The prince is more stable

Chapter 497 Liao Fengxian
The reason why Zhao Xiaoqian targeted Xiao Fengxian was because he used a trick based on his memories from his previous life.

The historical records' evaluation of Xiao Fengxian can be summed up in two words: "traitorous minister."

The treacherous ministers of the Liao Dynasty were, of course, natural friends of the Song Dynasty.

No matter which country the treacherous ministers are from, they all have one common characteristic in their character, that is, "profit-oriented".

When he is given enough money and power, it becomes a bargaining chip for betrayal, offsetting his loyalty.

Zhao Xiaoqian was very happy. Zhen Qing did a great job in this matter. It was worth his years of lurking in the Liao Kingdom. He finally won over a potential spy.

If Xiao Fengxian had really defected to the Song Dynasty, the Liao Kingdom would have planted two nails, one was him and the other was Xiao Wuna. If the two of them cooperated in the court, they would definitely achieve the effect of one plus one being greater than two.

"Does Xiao Fengxian know your identity?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Zhen Qing nodded. "After a few days of friendship, Xiao Fengxian has become completely honest with me. I also found evidence that he was smuggling pig iron to the Jurchen tribes, so I confronted him."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. "He's truly a profit-seeker. How will he react after the showdown?"

"Xiao Fengxian was neither happy nor angry. Instead, he asked me many questions about the customs and practices of the Song Dynasty. I picked out the things that interested him, telling him about the prosperity of Bianjing, the beauty of the courtesans, the extravagant gambling, and how His Highness the Prince had long been in love with him and longed to meet him. "

"He didn't mention the conditions for surrendering to the Song Dynasty?"

"He didn't mention it. He was quite cautious, but I later gave him 20,000 taels of silver, and he accepted it."

Zhao Xiaoqian touched his chin and said thoughtfully, "This man values ​​profit, but he is not stupid. He is waiting for the Song Dynasty to make the first offer."

Zhen Qing smiled and said, "I thought so too. The reason why he didn't propose any conditions to me is because I am not qualified enough to negotiate with him. Xiao Fengxian may want to talk to you in person."

"Shangjing is a thousand miles away from Zhending City. How can we negotiate?"

Zhen Qing whispered, "There's another piece of news. Yelu Chun has been appointed as the Liao Kingdom's Nanjing garrison commander, leading over 100,000 Liao troops to garrison Xijin Prefecture. And a few days ago, Xiao Fengxian also volunteered to be appointed as the grain supervisor, responsible for transporting grain and fodder for the Xijin Prefecture garrison..."

Zhao Xiaoqian was startled: "He transported food and fodder to Xijin Prefecture?"

"Yes, Xijin Prefecture is hundreds of miles away from Zhending City. I think this is Xiao Fengxian's sincerity in releasing the Song Dynasty. He wants to meet with Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian was silent for a moment, then said, "Then come and see it. This chess piece is of excellent quality and should not be missed."

The importance of Xiao Fengxian is still unclear at the moment, but he will soon come to the fore. As a relative by marriage, Yelu Yanxi has great trust in him. In the future, Xiao Fengxian will be able to influence or even determine the national policy of the Liao Kingdom.

There is absolutely no harm in heating up this cold stove in advance.

"In about five days, Xiao Fengxian will arrive at Xijin Prefecture with provisions. To prevent him from harboring any doubts, I propose that a location between Zhending Prefecture and Xijin Prefecture be chosen for Your Highness to meet with Xiao Fengxian. What do you think, Your Highness?"

"Okay, let's do it. Tell him that, as a sign of sincerity, each side will only bring ten personal guards."

…………

There is a mountain two hundred miles northeast of Zhending City.

This mountain has no name and was a place Zhen Qing chose randomly.

Five days later, Zhao Xiaoqian set out with a small entourage, leaving Zhending City and heading northeast.

One day, they traveled quickly and arrived at the foot of the mountain, where Zhen Qing was waiting for them.

At this time, Zhen Qing was still dressed like a businessman, wearing a silk shirt and a sable hat, which was only worn by the Liao people. This outfit looked out of place, but in the eyes of the Liao people, Zhen Qing looked very normal.

After confirming the location with Zhen Qing, Zhao Xiaoqian took Chen Shou, Jia Shi and other imperial guards masters, a total of ten people, and slowly walked up the mountain, while the rest of the imperial guards stayed at the foot of the mountain.

Although they were discussing business, Zhao Xiaoqian was also extremely cautious. The ten people accompanying him were all martial arts masters found for him by Zhao Hao. At the same time, Chen Shouhe also had short-handled flintlock rifles on his waist, so that if something unexpected happened, they could at least protect themselves.

We climbed to the mountainside and stopped. There was a pavilion on the mountainside. The pillars of the pavilion were peeling and mottled, and it was very old.

This is where Zhao Xiaoqian and Xiao Fengxian met.

After entering the pavilion, Zhao Xiaoqian sat down on a stone bench. Chen Shou, who was accompanying him, took out tea sets and a delicate and small charcoal stove from his bag, poured mountain spring water from a leather bag, boiled it, and began to make tea.

Zhao Xiaoqian gave him a strange look and asked, "When did you prepare these things?"

Chen Shou smiled and said, "I heard that the Crown Prince and Xiao Fengxian were meeting on the mountainside. I thought, how can such a beautiful place be without tea? So I brought some tea out."

Zhao Xiaoqian gave him a thumbs-up and praised, "How elegant!"

The ancients were more obsessed with rituals than modern people thousands of years later.

Elegant things must be done in a place with pleasant scenery to be more charming. For example, playing the guqin must be done in the mountains, reciting poems and writing essays must be done in the mountains, and drinking wine and tea must also be done in the mountains.

Nothing can be done without mountains.

Why the hell aren’t you and your wife making babies in the mountains?

...Not necessarily. The joy of wild intercourse in ancient times wasn't unheard of. Many of those shameful paintings in pornographic albums feature mountains as backdrops, alongside clear streams and even a scabby creature on the ground. It's hard to tell what the artist was trying to convey. The water was boiling, and Chen Shou skillfully washed and brewed the tea. His movements flowed like flowing water, and the flow alone was truly pleasing to the eye.

The only regret is that this job should be done by a delicate and pretty lady. A rough man holding his orchid fingers to wash and brew tea looks a bit...

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed. If the occasion was right, it would be great to bring Niao Niao along. Not only could she make tea for him, but she could also make tea for him. In such a beautiful scenery, it wouldn't be impossible to find a deserted place to replicate the actions in the erotic book.

After waiting for about half an hour, Zhen Qing hurried over and reported, "Your Highness, Xiao Fengxian is here."

Zhao Xiaoqian hummed and said, "Is it okay?"

Zhen Qing understood what he meant and said, "Last night, I secretly ordered the Imperial City Division to monitor the entire mountain. Xiao Fengxian only brought ten followers with him. I can confirm that there are no ambushes within twenty miles."

Zhao Xiaoqian took a sip of tea from his cup and said, "Then let's welcome the guests."

As he finished speaking, a group of people slowly came down the mountain path in the distance. The leader was about thirty years old, wearing a black long gown and a golden jade belt around his waist. He had a handsome face, with deep facial features as if they were carved by a knife and an axe. He looked like a handsome and elegant young man.

Zhao Xiaoqian sized him up from afar and muttered, "Looking like this, getting into a brothel is at least free. Maybe the courtesan will even pay for it."

Without mentioning his character or personality, just talking about Xiao Fengxian's appearance, he is indeed a handsome man, gentle as jade, and people feel good about him at first sight. No wonder the Yelu royal family valued this relative so much, and in the future, after Yelu Yanxi ascended the throne, he was even more doting on him.

Therefore, being a treacherous minister also requires strength, at least one's appearance must not be bad.

The reason why Qianlong favored Heshen so much was because Heshen had an excellent appearance and was very handsome. Even though he knew that Heshen was a bad person, he could not help but trust him and use him, as if he was possessed by a demon.

If someone looks like the black Li Kui and speaks in a rough voice as "Brother Song Jiang", this kind of person can be used, but no one will want to get close to him.

A moment later, Xiao Fengxian walked along the winding mountain path to the pavilion on the mountainside. He paused and tilted his head slightly. The ten guards behind him immediately stopped and took a few steps back.

Zhao Xiaoqian also stood up, took the initiative to step forward, and smiled heartily.

"But Commander Xiao is here in person?"

Xiao Fengxian was a relative by marriage. It had only been a few years since his sister Xiao Guige was conferred the title of Princess Yuan. Yelu Hongji had not granted him a fixed official position as a relative by marriage, nor had he conferred him a title. Now he was only the chief grain supervisor of the Liao army.

Xiao Fengxian also hurried forward and said with a smile, "I have long heard of the great reputation of the Prince of Hejian of the Great Song Dynasty. I admire your demeanor very much. We have known each other for a long time. It is a great honor to meet you today."

They were very happy to meet each other. No matter what they were thinking, they still laughed and hugged each other on the surface, as close as brothers.

Sitting down in the pavilion, Chen Shou brought Xiao Fengxian a cup of tea.

Xiao Fengxian glanced at the pale golden tea soup and raised his eyebrows, "Could this be the 'Mingyu Tea' that is so popular in Bianjing?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "That's right. If Brother Xiao doesn't mind, why not try it for yourself?"

Xiao Fengxian picked up the cup without hesitation, drank it all in one gulp, then smacked his lips, looking intoxicated with a lingering aftertaste.

A strange look flashed in Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes, and he blinked and said, "Brother Xiao, aren't you afraid that I will poison your tea?"

Xiao Fengxian laughed heartily: "Your Highness is a world-renowned hero who does things that are honorable and upright. How could he do such a mean thing? If I dare not drink, I would be considered petty."

Zhao Xiaoqian's old face flushed, and he couldn't help but turn his head to glance at Zhen Qing and Chen Shou beside him.

Some people actually said that what I did was upright. This evaluation is quite fair... right?

Yes, that’s right.

Zhao Xiaoqian also drank the cup and showed the bottom of the cup to Xiao Fengxian to indicate that he did not poison it.

"I heard that Brother Xiao is a famous and romantic figure in the Liao Kingdom. This point resonates with me. To be honest, Brother Xiao, my reputation as a romantic figure in Bianjing is not inferior to Brother Xiao's."

Xiao Fengxian raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness is really too considerate of my reputation. The term 'romantic figure' is simply a dandy man who has taken advantage of his sister's connection to the royal family and has lived a life of feasting, drinking, whoring, and gambling. It would be more appropriate to describe me as a 'prodigal son.'"

Zhao Xiaoqian paused with his hand holding the cup.

This guy can chat.

The main focus is honesty.

What you said was so down-to-earth that I don’t even know where to start praising you!

Forget it, just praise his appearance. At least Xiao Fengxian’s appearance is worth praising.

Zhao Xiaoqian cleared his throat and was about to speak when Xiao Fengxian said, "I've heard that His Highness the Prince is a very important figure in the Song Dynasty. When I first heard about His Highness's deeds, I thought he was a mighty and strong man..."

"I never expected that upon meeting you today, Your Highness would turn out to be a young hero in his early twenties. What surprised me even more was that Your Highness was so majestic and handsome, radiating an air of nobility from the inside out. This is the appearance of an extraordinary person, and he will surely achieve great wealth and honor in the future."

Zhao Xiaoqian opened his mouth in surprise.

I was still trying to compliment your looks, and you stole all my words?

(End of this chapter)