The prince is more stable

Chapter 653 Breaking the River
While others besiege cities, Zhao Xiaoqian hunts; he is a unique and unconventional figure.

It's like a big exam in school. Before the exam, you memorize everything, can't eat or sleep well, and experience all sorts of anxiety and pressure. But on the day of the exam, your mindset suddenly becomes as calm as an enlightened monk, and all the anxiety and pressure inexplicably disappear.

In short, do your best and leave the rest to fate.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian was just like a student who had finished his exams. He had already done his best in everything he needed to do, and he had finished and handed in his exam paper. Now, while waiting for the results, he might as well have some fun and leave his anxiety and pressure behind.

At this critical juncture, Zhao Xiaoqian's suggestion to go hunting was utterly incomprehensible to Chen Shou. He had no idea whether this prince had a unique way of thinking or was simply born heartless.

But when Zhao Xiaoqian suggested hunting, Chen Shou dared not disobey.

Since the camp was located near the Liao Kingdom's Yanyun territory, and the Song army was still being harassed by many local militias and villagers, Chen Shou had to be cautious. Therefore, he unusually brought three hundred imperial guards with him in a grand manner.

Zhao Xiaoqian rode his horse across the vast plains, and only when he was galloping wildly could his mind completely go blank.

At his waist was a short-barreled flintlock pistol, which he had made himself.

This firearm, which changed the era and the fate of the nation, was originally designed by Zhao Xiaoqian, but surprisingly, Zhao Xiaoqian rarely used it.

This mentality is somewhat similar to that of a chef. A chef's hands can create all kinds of delicacies, but the chef just doesn't like to eat the food he makes.

After galloping for twenty miles, Zhao Xiaoqian had no idea where he was. Chen Shou and the Imperial Guards followed closely behind. His comrades urged their horses on while nervously looking around, fearing that Liao assassins or local militia might suddenly appear on this unfamiliar plain.

"Your Highness, there's a grove of trees ahead. Why don't we go hunting there?" Chen Shou pointed ahead and shouted.

Zhao Xiaoqian squinted at it, then nodded.

The group quickly arrived at the edge of the woods. Before Zhao Xiaoqian could go in, Chen Shou dispatched a hundred imperial guards to enter the woods first to eliminate any possible ambushes.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed and said, "There's no need to be so careful. It's very difficult for the enemy to lay an ambush beforehand when making a decision on the spur of the moment."

Chen Shou said solemnly, "The Crown Prince's fate is tied to the rise and fall of the Song Dynasty. We must be careful. If anything happens to the Crown Prince, I will die a hundred times to atone for it."

Zhao Xiaoqian remained noncommittal, but patiently waited at the edge of the woods. After a long while, a hundred imperial guards came out and reported to Chen Shou that there was no ambush in the woods and that the Crown Prince could enter at any time if he wished to hunt.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaoqian stood motionless by the woods, squinting as he gazed at the distant plains and rolling hills, lost in thought.

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqian did not move, Chen Shou stepped forward and asked, "Is the Crown Prince worried about today's siege?"

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head: "I'm not worried. This battle is a foregone conclusion. With the assistance of firearms, the siege can be completed within three hours."

"The Hejian Prefecture is about to be acquired, but the young master doesn't seem too happy?"

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed and said, "Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune. The soldiers' high morale may not be a good thing; a crisis may be coming soon."

"What crisis?"

"A crisis from Bianjing..." Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly laughed: "If you were the emperor, would you dare to hand over such an invincible army to someone else?"

Chen Shou immediately understood and his eyes widened in surprise: "Hasn't the Emperor always trusted the Heir Apparent so much?"

"The emperor is no longer the same emperor he once was. Men who have experienced life's changes will eventually mature. The most basic quality of a mature man is that he should never easily trust anyone, not even his own brothers."

Chen Shou was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Does Your Highness mean that the Emperor will become suspicious of you?"

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed: "It would be strange not to be suspicious. The Song Dynasty's most elite 100,000 troops are under the control of others. If you were the emperor, wouldn't you be worried?"

"But the Crown Prince has already given the Emperor the secret formulas for gunpowder and flintlock muskets without reservation..."

"So what? I have 100,000 troops under my control. Who can say whether they are loyal to me personally or to the court?"

"In particular, as this army accumulates more and more military achievements and gains more and more prestige, the emperor and the court will become increasingly uneasy. This is inevitable and unavoidable."

Zhao Xiaoqian gazed into the distance and sighed softly, "The day the royal army completely recovers Yan and Yun, the Emperor's actions will begin."

…………

The city of Hejian was shrouded in the smoke of battle.

The battle between the Song and Liao dynasties was in full swing, and soldiers on both sides risked their lives to fight for control of the city walls.

Countless siege ladders were erected on the city walls, and the Song soldiers climbed them with all their might. The Liao soldiers on the city walls desperately used hooks and sickles to push the ladders down, and then hurled oil and boulders at the people below.

Below the city, rows of Song soldiers used shields to block the Liao army's arrows. Behind the shields, a line of Song soldiers, carrying heavy loads on their shoulders, lit the fuses and aimed them at the city walls.

The rockets whistled out like unruly fire dragons, exploding above the city walls. Countless Liao soldiers defending the city had triangular iron pieces from the rockets pierce their faces and bodies, clutching their faces and screaming in agony.

With everyone joining in, no Liao soldiers resisting the Song army's attack on the city walls dared to show their faces. Taking advantage of the situation, the Song soldiers quickly climbed up the city walls, steel knives clenched in their teeth, their eyes filled with ferocious killing intent, using both hands and feet to scale the walls.

Some soldiers still fell off the city wall, screaming as they landed and fell silent. However, with the continuous barrage of attacks, the Song army eventually gained the upper hand. Taking advantage of the Liao army's reluctance to show themselves, the first Song soldier climbed onto the city wall, jumped down the horse track, and immediately cut down a Liao soldier.

This Song soldier acted like a madman, hacking and slashing wildly left and right, and in a short time he felled many Liao soldiers. He laughed excitedly as he swung his sword.

"Hahahaha! First to the summit! I'm the one who got there first!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than more Song soldiers climbed onto the city wall, jumped onto the racetrack, and engaged in close combat with the Liao army.

"Hejian Prefecture belongs to our Great Song! His Highness the Prince's title is truly well-deserved!" A Song soldier let out a strange laugh like an owl. Not far away, on the arrow tower of the city wall, the Liao army commander, who was nervously supervising the battle, was pale-faced. Seeing more and more Song soldiers climbing the city wall, he knew that the city was about to fall.

The Liao general, his eyes blazing with fury, immediately drew his sword and charged towards the Song army on the city wall, clearly ready to die with them.

In the midst of the melee, a loud bang rang out, and a Song soldier freed his hand to pull the trigger, striking the Liao general squarely between the eyebrows.

The Liao general opened his eyes wide, his body froze on the spot, swayed a few times, and then fell heavily to the ground.

Standing under the commander's flag in the central army formation outside the city, Zhong Jianzhong watched the fierce siege battle in the distance with a solemn expression. He could vaguely see that many Song soldiers wearing dark red leather armor had already climbed onto the city wall, and Zhong Jianzhong was overjoyed.

"Order the drums to beat, to cheer on the sons of our Great Song Dynasty!"

Zhong Jianzhong, unusually excited, roared, "Hejian Prefecture, we have it!"

Seemingly feeling that the drumming rhythm wasn't fast enough, Zhong Jianzhong took a step forward, kicked the drummer away, then took off his shirt, revealing his muscular physique, picked up two drumsticks, and started drumming himself.

In the middle of the Song army formation, the rhythm of the drums suddenly became rapid and intense. Hearing the drums, the Song soldiers attacking the city were even more invigorated, and they built ladders and climbed the city walls with even greater recklessness.

The Song soldiers who had climbed the city walls were as numerous as ants, while the Liao army's resistance was growing weaker and weaker, and all the defenders showed expressions of despair.

They knew that the situation was hopeless; Hejian Prefecture had fallen, and no one could save it.

Deserters began to appear, one by one, throwing away their weapons and running frantically towards the city wall, taking off their leather armor, clothes, and shoes as they ran.

Taking advantage of the Song army's inability to pursue them, the deserters, shirtless, darted into the alleys of the city's residential areas and disappeared without a trace.

Once a defeat and escape begin in the army, the trend is set and no one can stop it.

Soon, a third, a fourth deserter appeared on the city wall, and then a group, a battalion, an army.

As the Song army stormed the city walls, the morale of the defenders collapsed instantly. Most of the Liao soldiers had lost the will to resist. Some fled, while others simply threw down their weapons, covered their heads with their hands, and squatted on the ground to surrender.

Of course, there were also those who would rather die than submit.

Most of these unyielding warriors were Khitan people. They were fierce and resolute. Even after the city fell, they did not give up their last resistance. They mustered their last bit of strength and fought with all their might until they finally fell into a pool of blood.

A moment later, the south gate of Hejian Prefecture slowly opened, and Song soldiers opened the gate.

The tens of thousands of Song soldiers waiting outside the city erupted in cheers like a landslide and a tsunami. With the command flags waving, the tens of thousands of Song soldiers rushed toward the city gate.

Only now did Zhong Jianzhong finally realize that Hejian Prefecture was in his grasp, and there was no doubt about it.

"Someone, quickly report to His Highness that we have won!"

After throwing away the drumsticks, Zhong Jianzhong slumped down under the drum, panting heavily.

His face was beaming with excitement, but tears welled up in his eyes.

"A century of humiliation has been washed away today, which can bring comfort to the emperors of the Song Dynasty!"

Zhong Jianzhong lowered his head. Although it was a moment to enjoy the joy of victory, he suddenly burst into tears.

Meanwhile, countless soldiers in front of and behind him were laughing and cheering wildly in the face of the fierce wind.

Zhong Jianzhong's wailing cries were swallowed up by laughter.

At this moment, I am overwhelmed with emotions.

…………

Thirty miles from Hejian Prefecture, in a forest, Zhao Xiaoqian picked up a short-barreled flintlock pistol, opened one eye and closed the other, aiming at a sika deer that was gnawing on leaves not far away.

The fawns frolicked and skipped about happily, completely unaware of the danger approaching.

Zhao Xiaoqian aimed for a long time but never pulled the trigger. He simply watched the cheerful little deer through the sights of the gun.

After a long while, a low, barely audible voice came from behind.

"Your Highness, Zhong Jianzhong has sent someone to report that Hejian Prefecture has been captured!" The voice was low, but could not hide the excitement and anticipation.

Zhao Xiaoqian, however, remained unmoved, still holding his flintlock pistol and quietly watching the fawn.

After a long while, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly raised the muzzle of his gun and pulled the trigger for some unknown reason.

With a loud bang, countless birds in the forest were startled, but the fawn was unharmed and ran away in a panic.

Chen Shou, standing behind him, looked puzzled: "Young Master, you could have clearly hit that deer, why..."

Zhao Xiaoqian expressionlessly put away his gun, watched the deer run away, and said calmly, "It has enough to eat and wear, why did you have to kill it?"

"You do not know that the pleasure of chasing deer is greater than that of shooting deer."

(End of this chapter)