The prince is more stable

Chapter 684 Caravan Brothers
The Song Dynasty court and Zhao Xiaoqian were the same.

For a century after its founding, the Song Dynasty had always been tolerant of the Liao Dynasty, paying annual tribute and daring not to utter a word even when the Liao Dynasty acted arrogantly towards it.

When it comes to swallowing one's anger, the Song Dynasty is undoubtedly an expert; no one has more authority to speak on this subject than the Song Dynasty.

However, in terms of how to take over newly occupied cities and territories, the Song Dynasty was, to be honest, a complete novice with no experience whatsoever.

Zhao Xiaoqian was also inexperienced. Living two lives didn't mean he knew everything. In his previous life, he was just a corporate slave exploited by capitalists. He never dreamed that he would have the day to take over sixteen cities. Where was he supposed to accumulate experience?
In the eyes of ordinary people in the Song Dynasty, how to take over newly occupied cities and lands was a happy problem.

But for Zhao Xiaoqian, whether he's happy or not is another matter; this is a genuine problem, and he really doesn't know how to solve it.

The imperial court was probably too optimistic in this regard, thinking that once the two countries signed the alliance, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would always be open to you.

The reality is that the imperial court is the imperial court, and the people are the people.

The imperial court knelt, but the common people remained standing.

It wasn't entirely due to the backbone or dignity of the people; the main reason was the resentment of the local gentry and landlords. They knew they were about to face a reshuffling of power, and no one wanted the efforts of generations to turn to ashes.

Taking over the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was relatively easy for the Song Dynasty, but the vast lands, estates, clan territories, and other complexities outside the cities were the real tough nuts to crack.

This is why Zhao Xiaoqian had to go to Xijin Prefecture to take charge.

Only when he was stationed in Nanjing, the former capital of the Liao Dynasty, could the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, centered on Xijin Prefecture, be intimidated by his presence. At the same time, being stationed in Xijin Prefecture made it easier for him to mobilize troops and annihilate the local landlord clans at any time.

In the backyard of the Hejian government office, Zhao Xiaoqian, Chen Shou, and several hundred other imperial guards changed into the clothes of the common people.

Zhao Xiaoqian was dressed in a silk robe, wearing a black gauze hat, with five gold and jade rings on his ten fingers, and his belt was also inlaid with gold and jade. He looked like a rich second-generation playboy who was forced by his father to go out into society to gain experience.

Chen Shou and the other imperial guards were dressed as bodyguards, and each of them looked quite heroic, fierce and capable.

Zhao Xiaoqian's character is a merchant caravan from the Song Dynasty, so the standard equipment of a caravan is naturally indispensable.

A caravan of over a hundred camels and mules were temporarily requisitioned from Hejian Prefecture, along with some jars and pots of goods. They also added a merchant's flag, and thus a sizable caravan was formed.

Zhao Xiaoqian stood in front of the bronze mirror, twisting and turning, particularly pleased with his image as a rich second-generation, especially his nouveau riche air of "I'm rich," which was vividly displayed by the five rings on his fingers.

"How about it? Do you think I look hateful? Don't I have a cute quality of being rich but heartless and bullying men and women?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked Chen Shou with a grin.

Chen Shou grinned and said, "The young master is handsome and can convincingly portray any character. In fact, he doesn't even need to pretend. You just need to tone it down and he will be very lifelike."

Zhao Xiaoqian: "???"

I suspect you're using a double agent against me...

Zhao Xiaoqian kicked Chen Shou in the backside and cursed, "Enough nonsense, let's get ready to go!"

Chen Shou still looked worried and said, "Your Highness, I still think we should send more men to accompany us. Of General Guo's five thousand garrison troops, at least a thousand can be drawn. Otherwise, if we are attacked on the way, my few hundred men might be..."

"We can't let my personal actions ruin the whole plan. The garrison in Hejian Prefecture is already small enough; we can't draw any more troops. Let's keep a low profile along the way. Hejian is only a few hundred miles from Xijin Prefecture. Unless someone leaks my whereabouts beforehand, we shouldn't encounter any danger."

Chen Shou looked at Zhao Xiaoqian's nouveau riche attire and the dazzling gold and jade on his fingers and waist, and hesitated several times before speaking.

Is this how you understand the word "low-key"?

Under Xu Jiang's worried gaze, Zhao Xiaoqian led several hundred imperial guards, driving the caravan's camels and mules, laden with a jumble of so-called goods, and set off quietly.

Target: Xijin Prefecture.

…………

The sun was blazing, and the air was stiflingly hot, like a sauna.

Under the scorching sun, a small caravan was slowly making its way along the imperial road.

The caravan was managed by the Wang brothers. After presenting the Ferghana horses to Zhao Xiaoqian, the Wang brothers did not take credit for it and immediately bid farewell and left Hejian Prefecture. The entire caravan of more than a dozen people drove more than a hundred horses to Xijin Prefecture.

In Xijin Prefecture, Wang Chong and his companions sold their horses for a mediocre price. After deducting costs, the brothers each received some silver, enough to support their families and even make a small profit.

So despite the hot weather, Wang Chong and his men were in good spirits. They were going to head to Datong Prefecture to buy another batch of mules and horses, and then head to Taiyuan Prefecture to try their luck. If this deal went through, their expenses for the whole year would be covered.

In the height of summer, everyone's faces were covered in layers of oily sweat from the sun, which would just keep coming back after being wiped away.

The cool water in the leather bag had been heated to a scalding temperature; the water poured over their heads only provided a brief respite before evaporating in the sun. Despite this, the group was in good spirits. In the past year or two, despite the ongoing wars along the Song-Liao border, Wang Chong and his companions had clearly felt that doing business with the Liao people seemed easier than before.

In the past, when doing business with the Liao people, the Khitans would often maliciously lower the price or even rob them. Every time they went to a Liao city, Wang Chong and his men were always on edge, fearing that the deal would be reduced to a pittance or that they would be robbed of everything by the Khitans.

However, in the last year or two, the Khitans who dealt with Wang Chong became much more polite. They would use polite language, bargain carefully, and invite Wang Chong to a restaurant for drinks after the transaction was completed.

They continued to travel north and south as always, enduring wind and rain, earning a meager living through hard work, but everything seemed to have changed.

Wang Chong and his men could no longer feel the oppression the Khitans had inflicted on the Han people. Now, the Khitans looked at the Han people with a hint of inexplicable awe.

Wang Chong now realized that the Khitans were also polite. They would speak politely and deliberately quote the words of the sages of the Central Plains to force a closer relationship with the Han people. When disputes arose in trade, the Khitans would take the initiative to compromise, and even if they could not reach an agreement, they would try their best not to offend anyone.

This is a silent and invisible form of treatment.

For over a century, the Han people were finally able to stand tall and speak confidently in front of the Khitans. When the Han people spoke, the Khitans were more patient than ever before. Even in the cities of the Liao people, the voices of the Han people could be heard by the Khitans.

For a century, when have the Han people ever enjoyed such dignity?
Merchants who travel between the two countries are the ones who can most clearly feel the difference between a strong and weak nation.

If the Song Dynasty were still as weak as it was back then, how could the Khitans have been so friendly to the Han people?
All of this was because a great hero emerged in the Song Dynasty, who single-handedly reversed the fate of the nation.

As the nation grows stronger, the ordinary people stand tall, and each person gains an unprecedented confidence and self-assurance, enabling them to no longer be timid and submissive when facing the once ferocious Khitans.

Because they were certain that behind them was His Highness the Prince's mighty army of 100,000, who were eyeing the Khitans with predatory intent.

Wang Chong and his group left Xijin Prefecture and traveled for two days. They were still a few days' journey away from Datong Prefecture.

Under the scorching sun, Wang Chong and his companions could no longer bear it, so they found a large tree by the roadside and sat down in its shade to rest, replenish their food and water.

"This damn weather, I wish I could shoot this darn sun down," one of the guys muttered as he chugged a water bottle.

Wang Chong lifted the leather bag, poured water over his head, then vigorously wiped his face, saying lightly, "Just bear with it a little longer. We'll be in Datong Prefecture in a couple of days. After this deal is done, we'll go home to see our parents, wives, and children, and then come out to do business again after the wheat harvest in the fall."

One of the guys said excitedly, "It's been more than half a year since I last saw my wife, haha, I really miss her..."

Wang Chong laughed and cursed, "Bah! You think you miss her? You're clearly lusting after that woman, you bastard! You just got your share of the silver and you went to Xijin Mansion and spent a lot of money on that one night, didn't you?"

The brother gave an embarrassed smile: "Men, if they don't vent their anger for a long time, they won't calm down, it's too uncomfortable."

“Let’s work hard from now on. His Highness has made peace with the Liao Kingdom, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun have been recovered by His Highness. This is a great event. It will be more convenient for us brothers to do business in the future, and we will make more money.”

"Once the imperial court has fully recovered Yan and Yun, let's recruit a few more brothers to join us next year and expand our business!"

When Wang Chong spoke, his eyes shone brightly, his spirits soaring, a light of hope for the future that shone brilliantly in the shadows of the trees.

One of the guys rubbed his hands together and laughed, "That's great! Next year, when business is booming, I'll send the money home and buy a few more acres of prime land for my family. Hmm... I'll keep some for myself too. I don't want to keep looking for old widows with half-closed doors anymore. I want to go to brothels and patronize young girls!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Men's topics are always so vulgar, but they resonate with men in a way that is particularly striking.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard the rumble of horses' hooves coming from the west.

Wang Chong and the others' smiles froze, and their expressions immediately turned serious.

Wang Chong and his brothers made a living by trading horses, so they were naturally familiar with the sound of horses' hooves, and could immediately tell the number of horses from the sound of hooves.

At the western end, a cloud of yellow dust rose into the sky. Amid the billowing dust, a group of knights in black armor appeared and disappeared. The leading knight held up a banner, but it was too far away to see the words on the banner.

Wang Chong said in a deep voice, "Judging from the sound of hooves, there are about three thousand cavalry. I don't know if they are troops from the Song or Liao Kingdom. Brothers, don't move or run away. We are a merchant caravan, so they shouldn't make things difficult for us."

Wang Chong spoke with certainty, for over a century, whether in war or peace, the armies of the two countries had generally not made things difficult for merchant caravans.

Because in that era, both countries attached great importance to trade. If the army frequently plundered caravans, the consequences would be dire, and caravans would often not dare to come for a year or two. Although the Liao people were crude, they understood this principle and generally would not cause trouble for caravans.

As the three thousand iron cavalry drew closer, Wang Chong and his men remained calm and sat motionless under the shade of a tree.

As the three thousand cavalry drew closer, Wang Chong could finally see the banners raised high in front of the army, and his heart sank.

It was a banner embroidered with a wolf totem and a string of unintelligible Khitan characters.

This cavalry unit is from the Liao army.

(End of this chapter)