Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace, the rear hall and warm pavilion.

The warm and fragrant atmosphere in the pavilion seemed to be instantly chilled by Guo Lin's report.

A secret report submitted by the CRRC's Shenjing branch revealed that the matter involved Jia Cong, the Earl of Weiyuan.

Any matter involving the secret documents of the Imperial Carriage Office was a sinister and suspicious act, which could not help but make Emperor Jia Zhao feel apprehensive!
Jia Cong was his most valued young minister, a man of both literary and military talent, capable of handling matters independently, and worthy of being given important responsibilities.

He also possessed unparalleled talent in firearms research and development, brimming with ingenious ideas, which were as unpredictable as a gazelle's horns hanging in the air, leaving no trace for others to follow.

The various powerful firearms he developed were an important bargaining chip for Emperor Jiazhao to purge the old power of the nobles and seize control of the military.

The more outstanding and promising a minister is, the higher the emperor's expectations of him, and the more rigorous and meticulous his scrutiny of him.

Emperor Jiazhao was more unwilling than anyone else to hear any negative words about Jia Cong, especially since he was currently in charge of manufacturing breech-loading rifles...

The emperor took the secret letter presented by Guo Lin and read it carefully page by page, line by line. His expression was ambiguous, and he showed no sign of joy or anger.

Guo Lin caught a glimpse of the emperor's expression out of the corner of her eye, and felt a sense of unease in her heart.

As the head of the Imperial Carriage Office, Guo Lin had a considerable amount of secret reports about Jia Cong, who was an important minister of His Majesty.

However, these were all secret records of his daily words and deeds when he went to the yamen to do his duties. Although Jia Cong was young, he was always cautious in his actions, conscientious in his work, and his behavior was flawless.

Although the Imperial Carriage Company did not plant any spies in the Earl's Mansion, they had several informants in the Rongguo Mansion, and were generally aware of Jia Cong's daily life there.

After leaving his post, Jia Cong usually stayed at home and rarely socialized with his colleagues or old friends.

For example, before the last imperial examination, he also stayed at home and rarely had much contact with the outside world.

This also implicated a wide range of people in the imperial examination cheating scandal, but Jia Cong, as the top scorer in the provincial examination, attracted much attention.

Before taking the imperial examination, he secluded himself and rarely had contact with his maternal relatives, which ensured that he had no connection with the cheating case.

This made Emperor Jiazhao very satisfied with him, feeling that although he was young, he was thoughtful, upright, and a minister who was easy to manage.

Guo Lin served the emperor daily and was naturally aware of the emperor's high regard for Jia Cong.

Therefore, Guo Lin was somewhat surprised by the contents of the secret document submitted by CRRC.

He had a personal relationship with Jia Cong and knew his daily conduct well, so he was somewhat puzzled by Jia Cong's actions at Chunhua Tower.

After reading the secret document in his hand, Emperor Jiazhao's expression was unreadable. He held the document in his hand, got up, and paced back and forth in the warm pavilion.

He asked in a deep voice, "Guo Lin, you are in charge of the Central Carriage Company. Do you think there is anything inappropriate about Jia Cong's actions?"

Guo Lin said, "Your Majesty, the Mongol delegation has come to the capital to seek peace. Although they have daily disputes with the Ministry of War officials who are in charge of the negotiations."

However, due to the etiquette of peace negotiations between the two sides, there were often social gatherings and banquets outside of official business, and the Ministry of War would often invite colleagues from other departments to accompany them, which was a common occurrence.

However, Jia Cong was not involved in any peace negotiations, nor was he invited to a banquet hosted by the Ministry of War for the delegation; he dined with the delegation members privately.

This move was quite illogical, and Noyan Taiji was one of the three leaders of the delegation, the son of Jirang Khan of the Ordos tribe, whose status was extraordinary.

The Earl of Weiyuan had a private banquet with him. Although the records of the secret investigation by the Central Carriage Office showed that the two did not behave improperly and their conversations were all ordinary.

However, this servant believes that the Earl of Weiyuan, as an official appointed by the court, is exceptionally talented and cautious, and his actions this time were not entirely well thought out.

If this matter were to spread, it would likely attract rumors and stir up controversy, with people saying that the Earl of Weiyuan had overstepped his bounds with the nobles of the Mongol tribes…

……

Emperor Jiazhao listened to Guo Lin's words without comment, but returned to his desk, opened a secret box on the table, and took out a document from it.

That was Qian Huai, the manager of the Ministry of Works' firearms workshop, who secretly reported to the palace three days ago.

The above details that by sunset that day, the workshop had completed 482 breech-loading muskets, and the remaining 18 muskets would be completed in three days.

Jia Cong had already ordered him to draft the handover and inspection documents for the Ministry of War ahead of schedule, and to request additional materials for the manufacture of breech-loading rifles from the Ministry of Works, so that an additional one hundred breech-loading rifles could be manufactured before the end of the year.

The secret report meticulously recorded Jia Cong's actions and words in the workshop, every word clear and precise, the description thorough and impeccable.

At the end of this secret report, Qian Huai made a special note: "Judging from his words and deeds, he is pure and upright, and his extraordinary thoughts are beyond the reach of ordinary people."

He was practical in his dealings, not fond of empty formalities, and was good at understanding people's hearts. Everyone in the workshop respected and obeyed him.

Even though Qian Huai was the emperor's spy planted in the workshop, responsible for secretly monitoring the workshop's activities and the words and actions of the workshop's head official, Jia Cong.

However, he still greatly admired and respected Jia Cong, which moved Emperor Jia Zhao to some extent.

Emperor Jiazhao put the secret memorial back into the wooden box and said, "Jia Cong is young and promising, loyal to the country, and has made many meritorious contributions. Although this action was inappropriate, it does not constitute treason."

Although Liu Jing'an was somewhat inflexible and resigned from his post sixteen years ago, when I ascended the throne and needed the assistance of veteran ministers, he still claimed to be ill and did not come out, which greatly disappointed me.

However, his learning and talent are unmatched by many in the world, and I admire him for that.

He was known as the Sage of Literature and Learning, and not just anyone can be called the Sage of Learning.

For more than a decade, he devoted himself to teaching his students behind closed doors, earning the reputation of having nine Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from his school—a feat that is unlikely to be repeated.

Jia Cong was his most beloved disciple, who received guidance and instruction from Liu Jing'an at the age of ten and formally became his disciple at the age of twelve.

His knowledge and skills were all personally passed down by Liu Jing'an.

Otherwise, how could someone so young be so shrewd and experienced in handling official matters? Even seasoned officials would be far behind.

I have read several of his essays written for the imperial examinations. His mind was pure and upright, his moral character profound, and his spirit passionate. I still remember them vividly to this day.

What is benevolence? It is the spirit of righteousness, the sentiment of loyalty, the conduct of strictness and prudence, the courage to relinquish fame and leave behind hope, and the heart to uplift the world. It is not about being kind like a woman, nor about being tolerant like a mediocre person.

Therefore, those who govern the world well do not rely on the skills to control it, but on the way to cultivate their own minds. They do not merely possess the virtue of diligent governance, but value the heart of selflessly benefiting the world.

The few sentences he wrote are profound in their reasoning and commendable in their intent; I often ponder them in my spare time.

If he lacked a sense of national responsibility, adherence to Confucian principles, and a desire to help the world and alleviate suffering, he could never have written such articles and verses.

Liu Jing'an was indeed a remarkable teacher, and I could trust the students he taught.

Even if Jia Cong's behavior was somewhat inappropriate this time, his moral character and conduct would never lead him to do anything that would disgrace the country.

He is always cautious and must know that this action is questionable, but he will still do it; he must have his reasons.

Upon hearing Emperor Jia Zhao's words, Guo Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty is wise. It was this servant's ignorance that led me to make a mountain out of a molehill."

……

Although Emperor Jiazhao believed that Jia Cong had no ill intentions, Jia Cong was responsible for firearms, which was a matter of great importance to the military and the country, and no mistakes could be tolerated.

At a time when the Great Zhou and the Mongol Empire are locked in a standoff, this sudden incident inevitably casts a shadow over Emperor Jia Zhao's heart.

Just as the emperor was getting a little distracted, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the palace.

Yuan Jing, a sixth-rank official guarding the inner chambers of Qianyang Palace, strode into the hall, holding a memorial in his hand.

He walked five steps away from the Emperor, knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has forwarded a memorial from Marquis Jia Cong of Weiyuan. Please review it."

Guo Lin, who was standing to the side, looked somewhat taken aback when he heard this. Just now, His Majesty was talking about the secret letter, saying that the Earl of Weiyuan was trustworthy.

But Guo Lin could still sense that the Emperor was troubled by this matter and that it would be difficult for him to shake it off anytime soon.

Unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, the memorial submitted by Marquis Jia Cong of Weiyuan arrived at the palace, which seemed rather too coincidental.

Upon hearing Yuan Jing's report, Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes lit up slightly, as if he had understood something, and he said, "Bring it here."

Guo Lin quickly took the memorial from Yuan Jing and then presented it to Emperor Jia Zhao.

Emperor Jiazhao unfolded the memorial and began to read it. His originally tense face gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Guo Lin, who was secretly watching the emperor's face, was astonished to see the change in Emperor Jia Zhao's expression.

I don’t know what was written in the memorial submitted by the Earl of Weiyuan, but the Emperor’s previous worries and unhappiness seemed to have faded away considerably.

This memorial was written by Jia Cong this morning in the workshop, regardless of whether it was the workshop manager Qian Huai's hidden identity or the figure outside the elegant room of Chunhua Tower that day.

All of this made it impossible for Jia Cong to ignore. Even though his heart was only concerned with national affairs, he couldn't neglect any of the necessary appearances.

In his memorial, he detailed how he met Noyan on the steps of Hanzheng Street that day, and how Noyan was a man of exceptional character and wisdom who should be given attention.

He then wrote: "Yesterday, on my way back to the city, I encountered Noyan returning from a hunt with his entourage. He spoke warmly to me, and we struck up a conversation and agreed to a banquet."

When the matter of the joint discussion was mentioned, the Tuman tribe followed suit, and the Ordos tribe responded accordingly, but there was a hidden intention to retreat and defend themselves.

Although I am not familiar with the affairs of the Mongol tribes, I have heard of the valiant and powerful Anda Khan of the Tuman tribe, whose army is strong and whose forces overwhelm all the tribes of the grasslands.

The Ordos and Yongshelun tribes are both weak and have become vassals, used as tools. Whether they share the same intention to move south is uncertain. This is a sign of hidden discord among the remaining Mongol tribes. Therefore, I wish to investigate their background and have accepted the invitation to this banquet to uncover the truth.

However, since it was our first meeting and we were not close enough to discuss things in depth, any rash actions that might damage our long-term plans could arouse suspicion from the Mongol chieftain, and we might end up with nothing to show for it after the banquet.

As the art of war says, the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the average strategy is to disrupt their alliances, and the worst strategy is to attack their army.

Break the enemy's alliance, weaken their edge; without moving an army, you have already defeated a thousand.

Your Majesty, I wish to advise you to dispatch the elite troops of the inner court to handle this matter secretly, whether through war or peace, to gain the upper hand and secure an invincible position…

Emperor Jiazhao held Jia Cong's memorial, carefully read it twice, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

He said, "I know Jia Cong's nature and methods well. This time, he disregarded suspicion and held a banquet at Nuoyantai Jixiang. There must be a reason for this."

His memorial to the emperor frankly stated the facts and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages, which made considerable sense. At least he cared about the affairs of the state and had good intentions.

Emperor Jiazhao handed the memorial to Guo Lin and said, "Jia Cong's words make a lot of sense. To break an alliance with the enemy, one must know oneself and one's enemy, and one will never be defeated."

In his memorial, he stated that he was acquainted with Noyan Taiji, a fact that alarmed the Prefectural Magistrate of Zhen'an Prefecture. Does the Chief of the Chariot Department know of this?

……

Guo Lin quickly unfolded the memorial and browsed through it, saying, "What Jia Cong said is true. The imperial archives in Shenjing reported this matter that day."

However, this matter occurred in public, and there was no private matter, no suspicious circumstances, and no transgression of the rules.

Therefore, it was not recorded in the secret records of the Central Railway Bureau, but because it involved the Mongol mission, it was recorded in the ordinary records of the Central Railway Bureau and reported to the archives for filing.

"As is customary, I have not presented any official documents other than secret letters to Your Majesty. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty, I will retrieve them now and present them to Your Majesty for your perusal."

Emperor Jia Zhao nodded upon hearing this. This was not Guo Lin's negligence, but rather the rule of procedure of the Imperial Carriage Office.

The emperor only reads the secret records, and the matters recorded in the secret records are selected by the Imperial Carriage Office and determined to be suspicious, excessive, or illegal.

The remaining matters were recorded and archived by the emperor in ordinary notes. The emperor would not look at these documents, nor was it necessary for him to look at them.

At the time, Baoyu spoke recklessly and acted blatantly in the inner quarters, which was not suspicious. Confined to the inner quarters, he did not break the law.

However, his words insulted the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager, which was a serious transgression and was recorded in the secret archives by the Imperial Carriage Office, leading to the decline of the Rongguo Second Branch.

……

Guo Lin left the palace gate and, after only a short while, hurriedly returned to the palace with a blue-covered document in his hand.

He said, “Your Majesty, the relevant documents have been retrieved. They were personally written down by a spy from the Zhen’an Prefecture of the Central Carriage Office. They are detailed in all aspects. Please review them, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Jiazhao read through the document and said, "Jia Cong is right, this Noyan Taiji is indeed quite remarkable."

According to the details recorded in the documents, this person was neither arrogant nor impatient, spoke meticulously, was quite shrewd, and clearly intended to befriend Jia Cong.

Guo Lin smiled and said, "The Marquis of Weiyuan is a young hero, an outstanding figure, skilled in both literature and martial arts. It is not surprising that others admire him and want to get to know him."

Emperor Jia Zhao asked, "I have rarely heard of this Noyan Taiji before. Has the Imperial Carriage Office investigated his background?"

Guo Lin replied, “Your Majesty, ever since the Ministry of Rites received the list of the Mongol delegation, I have been sending messages to the liaison offices in Datong, Xuanfu, Ningxia and other places.”

The mission collected details about the mission leaders and key members, including Altang of the Tuman tribe and Gai'ertai of the Yongxielun tribe, both of whom had been prominent figures on the grasslands for many years.

His background and details are easy to find out. Only Noyan Taiji of the Ordos tribe is a figure who has only appeared in the last year or two. Before that, few people had heard of him.

In addition, with the Nine Border Defenses currently under lockdown, the Central Chariot Division's spies have difficulty penetrating deep into the desert to investigate, so their knowledge of his background is limited.

This person was about fifteen or sixteen years old, about the same age as the Earl of Weiyuan. Perhaps he was too young before, so he was unknown on the grassland.

He has only come of age in the last two years, and as the son of Jirang Khan, he has gradually gained fame.

Although CRRC was unable to enter the desert to investigate for the time being, it still managed to gather a lot of rumors about this person in Ningxia and Datong.

It is said that although this person is young, he is intelligent and quick-witted, fluent in Chinese, and can write Chinese characters. He has already shown his talent among the sons of the Mongol nobles.

Although he was the son of Jirang Khan, his birth mother was a Han Chinese woman, and his ability to speak and write Chinese was most likely taught to him by her.

Emperor Jiazhao looked puzzled and said, "I have heard that the Mongols are rough and barbaric, and that the Khanate is passed down from father to son."

Besides his birth mother, the son would even take in his father's wives and concubines, but he was very cautious about distinguishing between Mongol and Han bloodlines.

Even if Han female concubines gave birth to children, they rarely achieved great things, let alone stood out like this and were appointed to such an important position as the head of the mission..."

……

Guo Lin said, "Your Majesty, according to the customs of the remnants of the Mongols, this matter is indeed somewhat strange, but the truth has not yet been verified."

However, Jirang Khan had two sons, both of whom died in tribal conflicts. Noyan Taiji may have been his only son, which is why he was given important responsibilities.

There are many rumors about his biological mother's identity in Ningxia.

It is said that Noyan Taiji's birth mother was a descendant of a fallen noble family of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Her family fell into ruin and she was taken as a concubine by Jirang Khan.

Some say her birth mother was just an ordinary woman who grew up in a village or town near Ningxia.

More than a decade ago, Jirang Khan secretly raided the border and kidnapped Noyan Taiji's birth mother. Because of her beauty, he took her as a concubine, and she gave birth to Noyan.

Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes flickered thoughtfully as he said, "If his birth mother was just a commoner, then so be it."

If he is indeed the descendant of a fallen noble family, I would be quite interested to know who his birth mother was.

I will issue an edict appointing Jia Cong, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, as the chief secretary of the council, to assist Wang Shilun and Gu Yankui in handling matters related to the council of disabled and Mongolian peoples.

Since Noyan Taiji wants to befriend Jia Cong, I will grant him this favor and hope he will not disappoint me.

Jia Cong is always shrewd and meticulous; he will understand my meaning. Let him act accordingly.

Upon hearing this, Guo Lin was slightly shocked. Was Jia Cong truly loyal to the emperor, or was he a treacherous villain disguised as a loyal one?

The chariot officer had just submitted a secret report on his private meeting with Noyan Taiji, and he seemed to have foreseen it, submitting a memorial at this critical juncture.

He frankly and openly confessed to the Emperor about his meeting with Noyan Taiji, and explained in detail his intentions and purpose.

Not only did he promptly dispel the gloom in the Emperor's heart, but he also secured the position of Chief Secretary of the Council with a single memorial.

At such a young age, his actions are so shrewd and meticulous, his plans are flawless and watertight; he is truly a force to be reckoned with...

Emperor Jia Zhao said, "Guo Lin, Jia Cong's concerns are quite reasonable. You should immediately mobilize the personnel of the Imperial Carriage Office, either as spies or as secret agents."

Investigate whether the three major Mongol tribes, facing off against our dynasty, harbored their own differences and schemes.

Another skilled agent was dispatched to infiltrate and investigate Noyan Taiji's background, but the findings were immediately reported back.

Guo Lin quickly replied, "This servant obeys the decree and will have the head of the Imperial Carriage Office in Zhongshenjing arrange capable personnel to investigate at the Huitong Hall immediately."

"Then send another 800 li by fast horse to deliver a message, instructing Ningxia and Datong to each dispatch their best personnel to venture beyond the border into the desert and investigate the affairs of Noyan Taiji."

……

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

Jia Cong reported the memorial to the palace gates and then returned to the firearms workshop.

The remaining thirteen breech-loading muskets were all inspected and properly packed.

Manager Qian Huai was very efficient; within two hours of leaving the workshop, he had completed the official document exchange with the Ministry of War.

They brought back two chief clerks from the Ministry of War's Armory Inspection Office and three clerks from the Ministry of War to the workshop to count and verify the stock of breech-loading muskets.

Once the Ministry of War has completed its verification and signed its seal, the Ministry of Works' Firearms Department can then formally submit a memorial to Emperor Jia Zhao, announcing the completion of the construction.

A large group of people were either carrying gun cases, counting the number of guns, or writing documents. It was a lively and bustling scene, and everyone was filled with joy.

Following the instructions of the head of the Armory Department of the Ministry of War, Qian Huai selected breech-loading rifles from different gun boxes.

Two craftsmen were dispatched to test-fire the selected guns, and loud gunshots could be heard from the workshop's firing range from time to time.

But Jia Cong didn't seem to care much about the busy and noisy surroundings. After working for more than half a year, he finally completed the construction of five hundred breech-loading guns.

He didn't need to worry about the subsequent miscellaneous matters. He returned to his room alone, thinking about the emperor's feedback after the memorial he had sent to the palace had been reviewed.

By the time the Ministry of War officials had finished verifying and counting, the sun had already set, and the western sky was filled with pink sunset clouds.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the workshop, and Deputy Supervisor Liu Shizhen strode into Jia Congxie's room.

He said, "My lord, a messenger has arrived from the palace to deliver an imperial edict. Please go out and receive it immediately." (End of Chapter)