The prince is more stable

Chapter 485 Home Reunion
There are still more than 30,000 troops in Zhending City, which is a force that cannot be ignored.

During the Song-Liao War, Zhao Xiaoqian was deeply impressed by the performance of the 5,000 troops under Shao Jing's command.

In that battle, the five thousand soldiers were almost wiped out, but no one fled or retreated. Everyone fought fiercely and gritted their teeth to hold on until the reinforcements arrived.

Since then, Zhao Xiaoqian's impression of the Xiang Army has changed greatly.

In terms of combat effectiveness, the Xiang Army may not be as good as the Imperial Guards, but in terms of fighting will, the Xiang Army is no worse than the Imperial Guards.

From then on, Zhao Xiaoqian became generous to the Xiang Army and never withheld their food and wages. At the same time, he gradually equipped the Xiang Army with leather armor and new weapons, and also handed over the city defense of Zhending Prefecture to the Xiang Army.

After these actions, the spirit and spirit of the wing troops are different now. When they realize that they are valued by the prince and no longer have to accept the discriminatory eyes of the imperial guards, the more than 30,000 wing troops are almost completely transformed and excited.

Zhao Xiaoqian was speaking the truth. He gave his soldiers whatever they needed. This was a very simple and unpretentious philosophy of leading troops, and it turned out to be quite effective.

Riding into the city with Su Shi, Su Shi opened his eyes wide in surprise at the prosperous scene in Zhending City.

It was almost dark, and it should have been time for businesses to close and people to go home, but the streets were still bustling with people.

The doors of the shops on the street were wide open, and many shop assistants stood in front of the doors shouting loudly. The people passing by were mostly carrying a few small packages in their hands, perhaps they were snacks they had just bought, or a few feet of flowered cloth they bought for their wives and children, or perhaps they were just greedy and secretly bought a dime of wine.

From the brothels on the west side, the actors' singing or storytelling could be heard, and the crowd burst into applause from time to time. The brothel next door was brightly lit, and scholars in silk and satin shirts walked in elegantly.

Su Shi stared at everything around him, his expression becoming more and more surprised.

"Last year, I was ordered to go on a diplomatic mission to the Liao Kingdom. I passed through Zhending City and stayed there for a night. I remember that Zhending City was not like this back then. The city was quiet, the streets were empty, and the people were listless, like a dead city. But today..."

Su Shi looked around uncertainly: "Are we entering Zhending City?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled: "Mr. Zizhan, this is indeed Zhending City. It is more prosperous than before..."

"Why is it so? Is it also under your administration?" Su Shi asked in confusion.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "I was just governing by doing nothing. It was mainly because of the court's three-year tax exemption policy that gave Zhending Prefecture a break. The dying people and merchants were revived."

Su Shi was deeply shocked. He stared at the prosperous scene around him in amazement and muttered, "Are the imperial taxes so heavy? So, the root of all evil in the world lies with the imperial court?"

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him and said calmly, "You scholars and officials are fighting in the court, arguing about which law is better for the court, the old law or the new law, but no one seems to have considered which law is better for the people."

"Actually, if you high-ranking officials come down to the people, stay for a few days, and understand their suffering, you'll naturally get the answer. Unfortunately, many people actually know the correct answer, but they insist on being wrong."

"For the sake of their own selfish interests, just to gain power in the party struggles, they would rather take sides against their conscience than consider whether the laws should be amended to ensure that the court's policies truly benefit the people."

"The common people are the ones who pay taxes to the court. If they are being cheated out of some old or new law, who will you collect taxes from? How can you enrich yourself and enjoy yourself? Farmers raising pigs know to fatten them before slaughtering them. Don't you officials in the court even understand this principle?"

Su Shi seemed to understand something and said, "So, when you were in Bianjing, my dear brother Zi'an, you always stayed away from both the New Party and the Old Party and had no intention of getting involved. Is it because you looked down on both sides? Do you have your own way?"

"The word 'Tao' is too formal. I'm just an ordinary person, where does 'Tao' come from? I just follow my heart. Whether it's the new laws of the court or the old laws, they all hurt the people. In my eyes, new laws and old laws are all the same. Why should I get involved?"

Su Shi was silent for a long time, then suddenly bowed to Zhao Xiaoqian and said, "I have learned a lot from you today. Thank you for your guidance."

"Mr. Zizhan was once a member of the old party and was quite opposed to the new law. Have you changed your mind today?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked with a smile.

Su Shi nodded: "A lot has indeed changed. In fact, the so-called new laws and old laws are worse than no laws at all."

Pointing to the prosperous scene around him, Su Shi sighed: "If the people were free from taxes, how free and at ease they would be, and how comfortable their lives would be."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "The tax exemption is only for three years, and it's even more impossible for the court to exempt the entire country from taxes. After all, for a country to function, it must collect taxes."

Su Shi said, "Therefore, I believe that we should stop dwelling on the so-called new laws and old laws. We should let those officials who still have a conscience serve in the local areas for a few years, see the suffering of the people there, and experience firsthand the advantages and disadvantages of the new and old laws. Then, when we return to Bianjing, we can gather everyone's wisdom and formulate a complete law that will benefit both the court and the people."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. "Ideals are full of promises, but reality is very harsh. At least it's a good idea. I agree."

Before they knew it, the group arrived outside Zhao Xiaoqian's residence.

The mansion was a newly purchased five-story mansion with a plaque hanging high above the door lintel that read "Hejian County Prince's Mansion". In front of the door, the imperial guards were lined up in two rows in a goose-shaped formation.

When the imperial guards saw Zhao Xiaoqian and his group arrive, they were overjoyed after recognizing them and bowed to greet them.

The clever imperial guards rushed into the house and reported to the three mistresses in the house.

Su Shi looked at the door lintel and sighed, "Is this your residence?"

"Not bad, quite impressive, isn't it?" Zhao Xiaoqian blinked.

Su Shi sighed: "It is not inferior to the title of a prince."

"Compared to the various palaces in Bianjing, this is quite shabby. Mr. Zizhan, please."

The two of them walked in side by side. As soon as they walked out of the screen wall, they were greeted by a fragrant breeze. Three warm and soft bodies pressed against them. Niao Niao and the two Japanese sisters were in tears. "Sir——"

Su Shi, who was standing by, coughed awkwardly, turned around gracefully, and pretended to look at the scenery.

The two girls, Nian Nian and Niaoniao, ignored other people's gazes and tried their best to get into Zhao Xiaoqian's arms.

"My dear, you have been gone for another two months. Are you so cruel to abandon us sisters?" Niao Niao leaned on his chest, feeling so full of longing that she didn't know how to express it, and bit his shoulder hard.

"Let go!" Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes widened in pain. "Am I a fucking delicacy? You bite me the moment you see me."

The four of them huddled together, and the scene of their reunion was a little strange, with a few more people.

After a long time, Zhao Xiaoqian introduced Su Shi, who was avoiding the side.

The two Japanese sisters seemed to have a natural sense of inferiority when facing the Song people. Although they were descendants of the Japanese royal family and had a noble background, they were cautious and uneasy in front of the officials and celebrities of the Song Dynasty, fearing that they would be discriminated against.

When they heard that this man was the world-famous Su Dongpo, the two Japanese sisters became even more frightened and bowed politely.

"Have you heard of me?" Su Shi was a little surprised.

Heike smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Zizhan's poetry is famous throughout the world. Many of his masterpieces have been brought across the oceans and even to Japan. Many Japanese nobles are proud to recite Mr. Zizhan's poems."

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Su Shi and smiled, "If Mr. Zizhan is short of money, why not go to Japan? There's nothing to do. Just set up a small booth and sell tickets. I'll charge ten taels for a glance, and twenty taels for a word. If I can get you to swear, well, that's going to be expensive..."

"Nonsense!" Su Shi cursed with a smile, "No matter how poor I am, I would never bother to make money in this way."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "It seems my fame isn't big enough yet. I need to do more in the future and strive to reach the level of Mr. Zizhan..."

"and then?"

"Then I'll go to Japan and set up a small booth to sell tickets..." Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "Making money is not shameful. There's no shame in making any amount of money."

Taira chuckled and said softly, "If you go to Japan, you don't have to work so hard to earn money. Just give the order and the Taira and Minamoto families will give you millions of taels of money."

Zhao Xiaoqian thought for a moment and said sincerely, "I'm busy lately. Why don't you write a letter to your family and ask them to send the money over themselves?"

Niao Niao, standing by, couldn't stand it any longer. She reached out and pinched his cheeks, twisting them hard: "Sir, can you please have some shame? My sister is your concubine after all. You haven't even met her parents, yet you want them to give you money. How can this be justified in the world?"

"Busy, busy! Let's go to Japan when we have time. Let me deal with the Liao Kingdom first." Zhao Xiaoqian avoided Niao Niao's clutches.

The light in the two Japanese sisters' eyes dimmed, but they still bowed to express their gratitude.

After a brief reunion, Zhao Xiaoqian ordered a banquet to be served in the mansion.

The group rushed back to Zhending City exhausted. They had not eaten yet and were all starving.

The banquet was plentiful, but Zhao Xiaoqian and Su Shi were both exhausted. They ate a quick meal and then left, each returning to their rooms to rest.

Before leaving the banquet, Su Shi glanced at him meaningfully.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at him straight in the face with righteous indignation.

Su Shi sneered and said, "Why are you pretending? What are you planning to do when you return to Zhending City? Do you think I don't know? I guess you've got what you wanted tonight."

He asked the servants to find a guest room far away from the backyard, and the half-drunk Su Shi staggered away.

In the backyard hall, Niao Niao lay in Zhao Xiaoqian's arms, her cheeks flushed and her eyes seductive.

The two Japanese sisters also lowered their heads shyly, occasionally glancing at him secretly, then looking away in panic.

The atmosphere suddenly became a little charming, and even the lights seemed to turn pink.

"Sir, you have been traveling all the way and it is getting late. Why don't you... take a rest?" Niao Niao said shyly.

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes radiated a sense of righteousness as he slowly said, "You told me to rest, but you act like you want to eat me up completely. What do you mean by that?"

"It means... please have some rest, sir." Niao Niao said shyly.

"Sleep element?"

Niao Niao nodded and hugged his arm: "Sleep on the white bed, I promise not to move. At most... at most I will just rub against him."

Zhao Xiaoqian was shocked. These words... sounded so familiar, but seemed to be said in reverse?

Everything you said was my words!
(End of this chapter)