The prince is more stable

Chapter 664 Wang Chong Presents a Horse
While out for a casual stroll, Zhao Xiaoqian unexpectedly met several江湖客 (jianghu ke, a term referring to people from the martial arts world), which was quite a pleasant surprise.

Every man has a martial arts dream; every young man has fantasized about being a chivalrous swordsman roaming the world.

The reason for this is that the "knight-errant" group embodies the qualities that countless men dream of.

For example, it features strength, justice, heroism, and spontaneous travel, with various beautiful and chivalrous women following along without complaint.

A young swordsman who doesn't even have a proper job can ignore the role of money and travel all over the land of China, casually throwing away a silver ingot for meals, drinks, and lodging, while also covering the various expenses of the female swordsman. This mysterious way of making money is probably every man's dream.

The people in front of me, like Wang Chong, are probably reliable enough; at least they're trying their best to live.

Trading horses between the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties sounds easy, but the dangers and hardships involved are something outsiders can't possibly understand.

Wang Chong and the others continued to shower Zhao Xiaoqian with admiration, their faces, which were not particularly handsome, gleaming with excitement. Their eyes shone brightly as they looked at Zhao Xiaoqian, making him very uncomfortable.

"Don't treat me like a god, please treat me like a human being," Zhao Xiaoqian advised.

“Your Highness has already conquered Hejian Prefecture. When will you lead your army to attack Liao again? We brothers are unworthy, but we are willing to serve Your Highness,” Wang Chong said, bowing.

Several of his fellow martial arts brothers behind him also bowed, their expressions sincere and honest.

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, "Don't meddle in matters of state and military affairs. You should focus on your business. However, things are not peaceful between Song and Liao recently, so it's best to stay away from them."

Wang Chong said excitedly, "Don't worry, we brothers trade horses, it's a dangerous job. Although I'm not from a military background, I'm still a roughneck in the martial world and I have some strength. If Your Highness needs anything, please just give the order."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and said, "I appreciate your kind intentions, but we've only met by chance. You all have your own lives and responsibilities, and I have no right to order you around. Just focus on making money to support your families."

As he spoke, Zhao Xiaoqian nodded to the group and turned to Chen Shoudao, saying, "Clean up the corpses of these Khitans and throw them far away. Have the garrison commander Guo Cheng issue a notice warning the Khitans and other foreign tribes in the city that they should behave themselves if they want to live in the city and that they are not allowed to bully the Han people."

Chen Shou accepted the order and waved his hand, and more than a dozen imperial guards stepped forward to carry the Khitan corpse away.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled at Wang Chong and said, "We're all people in the martial arts world, so we can be considered friends. If there's nothing else, how about I treat you brothers to a few drinks?"

Wang Chong was taken aback, then overjoyed, and hurriedly bowed, saying, "To be able to drink with Your Highness is already a blessing from my past life. How could I dare to let Your Highness be the host? I'll treat you today."

As he spoke, Wang Chong stepped aside, and there happened to be a restaurant right on the street. Today's farce was caused by this restaurant.

Zhao Xiaoqian stepped into the restaurant. The manager inside was already pale and terrified. Upon seeing Zhao Xiaoqian enter, his first reaction was to kneel down.

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced at him indifferently and saw that the restaurant was empty. Obviously, the incident had resulted in a death, and the customers had all been frightened away.

After looking around, Zhao Xiaoqian found a seat that looked good and sat down. Wang Chong glared at the innkeeper and shouted, "Bring out the best wine and the most expensive dishes. If you dare to cut corners, I'll tear down this shabby building!"

The shopkeeper was startled, hurriedly agreed, and turned to get back to work.

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily, exuding the air of a chivalrous knight-errant: hot-tempered, fiercely opposed to evil, and, most importantly, disregarding money and spending limits, demanding only the most expensive and best of everything…

What did Gu Long say again?

I've drunk the strongest liquor, killed the most wicked people, and slept with the wildest dogs...

Wang Chong and several of his fellow江湖 (jianghu) brothers sat down at the table. Wang Chong appeared relatively calm, but the others were quite uneasy. Facing Zhao Xiaoqian, a hero renowned throughout the land, they seemed very nervous, yet unable to hide their excitement.

Zhao Xiaoqian looked at Wang Chong and asked curiously, "Is your horse trading business very profitable? How much can you earn in a year?"

Wang Chong answered all questions without reservation, and said with a wry smile, "How much can we earn? If the surrounding countries are at peace, we can earn several thousand taels a year. But if there is war or conflict, this trip will be a waste, and we will even have to pay out of our own pockets. In this business, even if we are willing to risk our lives, we may not necessarily make any money."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded. In fact, the business of people like Wang Chong was similar to that of the caravans in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which could also be considered as a gang.

Zhao Xiaoqian was quite interested in chivalrous heroes and martial arts figures, purely out of personal interest, since he couldn't have read so many martial arts novels in his previous life for nothing.

"You all have a resounding nickname when you travel the martial world, right? Like 'Iron Palm Suppresses So-and-So in China,' or 'One Sword Lights Cold Across Fourteen Provinces So-and-So...'"

Wang Chong and the other men stared wide-eyed, their expressions blank. They exchanged glances, and Wang Chong cautiously asked, "Uh, Your Highness, where did you hear these rumors? I wonder if there's any hero in the world with such a long nickname? It seems a bit... exaggerated, doesn't it?"

"Is it exaggerated? Isn't this normal? The longer and more impressive the nickname, the more people will bow down to it. How prestigious is that?"

"Well, Your Highness, most people in the martial arts world don't have nicknames. Even if they do, they wouldn't choose one so shameless... well, so long. Imagine, Your Highness, if two people were to fight face to face, before they could even finish reciting their nicknames, the other person would have already beaten them to a pulp."

Zhao Xiaoqian was shocked: "Is this so unethical? Shouldn't you wait until the nickname is finished before making a move?"

Wang Chong was speechless, but dared not contradict him. He could only cautiously say, "People in the martial arts world make a living by risking their lives. Fighting with others is also for survival. So-called rules are actually useless in the face of life-or-death battles. Whoever can kill the other is considered capable."

Zhao Xiaoqian sized him up and asked, "Do you have a nickname?"

Wang Chong immediately blushed and said, "When my brothers and I roamed the martial world, we often fought recklessly, charging forward without regard for our lives. Coincidentally, my name also contains the character 'Chong' (冲), so my friends in the martial world gave me a nickname, 'King Chong,' uh... it's just my name backwards." Zhao Xiaoqian was filled with respect and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Wang Chong? King Chong? I've heard so much about you, please!"

Wang Chong instinctively clasped his hands in return, then said dumbly, "Please!...Please what?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said seriously, "I've also given myself a nickname, 'Qianqian who doesn't eat cilantro, trying his best,' please!"

Wang Chong and the other men were all shocked.

What kind of ridiculous nickname is this! You, a prince, don't you feel ashamed at all to have such a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and outlaws) nickname?

Seeing everyone's shocked expressions, Zhao Xiaoqian explained earnestly, "I really don't eat cilantro. This nickname perfectly describes my personality; it's very fitting."

"'Cilantro' is..."

"It's what you call 'coriander'. Well, it depends on your constitution; one bite and you'll die."

Wang Chong shuddered and immediately turned to yell at the restaurant owner, "No cilantro or coriander in the dishes! If you dare put even a single leaf in, I'll kill you!"

The restaurant owner, pale-faced, scrambled and stumbled towards the kitchen.

When the chivalrous heroes met, they introduced themselves by name and nickname. Zhao Xiaoqian felt as if he had completed some kind of mysterious and high-level ritual, and he was very satisfied with his performance.

Wang Chong and the others exchanged glances, then a smile unconsciously crept onto their lips.

Before they met today, Wang Chong and the others saw the Prince of Hejian as a high and mighty figure. He would sit majestically in his command tent, issuing orders to his valiant generals. Every military order was decisive and ruthless, and every word he uttered determined the life and death of millions.

His godlike image, looking down upon all living beings, made ordinary mortals want to kneel and worship him, daring not to have any sense of resistance. Even the Liao army, which had oppressed the Song Dynasty for a hundred years, could only prostrate themselves in submission at the feet of this god.

Who would have thought that this high and mighty deity was actually just a mortal.

He has his own likes and dislikes, a gentle and friendly demeanor, a magnanimous spirit to compromise his principles and make friends, and a bold and unrestrained personality.

He showed no airs of a prince in front of Wang Chong and his fellow outlaws; on the contrary, he was very interested in their lives.

He gives the impression that he is not from a noble family, but rather rose from the lowest rungs of society, making it easy for him to empathize with and resonate with the common people.

Such a hero deserves to achieve great things and be remembered in history.

As Zhao Xiaoqian's lofty image gradually faded, Wang Chong and others grew to admire and worship him even more.

While gods may possess boundless power, they are ultimately too cold and untouchable.

Fortunately, this deity descended to the mortal realm. He was flesh and blood, with feelings and righteousness, just like all mortals, carrying a sense of human warmth and humanity.

The food and wine were served, and the innkeeper retreated tremblingly.

Zhao Xiaoqian took a bite of the dish and, sure enough, there was no cilantro. His expression became even more satisfied.

"Wang Chong, Hejian Prefecture has just been recovered by our Song army, and you've already come here to do business. Are you so quick to get a sense of smell?" Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly asked.

Wang Chong smiled, exchanged glances with the others, then stood up, poured a full glass of wine, and bowed to Zhao Xiaoqian in a toast.

"Your Highness is the greatest hero of our Song Dynasty. I, Wang Chong, am completely convinced of your virtue. I would like to offer you a toast first, as a token of gratitude on behalf of the millions of people of the Song Dynasty for Your Highness's invincible might and your heroic feat of recovering Yan and Yun. With Your Highness by our side, we, the people, can finally look forward to peaceful years."

After saying that, Wang Chong tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhao Xiaoqian blinked: "You're a chivalrous hero, and a chivalrous hero with a nickname at that. Shouldn't you be drinking heavily, chugging down the wine from the jar?"

Wang Chong remained silent for a while, then finally couldn't help but say, "Your Highness is not a member of the martial arts world... It's best to avoid believing those unfounded rumors. Martial arts people aren't like that."

As he spoke, Wang Chong's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "We have come to Hejian Prefecture not to do business, but specifically for Your Highness."

"If we had not had the chance to meet Your Highness today, we would have gone to the Hejian government office tomorrow and knelt down to beg for an audience with Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian raised an eyebrow: "You came all the way to Hejian Prefecture to see me? Is there something you need?"

"I am delighted to hear that Your Highness has led your elite troops to recapture Yanyun and Hejian Prefecture. I, Wang Chong, am but a humble commoner and cannot do anything for Your Highness. I only feel that Your Highness, such a majestic and powerful figure, leading an army to the north to attack the Liao bandits, should have a mount befitting Your Highness's status."

“I, Wang Chong, am in the horse trade. Last year, I acquired a Ferghana horse in Western Xia. This horse is tall and magnificent, with exceptional speed and stamina, which is worthy of Your Highness’s status.”

"I am unworthy, but I wish to present this horse to Your Highness. I hope Your Highness will ride this horse, lead the royal army to subdue the Liao bandits, and conquer the world."

(End of this chapter)