Chapter 469: Preparing to Pitfall the Father

Latest website: "Father Emperor, your son toasts you a cup!"

Zhang Family Mansion.

Zhao Xu sat to the lower right of Zhao Heng, Second Prince Zhao Qu sat to the lower left of Zhao Heng, and other officials and generals sat on both sides.

Before Zhao Heng arrived, Zhao Xu had ordered the Zhang Family Mansion to be tidied up to serve as Zhao Heng's temporary residence.

Once settled, he arranged a banquet to welcome Zhao Heng.

"Good, good, good." Zhao Heng was all smiles as he drained the cup of wine in one gulp.

Savoring the Fine Wine in his mouth, his mood completely relaxed.

Ever since being trapped in Xian City, he had lived in fear day and night.

Now, he finally did not have to worry about enemies attacking at any moment.

After all, this was Yan Wang's territory, currently the safest place in the northern border.

"Father Emperor, your son also toasts you." Unwilling to fall behind Zhao Xu, the Second Prince picked up his wine cup.

Glancing at Zhao Qu, Zhao Heng gave a light hum, but still drank the wine.

In truth, he also understood that this lone army's deep penetration was not entirely the Second Prince's fault.

Without his tacit approval, the Northern Expeditionary Army could not have moved a single soldier.

Then Zhao Qu poured another cup of wine, raised it toward Zhao Xu, and smiled: "Ninth Brother, this time it is all thanks to you, otherwise Father Emperor and I would have been in danger. However, Ninth Brother is truly full of hidden talents; to think you even have something like a Hot Air Balloon."

"Second Brother is mistaken. It can only be said that Father Emperor and Second Brother have boundless good fortune. This thing called a Hot Air Balloon was just created by the son of an official under my command. Out of nine flights, five end up falling from the sky. I only used it this time because of the emergency," Zhao Xu said, glancing faintly at Zhao Qu.

He thought to himself that Zhao Qu was truly worthy of having grown up in the power struggles of Jingshi.

Every casual sentence was like a needle hidden in silk.

The meaning behind his words appeared to be flattery, but in reality, he was subtly telling Zhao Heng:

If he, this Yan Wang, had not kept the Hot Air Balloon hidden, they might not have been trapped in Xian City for so long.

They could have escaped when the Beidi besieged the city.

"Furthermore, the Hot Air Balloon can only fly back and forth for twenty-odd miles; once the fuel is burned out, it will likewise fall from the sky," Zhao Xu added.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Zhao Heng and Zhao Qu changed simultaneously.

So this thing was this dangerous.

Thinking of this, they couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"Ninth Brother is truly broad-minded." Zhao Qu glanced at Zhao Heng.

The implication was that for Yan Wang to use such a dangerous thing to save them, his heart was punishable.

Zhao Xu remained very calm and said: "To save, there is a five-in-ten chance of survival; not to save, there is zero chance of survival. Moreover, Father Emperor is the True Dragon Son of Heaven. Your son believes that Heaven will naturally protect Father Emperor. This time, Father Emperor escaped Qinzhou smoothly, which shows Father Emperor's deep blessings."

"Hahaha..."

Zhao Heng laughed out loud. Originally, he had been secretly displeased, but with Zhao Xu saying this, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Zhao Xu attributed his successful escape from Qinzhou to his status as the True Dragon Son of Heaven, deliberately omitting his own merit, which naturally gave him plenty of face.

"Ninth Brother has recovered from his illness, yet he is more eloquent than before," Zhao Qu said with a sour heart.

Both of his little tricks had been easily neutralized by Yan Wang.

"Many thanks for Second Brother's praise. However, while I may be eloquent, the root of my illness has not been completely eradicated. Sometimes, when provoked, I might still do extraordinary things..." While speaking, Zhao Xu stared at the Second Prince.

His meaning was clear enough; using modern terminology, he was effectively telling the Second Prince that he had intermittent mental illness.

Do not provoke him again.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Second Prince's face looked as if it had been coated in wax.

If it were true, would this Yan Wang, upon a relapse, order his generals to chop him down?

Thinking of this, he immediately shut his mouth, lowered his head to eat, and didn't even dare to meet Zhao Xu's eyes.

Zhao Heng, sitting at the table, also smiled awkwardly.

Now, he could understand all of Yan Wang's irrational behaviors.

This ninth son of his was truly different from ordinary people.

He also felt a bit of wariness in his heart.

However, he maintained his composure and wore a concerned expression: "When I return to Jinling, I will certainly send the best imperial physicians in the palace to you to treat you."

"Thank you, Father Emperor." Zhao Xu lowered his head, a cunning smile on his lips.

After drinking for a while longer, Zhao Heng was slightly drunk.

Recalling that his personal expedition had been quite unsmooth, he felt depressed and couldn't help but sigh: "Xu, although Father Emperor has escaped danger, General Yang and the soldiers are still trapped in Xian City. I wonder how they are now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu no longer hid it from Zhao Heng and said: "Father Emperor need not worry. The Beidi Khan's son, Wulanba, is currently locked in the prison of Yancheng. If Mule Hongzhen wants his son back, he cannot possibly move against Xian City again."

"Hmm, well said." Zhao Heng perked up, his drunkenness fading by more than half.

He had almost forgotten about this matter.

Thinking of the fact that Wulanba's hundred-thousand-strong army was hidden at sea, he said: "Exactly what kind of sea pirates attacked the Beidi army? If they could be recruited for the use of Da Song, the future benefits would be immense."

"Replying to Father Emperor, these sea pirates are called Black Shark. Your son also thought of this, but was politely refused," Zhao Xu said.

He knew very well that after this naval battle, the name Black Shark would be known both inside and outside the country.

Therefore, he had long prepared a set of excuses.

"A pity." Zhao Heng sighed.

Then he asked about the current war situation in Yanzhou.

Zhao Xu then explained that he had ordered troops to advance to the Ningjin Dusi.

"Nonsense! How could a mere hundred thousand troops be a match for two Beidi Royal Tents? The ones stationed at the Ningjin Dusi are the Copper Ox and Curved Blade Royal Tents. These two Royal Tents are extremely fierce; otherwise, Mule Hongzhen would not have rewarded them with Ning Prefecture and Jin Prefecture to serve as their pastures," Zhao Heng frowned.

At this moment, he truly did not wish for Yan Wang's troops to suffer heavy losses.

Otherwise, Da Song would truly be beset by internal and external troubles.

After all, the Imperial Guards have suffered heavy losses, and if Yan Wang declines further, the balance between the Imperial Clan and the powerful clans will be further disrupted.

The horns of war with the Northern Di have not yet ceased; who else could hold the Northern Di in check?

Zhao Xu chuckled softly and whispered his true objective into Zhao Heng's ear.

Zhao Heng nodded slowly, "So that is how it is. If that is the case, I shall wait in Yancheng for some time to see how Mule Hongzhen decides."

At the same time, he looked at this ninth son of his with renewed admiration.

This coordination of the east and west not only broke the Northern Di's own east-west coordination but also forced the Northern Di into a completely passive position.

Most importantly, Yan Wang himself had suffered very few losses.

In his joy, he drank a few more cups and was nearly drunk by now.

Zhao Xu then instructed the officials and generals to urge the Second Prince to drink, intending to get him drunk.

At this moment, with the moon bright and the stars sparse, Zhao Xu held his cup of Wine and remained exceptionally clear-headed.

For a long time, both the court officials and Zhao Heng had treated him as a chess piece.

This point would not change in the future.

When he was weak in the past, he could only endure it for the time being.

But now, he would no longer be manipulated by the powerful clans and Zhao Heng.

If they set traps for him, he would set traps for them in return.

Therefore, based on the precedent of the Yuan Family rebellion, where the Imperial Court let the Yuan Family off lightly and only ceded two commanderies to him.

He held no hope for the so-called "generous reward" Zhao Heng would grant him after returning to Jingshi.

It would be better to settle the "generous reward" right here in Yancheng, on his own territory.

And this was also the most important reason he had invited Zhao Heng to Yancheng.

Even merchants doing business understand the principle of equivalent exchange.

This time he had saved Zhao Heng's life and salvaged the crisis in the Northern Border; it would not do for Zhao Heng to leave without coughing up something in return.