The prince is more stable

Chapter 595 Loyal Minister at the End of His Road
Once upon a time, the Liao Kingdom finally became the very thing it had once hated.

Who could imagine that the word "condemnation" would come from the mouth of the once invincible Liao Dynasty?

Reality is cold and cruel. When you have the most power, you won't listen to reason. But when you're weaker, you suddenly become polite and know not to resort to violence when you're bullied. Instead, you calmly offer "condemnation."

The martial arts world isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions. No matter how big the issue, you can sit down and talk it out. Everyone should be reasonable, right?

Although Yelü Hongji and Zhao Xiaoqian had never met, through their interactions during the war over the past year or two, Yelü Hongji had actually gained some understanding of this stranger.

Putting aside everything else, just take Zhao Xiaoqian's abduction of Yelü Nanxian as an example. There is no doubt that his arrogant and unreasonable behavior was the work of Zhao Xiaoqian.

So much for being a land of etiquette, you fucking wrecked me...

Isn't it said that the Central Plains of China have been governed by morality for thousands of years? Isn't it said that the Han people of the Central Plains have been influenced by the classics and literature of sages for generations?

And this is the result you produced by fumigating?

Without even a word, they kidnapped the beautiful Princess Cheng'an of the Liao Kingdom. How arrogant, despicable, and utterly lacking in manners!
Yelü Hongji was so angry that his liver ached. He realized that his decision to gradually hand over power to Yelü Yanxi was absolutely correct. At his age, if he were to be angered by Zhao Xiaoqian a few more times, he might not have a good end.

Yelü Yanxi is fine; he is young and can withstand setbacks and humiliations.

After issuing the decree, the Liao Kingdom quickly dispatched envoys to the southern Song camp to negotiate with the Song army regarding the abduction of Princess Cheng'an.

Inside the Liao palace, Yelü Hongji and Xiao Wuna sat in the main hall, discussing the next steps for the Song and Liao dynasties.

Seated in the main hall was Yelü Yanxi.

After taking over the power of the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Hongji often kept him by his side. Whether discussing state affairs with his ministers, reviewing memorials, or making decisions on important matters of the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Yanxi would sit by and listen to what he saw and heard.

Xiao Wuna's official robes had been changed to purple robes. Of the three armies that had been defeated, only Xiao Wuna's army had managed to retain half of its strength and rushed back to the capital to plead guilty.

His actions finally moved Yelü Hongji, and he was given important responsibilities from then on.

After the defeat, Xiao Wuna was appointed as the deputy envoy of the Northern Privy Council. Yelü Hongji frequently summoned him to the palace to consult him on state affairs. It was clear to everyone that Xiao Wuna's status had risen dramatically, and he had almost become a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

It is worth mentioning that not only was Xiao Wuna given an important position, but with the Crown Prince Yelü Yanxi overseeing the country, the status of Yelü Yanxi's brother-in-law, Xiao Fengxian, also rose accordingly.

Although Xiao Fengxian is currently only a military commander and has not been promoted, Yelü Yanxi trusts him deeply and never forgets to bring him along on occasions large and small.

It's understandable that Xiao Fengxian was gradually given more important positions. After all, Yelü Yanxi had just become regent and was trying to take over power. His team was very weak, so he had to rely on his subordinates or relatives. They would be the first batch of people Yelü Yanxi would have after he successfully took over power.

Inside the empty hall, Yelü Hongji, his face full of worry, stared at the map of the Liao Dynasty in front of him with Xiao Wuna.

The map is marked with several bright and glaring arrows, pointing from south to north to the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.

After a deep sigh, Xiao Wuna said, "Your Majesty, I must speak frankly. The Song army's next target will inevitably be the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun. It's just a matter of time. Whether it's sooner or later, Zhao Xiaoqian will definitely take action against the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun."

Yelü Hongji nodded silently.

Reality is cruel, but that's reality.

The Song army's covetousness of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was not a recent development. Ever since Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, launched the Northern Expedition, the Song Dynasty's strategic intentions have been laid bare before the Liao Dynasty.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were undoubtedly a must-have territory for the Song Dynasty.

Back then, the Song army was not as strong as it is today, yet Emperor Taizong of Song dared to launch a northern expedition to try to recover Yan and Yun. How much more so now that the Song army is so powerful that the Liao Kingdom does not dare to provoke it lightly, what reason do they have not to launch another northern expedition?

The crueler reality is that the Liao Dynasty is now fully aware of the Song army's next move, but the emperor, ministers, and court officials have lost all will to win. It seems that everyone has already foreseen the inevitable defeat and the inevitable fate of Yan and Yun falling into the hands of the Song Dynasty.

"What should we do now?" Yelü Hongji asked in a deep voice.

Xiao Wuna sighed and said with a bitter smile, "We have mobilized the entire nation's troops to defend Yanyun and risk our lives to hold it back. If the Liao Dynasty loses Yanyun, there will be no barrier in the south. Sooner or later, the Song army will march north, and the Liao Dynasty will be in danger of being destroyed."

Yelü Hongji trembled, his face turned pale, and he subconsciously looked at his grandson Yelü Yanxi, his eyes filled with desolation.

Yelü Yanxi seemed to understand something, and his face turned pale.

"How can we defend Yanyun? How can we stop the Song army?" Yelü Hongji asked bitterly.

Xiao Wuna shook his head: "I can only say that we will do our best. There is still no way to counter the Song army's firearms. Last time we fought against the Song army, I tried to build trenches to avoid their firearms. This method was of little effect. Although our army was able to avoid damage, we were ultimately trapped in the trenches and could not advance or retreat."

"In the end, we only tied our own hands and watched helplessly as the Song army approached. My soldiers suffered heavy casualties, proving that this path was actually a dead end."

After saying this, Xiao Wuna closed his eyes in pain, bowing his head with a look of guilt. Yelü Hongji sighed sadly and said, "Xiao Wuna, you are my loyal warrior. I did not misplace my trust in you. Facing the Song army's firearms, among all the generals in the court, only you still thought of serving the country and did everything you could to resist the Song army. Although you were defeated, you were still honorable. I am very pleased."

Xiao Wuna lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. I am ashamed. The only solution now is to mobilize troops from the Northeast Military Command and the Northwest Pacification Command, and gather them in the three important cities of Hejian, Datong and Xijin in Yanyun."

"If the Song army launches a northern invasion, with the current strength of our Great Liao, we can only abandon the plains and defend the cities. Although the Song army has powerful firearms, attacking cities is a matter of attacking from below, which may not be effective. If our Great Liao can hold these three cities, we may have a glimmer of hope."

"As long as these three cities are not lost, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun will not fall into the hands of the Song army."

Xiao Wuna gave a few bitter laughs: "Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance. These are the only methods I can think of. If we still cannot resist the Song army and end up losing the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, I can only atone for my sins with my death to repay the country's kindness."

Yelü Hongji was deeply moved and held Xiao Wuna's hand tightly, choking back tears as he said, "Even if Yanyun is lost, I will not blame you. You have fulfilled your duty as a loyal minister. Your loyalty is evident in times of turmoil. How can I bear to lose such a loyal minister as you? Promise me that you will never utter any ominous words such as 'atone with your death'."

"Xiao Wuna, regardless of success or failure, we must live well in order to make a future."

With red-rimmed eyes, Yelü Hongji looked at Yelü Yanxi beside him and said in a more serious tone, "You must remember, Xiao Wuna is a loyal minister I left to you. If I am not here in the future, you can entrust him with any difficulties the country faces. Do you understand?"

Yelü Yanxi was startled and hurriedly nodded in agreement. Then he stood up and respectfully bowed to Xiao Wuna.

Xiao Wuna rose in alarm to return the greeting, but Yelü Hongji pressed down on his shoulder, forcing Xiao Wuna to remain seated and reluctantly accept the bow from the future ruler of Liao.

The practice of entrusting one's son to another and entrusting him with one's life began from this point.

Unfortunately, at this time, a deep sense of impending doom permeated the relationship between the emperor and his ministers.

What gives us hope is the vision of the future.

But what is also despairing is seeing the future.

…………

Zhending City.

After Niao Niao became pregnant, Zhao Xiaoqian almost completely abandoned all official duties.

Whether it was the official business of Zhen Ding Prefecture or the military affairs of the Juma River Camp, Zhao Xiaoqian left everything to Li Qingchen and General Xu. As the prefect and commander-in-chief, Zhao Xiaoqian did not care about anything and simply became a hands-off manager. Even though Li Qingchen and General Xu were full of resentment, he ignored them.

Everything he did was originally intended to change his own and his family's fate. Now that the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or pattern) has been basically reversed, the most important thing now is his family.

The thought of the child in Niao Niao's belly continuing his bloodline filled Zhao Xiaoqian with excitement and joy.

Having lived two lives without ever being a father, he naturally needed to savor this feeling. Every day he spent with his wife, observing the changes in her during her pregnancy, would be deeply etched into his memory, never to be forgotten.

When the child grows up, Zhao Xiaoqian can tell him without any regrets, "When you were in your mother's belly, I was with you and your mother every day."

So if you keep talking about lack of companionship in your childhood, the shadow of your family of origin, or anything like that, I'll beat you to death and you'll change your surname to mine.

I've been with you since you were a fertilized egg, and I've been there for you until you grew up. Isn't that enough? Do you want Daddy to love you one more time?
During his time with Niao Niao, Zhao Xiaoqian was not idle either. He tried hard to recall the recipes suitable for pregnant women in his previous life, and every day he would either stew ginseng with hen or stew pigeon with gastrodia elata.

He fed her all sorts of nourishing foods and every bite was filled with love. She couldn't refuse to eat; he had to let the baby in her womb feel his love as vast as a mountain.

After feeding her like this for several days, Niao Niao couldn't stand Zhao Xiaoqian's crazy tonics anymore and started to avoid him intentionally or unintentionally.

As Zhao Xiaoqian was carrying a nourishing stew around the mansion looking for the child's mother to give her some tonic, Li Qingchen arrived.

Upon seeing Zhao Xiaoqian, Li Qingchen secretly swallowed. He had his eyes on the pot of stew that Zhao Xiaoqian was carrying. It smelled so good. He was determined to freeload off this meal at the Prince's mansion today.

"Get as far away as possible. Giving you even a whiff of its smell is a waste of the ingredients." Zhao Xiaoqian bluntly exposed Li Qingchen's intentions.

"Give up now. This soup isn't for you. It's exclusively for my wife. If you were pregnant, I wouldn't mind making you a pot."

Li Qingchen awkwardly touched his nose. Since it was for a pregnant woman, he really felt embarrassed to take some.

"Uh, Your Highness misunderstands me. I am not the kind of person who indulges in gluttony. I have important business to discuss with Your Highness today..." Li Qingchen said righteously and sternly.

"Release it," Zhao Xiaoqian said bluntly.

"Your Highness, someone from the Chai family of Daming Prefecture has come to the prefectural government office to request an audience with you. They say they are on behalf of Duke Chongyi to apologize and plead guilty to Your Highness."

"I'm not seeing him, I'm too busy, get lost."

(End of this chapter)