Chapter 193 Testing
At the door of the British Duke's mansion, the British Duke, his wife Sun, his son Zhang Feng and his daughter-in-law Liu were waiting at the door.
"Why aren't you here yet?" Mrs. Sun jumped up and looked in the direction of the East Palace.
"What's the rush? The East Palace sent someone to say that His Highness is coming, and he will come naturally." The British Duke said.
Ms. Sun ignored her husband and saw a group of forbidden troops appearing on the street in the distance. She was surprised and said: "It's coming, it's coming!"
After hearing this, the British Duke looked over and saw a group of Forbidden Army trotting over and blocking the street. After a while, a carriage turned around the corner and came this way under the escort of the Forbidden Army.
Not long after, the carriage stopped at the door.
"I (courtesy and wife) respectfully welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess!" the British Duke and the others saluted.
Sanshui opened the curtain, Zhao Xing leaned out and said with a smile: "No courtesy."
After saying that, Zhao Xing got off the carriage and reached out to help Zhang Guifen down.
"Father, mother!" Zhang Guifen said excitedly.
"Daughter!" Mrs. Sun excitedly stepped forward and took her daughter's hand, looking up and down.
Fortunately, she still had some sense and didn't ask if it was okay or anything.
"Your Highness, Madam I was so excited that I was rude. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!" The British Duke bowed.
According to etiquette, they can only call Princess Zhang Guifen in public. It is okay to call their daughter's name in private.
"My father-in-law said something serious, and my mother-in-law misses her daughter so much. What's the crime?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Please come in, Your Highness and the Crown Princess!" the British Duke said sideways.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly and walked side by side with Zhang Guifen, who had just recovered from the excitement, and entered the house.
Arriving at the main hall, the British Duke invited Zhao Xing and Zhang Guifen to sit down.
Zhang Guifen is not used to it, but she also knows that this is what she must accept after her identity changes.
"Mother-in-law misses the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess should accompany her mother-in-law to have some words of respect." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Yes." Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifen saluted and said, "Then I will go first."
Sun and Liu also saluted and followed Zhang Guifen.
Only Zhao Xing and the British father and son were left in the hall.
There are many members of the Zhang family, but no one from the British family was notified.
Zhao Xingnai is the prince, and being able to accompany Zhang Guifen back home as ordinary people do is already a great honor to the Zhang family.
There are too many people coming, and it is not safe. It would be even worse if someone thinks that Zhang Guifen is now the Crown Princess and wants to get some benefits from His Highness.
"I heard from the princess that there are many military books in my father-in-law's study, some of which are unique. Gu usually likes to read some military books. I wonder if my father-in-law can take me to see them?" Zhao Xing said with a smile.
"Your Highness, please!"
Hearing this, the British minister naturally would not refuse and stood up to invite.
Zhao Xing followed the British father to the study. There was only one bookshelf in the study, and there were not many books on it, only dozens of books.
Taking photos, I picked up a book and found that it turned out to be a history book.
"Father-in-law still likes to read history books?" Zhao Xing said in surprise.
"Historical books are actually the art of war. I only read the records of wars in the past dynasties." The British Duke said.
Zhao Xing nodded slightly when he heard this. There are many military books in ancient times, and many famous generals in the past dynasties have written military books.
However, most of these military books have been lost, and there are not many military books that have been truly handed down.
Some wars recorded in history can indeed be studied as military manuals.
Zhao Xing picked it up casually and browsed through it. The covers of these books were a bit old, which showed that people often read them and they were not just decorations.
“I wonder which ancient military sage my father-in-law admires?” Zhao Xing asked.
“I admire Li Jing and Pharmacist Li in the early Tang Dynasty the most,” said the British Duke.
"Li Pharmacist is really a master of military skills. He is named Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, and he has made great contributions." Zhao Xing praised.
Li Jing was good at strategy, used troops like a god, and was invincible. He made great achievements in the establishment and development of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Jing can definitely be ranked among the top generals in history, but many of them do not belong to the same dynasty and have no chance to fight. It is difficult to define how he is.
But if Zhao Xing could choose famous names from history for his use, he would definitely choose Wang Jian and Li Jing.
No one has the ability, knows how to advance and retreat, and knows how to retreat bravely from the rapids.
There are others who are more capable than them, but they all have certain flaws in their personalities.
I just don’t know if the British people say they admire Li Jing, do they mean that he destroyed the Turks and suppressed the Tuhun, or that he understood the rapids and retreated bravely.
Zhao Xing put down his books, sat down, asked the British father-in-law and his son to sit down, and said, "I want Zhang Feng to go to the Northwest Army to practice for a few years. What do your father-in-law think?"
UK After hearing this, the official was silent for a while and said, "Your Highness, you want to plot Xixia?"
The official's family had a serious illness two years ago, and after he recovered, his energy and energy were not as good as before.
Many people are speculating that the Guan family may not live well for a few more years.
But no one will say this kind of thing out loud, they just think about it in their hearts. Zhao Xing told him that he would send Zhang Feng to the northwest for training, and he probably understood what Zhao Xing meant.
The experience is just an excuse, it should be to prepare for entering the palace of Xixia in the future.
Otherwise, if there is no war on the border now, what is there to experience in the northwest?
Zhao Xing did not answer but asked: "Does my father-in-law think peace can continue between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom and Xixia?"
"Of course it is impossible. The three countries are close to each other and are now restraining each other, which is why peace is maintained. Once one of them If the country changes, the other two countries will not let go of the opportunity," the British minister said.
"If the Song Dynasty wants to launch troops, who does my father-in-law think should be attacked first?" Zhao Xing asked.
The British Duke pondered for a moment and said: "From a strategic point of view, it is natural to recover the sixteen states of Yanyun. Xixia is barren but has a lot of troops. It is difficult to win quickly, and the Liao Kingdom will not look at it. The Song Dynasty annexed Xixia. There was no danger to defend the north. Not only did it need to deploy a large number of soldiers and horses, but it also consumed a huge amount of military and food supplies. The current situation could be avoided
But Yichen's view. , Xixia should be attacked first!”
"Oh?" Zhao Xing looked at the British Duke in surprise and asked, "Why did my father-in-law choose Xixia?"
Starting from Taizu, the goals of emperors and generals of all dynasties have been the Sixteenth Prefecture of Yanyun.
Because the Sixteen States of Yanyun were too important to the Song Dynasty.
The Song Dynasty and the Liao Kingdom did not fight much, but they did not fight much with the Xixia Kingdom.
It used to be small fights, but it wasn't until Xixia became independent that it fought a big war, and eventually lost.
As the British Duke said, it is difficult to win Xixia quickly, and the land in Xixia is barren. Even if it can be conquered, the cost will be high, but the benefits will not be much.
Zhao Xing originally thought that the British Duke also advocated recovering the Sixteen States of Yanyun first, but he did not expect that he also supported the attack on Xixia.
"Xixia is difficult to fight, and Liao is even more difficult to fight. Once the war situation reaches a stalemate, Xixia will definitely send troops to make a sneak attack. Only by destroying Xixia can we fight with Liao with all our strength." The British Duke said.
"What my father-in-law said coincided with what Gu thought. There is a saying in the art of war. Soldiers are important matters of the country, the place of life and death, and the way of survival. Gu Xiang sent Zhang Feng to the Northwest Army. The training is also to prepare for the future." Zhao Xing directly stated his purpose.
The so-called future is after Zhao Xing ascends the throne. The British public naturally understands this truth.
The British Duke was silent for a long time and said: "Quinzi is still young and cannot take on such an important task. I'm afraid it will ruin His Highness's important affairs. Your Highness should send someone else."
Hearing this, Zhao Xing frowned slightly and asked whether to send him. It is not very important that Zhang Feng goes. Go
The reason why he said this was because he wanted to see the attitude of the British public.
Even though Zhang Guifen had confirmed the identity of the Crown Princess early, the British father-in-law, the future father-in-law, kept a distance from Zhao Xing.
Neither close nor distant, just like an ordinary minister.
But that is based on the fact that the two are not married. After all, no one can tell whether there will be any changes later.
At the same time, it is also to prevent official suspicion.
However, it is different now. Zhao Xing and Zhang Guifen are married. The British government has no retreat and must support Zhao Xing.
Now the British government and he have both prospered and suffered losses.
But the British Duke is loyal to the officials.
If Zhao Xing intends to rebel, he may not help.
Of course, this does not mean that Zhao Xing intends to rebel, it just means that the British public's support for him is not unreserved.
If he intends to send troops to Xixia, but the British Duke's idea is to send troops to the Liao Kingdom, based on the British Duke's temperament, he will probably object to sending troops to Xixia.
The British Duke has a high prestige in the military, and his attitude is very important.
This is also Zhao Xing’s purpose of testing him.
He originally thought that the British Duke also agreed to launch troops against Xixia and would spare no effort to support him.
Unexpectedly, the British Duke refused to allow Zhang Feng to go to the Northwest Army.
"It is precisely because Zhang Feng is still young that Gu Cai wants him to go to the northwest for training." Zhao Xing said.
"Your Highness, as a general, you should obey orders. However, both of the old minister's sons died in the battlefield. Although Feng'er was adopted, the old minister regarded him as his own son. The old minister really couldn't stand it. This is a blow to the black-haired man.
Your Highness, please forgive me for my selfishness. I don’t expect Feng’er to achieve great success, but only hope that he can inherit the title, continue his heirs, and live a stable life. "Britain. Duke said.
Zhao Xing's eyes flashed slightly, he now somewhat understood what the British Duke meant.
The British government's rejection is not because it does not support it, but because it feels that the British government is too powerful today.
The so-called "I don't want Zhang Feng to make great achievements and hope that he can live a stable life" is actually meant for Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing's current temptation has already shown the power of the British government. Even Zhao Xing needs his support.
In this case, if Zhang Feng goes to the Northwest Army and launches troops against Xixia in the future, it would be better if he does not make any merit. If he does, Zhao Xing will be rewarded.
By then, Zhang Feng would be able to inherit the British government's military connections.
Zhang Guifen is the crown prince and will be the queen in the future, and his grandson will also be the future prince.
If Zhang Feng continues to inherit the British government's prestige in the military, he is likely to arouse Zhao Xing's suspicion in the future.
Whether in terms of strategy or relationship, he supports Zhao Xing in fighting Xixia.
He could even lead the troops himself, but Zhang Feng couldn't go.
Zhang Feng cannot perform meritorious service. Only in this way can the prestige of the Zhang family in the military be diluted after his death.
(End of this chapter)