Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, on the waterside pavilion bridge.

When Tanchun saw the figure, she smiled brightly, waved her handkerchief, and called out from the bridge, "Third brother!"

Since she moved to the East Courtyard that day, the journey to the West and East Palaces is now a bit complicated, so she must arrange a carriage when going out.

Tanchun knew that her stepmother had a deep grudge against Jia Cong. Plus, she had just moved into the east courtyard and didn't want to make too much noise by going out, so she didn't go out for a few days.

She hadn't seen Jia Cong for three days. It turned out that no matter whether they lived in the East or West Mansion, as long as Jia Cong was not at home on official business, the brother and sister would visit each other every day and chat whenever they had time.

Now that the two of them were suddenly separated by a long distance, Tanchun felt a little uncomfortable, but she was shrewd and thoughtful, and knew that this was the most uncomfortable time for her stepmother.

After getting through this sensitive period, you can go out often in the future and just say you are going to Xifu to visit the old lady, and others will not be able to find fault with you.

If Baochai hadn't asked her to go to Lixiangyuan to entertain guests today, I'm afraid Tanchun would still be staying in the East Courtyard.

Originally, Tanchun wanted to accompany the guests, so she went to the East Palace to take a look and talk to her second sister and third brother.

Unexpectedly, after walking a few steps into the garden, he met Jia Cong whom he hadn't seen for several days. He was so happy to see him again after a long separation that he couldn't help but call out to him.

Baochai had naturally recognized that they were Jia Cong and Baoyu. The one walking in front was her uncle Jia Zheng, and the other person must be Baoling Hou.

But she was a little older, and she and Jia Cong were only relatives by marriage, not cousins ​​like Tanchun, so it was not easy for them to act too recklessly intimate. She just stood on the bridge and watched with a smile.

……

Because Baolinghou and his wife brought Xiangyun to their house in the morning, Jia Cong, as the head of the family and a junior of the generation, naturally had to come out to meet the guests.

He greeted Mrs. Li, Marquis of Baoling, in the hall, and left Mrs. Li and Shi Xiangyun to talk in Rongqing Hall. He was accompanied by Jia Zheng and Baoyu, and took Shi Nai to Rongxi Hall to serve tea and talk.

Hearing the call from behind him, he turned around and saw Tanchun standing on the covered bridge. Her figure was as slender and graceful as a willow in the wind, and she was wearing a rose-red long coat embroidered with broken branches, which was bright and eye-catching in the sun.

The kingfisher hairpin inlaid with pearls sparkled with brilliant light. Her complexion was as white as jade, her eyes were handsome and her eyebrows were well-shaped. She looked heroic and charming, so beautiful that one would forget the mundane world upon seeing her.

Jia Zheng and Shi Nai, who were walking in front, seemed to be chatting about some lively topic and did not notice the charming call of the girl behind them.

Jia Cong smiled and waved to Tanchun, but did not say anything. He turned around and continued to walk towards Rong Xi Tang.

Baoyu heard the voice of his third sister and waved to Tanchun in surprise. However, he felt depressed when he saw that Tanchun was looking in his direction as if she didn't see him.

He had no choice but to continue following Jia Zheng, taking one step forward and one step back.

Thinking about going to Rong Xi Tang to entertain guests and listen to the small talk and topics about official career and economy, Baoyu's mood became very depressed.

……

On the covered bridge, Miss Xia, who was standing next to Tanchun, heard Tanchun calling "Third Brother" on the bridge and immediately realized who she had met.

The young man, who had just turned his back to her, turned around. Under the bright sunshine, his incomparably beautiful appearance and his clear and intelligent demeanor made the proud and sharp-minded girl of the Xia family feel slightly dizzy and dazed...

This is the Jia family's hidden talent, whispered about by all the boudoirs in the capital. He is a man of stunning literary talent, was awarded a title after a battle, inherited two mansions, and is also born with unparalleled good looks and character. His reputation is indeed well-deserved...

Originally, Baoyu, with his rich clothes and handsome features, made the girl from the Xia family feel that he was a first-class person. However, compared with the grace and bearing of this young lord, he immediately paled in comparison.

The stunning glimpse she had just caught kept circling in her mind, and her heart felt a little hot.

I wonder how the eldest son of the Xue family that the madam mentioned compares to this young Earl Weiyuan?

If he had half the elegance and charm of Marquis Weiyuan, it would be worth marrying him...

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongxi Hall.

Jia Cong, Jia Zheng, Baoyu and others led Shi Nai to Rong Xi Tang to serve tea. Xiaohong, the maid in charge, had already received the information and hurriedly asked the servants to open the gate.

She also went to boil water and make tea herself. When Jia Cong and others entered the hall and sat down, she asked the maid to bring the tea tray and served tea to Jia Cong and others herself.

Jia Cong saw that Rong Xi Tang was clean and tidy inside and out, and was spotless. He knew that Xiaohong was the maid in charge here and was very attentive in her daily work.

When he took the tea bowl, he smiled and nodded approval at her. Xiaohong was also very smart and naturally understood what Jia Cong meant, and her heart was filled with joy.

She remembered the day when she was driven out of Baoyu's courtyard by Mrs. Wang. Musk Moon had reminded her that if she wanted to avoid this injustice, she only had to find Madam Feng and Master Cong. One of these two people would definitely be able to turn things around.

But before she went to find any of them, she never expected that Jia Cong would give her such great honor and promote her to the second-class maid in Rong Xi Tang, giving her an excellent future.

Originally, she was just a third-class maid in Baoyu Courtyard. It seemed that she was only promoted one level, but it was actually the job of a second-class steward maid.

Moreover, she was the maid in charge of Rongxi Hall. Even a fool could see that she had become Jia Cong's confidant.

Now Xiaohong, the second-class maid in charge of Rongxi Hall, has a more respectable position in the West Mansion, both openly and secretly, than Xiren, the first-class maid beside Baoyu.

Xiaohong was suddenly honored with such a favour, which made her feel very generous towards the young master, as if a man would die for his friend.

Since she started working in Rong Xi Tang, although Jia Cong seldom came here, she dispatched maids and old women every day and took care of all the affairs in the hall meticulously and conscientiously.

Wang Xifeng came to see Xiaohong twice during the journey and was very impressed by her diligence and carefulness. She felt that both Jia Cong and herself had made the right choice of Xiaohong.

……

When Baoyu saw Xiaohong bringing tea to him, he felt mixed emotions. His maid was not with him that day, and it was Xiaohong, who worked as a handyman in the backyard, who came to pour tea for him.

Although she was not as beautiful as Qingwen and Wu'er, after Baoyu noticed her that time, he felt that she was a pretty and clever daughter, which was rare among the maids.

Baoyu was thinking that he could get closer to Xiaohong in the future, but he didn't expect that he was not in the yard that day. When he turned around, he heard that Xiaohong was driven out by the lady.

Although Qiu Wen said a lot of bad things about Xiaohong in his ear, Baoyu didn't listen to a word of it. Thinking of Xiaohong being humiliated for no reason, his heart was filled with regret and pain.

However, Baoyu did not have the courage or spirit to refute Mrs. Wang's opinion and get Xiaohong back, so he could only act like a coward.

He was so upset about this matter for two days that he forgot about it. Unexpectedly, he heard the news that Jia Cong promoted Xiaohong to the second-class maid in Rong Xi Tang.

The sun rises in the east and the rain falls in the west, and Jia Cong took away a lovely maid for nothing, which made Baoyu feel really uncomfortable.

Meeting Xiaohong in Rong Xi Tang today, Baoyu thought that it should not be dull, and he should include some of the sad scenes in operas where old people meet again, so as to live up to his usual concern for girls.

But I saw Xiaohong's cheeks were slightly flushed, her slender waist was like a willow, she walked briskly, her eyebrows and eyes were happy, and there seemed to be indescribable happiness and joy in her heart, which had nothing to do with sadness.

Baoyu felt uncomfortable and sad. Xiaohong was driven out by the lady and could never enter my yard again. How could she not be sad about such a heartbreaking thing?

In Baoyu's eyes, Rong Xi Tang is the place where the official career and economic affairs of the mansion converge, which is really disgusting.

At this time, Shi Nai, who was sitting in the second seat, was talking hesitantly about his upcoming posting outside the capital, which made Baoyu feel dizzy and uncomfortable.

Inadvertently, he saw Xiaohong standing in a corner of the hall, waiting for a refill of tea. Her bright eyes seemed to be fixed on Jia Cong, as if she was afraid that she would not serve him well.

Baoyu felt pity for Xiaohong, a pretty and clever girl like Jia Cong, who had been imprisoned in such a corrupt official career.

He is really like a cow chewing a peony, he has no idea what it means to be gentle and considerate to women. It's a pity that he has such a good-looking appearance...

……

In fact, on the second day of the first lunar month, the two brothers Shi Nai and Shi Ding had already come to wish Lady Jia a happy new year.

Today, Shi Nai went to visit Lady Jia again because he had just received an imperial edict from the palace, in which Emperor Jiazhao granted him grace and appointed him as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the secondary capital, replacing the vacancy left by Zhang Kangnian.

Since the major Wei Army case broke out in Nanjing, the main culprit Du Hengxin made one of his accomplices, Zhang Kangnian, the former Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Temporary Capital, his scapegoat in order to escape.

Even though Du Hengxin had planned everything, he was still reported to Jia Cong by someone, and was eventually captured by Jia Cong on the waterway. He was assassinated during the escort, and this remains an unsolved case to this day.

Although Zhang Kangnian, as an accomplice in a major crime, died an untimely death, he could not escape the reckoning after his death. Not only was his home ransacked and confiscated, but his wife and children were also left homeless.

The reason why Zhang Kangnian had a successful career in Jiangnan was that he served successively as the commander of Suzhou Guard, the assistant commander of Jinling Commandery, and the right vice minister of the Ministry of War in the secondary capital.

It was only because of the support and recommendation of the eldest prince, Prince Zhao Li Chongmao, that he was able to have such a smooth career.

Moreover, Zhang Kangnian and Princess Zhao were both from the Jiangling Zhang family, a prominent family in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and they were also first cousins.

Therefore, Zhang Kangnian and King Zhao were extremely close relatives, and he was an undoubted member of King Zhao's party.

Jia Cong solved a major case involving the Jinling Guards, and Zhang Kangnian's identity as an accomplice in the case was exposed.

A few years ago, the Water Inspectorate plundered a large amount of wealth from the open sea, and its whereabouts remain unknown to this day, leaving behind worrying doubts.

All this greatly touched the sensitive nerves in Emperor Jiazhao's heart...

……

Prince of Zhao Li Chongmao was the most talented prince, known as a child prodigy. He learned literature and martial arts since childhood, and made outstanding achievements. He was a young hero like Jia Cong, and was highly regarded by Emperor Jiazhao.

Especially in military affairs, King Zhao had the style of his imperial ancestors and was called a natural born general by civil and military officials.

When he was 20 years old, he led an army of 100,000 and stationed in the northwestern Tibetan border.

In Hezhou, he killed the King of the Chahan tribe, beheaded two thousand people, captured fifteen nobles of the Chahan tribe, and more than ten thousand soldiers and generals, and made great contributions to pacifying the remnant Chahan tribe of the Yuan Dynasty.

The reputation of being both a civil and military talent has earned the Prince of Zhao a good reputation in the court and the country. Almost everyone agrees that the Prince of Zhao is extremely wise and intelligent, and is unmatched among the princes, and will surely be the one to inherit the throne in the future.

Before the Jinling Guard case was solved, Emperor Jiazhao had always had high expectations for Prince Zhao.

Every time the Firearms Department tested new firearms, it was considered a military secret, and only close confidants of Emperor Jiazhao were allowed to participate.

The Prince of Zhao was the only member of the royal family who participated, which shows how much Emperor Jiazhao valued him.

However, ever since Jia Cong cracked the Jinling Guard case and uncovered Zhang Kangnian's crimes, he planted the seeds of doubt and suspicion in Emperor Jia Zhao's heart.

The father and son, who used to have a close and tacit relationship, seemed to have developed rifts and suspicions overnight. Being born into the royal family, it is difficult to escape the whirlpool of the country, and family affection is the most fragile thing in the imperial family.

Besides, Prince Zhao is very brave and looks quite similar to Emperor Jia Zhao’s brother…

How he took advantage of a miraculous opportunity to ascend to the throne of the emperor.

He would not let his descendants experience the same dramatic changes that happened to him!

……

Ever since Jia Cong returned to the capital to submit his orders, the Chariot Department and the Court of Inquiries in the inner hall and secret office have been operating efficiently in the dark.

In just a few months, with Shenjing and Jinling as the core and extending to several surrounding states, many major cases of corruption and fraud by officials were uncovered, and a number of court officials were arrested and executed one after another.

Among these officials, many were recommended to their positions by King Zhao or his followers.

In addition, as Jia Cong pioneered the art of firearms, various firearms with sharp lethality were developed and verified in actual combat in Liaodong.

The Five Army Divine Machine Camp came into being. Under the operation of Emperor Jiazhao, Minister of War Gu Yankui, and the commander of the Five Army Camp, Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding, it quickly accumulated power at an astonishing speed.

As the strength of the Shenji Camp continued to expand, the original military power structure of the Five Military Camps inevitably underwent division, deterrence, and transformation.

As a result, it took Emperor Jiazhao only less than two years to gradually bring an elite army of 100,000 soldiers from five military camps into his own hands with an unstoppable trend.

Before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Emperor Jiazhao selected several capable generals from the five military camps and sent them to the northwestern Tibetan border to replace them.

Because the King of Zhao had once pacified the remnant of the Yuan Dynasty's Chahan tribe on the border of Tubo, he had many of his old subordinates following him in the northwestern border army...

……

After Zhang Kangnian's death, many officials were interested in or recommended the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Secondary Capital, but they were all retained by Emperor Jiazhao.

Because in the eyes of Emperor Jiazhao, the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Secondary Capital had been tainted by the shadow of Zhao Wang Li Chongmao, and anyone who took the initiative to covet this position would raise doubts in his mind.

At present, there is no external threat that needs to be pacified in the six states and one prefecture in the south of the Yangtze River. Ever since the rebellion of the Nanjing Guards was eliminated, the people remain prosperous and stable.

Emperor Jiazhao already had a suitable candidate for the commander-in-chief of Nanjing in mind, which would allow the emperor to take advantage of the opportunity of clearing up the major case of the guard army to reorganize the old meritorious forces of the Jiangnan guard army and completely control and control all units of the Nanjing guard army.

Therefore, in the plan of Emperor Jiazhao, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Temporary Capital did not play much role in balancing the Jiangnan Guards and keeping the peace.

He did not want this position to be in the hands of an official with outstanding talents but ulterior motives, so as to avoid the same trouble as Zhang Kangnian.

Thus, Baoling Hou Shi Nai appeared in the sight of Emperor Jiazhao.

Emperor Jiazhao had his own way of employing people. People with great talent and those with mediocre intelligence and strategy could all be used at the right time.

Shi Nai was a hereditary marquis with mediocre talent and cautious in dealing with others. He kept his distance from the four kings and eight dukes and did not belong to any other court force such as the King of Zhao.

Although Shi Nai inherited the ancestral title, he was an ordinary man and had no real job, which led to the decline of the Baolinghou family business. It is said that Shi Nai made a living by renting out the ancestral business...

If Emperor Jia Zhao gave him the opportunity to be assigned to an actual post, it would be a godsend and a blessing for Shi Nai, who had been in distress for many years.

Shi Nai, who has always been cautious and self-protective, will immediately become the most loyal party member of the emperor.

Moreover, the most important point is that Shi Nai's younger brother Shi Ding was a loyal minister of Emperor Jiazhao and the emperor's most trusted confidant.

The Shi family has two marquises. Although Shi Ding's talent and strategy are far superior to his elder brother's, the two brothers have a harmonious relationship and have always been of one mind.

With Shi Ding's restraint and influence, Emperor Jiazhao was very confident in placing Shi Nai in this position.

It is a strange thing that others were appreciated by the emperor for their outstanding talents, but Shi Nai was promoted by the emperor because of his mediocre talents.

……

Shi Nai had always had a mediocre career. He had worked in the army for many years in his early years. Although he had accumulated certain military experience, he had not made any achievements. However, this time, it became the basis for his transfer to a military civilian position.

Because he himself had outstanding military merits and abundant military funds, and he was appointed to a military civil service position, he could not be promoted to a fifth-rank civil service position according to the usual rules, unless he was a Jinshi.

Even Jia Cong could not compare with such extraordinary luck. If he wanted to be a fifth-rank official or above, which was not a military or civil official, he could only honestly take the Spring Examination.

Shi Nai had finally turned his life around, and his joy was beyond words.

Although a third-rank official position may not seem like a big deal for a marquis, he is still a high-ranking official in a ministry after all, and he is also a high-ranking civil servant with military merits. This honor is by no means small.

The parents of the two brothers Shi Ding and Shi Nai have passed away, so their aunt Jia Mu is their closest elder.

As he was about to leave Beijing for his new post, he naturally had to bring his wife and niece Xiangyun to pay farewell to Lady Jia.

When serving tea in Rong Xi Tang, Jia Cong, because of Shi Xiangyun's relationship, was polite and courteous to this unfamiliar uncle, which made Shi Nai feel very comfortable.

Jia Zheng also expressed many words of congratulations. Among the children of aristocratic families, he and Shi Nai were probably of the same kind.

Although they are all legitimate sons of older lords and born into wealth and respectability, their abilities and talents are mediocre, and they are just passers-by who follow others in their official careers.

Now Shi Nai was blessed with luck. Not only did he get the opportunity to be an official in a remote area, but he was also a high-ranking official of the third rank. Jia Zheng was quite envious of him, and could only sigh inwardly that people with the same destiny had different destinies.

Jia Cong, Jia Zheng and Shi Nai were talking happily at the table, while Baoyu, who was listening to them, felt dizzy and confused.

He really couldn't understand how Jia Cong, who was of the same age as him, could talk about the pedantry of officialdom so fluently and freely.

He is attached to dirty things without knowing it, and was born with a good appearance in vain...

……

Although Shi Nai was the elder, he was very kind to Jia Cong. Apart from addressing him politely, he did not treat him as an ordinary junior.

The young man in front of him is both civil and military, inheriting two families. He has great abilities and a bright future. Except for his own brother Shi Ding, no one in the Jia and Shi families can match him.

He smiled and asked, "Brother Cong has been to Nanjing several times on imperial missions, and he is familiar with the various government offices in the secondary capital. When the Nanjing Guards solved major cases, Brother Cong also had many interactions with the Ministry of War in the secondary capital.

I am going to Nanjing to take up my post this time. I wonder if Cong can give me any advice?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You are too polite, uncle. I once headed the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Industry in the Auxiliary Capital in Nanjing, and had some official dealings with the Ministry of War in the Auxiliary Capital.

In this major case of the Jinling Guards, many corrupt and lawless officers were removed from office. The emperor selected many capable officers and sent them to strengthen the Jinling Guards.

The heavy military affairs of the six states and one prefecture in the south of the Yangtze River should be handled by the Jinling Military Command. The Military Department of the Secondary Capital should be attached to the Military Department of the Capital. They should just do a good job of assisting and advising, and the affairs of the government should not be too heavy. "

Although Jia Cong was in mourning at home and had little contact with the outside officialdom, he had a lot of contact with Emperor Jia Zhao in recent years and knew the monarch's mind and schemes very well.

Zhang Kangnian, the former Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the Auxiliary Capital, was the actual head of the Ministry of War in the Auxiliary Capital. He was strongly recommended by Li Chongmao, the Prince of Zhao, but in the end he became a major criminal in the Jinling Guards case.

Given Emperor Jiazhao's always scheming and suspicious nature, the position of Right Vice Minister of the Auxiliary Capital War Department was already shrouded in a shadow in the emperor's heart, and he even became skeptical of the entire Auxiliary Capital War Department.

The major case of the Jinling Guards was solved, and a large number of Guards officers were brought to justice. A brief vacuum of military power in Jiangnan appeared. Taking this opportunity to sort out and control the power of the Jiangnan Guards was the top priority for Emperor Jiazhao.

As for the position of the Ministry of War in the Secondary Capital and the position of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, they were like a dirty rice bowl for the emperor.

Even though it cannot be used, it can just be left there. Send an idle person to guard it and wait for the right time to clean it properly.

Perhaps Baoling Hou Shi Nai is the idle person in the emperor's mind...

……

Jia Cong said: "When I was in Jinling, I heard that the Ministry of War in the secondary capital did not have a ministerial position, and the chief officer was the left vice minister of the Ministry of War. The left vice minister of the Ministry of War, He Yongzheng, was a veteran official of two dynasties.

But he is old now. Although he still holds the position of Left Vice Minister, he has been recuperating at home in recent years. The Ministry of War is headed by the Right Vice Minister. I heard that Lord He is quite prestigious in the officialdom of Nanjing.

When Uncle Shi arrives in Jinling, he may pay a visit to this superior officer, which may be helpful in presiding over the Ministry of War in the secondary capital."

After hearing this, Shi Nai said, "Thanks to Cong'er's reminder, I almost forgot about this Lord He. He was an official in the same court as my father. He was demoted to the Ministry of War in the secondary capital because of a dispute in the court.

It was fifteen years ago. Since he arrived in Jinling, he has been unknown and has not made any big moves. Many of his old friends in the capital have almost forgotten this old man. "

This time when I go to Jinling, I will definitely pay a visit to this old man to continue the friendship that my father and I had as colleagues... "

……

Several people were chatting happily in Rong Xi Tang. Xiao Hong had already refilled her tea twice and was about to change to new tea.

Lin Zhixiao's wife came in and said, "The old lady knew that the Marquis was going to Nanjing with his family to take up his post. He was worried that Miss Shi was a girl and weak, and she was reluctant to let her travel by boat.

I want to keep the eldest daughter in my house to be educated. Let me ask the Marquis for his opinion."

Shi Nai laughed and said, "Xiangyun was complaining at home that she felt strange in Jinling and had no one to talk and play with, unlike in the capital where she had many sisters to keep her company.

She must have acted like a spoiled brat in front of her aunt, so she let her stay at her house."

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "Isn't this even better? The old lady has always loved Yun girl and is eager to keep her by her side."

Shi Nai said to Lin Zhixiao's wife, "Please reply for me. As long as my aunt doesn't think this girl is troublesome, I will naturally have no objection."

Shi Nai knew that if Jia Cong had not been granted marriage, his aunt would have decided to marry Xiangyun to Jia Cong. Although this did not come to pass, it did provide another reason.

He smiled at Jia Cong and said, "When Xiangyun was at home, she always talked about you, her cousin, and she admired you from the bottom of her heart. When she is at home in the future, she will have to ask Luo Xiangcong for help. You have to bear with her."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Uncle, this is an unorthodox statement. Sister Xiangyun is romantic and straightforward. Her brothers and sisters love her very much. How could they find her annoying?"

They talked for a while, and then someone came to tell them that the old lady had prepared a banquet in the Grand Hall and invited the Marquis, the old master, and the third master to join them.

Jia Cong and the others had just walked out of Rongxi Hall and turned the corner of the Fengyu Corridor when they saw Tanchun and Baochai coming towards them from afar. In addition to the maids accompanying them, there was also a girl with an unfamiliar face. (End of this chapter)