Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, East Courtyard, Aunt Zhao's Courtyard.

Today is a day off for officials, but Jia Cong has to go out on an urgent business, while Jia Zheng is not so tired.

While idly sitting in Mengpo Studio, he naturally thought about his children's education.

Jia Huan, the illegitimate son, has been influenced by Tan Chun and Jia Cong and has now changed somewhat, even knowing how to study diligently, which naturally pleases Jia Zheng.

However, having grown up in a prestigious family, he still harbored deep-seated thoughts about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. While it was good for his illegitimate son to study diligently, he hoped that his only legitimate son would also achieve success through education.

Even though Baoyu was naturally carefree and lazy when it came to poetry and books, Jia Zheng could not give up. Whenever he had some free time, he wanted to put effort into his son.

In addition, since Baoyu would be going to study at the Imperial Academy after the New Year, Jia Zheng became even more concerned.

Early in the morning, Yu Chuan was sent to the West Mansion to deliver a message, asking Bao Yu to come to the East Courtyard to test his studies.

It is only said that he chose Yuchuan to run errands, because sending others to deliver messages was mostly to flatter the old lady, which would leak the news and make it inconvenient to educate his son.

But Yu Chuan was different. Although the little maid didn't talk much, she was reliable and conscientious in her work, never cheating or shirking her duties. Therefore, Jia Zheng often asked her to run errands.

However, when Yu Chuan returned from the West Mansion, she said that Bao Yu had caught a cold last night, his face was pale, and he was covered in sweat, so he couldn't come over to receive instruction.

Jia Zheng was very displeased upon hearing this, and any remaining hope in his heart vanished in an instant.

I asked Baoyu to test my teaching skills, but he suddenly fell ill. What a coincidence!
He knew that Yu Chuan wouldn't lie, but no one knows a son better than his father, and he was most certain that Bao Yu must be up to something.

Although he harbored resentment, he was not yet ready to storm the West Mansion and expose that wicked brat to his face. He was also somewhat weary and disheartened.

Feeling depressed, Jia Huan thought of Aunt Zhao's nagging yesterday and the advice he received from his sister, and he has been studying even harder these days.

This gave him some renewed hope, so he strolled over to Aunt Zhao's courtyard to see what was going on and to find some comfort.

He had just arrived at the door of Aunt Zhao's main room when he heard Tan Chun say that Jia Huan was making progress in his studies, and he was quite pleased.

Unexpectedly, Aunt Zhao started gossiping about the West Mansion again, and Jia Zheng couldn't help but stop and listen to what was going on.

The more he listened, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but push the door open and barge in...

……

When Tan Chun and Aunt Zhao saw Jia Zheng suddenly appear, they were both caught off guard.

Aunt Zhao turned pale and stammered, unable to speak. Just now, she had been gossiping, and Jia Zheng had overheard her. Now she dared not say another word.

Jia Zheng angrily said, "Third girl, you have always been a shrewd person. Even though your aunt doesn't step out of the East Courtyard, she can still hear these gossips in the West Mansion."

It's clear these rumors have spread far and wide. You frequent the West Mansion, so you must have heard about them long ago. Why don't you ever tell me when you come to the East Courtyard?"

Tan Chun said, "Master, these are just the wild gossips of the servants below, things that can't be brought to the table."

Even if my aunt and I had heard about it, we wouldn't have dared to gossip about it in front of the master. It would have been improper, and we would have only angered him. That's why we kept quiet.

Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "Third girl, you're confused now. These are not ordinary words; every sentence hits the nail on the head regarding patriarchal clan rules and family regulations. How can we take them lightly?"

I'm busy with official duties every day and don't want to bother with household chores. I just want you to take care of things and don't need me to worry about anything.

Although I know that the second branch of the family originally managed the household and the administration, they must have followed the old practices.

Now that the second wife has moved into the East Courtyard, I think these household chores will be taken care of by the old lady, Lian's daughter-in-law, and your wife.

There was no need for Cong-ge and me to bother talking. We never expected that these things would be done in the same old way, leaving room for gossip and allowing those servants to talk about it.

Where is our dignity as masters? Now that this matter has been exposed by words, we have no choice but to deal with it. I must go and talk to the old lady about it.”

Aunt Zhao was in high spirits and said, "What you say is very true, sir. The situation in the family is different now. According to the family rules, a monthly allowance of twenty taels is extraordinary."

Among the female relatives, only Cong's wife, besides the old lady, has a proper title. Currently, she is listed under the title of "Madam," and there is a generational gap between them, which is too unpleasant to talk about.

I heard that several girls had entered Cong-ge'er's room, leaving only one first-class maid. The madam was even treated the same as the master of the house.

"Madam's ostentatious display is too much; how can others not gossip..."

Tan Chun's face darkened when she heard that her aunt was being reckless and adding fuel to the fire at this critical moment.

She quickly interrupted, "Auntie, I'm worried that Huan'er will slack off while studying. Auntie, you should go and wait for him. I'll talk to Master and calm him down."

Aunt Zhao realized that Tan Chun's words were cold and that her daughter was annoyed by her for being too talkative.

Because she resented that her children were overshadowed by Baoyu, Lady Wang had never been kind to her. Now that such words had been uttered, how could she not kick her while she was down?

Now her greatest reliance is her daughter Tan Chun, so naturally she dares not offend this precious child.

He quickly said, "Third daughter has an idea. Your brother is like a spinning top; he won't spin unless you whip him. I'll go keep an eye on him. You and your father can talk things out."

……

After Aunt Zhao left, Tan Chun said, "I don't think it's appropriate for Master to discuss this matter with the Old Madam."

Currently, the West Mansion is managed by Sister Feng, who is a shrewd and capable woman. How could she remain indifferent to the servants' boastful words?

Now that a quarrel has broken out in the household, she will most likely need to consult with the old lady, seize the opportunity to rectify the matter, and correct the family rules.

Jia Zheng frowned and said, "Judging from your aunt's tone just now, these rumors have been circulating for many days. Since Lian's second wife is a shrewd person, she shouldn't let it go like this."

"She should have taken action long ago, so why hasn't she done anything yet? It's clear she's worried, mostly about the elders' feelings and fearing criticism."

Jia Zheng's words were just casual, but Tan Chun's heart stirred upon hearing them. Based on her understanding of Wang Xifeng, she knew her to be ruthless and cunning, with the power to strike like a storm.

Just as the master said, gossip has been circulating for days, but Sister Feng has remained completely silent, which is quite unlike her usual self...

The wife was reluctant to part with the family business in the West Mansion and tried every means to entangle him, but the third brother was preoccupied with important matters outside and naturally paid no attention to her.

But Sister Feng is the head housekeeper of the West Mansion and a very strong-willed person. The Madam often flaunts herself in the West Mansion, so how could she possibly stand it?

However, abolishing the rule regarding elders of the second wife's family is too complicated to handle and requires a pretext for justification.

Could the rumors spreading throughout the Western Palace be the work of Sister Feng...?

Although Tan Chun had her doubts and dared not be too sure, no matter what, there was something fishy about the matter, and it was not appropriate to involve her father in it.

……

He said, "After all, Madam is an elder, and Third Brother has a very close relationship with Master. It is only natural for Sister Feng to have some concerns."

It seems that after hearing these gossips, she had long harbored the intention to correct the family rules, but had not yet had the time to do so.

The master now speaks so bluntly to the old lady, as if Sister Feng is so incompetent that she only dares to do things after being told what to do by an elder.

Although the master had a righteous heart, Sister Feng felt embarrassed after hearing this, and the whole family was in an awkward situation for no reason.

Moreover, the lady is a person who cares about her reputation. If the master exposes this matter, Sister Feng can use the master's influence to facilitate the dismissal.

The wife's monthly allowance was reduced as a result, which might cause her to blame the master. The master and wife are both over fifty years old, and it's not worth it for them to have a rift over this in their old age.

"Sir, you should pretend you know nothing about this matter and let someone else handle it. Wouldn't that make things smoother and more convenient for everyone?"

……

After listening to Tan Chun's words, Jia Zheng felt that there was some truth to them. He knew that she was thinking about the harmony of the second branch of the family and that it was also a way of showing filial piety to him.

He sighed and said, "Ever since your elder brother Xianzhu passed away, your wife's personality has changed."

As Congge'er inherited the family business, her personality became increasingly stubborn. If Lian'er's wife were to correct the family rules, she might decide to abolish them.

I have no idea how much trouble your wife will cause; just thinking about it gives me a headache.

Tan Chun said, "Master, there is no need to worry too much. Even if the monthly allowance for the second branch is abolished, according to the family rules of the past, there are fixed provisions for the stewards and mistresses of the side branches."

The wife was likely to be treated the same way as Sister Feng. She came from a wealthy and influential family and had plenty of money in her pocket, so she wouldn't care about ten taels of silver.

As for the twenty taels of monthly allowance for the eldest sister-in-law, the fact that her brother Xianzhu's share is included makes it all the more understandable.

My third brother mentioned to me several times that he observed that although Lan'er was young, she was introverted, sensible, polite, and diligent in her studies, and would surely amount to something in the future.

The master knows best what his third brother is capable of. He never misjudges people. Perhaps in the future, the success of the second branch of the family will depend on Lan'er.

Master, please think it over carefully. Third Brother supports Baoyu and Huan'er, and since he values ​​Lan'er, he will surely go to great lengths to support her in the future as well.

The eldest sister-in-law cares most about Lan'er's studies. If she knew the details, she wouldn't hesitate to dismiss the student, as it would align with patriarchal rules and family regulations, thus gaining a good reputation.

……

After listening to Tan Chun's advice, Jia Zheng's anger completely disappeared. What he cared about most was not these trivial family matters, but the success and prosperity of his children in the imperial examinations.

Although it was difficult to rely on Baoyu, the fact that Jia Huan was willing to study now offered him some comfort.

His grandson, Jia Lan, was well-behaved from a young age, and although he loved him very much, he was still too young to rely on too much.

Unexpectedly, he gained Jia Cong's favor, which immediately filled Jia Zheng with joy, and his previous frustration vanished in an instant. Jia Zheng smiled and said, "You are indeed insightful and far-sighted, girl. I never thought that there was such a layer of consideration in the abolition of the family custom."

A few taels less of silver each month, what does that matter? Supporting the family's sons and enhancing the family's reputation, that's the most important thing.

When Tan Chun saw that Jia Zheng's expression had softened, she breathed a sigh of relief. Under the rules of patriarchal clan and etiquette, the old practice of abolishing the second branch of the family was inevitable and there was no way to avoid it.

If the husband were to reveal this to the wife, the wife, out of concern for her son, might cause unforeseen complications or even delays in the matter.

Is it really necessary to wait until the third brother gets married and then cut off the wife's position and monthly allowance? At that time, the master would be even more embarrassed. It would be better to take advantage of the situation now and do it all at once.

……

Tan Chun continued, "As long as the matters concerning Madam and Sister-in-law are settled, the regulations for first-class maids are no longer a concern."

If Yu Chuan is demoted to a second-class maid, the two families on either side can provide her with a monthly allowance of only a few hundred coins from their own pockets.

In this way, a major issue can be resolved amicably, in accordance with family rules and etiquette, leaving no room for gossip, and ensuring family harmony is the key to long-term well-being.

Jia Zheng shook his head and said, "Although your method is simple, maids like Yuchuan and Caiyun have been working hard and serving in the room since they were young."

For them to be able to reach the rank of first-class maid was a matter of dignity and honor for them as servants, and it was not just a matter of a few hundred coins.

Yu Chuan is diligent and reliable; she hasn't made any mistakes. To demote her from first-class to second-class seems unfair to the second wife's family.

Tan Chun smiled and said, "Master is kind-hearted, which is also a blessing for Yu Chuan. This is just a small matter, and we can find another way to deal with it."

Tan Chun was meticulous and eloquent, and Jia Zheng's worries and anger vanished in an instant.

Although he couldn't say it out loud, he didn't want to remain indifferent; he had to do something...

He asked, "I heard from your aunt that Huan'er has been studying very hard lately. I haven't seen her yet, is that true?"

Tan Chun smiled and said, "I just tested him. Whether it's reciting or interpreting scriptures, he has improved compared to the past few days. It's clear that he has put in a lot of effort."

This time, my third brother gave me the opportunity to enter the Imperial Academy, which greatly moved Huan'er. I saw that he had developed a desire to improve himself.

After the New Year, I will enter the Imperial Academy to study and live there. As long as I put in a few years of hard work, I am sure to reap the rewards.

Jia Zheng sighed, "If Huan'er truly succeeds in her studies in the future, it will be largely thanks to Cong'er's guidance and support, as well as your painstaking efforts as her elder sister."

Baoyu also got the opportunity to study at the Imperial Academy, but it remains to be seen whether he can live up to expectations.

"I really don't know how to thank Cong-ge for supporting the second son of the family so much..."

Tan Chun laughed and said, "Master is speaking nonsense. Third Brother has been highly regarded by Master since childhood and has always respected Master. Why would he need Master to thank him?"

……

Shenjing, Honglu Temple Huitong Hall, Ordos Inn.

Since the Great Zhou and the Mongol Empire drafted the initial agreement yesterday, the Mongol delegation has felt a great weight lifted off their shoulders. After two months of negotiations, they have finally achieved some progress.

Although the agreed-upon trade volume was somewhat unsatisfactory, it was better than nothing under the strict defenses of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Apart from the officials in the delegation who were following up on the peace agreement signing process and were busy coming and going all day, the rest of the delegation had begun packing their bags to return home.

These grassland people who traveled thousands of miles to Beijing longed to return to their homeland, which temporarily eased their disappointment at the unsatisfactory peace negotiations.

Of the delegation, only Noyan Taiji was different from the others; he seemed restless and anxious, as if trapped in a city of sorrow.

The mysterious letter sent overnight by the Tuman tribe, the sudden shift in the peace negotiations, and the complete silence from the Ordos tribe.

All sorts of unfathomable things filled him with doubts and made him restless. He watched the sun rise higher outside the window, and half a day had passed.

According to Altan's plan, the peace treaty was signed within three days, and the mission members set off to return north.

In fact, starting this morning, the advance personnel from various tribes in the northern delegation's camp have already set off northwards.

Three days later, the peace treaty will be signed, and all members of the mission will depart.

As the leader of the Ordos tribe, a figure in the public eye, Noyan Tijie had no reason to linger in Shenjing, otherwise he would surely arouse suspicion from Altang.

With half a day left for Noyan Taiji to devise a plan, the hope of settling the private trade between the tribe and the Great Zhou became even more dwindling.

……

Just as he was frowning with worry, he heard hurried footsteps outside the door, and then the head of the entourage suddenly walked into the room, his face showing some excitement.

When Noyan Taiji saw the person behind Huergan, he was overjoyed and said, "Shuergan, you're finally back!"

This time, Noyan Taiji sent a trusted confidant to deliver a secret letter to his father, Jirang Khan. This confidant was Shuergan, the elder brother of Huergan.

Shu Ergan looked travel-worn and tired. He was already a little thin, but now he had lost even more weight.

He looked somewhat emaciated, which must be due to traveling day and night.

He took out a letter from his personal bag and said, "This is a letter from the Khan himself. I am glad that I have not failed in my mission."

Noyan Taiji looked excited, quickly took the letter, carefully broke the seal, and took out the letter paper to read it carefully.

Jirang Khan's letter was concise and to the point, agreeing to the tribe's private trade with the surrounding areas and leaving Noyan Taiji to make the final decision and act accordingly.

After reading the letter, Noyan Taiji couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and said, "Hurgan, immediately send someone to Jia Cong to ask him to meet and discuss the follow-up matters."

After Shuergan left, Noyan Taiji asked, "Shuergan, according to the time you set off, you should have returned long ago. Why have you been delayed for so long?"

Shu Ergan said, "Taiji, you may not know this, but since I set off, I have been traveling day and night and soon arrived at the camp outside the pass."

Unexpectedly, after entering the camp, they learned that two days earlier, Anda Khan had issued a military order to lock down the camp, and without his golden token, no one was allowed to enter or leave.

A large number of scouts were deployed to patrol around the camp. Anyone found sneaking out of the camp would be executed immediately without mercy.

Because the three tribes had reached a treaty on military command, even though the Khan was the head of the tribe, he could not release his troops out of the camp without permission.

Moreover, many people in the Tuman tribe recognize me, and some even know that I accompanied the Taiji to the capital to negotiate peace. If people discover me entering and leaving the camp, it will surely arouse suspicion.

So I was stuck in the camp for several days and couldn't find a way to leave.

Later, due to insufficient grain reserves in the Ordos region, it was necessary to send troops back to the Hetao region to transport food supplies.

Only after the Great Khan received the golden token from Anda Khan did I manage to blend into the grain transport cavalry and leave the camp.

Because of the large number of Tuman scouts patrolling along the way, I had to detour westward, which took several more days before I could successfully sneak into the pass, thus wasting a lot of time.

…………

Noyan Taiji looked puzzled and said, "Anda Khan is a powerful figure on the grasslands, with deep cunning and skill in military strategy."

Whenever there is a large troop movement, he will issue a military order to lock down the camp to prevent the news from leaking out. Could it be that he intends to launch a military campaign against the border town?
"Tu'ergan, since you entered the camp, have you heard anything about the recent fighting, or any friction between the various tribes and the Xuanda prefectures?"

Shuergan said, "The Great Khan once mentioned this matter. When the delegation came to the capital to negotiate peace, Anda Khan issued a military order that all tribes should gather their troops and not engage in conflict with the Zhou people."

For nearly two months, there has been no war between the Great Zhou and the Mongols. Even when scouts from both sides encountered each other, they exercised restraint to avoid conflict, resulting in a rare period of peace beyond the Great Wall.

Noyan Taiji looked puzzled and said, "Now that the war has ended, why did Anda Khan issue the order to lock down the camp at this time? It is not reasonable."

Shu Ergan said, "I once heard the Great Khan say that the camp's rations are limited, only enough for each army for one month, and that the rations will be reduced in ten days."

That's why the Ordos tribe returned to the Hetao region to collect food supplies. On the day I left the camp with the food convoy, Anda Khan ordered the camp to retreat ten miles.

Although I didn't have the chance to ask the Great Khan that day, based on my guess, the three major tribal camps were located fifty miles away from Xuanfu and Dafu.

This fifty-mile stretch is all open grassland, where both sides can charge at full speed on horseback and reach each other in half an hour.

It is now the dead of winter on the grasslands, and the main camp is experiencing a shortage of rations. The winter is difficult for the various units and their garrisons, and the supply of rations is already running out.

I believe that Anda Khan has already decided to withdraw his troops and wants the various tribes to return to their garrisons to weather the winter, and then make other plans when spring arrives.

He moved his camp ten miles back in order to distance himself from the Xuanda border army.

To avoid being caught off guard and having a major incident caused by the Zhou people seizing the opportunity to launch a surprise attack when the troops are officially withdrawing.

Furthermore, once a peace agreement is reached, we can obtain some supplies from the Great Zhou trade, which will greatly benefit us in getting through the harsh winter. Now is the perfect time to withdraw our troops.”

Nuoyan stepped forward and pondered for a moment before saying, "What you say makes sense. The towns of Xuanfu and Datong are fortified and heavily guarded, allowing them to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out."

With less than a month's worth of rations for each Mongol tribe, it would be impossible to conquer them easily. Furthermore, with subsequent reductions in rations and a decline in the soldiers' combat effectiveness, success would be even more impossible.

Withdrawing troops at this time is indeed a wise move, but Anda Khan is ambitious and if things don't go well this year, he will most likely make a comeback after spring arrives.

However, these matters are not relevant for now. We must take advantage of the truce between the Great Zhou and the Mongols to finalize the private trade between the two sides as soon as possible.

"To secure more opportunities for the 100,000 people of the Ordos tribe to recuperate and rebuild their lives..." (End of Chapter)