The prince is more stable

Chapter 483: Withdrawal and Rest
Su Shi returned alive, and the Dragon Guard Camp's mission was accomplished.

After bringing Su Shi back to the camp, Zhao Xiaoqian immediately ordered the army to speed up the march and evacuate as soon as possible.

After three days of marching, Zhao Xiaoqian led his troops back to Feihu Bingmasi on the south bank of the Juma River.

The Song and Liao dynasties seemed to have returned to their original state, but in fact something seemed different.

Even more different is the Song Dynasty.

The operation to rescue Su Shi was a perfect military and diplomatic cooperation of the Song Dynasty. Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, this was the only time that the cooperation was so perfect and tacit.

At the same time, the Liao Kingdom also deeply felt the changes in the Song Dynasty's diplomacy, which was becoming increasingly tough.

Whether it was Su Shi or Zhang Rong, the performance of the two envoys in the capital of Liao could be said to be extremely domineering. Coupled with the military deterrence of the Dragon Guard Camp, the Liao Kingdom could not do anything to them.

This is the state of the country. We take one step forward today, and another step forward tomorrow, advancing step by step cautiously.

A country needs to surpass others in economy, military, diplomacy and other aspects, and finally win a heart-breaking victory, then this country can be defined as strong.

The powerful Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty were all like this.

And the Song Dynasty is on this path.

After returning to the south bank of the Juma River, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered the entire army to rest, but not to disturb the people.

This place was originally the territory of the Liao Kingdom. After it was occupied by the Longwei Camp, it became the territory of the Song Dynasty. Since it belonged to the Song Dynasty, all the people in the territory also belonged to the Song Dynasty. Zhao Xiaoqian issued a military order, allowing soldiers to cause trouble across the border, but the people of his own country were absolutely not allowed to be offended.

The soldiers were overjoyed and couldn't wait to count the spoils.

This time, they crossed the Juma River to the north to carry out military deterrence against the Liao Kingdom. Although they did not fight any major battles, it did not prevent the soldiers of the Longwei Camp from making money.

After crossing the river to the north, the territory belonged to the Liao Kingdom. From the Juma River to Xijin Prefecture, hundreds of miles of land, the villages, forts and tribes of the Liao Kingdom were in trouble and were looted by the Longwei Camp as usual.

While the soldiers were counting the looted property, the merchants near Feihu Bingmasi became busy. They were responsible for exchanging the cattle, sheep, furs, and medicinal herbs looted by the soldiers for silver.

The soldiers entrusted the silver they had exchanged to couriers and sent it back to their hometowns.

Although it was a solemn and austere military camp, people were coming and going nearby, making it look like a large market with all kinds of bargaining and laughter.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi were dressed in casual clothes and walked side by side outside the camp. When the soldiers saw Zhao Xiaoqian, they all saluted him. Their respectful manners and attitudes were obviously from the heart.

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded with a smile and reminded the soldiers not to rely on force to cause unpleasantness with the merchants and not to bully the weak.

The soldiers all agreed with a smile, patted the merchant's shoulders, and put their arms around his shoulders to show that we are not relatives but better than family. The merchant had a sad face and had his shoulders hooked, but he had to smile.

"That's great! It's thriving. This place will soon develop and become a prosperous border market or even a city." Zhao Xiaoqian murmured with a smile.

Su Shi had been quietly observing the soldiers and merchants negotiating business. Both sides argued until their faces were red and they were haggling over every penny. They almost came to blows over the difference of a few cents. After they reached an agreement, they quickly hugged and laughed, and became very close.

After a long pause, Su Shi frowned and said, "My dear brother, your Dragon Guard Battalion is clearly an elite force, unmatched by the Song army. Why do you think you're acting more like a merchant caravan than an army? What are you selling?"

"When selling spoils of war, some things that are bulky and inconvenient to carry naturally have to be sold for money, such as cattle, sheep, and furs," Zhao Xiaoqian explained.

Su Shi was puzzled and asked, "Shouldn't the spoils of war be confiscated?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "In the Dragon Guard Camp, spoils of war don't have to be confiscated. Whoever grabs them gets them. If the comrades can't agree, they can be divided equally."

"Are they robbing the Liao people?"

"That's right. When the army crosses the border, we can plunder and kill anyone in the place we pass through, regardless of whether it's a village, fort, or tribe. This is the rule I set in the beginning."

Su Shi was shocked. This kind of rule was simply unheard of. No wonder after the Song-Xia War, there were often censors in the court impeaching Zhao Xiaoqian, saying that he was a poor leader of the troops, allowed his soldiers to plunder, and had lax military discipline, often killing civilians outside the country.

It turns out that these were not rumors spread by the censor, nor were they excuses to overthrow Zhao Xiaoqian. They were all the truth.

Su Shi was shocked and said, "This... doesn't it go against the righteousness and benevolence of the saints?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sneered, "Brother, you're talking about righteousness in this war? Don't you know what the Liao people did to the farmers in our Song villages when they crossed the border when they were powerful?"

"I'm simply returning the favor to the Liao people. Zhending Prefecture governs nine counties. Over the years, natural disasters and man-made disasters, along with the Liao people's looting, have reduced the population to just over 160,000. How can I settle this debt? Do you expect me to forgive the Liao people?"

Su Shi was still somewhat incredulous: "If soldiers kill civilians at will, won't that encourage their violence, make them even more brutal and lose their humanity?"

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head. "No, the Song Dynasty's current situation requires a ruthless and skilled army. The Song Dynasty has been weak for too long. If the country were a person, this person would have to swallow his anger when being bullied, and he has gradually lost his manly spirit."

"If this goes on for a long time, his character will be distorted, just like the eunuchs in the palace. His penis is like being cut off, and he will be bullied to death for the rest of his life. Do you want to see such a Song Dynasty?"

"So, I need an army filled with resentment. They must use killing to stir up their bloodiness, and then use this bloodiness to kill the enemy on the battlefield. They must learn to be uncompromising, unwavering, and never flee even if they die. Only with this bloodiness can this country be saved."

Su Shi closed his eyes. As a Jinshi graduate, he had been intensively studying books of sages since childhood. He could recite the teachings of benevolence and righteousness in the classics of sages fluently. However, what Zhao Xiaoqian had said to him today undoubtedly shook his three views, and he needed time to digest it.

Zhao Xiaoqian patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile, "It doesn't matter if you can't figure it out. You don't have to go to the battlefield anyway. But as a guest in the Dragon Guard Camp, you'd better not talk about benevolence and righteousness. This is the army, and we are facing enemies with swords and guns. We are now at war."

"When the enemy comes to attack, you can't stand in front of the battle and say, 'Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar?'"

Su Shi rolled his eyes at him and said, "Why must you speak so frivolously about such a good principle?"

"That's just me. Mr. Zizhan doesn't seem like a serious person either..." Zhao Xiaoqian let out a wicked smile and leaned in to whisper, "You've been in the capital of Liao for half a year and couldn't bear to come back. Tell me the truth, how many rich ladies and courtesans have you slept with?" Su Shi's face flushed, and he said seriously, "Absolutely not!"

Zhao Xiaoqian looked concerned. "Mr. Zizhan, you're already sixty years old. Can you handle this? It just so happens that I have a bunch of precious tonics in my tent, including a lot of century-old ginseng. I'll get some for you later."

Su Shi said sternly: "How could I use such a thing? You look down on me!"

"Forget it!"

As soon as he turned around, Su Shi grabbed his sleeve, a trace of discomfort flashing across his face.

"...I have a friend who is not feeling well. I want to ask for some wild ginseng on his behalf."

"I understand, we're just friends..." Zhao Xiaoqian smiled evilly.

Su Shi was becoming more and more embarrassed, and was about to lose his temper, but he saw Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly reach out and grab a soldier who was passing by him.

"What are you holding in your hand? Let me see." Zhao Xiaoqian spoke in the tone of a bandit.

The soldier was very young, only about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was not afraid of Zhao Xiaoqian's robbery. He smiled and held two hairy sticks in his hands.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi put their heads together and looked at it carefully.

"What is this?" Zhao Xiaoqian moved closer and smelled it. It had a fishy smell.

Suddenly, Zhao Xiaoqian handed it to Su Shi's mouth and warmly invited him, "Lick it and try the taste."

Su Shi was also a little confused, perhaps because he trusted Zhao Xiaoqian too much. His mouth reacted faster than his brain. He subconsciously licked it with his tongue, and then made a "Pooh" sound. It was obvious that the taste was not very good.

The young soldier smiled and explained: "Your Highness, this is a tonic that we looted from the Liao village after our army crossed the river to the north."

"What?"

"Bullwhips. I'm going to trade them with the merchant for some money."

Su Shi's old face immediately turned dark. He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, wanting to vomit but unable to.

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up: "Well, I have a friend... um."

After a pause, I suddenly realized what I was explaining to a soldier?

Pulling out a small piece of silver from his pocket and throwing it to the soldier, Zhao Xiaoqian said simply: "I want the thing, get out!"

The soldier was overjoyed. He bowed and ran away happily.

Zhao Xiaoqian held two bull whips in his hands, and nine ways of using the bull whips flashed through his mind, nine ways!

When he turned around, he saw Su Shi's face was ashen, he was bent over and wanted to vomit but couldn't, and his expression was particularly struggling.

Patting him on the shoulder, Zhao Xiaoqian mocked him, "Mr. Zizhan was exiled to the Lingnan region of Guizhou and Qiong. He ate all sorts of strange and bizarre things, like snakes and insects. How could you possibly spit out two bullwhips?"

Su Shi's face turned pale as he said, "I have eaten all kinds of things, but bullwhip... I have never eaten it raw!"

"When you asked me to lick you just now, was it intentional or deliberate?"

Zhao Xiaoqian raised the bullwhip and asked, "Should we roast it or stew it?"

"Roast." Su Shi said without hesitation.

"Call your frail friend?"

"roll!"

…………

High-end ingredients often only require the simplest cooking methods.

When two people who love food get together, they can be said to have similar interests. Of course, there will be fierce arguments.

Both of them love food and are picky about it. Once people become picky, they can easily go to extremes.

Roasting bull whip is simple, mainly due to the method of making bear paw. Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi almost had a fight because of the difference in method.

Zhao Xiaoqian thought steaming the bear paw was more appropriate, but Su Shi felt it had to be stewed.

Zhao Xiaoqian said, I gave you face, right? The bear paw is mine.

Su Shi said, that was what you left for me, I must keep my word, I will do whatever you say.

Zhao Xiaoqian said, come on, throw the bear paws out to feed the dogs, and no one should eat them.

Su Shi said, "...I'll listen to you, steam." "I'm sorry, brother Zi'an. I spoke too loudly just now. Didn't I scare you?"

(End of this chapter)