Yuan Qi smiled faintly and said, "What the Southern Zhou dogs fear most is the ferocity of our Great Jing. As long as we are not afraid of death, they will be afraid of death and will back down, which will give us an opportunity to take advantage of them."
Zhao Cheng said, "On the battlefield, the more afraid you are of death, the faster you die."
"Excellent!" Yuan Qi's eyes lit up, "General Zhisheng's words are absolutely right!"
Yuan Zhang seemed quite satisfied with his son's conversation with Zhao Cheng. He took their hands in his left and right and led them inside, saying, "Tuotie Wuhua is roasting a whole lamb. Come on! Let's eat and chat!"
As he spoke, Yuan Zhang turned around and looked at Zhao Yan, Zhao Wu, and the others behind Zhao Cheng, saying, "Come on, there's enough to eat!"
The group sat around the roasted whole lamb, eating and drinking.
Yuan Zhang, Yuan Qi, and Tuo Tie Wu Hua did not drink alcohol as an exception; only the Zhao brothers and Xu An drank alcohol.
After chatting for a while about Zhao Cheng's situation in Southern Zhou, Yuan Zhang gave Yuan Qi a wink, and Yuan Qi walked outside.
“Your Highness, you and A-Yun have been married for more than half a year. You must know some things from the past. You should know that A-Yun and I have a very deep affection for each other. I did not send a gift when you got married, but now that the child is about to be born, I must make up for it.”
Zhao Cheng waved his hand and said, "Since we're all family, there's no need to be so polite."
Yuan Zhang said, "This gift isn't for you and A-Yun, it's for the child. By the way, have you named the child yet?"
“It’s arranged. If it’s a boy, we’ll name him Changli.”
"Changli. Zhao Changli. There is an order of seniority, and propriety comes first."
Yuan Zhang nodded and praised, "A good name."
At this moment, Yuan Qi returned, accompanied by a woman and two children.
The children were of different heights; the taller one looked about eight or nine years old, and the shorter one looked about four or five years old. Their eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Yuan Zhang's.
The woman walked up to Yuan Zhang carrying a small box and said, "Father, I've brought it."
Yuan Zhang took the box, but didn't open it immediately. He introduced her, "Your Highness, this is my daughter-in-law, Yuan Qi's wife, Tu Haiping."
Tu Haiping immediately bowed to Zhao Cheng and said, "Haiping greets Your Highness, the Imperial Son-in-Law."
"Greetings, sister-in-law!" Zhao Cheng quickly stood up to return the greeting.
Yuan Zhang looked at the two children and said sternly, "Come here!"
"Grandpa!!" The younger children immediately rushed to Yuan Zhang's lap, while the older ones stood beside him with their heads down and remained silent.
Yuan Zhang rubbed the head of the younger child and said, "This is my second grandson, Yuan Qi's son, Yuan Wuyou. He is five years old this year, the most clever and mischievous, and also the most naughty."
Then, he glanced at the child beside him and said, "This is my eldest grandson, Yuan Wushang, who is nine years old this year."
Zhao Cheng nodded and met Yuan Wushang's gaze, only to find that the child's eyes held a hint of malice.
Zhao Cheng knew that the passing of his parents and younger brother must have been a great shock to him, which was why he was somewhat gloomy.
Yuan Zhang continued, "Years ago, a tiny meteorite fell into Wei Lake, and I sent people to retrieve it. I had three sets of Qilin locks made from the meteorite and gold, originally intending to give one to each of my three grandsons. But unexpectedly, before the Qilin locks were even finished, my poor little grandson left me."
As he spoke, Yuan Zhang opened the box and took out a thumb-sized Qilin lock, tied with a red rope. Wearing it around his neck, it became an extremely noble and beautiful pendant.
“My grandson Wuji is not fortunate enough to have this. Your son with Ayun is also my grandson. Take this Qilin lock back with you as a birth gift from your maternal uncle to Changli.”
Zhao Cheng quickly wiped his greasy hands with the hem of his clothes, bent down, and took the box with both hands.
He wasn't just putting on an act; he was carrying on Yuan Zhang's family affection.
Yuan Zhang said, "The prince consort is rich, so perhaps he won't be interested. Consider this a small token of my appreciation!"
Zhao Cheng immediately said, "Your Highness, please don't say that! This gift is the most precious gift I, Zhao Cheng, have ever received! After Changli is born, I will make sure he wears it for the rest of his life!"
Yuan Zhang nodded in satisfaction, looked at his grandsons, and said, "Wu Shang, Wu You, you must remember that you have a younger brother named Zhao Changli in Yan Chuan City. He has a Qilin Lock just like yours. You two must treat him like Wu Ji, understand?"
"Understood, Grandpa," Yuan Wushang replied immediately.
Zhao Cheng packed the box away, glanced at Yuan Wushang, and asked, "Your Highness, why leave such a big child in the army?"
Yuan Zhang sighed and said, "After the misfortune that befell my eldest son's family, Wushang seemed to have grown several years older overnight. He insisted on following me and his uncle to train in the army. He was eight or nine years old, not too old or too young, so I granted his wish. As for Haiping and Wuyou, I asked Haiping to bring the Qilin Lock over. Wuyou also missed his father, so Haiping brought him along as well."
Zhao Cheng thought for a moment, walked up to Yuan Wushang, put his hand on Yuan Wushang's shoulder, and said, "Your grandfather said that you should treat Zhao Changli as your own brother, so you are also my half son. Remember what I look like. If you have any problems or troubles in the future, you can come to me."
Yuan Wushang bowed respectfully to Zhao Cheng and said, "I will remember that, Your Highness."
Zhao Cheng said, "Call me uncle."
Yuan Wushang changed his address and said, "I remember, Uncle."
Zhao Cheng nodded, thinking that this kid had potential.
"Zhao Cheng, now that we've finished discussing personal matters, let's talk about business." Yuan Zhang tore off a piece of mutton, took a bite, and said, "Go ahead and do your business in Yun Jing City. I've already told Feng Jing that as long as you need it, the Zhennan Border Army scattered throughout Yun Jing County will support you."
"Feng Jing?" Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully.
Yuan Qi interjected, "General Feng Jing was my father's most trusted man, and practically the second-in-command of the Zhennan Border Army. My father was mainly responsible for the Zhennan Border Army's war against the Southern Zhou, while General Feng Jing was stationed at the central army camp, overseeing the overall situation, managing logistics, and handling relations between the rear and the local areas. He was my father's strategist."
Zhao Cheng understood and said, "He is the military advisor of your Zhennan Border Army."
Yuan Qi corrected him, "He is a strategist and a fierce general. General Feng Jing... is both wise and brave, and is one of the people I admire most."
Zhao Cheng thought to himself that Feng Jing sounded quite formidable; even someone as fierce as Yuan Qi was convinced of his abilities.
That's right. The Zhennan Border Army has been guarding the southern border for many years without falling, and it's impossible for them to rely on Yuan Zhang alone.
Leaving aside Feng Jing, whom I had never met, Huang Shi, whom I met that night, was an incomparably brave and fierce general.
The fact that Yuan Zhang was able to hold his own against Zhao Huan back then proves that the troops he led were no less capable than the Dragon Spear Guards.
At least the Northern Guards he created are still the most powerful cavalry in the Great Jing Dynasty.
Zhao Cheng understood Yuan Zhang's intention in mentioning Feng Jing at this moment, and nodded, saying, "On my way back to Yun Jing City, I will pay a visit to General Feng."
Yuan Zhang stopped talking about it, looked down at the flickering flames, and said, "I will take care of what needs to be done for you. Before you leave, I have only one request."
Zhao Cheng extended his hand and said, "Please speak, Your Highness."
Yuan Zhang looked at Zhao Cheng and said, "Penicillin."
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