When the first soldier with a cold and fever appeared, Zhao Xi suddenly realized that he seemed to have made less preparation.

  You bandits have been attacking Guangzhou for a long time without success, and when you turned to attack Yingzhou, you were blocked. The main force of the southern expedition temporarily lost contact with the frontline report, and it was impossible to determine where you bandits would go.

  Considering that some soldiers were infected with diseases, and the Crown Prince was also depressed and unhappy, when they arrived at Jinghu Road, the main force made a short stop.

  All along the way, officials who wanted to fawn on Your Excellency were all rejected. Now it's actually good luck for Hengzhou.

  Unbeknownst to them, the Crown Prince refused all offerings but asked for camphor and mugwort.

  Artemisia is an annual plant, although it's not abundant, you can always find some by searching.

  It's just a camphor tree, His Highness said that those with an age of over 30 years are good.

  At one time, the price of camphor wood in Hengzhou rose sharply...

  Zhao Xi didn't care, he even discussed with Di Qing, that the military expenses of Hengzhou could be paid with camphor trees and grasses, so as to exempt them from providing grain and fodder... As for this journey, the amount of grain and fodder prepared by local governments was always more than the prescribed number.

  Di Qing didn't understand why the Crown Prince was being so stubborn, but since they had enough food and fodder, he just went along with the Crown Prince's wishes.

  In two days, the army had a boatload of camphor wood and mugwort.

  Zhao Xi brought Su Song to Hengzhou and made many strange pipes, as well as large copper pots like bronze tripods.

  On the day of the grand army's departure, the guard battalion began distributing greyish-white beads among the soldiers, instructing them to carry them with them.

  "Does this thing work?"

  Di Qing looked at this bead with a strange smell, even a bit of stench, and asked in confusion.

  On the day when the imperial edict was issued, he had already made preparations for non-combat reduction.

  Since ancient times, Lingnan has been a place of malaria and epidemics. Many northerners who traveled south were buried in Lingnan, too numerous to count.

  Now the Western Army is marching south, and Di Qing has even reserved a troop transport ship, specifically for transporting infected soldiers.

  Your Highness obtained camphor wood and mugwort from Hengzhou in exchange for military rations, which turned into medicine and these pearls at the time of departure.

  "The smell is unpleasant, but it can also keep mosquitoes away. In the Lingnan region, mosquito bites are a source of disease, avoiding mosquitoes means avoiding illness."

  Can't talk about epidemiology, Zhao Xi doesn't understand either, can only be vague like this.

  The soldier who drank the wormwood soup has now recovered from his fever, is no longer vomiting or having diarrhea, and has started eating normally again.

  This is a living example, and it's believable. Di Qing asked in this way, and those soldiers saw that the fool who was almost dead came back to life, so they knew that the prince's method worked.

  As for the stench, they hadn't even bothered to wash their faces on this entire journey, and the whole cabin reeked far worse than Zhu Zhu.

  One by one, they carefully put them in their bosom, when the treasure is placed close to their body.

  "Worn on outer garments, fragrance spreads all over the body..."

  Foolish people, this is for driving away mosquitoes, not for you to worship.

  The Guards Division was qualified to laugh at these Western troops... no vision.

  Everyone else is fine, it's just Su Song, sigh... people who are too honest really have no way to speak.

  "How did Your Highness know?"

  It really works. After carrying this pearl with me, I am no longer bothered by mosquitoes day and night. Su Song wondered how the prince knew about it.

  This is not a bronze furnace, no children like this smelly toy. Camphor trees grow in the south, Prince Taizi has never been out of Bianliang, how does he know that camphor and wormwood are medicinal?

  How did you know? I just knew, what's wrong with that? This Su Zirong, are you annoying or not? As long as it's useful, you like this job, can record and then extend, no need to ask.

  "Camphor tree keeps mosquitoes away."

  No matter whether it makes sense or counts as a reason, Zhao Xi said and didn't plan on explaining further.

  Ask anything else, and I'll say it in one voice: This crown prince is a genius!

  Su Song looked puzzled, but didn't ask any more questions. He could see that the Crown Prince had some unspoken concerns. Don't touch on taboo subjects...

  ……

  Yang Wenguang and Nong Bing were defeated in battle.

  When the main force advanced again, the first battle report received was actually this one.

  Di Qing walked away with a dark face, while Zhao Xi was thinking about the reason for this unexpected event.

  Your troops are made up of what kind of people, at least from the reports, there is no mention of well-trained regular army.

  The chaotic situation on Guangnan West Road, officials at all levels must find some excuses to absolve themselves of responsibility, and every time they report, they only mention one word: "crowd".

  What is the Western Army? It's the only battle-worthy elite force of our dynasty today. How could it be defeated by your troops?

  Yang Wenguang was at least a descendant of a noble family, his ancestor Yang Ye and his father Yang Yanzhao were both famous generals in their time. Even if he was stupid, he wouldn't make basic mistakes when facing the enemy.

  But unfortunately failed, still struggling to get out of trouble.

  "Following the way, Shou Weng, you two both came from the Western Army, how did Yang Wenguang deploy his troops?"

  This question is asked, to say simply asking about longevity and lifespan, it's okay, but Lian Ze and Xing are also called together... From the generation, Lian Ze and Xing still have to call Yang Wenguang Uncle.

  Out of respect for seniors, it's better not to comment on things that are not going well, and even if you want to talk about them, you don't know where to start.

  "Your Highness, Wen Guang is just a humble subject, what I said may be inappropriate. Your Highness can ask Shou Weng about it."

  In this situation, He Zekai very consciously wanted to avoid it.

  This... Zhao Xi remembered, that Yang family's elder lady, was actually a member of the Zhuo family.

  This Pongxiang Gong has talked about his own family before, but never mentioned the relationship between Yang's family and him.

  As for Yang's current situation, it is really not worth Peng Jie's special mention.

  Although he is also considered a member of the Yang family, nowadays only Yang Wenguang has joined the army, and his position is only that of a military commander in Deshun Army, which cannot even enter the eyes of the officials in the government.

  This is terrible.

  "Don't think too much, I'm not blaming Vice General Yang for the defeat of his troops. It's just that I want to make a judgment about the combat effectiveness and command ability of the Western Army and your troops. I think there are other hidden reasons."

  "Follow the way, no need to avoid, just chat casually, without involving military matters."

  The rewards and punishments of the southern expedition are Di Qing's affairs, Zhao Xi has no intention of meddling. He just wants to try to verify his own ideas from Yang Wenguang's ability to deploy troops.

  "Reporting to Your Highness, Deputy General Yang is following the rules and regulations."

  As for the prince's temperament, over the years, whether it was a courtesy or a compromise, he had become very familiar with it.

  Because he is not yet an emperor, and in the Imperial Guard, he does not put on airs. He dislikes hiding and concealing things.

  ...That is to say, Yang Wenguang should not have made a mistake that goes against common sense.

  The Western Army's combat capabilities have been with them all along, and Zhao Xi also has some understanding of it. How could they possibly meet the bandits and lose?

  It seems there's something fishy going on here.

  Di Qing ordered the generals of Guangnan West Road to refrain from sending out troops on their own initiative before the arrival of the main force of the southern expedition, as the vanguard led by Yang Wenguang had been defeated.

  No way, no understanding of any situation, at this time can only hold back and take no action.

  You bandits retreated from Guangzhou, now it seems you're heading north...

  "Di Shuai, the commander of Guangnan West Road, Chen Shu led 8,000 newly recruited soldiers and was defeated at Kunlun Pass five days ago, with 5,000 casualties..."

  "Good heavens!"

  No wonder Di Qing is like this, even Wuhanzi is shouting slogans.

  A few days ago Zhao Xi wanted to kill someone, now it's Di Qing who wants to kill someone.

  Are you so afraid of Di Qing stealing the credit? If you really have the ability to take down Nong Zei, there's no need to wait until the imperial court sends the Western Army. This nearly one-year period is enough time for you to show off your skills.

  How did it come to this?!