The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 629 A Maid Comes from the West
The sky was gloomy and the north wind was as sharp as a knife. On October 16, the first winter snow of the tenth year of Qiansheng finally fell. It was not heavy, and the fine snowflakes swirled into the Dalingh River and disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Jia Huan and Sun Chengzong had just returned from an inspection tour of Guangning City upstream and planned to return to Dalinghe Fort downstream and then return to Jinzhou City.

Since the great victory in Ningyuan last month, the Jin army has recovered all the lost territories in western Liaoning, including Jinzhou, Yizhou, Guangning, Tashan, Xingshan, Songshan, Shisanshan, Dalinghebao, Sanchahebao, Youtun and more than 70 cities and fortresses, all of which are back under the control of the Jin army.

In order to guard against the counterattack of the Jin army, Jia Huan has been stepping up efforts to consolidate the city defenses and repair the damaged city during this period. At the same time, he has been vigorously developing military equipment and storing food. However, all these cost money, so he specially invited Sun Chengzong from Shanhaiguan to inspect and facilitate bargaining.

In addition, cities such as Jinzhou, Guangning, and Youtun are located within the Liaohe Plain, where the land is flat and fertile, and the area is many times larger than that of Ningyuan. The Daling River and Xiaoling River flow through it, and the area is rich in water and lush in grass. It has always been a land of fish and rice, the most important granary in western Liaoning, and also a major place for raising horses. Therefore, there is a reason why Nurhaci took a fancy to this place.

Now that Jia Huan controls this large piece of fertile land, he naturally wants to make full use of it. However, the redevelopment of this land requires a lot of manpower and material resources, which is also where Jia Huan needs to discuss with Sun Chengzong.

It is said that Jia Huan and his disciple Sun Chengzong braved the wind and snow and rushed all the way downstream of the Dalingh River. After half an hour, they finally arrived at the other side of the Dalingh Fort. The defender in the city hurried out to greet them.

Jia Huan and Sun Chengzong entered Dalinghhe Fort. Seeing that it was getting late and it was snowing, they decided to stay there for one night and return to Jinzhou the next morning.

That night, the wind howled outside, the cold was bone-chilling, and the fire inside the house was burning fiercely, which slightly dispelled the severe cold. Sun Chengzong stretched out his hand to warm the fire, sighing: "It's only mid-October and it's already cold. I'm afraid the Liaohe River will freeze over next month. Ziming must be careful of the Jiannu taking the opportunity to cross the river and attack."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "I have received a piece of information recently, but I don't know whether it is true or not, so I haven't reported it to you, Lord Jinglüe!"

Sun Chengzong uttered a "oh" and asked curiously, "What information?"

"Nurhaci was seriously injured and ill. It is suspected that he was injured by chance when the students bombarded the enemy camp with red cannons that night."

Sun Chengzong's eyes lit up and he blurted out, "Really?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said, "It's just a rumor. It has not been confirmed. My students have also interrogated the captured Manggurtai, but he did not admit it."

Sun Chengzong smiled and said, "Of course he won't admit it. After all, this will greatly shake the morale of the Jiannu army. I don't think this is groundless, but it's a serious matter. Ziming should be cautious. Don't report this to the court for the time being, lest it is confirmed to be a misunderstanding. Someone will impeach you for lying about military intelligence and claiming military merits. But you can spread this news. On the one hand, it will boost our morale, and on the other hand, it will shock the enemy."

Jia Huan nodded and said, "That's exactly what I meant!"

"If Nurhaci is really seriously injured, I'm afraid he will be at peace this winter and next spring. Ziming can use this time to gain a firm foothold and consolidate the defense line. Let's wait and see what happens!" Sun Chengzong said happily, and then asked, "By the way, how much silver does Ziming plan to apply for from the court?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Sir, you have visited various places these days. Please let me know how much silver is needed to build the defense line from Ningyuan to Jinzhou!"

Sun Chengzong could not help but laugh and scold: "You are more cunning than an old fox. I have to run around in the wind and snow, and in the end I have to shamelessly ask the court for money on your behalf."

Jia Huan smiled but said nothing. Sun Chengzong pondered for a moment and said seriously, "I made a rough estimate and it seems that two million taels will be needed, but the Ministry of Revenue will definitely not be able to come up with that much at once."

"It would be best if 500,000 taels could come down before the end of the year, otherwise I would be like a cook without rice, unable to make a meal." Jia Huan said.

Sun Chengzong smiled bitterly and said, "Teacher, please do your best. Now every time I go back to Beijing to see the emperor, those guys from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War avoid me, as if the King of Hell has come to collect debts."

Jia Huan couldn't help but laugh, and poured a cup of hot rice wine and handed it to Sun Chengzong: "Teacher, you have worked hard."

Sun Chengzong took the cup and drank it all, then said with a smile, "Thanks to your hard work, Ziming, you have won another great victory. I have enough confidence to ask the emperor for money, otherwise those censors would find fault with me again, especially after the old headmaster retired, the Donglin clique has the final say in the court, and the eunuch party is on the rise, so the court is even more unstable."

Sun Chengzong's eyes flashed with worry as he spoke, and he reminded him with deep feeling: "As the saying goes, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, and a pile that stands out on the shore will be hit by the waves. Ziming is now famous, so you should be more cautious in your actions. I don't know how many eyes are watching you in secret!

In the past two years, the military expenditures handled by our master and apprentice amounted to several million taels. Even if we are honest and have a clear conscience, we can't guarantee that others will not judge us by their own standards. Xiong Tingbai is a lesson for us, so we must be clear about the amount of money, so as not to repeat Xiong Tingbai's mistakes. "

Jia Huan said solemnly: "I understand, and I will keep in mind the teacher's teachings!"

Sun Chengzong was originally worried that Jia Huan would be too proud of himself after winning a great victory and being in a high position at a young age, and even become stubborn and unwilling to listen to others. But now he saw that Jia Huan was neither arrogant nor impatient, and was still modest and cautious, as gentle as jade, and he couldn't help but feel relieved. The master and the master chatted for a long time, discussing how to build the "Ningjin Line of Defense" and connect it with the "Guan Ning Line of Defense" in the rear to form a new "Guan Ning Jin Line of Defense". It was not until midnight that the two went back to their rooms to rest.

Early the next morning, Jia Huan and Sun Chengzong returned to Jinzhou City. The latter stayed for a while and then set off directly back to Shanhaiguan, preparing to go to Beijing in person to report to Emperor Qiansheng and apply for funds to build the "Ningjin Defense Line".

After Sun Chengzong left, Jia Huan returned to the backyard of the Liaodong Governor's Office and saw a slim maid standing at the door looking up. It was Caixia who was beside his wife, the "scheming maid" who had once asked him if she wanted to eat the rouge on her lips.

When Caixia saw Jia Huan, her eyes lit up immediately. She quickly came forward, bowed, and called out sweetly, "Third Master is back!"

Jia Huan was surprised and asked, "Sister Caixia, how early or late did you come?"

Caixia smiled sweetly and said, "I arrived the day before yesterday, but the Third Master happened to be inspecting the front line with the General."

It is said that after recovering Jinzhou, Jia Huan moved the governor's office from Ningyuan to Jinzhou and stationed 50,000 troops there as the base camp for the front line, preparing for a big fight. At the same time, he also brought Mandarin with him and started a furnace in the city to cast red cannons, manufacture flintlock rifles, lead bullets and gunpowder, etc.

After listening to Caixia's words, Jia Huan nodded and asked, "Sister Caixia, are you here alone? Who brought you here?"

Caixia smiled sweetly and said, "Of course not. Qingwen is here too, and there are two maids. They were sent by Lin Zhong and Lin Fu, and they are staying to serve us. The old lady said that the Third Master is now the governor, and he is a high-ranking official after all. It is really too shabby to have only Muye and Jinbao as servants."

As soon as he finished speaking, a beautiful maid came out of the room. She had a slender waist, thin shoulders, and beautiful eyes. It was Qingwen. Qingwen was undoubtedly the most beautiful maid in the Jia family. Caixia was also pretty, but she was eclipsed by Qingwen.

"Third Master!" Qingwen bowed towards Jia Huan, her beautiful eyes unable to hide her joy and excitement. After all, they had not seen each other for nearly two years.

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Sister Qingwen, there's no need to be so polite. By the way, Mandarin isn't home, is she? She's been staying in the workshop all this time. Please make sure your sleeping room is ready."

Qingwen felt sweet in her heart and said with a smile, "Madame Gu has prepared everything for us. Third Master, don't worry about us. Come in quickly. It's cold outside!"

The two maids welcomed Jia Huan into the house. Qingwen quickly changed him into home clothes and brought him hot wine to warm him up. Caixia was also very tactful. She did not rush to take on the personal service work. She just picked up the clothes that Jia Huan had changed into and quickly took them to be washed.

Jia Huan drank a cup of hot wine and felt warm all over. While Caixia was away, he asked in a low voice, "Why is Sister Caixia here? Doesn't the Madam need her to serve her in her room?"

Qingwen said tartly, "They are willing to come, and the mistress is willing too, so they came together!" After saying that, she glanced at Jia Huan with her pretty eyes and chuckled, "Are you so happy, Third Master? You have another beautiful woman to serve you!"

Jia Huan sweated secretly, took Qingwen's smooth little hand, and said with a smile: "Of course I'm happy that you are here. No matter how beautiful you are, you are not as beautiful as Sister Qingwen."

Qingwen's charming face flushed immediately. She came here with a mission. Thinking of what Ping'er said to her before she left, she blushed and her heart beat fast. She broke free from someone's hand and spat softly, "No way!"

"I'm serious. By the way, I thought Sister Ping'er would come with you!" Jia Huan said with a smile.

Qingwen said, "Madam Ping would like to come, but she was ill at the beginning of winter and is only now getting better. If she were to travel again by boat, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to bear it!"

Jia Huan was shocked and said, "Sister Ping'er is ill? What's wrong with her? Why didn't she mention it in her letter? How is she now? No, I have to find time to go back home!"

Qingwen was a little annoyed: "Look how nervous you are. It's just a cold. Now it's well. She didn't mention it in the letter because she was afraid you would worry. You rushed back at this time, wouldn't you be letting her down? Besides, Third Master has a duty to guard the border. If you leave your post without permission, it will be terrible if the enemy attacks."

Jia Huan could not help but frown and said with a wry smile: "Sister Qingwen is right!"

Qingwen gave someone a coquettish look and handed over the gifts that Chai, Dai and other girls asked her to bring to Jia Huan one by one. They were all personal belongings made by them, such as handkerchiefs, insoles, headbands, sachets and the like.

Jia Tanchun also wrote a letter home. Daiyu and Baochai were probably embarrassed, so they did not write a letter to Jia Huan.

(End of this chapter)