Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

East of the capital city, at Chunhua Tower.

Inside the elegant room, candles burned brightly, the wine was mellow, and the food was delicious. Jia Cong and Nuoyan Taiji raised their glasses to each other, their conversation flowing smoothly and they seemed to be having a very pleasant time.

Based on Noyan Taiji's previous remarks, Jia Cong vaguely speculated that the three major tribes of the Mongol Empire were not of one mind and voice, but rather had entanglements and disagreements.

He originally wanted to use Noyan Taiji to find out the root of the problem, which is why he put aside his concerns and was willing to have a drink with him.

However, there were some things he couldn't say, because Noyan Taiji was clever and shrewd, and it was very easy for the other party to notice.

He could only uncover the other person's hidden thoughts by first finding an opportunity to speak and then subtly probing them.

However, Noyan Taiji, as the prince of Ordos and one of the three leaders of the Mongol delegation, seemed not to be very interested in the war or peace between the two sides.

Not a single word was mentioned during the meal; they only spoke of the desert scenery, the setting sun over the long river, and the fast horses on the grasslands to Jia Cong.

He then asked Jia Cong about his several trips to Jinling and the beautiful scenery he had seen in Jiangnan, expressing great admiration and longing in his words.

He would often delve into the details of Jia Cong's descriptions of the splendor of Jiangnan, showing great interest.

He seemed to know a great deal about Jia Cong's past, but Jia Cong was not surprised by it.

His two trips to Nanjing, during which he solved several major cases and received imperial rewards twice, were considered extremely prestigious by ordinary people and had long been the talk of the town.

Noyan Taiji had been in the capital for some time, so it was not surprising that he learned about his past.

He originally had some ulterior motives for this little drink, but since Noyan Taiji didn't touch on it, he naturally wouldn't make any rash moves and would just wait for a future opportunity.

Noyan Taiji, on the other hand, spoke with meticulous detail and a warm expression, narrating in a gentle and engaging manner, which unknowingly aroused Jia Cong's interest in conversation.

We continued until past 7 PM, when the wine was gone, the food was almost gone, and the candles were half-burnt. We drank a little and chatted.

The two of them were having a great time, which even Jia Cong found a bit strange. He had originally had ulterior motives, but after a few rounds of drinks, things had completely changed.

……

After the two left Chunhua Tower, Jia Cong saw a carriage parked across the street, with three men standing beside it.

Although they had all changed into Han-style clothing, two of them were imposing figures, and Jia Cong could vaguely recognize that they were both attendants of Noyan Taiji.

The third man was thin, with a slightly hunched back, wearing a felt hat that covered most of his face, and his demeanor showed no trace of military bearing.

Although the man's face was not clearly visible in the darkness, Jia Cong was certain that this man was not among Noyan Taiji's retinue during their two encounters.

The man stepped forward and said, “Taishi, we were worried that you might spoil your mood, so we changed into Hanfu and waited here to escort you back to your residence.”

Jia Cong clasped his hands and said, "My residence is quite a distance from here, so please lend me your horses. I will have my servants bring them back to the guesthouse tomorrow."

After Jia Cong rode away, Noyan Taiji still stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance with an unreadable expression in his eyes.

The thin man said, "Taiji, the Khan sent us to the capital to negotiate peace, and he said that Taiji should make friends with the powerful and influential people in the capital."

Although Jia Cong was a young hero, he was still relatively inexperienced and held a low-ranking official position, so he was not involved in the peace negotiations.

Why did Taiji show him such favor and seem particularly enthusiastic about befriending him?

In my humble opinion, those who truly hold the power to negotiate peace with the Great Zhou, such as Grand Secretary Wang Shilun and Minister of War Gu Yankui, are the key figures in the Great Zhou's administration.

Noyan Taiji said, "Shu Ergan, what you said is correct, but Gu Yankui, Wang Shilun and others are either too old or their vigor has been extinguished."

Moreover, these people are all under the watchful eyes of the public, and they themselves are cunning and calculating, so they would never befriend us.

They are either too old or their views are too rigid; even if we become close friends, they won't be of much help to us.

But Jia Cong was different from them, because he was very young, only fifteen years old, yet he had already been granted a title for his military achievements and was favored by the emperor.

His youth is his greatest asset; even the current emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty cannot outlast him.

Given his background and abilities, as long as he doesn't die prematurely, he will surely become a powerful minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty in due time.

There is a proverb in the Eternal Heaven that says the strongest force in a wolf pack does not come from the mighty wolf king, but from the young wolves that have just left the den.

Because every day a wolf cub grows stronger, while even the most magnificent wolf king grows older with each passing day.

Jia Cong was able to create amazing firearms; he possessed extraordinary ideas that ordinary people lacked.

As my mother once said, those who have unique and interesting ideas will have broader minds and a more inclusive perspective on others.

Since the deaths of his two elder brothers, Father Khan has been filled with grief and indignation, and his health has deteriorated day by day.

The fate of the 30,000 households of the Ordos tribe is hanging in the balance; we must proceed with utmost caution and take a long-term view…

……

Shenjing, the Ministry of Rites' Jiaofangsi, the color of a pipa (a type of Chinese lute).

In the instructor's room on the second floor, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, and the latticed window was half-open, allowing the warm winter sun to gently stream into the room.

Du Qingniang wore her hair in a high bun, without any hairpins or ornaments, and was dressed in a blue Taoist robe. She was graceful and radiant.

Holding the pipa, she gently plucked and strummed the strings, and a melody of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" flowed slowly from the strings. The jade headstock of the pipa shimmered with a lustrous halo in the morning light.

The music was sometimes clear and bright, sometimes melodious and lingering, like a gentle narration or a heartfelt confession, making people unconsciously immerse themselves in it.

In the lobby on the first floor, there were dancers rehearsing songs and dances, or musicians playing stringed instruments.

Everyone involuntarily stopped what they were doing, sitting upright and listening to the heavenly sound of the pipa.

Du Qingniang was once renowned in Jiangnan, and was known as the Jade Venerable Pipa with Heavenly Sounds. Her great reputation was by no means undeserved.

Just as everyone was enjoying the music, they saw a young maid in green hurry up the stairs towards the room of Instructor Pipa Se.

When the maid in green entered the room, the melodious and moving sound of the pipa slowly came to a stop, and the lingering sound seemed to still linger in the air.

The dancers and musicians listening to the music in the hall felt a sense of loss when the heavenly sound abruptly stopped.

In the instructor's room, Du Qingniang put down her pipa and asked the maid in green who entered the room, "Yunluo, why did you come in such a hurry? Is there something you need?"

Yunluo took out a grayish-white secret book from her sleeve and said, "Qingniangzi, our mole in Chunhua Tower just delivered a secret book."

The record states that last night at 5 PM, Marquis Jia Cong of Weiyuan and Nuoyan Taiji of the Mongol delegation drank together in a private room at Chunhua Tower, and left at 7:45 PM.

Du Qingniang's expression shifted slightly as she took the secret letter from Yunluo's hand and carefully read it line by line.

The secret note records: Last night at 5:15 PM, Jia Cong and Noyan Taiji led their horses to the shop and entered the elegant room number B on the second floor.

Noyan Taiji ordered fourteen dishes of various dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, along with two pots of aged Yutangchun wine. The conversation was lively, and his intention to make friends was obvious.

Jia Cong's words were not inappropriate at first, but because there were many customers coming and going, it was inconvenient to listen to each one. The two left the shop at 2:45 PM and went their separate ways.

The appendix to the secret notes also includes a detailed record of the dishes ordered by Noyan Taiji.

Yunluo said, "Qingniangzi, Noyan Taiji is a prince of the Ordos tribe and one of the three leaders of the current peace negotiations between the Mongols and Mongols."

Jia Cong did not participate in the peace negotiations and had no official dealings with Noyan Taiji. Will his banquet with Noyan Taiji at Chunhua Tower draw criticism?

Should this secret report be submitted truthfully?

Yunlu asked this question because she knew that Qingniangzi and Jia Cong's elders had a deep bond of kinship and some familial ties.

Therefore, Qingniangzi always protected Jia Cong, and she would grant any request he made.

Although the matter recorded in this secret document is not yet considered illegal or unethical, there is some concern if it is reported to the palace.

Du Qingniang pondered for a moment and said, "Chunhua Tower is a place where people come and go, and many officials like to hold banquets and gatherings there."

Now that the Mongol delegation has come to the capital to seek peace, the three leaders of the delegation and various government departments have official dealings with them, and many of them recognize them.

Jia Cong was a well-known figure in the capital. Ordinary people might recognize Jia Cong, but they might not necessarily recognize Noyan Taiji.

But surely some people in officialdom recognize him. If our undercover agents were able to discover this, why can't others?

This matter cannot be concealed no matter what, and the record in the secret document is fairly accurate, so we should report it truthfully.

Moreover, although Jia Cong is young, he has always been quite shrewd, thoughtful, and cautious, leaving no room for criticism. We think Noyan Taiji's identity is sensitive, so how could he not have thought of this?

He and Noyan Taiji frequented bustling city streets, feasting and drinking without regard for taboos; there must be a reason for this.

Yunluo said, "What you say makes sense. In a place like Chunhua Tower, there are many people and lots of gossip, so it's always impossible to keep things to yourself."

The Earl of Weiyuan is now renowned and attracts much attention; even if we don't report it, the palace will find out through other channels.

Du Qingniang suddenly asked, "Noyan Taiji and Jia Cong are completely unrelated, how did these two get involved?"

Yunluo said, "Last month, Zhen'an Prefecture sent a tip. Although the matter was a bit exciting, it was nothing out of the ordinary."

Just then, the lady received an imperial edict from the Minister, instructing us to closely monitor the movements of the meeting hall.

If, before the Dali Temple and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, any gains were made from the Mongol delegation, the Chief Justice would surely report this to the Emperor. During that time, my wife was busy allocating manpower and handling this matter, and I, too, was preoccupied with other tasks and didn't pay much attention to it.

As Yunluo spoke, she entered the inner room, gently pressed a button on the display shelf, and opened the hidden bookcase on the wall, which was piled with many gray-white secret notes.

She searched briefly and then pulled out one of the books, which Du Qingniang took and carefully flipped through.

He said, "The intelligence from Zhen'an Prefecture is recorded in great detail. Judging from Noyan Taiji's words and actions, he is quite cunning and it is clear that he is deliberately trying to befriend Jia Cong."

Does anyone at the Shenjing stall know anything about this person's background?

Yunluo said, "None of the secret documents submitted from various places mentioned it, my wife. We are from the capital, and we rarely deal with the grassland people."

This person is a prince of the Ordos tribe, an important figure among the remnants of the Mongol Empire. It's likely that those in positions of power, such as the Nine Border Regions, possess detailed information about him.

Du Qingniang said, "If Datong and other stalls have information on this person, then Si Gong will definitely have it as well."

This secret report was truthfully submitted to the official in charge, and I also sent a document to the official in charge requesting relevant documents concerning Noyan Taiji. I wanted to find out more about this man.

……

In the eastern suburbs of Shenjing City, at the Ministry of Works' firearms workshop.

Although it was a day of rest for the court, Jia Cong still got up very early and went to the firearms workshop before dawn.

Today is the last day of the construction of 500 breech-loading rifles. The remaining 12 breech-loading rifles will be completed, tested, and packed into their boxes today.

Today is a very important day for everyone in the workshop. Their hard work over the past six months has finally yielded fruitful results.

Today is also very important for Jia Cong, the head of the firearms workshop.

So even though he didn't have to attend the morning court session today, and could have spent more time with Wu'er who was on night duty, he still left the boudoir early.

When he arrived at the firearms workshop, dawn was breaking in the east, but the western sky was still a deep blue.

Inside the workshop, however, there was a great deal of noise, with artisans coming and going everywhere.

He saw Qian Huai, the workshop manager, inspecting the various workshops, either exchanging ideas with others or allocating manpower and materials, appearing very busy.

Jia Cong knew that Qian Huai lived in the west of the city, which was farther from the workshop than his own residence.

But he arrived earlier than him, and his dedication and diligence were impeccable. As he looked at this man, his gaze became somewhat profound.

A short while later, Deputy Supervisor Liu Shizhen also arrived at the workshop. The group toured the various construction sites, discussing workshop affairs among themselves.

However, the limit was not to produce 500 breech-loading guns, but rather how to produce an additional 100 before the end of the year, and the subsequent production plan.

The remaining twelve breech-loading rifles were originally scheduled to be tested and loaded into their boxes before sunset today.

However, the actual progress was ahead of schedule, and by noon, all 500 rifles had been packed into boxes.

The news spread and the workshops were filled with jubilation. The workshop construction task for the year had been successfully completed, and the imperial court would surely reward and bestow honors upon them.

The artisans who have been confined to their workshops for six months will be able to reunite briefly with their families and enjoy a bountiful New Year.

Jia Cong was also secretly delighted, but when he saw Qian Huai in the crowd, he couldn't help but feel wary.

Then I thought of drinking with Noyan Taiji at Chunhua Tower last night. Outside the private room, someone held their breath and stood still for a long time.

Noyan Taiji was completely unaware of this, but Jia Cong's swordsmanship had reached the level of sword energy shaking objects, his martial arts cultivation had reached a high level, and his senses were much more acute than those of ordinary people.

He took the opportunity of going out to change his clothes to subtly scare away the spy. His conversation with Noyan Taiji was all about romance and trivial matters, and had no incriminating evidence.

Now that he holds a prestigious official position and enjoys a renowned reputation, and is responsible for the important task of developing and manufacturing firearms, it is impossible for the palace not to pay attention to him.

Behind the illustrious glory, Qian Huai, the manager of the workshop, and the spy in Chunhua Tower, lies a kind of cold scrutiny.

While everyone in the workshop was still immersed in joy, Jia Cong went into his own study alone and quickly finished writing a memorial to the throne.

He then instructed Qian Huai to send a letter to the Ministry of War to arrange for the 500 breech-loading guns to be inspected and verified. He would then report the good news to the palace.

He then asked Liu Shizhen to manage the workshop affairs, as he himself needed to leave the workshop to handle important matters.

Less than half an hour later, he went to the Chengtian Gate of the palace, showed his official badge, and asked the guards at the gate to send a message to the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Not long after, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial arrived with a messenger. Jia Cong handed over the completed memorial to him, and immediately presented it to the Empress.

Originally, only officials of the fourth rank or above had the right to report directly to the emperor. Jia Cong was only of the fifth rank at the time, and should not have had such authority.

However, when he made his achievements in Jinling, he was granted the power to report directly to the emperor as an eighth-rank official, which proved extremely useful in special circumstances...

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The Luohan bed in the hall was covered with red brocade embroidered soft cushions, and set with silver and red coin patterned pillows and large quilts with coin and floral patterns, which was very rich and luxurious.

With a smile on her face, Grandmother Jia sat on the couch, wearing a pink embroidered collar, navy blue floral satin front jacket, light blue stand-up collar jacket, and a ginger yellow horse-face skirt with red gold scattered floral satin.

Two large, openwork cloisonné enamel incense burners, filled with silver frost charcoal and styrax incense chips, were placed in the hall, emitting a warm and fragrant aroma.

On either side sat the sisters Yingchun, Daiyu, Tanchun, and Xiangyun, while Xichun sat at the end of the chairs, playing with a floral cloth doll and enjoying herself.

Yingchun said, "Grandma, yesterday Congdi's friend brought some freshly hunted game, including pheasants and rabbits that had just hatched, as well as a whole deer."

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "The game in the forest is at its fattest this season. His friend is quite knowledgeable about the market and knows to send game at this time."

Pheasant soup is great for nourishing the lungs, and venison is an excellent tonic for replenishing vital energy. It's suitable for both adults and children.

A whole deer is much more valuable; you can't buy it even with money. What you buy outside are all pieces, and they've lost their freshness.

"Cong-ge'er's friend is quite remarkable. Is he some noble young master from the capital who came hunting outside the city?"

Yingchun replied, "Last night, my brother Cong was invited to a banquet and didn't return home until dark. He didn't say which family sent him the game."

He rode back on horseback last night, and this morning, before leaving the mansion and going to the yamen, he had his servant take the horse back to the Huitong Hall.

It's possible that last night's dinner was mostly hosted by officials from the consulate, but that's not impossible.

This morning, before Congdi left home, he sent a message to me through his maid, saying that he would select some game to present to the old lady, and also to help his second sister-in-law recover from childbirth.

I've already had the kitchen prepare a whole deer leg, and three cleaned pheasants, which have been sent to the West Mansion kitchen.

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "You've packed quite a lot of things. How much of it can we women and children possibly eat?"

Since you're all here today, let's have lunch here. Ask the kitchen to prepare a venison feast for us; we can enjoy ourselves for half a day."

Grandmother Jia then said to Emerald, "Go and call Baoyu to come and eat together. He's just sleeping at home all by himself."

Upon hearing this, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others looked somewhat uncomfortable. They had all personally heard Baoyu's outrageous remarks outside Rongqing Hall a few days earlier.

The old lady had already invited us to stay for dinner, but why did she have to call Baoyu over as well? It would only make everyone feel awkward.

Since Grandmother Jia had already spoken, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others couldn't say much more. They just wanted to get through the meal and leave.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Baoyu Courtyard.

The room was filled with the warm scent of incense. Because of the accident caused by Baoyu last time, there were no more valuable antiques in the room, but the various items were still full of wealth and luxury.

Although Grandmother Jia could no longer give Baoyu antiques, all other daily necessities were of the highest quality, and Baoyu was not lacking in the slightest.

Since these were not major issues, Wang Xifeng couldn't argue with Grandmother Jia, so she could only endure it for the time being, waiting for Prince Bao's wedding next March so she could quickly get out of there.

Recently, Baoyu's tastes have also changed a lot. The furnishings in his room have become more and more luxurious and extravagant, and it is more like a young lady's boudoir than a young master's bedroom.

The original pine-green quilts were replaced with red brocade floral patterns, and the moon-white bed curtains with dark patterns were replaced with pink double-embroidered floral gauze curtains.

At this moment, he was leaning against the couch, flipping through a copy of the Zhuangzi, looking utterly bored.

Last time, he talked nonsense in Rongqing Hall, which was overheard by Jia Cong and Yingchun.

That day, Yingchun, who was usually gentle, looked at him with an unprecedented coldness, which made Baoyu feel flustered and ashamed.

He still feels a chill when he thinks about it now. Even his gentle second sister had turned into this expression; he wondered what would happen to his other sisters.

Ultimately, no one in this world understands me. He was overwhelmed with grief and had been hiding in his room for the past few days, even afraid of encountering his sisters.

He repeatedly read the line from the Zhuangzi: "The incapable have no desires." He was lost in a reverie, as if he had suddenly found some relief.

Suddenly, the old lady's maid, Emerald, came in and said, "Second Master Bao, the old lady got some pheasant and venison today, and she will be having a banquet at Rongqing Hall at noon."

The young ladies from the East Mansion were all there, and the old lady invited the Second Master to join them for dinner. (End of Chapter)