Chapter 468: Thoughts of Father and Son

Yancheng.

Zhao Xu, Liu Fu, and other officials of the North Four Commanderies were waiting at the South City Gate at this moment.

As soon as Zhong Li arrived at Qin Pass, he dispatched Cavalry to inform him of the news that Zhao Heng had been rescued.

Then, he continued to send people back and forth to deliver messages, including the news that Zhao Heng was setting out for Yancheng.

Consequently, he handed the military affairs of Ningjin Dusi over to Chang Wei and turned back to Yancheng to welcome the imperial carriage.

"I never expected that the Hot Air Balloon created by that kid Wang Chong would be of such great use. Manager Wang, you have raised a good son," Liu Fu said, glancing back at Wang Ying who stood behind him, offering a compliment.

Wang Ying grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth; he had always been strict with Wang Chong, hoping his son would become successful.

Being praised like this by Liu Fu, he was naturally very happy.

However, he knew clearly that without the guidance of Yan Wang, how could Wang Chong have understood such a thing?

Thus, he said: "This is thanks to His Highness's training; even raw jade must be carved to become a useful vessel."

Hearing this, the crowd nodded one after another.

They looked toward Yan Wang, revealing expressions of admiration.

To them, the Beidi's strategy of a pincer attack from the east and west this time was a divine plan.

Anyone else would have been unable to break it.

But the Beidi Khan happened to encounter their Yan Wang.

Not only did the east suffer heavy losses, but the plan to surround and capture their Emperor in the west also failed due to the existence of the Hot Air Balloon.

They could even imagine how Mule Hongzhen must be fuming with rage.

"Hahaha, well said. His Highness is indeed the most formidable. Your Highness, my admiration for you is no longer like the rolling waters of the Jin River, but like the waves of the great ocean, blotting out the sky and the sun," Liu Fu leaned forward and bowed to Zhao Xu, who stood before him.

Zhu Tuo and the other Government Office officials felt a chill upon hearing this; the sycophancy of Palace Tutor Liu was becoming increasingly refined.

Zhao Xu smiled lightly.

The fact that Liu Fu could flatter him in public showed that he was in quite a good mood right now.

Besides Liu Fu, the officials who had come to welcome the carriage were also all wearing smiles.

This was not because they were excited by the arrival of the Emperor, Zhao Heng.

It was because after Zhong Li rescued the Emperor, the Beidi's plot to move south had basically been declared a failure.

They were also clear that if this Emperor of Great Song were captured, it was feared that Great Song would split from within.

By then, there would truly be no power to stop the Beidi from moving south.

As the saying goes, if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.

The current trade of the North Four Commanderies still needed to rely on Great Song.

Before finding a viable alternative, it was best to maintain the status quo.

"They're here!"

Just as everyone was chatting and laughing, Liu Fu suddenly pointed toward the end of the main road.

They saw a troop of Cavalry appear at the end of the road.

These Cavalry held high the Five-Colored Flag and approached slowly.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu and the officials straightened their attire.

Zhao Heng was the Emperor of Great Song,

so basic etiquette had to be observed.

"Let's go."

Flicking his sleeves, Zhao Xu led the officials forward.

According to the rites of Great Song, a vassal king could not wait for the Emperor at the city gate.

Instead, he had to lead the officials of the Prince's Mansion two *li* forward.

Zhao Xu took a step, and the other officials followed.

Two quarter-hours later, they arrived at the spot that had been marked in advance.

Zhao Heng's imperial carriage also stopped right in front of them.

"Your subject, Zhao Xu, pays respects to the Emperor. Long live, long live, long, long live the Emperor," Zhao Xu shouted.

"Long live, long live, long, long live the Emperor..." Liu Fu and the other officials followed closely behind, shouting loudly.

Inside the imperial carriage, Zhao Heng revealed a satisfied smile; he could recognize Zhao Xu's voice.

Lifting the carriage curtain, Zhao Heng stepped down from the imperial carriage.

Looking at Zhao Xu, he personally helped him up and smiled: "Imperial Son, no need for such formalities."

His tone was very affectionate.

"Thank you, Imperial Father." Zhao Xu stood up and met Zhao Heng's gaze.

In his memory, the appearance of Zhao Heng and the Emperor of Great Song before him gradually merged.

This was the first time he had seen this Emperor of Great Song since he had transmigrated.

In his heart, he was very calm, without sorrow or joy.

Not to mention that in the memories of the Ninth Prince, there was only the fear of a subject toward a monarch, and no feelings of familial affection toward this Imperial Father.

The relationship between him and this monarch was purely one of interests.

The matter of the Beidi envoy in Jinling last time had made him even more disappointed in this Emperor.

He had already placed him in the same basket as the incompetent rulers of past dynasties.

"Your son arrived late to save the carriage, I hope Imperial Father will punish me," Zhao Xu said another polite phrase.

Zhao Heng laughed aloud, "Not late, not late. Imperial Son sent people to save the carriage, and it arrived at just the right time. This time, I shall reward you heavily."

While speaking, he scrutinized Zhao Xu repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhao Xu was respectful and courteous, his eyes bright and alert.

He was like a different person compared to the mad, foolish, and idiotic youth he was back in Jingshi.

Seeing this, he could only feel that fate was playing a trick on him;

at the same time, he felt somewhat fortunate, for if it were not for his unintentional actions, he feared he would have fallen into the hands of the Northern Di in this war.

The words of Zhao Heng caused Liu Fu and the others to all reveal expressions of joy.

They naturally hoped that Yan Wang would receive a grand reward.

Moreover, Yan Wang was worthy of such a reward.

"Thank you, Father Emperor. In Father Emperor's time of crisis, it is only right that your son does his utmost to save the throne." Zhao Xu, however, did not show his joy as openly as Liu Fu and the others.

He had actually invited Zhao Heng to Yanzhou with his own plans in mind.

When he ordered Chang Wei to head south to Fanyang to drive the Yuan Family forces out of Yanzhou, the first step of his plan had been set in motion.

The second step was to have Zhao Heng come to Yanzhou.

He knew well that the war had not yet ended, and this emperor, who loved grand achievements, could not just slink back to Jinling in defeat.

And as long as he came, the rest would be easy.

The father and son exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Zhao Xu formally welcomed Zhao Heng into Yancheng.

Seated securely in his imperial carriage, Zhao Heng peered at Yancheng through the gap in the curtains.

Since ascending the throne, he had only toured south of Jinling and had never once toured the North Territory.

From this Northern Expedition and the journey all the way from Sizhou to Yanzhou, he deeply felt that compared to the prosperity of the south, the north was relatively impoverished.

Especially after entering Yanzhou, he even felt a sense of desolation.

The only thing that surprised him was that, although the food, clothing, and daily necessities of the commoners on Yan Wang's land were all inferior to those in the south,

these commoners were all full of spirit, as if a bright future awaited them.

"Compared to Jinling, it is truly like heaven versus earth." After observing for only a short while, Zhao Heng closed his eyes.

The countryside was like this, and Yancheng did not exceed his expectations.

On the wide streets of Jinling, carriages and horses were like dragons, and those wearing silk and satin were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river.

The shops on both sides of the streets were luxurious and spacious, with carved beams and painted pillars, bustling with crowds.

There were even countless romantic scholars and beauties lingering in the alleys.

Yet here, there were only a few more merchants coming and going.

"In such a barren land, Yan Wang has been able to achieve what he has today; he truly has some ability," Zhao Heng mused.

Thinking of something, he added, "When all is said and done, Yan Wang relies on trade; with only these four barren commanderies, I fear he could not even pay his soldiers' wages."

Once this thought occurred to him, he nodded secretly.

This Northern Expedition had been a crushing defeat, and the Forbidden Army he had built had suffered heavy losses.

Yan Wang appeared even more important at this time.

Next, he would likely need Yan Wang, this anchor, even more to suppress the powerful clans internally and resist the Northern Di externally.

Therefore, now that he knew Yan Wang's weakness, he was no longer afraid of Yan Wang slipping out of his control.