The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Chapter 865 Defeat and Death
After waiting for two days, the sky finally cleared up.

Everything was ready, and they were just waiting for the early morning of the next day to take Baochai, her maid, and the sisters Aqin out to sea, so that these pure "mountain people" could experience the joy of receiving the gifts of the sea.

Jia Lian even considered that they were unfamiliar with the habits of various kinds of seafood and were worried that they would be at a loss after arriving on the island, so he specially sent someone to the nearest fishing village to hire a thirteen-year-old female divers as instructors.

However, the plan could not keep up with the changes.

That very evening, Jia Lian received a secret report from the capital.

After reading it, Jia Lian remained silent for a long time.

In the backyard of the camp, Ying'er was pulling a girl with a slightly tanned complexion, but who was very slender and clever, asking her about various seafood and the techniques for catching them.

While Baochai was sitting on the cool mat reading a book, she was also listening to their conversation intermittently.

Suddenly, Jia Lian walked in, and Baochai quickly put down her book to greet him.

"You're here."

Baochai greeted him with a smile, but noticing Jia Lian's unusual expression, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Jia Lian sat in his chair, shook his head, and said to Baochai with a hint of apology, "The sea voyage may have to be canceled."

Ying'er, who was excitedly about to come over and show off her newly learned knowledge to Jia Lian, immediately widened her eyes upon hearing this.

However, she was still very sensible and didn't interrupt when she saw that Jia Lian looked quite serious.

Baochai asked, "Has something happened?"

"There's a new situation in the court, and I have to return to the capital."

"You're leaving right away?"

"Yes. I have already ordered preparations to be made, and we will set off back to the capital at the fourth watch."

Upon hearing the urgency, Baochai immediately knew that the matter was serious.

Without hesitation, she immediately turned to Ying'er and said, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pack your bags."

"Oh……"

Ying'er looked dejected and walked weakly into the inner room.

Seeing that Baochai showed no sign of upset, Jia Lian couldn't help but take her hand and say:
"I've disappointed you this time, but I'll make it up to you next time, when there's another chance."

Baochai leaned back in her chair and shook her head, saying, "What's all this talk about compensation? Since it's just for fun, it doesn't matter when we go."

Besides, I've thought about it, and since it's just the few of us here, it's actually less fun.

Next time, let's bring Sister Feng and Lin Yatou along; it'll probably be even more interesting."

Baochai's words resonated deeply with Jia Lian, who had never felt the benefits of Baochai's profound understanding of righteousness as he did now.

So he patted Baochai's hand, about to say something intimate, when he suddenly saw Baochai gesturing to the side.

Only then did Jia Lian notice the timid little maid standing beside him.

Fearing that Jia Lian might not recognize her, Baochai explained, "She is the fisherman's daughter that you invited. Sister Aqin brought her over this evening."

Jia Lian nodded and said to the girl, "You should have heard it too, you don't need to come out to sea with us tomorrow."

But don't worry, I will still pay the compensation I promised to your parents.

Now that you're here, and it's getting late, why don't you rest here for the night?

I'll send someone to take you back first thing tomorrow morning.

"Yes... thank you, thank you, sir..."

The little girl knelt down and quickly kowtowed several times, then looked at Baochai.

Seeing Baochai nod, she silently got up and walked towards the door.

As she reached the door, she couldn't help but turn back and glance at Jia Lian one last time.

The highest-ranking official she had ever met in her life was the local village head.

As for what kind of official title "Duke of Rongguo" was, she had no specific idea.

But she could sense that the man before her was as dazzling as the stars in the sky she saw at the beach at night.

……

On the official road leading from Tianjin to the capital, dozens of riders escorted several carriages as they sped along.

Inside the carriage, Baochai noticed Jia Lian frowning frequently, and finally couldn't help but ask:

"Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Jia Lian snapped out of his reverie, looked at Baochai who was looking at him with concern, thought for a moment, and then said, "Actually, it's nothing, it's just that something unexpected happened in the Liaodong war... Huo Zhao died in battle."

Upon hearing this, Baochai was somewhat incredulous: "Didn't we always say that the war in Liaodong was going smoothly and that General Huo was winning battle after battle... How could this suddenly be the case?"

Because Jia Lian had been keeping a close eye on major events in the capital, and Baochai had been constantly by his side these days, adding to his comfort and elegance, she had some information. Jia Lian sighed, "We'll only know the specifics after we return to the capital."

But you don't need to worry. No matter how powerful the Jurchens are, they only have a small number of people and won't pose a significant threat to our Great Wei.

Jia Lian said the last sentence because he was afraid that Baochai would worry.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Baochai's expression did not soften; instead, she frowned even more.

She gripped Jia Lian's large hands tightly, asking somewhat nervously, "Why are you rushing back to the capital so urgently...?"

Do you intend to succeed the General Who Guards the Nation and lead the army to conquer Liaodong?

Jia Lian was taken aback, not expecting Baochai to be so perceptive.

However, he didn't intend to lie to her, and simply said, "I'm afraid His Majesty won't grant it easily."

To this day, Jia Lian still doesn't know whether the emperor's wariness of him has truly subsided.

Since the outbreak of war in Liaodong, he had been studying the war situation and the Jurchens.

He was very confident that if he were to lead the troops, he could completely annihilate the Jurchens who were threatening Liaodong.

Unfortunately, Emperor Ningkang might still not trust him and wouldn't allow him to lead troops out of the pass.

Upon hearing Jia Lian's affirmative answer, Baochai opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. She simply rested her head on Jia Lian's shoulder and softly said:

“My cousin’s husband is a great hero, and I should not object to what he wants to do.”

She only begged her brother-in-law to cherish himself more for the sake of Sister Feng and Lin Yatou.

Even when leading troops in the field, always remember that there are many, many people at home waiting for your safe return…

"Yes, I've remembered what Chai'er said."

Jia Lian raised his hand and touched Baochai's bright face, feeling the deep affection of the beauty.

……

Just as Jia Lian was rushing towards the capital.

The Forbidden City, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Grand Court Ceremony.

The high dragon throne was empty; the assembled officials could only listen to the Minister of War reading aloud the battle report from Liaocheng in a somber tone:
"On the 27th, General Zhenguo successfully led his troops into the city, believing that the Jurchens were already at their last gasp and should be annihilated in one fell swoop."

I fear there may be a trap, so I dare not advance rashly.

However, General Zhenguo was eager to make a name for himself, and without waiting for the army to rest, he immediately led his main force of 20,000 men out of the city to pursue the main force of the Jurchens.

However, they were ambushed by the enemy army in a valley dozens of miles north of Liaocheng.

Upon hearing the news, I immediately ordered Generals Zhang Leng and Guan Ping to lead troops to the rescue.

Generals Zhang and Guan were only ten miles from the city when they encountered enemy troops who blocked their way, and several thousand cavalrymen harassed them along the way.

It was only then that we realized that the enemy troops that General Zhenguo had repeatedly defeated along the way were mostly feigned defeats and hiding, with the aim of luring General Zhenguo to be greedy for merit and advance recklessly.

Unable to provide reinforcements, and with his men and horses exhausted and supplies hopeless, General Zhenguo fought a bloody battle with the enemy for two days before being defeated and killed.

"The general who guarded the country died for his country, and almost none of his 20,000 soldiers survived."

Now the enemy army is at its strongest, and I originally intended to fight them to the death to avenge the General who protects the country.

However, the safety of Liaocheng is the safety of Liaodong. How can we abandon it?

I have gathered the remaining troops of the General Who Guards the Nation and brought them all into the city, determined to live and die with the city.

As long as the city stands, Liaodong will remain.

If the city falls, I too will follow the example of the General Who Guards the Nation and sacrifice my life for my country.

Shui Rong's battle report was so shocking that it silenced the hundreds of officials in the hall.

After a long while, they began to whisper among themselves.

Some were indignant and felt that the Prince of Nan'an's mansion should be severely punished. If Huo Zhao hadn't been so greedy for merit and reckless, harming the soldiers, how could the entire Liaodong region have been plunged into such a perilous situation?
Some also felt that Huo Zhao's sacrifice for his country was commendable. Their defeat, due to their weak forces, was the will of Heaven, and they shouldn't be overly critical.

However, before they could reach a conclusion, the eunuch above suddenly announced loudly, "Court adjourned..."

The ministers were filled with doubts.

It should be noted that Emperor Ningkang had been very diligent in his duties since he ascended the throne.

He has never missed a major court session.

Why haven't they shown up all day?

The ministers did not understand what Emperor Ningkang meant.

(End of this chapter)