip of tea and cleared his throat.

"In the last lesson, I taught you the history of Qin. Do you still remember it?" Su Shi asked slowly.

The students responded in unison.

Su Shi's eyes flickered as he continued, "Why did the Qin Dynasty fall during the Second Emperor's reign? It was because the First Emperor was cruel and harsh in his laws, which led to the people's miserable lives and the rebellion of the whole country."

"Do you remember what the name was when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started the uprising?"

All the students said in unison: "Kings, princes, generals and ministers, are they all born with a special kind of blood?"

Su Shi laughed: "That's right. Kings, princes, generals, and ministers are all born with different species. What I mean is, why are you so lucky to be the emperor and a prince? Why can't I be the emperor and a prince?"

Slowly looking around, Su Shi emphasized his tone, "You should all remember this sentence. If you encounter injustice in the future, you might as well think about this sentence. It will benefit you greatly."

The students responded in unison. Of course, a doubt inexplicably emerged in the minds of two of the students who had some brains.

Why did Master Su look so sinister when he said this? Was it an illusion?

Su Shi turned a page of the book and continued, "Last time we talked about the history of Qin. This time I will talk to you about the history of Han..."

The students had just opened the history book, expecting Su Shi to start with the Chu-Han Contention. However, Su Shi waved his hand and said, "As for the Han history, you can go back and read it yourself. Today, I will focus on the late Han Dynasty. There was a great and virtuous teacher named Zhang Jue..."

"This great and virtuous teacher was truly remarkable. Seeing the Han Emperor's incompetence, the court dominated by corrupt officials, the people suffering, even exchanging their own children for food, and the sheer injustice of the world, Zhang Jue called on his followers to revolt, his voice resounding: 'The Blue Heaven has died, the Yellow Heaven must ascend. In the year Jiazi, great prosperity reigns.'"

Su Shi's eyes widened in shock, his face filled with admiration and respect: "Men like us should be like great and virtuous teachers. If we encounter injustice, why should we endure it? Anyone with a burning passion should take up his sword and slay the demons and monsters, seeking justice for himself and for the people of the world!"

"What do you think?"

The students were stunned, then all agreed: "That's right, we should follow Zhang Jiao's example. If we encounter injustice, we should rally people to revolt and never yield!"

Su Shi nodded heavily and laughed heartily with satisfaction: "I have to say, I have had countless disciples in my life, but I never expected to meet such talented people like you in your Liao Kingdom. This teacher-student relationship between me and you is well worth it. How happy I am!"

"Haha, there's no need to be bound by the mood. Come, bring me a jar of wine. I'll drink while I teach you. You won't blame me for being rude, right?"

The students hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Master Su is a man of character, free and easy, and a famous scholar. I have always admired him."

(End of this chapter)