Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Xuanfu Town, southeast of Donggang Town.

Night fell, the sky was a deep blue, and the snowfall had subsided compared to the daytime, but the snowflakes were still falling in a flurry, and the air was filled with a biting chill.

In the Juntun Valley north of the town, watchtowers stand tall on both sides of the valley entrance, with two soldiers crouching down, holding long spears and keeping watch.

At the valley entrance checkpoint below the watchtower, a tall brazier was placed by the roadside, its flames casting shadowy shadows over the valley entrance.

Several soldiers were warming themselves around a brazier, while another five or six soldiers were on guard patrol.

Beyond the pass at the valley entrance, there were neatly arranged camps, where five hundred soldiers were stationed.
Today, more than a dozen more tents have been added here, providing lodging for two hundred Liaodong garrison cavalrymen protecting grain. Thirty large grain carts are parked next to the newly set up tents.

The barracks were surrounded by a wooden fence with a separate entrance to the rear camp, which was guarded by soldiers day and night.

Outside the rear camp gate was a firebreak twenty paces wide, and further in were the military granaries.

The granary entrance still had towering guard towers, and soldiers patrolled in formation continuously, making the defenses even tighter than those at the valley entrance.

Behind the guard towers are rows of simple grain warehouses, which at first glance appear to be quite impressive in scale.

There would be a slight gap between every two rows of granaries, and soldiers would patrol in groups of five, carrying lanterns. Two of them would be equipped with water bags, horns, and other items.

In the event of a fire, lantern spontaneously combusting, or other unforeseen incidents, the soldiers' water bags are used to extinguish the fire, and the alarm horn is sounded immediately.

Apart from the lanterns carried by patrolling soldiers, no open flames are allowed in the granary; anyone who disobeys will be executed according to military law.

Open flames were also controlled in the barracks in front of the granary, with only a few scattered braziers set up outside the tents for nighttime lighting.

Each brazier was guarded by soldiers all night long, and if any fire was discovered to be started, the soldier on duty would be executed without mercy.

After the grain transport vehicles and cavalry from Liaodong Town entered the valley, Guo Zhigui took advantage of the daylight to check the official documents with the granary guard.

Jia Lian was in charge of registering and counting the grain, and the transport and loading of the grain was completed in less than two hours.

Before nightfall, the soldiers were ordered to wash pots and cook. After a simple meal, the entire army went to their tents to rest.

After entering the camp, Jia Lian found the tent too dry and cold, as he was the treasurer and was also responsible for purchasing provisions and charcoal for the grain convoy's return journey.

So he took the opportunity to leave the valley and went for a walk, even pulling Guo Zhigui along with him.

Guo Zhigui was worried that he might do something rash if he went out alone, so the two of them went together.

Although night had fallen in the town, the streets were still bustling with people, and the shops were brightly lit with candles, exuding a lively atmosphere.

The two walked slowly down the street, their feet sinking into the snow. Guo Zhigui kept an eye on the grain shops and charcoal stores along the way, while Jia Lian's eyes darted around, admiring the scenery along the way.

Passing by a street-side eatery, a gray cloth tent was set up to shield it from the falling snow. Several small tables were placed under the tent, and the rich aroma of piping hot food filled the air.

Jia Lian's mouth watered at the sight of the food. Although he had eaten dry rations in the camp, nothing was as fresh and hot as this.

So he pulled Guo Zhigui to sit down, ordered two bowls of mutton bone soup with flatbread, some offal, and a pot of liquor, and the two of them drank and chatted.

……

After being exiled to Liaodong, Jia Lian was first assigned to labor service at Yafu Pass. Jia Cong had won a great victory at Yafu Pass and was renowned in the area.

Liu Yong, the deputy commander of Liaodong Garrison, was originally the military officer of Yafu Pass. He was promoted to deputy commander because Jia Cong recommended him.

Liu Yong deeply appreciated Jia Cong's kindness and knew that his elder brother had been exiled here, so he naturally sent a message to take care of him.

The guards knew he was Jia Cong's elder brother, so they treated him differently and took good care of him in their daily lives.

Yafu Pass was the garrison of the Liaodong Firearms Battalion. Because of his relationship with Jia Cong, Guo Zhigui naturally had many dealings with Jia Lian.

Although Jia Lian knew that Guo Zhigui had been a servant in the West Mansion and had served as his brother's personal attendant, his brother allowed him to leave the mansion and even supported him in joining the army.

Zhigui was the same age as Baoyu, and had only been in Liaodong for two years before becoming a battalion commander. He was clearly a trusted confidant of the brother who had stayed in Liaodong.

After being exiled to Liaodong, Jia Lian was no longer a phoenix fallen from grace, and could no longer maintain the airs of a noble young master.

If it weren't for the help of Jia Cong, an old friend, he would probably have been tortured to death long ago while serving in the Liaodong army.

Now that he considers Guo Zhigui to be a brother of Jia Cong, he feels a sense of closeness to him and will make a point of befriending him, both for public and private reasons.

During his year or so in Liaodong, he would visit Guo Zhigui whenever he had a spare moment, treating him with sincerity and never putting on airs of being a former master in front of him.

Therefore, during this year, the two developed a close and harmonious relationship.

The food at these street eateries, though piping hot and fresh, is simple and rustic. After all, this is a remote northern town, and the cuisine there is far from the luxurious and refined food of the capital.

Guo Zhigui came from a humble background and had spent several years in the Liaodong Wobing military camp, where he had endured all kinds of hardships. Although the food at the roadside eateries was simple, he naturally did not care at all.

But Jia Lian was also eating with great relish, and kept raising his cup to invite others to drink, seemingly quite pleased with himself.

Guo Zhigui felt a pang of emotion. Third Master had suffered hardships in his childhood, but Second Master Lian had grown up in luxury, living a life of ease and comfort.

If he were still the young master of the Rongguo Mansion in the past, he probably wouldn't even give this kind of food from roadside stalls a second glance. But now he can eat it with relish, which is quite remarkable.

Jia Lian poured himself a full cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. With the smell of wine rising in his chest, he said, "Brother Zhigui, let me tell you what's on my mind."

In the past, I wouldn't have sat in a street-side eatery, braving the wind and snow, drinking five-cent local liquor and eating soup dumplings and mixed vegetables to fill my stomach.

No matter how wealthy and successful you are in the beginning of your life, it's all useless in the end.

If you have bad luck just once, you'll be unlucky for most of your life, just like me.

I now understand clearly that one must know when to restrain oneself when things are going well, or disaster will befall them.

But if you make the right move just once, you'll have good fortune and a bright future for life, just like you. You followed my third brother and gained his favor and care.

You are only in your teens, yet you have already become a battalion commander in the army. With such abilities, you are far more capable than the servants in your household.

Apart from your third brother, none of the other members of the Jia family can compare to you. You are destined for a bright future. Let me toast you!

Guo Zhigui raised his cup in response and laughed, "Second Master, you flatter me. I have no ability to do that."

If it weren't for Third Master removing me from slavery, using his connections to recommend me to join the army, treating me like a brother, and wholeheartedly supporting and guiding me, how could I be where I am today?

Second Master, there is no need to be discouraged. Although you are currently serving in the army, you are still able to live a peaceful life thanks to the sincere treatment of your fellow soldiers.

As long as the year ends, there will always be a day to go home. When I left, I told my mother that if I didn't make a name for myself in the army, I wouldn't have the face to go home and see her.

"There's plenty of time ahead of us. I also come from the Rongguo Western Mansion, and Second Master will have me to keep him company in Liaodong, which is closer than with others."

Jia Lian laughed and said, "Good brother, I like to hear what you say, but I've been in Liaodong for a long time. If you had stayed there for more than ten years, you might have been a great general by now..."

……

Two people from the same prefecture, but of vastly different social standing, unexpectedly found themselves having a very pleasant and heartfelt conversation in this remote northern town on a snowy night.

The pot of earthenware was quickly finished. Guo Zhigui, preoccupied with military duties, acted with considerable restraint and stopped Jia Lian from ordering more wine.

The two got up and left the street eatery, then found a grain store and ordered a batch of fresh dry food, paying a deposit and agreeing to pick it up the next day.

Then, heading north of the town, we found a brand-new charcoal shop with firewood charcoal and bamboo charcoal displayed at the entrance, both of which looked quite good.

Jia Lian smiled at Guo Zhigui and said, "Back when we were in your household, we even disliked bamboo charcoal because of its smoky smell, let alone firewood charcoal."

These days, we can't be so particular about things; we save wherever we can. We burn charcoal outdoors for heating, so some smoke isn't a problem. We only need to buy enough firewood and charcoal.

Guo Zhigui knew that Jia Lian had been convicted of a crime related to the salt and iron trade, and that he had learned his lesson. Now he was being extremely cautious in his actions.

He laughed and said, "Second Master is absolutely right. In the army, everything should be simple and practical. Firewood and charcoal are enough for heating." At this moment, a man came out of the shop. He was sturdy, with an ordinary appearance, and wore a coarse cotton-padded jacket, making him seem inconspicuous.

He took a good look at Guo Zhigui's appearance, his gaze sharpened slightly, and he smiled and said, "Gentlemen, are you here to purchase charcoal?"

Jia Lian asked, "How much is this firewood and charcoal worth?"

The man smiled and said, "A basket of firewood weighs twenty catties and costs forty coins. The shop can deliver to your door within two miles."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "The price is fair. I want to buy two hundred catties. I'll pick up the goods when the carriage passes by tomorrow afternoon."

The man's face lit up with joy, and he said with a smile, "Sir, you are a very important customer. Our shop will definitely select the best firewood and charcoal, and we will never let you suffer any loss."

You only need to pay 30% as a deposit, and settle the balance after delivery.

After Jia Lian and Guo Zhigui finished their business, they returned to the Zhenbei military camp.

The charcoal shop owner weighed the deposit in his hand, watching the two figures leave, his eyes slightly shining.

A waiter walked out of the shop. He was upright and had a refined appearance. At first glance, he didn't look like a general helper.

He said, "Dali, although that man was dressed in civilian clothes, he was carrying a steel-plated goose-feathered saber, so he must be at least a captain in the army."

The charcoal shop owner said in a deep voice, "I saw this man at noon. He is the leader of that grain transport team. They will pick up the goods tomorrow afternoon, which means they will be transporting the grain back tomorrow."

Have you kept a record of all the grain transport teams that have been coming and going these days? When will the military granaries be full?

The man said, "All the grain transport teams have been recorded. In the last ten days, a total of twenty-seven grain transport teams have entered the military granary to collect grain. Each team has thirty large carts."

Eighteen of the grain convoys came from Xuanfu and Datong towns. The grain convoy that arrived at noon today, judging from the insignia on its carriages and horses, came from the Liaodong military town.

For the past two weeks, I have kept records of all the military rations transported from Shenjing. Based on the frequency of transport and distribution, the military granaries will be full in nine days.

This allows us to estimate the troop numbers in Xuanfu, Datong, and Jizhou, and also identify their weaknesses.

The stall owner pondered for a moment and said, "Nine days is not a short time, but it's not a long time either. Tonight, you will leave the town with the letter."

Use the secret channels left by the Sun family in various places to send the message to the area outside the pass as soon as possible, and ask the Great Khan to make a decision quickly.

In addition, select other capable personnel to send the message to Shenjing as quickly as possible, lest they overdo their act..."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Sister Feng's Courtyard.

Under the bright sunlight streaming through the west window, Wang Xifeng sat on a daybed, wearing a silver-red jacket embroidered with phoenixes, a white silk stand-up collar shirt sprinkled with gold, and a deep purple skirt embroidered with horses.

She wore a large phoenix hairpin with inlaid pearls, which was dazzling and radiant, making her look very elegant and noble.

The mother and daughter were playfully teasing each other, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

Since it was already past the fifteenth of the twelfth lunar month, the West Mansion was distributing the monthly allowances, and Wu'er and Ping'er were calculating the silver account book.

Although the eldest baby girl was only four months old, she had already developed clear features, milky white skin, and was incredibly cute.

Wu'er and Ping'er each kept their own accounts, but they were often attracted by the baby girl in swaddling clothes and couldn't help but go over and tease her a few times.

The maid Feng'er came in and said, "Second Madam, Second Master Lian's monthly allowance from previous years, plus his new savings this year, totals more than four hundred taels."

Aunt Lin asked if the entire amount should be sent to Liaodong for Master Lian's daily expenses.

Although Jia Lian was convicted and exiled, Jia Cong specifically stated that his monthly allowance in the Western Mansion would continue as usual and would be regularly sent to Liaodong for expenditure.

Including the monthly allowances accumulated over the years, all of it is now in Wang Xifeng's hands, and the amount is quite considerable.

Wang Xifeng said, "Second Master doesn't need so much. Sending two hundred taels of silver will suffice."

Ping'er said, "Second Madam, as the saying goes, 'A poor family needs to be well-off on the road.' Second Master is far away in Liaodong. Wouldn't it be safer to have more money on hand if something happens?"

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "I have asked Brother Cong about the situation in Liaodong many times. He said that prices there are low, far less expensive than in the capital."

With fifty taels of silver a year, he lived like a nouveau riche. Besides, given Second Master's current situation, he couldn't flaunt his wealth.

With the support of his comrades-in-arms Cong, and his daily expenses being covered by military provisions, he didn't have many places to spend money. Two hundred taels would be enough for him to live on for several years.

You're still too young. You don't know men's tricks. The more money you have, the more complicated your thoughts will become.

If he has less money on him, he'll be more calculating and cause less trouble; otherwise, he'll likely create more problems for himself.

Ping'er had served Wang Xifeng for many years, so how could she not know what she was thinking? She pursed her lips to suppress a smile and said, "Grandma is the one who thinks things through most carefully."

The two checked the accounts of the month's expenditures and showed them to Wang Xifeng for review. Wang Xifeng glanced at them briefly.

He said, “The West Mansion is the family business of Brother Cong. The mansion has changed dramatically, but some expenditures are still made according to the old rules, which is not in accordance with regulations and looks very inappropriate.”

The second wife and the eldest sister-in-law both receive a monthly stipend of twenty taels, which is the same as the old lady's stipend.

As for my sister-in-law, she's a widow who's unemployed and raising a boy named Lan. Let's not make a fuss about it for now, so people won't say we're being mean.

However, the second wife's monthly allowance of twenty taels was originally set to be the same as the old lady's because she was the housekeeper's wife.

Now that she is no longer a housekeeper and the second wife has moved to the East Courtyard, she should not be entitled to twenty taels of silver anymore.

It's not that I'm heartbroken over the twenty taels; the housekeeper's monthly allowance isn't just a fixed sum of money, it carries with it patriarchal etiquette.

Although I am currently in charge of the West Mansion, it is not because my brother Cong is not yet married and I, as the eldest sister-in-law, am merely managing it on his behalf. There is no reason for me to receive twenty taels of silver.

In the future, only Cong's brothers' legal wives will be entitled to receive this twenty taels of silver; logically, the second wife's share should be cut.

Ping'er said, "Grandma's words make sense. Third Master must know this in his heart. However, Third Master is still in mourning and will not be able to get married for another two years."

There was also the Second Master's influence involved; the Third Master simply didn't want to bring it up until the very last moment.

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Brother Cong is a man of importance. It is only right for him to be a good official in the court. How can we let him speak about these trivial matters at home?"

Ultimately, it will be up to us women to help him manage things; otherwise, with such a large family business in disarray, chaos will inevitably break out sooner or later.

But if we were to make this cut, the second wife would probably be skinned alive, and she would definitely make a huge fuss and use a lot of words.

If she gets involved with the Second Master, Brother Cong will be in a difficult position.

Ping'er and Wu'er exchanged a glance, naturally realizing that what Second Grandmother said was true.

The twenty taels of allowance for the mistress of the West Mansion is only rightfully given to the future Third Mistress Cong. How can it be justified for a concubine to take it?
However, the second wife was unhappy that the third master had inherited the family business. They all knew this perfectly well, and the second wife caused quite a bit of trouble that year.

This twenty taels of monthly allowance is the second wife's greatest source of dignity; to cut it off so easily would surely cause a stir.

Wang Xifeng said, "The second branch has more than just these items. In Baoyu's room, Xiren, Caiyun, and Caixia all receive a monthly allowance of two taels of silver as concubines."

Caixia was one thing, since she was due to give birth next year, while Xiren and Caiyun had no children and were concubines, so they shouldn't have received two taels of silver.

The second wife still employs a first-class maid, Yu Chuan'er, who is Jin Chuan's younger sister.

According to patriarchal etiquette, only the old lady and Cong's brothers in the West Mansion are entitled to have first-class maids. The second wife's actions are an overreach.

Now that you two are sleeping in Brother Cong's bed, making the bed, serving tea and water, and doing the same work as maids, this is not appropriate.

Yinglian and Lingguan are not servants; they are supported by Cong's brothers at their own expense. Currently, the only first-class maidservant by his side is Qingwen.

"For the dignified heads of two families, the ostentatious display in their room is rather shabby; it's hardly proper etiquette..." (End of Chapter)