Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

On the first day of the first month of the sixteenth year of the Jiazhao reign, in Donggang Town.

Large numbers of wagons and horses, loaded with piles of military rations, set off from the military granaries and headed north along the road.

Traveling south along the north-bound road, one would frequently encounter a continuous stream of Mongolian cavalry, each numbering around a hundred, converging on Donggang Town.

Within two miles of the road to the north, many cavalry scouts had been deployed to monitor all movements in the surrounding area in order to respond at any time.

This place is already within the Nine Border Passes. It would have been extremely difficult for a large Mongol cavalry force to move without being detected by the Zhou army.

However, it happened to be New Year's Eve, and the surrounding troops were lax in their patrols. Donggang Town was set up and a surprise attack was launched on the military granary using cunning methods.

To give the impossible a tremendous opportunity to be exploited...

Standing before the ruins of Fuyun Restaurant, Sun Dali watched the ever-growing Mongol cavalry, his arrogant smile growing ever more pronounced.

He asked, "Since Chen Ruichang didn't attend the banquet at the restaurant, has the town been searched thoroughly? Has any trace of him been found?"

The caravan leader said, "We have searched all over town, but we have not found any trace of him."

However, when the incident occurred, someone reported that when the Fuyun Restaurant caught fire, some people took advantage of the chaos to ride away on horseback from the west of the town.

In the chaos, our men shot and wounded the man with an arrow.

But it was too dark and the scene was chaotic; the town didn't have time to surround it, and the man escaped. Now that I think about it, it was most likely Chen Ruichang.

……

Sun Dali's expression gradually turned serious as he said, "Our undercover agents in Shenjing only learned about the secrets of the Great Zhou's grain supply route by befriending this person."

Although he himself was unaware of this matter, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place.

I unexpectedly saw Chen Ruichang in town, and I felt extremely fortunate. At the time, I thought of keeping him around, but before things started, I didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

Unexpectedly, he escaped when things came to a head; he's incredibly lucky.

Donggang Town is located on a branch of the official road and was never a bustling town. Now, during the New Year festival, even fewer outsiders enter the town.

We launched the operation with a clever plan and promptly sealed off Donggang Town. Originally, we estimated that we could keep the news under wraps until the fifth or sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

Even if the news leaked out, and the nearby government offices and military stations sent it by fast horse, the capital city would not receive the news until the tenth day of the month.

In a battle between two armies, gaining the initiative and having eight or nine days of extra time is enough to influence the overall situation.

However, if Chen Ruichang manages to escape successfully, although Donggang Town is far from Shenjing, he is focused on escaping and will surely be able to return to Shenjing in five or six days.

The news will be received in the capital on the fifth or sixth day of the lunar new year, which will greatly diminish the benefits that our Sun family has gained through all our planning.

Moreover, once the news reaches Shenjing, the Great Zhou will surely investigate the leak of grain supplies thoroughly. The Court of Judicial Review, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Court of Judicial Review all have many capable individuals.

If someone were to meticulously investigate and trace the clues back to Chen Ruichang, it wouldn't be impossible.

He was a grain transport officer in the Governor's Office and was familiar with the Zhou army's supply lines. If the government investigates this matter, he will likely find it difficult to escape.

Even if this person falls into ruin and dies, it doesn't matter.

But if he confesses everything, it will expose the secret files buried in Shenjing and our connections built up over many years, which could cause a lot of trouble.

You take a group of men, disguised, and immediately leave the town to search along the road south. You must kill this man!

Sun Dali suddenly remembered something and continued, "Also, Yu Xiu led men to intercept that Liaodong grain convoy, and they haven't returned all night."

Although it would take some time to return after hijacking the grain carts, something still felt off.

Before you set off, gather additional people to scout along the route out of town and see what's going on...

……

Just as Sun Dali finished assigning the men, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the south of the town. The commotion was quite loud, as if a large cavalry was approaching the town.

Sun Dali knew that the entire town had been sealed off, so the person who came was definitely a member of the delegation returning north from the capital, and the timing was right.

He quickly mounted his horse and went to greet them. He had only gone halfway when he saw a hundred riders escorting the two men at the front.

Sun Dali had met all three leaders of the Mongolian delegation before, outside the Great Wall.

One of the visitors was Altan, the leader of the Tuman tribe delegation, and the other was Gai'ertai, the leader of the Yongxielun tribe delegation, but Noyan Taiji of the Ordos tribe was nowhere to be seen.

When Altan saw Sun Dali approaching, he smiled and said, "You did an excellent job in the Donggang Town matter. Sun Ju's contribution is immense. I will definitely ask the Great Khan for credit on your behalf!"

Sun Dali was thrilled to hear this. The Sun family moved out of the pass to seek refuge with Anda Khan. If they wanted to gain a foothold outside the pass, Mount Hua was the only way.

If they can help Anda Khan seize power within the Great Wall, the Sun family will rise to prominence, and if they succeed in their great undertaking, it's not impossible that they will receive a fiefdom from Anda Khan...

Uncle Sun Zhanying painstakingly planned and dispatched members of the Sun family to mobilize the Sun family's stalls in various places, all for this important matter.

At that time, Sun Dali will no longer need to hide his identity and will be able to live a powerful and respectable life.

His heart burned with desire as he thought of these things, and naturally he wouldn't tell Aletang about such a hidden danger as Chen Ruichang.

……

He led Aletang and others to visit the military granary. Seeing the mountains of military rations and the endless stream of grain transport convoys, Aletang laughed and exclaimed in admiration.

They praised Sun Dali highly, and both of them were in high spirits and joy. They then carefully discussed and finalized the arrangements for transporting the grain.

Aletang sent several more messengers to urgently deliver messages to the area outside the pass, urging the mobilization of troops to sneak through the pass, and instructed Sun Dali to coordinate the family's manpower to guide and assist along the way.

The two were busy with their own plans, and it was almost noon.

Suddenly, a fast horse galloped outside the granary. A young man ran to the front of the granary, immediately tumbling off the horse without even having time to tie it up.

With a terrified expression, he ran up to Sun Dali. This man was also a member of a branch of the Sun family. Seeing this expression, Sun Dali had a bad feeling.

The man said, "Dali, Xiuyu is in big trouble. He led two hundred cavalry to intercept the grain convoy from Liaodong."

They all died in a mountain ravine five miles away. Not a single one of the two hundred men survived. Xiuyu's head was cut off and hung on a tree at the mouth of the valley..."

Sun Dali turned pale with fright, his face filled with disbelief and a mixture of shock and anger. He grabbed the man's collar.

He said, "Those grain transporters were just scattered soldiers, how could they have killed two hundred elite cavalry and even killed Xiuyu? What happened? Tell me quickly!"

The man said tremblingly, "I can't explain it clearly either. Only a small number of them died from knives and guns."

Most of them were covered in blood and gore, with very strange wounds on their bodies. Many had bled to death or had frozen to death.

Many shards of porcelain were also found in the ravine. I had never seen such a way of dying. The Liaodong army was truly terrifying...

I led my men along the official road to Liaodong, chasing for several miles, but found no trace of the grain carts.

These grain carts, carrying thousands of dan (a unit of weight) of grain, would leave extremely deep ruts in the snow, which could be easily discerned even when covered by heavy snow.

But we couldn't find a single trace, as if they had never returned to Liaodong and had simply vanished into thin air. It was just too bizarre..."

……

Seeing his cousin's pale face, Sun Dali realized that the horrific scene in the ravine must have been truly shocking.

Sun Yuxiu was an outstanding member of the Sun family. He was not only literate, but also quick-witted, resourceful, and capable.

Sun Dali was able to accomplish great things in Donggang Town, and many places benefited from his assistance. I never expected him to die such a tragic death.

He angrily said, "How could such a large grain convoy just disappear into thin air? It must have changed its route and taken another way."

"Move troops immediately! We must find them! I can't let Xiuyu die in vain!"

Hearing the commotion, Aletang came over to inquire about the cause, and Sun Dali explained what had happened.

Aletang looked grave and said, "Going after that grain convoy now is pointless."

Sun Xiuyu led two hundred elite cavalrymen out of town last night in pursuit, all of whom were Mongol warriors with sharp swords and horses, but they were all wiped out.

The fighting strength of this Liaodong grain corps was truly extraordinary, and the officers and soldiers leading it were by no means ordinary.

A whole night has passed, and they've long since disappeared; how could you possibly catch up with them?

This Liaodong grain convoy is capable of killing all the pursuers, and it must also be able to find out about the fall of the military granary. The news here can no longer be kept secret.

General Liang Chengzong of Liaodong was a formidable figure. Upon receiving news, he would immediately report it to the capital. At most, the Emperor of the Great Zhou would receive the news within five or six days.

This Liaodong grain convoy is no longer of importance. We have much less time left, so dealing with it quickly is the most important thing.

Fortunately, things have already started outside the pass, and things inside the pass also need to be accelerated..."

Altan immediately wrote an urgent letter and sent it by fast horse to the border region, because an unexpected event had occurred and the relevant military operations needed to be initiated ahead of schedule.

……

At this moment, the sound of hooves rang out again from the south of the town. A group of people rode into the town through layers of guards outside the town, led by Noyan Taiji.

He had said goodbye to Jia Cong outside the city, which took a lot of time. Following the route determined by Aletang, he headed north.

Along the way, filled with doubts and somewhat unsettled, I was eager to resolve my doubts as soon as possible, so I traveled day and night without daring to delay, only arriving at Donggang Town a little later.

As he approached the town, he saw a large number of Mongol cavalry patrolling around it, and the town was heavily guarded. He immediately sensed something was amiss.

Upon entering the town, the scene was one of utter devastation, with corpses strewn everywhere and bloodstains splattered all over the ground. The sight was so horrific that it caused his expression to change drastically.

He hurriedly instructed his henchman, Hu Ergan, to inquire about the matter. Not long after, Hu Ergan returned with a grave expression and recounted the events in Donggang Town.

Noyan Taiji's face turned deathly pale, his whole body trembled slightly, and his expression was one of anger. He said, "Where is Aletang? I want to speak with him!"

Hu Ergan said, "He is currently at the military granary, in the direction of the Zhenbei Valley." Noyan Taiji's face was ashen. He raised his whip and lashed it hard, making a loud cracking sound. The yellow horse galloped off like lightning, and Hu Ergan led his entourage to follow closely behind.

……

At the entrance of the military granary, the incident involving Sun Yuxiu prematurely exposed the events in Donggang Town. Aletang gave instructions to the two cavalry commanders, urging them to take preemptive action.

Hearing the thunderous sound of hooves ahead and seeing Noyan Taiji approaching on horseback, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression becoming wary, and immediately stopped speaking.

Noyan Taiji dismounted and said in a deep voice, "Aletang, this town is in such a terrible state. Why did the Tuman tribe not inform the other tribes beforehand when they were carrying out such a major event!"

Aletang said coldly, "Major military and national affairs are to be carried out in secrecy. Naturally, they cannot be known to everyone before they are launched."

Noyan Taiji suppressed his anger and asked, "Has my father, the Khan, been informed of this matter?"

Altan's face was gloomy as he said, "Anda Khan is a direct descendant of the Golden Family, the master of the blood oath of the three tribes of ten thousand households, and hundreds of thousands of Mongol people obey his orders."

His military orders must be obeyed by everyone, not even the Khan of Jirang!

Noyan Taiji said coldly, "Even my father Khan didn't know about this. The Tuman tribe's actions are far too arrogant!"

"The three Mongol tribes of the Ten Thousand Households had just signed a peace treaty with the Great Zhou less than ten days ago, and you seized the Great Zhou's military camps and massacred the townspeople. This is a blatant breach of faith!"

……

Aletang said with a mocking expression, "Noyan, you've read too much of the Han Dynasty history. You've worn away too much of the bravery and courage that a grassland person should have."

The Han people occupied the vast lands and rivers of the Southern Dynasties, where resources were abundant and people had plenty of food and clothing. We grassland people, on the other hand, struggled to make a living and could only fight against nature to survive.

They are well-fed and clothed, so they can be honest and trustworthy. The Mongols, however, are struggling to feed themselves and have no interest in such hypocrisy.

The Great Zhou emperor was ambitious and had long harbored the desire to destroy our Mongols. By tightening regulations on the tea-horse trade, he was nibbling away at our Mongol power.

If this continues, the Mongol tribes will become increasingly weak and exhausted. The Great Zhou will surely seize the opportunity to send troops to exterminate our race and eliminate our greatest threat.

Does this mean that the Mongols should just sit and wait to die for the sake of so-called integrity? Anda Khan's foresight was nothing more than a preemptive strike.

Only the strong survive on the grasslands. Since the Eternal Heaven did not bestow abundance, the Mongol warriors used their swift horses and sharp swords to fight and fight for what they needed!

When the Mongol cavalry swept across the Central Plains, all the lands where their armies advanced became pastures for horses. Anda Khan was determined to restore the great achievements of the Golden Family's ancestors.

This military depot stores 650,000 dan of military rations, which, together with our own cattle and sheep herds, is enough to feed three large armies for two years.

Two years is enough time for many great things to happen. When the Mongols achieve their great cause, won't the Ordos tribe sit back and reap the benefits?

Now you are lecturing us on the principles of Han etiquette and morality; it is rather laughable.

……

Noyan's eyes were filled with anger. Ale Tang spoke with great conviction, appearing dignified and high-sounding, but his logic was nothing but that of a robber. Even if he continued to speak, it would be like casting pearls before swine.

He turned to mount his horse and leave, intending to leave the pass as soon as possible to discuss countermeasures with his father, Jirang Khan. Altan seemed to see through his thoughts.

Senran said, "I might as well tell you that at this very moment, Prince Badu, on the orders of the Great Khan, has personally led an army of 50,000 and has already set off from the camp."

Jirang Khan led 10,000 troops, and Yongxielun led 15,000 troops, serving as the left and right wings of Prince Badu, and this morning they have advanced towards the Xuanda line.

Even if you return to the camp now, you will not see your father, the Khan. You should go back and await good news!

……

Noyan Taiji's heart sank suddenly. He hadn't expected things to have come to this. After a slight hesitation, he didn't say a word, leaped onto his horse, and left.

He galloped away on his horse for a short while and then left Donggang Town, entering the road heading north.

He stopped by the roadside and saw grain carts coming out of the military granary one after another, heading north.

As the road led north, Mongol cavalrymen continued to converge from the south, and the encirclement around Donggang Town gradually expanded to accommodate more Mongol cavalrymen.

According to Noyan's estimate, by sunset, the southward cavalry would have gathered, numbering over ten thousand, which secretly shocked him.

He didn't know whether such a large Mongol cavalry force was going to continue their southward raids, conquering cities and seizing territories, or to encircle and besiege the Xuanda region.

But no matter what the outcome, it's not something he can change by himself. The die is cast, and there's no turning back!
……

He gazed at the gloomy and oppressive sky, where snow fell in a chaotic and relentless manner, and a profound sense of powerlessness and despair welled up within him.

Thinking of the people who were slaughtered in Donggang Town, their corpses were everywhere, young and old alike, and the black and red bloodstains frozen on the white snow could never be washed away.

He muttered to himself, his expression somber: "Yuzhang, you mediated and helped the Ordos tribe secure border trade advantages, but I never expected it to end like this."

With the incident in Donggang Town, a major war between the Great Zhou and the Mongols is imminent, a situation that has become a fight to the death. How can I possibly face you now…?

Suddenly, someone asked, "Taiji, what should we do next?"

Noyan said, "Hurgan, you leave some people behind, choose a place to burn the frozen soil, and properly bury the corpses in the town. The Han people believe that burial is the best way to ensure peace."

"Since the Tuman tribe can sneak through the pass and lead their troops, the rest of us will follow me to borrow a route out of the pass. I want to see my father, the Khan, as soon as possible."

Hu Ergan said, "Taiji, just now Altan said that the Great Khan has led his troops to confront Xuan Da with the capital, and war is imminent."

The number of Zhou scouts along the way will surely increase, so we will most likely have to take a detour to avoid their patrol areas. It may take two days before we reach the Khan's camp.

Noyan said, "Then we should take a detour as soon as possible. There's nothing I can do right now, I just want to be by Father Khan's side as soon as possible."

He brandished his whip, and his yellow horse leaped forward, followed closely by his retinue, galloping off towards the north road...

……

In the capital city, at Rongguo Mansion, Rongxi Hall, on the second day of the first lunar month.

Inside the three side rooms of the east wing, the incense burner was filled with the finest red clay charcoal and sprinkled with the best styrax incense chips. The steam was fragrant and gentle, exuding a tranquil and leisurely atmosphere.

The heavy window drawers on the south-facing lattice window were fully open, allowing sunlight to stream into the room without obstruction.

The room was brightly lit, and the antiques and calligraphy displayed everywhere looked even more elegant and ancient.

The fine rosewood and sandalwood furniture inside the room gleamed and shone brightly in the sunlight.

On the desk were brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Xiao Hong and Yu Chuan were practicing calligraphy. Their grip on the brushes was still a little stiff, but they were quite focused on each stroke.

The bright sunlight shone on them, their hair as white as silk, black and shiny, their figures slender and graceful, youthful and charming, a truly pleasing sight.

Before the New Year, Xiao Hong said she wanted to learn to read, so Jia Cong agreed to teach her for half an hour every day during the holidays.

Just then, Jia Zheng gave Yuchuan to Jia Cong, and she is now temporarily staying in Rongxi Hall. When she heard about reading and writing, she felt very envious.

Although the Jia family was a noble and powerful family with the reputation of being a Hanlin scholar, it was still a luxury for their maids to be able to read and write.

Even though Jia Zheng highly valued reading, he had no interest in teaching his maids to read, as it was considered rather outrageous and absurd.

Only Jia Cong would be so interested in this. He taught all the maids around him to read and write, and Yinglian could even compose lyrics and poems. Yuchuan had also heard about it long ago.

For Yu Chuan, a servant girl who could read was an extraordinary skill, and she couldn't let such an opportunity slip by.

In Baoyu's eyes, she was an unbreakable clam, but in front of Jia Cong, she was eloquent and talkative, and he would readily agree to her requests.

……

That morning, before any guests arrived at either residence, Jia Cong took the opportunity to teach them how to use a brush and ink, and also briefly taught them about ten characters.

Each of them demonstrated a few gestures while holding the handrail, creating a unique and charming effect, before letting them practice on their own.

He lay on the recliner, sipping the fragrant tea that Yu Chuan had just brewed, occasionally admiring the little girl's innocent beauty as she practiced calligraphy, feeling quite relaxed and carefree.

When Yu Chuan was writing, she would often look back at Jia Cong and see him basking in the sun or sipping tea. This would make her feel at peace.

Sometimes their eyes meet, they can't help but smile knowingly, and then they go back to doing their own thing.

Jia Cong noticed that Yu Chuan's grip on the pen was not quite right, so he stepped forward and took her small hand in his.

I felt the warmth and softness of my palm, the smooth and silky texture, and the rich fragrance, which gave me an indescribable sense of bliss and delight.

He carefully corrected Yu Chuan's finger posture and guided her on how to use the strength of the brush. He was teaching diligently, and Yu Chuan was learning very carefully.

……

Footsteps sounded from the curtained corridor, and Jia Mu's maid, Emerald, entered.

He said, "Third Master, the eldest young lady sent Baoqin out of the palace to deliver festival gifts to the old lady and Third Master at your residence."

The old lady asked Third Master to come over for a talk. Second Master, Second Madam, and Second Master Bao were also coming. The young ladies had already arrived from the East Mansion.

Jia Cong's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this. In the past year or so, his eldest sister, Yuan Chun, had gained the Empress's favor. Last time, on the occasion of Grandmother Jia's birthday, she was allowed to take her zither out of the palace to deliver gifts.

According to the usual palace rules, female officials and palace maids were not allowed to leave the palace.

This was an extraordinary favor from the Empress, and it was probably due to her own reasons.

This year, during the New Year festival, the Empress has once again bestowed such special favor upon us…

Although Jia Cong had only spent a few times with Yuan Chun during her ten years in the palace, he greatly admired his cousin's wisdom and magnanimity.

Knowing that she was lonely in the palace, she often exchanged gifts with her family, which could somewhat alleviate her homesickness, and that was a good thing.

Yuan Chun had been in the palace for ten years, and had remained unknown in the early years. Now, the Empress was bestowing favors upon her repeatedly, which seemed somewhat unusual.

For the women of the inner palace to cultivate close relationships with officials from outside the palace has always been a taboo. Even if their actions are subtle, they cannot be hidden from those who are interested... (End of this chapter)