We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

That evening, Zhou Tiancheng hosted a welcome dinner for Xiao Shi, and he finally understood where these two got their confidence from.

Both were fought on the northern frontier, and the northern frontier campaign was against nomadic peoples.

Using infantry to fight cavalry is a perfect match for them!

After a drinking session, they talked about everything from tripwires and horse traps to barricades, trenches, and various combat methods in great detail.

Especially in Xinhua, after drinking some alcohol, he became quite arrogant.

"That means there are no cities here. If you gave me a city, I could beat them so badly they'd question their existence!"

Zhou Tiancheng, who was eating snacks with his drinks, didn't spoil the fun and chuckled as he mentioned it.

"We're aiming for the championship, not to cower in fear. Just playing defensively probably won't be enough to win, will it?"

Xinhua chuckled.

"According to past practice, the location will definitely be in the royal hunting grounds. This is the only place in the entire capital that can withstand such a commotion."

"There are eight teams in total, with about four thousand people, and the timeframe is approximately five days."

"In other words, as long as we hold out until the fifth day, conserve our energy, and then we'll be invincible, winning the championship will be a piece of cake!"

Zhou Tiancheng knew he was drunk, but he didn't spoil the mood. He smiled and praised him a couple of times before letting Steward Liu escort Xinhua back to his camp.

Also returned was the Qingfeng Sword.

Since Xinhua had decided to join him, Zhou Tiancheng was not one to procrastinate and handed over the sword he had prepared long ago.

"I reckon the new general will be so happy when he wakes up tomorrow that he'll cry his heart out."

Xiao Shi sat to the side, chuckling, a hint of envy in his eyes, but not obvious.

Zhou Tiancheng then remembered that Xiao Shi had just come to seek refuge with him, so how could he not give him any treasures?

He turned to look at Xiao Shi, his tone much more relaxed.

"Xinhua asked me for a Qingfeng sword. What about you? Is there anything you want? I'll give it to you."

Xiao Shi smiled and shook his head.

"I have not rendered any service, how dare I accept Your Highness's reward?"

In reality, he didn't really want anything.

If he had to say something, he wanted an opportunity to lead troops into battle.

But he knew in his heart that even the Crown Prince had no right to give him this opportunity.

Which emperor wouldn't be wary of his crown prince raising troops in other regions?

Therefore, Xiao Shi did not speak, so as not to cause the Crown Prince unnecessary trouble.

Zhou Tiancheng didn't understand what he was thinking. He frowned and pondered for a moment before making a decision.

"I think the horses you're riding are dry horses. We're going to buy ten warhorses for the scouts tomorrow, why don't you come along? We can get ten military horses or summer horses."

"When the training is over, the remaining warhorses can be given to your brothers."

Horses of the Great Qian Dynasty are collectively called Qian horses.

It should be noted that the Great Qian Dynasty was not good at raising horses. The existing warhorses were specially bred by the imperial court, and in terms of physical strength and endurance, they were far inferior to the warhorses on the grasslands.

Even the finest dry horses cannot compare to ordinary military or summer horses.

Xia Ma, in particular, is extremely rare and hard to find.

Xiao Shi was somewhat surprised.

"The dry horse is sufficient for my needs; Your Highness need not trouble yourself."

Zhou Tiancheng smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"A BMW is a gift for a hero."

"You once defeated the Northern Rong and forced them to submit their letter of surrender, making great contributions to our Great Qian Dynasty."

"I am not so heartless as to not even part with a few warhorses."

This time, Xiao Shi did not refuse. There was a hint of reminiscence in his eyes, as if he was recalling the days when he rode into battle.

He looked at Zhou Tiancheng and spoke slowly.

"If the opportunity arises, I will conquer the entire Great Xia and return it to Your Highness. At that time, Your Highness can choose any of the horses in Great Xia!"

Zhou Tiancheng was taken aback at first, then grinned from ear to ear and waved for Xiao Shi to leave.

He realized that although Xiao Shi had joined him, he longed even more to fight on the battlefield.

"As expected of soldiers trained by the Duke of Protectorate, they are all exactly the same, all wanting to return to the northern frontier to fight."

"Old Liu, what's so good about Northern Xinjiang that makes them so attached to it?"

Zhou Tiancheng thought of Shi Cheng, and also of the Duke of Huguo.

These people all seem to want to return to the northern frontier.

Steward Liu sighed softly.

"For them, Kyoto is just an unfamiliar city, unable to contain their ambition and aspirations. In comparison, the northern frontier feels more like their homeland, doesn't it?"

……

The next day.

Zhou Tiancheng, Xiao Shi, and Steward Liu looked at each other in bewilderment at the horse market.

As for Xinhua, he didn't come at all because he had to stay in the military camp for training.

The unexpected happened.

None of the three people knew how to judge a horse!

"No, you're from northern Xinjiang, and you look like this, and you're telling me you don't know how to judge horses?"

Zhou Tiancheng was dumbfounded, mainly because Xiao Shi looked too deceptive; he looked like the kind of barbarian who was very good at picking horses.

Xiao Shi is also somewhat withdrawn.

"If I remember correctly, Your Highness, I've said it before: the ten of us were orphans from a young age, raised by the Duke. We were educated in the culture of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

"You don't think I'd watch horses, do you?"

Zhou Tiancheng rubbed his temples.

Suddenly, a person popped into my mind.

Guli!

Xiao Shi isn't a genuine Hu person, but Guli is!

However, she is a woman from Hu, so it's uncertain whether it will work out.

When he called Guli over, Zhou Tiancheng finally realized that he had underestimated this Hu woman.

Guli walked ahead alone, followed by three men. They watched as Guli haggled with the vendors, but in the end, she didn't buy a single horse after walking around the entire horse market.

Zhou Tiancheng felt a chill run down his spine.

His legs are numb!

No, does Ms. Hu also enjoy shopping?

Is it really that hard to buy ten horses?

Guli glanced at Zhou Tiancheng somewhat awkwardly.

"There are only two Xia horses in the entire horse market, and neither of them are very good. There are more Rong horses, but I am a Rong person, and these horses are not considered good in Rong."

"If you want to buy a good horse, I have another way."

Zhou Tiancheng has lost his patience.

"I'm leaving everything to you. If you don't have enough money, just ask Steward Liu to sell some of the Shan Hai Jing items, and that should be enough."

Guli nodded slightly and added a sentence.

"I have an elder relative in Daqian. He should have some good stuff there. Getting ten Xia horses shouldn't be difficult."

Zhou Tiancheng didn't take it to heart at first.

Which family doesn't have a few elders?

But Guli's next words made Zhou Tiancheng stop in his tracks.

"My elder relative travels back and forth between the Northern Rong and the Great Qian for a long time. He is a horse trader who specializes in selling horses. He can deliver about three or four thousand Rong horses on one trip. The number of top-quality Xia horses is uncertain. The Xia Kingdom is not as easy to talk to as the Rong Kingdom."

"It's a pity he only has one daughter. If he runs for another two years, he probably won't have this opportunity anymore. Once his daughter gets married in Rong, he probably won't be running the Great Qian horse trade anymore."

"Your Highness, if you want more warhorses, you'd better make plans soon. If you wait two years, I won't be able to help you with this."

Guli had no ulterior motives; she was simply stating the facts.

Zhou Tiancheng narrowed his eyes instantly!