Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Earl's Mansion, Yingchun Courtyard.

The sky was overcast, the air was crisp and cold, and each breath carried a refreshing chill.

Miss Cai followed Musk Moon through the inner courtyard gate and walked along the covered corridor. Everywhere, lush flowers and trees could be seen, sheltering pavilions and towers.

Occasionally, there are courtyards and waterside pavilions connected by winding corridors and stone bridges. In secluded places, one can often find new and wonderful sights.

Although she grew up in an official family and her family was a prominent clan in Laizhou, she lived a wealthy life in her childhood and had seen a lot of the world.

Her usual social circle consisted of women from official families, such as Huang Hongcang's daughter, and they mostly frequented the elegant residences of civil officials.

Civil officials have historically been separated from nobles, and it was rare for them to interact with each other in official circles.

Jia Cong, being the son of a nobleman, had deep connections with the civil officials of the Six Ministries, making him an anomaly in officialdom.

The reason for this is that Jia Cong's brilliance in the imperial examinations and his fame among scholars led the civil officials to overlook his noble lineage.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for a scholar's daughter like Miss Cai to associate with the female relatives of nobles and officials.

This was her first time entering the mansion of a nobleman or duke, and she felt that every step was magnificent and beautiful, a testament to generations of refinement, elegance and nobility, full of charm and extraordinary.

It was quite different from the residences of civil officials she usually saw, and the scenery along the way was quite interesting.

When you arrive at a place with a clear stream and a pavilion, there is a courtyard with white walls and green tiles by the water.

The elegant eaves and corners of the gate, the double rows of brown-red courtyard gates, and the three-story embroidered building inside the courtyard, with its carved beams and painted rafters, are exquisite and magnificent, attracting much attention.

A young woman stood in front of the door, with a maidservant beside her.

Miss Cai noticed that she was older than her, wearing a light blue satin round-necked jacket with chrysanthemum patterns, a white cross-collar jacket, and a silver-white satin horse-face skirt with scattered flowers.

She was born beautiful and dignified, with cheeks like fresh lychees, a nose like goose fat, and a slender, graceful figure. She was truly an outstanding person.

She guessed that this was Jia Cong's second sister, Yingchun, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Weiyuan, whose name was often mentioned in recent years among the young ladies of the capital.

Miss Cai thought that Jia Cong was so outstanding, and his elder sister was related to him by blood, so it was only natural that he was an extraordinary person.

……

Just now, Yingchun received a message from her maid saying that the third young lady of Scholar Cai's family had come to visit and wanted to invite her into the inner courtyard to be served tea.

Yingchun was surprised when she heard this, as she had heard of the name of Cai Xiang, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, before.

However, he had never met the Cai family before and did not know why she had come to visit.

Yingchun asked the maid a few more questions and learned that it was a brother and classmate visiting during the New Year, and that he had brought his sister along. Although she felt that the etiquette was a bit abrupt.

However, knowing the great reputation of Grand Secretary Cai Xiang, and that the youngest son of the Cai family was a close friend of his brothers, she naturally had to treat his daughter with great respect.

It was only right for her to entertain the female relatives of officials as the elder sister and to cultivate connections with officials for her brother.

When Yingchun saw the boy dressed as a man behind Musk Moon, she was startled.

But considering that his brother and Musk Moon are both meticulous people, they would never make a mistake.

Looking more closely at this elegant young man, one could tell that he was a girl disguised as a woman, regardless of his appearance or figure. One couldn't help but smile.

When Musk Moon brought the person to her, Yingchun smiled and said, "This is the young lady of Scholar Cai's family. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Upon hearing the words "young lady," Miss Cai seemed to understand their meaning, and her expression became somewhat shy and bashful as she gave Yingchun a slight curtsy.

He said, "My younger brother and I have been presumptuous in visiting you today. Our attire is inappropriate and we have been impolite. Please forgive us and please forgive us, Sister Yingchun."

Yingchun smiled and said, "Your younger brother and my Cong brother are classmates and close friends. You and I are like sisters of the same generation, so there is no need to stand on ceremony."

She carefully examined Miss Cai and saw that although she was dressed in men's clothing, her appearance and demeanor were outstanding, befitting a daughter of an official family. She also felt a liking for her.

He stepped forward, took her arm, and led her inside to serve tea. He then asked Xiuju to invite Daiyu and Tanchun to come over for tea and a chat.

……

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace.

It's the beginning of the year now, and the extreme cold in Shenjing has reached its peak. The wind and snow outside are like knives, and the cold is bone-chilling.

Inside the warm pavilion in the rear hall, the two walls of fire were burning warmly, and the Three Stars of Fortune and Longevity incense burner was burning with the finest red charcoal.

Wisps of smoke rose from the cloisonné incense burner, carrying the fragrant ambergris incense offered as tribute from the western coast.

After the morning court session ended, Emperor Jiazhao went to the warm pavilion to leave government affairs, and before noon, he hosted a banquet for Master Zhang Tian and his daughter.

After the banquet, he returned to the warm pavilion of Qianyang Palace to continue reviewing the piled-up memorials.

Emperor Jia Zhao only stopped his busy work and carefully read the secret documents from the Imperial Carriage Office when Guo Lin delivered them as part of the routine five-day service.

Although the CRRC secret notes are detailed, most of the items are used for secret reconnaissance notes or routine filing and are not of practical use in the short term.

Therefore, Emperor Jia Zhao browsed very quickly, mostly glancing over things, and only asking Guo Lin questions when he encountered matters of interest.

For example, the secret notes record that: Jia Baoyu, the legitimate son of the second branch of the Jia family, has been living in the Rongguo Mansion for a long time, and there are many rumors of discord between the two branches.

On the third day of the first lunar month, unclean words were spoken in the inner quarters, involving the second son, Baoyu, but the specific reasons and background are unknown.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Baoyu moved out of the main Rongguo Mansion and into the separate east wing. The main and wing branches of the Rongguo Mansion had now been divided...

Such matters are routine records, and would never appear in the imperial secret documents unless they involve Marquis Jia Cong of Weiyuan.

The emperor would just browse casually, glance at it and that was it; he wouldn't take such intrigues within the inner quarters of a wealthy family to heart at all.

……

When they saw the next item, their eyes immediately focused.

The secret note reads: "After the third day of the first lunar month, King Zhao sent out birthday invitations to the nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital, inviting them to his residence for a banquet on the eighth day."

The Empress bestowed upon him a four-foot-tall bright red coral tree, and from the fifth day of the first lunar month onwards, invited guests from various families successively presented birthday gifts.

A guest list will be appended after the main text, detailing whether any gifts were given, and what those gifts were, etc.

Emperor Jiazhao carefully examined the guest list, which included members of the imperial family, veteran nobles, civil officials from the Six Ministries, and military generals.

As an adult prince, King Zhao already possessed considerable prestige and was a renowned general in the army, having achieved remarkable military exploits. It was not surprising that he had extensive connections in the court and among the people.

This banquet invitation list was comprehensive and detailed, with no clear distinction between important and unappealing points. However, Emperor Jia Zhao felt somewhat uneasy about it.

The Empress's four-foot-tall crimson coral tree is a rare and precious treasure, one that cannot be found even in the Imperial Treasury.

Originally a famous treasure of Fengzao Palace, it was a popular item when noble ladies and relatives of officials came to the palace to pay homage during festivals. Many people saw it and were amazed by it.

Emperor Jia Zhao often saw this coral tree and knew it was the Empress's most beloved possession. Unexpectedly, he bestowed it upon Prince Zhao as a birthday gift.

This coral tree alone elevates the Zhao King's birthday banquet on the eighth day of the lunar month to a whole new level of elegance and prestige.

Those nobles and high-ranking officials, upon hearing the news, would not necessarily flock to it, but they would at least have to consider the Empress's feelings.

Emperor Jiazhao sighed inwardly. Due to the major case involving the Jinling Guards, he had been putting pressure on and neglecting his son for nearly half a year, which served as a warning to him to restrain himself.

This made him a little uneasy. After a period of silence, he was ultimately someone who couldn't stand being alone.

A shadow fell over Emperor Jiazhao's heart. The Empress had been generous in her support of this biological son and held him in high esteem...

……

The emperor continued browsing the banquet guest list, and when he saw Jia Cong's name, his expression darkened slightly.

Although he knew in his heart that after Jia Cong inherited the title of Rongguo, he had become an indispensable member among the descendants of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes.

It was not unusual or strange that King Zhao invited Jia Cong to a banquet on his birthday.

However, the fact that the Prince of Zhao used this opportunity to get closer to Jia Cong still made Emperor Jia Zhao suspicious. Jia Cong was no ordinary son of a noble family; he held far too important a position...

The emperor's gaze shifted downwards, and he saw the list of gifts Jia Cong had entered into the secret document: "Two wild ginseng roots from Liaodong that are twenty years old, and four top-quality fox fur coats."

Emperor Jia Zhao's tense expression relaxed, and he revealed a playful smile, saying, "Although the Jia family's two mansions have limited property, their daily expenses are not small."

But his Xinchun Trading Company has made a lot of money; he shouldn't be short of cash. This birthday gift for the prince is rather stingy.

Guo Lin stole a glance at the emperor's expression. Although he was laughing at Jia Cong's stinginess, he showed no displeasure and his tone was more like a lighthearted conversation.

Having served the emperor for many years, he naturally understood the emperor's thoughts best. He smiled and said, "I have often heard that the Marquis of Weiyuan does not like socializing."

After finishing his work at the yamen each day, he mostly stayed at his residence, rarely going out. Gatherings with colleagues and old friends were extremely rare; perhaps his ignorance of worldly affairs wasn't too surprising.

Emperor Jia Zhao smiled slightly: "A dignified second-place scholar in the imperial examination, with ingenious ideas, exceptional talent, and broad knowledge, I do not believe he is ignorant of worldly affairs."

He's just too shrewd. He only cares about his own business, lives a quiet life behind closed doors, and is very cautious in his words and actions.

Last year, someone manipulated the selection of concubines, attempting to promote a lady-in-waiting from the Phoenix Palace to gain favor. Jia Cong and Jia Yuanchun exchanged letters, which gives a glimpse into this.

He is still young now, and I hope that he will not become worldly-wise in the future, but will always maintain his integrity, focusing on practical matters rather than worldly power.

……

After reading the secret document, Emperor Jia Zhao's doubts about Prince Zhao's birthday banquet and Jia Cong's birthday gifts faded considerably, and he was about to review the memorials again.

Suddenly, Yuan Jing, a sixth-rank eunuch on duty at Qianyang Palace, rushed into the warm pavilion with a message scroll in his hand.

He knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, an urgent report from Liaodong Town has arrived. It has been sealed and filed by the Directorate of Ceremonial and is now being presented to Your Majesty for your perusal."

When Emperor Jiazhao heard that an urgent report from the 800-mile military town had been sent directly to him without going to the Ministry of War or the Five Military Commissions, he knew that the matter must be extremely urgent, and his expression changed.

Guo Lin took the scroll from Yuan Jing and hurriedly presented it to the emperor's throne, where Emperor Jia Zhao began to read the military report.

His face instantly turned pale, then flushed red, and he coughed violently, his breath coming in short gasps.

He angrily said, "On New Year's Eve, the Mongols actually seized the military granary in Donggang Town, and a large number of Mongol troops secretly passed through the gate overnight."

The grain supplies of the various towns along the nine borders are in dire straits, and the barbarians are so arrogant!
By imperial decree, the Minister of War, Gu Yankui, the Left Army Commander of the Five Armies, Chen Yi, and the Right Army Commander, Yao Ruchang, are hereby summoned.

Marquis Zhongjing, Shi Ding, and Grand Secretary Wang Shilun, enter the palace immediately for a meeting; there shall be no delay!

Upon hearing the military report, Guo Lin was filled with dread. The news was too sudden: Anda Khan's army of over 100,000 was confronting the Xuanda line. They had managed to seize the nine border military depots overnight, cutting off the food supply to the vital towns of Xuanda. Facing 100,000 Mongol cavalry, wouldn't they collapse without a fight? A catastrophe indeed…

Guo Lin ordered Yuan Jing to leave the palace immediately to deliver the imperial edict, and hurriedly stepped forward to advise: "Your Majesty, please calm down and take good care of your health. There are important civil and military officials who will come to share Your Majesty's worries."

Emperor Jia Zhao, unable to calm his anger, said coldly, "The granaries of the Nine Garrisons are located in a strategic location within the pass, and have always been safe and secure."

How could the Mongols have managed to sneak through and seize the border in the dead of night? The defenses of the nine border regions are practically nonexistent. There must be something fishy about this. I must investigate this thoroughly!

……

Inside the warm pavilion of Qianyang Palace, the atmosphere was icy and filled with murderous intent due to Emperor Jiazhao's furious expression. The eunuchs and palace maids attending him dared not even breathe loudly.

Even Guo Lin, who held a high position in the inner court, was momentarily silenced and dared not utter a single word.

Guo Lin breathed a sigh of relief when she heard hurried footsteps outside the warm pavilion.

Minister of War Gu Yankui and Left Army Commander Chen Yi were both elderly, but upon hearing the urgent imperial edict, they dared not delay in the slightest and walked breathlessly.

Although Wang Shilun and Shi Ding were not officials in charge of taking responsibility, they were aware of the Liaodong military report and their expressions were very solemn.

The officials entered the warm pavilion to kowtow and pay their respects. Emperor Jia Zhao's face was still flushed, and he said in a deep voice, "The maintenance of the nine important border towns costs nearly one million taels of silver every year."

Even if it cannot be impregnable, it should at least be well-rounded in both offense and defense. Why is it so weak now, allowing the Mongols to sneak through the pass in the dead of night and cut off its supply lines? What a humiliating disgrace!

Emperor Jiazhao was furious, coughing incessantly, and threw the scroll of military reports in front of his ministers.

He said, "The Ministry of War is responsible for the overall planning and distribution of grain and fodder, while the Five Military Commissions are responsible for the storage and transportation of grain. Each has its own duties, which are clearly defined."

Chen Yi and Yao Ruchang, you are the Left and Right Commanders-in-Chief, respectively in charge of requisitioning and stockpiling grain and transporting supplies. Why are the Mongols so familiar with the military stockpiles that they even raided them overnight?

Yao Ruchang said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, half an hour ago, Chen Ruichang, the grain transport officer under the Right Army Commander, escaped from Donggang Town and rushed back to the capital to report the news."

"We were just about to enter the palace to report when His Majesty's oral decree arrived first. Since the matter was so rushed and the details are still unclear, I have already mobilized scouts from the Commandery to prepare for an investigation to the north..."

……

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi was secretly furious. Yao Ruchang, intimidated by the emperor's wrath, hurriedly tried to shirk responsibility and even pushed his second grandson to the front.

Chen Yi, a seasoned official, was worldly-wise. He didn't consider his grandson Chen Ruichang's escape back to the capital to report the news a merit.

Although guarding military depots and transporting grain are two completely different things, in the face of such a catastrophic disaster, the best course of action is to stay out of it and disappear without a trace.

If you get too deeply involved and those censors find a weakness, you'll be severely punished, if not killed.

Even if his grandson Chen Ruichang lost his career because of this incident, Chen Yi did not want his name to appear easily before the emperor.

This gave Chen Yi, who had spent half his life in officialdom, a very bad feeling...

However, when Chen Ruichang rushed back to the Governor's Office to report the news, the Left and Right Governors, who were in charge of the matter, had not yet reached a consensus on the matter.

An imperial edict immediately arrived from the palace, catching the usually shrewd and calculating Chen Yi completely off guard.

If Chen Yi had communicated with Yao Ruchang beforehand, he would have been able to persuade him to act according to the circumstances. Since the palace had already received the urgent report, there was no need to put the second grandson in the spotlight...

……

Gu Yankui was always shrewd and experienced. Even after Emperor Jia Zhao's furious questioning and Yao Ruchang's hasty attempt to distance himself, he remained composed.

He picked up the military report from the ground and quickly glanced through it.

The contents of the Liaodong military report were based on what Jia Lian saw with his own eyes and what Guo Zhigui found out about the enemy's whereabouts. Before they parted ways, they discussed and refined the descriptions of various matters.

Therefore, the military reports from Liaodong Town reported in detail that the Mongols disguised themselves as a caravan and infiltrated Donggang Town, burning down restaurants and killing military officers, and that they launched an ambush in the dense forest north of the town.

The appendix also includes information about Guo Zhigui's annihilation of two hundred Mongol pursuers, and how he learned from Sun Xiuyu that the Sun family of Datong was involved in the Donggang Town incident.

Gu Yankui was a man who was old but still strong, and he quickly sorted out the clues from the military report.

He said, "Your Majesty, according to the military report, the Mongols have laid an ambush in Donggang Town. Their plans are meticulous and flawless."

They knew all along that Donggang Town was a military stronghold; otherwise, they would never have been able to plan ahead and seize the opportunity to strike on New Year's Eve.

The location of the granaries of the Nine Border Garrisons is a top secret within the military. How could it have been discovered by the Mongols? I believe that someone must have leaked the secret, which could have caused such a disaster!

The best course of action now is to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. I believe we should quickly requisition grain and fodder from various places, change the grain routes, and urgently send them to the nine border towns, especially the Xuanda line.

To prevent the garrisons from running out of food supplies and Anda Khan from launching a hasty attack, which would create a critical situation for the border towns.

In addition, elite guards need to be mobilized from the five military camps of Shenjing and the four nearby prefectures to strengthen the defense of Shenjing, and troops should be sent north to patrol the enemy and defend against the remnants of the Mongols who are brazenly moving south.

Another matter requires a thorough investigation into the leak of military grain reserves. Who is involved, what is the underlying issue, and what is the root cause? If this scourge is not eradicated, the consequences will be dire!

……

After listening to Gu Yankui's words, Emperor Jiazhao's anger gradually subsided, and he pondered for a moment.

He said, "Minister Gu is calm and composed in the face of danger, and his words are absolutely correct. We must quickly draft detailed rules on how to collect grain and mobilize troops, and finalize the matter before sunset."

A thorough investigation into the leak is of utmost urgency. Guo Lin, convey my imperial edict: summon Wei Guanyao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and Xu Kun, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to the palace immediately for a meeting.

Just as Guo Lin was about to leave the warm pavilion to announce the summons, Emperor Jia Zhao said, "Wait a moment. Marquis Weiyuan, Jia Cong, has solved many major military cases. He is skilled in investigation and prosecution and has many ingenious ideas."

Summon him to an audience with me; I wish to consult him on this matter.

Wang Shilun, Gu Yankui, Shi Ding, and others present had all had frequent dealings with Jia Cong and were well aware of the Emperor's high regard for him; they were all used to hearing this.

However, Chen Yi, Yao Ruchang, and others rarely interacted with Jia Cong. Although they knew of Jia Cong's illustrious reputation, they did not have much understanding of how Jian was favored by the emperor.

Considering the importance of such military and national affairs, the Emperor usually summons officials of the third rank or above, yet he has allowed Jia Cong, a fifth-rank Hanlin scholar, to consult with him in the same hall. Such trust and respect is extraordinary.

As everyone waited for Wei Guanyao and the others to enter the hall, Gu Yankui and Shi Ding lowered their heads in deep thought, secretly pondering the matter of transporting grain and mobilizing troops.

Emperor Jia Zhao was racing against time, constantly asking questions and consulting with his ministers. The emperor and his ministers pooled their wisdom and gradually came to an understanding of the overall framework, but it was not convenient to elaborate on the relevant details.

Chen Yi and Yao Ruchang, however, were uneasy and felt like they were sitting on pins and needles. The stockpiling and transportation of military rations was the responsibility of the Five Military Commands. If there was any leak, they would not be able to escape the consequences...

Time passed second by second, and the ministers in the warm pavilion each held their own arms, their minds in different states.

Time seemed to have passed for a long time, yet it also seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.

From the outer corridor, hurried footsteps could be heard again. Gu Yankui and the others saw Wei Guanyao, Xu Kun, and Jia Cong enter the warm pavilion one by one.

……

Just three-quarters of an hour ago, Jia Cong and Cai Xiaoyu were having a drink together, chatting about everything under the sun. As longtime classmates and close friends, they spoke freely and relaxed.

Unexpectedly, a palace eunuch suddenly entered the residence to summon him. It was Yuan Jing, who was on duty at Qianyang Palace. He said that the emperor had summoned him to the palace to discuss important state affairs and asked him to come to the palace immediately.

Jia Cong had just entered the palace to drink, and his body was still reeking of alcohol. It would be extremely disrespectful for him to enter the palace like this.

He then left Cai Xiaoyu waiting in the outer hall and hurriedly went into the inner courtyard to change clothes, rinse his mouth, and wash his face, causing his maids to scramble around.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, they re-entered the outer hall and hurriedly followed Yuan Jing into the palace.

When the news reached Yingchun Courtyard, the sisters were talking with Miss Cai. Although they were surprised to hear it, they didn't care too much because it was common for Jia Cong to enter the palace.

When Miss Cai heard that Jia Cong had left the mansion and that her younger brother was alone in the outer hall, she felt it was inappropriate to linger any longer, so she got up and bid farewell to Yingchun.

Yingchun and her sisters had a very pleasant conversation with her, treating her as a close friend from their youth, and made plans to meet again. But let's leave that aside for now...

……

At this time, Jia Cong had long forgotten about Cai Xiaoyu. It was only on the way to the palace that Yuan Jing told him the reason. Jia Cong was shocked to hear this and realized that something big had happened in the north.

The three men entered the palace, and Emperor Jia Zhao had them circulate the military report of Liaodong Garrison. After quickly reading through it, the three men were all shocked.

Jia Cong saw in the military report that Jia Lian and Guo Zhigui had entered Donggang Town to collect grain and unexpectedly discovered that the Mongol army had raided the military depot.

According to military reports, while Jia Lian was returning to Liaodong, Guo Zhigui went to Xuanfu Town to deliver a message, and his whereabouts are now unknown.

The military towns of Datong and Xuanfu were key locations for confronting the remnant Mongol army, and Xuanfu was closer to Donggang than the other military towns.

It is quite possible that the elite remnants of the Mongol army could easily seize the military supplies and provisions of Donggang Town and then launch a surprise attack on Xuanfu Town.

Guo Zhigui led only two spearmen to Xuanfu Town to deliver the message, which likely meant he was heading into dangerous territory, causing Jia Cong great concern.

……

Emperor Jiazhao said, "Minister Wei, the granaries of the Nine Border Garrisons were attacked by the Mongol invaders. It is suspected that the secrets of the garrison were leaked due to spying."

This is a major military case. I originally wanted Zhou Junxing of the Judicial Office to handle it, but although Zhou Junxing is shrewd and capable, he has never handled any major military cases before.

In my private consideration, I believe that it is most appropriate for this case to be presided over by the three judicial departments. Minister Wei, you must not disappoint me.”

Wei Guanyao felt a chill run down his spine and said in a deep voice, "I will handle this case immediately and will certainly not fail Your Majesty's expectations!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Shilun, Gu Yankui, and the others present felt a chill run down their spines, each secretly relieved that they had narrowly escaped danger.

If such a major case were to fall into Zhou Junxing's hands, given his ruthless and cruel style, it would surely unleash a bloodbath and implicate countless innocent people.

You might be able to dodge it once, but will you be able to dodge it again next time?

In recent years, there have been many serious cases in the military, but fortunately Zhou Junxing has not been involved.

Otherwise, given this person's sinister nature, he could use this opportunity to extend his power deep into the military, which would have serious consequences...

Gu Yankui was the head of the Ministry of War, Wang Shilun was the head of the civil service, and Wei Guanyao was the head of the three judicial departments.

Regardless of their own interests or the safety of the court officials, none of the three wanted such a thing to happen.

However, imperial power is ruthless, and the emperor's thoughts and considerations are naturally very different from those of his ministers.

The emperor's seemingly unintentional yet deliberate remark had put the three of them on guard, causing them to secretly become wary...

Emperor Jia Zhao looked at Jia Cong and said, "Minister Jia, you have solved many major cases involving the Imperial Guards, are familiar with military affairs, and are good at investigation and judgment."

"Regarding the leak of information about the military garrison, what advice do you have for me...?" (End of this chapter)