Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Jia Cong said: "Cong dare not say that the Western Regions are more important than the Southeast Coastal Defense and the Nine Feudatories, but the door to losing power and humiliating the country cannot be opened!

Once Luosha, Abulai and others succeed in tearing a piece of meat from the Celestial Empire, how can the Western Barbarian powers remain indifferent? If they think that the Celestial Empire is weak and can be bullied, and rush to imitate it, what should we do? "

Lin Ruhai said: "It is because of this that Zhun Gong advocated the construction of a navy and coastal defense to prevent them from acting rashly. Otherwise, we have suffered losses in the Western Regions, and the southeast is not secure. If we are attacked from all sides, wouldn't that be bad?

Even if the situation in the Western Regions collapsed again, the imperial court's defense of the Yumen, Yangguan, Jiayu and other important passes was enough to ensure peace in the Central Plains.

When the time is right, we will march out of Yumen, take steady steps, and recover our homeland. It won’t be difficult.”

Jia Cong said: "Since the court has made a final decision, Cong can only keep his humble opinion. What should we do with the two letters?"

Lin Ruhai said: "The barbarians are asking for too much, how can the court agree to it? But we can temporarily adopt a soft strategy to appease them.

The court's bottom line is that not a penny of silver will be given. If we have so much silver, we might as well just raise an army and fight again without giving up an inch of land.

We can sign a treaty with the Russians and lend them Ili and other places for garrison for 50 years, but leave a loophole. If the local people are miserable and complain under the rule of the Russians, the country has the right to take it back in advance. "

Jia Cong thought about it and nodded, "This condition seems acceptable, and it provides us with a reason to march at any time."

Lin Ruhai said with a smile: "Not all the people in the court are fools. Whether the people have complaints or not is up to us. When we have enough power, we can take it back at any time."

"What about Abrai?"

"Allow them to establish a country, and order the Nan'an Palace to send a noblewoman to marry, but without a dowry."

Jia Cong said, "Well, it's reasonable to use the daughter of the Nan'an Palace in exchange for the life of the Nan'an Prince. What if they don't agree to the court's conditions?"

Lin Ruhai said decisively: "This is the court's bottom line. If they don't comply, then according to the Five Military Commanders' Office, the court will burn its boats and fight them again!"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Let's wait and see."

After seeing Lin Ruhai off, Jia Cong saw Pang Chao closing his eyes in deep thought. He did not disturb him but just sat quietly beside him.

After a long while, Pang Chao slowly opened his eyes, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he said: "If it is according to what Lord Ru Hai just said, the situation in the Western Region will not be worse than it is now."

Jia Cong said: "This may be the best situation after suffering a great defeat."

"If this is possible, it can be considered a delaying tactic." Pang Chao said, "Do you know why Lord Ru Hai came to visit today?"

Jia Cong was stunned and said, "My father-in-law just said that he came to comfort me on the orders of the Prime Minister."

Pang Chao sneered: "Mr. Ru Hai's original intention was naturally like this, but he may not have understood the deep meaning of Yuan Fu."

"What's the deep meaning?"

"I'm afraid the Prime Minister is also trying to delay the situation against you." Pang Chao said calmly.

Jia Cong was startled and asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Pang Chao said: "Now that you are in a high position, with great prestige in the army and many nobles following you, you can no longer take it lightly.

In the next few years, Yuan Fu will still need your strong support in matters such as reducing the power of the feudal lords, implementing new laws, consolidating coastal defense, and eliminating chieftains, so he sent Ru Haigong to comfort you.

As long as we can survive these few years, will the court still need a strong noble like you?"

Jia Cong was shocked and angry, and asked coldly: "Why do you speculate like this, sir?"

"Just now Lord Ruhai said that if you are willing in the future, you can personally lead the troops to recover the Western Regions. This sentence has exposed his true intention." Pang Chao said.

"What's the problem?"

"For such a major military and national event, Lord Ru Hai would never dare to make a decision rashly. It was naturally the Prime Minister's instruction. It sounds pleasing to the ear, but it is contrary to the will of the current emperor.

Just imagine, you are so young and have already reached the highest position in the government. If you lead the army to recapture the Western Regions, wouldn't that be a great achievement that would shock the emperor? How would the court reward you for such a great achievement in destroying a country? Would they make an exception and let you become a prince?

The Jungong is old, and the Jinshang is not young either. After they leave, who can control you?" Pang Chao said calmly.

Jia Cong took a deep breath and said, "Sir, how do you think the emperor and the prime minister will deal with me?"

"When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. In a few years, when the important matters that the court wants to handle are almost done, you can put this good bow away.

Considering your meritorious service, you can go home and live out your days as a leisurely duke." Pang Chao said.

Jia Cong sneered and said, "I just said that Yuan Fu's delaying tactic also gave the enemy time to recuperate. We will just wait and see.

The Western Regions belong to the imperial court, not to me, Jia Cong. Since I don’t want them, I might as well give them up.

I just need to accumulate strength, everything else is nonsense. If the world changes, they will know that I am a chess player, not a chess piece. "

Pang Chao smiled and said, "That's right. In court disputes, one should go with the flow and seize benefits in order to realize one's ambitions.

Although the Western Region is beautiful, abandoning it will not hurt the vitality. If the general trend is established, one general can determine the country. You are still young, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Why bother to compete with an old man for a short time?"

Jia Cong asked, "Sir, are you trying to buy time?"

Pang Chao smiled and said, "This is a trick."

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and nodded. This is how politics is. Sometimes you can only accept results you don't want to see.
-
After discussing with Pang Chao for a long time, Jia Cong returned to the inner hall and wanted to rest with Baochai. He had fought hard in the court today, but ended up in failure, making him feel exhausted. Only Baochai's gentleness and thoughtfulness could comfort him a little.

When he entered the yard, he saw Ruyi and Daiyu were there. Jia Cong forced a smile and greeted the three of them.

Baochai saw that he was in a bad mood, so she quickly ordered someone to serve tea and helped him sit on the recliner.

Seeing that Jia Cong was silent and in a daze, Ruyi and Daiyu looked at each other, both somewhat puzzled.

Daiyu asked with concern, "Why do you look so listless? I just heard that daddy came over. What did he say?"

Jia Cong leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly closed, and said, "Nothing much to say, it's all official business."

Baochai stood behind him, gently rubbed his temple, and said with a smile: "What official business has troubled you? Could it be about the Western Regions?
I heard that the court argued about this for several days, with some advocating peace and others advocating war, but there was no final conclusion.

Jia Cong sighed, "Sister Bao is really smart. She hit the nail on the head. Today we have a conclusion."

Ruyi asked hurriedly, "Are we going to send troops to fight again? Are we going to send you to lead the army?"

Jia Cong hesitated for a moment, and Baochai hurriedly dismissed everyone around him, leaving only the couple and their four companions.

"On the contrary, the court negotiated peace." Jia Cong said softly.

"Negotiation of peace?" Ruyi frowned and asked, "How to negotiate?" "Lend land and marry a daughter." Jia Cong sneered and briefly explained the court's intention.

The three girls were silent for a while, and Ruyi sneered, "Didn't you argue with reason in the Yangxin Palace today?"

Jia Cong glared at her and said, "Why didn't I fight for it? The emperor kicked me out and asked me to reflect on my mistakes. Alas, I can't do anything alone. There is nothing I can do."

Ruyi said in a hateful voice: "Since Taizu founded the country, has there ever been a time when we ceded land and married women to barbarians? How could the civil and military officials of the court tolerate such a great humiliation?!

How can I face Taizu and Taizong in my grave? No, I want to go to the palace to see my mother and ask her to persuade my father to stop me." He stood up and was about to leave.

Seeing that she was even more angry than himself, Jia Cong hurriedly said, "Wait a minute. If you go, won't you be selling me out?
"It's wrong for me to reveal these military secrets to you privately. If you interfere in government affairs, isn't that an even greater crime? Are you trying to murder your husband?"

Ruyi stamped her feet and spat, "Then what do you say we should do? You men are useless, so I have to go and persuade my father myself."

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and said, "It's useless for you to go, this matter has already been decided, how can it change because of you?
Besides, borrowing the land is just a way of maintaining dignity. Even if we don't lend it, won't the Russians still occupy it?
Marrying a woman is a trivial matter. In the eyes of the court officials, sacrificing a woman can buy temporary stability and buy a few years for the country. It is a business with no capital and can make a lot of money. Why can't it be feasible?"

"Bah! You men have suffered a defeat, your army has been defeated and your country has been humiliated, but you want innocent women to endure humiliation and serve the enemy. How shameless!" Ruyi said angrily.

"You..." Jia Cong felt aggrieved. Seeing Ruyi raising the issue to the level of male-female confrontation, he could only explain:

"Yan'er, don't judge everyone by one stick. It's not me who lost the battle, so what does it have to do with me?

Besides, the woman being married off is from the Nan'an Palace, so they have to take the blame for the trouble they caused, and they are not innocent. "

Ruyi spat, "No matter which family the girl comes from, marrying her is a shame to the family and the country! How can the Celestial Empire compromise with barbarians?"

Jia Cong quickly passed the buck and said, "Mr. Zhun said this is a delaying tactic, and we will take back the Western Regions in a few years.

My father-in-law came over and said just now that Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang also did marriage alliances, so it wouldn’t be too shameful for us to do it once in a while.”

"What nonsense!" Ruyi scolded. She wanted to say a few more harsh words, but because of Daiyu's dignity, she had to hold it back and sat aside sulking.

Daiyu smiled apologetically at Ruyi, looked at Jia Cong and said, "Brother Cong, what father said may not be entirely right. Haven't you ever heard a poem?"

"What poem?"

"Whoever told the emperor about the plan of making peace with the barbarians, I am a man who is ashamed of my country." Daiyu said quietly.

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong felt his face burning and was speechless. Although it was not his intention, as a duke, it was not an honorable thing for him to watch this happen.

Yin reluctantly said, "It's only because they, the civil officials, are cowardly and have brought shame upon me."

Ruyi rolled her eyes at him and said, "Do you think that a great general like you can stay out of this? Is there a poem you haven't heard?"

Jia Cong laughed dryly and said, "What poem?"

"You sent me to protect the country, but I don't know where the general is needed?" Ruyi sneered.

"..." Jia Cong was anxious, ashamed, and helpless. He was embarrassed and speechless for a moment, and his face felt hot.

Seeing that he was upset, Baochai tried to smooth things over, saying, "Cong'er, is there no other way?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "If there was, I wouldn't resort to such a bad strategy."

Baochai sighed silently, looked at Ruyi and Daiyu and said, "Now that things have come to this, Cong'er has done his best, and he is not feeling well either. Let's stop blaming him."

Daiyu looked at Jia Cong tenderly and nodded slightly.

Ruyi was still indignant, and said, "I'm not saying anything about him, I'm just annoyed that the men of the Celestial Empire are not up to standard."

Jia Cong smiled bitterly and shook his head. There was something in his heart that he didn't say. If it weren't for your mother's mess, how could you lose like this? Not only were the 200,000 troops wiped out, but even the commander was captured.
-
In the Changchun Palace, the afterglow of the setting sun shone obliquely through the straight-lattice hanging window panes, coating the cloisonné Baibao Wufu vase on the red lacquered peacock and peony pattern incense table with a layer of light gold.

In the vase was a peach branch that had just been picked from the imperial garden. On the branch, more than a dozen pink flowers were in full bloom, and some buds were shyly half-opened, about to bloom, which was extremely pleasing to the eye.

Queen Chen leaned forward and sniffed the scent with a smile. She found the fragrance so strong that it was even better than the finest tribute incense. She had been in a good mood these days and everything was as she expected.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Yangxin Palace that Duke Dingguo spoke frankly and angered the Emperor today, so he was expelled from the palace and punished to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors for a month." An Wenyao came in and said softly.

Empress Chen laughed and said, "This kid is sometimes as smart as a monkey, and sometimes he acts foolishly for no apparent reason, making people laugh and cry. What's the matter this time?"

An Wenyao said: "Because of the war and peace in the Western Regions, most of the senior officials in the Military Affairs Council and the six ministries hold a mature view and want to pretend to deal with the bandits first to delay the war and then make plans after a few years.

Both Li Da Dudu and Wang Dudu tacitly agreed to this matter, but Duke Dingguo refused to follow his advice and made a strong appeal, which made the emperor angry.

Empress Chen's eyes slightly turned, looking at the delicate and beautiful peach blossoms in front of her, and said: "He is young and full of vigor, and he is a noble and powerful man. He is used to being powerful, so he naturally cannot stand being wronged."

Then he changed the subject: "So the court is preparing to negotiate peace?"

"Yes. The gentlemen have agreed on the bottom line of the peace talks." An Wenyao hurriedly explained the relevant matters.

Empress Chen smiled faintly and asked: "Have the scholars and the people had any discussion about this matter these days?"

“My Lady, after the news of the defeat in the Western Regions spread, the scholars and the people were all filled with righteous indignation. They denounced the incompetence of the generals and the loss of troops and the humiliation of the country. They clamored for the court to raise the heavenly army again and recover the Han and Tang territories.

Among them, students from several famous academies such as Mingde Academy, Youdao Academy, and Shendu Academy were the most enthusiastic and have submitted several joint memorials to the court." An Wenyao said.

Empress Chen said: "This is just the arrogance of scholars. How could they understand the difficulties of the court?

The Art of War states that in order to use an army, one must have a thousand chariots, a thousand leather chariots, a hundred thousand soldiers, and a thousand miles of food supply. The cost of internal and external expenses, the cost of guests, the cost of glue and paint, and the cost of chariots and armor would cost a thousand pieces of gold a day, and then an army of a hundred thousand soldiers could be raised.

It is clear that war cannot be fought without money. How can the court have extra money now? Negotiating peace is also a helpless move.

Let this news out quietly, let them have more fun, and don't forget to remind them that the military supervisor of the Western Expedition is the eldest prince, and the generals can't be blamed for all the defeats."

"Yes, I'll do it right away." An Wenyao bowed and retreated.

The louder the public opposition and the more indignant the emotions, the greater the eldest prince's sin and the worse his reputation.

Empress Chen looked at the peach blossoms in the vase and became more and more fond of them. She spread out the flower paper and wrote an old poem:
The human face does not know where to go, Peach Blossom still laughs spring breeze.

The handwriting is elegant and graceful, vigorous and flowing, and it really has a sense of laughing at the spring breeze. It was originally a poem of melancholy and sorrow, but when written by Empress Chen, it actually has a sense of self-satisfaction and the spirit of looking down on the world.

It obviously means that the eldest prince has gone far away, but her peach blossom in the deep palace will always remain undefeated.

"The Emperor has arrived." Suddenly, a palace maid outside sang. (End of this chapter)