The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 722 Parting Gift to You, Deploying Troops

The Dragon Boat Festival has passed, and the weather in Hami is getting hotter and hotter. The grapevines are lush and green, and the pomegranate flowers in the yard are in full bloom, attracting bees and butterflies to work busily.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai both changed into light summer clothes and sat under the grape trellis, enjoying tea and playing chess. One was charming and graceful, the other gentle and quiet. They waved their round fans and idly tapped the chess pieces. It was truly a beautiful picture, a wonderful scene of ladies in palace attire playing chess.

Zijuan and Ying'er stood gracefully by her side, while Xueyan, Xiangling, and several maids picked many flowers and plants in the courtyard, tucked them into their skirts, and sat together playing a game of grass-fighting.

Grass fighting is a game that young ladies often play in summer. It is divided into literary and physical fighting. The physical fighting is very simple. Each person takes out a blade of grass and pulls it across each other. Whoever's grass breaks first loses. The literary fighting is much more elegant and has a variety of ways to play.

At this moment, Xiangling and Xueyan engaged in a battle of wits, and one of them said, "I have a Guanyin Willow."

The other one immediately pulled out something and said, "I have a Podocarpus macrophyllus!"

Then another one said, "I have the gentleman's bamboo!"

Then another one said, "I have canna lilies."

Then the other one said, "I have star-shaped jade."

This one immediately added, "I have a monthly red [product/service]."

This one added, "I have the peony from 'The Peony Pavilion'."

The other one immediately replied, "I have loquats from 'The Story of the Lute'."

At this moment, a maid named Dou'er took out two pomegranate flowers blooming side by side and said, "I have twin flowers."

Everyone hurriedly searched through the flowers and plants in their pockets, but none of them matched. At this moment, Xiangling suddenly said, "I have a pair of 'couple orchids'."

Dou'er rolled her eyes and said, "I've never heard of any 'couple' orchid.' You must have made it up yourself."

Xiangling explained, "One flower per stem is an orchid, while several flowers per stem are a cymbidium. Cymbidiums with two branches, one above the other, are called brother cymbidiums, while those with flowers growing side by side are called husband and wife cymbidiums. My branch with flowers growing side by side, how can it not be a husband and wife cymbidium?"

Dou'er laughed and said, "According to you, if two branches, one big and one small, are father and son Hui. If two branches open backwards, they are enemy Hui? I think you just want a man, so you drag Hui into the fact that Hui also has a husband and wife. How shameless!"

Xueyan and the others chuckled. Xiangling blushed with embarrassment and hurriedly tried to get up to twist the beans, laughing and scolding, "I'll tear your rotten-mouthed hussy apart. When I get up, I'll beat you to death, you little hussy."

Before Xiangling could even stand up, Dou'er jumped up first, scattering the flowers and grasses gathered in her skirt all over Xiangling, and then ran off in a flash. Xiangling was so angry that she stomped her feet. Seeing Xueyan clapping and cheering, she took her anger out on her, saying, "Xueyan, you little rascal, go ahead and laugh. I think it's you who's thinking about men. You keep talking about it every day while Third Master isn't here. Go to Ganzhou to serve Third Master tomorrow."

Xueyan said with a grin, "What's the big deal? My lady asked me to go, so I went. But Third Master has taken a liking to you and wants you to warm his bed, hehe."

Since Xueyan became a concubine and experienced the pleasures of love, she was clearly more uninhibited than when she was a virgin. She could say all sorts of wild and inappropriate things. Xiangling was no match for her. Xiangling blushed with embarrassment and spat, "What a shameless slut! She has no manners whatsoever. Doesn't Miss Lin do anything about her?"

At this moment, an old woman walked into the courtyard and said with a smile, "Greetings, ladies. The wild boy from the governor's side has returned and is waiting to see you outside."

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai exchanged a delighted glance and hurriedly said, "Bring her in quickly."

Since entering the pass to quell the rebellion last month, Jia Huan has not returned for more than a month. Naturally, both Daiyu and Baochai are very worried about him. When they heard that Mu Ye, the servant boy by Huan's side, had returned, they were naturally very happy. They wondered if Mu Ye was the one who went ahead and Huan would arrive soon after.

A moment later, Mu Ye was brought in, bowed and said, "This humble servant greets Miss Lin and Miss Xue."

Lin Daiyu asked, "Has Third Master returned?"

Mu Ye shook his head and replied, "Third Master is still in Ganzhou, busy with military affairs, and cannot get away."

Daiyu was greatly disappointed, and Baochai asked, "Then why did Third Master ask you to come back?"

Mu Ye smiled and said, "Third Master asked me to come back and take the two young ladies to Ganzhou, and we will return to the capital and our residence on a chosen day."

Daiyu and Baochai were overjoyed, and the maids cheered even more. They had stayed in Hami for almost a year. If you think about it carefully, it had been almost a year and a half since they left the capital in January last year. Could they finally go home now?

Lin Daiyu asked with some doubt, "Although Hami is stable for the time being, a governor's term lasts at least three years. Is Huandi about to step down and return to the capital?"

Mu Ye stopped keeping him in suspense and said with a smile, "Miss, you don't know this, but Third Master recently received an appointment from the imperial court to be promoted to the position of Governor-General of Shaanxi, in charge of suppressing the rebels in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces. He will be taking office soon, so naturally he can't leave the two young ladies in Hami."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu and Baochai suddenly realized that although Huan had been promoted, there was no joy on their faces. This was because although he had been promoted, his responsibilities had also become heavier. Moreover, suppressing the rebel army was no easy task. They would rather Jia Huan retire normally and return to the capital. This kind of life of fighting and killing was really frightening.

At this moment, Mu Ye added, "There is another piece of good news. The Emperor has issued an edict to pardon Miss Xue and her concubine. From now on, Miss Xue and her concubine will be removed from their status as musicians in the brothel and will be restored to normal life."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Ying'er and Xiangling were so happy they almost jumped for joy. This was fantastic news!

Xue Baochai clenched her fists involuntarily, but felt as if a shackle had been lifted from her heart, and she almost burst into tears of joy.

Lin Daiyu, holding Xue Baochai's hand, said with a smile, "Congratulations, Sister Bao! See what I told you? Huan-di will definitely be able to help you get rid of your status as a courtesan. Who knows, Huan-di might even directly petition the Emperor on your behalf."

Xue Baochai felt a sweet warmth in her heart, her heart overflowing with tenderness, her almond-shaped eyes filled with joy and gentleness. Huan Di was always capable of what others could not, and he always managed to keep his promises.

At this moment, Mu Ye said again, "Ladies, please pack your things and we will set off in three days. At that time, Eunuch Duan will be traveling with us."

Lin Daiyu's heart stirred, and she asked, "Is Duan Yong still serving as a military supervisor by Third Master's side?"

Mu Ye nodded and said, "That's right. Chu Sheng, the commander of the Hami Guard, will be in charge of guarding Hami. By the way, the Emperor also ordered Third Master to send the two young ladies back to the capital for resettlement, so that Third Master can concentrate on suppressing the rebels without any distractions."

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai exchanged a glance. Both women were well-read and talented, so how could they not understand the rules? Since ancient times, the families of generals leading troops in the field had to remain in the central government. This was to prevent ministers with military power from becoming too powerful.

"I understand, you may leave now!" Lin Daiyu nodded.

Mu Ye did as instructed and left.

Lin Daiyu, holding Xue Baochai's fair wrist, smiled and said, "Good sister, do you still remember our promise?"

"What agreement?" Xue Baochai asked Lin Daiyu in confusion.

Lin Daiyu leaned close to Xue Baochai's ear and whispered, "We made a promise that if we could return to the capital safely after our trip to Hami, we would be best friends for life. Now that you've been freed from your status as a courtesan, we're definitely going to be best friends."

Xue Baochai blushed slightly. The Emperor had specially pardoned her and her mother to show his favor to Huan Di, and had also ordered Huan Di to send her and Daiyu back to the capital. This was clearly a sign that the Emperor was treating her as Huan Di's family member. This was a "certification" from the highest official ruler.

Without further ado, let's talk about how the ladies, including Daiyu and Baochai, began packing their belongings that very day. They also wrote letters and sent them to the pasture in Yiwu County to bid farewell to Ayina.

Now that Ayina has officially assumed the position of commander of the garrison, she has been busy recruiting men within her tribe and constructing the garrison's camp. She's been so busy that she hasn't been back to Hami City for a month. Suddenly receiving farewell letters from Chai and Dai, she was greatly surprised and rushed back to Hami City overnight. However, when Ayina arrived back in Hami City, Chai and Dai had already departed. Ayina immediately rode out of the city, chasing them for over a hundred miles, finally catching up with their carriage, and bursting into tears.

Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai were both moved and extremely reluctant to part. They held hands and looked at each other for a long time before reluctantly saying goodbye. Alas, the mountains are high and the roads are long, and they are thousands of miles apart. After this parting, they don't know if they will ever meet again in this life!
"Sister Lin, Sister Bao, take care!" Ayina waved with tears in her eyes, watching the carriage disappear into the distance along the post road.

Daiyu and Baochai leaned half their bodies out of the carriage window, waved to each other, and finally disappeared into the vast Gobi Desert.

Ayina rode on horseback, gazing into the distance for a long time, feeling lost and dejected. She thought to herself, "Sister Lin and Sister Bao are gone. That guy... he's so heartless. He got promoted and left without a word, and he even tricked me into becoming this damned commander."

The young girl felt empty and aggrieved, wanting to burst into tears. This separation came too quickly and suddenly, leaving her completely unprepared, and Jia's "heartlessness" broke her heart.

At this moment, images flashed through Ayina's mind like a movie: the scene in the ice cave where Jia Huan desperately pulled her along, letting the blood flow freely; the scene on the mountain the month before last where Jia Huan held her to keep warm; and the scene of him taking meticulous care of her when she was sick...

Thinking of all this, Ayina finally couldn't help but lie on the horse and burst into tears. First love is always sweet and unforgettable, but most first loves are destined to have no ending. Moreover, Ayina's love may just be one-sided, and Jia Huan has never made a statement.

Ayina was crying her heart out when she suddenly heard the sound of hooves approaching, growing closer and closer until they stopped right in front of her. She instinctively looked up and saw Mu Ye, the servant boy beside Jia Huan, and couldn't help but look puzzled.

"Your Highness, what's wrong...?" Mu Ye couldn't help but look puzzled when he saw Ayina's tearful appearance.

Ayina awkwardly wiped away her tears, her pretty face tense as she asked, "What is it?"

Mu Ye presented a bundle and said politely, "This is what our Earl asked me to give to the County Princess."

Ayina took the bundle, weighed it in her hand, and asked curiously, "What's inside?"

Mu Ye shook his head and said, "I don't know either. Third Master instructed that if we encounter the County Princess, we should hand her over to her; otherwise, we should take her back untouched."

Ayina was even more puzzled upon hearing this. She wanted to open it right then and there, but was a little embarrassed. Mu Ye, being quick-witted, immediately bowed and turned his horse to catch up with the group.

Seeing that Mu Ye had gone far away, Ayina hurriedly opened the bundle and found a box inside. She carefully opened it and found that it was the flintlock pistol that Jia Huan used for self-defense.

Ayina was stunned. This guy actually gave me a pistol for self-defense? This is something that can save your life!

As Ayina pondered this, she picked up the pistol, only to find a piece of paper underneath. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly picked it up, unfolded it, and was immediately captivated.

It turned out to be a musical score. Ayina could read Chinese characters and had studied musical instruments with Daiyu and Chai for half a year, so she could naturally read musical scores. The piece on the score was the same one that Jia Huan had hummed on the spot that day, "Fiery Red Sarilang".

The most beautiful flower on the grassland, the fiery red Sarilang.
A dream takes you to the ends of the earth, where the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers.

The wanderer has taken her in his heart.
Even after traveling thousands of miles, I will still look back...

The most beautiful flower on the grassland, the fiery red Sarilang.
As fiery and passionate as fire...

The world is vast, let it be as wide as it is.

How far the road stretches, how long is happiness?

Accustomed to the sounds of the Wrangler, the melodious piano music...
I've fallen in love with this lush pasture...

As Ayina looked at it, she couldn't help but hum a tune. All the grievances and sadness she had felt earlier vanished, and her mood soared like a lark leaving the valley. She played with the short gun with a big smile, muttering to herself, "Why give this? I'm so weak, why not keep it for self-defense? How stupid of me!"

After a long while, Ayina carefully placed the pistol back into the wooden box, then put the sheet music into her bosom and kept it close to her body before happily riding back to the city.

…………

Shanhaiguan.

Liaodong Military Commissioner Gao Di handed a newly received transfer order to the supervising officer Zhang Pu and said indifferently, "Tianru, take a look at this."

Gao Di and Zhang Pu were both members of the Donglin faction. When Emperor Qiansheng transferred Sun Chengzong back to the central government, he appointed Gao Di as the Liaodong military commissioner, while Zhang Pu, as a rising star of the Donglin faction, was appointed as the Liaodong military supervisor.

As the saying goes, "One generation plants the trees, another enjoys the shade." Back then, Jia Huan and Sun Chengzong had already built up most of the Liaoxi defense line. Jia Huan then defeated Nurhaci in the Battle of Ningyuan, annihilating 80,000 Jurchen troops and recovering the area west of the Liao River in one fell swoop.

Nurhaci was wounded by the cannons and died on New Year's Eve. After Huang Taiji succeeded to the throne, he kept his death a secret in order to have time to recuperate and signed a peace treaty with the Jin Dynasty using Prince Qing as a bargaining chip.

Therefore, for more than a year, the situation in Liaodong was very stable, with neither country invading the other. Gao Di and Zhang Pu benefited from this and enjoyed a year and a half of peace.

Getting back to the main point, Zhang Pu frowned upon seeing the transfer order Gao Di handed him and asked, "Jia Huan wants to transfer Tie Hu and Xing Wei?"

Gao Di nodded and stroked his beard, saying, "Jia Huan has now been promoted to the position of Governor-General of Shaanxi, in charge of the troops of the two provinces and responsible for suppressing the rebels in Shaanxi and Shanxi. This kid is not to be underestimated. Before taking office, he requested the court to allocate two million taels of military pay, and also requested to transfer his trusted subordinates Tie Hu and Xing Wei to serve under his command."

Zhang Pu gasped, "It's understandable that Jia Ziming wants to mobilize his own loyal followers, but how dare he ask for two million taels of military pay? Even if the Emperor approves, the court officials won't agree, will they?"

Gao Di sighed, "This kid is indeed asking for an exorbitant amount. The problem is that the Emperor actually agreed. Although some officials objected, it was ultimately approved. The destruction of the Taiyuan Imperial Mausoleum has had a huge impact. As long as Jia Huan can wipe out Gao Yingxiang's gang, let alone two million taels, the Emperor will probably give him twenty million taels. Would any of the officials in the court dare to object?"

Zhang Pu was filled with mixed feelings. He was a man who refused to be inferior to others. When he took the provincial examination in Jinling, he wanted to recruit Jia Huan into his society as a follower. However, he found that he could not control him, so he gave up and instead secretly competed with Jia Huan in every way. Unfortunately, he could not beat Jia Huan in either the provincial or metropolitan examinations. The latter won the top three prizes in the imperial examinations and his brilliance was unmatched.

Alright, since we can't pass the exam, let's see who proves the best in our careers!
Zhang Pu thought that by attaching himself to the Donglin faction, he would surely surpass Jia Huan in his official career. However, Jia Huan's rise was meteoric; he quickly became the governor of Liaodong and enjoyed unparalleled prestige.

However, this good fortune didn't last long. Jia Huan made a foolish mistake and defied the imperial decree to marry the princess for the sake of his beloved, which angered the emperor. In the end, he was thoroughly punished and had to act as a marriage envoy, personally sending his beloved woman to Hami for a political marriage.

Zhang Pu thought Jia Huan's career was over, but little did he know that this kid was too extraordinary. He was just delivering a wedding, but he wiped out Hami. Not only did he protect his woman, but he also made great contributions to expanding the territory. Then he defeated Turpan and won the title of Earl of Dingyuan. It was as if he had a cheat code.

Now, he has been directly promoted to Governor-General of Shaanxi, controlling the troops of two provinces. Compared to him, he is like mud from clouds. This deep sense of defeat made Zhang Pu feel powerless.

“Tiehu and Xingwei are both rare and fierce generals. If Jia Huan transfers them away, it will be a great loss to us. Why don’t you keep them, General?” Zhang Pu said in a deep voice.

Gao Di said dismissively, "Tie Hu and Xing Wei are Jia Huan's direct subordinates. Even if they remain under my command, it would be inconvenient for me to give them important positions. Since Jia Huan wants to be transferred, let him be transferred. Besides, the imperial court has already issued the transfer order, so I can't object."

Zhang Pu hesitated to speak, and ultimately chose to remain silent. In fact, he really wanted to persuade Gao Di to find a reason to intercept Tie Hu and Xing Wei. These two were excellent fighters. They might not be needed now, but they might be needed in the future. Moreover, Jia Huan was already powerful enough. If they could get two more fierce generals, wouldn't that be like adding wings to a tiger?

To be honest, Zhang Pu was now a little jealous of Jia Huan and subconsciously wanted to trip him up. But then he thought, the emperor had given him two million taels of military pay without hesitation, which showed that he was really desperate and wanted to eliminate the rebels who were destroying the imperial tombs immediately. If he were to cause trouble at this time, it would definitely displease the emperor, and in the end, Jia Huan would still transfer the man away, while he would be left with a bad reputation. He would offend both the emperor and Jia Huan, which was really not worth it!
After weighing the pros and cons, Zhang Pu ultimately decided to release Jia Huan. Later, he even wrote a letter to Jia Huan, expressing his heartfelt wishes and hoping that Jia Huan would achieve a great victory, wipe out the bandits, and make a contribution to the country.

Wow, they really know how to navigate the bureaucratic game perfectly, displaying their skill in feigning sincerity and deceit.

(End of this chapter)