Chapter 477: Prelude

The cold wind howled all night.

The next morning, Yancheng was already dyed white by snow.

After washing up and eating, Zhao Xu went to pay his respects to Zhao Heng according to custom.

"Your Highness, the Emperor says he is feeling unwell and has ordered that he will see no one today," said the soldier guarding the courtyard.

Zhao Xu nodded; the soldiers were from the Prince's Personal Army and naturally would not lie to him.

After thinking for a moment, he shook his head.

This emperor was using this method to express his dissatisfaction with him.

After all, his warning yesterday had been too blunt, equivalent to speaking directly against his superior.

Regarding this, Zhao Xu was already prepared in his heart to endure Zhao Heng's fury.

However, he did not regret it; some things had to be made clear.

This was to avoid Zhao Heng having no bottom line during the peace negotiations, promising anything in a panic and damaging his interests.

Two more days passed.

The Imperial Guard from Jingshi arrived in Yancheng.

Zhao Heng's body was finally "comfortable."

"Yan Wang, there is no need to see me off further. Once the northern border is stable and the world is at peace, I will issue an edict for you to return to Jingshi to visit your family," Zhao Heng said with a smile.

The arrival of the Imperial Guard gave Zhao Heng peace of mind.

That same day, he decided to set out in his imperial carriage for Qin Pass in Sizhou to negotiate peace with the Northern Di.

After all, this matter was urgent and could not be delayed.

"Yes, Father Emperor." Zhao Xu led the officials and generals to see Zhao Heng off at the West Gate.

Zhao Heng had no intention of letting him go to Qin Pass, clearly not wanting him to participate in these peace negotiations.

Because in Zhao Heng's view, he, like Yang Feng, Mo Kuan, and the others, was a staunch member of the War Faction.

Letting the War Faction participate in peace negotiations would likely lead to a complete disaster.

"Hmm, after I leave, you must continue to guard Yanguan and defend the gateway of our Great Song; you must not have any improper thoughts," Zhao Heng looked at Zhao Xu, the tone of this sentence slightly stern.

Then, his expression softened, "Your mother, the Imperial Concubine, misses you very much; do not let her down."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu's body stiffened for a moment. He raised his eyes to meet Zhao Heng's gaze and said, "Father Emperor, rest assured. Your son will always remember that he is an Imperial Prince of Great Song, and I will never do anything detrimental to Great Song or the Imperial Clan."

Zhao Heng nodded slightly.

Although his time in Yanzhou was short, it was enough for him to understand this ninth son of his.

Unlike when he was in Jingshi, where Zhao Xu was always cowardly and humble.

The current Zhao Xu gave him a very uncomfortable feeling.

This feeling was like an aging lion king facing a strong young lion in his pride that was about to reach adulthood.

Especially since Zhao Xu was acting so forcefully.

Therefore, he believed it was necessary to strike at Zhao Xu just as he had struck at Han Qi.

He held the powerful clans in one hand and the Yan Wang in the other, all to keep both under his control.

How could he let either side escape his palm?

If Zhao Xu truly had improper thoughts, he would only be able to lean completely toward the powerful clans.

He would not allow anyone to challenge his imperial throne.

However, he had another guess.

Just as Zhao Xu had said, his brain ailment had not yet fully recovered.

This could also explain his drastic change in temperament and his many acts of confronting him to his face.

And this point gave him even more of a headache.

He could still fathom the thoughts of normal people, but he truly could not deduce what Zhao Xu was thinking.

Perhaps Zhao Heng's toughness had no malice, and he was just being blunt and outspoken?

But regardless, a strike was still a strike.

For this reason, he had even brought up Zhao Xu's mother, the Imperial Concubine.

Throughout history, imperial concubines in the palace rose in status because of their sons, but they were also tools imprisoned in the palace to restrain the imperial princes.

With his thoughts turning rapidly, Zhao Heng boarded his imperial carriage.

Under the protection of thirty thousand Imperial Guard soldiers, he headed toward Qin Pass.

The West Gate.

Watching Zhao Heng leave, Zhao Xu furrowed his brows.

"The imperial family is the most heartless of all"—he had a deeper understanding of this saying today.

Clearly, Zhao Heng had already made Mi Fei a bargaining chip to control him.

If he was obedient, Mi Fei would become increasingly honored in the palace.

And if he raised an army to rebel, Mi Fei would become a hostage.

"Xu Ke," Zhao Xu called out.

"Your Highness." Hearing this, Xu Ke stepped forward, waiting for Zhao Xu's orders.

"Send more people to Jinling and plan several routes to safely escape Jinling, in case of emergency," Zhao Xu whispered to Xu Ke.

He had no intention of raising an army to rebel at the moment.

But Zhao Heng had reminded him that there were people in Jingshi who were very important to him.

His mother, the Imperial Concubine, as well as the Imperial Father-in-law Mi, his uncle Mi Yan, and others.

If the situation in Great Song were to deteriorate, he needed the ability to safely transfer them out at any time.

So as to prevent them from suffering slaughter and humiliation.

"Yes, Your Highness." Xu Ke responded.

Following this, Zhao Xu said again: "Is there any news of Chai Wu?"

"Not yet, but two people have already snuck into Gaoli to track his trail; this subordinate is also preparing to send more people over to gather information on the situation within Gaoli."

"Hmm, you must keep Zhou Yi informed of news from Gaoli at all times; additionally, you must also find ways to take root over in Dongying," Zhao Xu pondered aloud.

The situation in Great Song is too complex, and drastic changes could occur at any moment.

He must leave a way out for himself.

Xu Ke responded in the affirmative once more; during this period of warfare, he had already been preparing for this matter and had made some progress.

It would not be long before the people of the Four Courts would take root in both Gaoli and Dongying, sending a continuous stream of intelligence to Yanzhou.

After instructing Xu Ke on this matter, he sent people to notify Chang Wei and Zhou Yi, telling them to return to Yanguan and await the final result of the peace negotiations.

If it is peace, they shall continue to garrison Yanguan.

If it is war, they shall reformulate their strategy to contend with the Northern Di.

Over the next few days, his orders arrived one after another at the locations of Chang Wei and Zhou Yi.

On the banks of the Dalinghe, one hundred and thirty li outside Yanguan.

Upon receiving the order, Chang Wei immediately broke camp to return to Yanguan.

His mission was originally to besiege Wei to rescue Zhao; the longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it was for him.

Chrysanthemum Island.

Zhou Yi and Bai Shang were still not satisfied.

Unlike Chang Wei, they did not have to sleep in the open or perform bitter, exhausting labor.

For days on end.

The Warships galloping across the sea, much like the Cavalry on the Grassland, carried them from one place to another at extreme speed.

Although the Northern Di reinforcements arrived, they were unable to catch them and were led by the nose the entire time.

This finally allowed them to vent their pent-up anger.

In the past, when the Northern Di conducted the Autumn Hunt, they could only watch helplessly as the Northern Di Cavalry came and went like the wind, killing and plundering.

And they had no way to stop it.

Now, the Northern Di had also tasted the pain they once suffered.

"The Northern Di are negotiating for peace, cease harassment for the time being, build up Chrysanthemum Island..." Zhou Yi read the order aloud.

"Hehe, this Mule Hongzhen is formidable, but when he meets our Highness, he still has to back down," Bai Shang leaned against the ship's rail, and upon hearing this, could not help but sneer several times.

Zhou Yi grinned; their harassment this time was merely one move in Yan Wang's game of chess.

This move appeared to have succeeded, though he felt some regret in his heart.

It was not dissatisfaction with the peace negotiations, but rather that they had not finished plundering.

However, although they were nominally sea bandits, they were ultimately generals under Yan Wang, and orders had to be obeyed.

Moreover, Yan Wang's considerations were correct; for now, they must build Chrysanthemum Island into a fortress.

To firmly take root in the belly of Ningjin Dusi and prevent the Northern Di from taking it back.

At the same time.

After Zhao Heng left Yancheng, he returned to Sizhou along the original route.

When he arrived at Qin Pass, Prime Minister Dou Wei had already arrived and was waiting for him.