The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 670 Adds Another Assistance
That night, the crescent moon hung like a hook, and the wind on the Loess Plateau whistled past their ears, making the campfire crackle. Although it was already March, the temperature difference between day and night on the Loess Plateau was large, and it was still quite cold at night. Jia Huan and Lu Xiang Sheng sat on the ground by the campfire, warming themselves by the fire and chatting in hushed tones.

Jia Huan and his companions were currently at a post station called Yinchuan Post Station, about eighty li away from Ting'an Prefecture. Yinchuan Post Station was small, with only a few rooms, just enough for Baochai, Daiyu, and a group of palace maids to stay in. The rest of the entourage had to camp outside the post station.

Lu Xiang-sheng took a water bag from his waist, poured the liquid inside into a pottery jar, and then held it over the fire to heat it up. Instantly, the aroma of wine filled the air; it turned out that the water bag contained wine.

"This is a special sorghum liquor from the Loess Plateau. Although it can't compare to Shaoxing yellow wine, it has its own unique flavor. Ziming, you should try it!" Lu Xiang-sheng said as he poured a small half bowl of the warmed sorghum liquor for Jia Huan.

Sorghum was introduced to China during the Han Dynasty and is widely cultivated on the Loess Plateau. Jia Huan took a sip of the sorghum wine and immediately felt a surge of heat penetrate his stomach. It was stronger than any wine he had tasted before, and he couldn't help but cough twice.

Lu Xiang-sheng laughed and said, "This sorghum liquor is as rugged and bold as the men of northern Shaanxi, strong and unrestrained, completely different from the delicate and refreshing taste of our southern region. I wasn't used to it when I first arrived." After saying that, he took a swig of cold liquor from his water bag and sighed comfortably, "Actually, this sorghum liquor tastes better when it's not hot. Northerners aren't as refined as us southerners, we even have to warm our liquor."

Looking at Lu Xiang Sheng's face, which was both red and black, Jia Huan said sarcastically, "So the fair-faced scholar has become the black-faced King Yama Lu. Thieves within hundreds of miles tremble at the mere mention of his name."

Lu Xiang-sheng served in Yan'an Prefecture for three years. He personally trained his troops every day and lived, ate, and slept with the militiamen under his command, earning their deep respect. However, in the eyes of the bandits, Lu Xiang-sheng was a ruthless killer. Over the years, he had killed at least a thousand or eight hundred bandits, so they gave him the nickname "King Yama Lu".

Lu Xiang-sheng shook his head and said, "Ziming's reputation in Liaodong has really grown over the years. In comparison, my efforts to wipe out a few bandit gangs here are nothing more than small-scale skirmishes."

"Jian Dou's chance to show his skills may not be far off!" Jia Huan said meaningfully.

Lu Xiang-sheng glanced at Jia Huan in surprise and whispered, "Ziming, what makes you say that?"

“Now the emperor is neglecting his duties and indulging in pleasure, the eunuch faction is running rampant and oppressing the people, and with the constant natural disasters and the people’s livelihood in ruins, it’s only a matter of time before chaos breaks out. The mud-free people of Mianchi County are not the first, nor will they be the last,” Jia Huan said bluntly.

Lu Xiang-sheng sighed and said, "Just as Zi-ming said, those mining supervisors and tax collectors are indeed causing a lot of trouble, and the people of this prefecture are also suffering greatly. Most of the militia under my command are refugees. The reason they follow me so wholeheartedly is that they have a job. Zi-ming, I feel that this world is really going to descend into chaos!"

Jia Huan nodded firmly. Given their relationship, there was nothing to hold back, and they could say whatever they wanted.

In the eyes of Jia Huan, a time traveler, although the world of Dream of the Red Chamber is very different from the real world, it also has many similarities. For example, the character Lu Xiang-sheng was a famous general in the late Ming Dynasty. His deeds were tragic and heroic, and he was worthy of praise and tears. Whether it was suppressing peasant uprisings or resisting the invasion of the Qing army, he was recorded in history books.

Judging from the current signs, the chaotic era at the end of the Ming Dynasty may really be coming.

Lu Xiang-sheng remained silent for a moment, looking at Jia Huan as if he wanted to speak but hesitated. Jia Huan smiled and said, "Jian Dou, if you have something to say, feel free to speak frankly. As long as it comes out of your mouth, it will be heard by me!"

Lu Xiang-sheng lowered his voice and asked, "Does Zi-ming really intend to send Miss Lin to Hami for a political marriage?"

Jia Huan shook his head and said calmly, "I don't want to, and I won't, repeat the mistakes of my senior brother."

“I knew you wouldn’t give in easily, otherwise you wouldn’t have defied the imperial decree to marry the princess.” Lu Xiang-sheng said with admiration, then frowned and said, “What does Zi-ming plan to do? The imperial decree is hard to disobey, unless you take Miss Lin and flee far away to avoid trouble in a foreign land after you leave the pass.”

Jia Huan shook his head: "This is not the best solution. We still have relatives in the capital; how can we ignore them?"

Lu Xiang-sheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. In his impression, Jia Huan was a very loyal and affectionate person. If Jia Huan selfishly chose to elope with his confidante and disregard the lives of his family and friends, then Jia Huan's image in his mind would undoubtedly collapse instantly.

"What are Ziming's plans?" Lu Xiang-sheng asked in a low voice.

Jia Huan casually drew on the ground with a tree branch, and then casually revealed his plan.

After listening, Lu Xiang-sheng frowned and said, "This is a bit too risky. How confident is Zi-ming in his ability to succeed?"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "You know me, and I've always been lucky."

Lu Xiang-sheng said with a wry smile, "Although it's a stretch, it's the truth."

“If Jian Dou could accompany me on this trip, I would be much more confident,” Jia Huan said, looking at Lu Xiang Sheng.

Just as Lu Xiang-sheng was about to speak, a series of rapid hoofbeats came from the official road. The militiamen under Lu Xiang-sheng immediately stood up alertly. Without waiting for orders, they immediately assembled into groups of ten, cooperating very well and showing that they were quite well-trained.

Jia Huan's eyes lit up, and he nodded, saying, "These soldiers are not bad."

Lu Xiang-sheng said with a hint of pride, "It took me more than two years to train like this. I've killed thieves, so I have experience!"

Soon, two fast horses galloped to the vicinity of the post station and shouted, "Urgent military order! Is Prefect Lu here?" Lu Xiang-sheng stood up and shouted, "I am here!"

The rider on horseback quickly dismounted and stepped forward to bow, saying, "The bandit Li Zicheng is attacking Mizhi County. The Prefect has ordered Magistrate Lu to rush to the rescue."

Lu Xiang-sheng's expression changed drastically, and Jia Huan was also shocked; this resounding name had finally appeared.

Lu Xiang-sheng took the official document and, by the light of the fire, saw that it was indeed the seal of Yan'an Prefecture. He then said, "I have received your order and will proceed to Mizhi County immediately."

The two messenger knights bowed, mounted their horses, and rode away. Lu Xiangshan turned to Jia Huan apologetically, "Ziming, I'm afraid..."

Jia Huan waved his hand and said, "Military affairs are of utmost importance. Jian Dou, hurry up and go. If you are late, I'm afraid Mizhi County will be lost."

Lu Xiang-sheng nodded and ordered his troops to break camp and prepare to set off to aid Mizhi County.

"Ziming, do you know who this Li Zicheng is?" Lu Xiang-sheng asked Jia Huan during a break in the troops' packing up.

Jia Huan naturally knew who this was. Li Zicheng, the leader of the peasant uprising at the end of the Ming Dynasty. He stormed into the capital and forced Emperor Chongzhen to commit suicide on Coal Hill. He was the gravedigger of the Ming Dynasty's nearly three-hundred-year reign. However, this was the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, so he wondered if this Li Zicheng had the ability to graved the Jin Dynasty.

At this point, Lu Xiang-sheng added, "Li Zicheng is Li Hongji. After escaping from Datongshan in Yangzhou, he secretly returned to his hometown of Mizhi County and became a notorious bandit. I've fought him a few times in the past few years, but he always managed to escape."

Jia Huan was slightly taken aback and said, "It's actually this person!"

Lu Xiang-sheng said in a deep voice, "This man is well-educated and knowledgeable in military strategy. I devised two traps for him, but he evaded them both. On one occasion, I captured one of his underlings, and that's when I learned his true identity."

Jia Huan frowned and asked, "Did Li Zicheng attack county towns before?"

Lu Xiang-sheng shook his head and said, "No, it's just looting some small villages or passing merchants. This is the first time we've attacked a county town on such a large scale."

Jia Huan muttered to himself, "Perhaps they feel their opportunity has arrived!"

As Jia Huan had guessed, Li Zicheng attacked the marriage procession at Mianchi Station, intending to use Zhang Cunmeng, who was known for his incorruptibility, to exact revenge. However, his plan failed, and he fled in resentment. Jia Huan had no idea that Li Zicheng had participated in the attack.

That very night, Li Zicheng fled across the Yellow River, preparing to return to his stronghold in Mizhi County. He thought that Buzhanni's gang was doomed, but the news that came through shocked him. Not only was Buzhanni still alive, but he had also occupied Mianchi County. By opening granaries and distributing grain, he had gathered tens of thousands of troops in just a few days, making his forces formidable.

Li Zicheng was both regretful and jealous, but a good horse doesn't turn back to eat the grass it already grazed. Moreover, he abandoned his allies at the crucial moment and ran away first, so he was too embarrassed to go back to Mianchi County to seek refuge with Buzhanni.

However, the success of not getting muddy greatly encouraged Li Zicheng. As the saying goes, "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" If he could succeed without getting muddy, he certainly could too! So when Li Zicheng returned to his mountain stronghold, he immediately summoned his bandits and thieves to plan in detail, and then launched an attack on Mizhi County.

Getting back to the main point, Lu Xiang-sheng was about to leave after gathering his troops when Duan Yong became anxious and stopped him, questioning, "Prefect Lu, if you leave like this, who will be responsible for the safety of Her Highness the Princess?"

Clearly, Duan Yong was still shaken by his previous experience, and hearing that bandits were also causing trouble in Mizhi County only made him more worried. Now that there were rebels everywhere, it seemed that nowhere was safe.

Lu Xiang-sheng clasped his hands and said, "I'm sorry, but military orders are absolute. I must rush to the aid of Mizhi County now. How about this, I will leave one hundred men behind."

Duan Yong knew he couldn't stop them, and it was better if the other side left behind a hundred men, so he could only nod in agreement.

Lu Xiang-sheng waved his hand and said, "Second brother, you take a hundred brothers and stay behind. Follow Zi-ming's orders and escort them all the way to Hami before returning."

"Understood!" One of the men dismounted and quickly approached Jia Huan, bowing and saying, "Lu Xiangjin, under your command, is at the mercy of Third Master Huan!"

Jia Huan hurriedly said, "Second Master Lu, no need for formalities!"

This Lu Xiangjin looked somewhat like Lu Xiangsheng, but he was much stronger and had a very stable lower body. He was clearly a trained fighter. He said respectfully, "I wouldn't dare. You can just call me Little Lu, Third Master Huan. I've often heard my elder brother mention Third Master Huan. It's my honor to have the opportunity to learn something from Third Master Huan."

Lu Xiang-sheng laughed and said, "What you said is true. If you can learn even a little bit from Zi-ming, you will benefit from it for a lifetime."

(End of this chapter)