The prince is more stable

Chapter 155 Another famous general
Doing good deeds without asking for reward.

Zhao Xiaoqian knew that he could never reach such a state, not even in his two lifetimes.

After being immersed in the social dye vat of his previous life, Zhao Xiaoqian's style of doing things is both good and evil. Whether he does good or bad things is usually determined by his personal interests.

It is not wrong to say that he is an egoist. Most of the things he does are actually for himself.

His original intention was to benefit himself, so when faced with other people's thanks, Zhao Xiaoqian would inevitably feel guilty, always feeling that he was deceiving the world and stealing fame.

He is clearly just an egoist, but others insist on labeling him as a "good person". Isn't this a form of moral kidnapping of him?

After being thanked by others, if he wants to do bad things again, he will feel that he has let down the label of "good person" and will be unable to act freely. It was originally the label that others put on him, but later he was unwilling to tear it off.

"General Zhong, please get up quickly and don't thank me. Really, if you thank me, how can I live in the future?" Zhao Xiaoqian helped Zhong Jianzhong up with both hands.

Zhong Jianzhong's eyes filled with tears as he spoke, "The Great Song has been established for a hundred years, and high-ranking officials have risen and fallen in the court. Only the county marquis spoke up for us, the crude warriors. To the officers and soldiers of the Great Song, this is a great favor, and I deserve your respect."

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled bitterly and said, "Really, don't thank me. I'm not that great. Everything I did was just for myself."

Zhong Jianzhong asked in confusion, "A county marquis is not a general in the army, why would he say that?"

Zhao Xiaoqian said calmly, "Because I hope that the army of the Song Dynasty will be strong, so that we can defend ourselves from the enemy in the future. I won't be captured by the enemy and tortured and humiliated."

Zhong Jianzhong was increasingly stunned: "This... is impossible?"

Zhao Xiaoqian smiled and didn't explain any further.

The world is changing so rapidly, how can there be any certainty about rise and fall?
Decades later, a nomadic tribe that still ate raw meat and drank blood inexplicably rose up. It not only destroyed the Liao Kingdom, but also captured the Song Dynasty's capital, Bianliang.

If I tell you now, who would believe it?
"No matter what, the Marquis has done a great favor to the soldiers of the Song Dynasty, and I will definitely repay him." Zhong Jianzhong said stubbornly.

Zhao Xiaoqian shook his head. "General Zhong, you're putting me on the spot. In your eyes, I must be a good person because I speak up for the soldiers, right?"

"Yes!" Zhong Jianzhong nodded vigorously.

"What if I want to do something bad in the future? Don't look at me like that. I will definitely do something bad in the future. I don't practice Confucianism or Legalism, nor do I respect Buddhism or Taoism. I act only based on my personal likes and dislikes, and I may even use any means necessary."

"If there is a God in the world, then the God I believe in is myself."

"If you think of me as a good person, our friendship will end sooner or later, because when you see me, you will definitely want to kill me with a knife. It's better to be open-minded and treat me as a bad person now. Don't have such high expectations, and maybe we can continue to have fun."

Zhong Jianzhong was stunned and shocked by Zhao Xiaoqian's bizarre remarks.

After a long pause, Zhong Jianzhong asked cautiously, "What bad things will you do in the future?"

"It's hard to say. He bullies men and women, acts tyrannically, associates with treacherous villains, occasionally harms loyal people, and when he has nothing better to do, he pulls up cilantro from other people's fields, etc..."

"Wait, what is 'coriander'?" Zhong Jianzhong had to interrupt.

“Oh, it’s cilantro.”

Zhong Jianzhong remained stunned. After a long moment, he said cautiously, "I disagree with the rest, but regarding the last point the Marquis mentioned, I am willing to be an accomplice..."

Zhao Xiaoqian didn't react immediately: "What last one?"

Zhong Jianzhong came closer, his eyes gleaming with excitement for some reason: "I also have the same intention of pulling out the coriander planted in other people's fields!"

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up: "You don't like coriander either?"

Zhong Jianzhong smiled bitterly and said, "When I was young, I was in the army in the cold and barren northwest. My family grew all kinds of green vegetables, but cilantro was the easiest to grow. I've eaten cilantro for half my life, but now I want to vomit when I see it."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but hold his hand and shake it up and down.

"Just for this reason, I've made you my friend. We'll die on the same day as each other."

After a pause, Zhao Xiaoqian suddenly remembered that Zhong Jianzhong was already in his thirties or forties, while he was only eighteen. There was a high probability that Zhong Jianzhong would not live longer than him. The idea of ​​dying on the same day and month as him… So Zhao Xiaoqian immediately changed his words rationally: “…After you die, I will give you a grand funeral and a huge banquet. I won’t take a penny from you; I will leave it all to your son.”

A person who is obsessed with money would not take a penny, which shows how much Zhao Xiaoqian values ​​this friendship. If Zhong Jianzhong had any conscience, he would not only applaud but also shed tears at this moment.

Zhong Jianzhong: “…………”

My emotions are a bit complicated. I don’t know whether I should be moved or upset.

The two looked at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward for some reason.

After a long while, Zhao Xiaoqian asked, "Didn't you invite me to drink? Where's the wine?"

Zhong Jianzhong woke up as if from a dream, got up and went out. After a while, he brought back a food box and two wine jars.

There was wine and food, and both the host and the guests were having a great time.

Zhao Xiaoqian had some respect for Zhong Jianzhong. After all, he was a famous general in history and the backbone of the Song Dynasty's anti-Jin army. Just because he did not show any weakness when facing the ferocious Jin soldiers, Zhao Xiaoqian deserved three toasts to him.

While drinking and chatting, Zhao Xiaoqian curiously asked Zhong Jianzhong about his methods of commanding troops in battle. Zhong Jianzhong was grateful to Zhao Xiaoqian for helping his soldiers gain positions, and answered all of Zhao Xiaoqian's questions without hesitation. He talked in detail about the military training and command matters, as well as the techniques of deploying troops in many complex terrains such as plains and mountains.

After the meal, Zhao Xiaoqian benefited a lot and gained a better understanding of the training and combat of the Song Dynasty army.

Looking at the famous generals in front of him, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but sigh. If he could command an army one day, he would definitely bring the few famous generals of the Song Dynasty under his command. That would save him a lot of trouble, and he, as the commander-in-chief, wouldn't have to worry about anything even if he let them go completely.

Thinking of the famous general, Zhao Xiaoqian couldn't help but think of another person.

I don’t know if he was born in this era, whether he has already become successful or still remains unknown.

So Zhao Xiaoqian tentatively asked, "General Zhong has been in the army for a long time. I wonder if you have ever heard of a man named 'Zong Ze'?"

Zhong Jianzhong pondered for a moment and said hesitantly, "Zong Ze? It seems that this person's name is unknown in the army, but for some reason, I seem to have heard of this name somewhere..."

Zhao Xiaoqian was overjoyed: "Thinking carefully, this man has great talent. I really want to meet him."

Zhong Jianzhong thought for a long time, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "I remember!"

"Zong Ze, could it be that he was recently transferred to Bian Jing and appointed by the Ministry of Personnel as the Inspector of the Imperial Canal, responsible for repairing the Bian Jing Imperial Canal and the Yellow River embankment in Kaifeng?"

Zhao Xiaoqian was stunned: "He who manages the river? Isn't he a military commander?"

"Zong Ze seems to be a civil servant. I heard he passed the imperial examination in the sixth year of Yuanyou and was a Jinshi. He served as a county magistrate for a few years. Last time, when the Yellow River burst its banks, the government punished a number of officials, leaving many river officials vacant. The Ministry of Personnel filled the positions, and among them was Zong Ze."

"In addition to training, the soldiers of my Dragon Guard Battalion also participated in some digging and embankment work, so I have some impression of Zong Ze."

Zhao Xiaoqian let out a long breath, joy in his eyes.

Finally, another famous general was found, the one who discovered Yue Fei, the talented horse, the iron-willed general who insisted on resisting the Jin army and refused to surrender until his death, and the tragic old general who shouted "cross the river" three times before his death.

Later generations respected his integrity and military achievements and called him "Grandpa Zong", and Zong Ze deserved this title.

Judging from what Zhong Jianzhong said, Zong Ze should not hold a high official position now and is in a stage where his talent is not recognized.

An official who had served as a county magistrate for several years and was then transferred to manage the river was at most a sixth or seventh rank official. Making friends with him at this time was exactly what Zhao Xiaoqian wanted.

With Zhong Jianzhong and Zong Ze...

A bunch of old villains were beating each other's brains out in the court, but Zhao Xiaoqian didn't bother to pay attention. He just liked to collect stamps quietly.

After collecting all seven general cards, I wonder what kind of weird things will be summoned. I’m inexplicably looking forward to it.

I decided to find an opportunity to get to know this grandfather. It would be best if I could lend him money. If he couldn't pay it back, he would have to work for me for the rest of his life.

(End of this chapter)