Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, the palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qianyang Palace.

Gu Yankui, who was standing below, was nervous. The current emperor regarded the firearms industry as the cornerstone for expanding territory and creating an undertaking that far surpassed that of the previous emperor.

He could imagine that once the emperor learned of the theft of the new musket, it would mean the leakage of the secret of the manufacturing of the new musket, which would bring unpredictable crisis to the Great Zhou.

How gloomy and heavy will be the anger and suspicion in His Majesty's heart.

Although the incident took place at Yafu Pass in Liaodong, he, as the Minister of War in charge of military affairs and commander-in-chief of nine provinces, could not stay out of it anyway.

He heard the sound of the letter from the Liaodong General's Office being thrown on the imperial desk by Emperor Jiazhao. The letter slid a few inches forward on the desk, revealing a sense of disgust and regret.

The eerie voice of Emperor Jiazhao rang out in the empty and cold hall.

"The rotation of soldiers in Liaodong Firearms Battalion took place a month ago. Why was the new musket stolen from Yafu Pass Armory? Why did the news only reach Shenjing now?"

Gu Yankui replied: "Your Majesty, according to common sense, when the Liaodong Firearms Battalion and the Shenjing Five Army Firearms Battalion exchanged positions, they would take the damaged muskets back to Shenjing together.

In order to facilitate repairs at the Firearms Workshop, however, when the Liaodong Firearms Battalion was replaced a month ago, the musketeers' destination was not Shenjing, so they did not bring the damaged muskets with them.

Someone took advantage of this loophole and stole the nine faulty muskets from the armory.

According to the Liaodong Firearms Arsenal Regulations formulated by Jia Cong, armory officials are required to regularly count and check the number of firearms in stock so as to keep abreast of the situation of the firearms in stock in order to prepare for any unexpected events.

However, the arsenal officer on duty either neglected his duty by failing to count the number of weapons regularly, or for other reasons failed to report the missing firearms in a timely manner.

It was not until the Liaodong Firearms Battalion carried out its second rotation half a month ago that it needed to carry the damaged firearms back to Shenjing for repairs.

Liu Yongzheng, commander of Yafu Pass, personally checked the firearms arsenal and found that nine improved Rumi guns were missing due to damage.

When he was about to question the armory officer Zhang Haodong in person, he found that this man had disappeared for no reason.

Liu Yongzheng realized that something was fishy, ​​so he sent a large number of troops to look for the man. Finally, he found his body fifty miles west of Yafu Pass. He had died from a knife wound in the back.

The nine improved Lumi guns were stolen. It must have been Zhang Haodong who was instructed and bribed by others to steal from the company, and then was murdered to silence him. "

Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes flickered gloomily as he said, "Firearms are the weapons that protect the country. A thousand-mile long dike can be destroyed by an ant hole. The actions of a small arsenal officer can also spread poison thousands of miles away!"

Gu Yankui said: "I request that Your Majesty issue an edict to all the guards and Jinyiwei Qianhu to strictly investigate suspicious merchants passing through and search for the stolen new-style muskets.

We will also investigate and severely punish the smuggling and possession of firearms by the people in various places to deter evildoers and villains.”

In fact, both Emperor Jiazhao and Gu Yankui were wise and experienced people who had seen many twists and turns in the world.

Someone was able to bribe the armory officer of Yafu Pass and stole the new muskets without anyone noticing. No one knew about it for half a month, and then the man was killed to silence him cleanly.

This shows that the person behind the scenes is well aware of every move of the Yafu Army and knows how to seize the opportunity when the two armies change guard.

The whole thing was carefully planned and the actions were decisive. He was definitely not a petty thief.

Trying to find the person behind the scenes or recover the nine stolen new-style Rumi guns by checking at various places along the way is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and the possibility is extremely low.

What Gu Yankui proposed was at most a way of making up for the loss. It was an opportunity to clean up the illegal activities of civilian firearms and to give a slight deterrent to those who coveted firearms. Apart from that, it had no other effect.

Emperor Jiazhao said: "I will send a capable person from the inner court to Liaodong to investigate the source of the theft of firearms.

In addition, you are to transfer 500 men from the Fifth Army Camp to strengthen the garrison and protection of the firearms workshop in the north of the city, and strictly supervise the workshop personnel to prevent any accidents.

I want to see what those who stole the new muskets will do next, what they want to do, and if they want to use it to imitate the new muskets, where do they want to use them! "

……

The sun was setting, the sky was full of stars, and the melodious and roaring bells of Hanshan Temple could be heard in the distance.

Jia Cong and others boarded Zheng Xiaohai's passenger ship and sailed in the inner river of Gusu City for half an hour before merging into the main river.

The commotion that had just arisen in Gusu City was left far behind by the ships sailing through the waves in the twilight.

Douguan was young and heartless. She climbed over the wall and sneaked out of Jinbi Garden to inform Jia Cong, and never went back. Instead, she followed Jia Cong to Jinling without any concern.

As the boat sailed into the river, she saw the vast sky and the majestic waves. She felt very excited and curious. She ran around the bow and stern of the boat, having fun.

Jia Cong saw Lingguan sitting in the cabin, silent, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed and her eyes lowered, wondering what she was thinking about.

Jia Cong asked, "What are you thinking about? Are you worried about your master?"

In Jinbi Garden, Jia Cong saw that the female coach of the troupe was very fond of Lingguan, and she even gave her a stage name before leaving. Lingguan was also very fond of this master.

"If I leave like this, Commander Luo won't be able to find me. Will that cause trouble for Master and Officer Wen, Officer Fang, Officer Ou, Officer Rui..."

Jia Cong heard her soft voice and worried expression, and listed a long list of names of people in the troupe, but he did not mention the owner Chen Youcai.

It is estimated that the girl was very disgusted with Chen Youcai for selling her to Luo Xiong, so she didn't even want to mention his name.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "That commander Luo had people surround Jinbi Garden in order to find you, and he was also worried that the people in the opera troupe would inform you and ruin his plan.

Now that you have left Gusu, it is useless for him to keep the people in the troupe, especially since we took you away.

He knows the identities of Miss Zou and me. We are all officials, and the matter has been exposed. It is really difficult for your master and sisters to vent their anger. They want to break off relations with us.

Since he could become an official of the fourth rank, he is not a reckless fool. He must consider the dignity of officialdom and would never do such a thing without considering the consequences.

I have already sent a letter to his superiors. When Jinling sends a reply, he will be even more afraid to act recklessly. Your master and the sisters in the troupe will be safe and sound."

After listening to Jia Cong's words, Lingguan felt that they all made sense and felt relieved.

She grew up in poverty. Since she was sold to the opera troupe, she has been doing odd jobs like washing clothes and cooking. She is busy in the small troupe every day.

She was unfamiliar with the outside world. The only people she knew were those in the opera troupe. All she saw was that they lived in mediocrity and fear.

It was not until that day when she met Jia Cong and Zou Miner that she realized that there were such outstanding people in the world, who were completely different from the people in the opera troupe.

The troupe owner wanted to sell her to Director Luo to humiliate her. Her master was a famous actor with extraordinary skills and the person she admired the most. However, even her master could not defeat the troupe owner and could not save herself.

As soon as Master Jia arrived, he subdued the hateful troupe owner with just a few words and made him completely obedient, so that the troupe had no choice but to let Master Jia take him away.

He is also very nice to me. Not only does he speak to me in a gentle and pleasant manner, but he also likes to take me with him whenever he goes out.

Even though Commander Naro made such a big fuss yesterday to capture me, Master Jia was still able to take me away from Gusu safely.

As long as he was by her side, Lingguan felt that she had someone to rely on and had nothing to fear.

Zou Min'er in the cabin always felt that Jia Cong had an unusual pity for Lingguan. Every time he spoke to her, he was full of heart-warming tenderness and patience, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

But Zou Min'er had been with Jia Cong for some time, and she knew that Jia Cong was not a womanizer. Although Lingguan was born with a beautiful appearance, she was still under 18 years old, so even if Jia Cong was a womanizer, he would not be so lustful.

Besides, he was born into a wealthy and noble family, and must have been surrounded by beautiful maids and servants since he was a child. How could his eyes be so shallow?

Zou Min'er felt that there must be a reason why Jia Cong treated Lingguan so differently that she didn't know.

It was as if Lingguan had left the troupe, and the reason why Commander Luo mobilized such a large force to search for her was definitely not just because he was attracted by Lingguan's beauty.

……

At this time, the wind was strong and the waves were rough on the river, and the sky was dark.

Douguan played crazily on the boat for a while, but finally he ran out of energy and started to feel a little bored.

Several people ate the river fish and coarse rice steamed by Zheng Xiaohai's wife. Douguan started yawning right after she finished her meal. She was naturally yawning and didn't need anyone to control her. She climbed onto the couch and fell asleep in a short while.

After a while, Zou Miner also began to feel tired. She had been busy outside early in the morning, and later got into trouble because of Luo Xiong, so she left Gusu in a hurry.

It was not until the boat was out of the inner river of Gusu City that we were truly out of trouble. This day was very exhausting.

Zou Min'er is a woman after all. She is not as strong as Jia Cong and now she can't hold on any longer.

There were only two couches for guests in the cabin. Douguan occupied one, and Zou Miner was reluctant to take the other one.

So he moved Douguan's little body inside, and leaned against it with his clothes on to take a rest.

Although she was very sleepy and could not fall asleep for a while, she heard Jia Cong still talking to Lingguan.

……

At this time, it was a dark and windy night outside the boat, the river waves were surging, and the boat became more and more bumpy.

When Jia Cong saw Lingguan's beautiful eyebrows were furrowed, her face was pale, and her hands were on her chest, he knew that she was a little seasick, so he half opened the cabin window to let her breathe the fresh river breeze to relieve her discomfort.

Lingguan seemed to feel a little better after being blown by the river breeze, but as the passenger ship rocked more and more violently, she became more and more dizzy and weak, and could no longer hold on. She leaned her head softly on Jia Cong's shoulder.

The gentle and soothing snoring of Douguan in the cabin, combined with the sound of waves outside the boat, created a rare sense of comfort and tranquility.

Lingguan has worked hard to make a living since she was a child, doing chores like washing clothes and cooking. She is not as reserved and particular as the young ladies from wealthy families.

But even though she was seasick, she leaned on Jia Cong's shoulder, which was quite intimate. She felt shy in her heart, but also felt unusually safe and peaceful.

Seeing that Jia Cong had no objection and even reached out and patted her shoulders gently a few times, she leaned back quietly without moving.

Jia Cong said, "Lingguan, you sing so well. When you go to the capital, it won't take long for you to become a famous actor. You will have a great future."

Lingguan's voice was a little lonely: "But now I don't like to sing on stage anymore."

Jia Cong asked curiously, "Don't you like singing opera? You even keep your voice warm while washing clothes. Why don't you like going on stage?"

Lingguan said: "I am in the opera troupe. Since I have learned opera from my master, in order to stay in the troupe and have enough food, there is no other way but to perform on stage.

That time, Conductor Luo and his friends booked a theater to watch an opera. It was my first time on stage, and I think I sang very well. ”

When Jia Cong saw Lingguan say this, his little face lit up, as if he remembered how proud he was on the stage.

Suddenly her voice became low again: "But what's the use of singing well? That conductor Luo and his friends said a lot of unpleasant things, and they also asked me to sing Sprinkling Golden Fan.

That is a song sung by prostitutes in brothels. My master taught me that although opera singers are not very expensive, the ancestors did leave some rules behind. Even if they sing to make a living, they cannot lose the dignity and prestige of a Qingyi.

In fact, I know that Conductor Luo, his friends, and many other people look down on actors who perform on stage. I don't want to be looked down upon.

I don’t want to sing for people like this. I like singing opera and songs, but I don’t like to sing on stage for those people. If I have other livelihoods in the future, I would rather not go on stage. ”

Jia Cong probably understood a little bit. The experience of performing on stage for the first time probably left a trauma on Lingguan, arousing the jealousy and stubbornness in her nature, and she actually had a psychological resistance to going on stage.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You sing so beautifully. It would be a pity if you really don't sing opera anymore."

Lingguan smiled and said, "Young Master is a capable and good man, not a bad man like Commander Luo. You said that I sing well, so I will sing for you as long as you like it."

After she finished speaking, she opened her cherry lips and her sweet voice rang out in the cabin...

Outside the boat, the waves of the river roll in without stopping, but they cannot cover up Lingguan's beautiful and moving singing.

"You are mumbling in your mouth, and pursuing in your dreams. The past is gone, and only the present is mentioned. I am here tonight to teach you. I don't want you to have white walls and gold, but I want you to have flowers all over your head and brocade on the ground.

The brows are curved like distant mountains covered with green, the eyes are as clear as autumn water, because tonight I will pass on the message and send you words, and tomorrow I will bring clouds and rain... "

Lingguan's voice is as clear as the sound of nature, and her singing is even more beautiful and vivid. Although there is no huqin or pipa to accompany it, it does not seem thin and dull at all. It is clear, pleasant, natural and pure, three points better than ordinary ones.

She sang a verse and then repeated it several times, like a three-tone chant, lingering and lingering in the air, making Jia Cong intoxicated.

She had a comfortable smile on her face, her hair was black and curly, and she was still leaning on Jia Cong's shoulder.

While singing, her two slender little hands were unconsciously making dramatic gestures, revealing a touching and lovely nature.

……

Zheng Xiaohai and his wife, who were rowing outside at night, heard the beautiful tune coming from the cabin and unconsciously slowed down their rowing to prevent the heavy sound of the water from disrupting the beautiful tune in the cabin.

I thought the little girl in the cabin was amazing, and her opera singing was even better than the famous actors in Gusu City.

Douguan was still sleeping soundly on the couch opposite. Lingguan's heavenly music seemed to be a better and more soothing lullaby to her.

However, Zou Min'er, who was leaning against Douguan, did not fall asleep at all. She heard the conversation between Jia Cong and Lingguan first, and was touched. She felt that the encounter between people was just a matter of fate from beginning to end.

When he and Jia Cong first met Wuming, they encountered a grudge and had a grudge in their hearts, which was hard to resolve. It was destined that they would walk two paths that were difficult to intertwine.

However, Lingguan met him when she was in obscurity, and they had no obstacles in their way and got along very well, just like a lotus finding its way to pine and cypress. This was probably the law of fate, which was destined and could not be forced.

Lingguan's melody was still floating in the cabin, and the air was filled with clear and beautiful joy...

Zou Min'er silently recited the tune: You are mumbling in your mouth, and pursuing in your dreams. The past is gone, and only the present is left... I don't want you to have white walls and gold, but I want you to have flowers all over your head and brocade on the ground.

A head full of flowers refers to the phoenix crown with flowers on the head that a woman wears when she gets married, and floor-length brocade refers to the red phoenix brocade robe that a woman wears when she gets married.

In Jiangnan opera, a head full of flowers and a trailing brocade are often used as metaphors to describe a woman marrying her ideal man.

Zou Min'er was born in a family of officials in the south of the Yangtze River. When she was young, she often went to watch operas with the women in her family, so she naturally understood the meaning of the operas.

She followed Lingguan's tune, her cherry lips slightly opening and closing, singing silently, a silent emotion impacting her heart, her eyes gradually becoming moist. (End of this chapter)