The prince is more stable

Chapter 471: Pressure from the North
Zhao Xiaoqian has always been quite satisfied with the soldiers of the Dragon Guard Camp under his command.

The main thing is that the soldiers are obedient, sensible, and not pretentious. They are also unwavering when it comes to fighting to the death.

Which commander wouldn’t like such soldiers?
After commanding such an army for a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian gradually saw the gap between the Dragon Guard Camp and the border troops and wing troops.

The gap is indeed not small.

It would be insulting to the local comrades to say that there was a natural chasm between the Border Army and the local wing armies, one of the four upper armies guarding Bianliang. However, from the army training in recent days, it can be seen that the Border Army is indeed struggling and cannot keep up with the rhythm and physical fitness of the Dragon Guard Battalion.

The road ahead is long and arduous, so there is no rush. Zhao Xiaoqian is still young. If nothing unexpected happens, he will live long enough to safely feed every soldier in the Dragon Guard Camp.

"Zhang Rong, if you go to the capital of Liao to ask for someone, I will only give you 500 soldiers to accompany the army. Are you afraid?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked with a smile.

Zhang Rong curled his lips and said, "What's there to be afraid of? I have tens of thousands of my fellow Dragon Guards standing behind me. If anyone dares to be disrespectful to me, I'll chop him alive! The strength of our Song Dynasty is now at least on par with the Liao Kingdom. What do I have to be afraid of?"

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded. "That's right, that's the way it should be. After you arrive in Shangjing, I will lead the Dragon Guard Battalion across the Juma River to the north and put some pressure on the Liao people on the border."

"If the Liao Lord is not confused, he should know what to do. Even if you enter Shangjing alone, the Liao people will not dare to touch you. Just go ahead and do it without any worries."

Zhang Rong said happily, "I just love doing this kind of arrogant and domineering work. If I had to engage in a polite verbal battle with them, I might be a little intimidated, but when it comes to being arrogant and domineering, oh! I dare to dig up the Yelu family's ancestral graves."

Zhao Xiaoqian coughed. "Well... Dame! You can be arrogant, but you still have to pay attention to your bottom line. Don't really provoke others. Otherwise, we won't be able to rescue you from a thousand miles away. The most the Dragon Guard Battalion can do is help you get revenge and give you a proper burial."

Zhang Rong's face tightened. Only then did he realize that the two places were thousands of miles apart. The Longwei Camp could only exert military pressure on the Liao Kingdom from a distance, and it was impossible for it to rush into Shangjing to be his backer.

So Zhang Rong immediately became much more obedient.

Zhang Rong was a snobbish man. When he had a strong fist, he was extremely arrogant, but when he was weak, he would decisively admit defeat. This kind of spineless yet sensible character was quite appreciated by Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhao Xiaoqian's expression gradually grew serious, and he said in a deep voice, "This trip has only one purpose, to bring Su Shi back. Remember, he must be alive."

Zhang Rong hesitated and asked, "What if Su Shi has been killed by the Liao people before I reach Shangjing?"

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes darkened as he said coldly, "If Su Shi is killed, you return immediately. My Dragon Guard Battalion will launch a feint attack and lay siege to Hejian Prefecture in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Let's see how the Liao Kingdom will react."

All the generals present looked at Zhao Xiaoqian in shock, their eyes filled with unexpected excitement.

Are we going to take action against the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun so soon?
Zhao Xiaoqian didn't want to explain his strategic intentions too clearly. Instead, he looked at Zhe Keshi and said, "Old Zhe, tomorrow morning, you will lead 10,000 troops and cross the Juma River to the north. The cavalry will feint within a radius of 100 miles on the north bank to create a tense atmosphere."

Zhe Keshi stood up and clasped his fists: "I obey your orders!"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Zhong Jianzhong again and said, "Old Zhong, lead the remaining 20,000 troops and horses to cross the Juma River to the north and set up camp on the north bank. The news of my Longwei Battalion's crossing to the north must reach the Liao capital at the same time as Zhang Rong. This is what we call 'pressure'."

Zhe Keshi asked, "If I encounter the Liao army while leading my troops on a feint, how will I deal with it?"

Zhao Xiaoqian waved his hand and said, "Anyone who stands in my way will be killed."

"Yes!" Zhe Keshi responded excitedly.

Zhong Jianzhong said worriedly, "Your Highness, this trip north is quite significant. I don't know what the imperial court in Bianjing will say. It would be better to send someone to ask for permission first, and then decide on our next move."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Before leaving Bianjing, I asked the emperor for permission. The emperor gave me the power to make the decision at my convenience. Let's get the job done first, and then report to Bianjing."

All the generals took the order and left. Zhao Xiaoqian stood in the hall, gazing at the sky outside.

In the sky, there is a white cloud shaped like a horse, galloping towards the north, with its head held high, unyielding and persistent, like a trace of obsession left in the world by the heroic spirits who have refused to give up for a hundred years.

"I can't make a single mistake..." Zhao Xiaoqian murmured to himself.

When many responsibilities were inexplicably placed on his shoulders, he felt tremendous pressure.

The young man once showed his potential, and his original intention was only to change the fate of himself and his family, but why did he have to bear the future of the entire country on his shoulders?
As the responsibilities became heavier, Zhao Xiaoqian sometimes wanted to escape and felt full of resentment. Why should he carry on his shoulders things that were not his responsibility?

However, after waking up, he finally put on the bridle and continued to grind the mill.

In this world, everyone is a beast of burden.

…………

The next morning, the Dragon Guard Battalion held a military inspection.

Zhang Rong selected five hundred soldiers from the Longwei Camp, left the camp before dawn and crossed the river to the north, rushing to Shangjing, the capital of Liao, at lightning speed.

This time, Zhang Rong went with a banner and a staff. His official identity was the special envoy of the Prince of Hejian of the Song Dynasty. He was ordered to go to the capital of Liao to welcome the return of Su Shi, the envoy of the Song Dynasty.

The official rhetoric was very polite and amicable, as if the Song-Liao War of the past few months had never happened. The exchanges between the two countries were still harmonious and friendly, and their relationship was like the brotherly countries of the past, without any change.

The Song Dynasty seemed to know nothing about Su Shi's experience in Shangjing. In the letter Zhao Xiaoqian wrote to Yelu Hongji, he pretended to be deaf and dumb, and only said that he was welcoming Su Shi back to the country, as if it was as common as if his family had stayed at a neighbor's house for a long time and someone came to urge him to go home for dinner.

In the diplomatic relations between the two countries, such confusion had to be feigned; there was no reason to tear each other apart right away. So Zhang Rong, holding the banner in hand and the letter from Zhao Xiaoqian to the Liao Emperor in his arms, set off with his head held high.

At the same time, Zhe Keshi led 10,000 troops to cross the Juma River to the north, and according to Zhao Xiaoqian's order, patrolled within a radius of 100 miles on the north bank of the Juma River.

The Liao Kingdom could not have been unaware of such a large-scale troop mobilization by the Dragon Guard Camp. Every day, countless Liao scouts were watching the movements of the Song army across the Juma River.

Seeing the Song army suddenly crossing the river to the north today, the Liao scouts were horrified and hurriedly reported the military situation to Xijin Prefecture.

That night, more than 20,000 Song troops led by Zhong Jianzhong also crossed the Juma River and set up camp on the north bank.

At the same time, Xijin Prefecture of Liao also learned about the Song army's troop mobilization news, and hurriedly reported it to the capital. It quickly assembled the troops of Xijin Prefecture and marched southwest to intercept the Song army.

In Hebei Province, turmoil has arisen again and war clouds are gathering.

Just as Zhao Xiaoqian expected, three days later, Zhang Rong led 500 men and rushed day and night. As soon as they arrived at Shangjing, the capital of Liao, the messenger from Xijin Prefecture also arrived at the same time.

In accordance with diplomatic etiquette, Zhang Rong handed the seal and documents to the Liao army defending Shangjing City, and raised the flag in his hand.

The Liao army was originally full of vigilance and hostility towards Zhang Rong and his group of Song people. However, after showing the seal and documents, the Liao army outside the city gate did not dare to be negligent and sent people into the city quickly to report.

Zhang Rong and five hundred soldiers stood outside the city gate waiting calmly.

Half an hour later, a fat man in his forties wearing Liao official uniform walked out of the city gate surrounded by a group of soldiers.

When the man saw Zhang Rong and five hundred other soldiers waiting outside the city gate, he couldn't help but smile coldly. He walked forward without greeting and glared at him with his nose.

"Are you the special envoy of the Prince of Hejian of Song State?" the man said arrogantly.

Zhang Rong looked him over and asked calmly, "Who are you?"

"I am Zeng Zhan, the ceremonial officer of the enemy Liemadu in the capital."

"Your surname is Zeng? Are you Han Chinese?" Zhang Rong narrowed his eyes and his expression became increasingly unfriendly.

"What Han people! I am a Liao people!" Zeng Zhan's tone gradually became colder.

Zhang Rong turned his head and asked the guard beside him, "What is this Dilie...what is this Dilie Division? What does it do?"

The guard beside him had more common sense than he did, and whispered, "The Diliemadusi, the Liao Kingdom is in charge of diplomatic etiquette and tribute, equivalent to the Honglu Temple of the Song Dynasty."

Zhang Rong seemed to understand, but he still uttered a "oh" as if he suddenly understood. He then asked, "What kind of person is this ceremonial officer named Zeng?"

The guard scratched his head: "I'm not sure, it should be equivalent to the Honglu Temple Secretary, or an official like that..."

Zhang Rong said impatiently, "Just guess what rank this guy is."

The guard suddenly felt a great deal of pressure. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he said hesitantly, "Should be...sixth rank, or fifth rank...right?"

Zhang Rong ignored the Liao official named Zeng Zhan and counted the details on his fingers.

"His Royal Highness is of the first rank, and I am the Prince's special envoy. My words and actions represent the Prince, so I am also of the first rank..."

Zeng Zhan, who was standing by, heard all his chatter and his eyelids twitched.

Is this how the account is calculated?
Zhang Rong was completely absorbed in his own precise calculations, still counting on his fingers as he muttered, "I'm a first-rank official, so the Liao Kingdom officials who come to greet me must be officials of the first rank or higher, such as the Prime Minister or the Privy Councilor. Otherwise, it would be bullying..."

As he spoke, Zhang Rong glanced at Zeng Zhan, his eyes becoming increasingly hostile. "You bastard, at best you're only a fifth-rank official. How dare you act so arrogantly in front of a first-rank official like me?"

"You son of a bitch, you're asking for a beating!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Rong swung his fist as big as a sand bowl and punched Zeng Zhan hard on the nose. The punch hit Zeng Zhan's nose right in the middle.

Zeng Zhan didn't expect that the envoy from Song State would take action without any warning.

The bridge of Zeng Zhan's nose was hit instantly, and he felt dizzy. His nasal cavity was filled with sour, spicy, and numb smells, and all kinds of smells. Then two streams of heat flowed down his nostrils. Zeng Zhan wiped his hands subconsciously, only to see blood all over his hands.

Zeng Zhan was suddenly shocked and angry. He covered his nose and shouted angrily, "The Song people are so arrogant that they dare to commit violence in our country. Come on, come on! Capture them!"

The Liao army soldiers behind him drew their swords and surrounded him.

The five hundred soldiers behind Zhang Rong also drew their swords and confronted the Liao army without showing any weakness.

Zhang Rong, however, showed no fear. He calmly raised his seal and shouted, "I am an envoy from the Great Song Dynasty, sent to the capital of the Liao Kingdom. If you dare to touch a hair on my head, you will be in big trouble!"

As he spoke, Zhang Rong suddenly bent down, stretched out his head, and said, "Come on, chop me down! If you dare to chop me, I'll be reincarnated!"

(End of this chapter)