Chapter 238 How can I compare with the one from the Southern Dynasty from now on?
That afternoon.

Looked at his son.

Almost one and a half years old.

About knee high.

Zhao Xin hugged the other person, who looked like he wanted to cry but couldn’t.

And he looked at him with wide eyes.

His expression was as if a thief had broken into the house.

He even knew to turn his head and look at his mother, as if to ask her to save him.

Zhao Xin also found it funny, and then said: “Come to think of it… I haven’t picked a name yet. But naming is a technical job, I’ll think about it first.”

Next…

Zhao Xin might have to look up the dictionary all night.

Although there was definitely no “Xinhua Dictionary” in the Song Dynasty, there were other reference books similar to dictionaries.

The eldest son, the second son, the third son, the fourth son, and the youngest daughter.

Zhao Xin hugged them one by one.

But it only happens occasionally.

After all, they are not as rare as their mother.

That night, after dinner, Zhao Xin had a good workout with Chen Yuanyuan again.

They didn’t stop until both sides were exhausted.

……

The next day.

Even though I just came back.

But the important business of entering the palace still needs to be done.

The first thing to do, of course, is to commend Zhong Yan, Wei Mingshan and others.

Those who deserve reward should be rewarded, and those who deserve promotion should be promoted.

Zhang Kang can also be reinstated.

Even need to be promoted further.

The meeting hall.

Even Fu Bi, who was very reluctant to admit it, had to admit at this moment that Zhao Xin had accomplished something that had never been accomplished in all these years since the establishment of the Song Dynasty.

This matter is about expanding territory.

And it only took Zhao Xin three months.

Ouyang Xiu was also very excited when he saw Zhao Xin again. His eyes seemed to be shining. “Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Yu!”

Zhao Xin also asked: “What are you congratulating me for?”

Ouyang Xiu naturally said: “Of course, Your Highness won the battle!”

Zhao Xin sighed and said, “This little victory is nothing to me. We haven’t even taken back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun yet.”

Cai Xiang said, “Your Highness really sets too high standards for himself.”

Zhao Xin: “If you don’t take back the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun and cancel the 200,000 taels of silver and 200,000 rolls of silk that you promised to Liao, how can you help Fu Bi wash away the humiliation of the Qingli peace talks?”

Zhao Xin said this.

Everyone’s eyes fell on Fu Bi.

Fu Bi lost in the end, and he gave Zhao Xin a serious bow.

He apologized, “I underestimated Your Highness before.”

This statement also meant that the two had officially reconciled.

Ouyang Xiu then reported the good news: “I heard that the drought and flood in Hebei have slowed down. Next year, the agriculture in Hebei may be able to recover again.”

Zhao Xin instantly thought of what to name his son. Why not, just name him Zhao Yexin.

Although the new character at the end has the same pronunciation as its own character Xin.

Let’s use it as an alternative first.

it’s over…

I also have to go to the harem to meet the Empress and Madam Miao.

When Empress Cao saw Zhao Xin coming, she also teased, “Why doesn’t our great hero rest at home for a few more days? Besides, why don’t I remember that Zhao Xinglai liked to come to my place?”

His father was also there, looking at Zhao Xin.

Ever since Madam Zhang died, his father seemed to have reconciled with the empress.

Although the Empress is not good-looking, at her father’s age, she is no longer at the age to judge whether others are good-looking or not. The main thing is whether they can get along with each other.

Besides, at his father’s age, it would be a bit too much if he were to harm a teenage girl again.

I guess I’ll be scolded for being indecent.

In fact, his father did have this idea, but the people below him were ignorant and did not offer it to him voluntarily, so he could not force others to give it to him.

Anyway…

Just make do with it.

Facing the teasing of the Empress, Zhao Xin also said: “It’s not the first day that the Empress has known me. I have said it before. It’s not that I don’t want to come to your place, but after all, there is a difference between men and women. Besides, I don’t come here often. I usually come only when I think of it.”

“When you visit Madam Miao, visit Madam as well.”

Empress Cao smiled and said, “Yesterday I was talking to Madam Miao about how Zui Xinglai was so kind to let us all come to watch the military parade. In fact, Zui Xinglai wanted Yuanyuan to watch it, right?”

Zhao Xin said, “I want you to know all this! Actually… I want everyone in the world to see it. But since everyone in the world has seen it, it’s okay to let Yuanyuan see it too. But Yuanyuan can’t go see it alone, so it’s also good to bring you, Madam. And we can also bring Madam Miao with us.”

When Empress Cao heard about the people of the world, she paused for a moment.

only……

Soon, she stopped caring about it. After all, as a member of the harem, why should she care about these things?

Finally, Zhao Xin said, “I am glad to see that you are in good health, Madam. I am going to find Madam Miao.”

Empress Cao did not keep Zhao Xin and said, “Go, go! If you leave, Madam Miao will be very worried.”

Then…

Zhao Xin then came to Madam Miao again.

Madam Miao looked him up and down, left and right, and even rolled up his sleeves. Zhao Xin asked, “Madam Miao, what are you looking for?”

Madam Miao said, “I’m checking to see if you’re injured.”

Zhao Xin said, “I am standing in the battle formation. Unless the army is defeated, how can I be injured?”

Madam Miao also said, “What if he gets hit by a stray arrow?”

Zhao Xin then said, “Then how can I come to see you now?”

When Madam Miao saw that Zhao Xin was not injured at all, she immediately changed her expression and asked, “Why didn’t you bring Yuanyuan with you?”

Zhao Xin said, “Yuanyuan still has to take care of the kids at home.”

Zhao Huirou has also grown up.

Slim.

Just a little princess temperament.

In fact, it is not surprising. After all, in this palace, besides Zhao Xin and Madam Zhang, she is the third most favored one.

As soon as he came in, he said, “Oh, our great hero is back!”

Zhao Xin said to Madam Miao, “You’d better marry her off quickly. If she continues like this, she won’t be able to find a husband in the future.”

“Who are you talking about? Look, sister, he’s talking about me again!” Madam Miao said, “How can you talk about your elder sister like that? But it’s time to marry you off. You’re already so old, and you’re still bickering here!”

“He started it!”

noon.

We had lunch together.

Looking at the food on the table, Zhao Xin couldn’t help but sigh.

Said: “This reminds me of when I was a kid, I would just use my hands instead of chopsticks.”

After sighing for a while, he continued, “Mrs. Miao… you are old! How about… find an opportunity for the family to have some fun outside.”

Exactly!

In another two or three months, it will be spring again.

That’s what I said.

During the time he was away from Tokyo, although Ouyang Xiu and others helped to deal with some trivial matters, there were still some things that he had to do personally.

it’s over…

Zhao Xin asked someone to take all the job application letters from the Scholars, Farmers, Merchants and Industrialists Association home and read them.

I saw the evaluation of the Song Dynasty’s weapons at a glance.

Well……

From now on, this person can be responsible for supervising the production of weapons.

in fact……

Conquering the Hengshan area is just the beginning.

Moreover, they have every advantage in this battle.

However, when we fight the Liao Kingdom next time, we may not have such an advantage.

therefore……

Next, we still have to reform the Song Dynasty’s military system in order to ensure victory.

at the same time……

On the Liao side.

The Western Xia themselves did not want the Hengshan area, and Yelu Zongzhen heard about it.

at the same time……

The envoy also brought Zhao Xin’s personal information to Yelu Zongzhen.

Also listening nearby was Yelu Zongzhen’s eldest son, Yelu Hongji.

The envoy said, “This Prince Yu was lawless in the Southern Dynasty. He once told all the officials, and in front of his father, that he was the most powerful in the Song Dynasty and everyone had to listen to him.”

Yelu Zongzhen also said: “Then the Southern Dynasty Emperor doesn’t care about this?”

The envoy said, “How can you control this? He is the only son of the Southern Dynasty Emperor. Even if he is disobedient, can you kill him?”

After hearing this, Yelu Zongzhen also felt that it made some sense.

The envoy continued, “It is said that when he was seven or eight years old, or ten years old, he was already participating in government affairs regularly. When he was just over ten years old, he married a wife and concubines for himself, and no one needed to worry about him. He was very handsome and heroic… He didn’t look like an ordinary person.”

Yelu Zongzhen then looked at his son again. Actually, his son Yelu Hongji was also the chief minister at the age of ten and participated in government affairs. However, this chief minister was almost an empty title and he basically just listened to what others said.

This is like Li Chengqian in the Tang Dynasty, who was also regent when he was very young.

But what is the effect of this regency?

That’s hard to say.

The only difference now is that Zhao Xin, who is sixteen years old this year, has led his troops to capture the Hengshan area of ​​Western Xia, forcing Western Xia to ask for reinforcements.

His son, Yelu Hongji, who was 23 years old this year, was nominally the Grand Marshal of the Army, the Zhitiyinshi (an official in charge of royal affairs), and participated in state affairs.

But… compared with their actual combat record, it still feels a lot inferior.

Yelu Zongzhen also asked: “What are the losses of Xixia?”

The envoy said, “The elite troops in the country have been almost completely lost. I’m afraid it will be difficult to recover within ten years.”

Yelu Zongzhen asked, “Is it that serious?”

The envoy said, “Perhaps it is an exaggeration by Xixia, but Hengshan has been lost, and Yinzhou, Xiazhou, Youzhou, and Longzhou are all in the hands of the Southern Dynasty. It is not an exaggeration for Xixia to say so. I also heard that a new weapon has appeared in the Song army, which can destroy both men and horses within 200 steps.”

Yelu Zongzhen also immediately became alert and asked, “What is the shape of this weapon? Can we copy it?”

The envoy shook his head and replied: “Western Xia was defeated before they even saw what that thing was. It can be said that this weapon played the biggest role in the Western Xia’s defeat by the Southern Dynasty.”

Yelu Zongzhen was old and ill.

In addition, the domestic situation of the Liao Kingdom today is not much better than that of the Song Dynasty.

The two expeditions to Western Xia failed, but the second one was a small success in that it exposed all the domestic ills.

When it comes to war, the Liao Kingdom really doesn’t want to fight anymore.

but……

Even if you don’t want to fight, you still have to be on guard against others, right?

Yelu Zongzhen asked, “Does the Southern Dynasty intend to conquer Xixia, or will it attack the Liao Kingdom next?”

The envoy said, “In fact… the battle of Hengshan was probably a coincidence. It is said that neither the Privy Council nor the Three Departments received any order to fight in the Southern Dynasty. It was Prince Yu who went to the northwest and happened to encounter the Western Xia occupying the farmland in Qizhou. Then, Prince Yu was always unruly and took the soldiers from Fuyan Road to conquer Hengshan.”

Yelu Zongzhen was also speechless and said, “Is this person really so lawless?”

The envoy said, “I spent some money to bribe the officials of the Southern Dynasty. I don’t know whether it is true or not. But it is true that the people of the Southern Dynasty did not know about the war in the northwest at the beginning. Many people were surprised when they found out.”

Yelu Zongzhen said, “This is dangerous! What do you think? If he were to come to our Liao’s Nanjing Xijin Prefecture, would he also have to take down our Nanjing Xijin Prefecture?”

The envoy also said: “Maybe it is really possible.”

Yelu Zongzhen then asked Yelu Hongji: “What do you think we should do next?”

After hearing about Zhao Xin’s deeds, Yelu Hongji also said: “I think this should indeed be an accident, but as father said, we must be on guard against this person in the future.”

Saying it means not saying it.

of course!

Yelu Zongzhen didn’t mean to force the other side to take any action. He just needed to make the other side realize that the Liao Kingdom’s powerful enemy, your powerful enemy, had appeared. That was enough.

The envoy said: “When I came back, the Southern Dynasty had already withdrawn its troops, but… Xixia’s attitude was that they dared not fight against the Southern Dynasty. The land in the Hengshan area is probably going to fall into the hands of the Southern Dynasty.”

At this time, Yelu Zongzhen was thinking about whether he should attack the Southern Dynasty while he was still alive.

But after thinking about it, he gave up immediately.

Because it is so difficult to defeat Xixia.

Don’t even mention the Song Dynasty, which was larger than Western Xia.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Hebei Province of the Song Dynasty is flat and Kaifeng Prefecture is almost undefended, as if it were easy to capture.

If they really want to fight, they may not have the ability to do so.

Then he said: “Next, we need to strengthen the defense of Nanjing, Liao Kingdom.”

The envoy was also puzzled: “But will this make the Southern Dynasty think that we want to go to war with them?”

Yelu Zongzhen thought about it and it seemed to be true.

But Yelu Zongzhen quickly asked, “Then should we do nothing?”

The envoy said, “At least… we can’t give the Southern Dynasty any leverage. The reason why Xixia was attacked by the Southern Dynasty was because their uncle occupied the Southern Dynasty’s dozens of miles of farmland in Qizhou.”

Yelu Hongji also said: “I also think that we should not send more troops to Xijin Prefecture at this time. If we really send more troops, the two countries may immediately start fighting.”

Yelu Zongzhen looked at his son.

My son is good in everything.

But I feel that he is too kind and gentle. How can I compare with the one in the Southern Dynasty in the future?
(End of this chapter)