The prince is more stable

Chapter 681 The Nation is About to Perish
It's not normal.

The recovery of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was an achievement unprecedented since the founding of the Song Dynasty.

With such a great achievement, the emperor should have immediately issued an edict of reward and sent it to Hejian Prefecture on the very day the report of victory arrived in the capital.

This is a procedure that the court and the emperor must follow, because the soldiers at the front are at the height of their morale and have made such great contributions. Even if the court and the emperor were foolish, they would not dampen the morale of the army at this time.

The significance of bestowing titles and rewards lies in the emperor's expression of favor, consolidating the loyalty of soldiers, and winning over the commander-in-chief.

It is highly unusual for a great victory and meritorious service to go unrewarded, unless the emperor's suspicion of the commander-in-chief and the army has already become apparent.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Xu Jiang were both well aware of the reason why the emperor did not bestow any rewards.

"Perhaps... the Emperor is too busy taking over Yanyun to reward Zian and the soldiers," Xu Jiang said hesitantly.

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled. Everyone was pretending to be confused, which was fine. Things were constantly moving forward. When Zhao Xiaoqian found that the direction things were taking was making him uncomfortable, he wouldn't tolerate Zhao Xu's behavior.

There are some things that I can't do, but I can't bear to do.

Because I still hold onto that bottom line, I still care about brotherhood, and I'm still repaying the trust and respect you showed me back then.

Having been given a second chance at life, Zhao Xiaoqian was brought to this unfamiliar world by fate. He only wanted to follow his heart, live a life without regrets, and clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment.

"Mr. Chongyuan, stop pretending to be confused, it's pointless." Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily.

"The day Yan Yun is completely taken over by the imperial court will be the day the emperor summons me back to the capital. If I relinquish my military power and return to the capital, the emperor will give me all the rewards he is due. If I continue to stay in Yan Yun and hold the power of 100,000 troops, the emperor will not give me a single penny."

Xu Jiang's eyelids twitched, his lips trembled, and after a long while he sighed deeply: "I will pretend I didn't hear anything. Zhao Zi'an, you must never say such things in front of outsiders in the future, or you will be in grave danger!"

Zhao Xiaoqian chuckled and winked at Xu Jiang: "You're not a competent deputy envoy. I've said such treasonous things, why don't you hurry up and write them into your memorial and report them?"

Xu Jiang flew into a rage: "Get out! Get out of here! I don't want to see you, and I don't want to hear your voice!"

Zhao Xiaoqian immediately replied, "Fine, I'll get out!"

After saying that, Zhao Xiaoqian swayed and ran out of the main hall of the government office in the blink of an eye.

Xu Jiang was suddenly startled and shouted, "No, come back!"

"Sorry, get lost!" Zhao Xiaoqian's voice seemed to come from a distant horizon.

Looking at the mountain of official business on his desk, Xu sighed dejectedly, "This brat has once again made me a hands-off manager... I acted impulsively."

…………

Zhao Xiaoqian, who had just run out of the government office, seemed to have gained a great advantage, and walked out of the government office gate with his hands behind his back with a relaxed expression.

Just as he was pondering how to evade official duties, Xu Jiang immediately and considerately told him to get lost. The old man was actually quite nice.

Just as he was about to tell Chen Shou and the others outside the door to change into civilian clothes and accompany him for a stroll in Hejian Prefecture to experience the hardships of the people, a dozen men in black came towards him as soon as he stepped out of the prefectural government gate.

Chen Shou and the Imperial Guards standing outside the government office were taken aback and immediately stepped forward to stop the group of men in black.

However, the leader of the men in black took out a black iron token from his pocket and handed it to Chen Shou. Chen Shou took it and looked at it with a hesitant expression, glancing at Zhao Xiaoqian.

"Your Highness, people from the Chu Prince's Mansion in Bianjing have arrived, but these people are completely unfamiliar to me; I have never seen them before."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled calmly.

If nothing unexpected happens, these people should be the shady characters under Father Huo's command.

They're the same type as Jia Shi and his group; they're probably assassins secretly trained by Huo Die.

"It's alright, let him come over," Zhao Xiaoqian said, beckoning.

The leader of the men in black stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Zhao Xiaoqian: "This humble one is Jia Jiu, paying respects to Your Highness."

Zhao Xiaoqian was taken aback: "Fake liquor? Your father named it that? Your father runs a fake liquor workshop? What kind of scoundrel would give his son such a name..."

Jia Jiu looked somewhat uncomfortable and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, it was... His Highness the Prince who gave me this name."

Zhao Xiaoqian remained silent for a moment, as if he understood something.

Jia Shi, who used to follow him, has now been replaced by Jia Jiu.

Before, there was only Jia Shi, and Zhao Xiaoqian didn't think much of it. But now that Jia Jiu has arrived, he has no choice but to think about it.

Jia 9, Jia 10?
Therefore, the assassins under the command of the Living Father were ranked according to "A, B, C, D", and the naming rule was from one to ten.
The name they chose is too simple and crude. It's not even as good as the name Zhao Xiaoqian gave his beloved horse, Gou Sheng, which at least expressed his wish that his horse would live a long and healthy life...

With a sigh, Zhao Xiaoqian was speechless at his living father.

"What did my father send you here for?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked.

Jia Jiu took out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Xiaoqian.

Chen Shou and the other imperial guards immediately turned around, watching their surroundings warily.

Zhao Xiaoqian unfolded the note, which contained Zhao Hao's handwriting and only two short sentences: "Shen Sheng died while inside the palace, Chong Er lived peacefully while outside. A hero should not clip his own wings." Zhao Xiaoqian read it word by word, his expression gradually becoming solemn.

He crumpled the note into a ball, about to stuff it into his mouth to destroy the evidence, when he saw Jia Jiu looking at him with clear eyes.

Zhao Xiaoqian likes people who are clear-headed.

So he gestured to Jia Jiu with his chin: "Open your mouth."

Jia Jiu was taken aback, but still obediently opened his mouth.

Zhao Xiaoqian stuffed the note into his mouth and said, "Chew it up and swallow it."

Without hesitation, Jia Jiu chewed the note to pieces, then swallowed it whole, and finally opened his mouth for him to check.

Zhao Xiaoqian was quite satisfied with his performance, but still explained earnestly, "I'm sorry, I'm a bit of a picky eater, and my tastes are always particular. If I don't like something, I have to let someone else eat it."

Jia Jiu smiled innocently, clearly not caring. As a suicide soldier, he was not afraid of death, so why would he care about eating some strange things?

Zhao Xiaoqian stood silently, recalling the two sentences his father had given him.

The story of "Shen Sheng died while inside the capital, while Chong Er lived peacefully while outside" is well-known. Zhao Hao's meaning was clear: he was telling Chong Er not to return to Bianjing after recovering Yan and Yun.

Another saying, "A hero should not clip his own wings," is easier to understand. Zhao Hao meant that he should hold on tightly to military power, as it was the foundation of his position. If he relinquished his military power, he would be at the mercy of others.

In just two sentences, the situation in Bianjing has been clearly explained.

It is certain that Zhao Xu has become suspicious of him, and if he returns to the capital, he will inevitably be stripped of his power.

However, what excuse did Zhao Xiaoqian use to refuse to return to the capital?

After a long period of silent contemplation, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly asked, "Did my father have any message for you to convey?"

Jia Jiu bowed and said in a low voice, "His Highness said that the Emperor's health is getting worse and worse, especially because of the matter of having children. Recently, he has been indulging in his concubines day and night, and his health is deteriorating. His Highness believes that there may be some unspeakable changes in the palace this year. If the Crown Prince can just wait until this year, the current predicament can be resolved."

Jia Jiu paused for a moment, then said, "His Highness knows that the young master has sent Jia Shi and others to various cities in Yanyun to lie in wait, and that there are no skilled guards around him. So he sent us to fill Jia Shi's place, to serve the young master, and to risk our lives to protect the young master in times of crisis."

Zhao Xiaoqian's gaze slowly swept over Jia Jiu and the dozen or so men in black behind him. Although he hadn't seen them display any skills, judging from their physiques and bulging muscles, they were definitely promising talents for the White Horse Club.

Just imagining this group of muscular men taking off their shirts and standing in a row for rich women to choose from, Zhao Xiaoqian can't even imagine how sunny and cheerful he would be counting money.

There's no need to test their skills. Zhao Xiaoqian is certain that Jia Jiu and his group are similar to Jia Shi and his group, so their skills are probably about the same.

"Stay here, all of you. I'll have Chen Shou arrange food and lodging for you later. Yanyun hasn't been recovered yet, and the ground might not be safe. Remember to protect me well," Zhao Xiaoqian earnestly instructed.

…………

While the Song Dynasty officials were busy taking over the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, Xiao Fengxian and a group of Liao envoys had already returned to Shangjing.

The contents of the Treaty of Hejian were inevitably made public, and the Liao court and the public in Shangjing were immediately in an uproar.

The more excited and thrilled the Song Dynasty was about the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the more pained and sorrowful the Liao Dynasty was about them.

Countless veteran officials gathered in front of the palace gates, kneeling and wailing. The fierce Khitans' hostility towards the Han people in the capital had reached its peak, and they had begun to indiscriminately torture and even kill the Han people in the capital.

Xiao Fengxian and the other officials in the delegation were the most severely criticized. Everyone condemned them as traitors to the Liao Dynasty, accusing them of colluding with the Song Dynasty to bring disaster to Liao.

These people's mansions immediately suffered misfortune, with countless people gathering outside their gates, throwing stones, spitting, cursing, and even throwing torches inside.

For a time, the Liao Dynasty officials became like rats in the street, hated by everyone, and hid in their residences for many days, not daring to go out.

Despite being condemned by everyone, Xiao Fengxian remained calm.

He is a profit-driven person; such people have no concept of loyalty and will follow whoever benefits them.

However, such people often possess an extraordinary calmness and wisdom in judging situations.

Xiao Fengxian was well aware that the general trend was something that no individual could stop. The Liao Kingdom was in decline, and that was that. If a hero tried to turn the tide, it would only continue to decline until its demise. This was the law of natural development and the cruel and realistic law of the jungle.

Xiao Fengxian would never risk his life for so-called loyalty and integrity by foolishly staying on this sinking ship and going down with it. That would be utterly foolish and ridiculous.

Moreover, were he and the Liao delegation truly the ones who signed the Treaty of Hejian?
It's the Crown Prince Yelü Yanxi, the regent!
He and his colleagues were merely innocent executors; what crime had he committed?

Ignorant people deserve the destruction of their country.

While the capital of Liao was in uproar, with people angrily criticizing and cursing Xiao Fengxian and the officials of the delegation, the distant Nanjing Xijin Prefecture of Liao was also in chaos and turmoil.

News of the Song-Liao Treaty of Hejian reached Xijin Prefecture even earlier.

The current governor of Nanjing in the Liao Dynasty is none other than Yelü Chun, whom we haven't seen in a long time.

Yes, after suffering repeated defeats at the hands of the Song army, Yelü Chun's official position fluctuated several times. In the end, when Yelü Yanxi was acting as regent, Yelü Chun was reinstated and continued to serve as the garrison commander of Nanjing.

(End of this chapter)