The prince is more stable

Chapter 484: Truce and Return to the City
The ingredients were so precious that even people of noble status like Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi had to argue for it.

There is only one bear paw, so how to eat it becomes a problem.

When Zhao Xiaoqian suggested throwing the bear paws away to feed the dogs, Su Shi had to compromise.

Based on Su Shi's understanding of Zhao Xiaoqian, if this guy got angry, he would really throw it out to feed the dogs. This is his character. As long as it can vent his anger, he doesn't mind doing things that harm others and benefit himself.

But Su Shi couldn't bear to do so.

What a precious bear paw! If an old man over sixty misses today, he will probably never have the chance to eat it again in his life. So he has to compromise and just eat it.

In the open space in front of the commander's tent, Chen Shou and others set up a charcoal stove, and the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Peel the bear paw, marinate it with rice wine, peppercorns and star anise, and then put the whole thing into the steamer.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi squatted in front of the charcoal stove, staring at the red fire and swallowing their saliva from time to time, just like two refugees and bandits waiting for a kind person to give them porridge.

"Zi'an, if the steamed bear paw doesn't taste right, you will be guilty of a great sin..." Su Shi still looked unhappy until this moment.

He thought Zhao Xiaoqian was wasting precious ingredients and that steamed bear paws were definitely not as delicious as stewed ones.

Su Shi had to treat this thing with caution as it was something he would probably only be able to eat once in his lifetime.

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately said, "If the steamed one doesn't taste good, Mr. Zizhan, don't eat it. How about leaving the whole one for me?"

"No!" Su Shi said without hesitation: "I have to eat it even if it tastes bad, but I can't miss a bite."

"Don't worry, don't you trust my craftsmanship?"

"I can't believe it, unless you say 'erhuo'..."

"Do not."

The meat of bear paw is firm, so it needs to be steamed for a longer time to make it tender.

After steaming for more than an hour, the steamer was filled with the rich aroma of meat. Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi looked happy and exchanged professional glances with each other as experienced gourmets.

It became.

When the steamer was opened and the porcelain plate was taken out, the bear paw on it had been steamed almost beyond recognition and was obviously rotten.

"It smells so good!" Su Shi laughed happily.

The bear paw was brought into the general's tent, and the two men sat down opposite each other. Zhao Xiaoqian also ordered Chen Shou to get a pot of wine.

The two of them picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of rotten meat and put it into their mouths. Then, their faces seemed to be illuminated by white light from the lighting technician, and they looked shiny.

The meat is plump and juicy, melting in your mouth. The marinated bear paw has removed the fishy smell. One bite is like sucking into nectar, with a hint of pork bone marrow.

Su Shi closed his eyes in ecstasy and sighed with contentment.

"I have no regrets in this life!" Su Shi murmured.

For some reason, he suddenly felt so moved that he wanted to cry, and he didn't know what made him want to cry.

When Su Shi closed his eyes to savor the taste of the bear paw, Zhao Xiaoqian was still more realistic after all.

He didn't make a single comment, but just buried his head in his food, grunting...

When Su Shi opened his eyes, he was shocked to find that Zhao Xiaoqian had eaten one third of the bear paw.

"Stop it, you brat!...Shut up!" Su Shi picked up the chopsticks and started to grab them.

The two started arguing again, you take a bite, I take a bite, you eat more than me, this round you take a break first...

It's amazing that once food is fought over, even a pile of shit will be snatched away in an instant.

After a while, the two of them had eaten up the whole bear paw, and even the juice on the plate was licked clean by Su Shi.

After wiping his greasy mouth, Su Shi's eyes suddenly turned red and he choked up.

"This delicious delicacy is only available once in my lifetime. I will never be able to eat it again. I am filled with sorrow. Alas!"

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned: "Are you terminally ill?"

"Bear paws are so rare, I'm afraid it will be hard to find them again. If nothing unexpected happens, this will probably be my only chance to feast on them in this lifetime."

Zhao Xiaoqian was even more stunned: "That's it?"

"if not?"

Zhao Xiaoqian turned his head and said, "Chen Shou, come in!"

Chen Shou lifted the curtain and came in.

"If you have time in the next few days, could you send a few teams with plenty of ammunition to search the nearby mountains and forests and find a way to kill a bear for me? Can you do it?"

Chen Shou clasped his fists and said, "It can be done. I will gather the imperial guards right away."

Chen Shou left the tent and Su Shi looked at him in astonishment.

Zhao Xiaoqian spread his hands: "If you want to eat bear paws, it's that simple."

"Mr. Zizhan, this is the army. The army is never short of foodies, and even less so of killers. Killing a bear is just a big deal. As long as there are bears nearby, they will definitely be killed."

"Mr. Zizhan, just clean your butt and wait for the bear paw."

…………

It is easy to say, and it is indeed easy. The Song army has firearms and is traveling in groups, so it is not difficult to kill a bear.

The difficulty lies in opportunity and how to discover the bear.

After several days of waiting in the camp, Su Shi still did not arrive. Seeing Su Shi's increasingly disappointed face, Zhao Xiaoqian felt sorry for him, so he had to comfort him with kind words and said that he would personally cook a famous dish "Dongpo Pork" for Su Shi.

Su Shi was no longer disappointed but horrified. He firmly stated that he would absolutely not eat it and strongly demanded that Zhao Xiaoqian change his name.

Zhao Xiaoqian would never change even if he was beaten to death.

Are you kidding? This is a traditional Chinese dish that has been passed down for a thousand years. How can the name of the dish be changed at will?

Maintaining traditions is the responsibility of every descendant of the Yellow Emperor in China.

A few days later, it was already early summer. The weather gradually became hotter and people's clothes became thinner.

Su Shi couldn't wait any longer, so he wanted to go back to Bian Jing.

After all, he had been on a diplomatic mission to the Liao Kingdom for half a year, and he had to return to Bian Jing to report. Otherwise, it would be inappropriate for him to stay in the Dragon Guard Camp, eating and drinking for free every day, and quarreling with the financial sponsor who provided the food. If he stayed any longer, people would dislike him.

When Zhao Xiaoqian heard that Su Shi was leaving, he felt a little reluctant and immediately expressed his willingness to send him to Zhending City.

Su Shi was deeply moved. Even though his brother Zi'an was already a prince, he was still so loyal and righteous. This place was more than 400 miles away from Zhending City, but he still took the trouble to see him off in person.

The friendship between men has reached such a level, and they have experienced life and death together. What else can be said? This is what a close friend is.

Moved, Su Shi shed tears silently, and agreed to Zhao Xiaoqian's unreasonable request with rare pleasure... He wrote a few more words for him and signed his name with his own handwriting.

Su Shi didn't know why Zhao Xiaoqian wanted so many calligraphy and paintings from him. He didn't understand, but he respected him.

The next morning, Zhao Xiaoqian beat the drum to gather his generals, and after instructing them on some military affairs, he set off with Su Shi, Chen Shou and other imperial guards.

There have been constant disturbances between Song and Liao recently. Of course, these disturbances were all started by Zhao Xiaoqian.

The Song army crossed the border several times and engaged in numerous large-scale battles with the Liao army. With these victories under their belt, the Liao army no longer dared to provoke a war. Zhao Xiaoqian judged that there would be no more fighting in the Feihu Army Division in the next few months. The Liao army did not have the courage to do so.

Since there was nothing to worry about, Zhao Xiaoqian was certainly not the kind of person who would stay quietly in the camp. Taking the excuse of Su Shi returning to Bianliang, Zhao Xiaoqian personally sent him to Zhending City.

I mainly miss the three women in Zhending City.

I can't bear to pay a thousand gold for a smile, after all, lovesickness is not as good as drawing silk.

Zhong Jianzhong and the generals escorted Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi to the gate of the camp, and everyone looked reluctant.

Although there will probably be no war in the near future, His Royal Highness the Prince is still the commander-in-chief of an army.

Why is this coach always thinking about running away? You don't even care about tens of thousands of soldiers?
Of course Zhao Xiaoqian didn't want to care. When there's no war, why should I stay with tens of thousands of rough men? I have to control your training, your eating, drinking, and defecating. My father didn't control me like this, so why should I control you?

Zhao Xiaoqian set out on the journey with Su Shi, escorted by more than 400 imperial guards. When leaving the camp, he was even more impatient than Su Shi, as if he were a crippled hostage escaping from the northern Myanmar electronic fraud park.

After leaving the camp and heading south, Zhao Xiaoqian was in a very good mood. When he thought of the three women in Zhending City, his whole body couldn't help but feel hot.

Whatever was on my mind, I couldn't help but say it out loud.

Zhao Xiaoqian chatted with Su Shi all the way, all they talked about were love and women.

Mainly women.

It is easy to show shyness when talking about love and romance in front of a literary giant. When the other person is in high spirits, he will burst into impromptu poetry, and Zhao Xiaoqian really can't resist him.

There are many topics to talk about when talking about women, and Zhao Xiaoqian has absolute say in this area.

The more they talked, the more excited they became, but Su Shi's face grew darker as he listened.

Finally, Su Shi said quietly, "I understand now. You didn't send me off at all. You wanted to go back to Zhending City to sleep with your woman. Sending me off was just an excuse..."

"From here to Zhending City, I will definitely accompany you all the way. A real man should not look at what others say, but what they do. Just tell me whether I sent you off or not."

Su Shi thought about it and it seemed to make sense...

But I still feel something is wrong.

The group was traveling very fast, with horses galloping all over the road, and Su Shi's old bones were almost broken.

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't care about that. He rushed back to the city for something, which was a major matter concerning the inheritance of the descendants of the Zhao family's Chu King lineage.

Three or five days later, the group finally arrived at Zhending City.

Looking up at the city gate, which was not majestic but rather a bit dilapidated, Zhao Xiaoqian breathed a sigh of relief. Then he turned his head to look at Su Shi and clasped his fists on horseback.

"The mountains remain green, the water flows on, Mr. Zizhan is on his way..."

Su Shi looked at him in astonishment. Hearing something wrong in his tone, he quickly interrupted him: "We're almost entering the city, and you're saying goodbye to me now?"

"You've even ignored my meal just to sleep with your wife? It's almost dark, and you're asking me to pass through the city without entering and continue on my way?"

Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly woke up and smiled awkwardly, "That's not what I meant at all. Mr. Zizhan has misunderstood. Let's go into the city. I'll treat you to some good food and wine tonight."

Su Shi became more and more resentful. He was certain that this was what Zhao Xiaoqian meant.

The war had indeed destroyed his humanity.

When they rode to the city gate, they saw that the soldiers guarding the city were from the wing of Shao Jing's army, most of whom knew Zhao Xiaoqian.

Seeing Zhao Xiaoqian and others coming on horseback, the soldiers guarding the city gate recognized him, saluted with their spears in surprise, and consciously made way for him.

Su Shi silently watched the respectful and joyful expressions of the soldiers. Having lived for most of his life, he could naturally tell at a glance whether the soldiers' expressions were true or false.

"Brother Zi'an, you are very popular among the soldiers whether in the Longwei Camp or Zhending Prefecture." Su Shi sighed.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "They are all soldiers who have to work hard to get food. I know what they want, so I give it to them. Naturally, the soldiers agree with me."

"Calling slogans about loyalty to the emperor and serving the country in the court is something the literati do. ​​Here, serving in the army means eating food and getting paid. If they have enough to eat and their pay is not in arrears, you are their adopted parent. That is more effective than shouting any slogans."

(End of this chapter)