Song Xiu

Chapter 58 Li Yun Popping Champagne at Halftime

Heroes can resonate with each other.

Zhao Kuangyin believed that the theory of "preserving people while losing land" was Zhao Dexiu's own insight. Knowing the brilliance of this theory, he couldn't help but feel extremely happy that Zhao Dexiu had such insight.

What is most important for a commander or king?
It is not about whether an individual is skilled in martial arts or proficient in tactics, because a commander or king will inevitably gather all kinds of talents, and only those talents can possess the above two qualities.

The most important quality a commander or king should possess is foresight.

"Throughout history, those who aspire to achieve great things have not only observed the present moment, but also illuminated the future before it even begins."

A general without long-term strategy will miss opportunities in battle. A ruler without long-term strategy will lose the foundation of his state.

Since the late Tang Dynasty, people have often said that power and strategy are reliable, or that wisdom and tactics are dependable.

However, political maneuvering is like branches and leaves, while long-term strategy is like the trunk; wisdom and tactics are like fireflies, while long-term strategy is like the sun and moon.

A ruler of a nation must possess a grand vision, a broad perspective encompassing vast distances and a mind that considers the long term; only then can he remain invincible and achieve unparalleled feats!

After laughing, Zhao Kuangyin turned to Zhao Dexiu and uttered these profound words.

Realizing the weight of Zhao Kuangyin's words, Zhao Dexiu bowed slightly and said:
"Your subject will remember this."

Looking at Zhao Dexiu, who already possessed considerable foresight and wisdom, Zhao Kuangyin said to him:
"With the expedition imminent, return home and make thorough preparations."

"I will first take you to Luoyang, so we can inspect the future capital of the Great Song Dynasty!"

Zhao Kuangyin revealed his intention to move the capital to Zhao Dexiu.

Zhao Kuangyin has not yet revealed this intention to anyone, including Zhao Pu and Zhao Guangyi.

As Zhao Dexiu's performance becomes increasingly outstanding, his position as the heir apparent in Zhao Kuangyin's mind will become clearer.

Given this trend, it was normal for Zhao Kuangyin to reveal this fact to Zhao Dexiu.

Having realized Zhao Kuangyin's high regard for him, Zhao Dexiu left the city wall with renewed vigor.

After Zhao Dexiu left, Zhao Kuangyin, standing high on the city wall, looked to the north, where the Khitan, whom he regarded as his greatest enemy in life, resided.

Without the protection of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the Khitan's long swords could strike his crown at any moment:

"How can I allow others to sleep soundly beside my bed?"

If this generation falls short, the Great Song Dynasty still has a second generation!

After Zhao Dexiu walked down the city wall, he headed towards the mansion.

Upon returning to the mansion, a servant reported that Zhao Dezhao and Li Jilong were having a martial arts competition at the training ground.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dexiu headed towards the training ground.

As soon as Zhao Dexiu entered the training ground, he saw a boy with a bruised and swollen face. Upon closer inspection, he realized that it was none other than Zhao Dezhao.
In stark contrast to Zhao Dezhao's bruised and swollen face, Li Jilong, standing opposite him, looked energetic and calmly observing Zhao Dezhao.

Upon seeing Zhao Dexiu return, Zhao Dezhao, fearing that Li Jilong would challenge him again, hurriedly ran behind Zhao Dexiu for protection.

Upon seeing Zhao Dexiu, Li Jilong also stepped forward to pay his respects.

After Zhao Dexiu became engaged to Li Duoruo, her relationship with Li became closer.

Due to certain opinions, Zhao Dexiu and Li Chuyun rarely met in private, and many things were relayed between them by Li Jilong, who was practically their brother-in-law.

Interestingly, when Li Jilong first came to the mansion some time ago, Zhao Dezhao, who thought he had made great progress in his martial arts, saw that Li Jilong was about the same age and asked him to have a martial arts match with Li Jilong.

When Li Jilong came of age, he was a fierce general who dared to fight against the Khitan cavalry with inferior forces. Even though he was not yet fully grown, he could still defeat Zhao Dezhao without any problem.

Strangely, perhaps due to the competitive spirit unique to teenagers, Zhao Dezhao never admitted defeat and always challenged Li Jilong to a rematch.
Zhao Dexiu knew that Li Jilong always acted with restraint, so she let Zhao Dezhao do as he pleased.

After letting Zhao Dezhao go play, Zhao Dexiu looked at Li Jilong and asked, "Did you come to the manor today because you have something to ask of me, Commander?"

It's normal for Li Chuyun, who was in the Eastern Expeditionary Army today, to leave a few words of advice before he set off.

Upon hearing Zhao Dexiu's words, Li Jilong shook his head. The next moment, he ran towards a room in the training ground. When he returned to Zhao Dexiu, he was holding a newly embroidered cloak in his hands.

"My elder sister knew that the Marquis would be going to war in a few days, so she worked day and night to make this cloak."

The lining of this cloak contains a talisman that my elder sister personally obtained from the Daxiangguo Temple, which will protect the Marquis from evil spirits on the battlefield.

Li Jilong's words softened Zhao Dexiu's gaze considerably.

Aside from catching a glimpse of Li Duoruo on the day of their engagement, Zhao Dexiu rarely paid any attention to his future wife.

I never expected to receive a gift today, a gift filled with her heartfelt sentiments.

After receiving the cloak from Li Jilong, Zhao Dexiu recalled what Wei Renpu had reported to him a few days earlier:
On the day of their engagement, the royal family bestowed many gifts upon Li Chuyun.

On Li Duruo's advice, Li Chuyun decided to use the money to open soup kitchens outside the city to help refugees.

Although this action was carried out by someone from the Li family, the relationship between the Li family and Zhao Dexiu was already common knowledge.

Li's act of kindness inadvertently earned Zhao Dexiu a lot of goodwill.

"She's thoughtful. What has she been up to lately?"

Li Duruo's care made Zhao Dexiu pay more attention to her.

After hearing Zhao Dexiu's question, Li Jilong thought for a moment before answering:

"My eldest sister has been thinking a lot lately about visiting the military family camp in Chanzhou to comfort the elderly and children."

However, she worried that this would displease His Highness, so she dared not move forward.

The two hundred soldiers of Chanzhou were essentially Zhao Dexiu's personal guards, and Zhao Dexiu built a residential area for the families of his guards.

Given the precedent of Guo Wei's angry uprising, Zhao Dexiu did not force every family member of the soldiers to move in after the building was completed; whether or not to move in depended on the families' own wishes.

Some of the families of the soldiers were observing, but some truly impoverished families chose to move in.

Zhao Dexiu understood the essence of Zhao Kuangyin's appeasement tactics and frequently sent people to comfort the families of the soldiers who had already moved in.

Unfortunately, when Zhao Dexiu, the male head of the household, did some things, the results were limited.

In terms of providing condolences and compensation to the families, only when Li Duruo, as the lady of the house, takes the lead can the desired effect be achieved.

Li Jilong's words made Zhao Dexiu realize Li Duoruo's virtue and he knew what Li Duoruo was worried about.

“Go back and tell her that, according to the rules of propriety, we are already husband and wife.”

As husband and wife, we should weather the storms together.

Knowing Li Duoruo's virtue, Zhao Dexiu stopped there, and finally watched Li Jilong leave with a chubby face.

After Li Jilong left, Zhao Dexiu stroked the cloak in her hand, recalling the beautiful figure she had seen that day:

No wonder Father Emperor couldn't forget Mother Empress.

With a virtuous wife at home, a man can focus on building his career and achieving success.

Luzhou, inside the residence of the military governor of Zhaoyi Army.

Since raising his army, Li Jun has been sending out scouts to closely monitor every move outside Kaifeng.

Upon learning from the scouts that Zhao Kuangyin had first dispatched the eastern army, Li Jun, with his full beard, laughed with the joy of someone about to conquer the world.
"In the past, when I heard about Zhao's strategy of advancing from two directions, I couldn't help but feel a little worried. I didn't expect Zhao to be so careless as to send the eastern army ahead first?"

The fact that the eastern and western armies are not advancing together presents me with an excellent opportunity to defeat the enemy one by one.

In this battle, I will make that traitor Zhao pay the price for his usurpation!

(End of this chapter)