Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Originally, it was a time for sisters to gather, chat casually, adorn themselves with glittering hairpins, and enjoy the fragrant atmosphere—a pleasant and comforting experience.

Unexpectedly, Baoyu suddenly barged in, making jokes and flirting with Daiyu, causing the atmosphere to take a sharp turn for the worse.

Although Daiyu and Yingchun were displeased, they didn't show it on their faces out of consideration for Grandmother Jia.

Only Xiangyun was innocent and carefree, single-minded, always smiling and talking, saying whatever she wanted to say.

She still vividly remembers the magnificent scene when Jia Cong returned in triumph from Liaodong and led his troops into the city through Hongde Gate.

I always thought that I could see my third brother again that day, so full of vigor and heroic spirit.

Young girls are always full of daydreams; in their tender youth, they admire heroes and wish for a world where nothing surpasses them.

However, her sentiments, which she spoke of with great enthusiasm, were completely contrary to Baoyu's wishes.

Today, he has gone to great lengths to temporarily escape the boredom of the East Wing Courtyard and to avoid Jia Zheng's ambitions for officialdom.

Upon entering Rongqing Hall, we arrived at a gathering of sisters. We should have been enjoying the flowers and their fragrance, having a wonderful time.

Unexpectedly, Daiyu's expression was indifferent and she was unwilling to pay attention, which saddened him. Although Xiangyun was smiling and cheerful, she was full of sycophancy, which disappointed him greatly.

He frowned and said, "Although I don't care about the affairs of the court, I know that Cong and his brother entered the Hanlin Academy. He should be a civil official, while going to war is a matter for military generals. How is this related to him?"

Shi Xiangyun said, "Third brother is not only a Hanlin official, but also the youngest famous general of the Great Zhou. He was awarded a title after defeating the Jurchen Tartars. He was very proud of himself."

My second brother really didn't know that the Mongols had occupied the northern military camps a few days ago, and the imperial court was going to wage war against the Mongols. It's not surprising that my third brother went on the expedition because of this.

Upon hearing this, Baoyu looked displeased and said, "I prefer peace and quiet and never concern myself with the noisy and mundane affairs outside. Living a pure and honest life is the most important thing."

Sister Yun is a young lady from a respectable family. Her proper duties are to adorn herself with flowers, stand before the mirror, comb her hair, apply makeup, and refine her appearance.

Why bother discussing these worldly matters of literature and martial arts, needlessly corrupting my sister's beautiful character?

……

Shi Xiangyun was just chatting casually, but she didn't expect to be ridiculed by Baoyu like this. She was so angry that her face turned red and she couldn't bear to look at him.

He said defiantly, "I am not as noble as my second brother. I do not aspire to be a pure person. I am just a vulgar and greedy person."

I love talking about official careers, I'm obsessed with fame and fortune, and I admire my third brother's exceptional literary and martial skills. I really admire someone like him, and I'll go and curry favor with him tomorrow.

Don't speak to a vulgar person like me anymore, lest you tarnish your reputation!

Baoyu never expected that his heartfelt words would not move Xiangyun, but instead would cause her to turn on him instantly and give him a good scolding.

She immediately turned pale with anger and quickly said, "Sister, what nonsense are you spouting? I'm not trying to mislead you; I'm speaking from the heart. How can you not understand my sincerity?"

Xi Ren's face changed drastically, and she thought to herself, "Oh no, Second Master still hasn't changed his old habits. He's always trying to be clever in front of the girls."

How can he still not understand that all the girls in the family have their hearts set on Third Master Cong, and they think he's good in everything they do, while Second Master keeps running headlong into him.

However, she was only a prospective concubine, merely holding the position of a head maid. When Baoyu and his sisters quarreled, with the old lady still in the hall, she had no right to interrupt.

Xiangyun's temper flared up at any moment, and she was very quick-witted, catching everyone off guard. Yingchun and Daiyu were too lazy to say anything.

Seeing Baoyu in such a sorry state, Tan Chun felt somewhat helpless and had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.

He laughed and said, "It's just casual conversation. We're not children anymore, why are you bickering? The old lady will laugh at you."

……

Given Baoyu's nature, he would definitely be grateful for Tanchun's helpful words and feel that Tanchun cared about him.

But now, hearing it, I feel somewhat uncomfortable and distant, and I feel no gratitude. There are reasons for this.

That day, Jia Zheng asked Baoyu and Jia Huan to test their studies. Jia Huan excelled, while Baoyu failed miserably and was ridiculed by Jia Zheng.

At that time, Jia Zheng praised Jia Huan and casually said, "I didn't expect that the third girl had such ability to train your younger brother to be so successful."

It's a pity she was born a girl; otherwise, with her talent, the second wife's family could have produced a top scholar.

Baoyu hated studying and pursuing the imperial examinations his whole life, and was disliked by his own father his entire life. Now, even Jia Huan, who is worse off than him, is putting on an act.

The fact that Baoyu felt superior and could no longer find a point of reference for his own superiority caused him great disappointment and frustration, which is hard to describe.

The reason for this is that the third sister went to great lengths to teach Jia Huan to be such a person. What kind of behavior is this?!
In the master's eyes, he was not even as precious as a young lady; he was the legitimate son, born with a jade pendant in his mouth...

But how could my third sister be so well-versed in the Analects? How could she possibly possess such talent? It could only be that corrupt official Jia Cong taught her.

This made Baoyu despise Jia Cong even more. He spent his life manipulating the imperial examinations and pursuing an official career, so let him fall into depravity on his own, since he couldn't tarnish his own reputation anyway.

He tricked his third sister into going to the East Mansion, and Baoyu barely tolerated it.

But he shouldn't have gone this far, turning his outstanding sister into such a pedantic and pretentious person.

They even twisted the originally relatively clean Jia Huan into a corrupt and despicable person.

The master's obsession with the eight-legged essay and the imperial examinations is mostly caused by Jia Cong, which has already caused Baoyu great distress. However, out of filial piety and propriety, as a son, he can only try his best to deceive him...

Now that even his younger sister and brother are like this, will Jia Cong truly be satisfied only after he has completely ruined the second branch of the family?

Now that the second branch of the family has fallen to such a state, being squeezed out of the East Courtyard by the family, Baoyu has finally figured it out: in the end, it's all Jia Cong's fault.

After the incident with Jia Huan, Bao Yu was extremely disappointed in Tan Chun. He deeply understood the disappointment and heartache he had felt for Xiao Hong in the past through Tan Chun.

So when Tan Chun kindly tried to smooth things over, Bao Yu didn't appreciate it. He was unwilling to abandon his innocence and developed a grudge against his younger sister.

……

When Grandmother Jia saw Xiangyun and Baoyu arguing, she was both amused and exasperated, but she didn't take it too seriously.

From childhood to adulthood, all the other sisters gave way to Baoyu, but Xiangyun was a fiery little firecracker. The two would bicker and quarrel whenever they didn't see eye to eye, something that Grandmother Jia had seen many times.

Moreover, now that Grandmother Jia is increasingly fond of Xiangyun, she might become her granddaughter-in-law in the future, so she naturally won't be angry that Xiangyun is belittling Baoyu and will try to smooth things over.

He laughed and said, "Third Sister is right. They're all getting older every year, and they're becoming more and more like little kids. They even bicker over such trivial things."

Baoyu, you don't come here every day anymore. Since you're here, stay a little longer. I'll have a lunch here at noon, and you can eat with your sisters.

I told Jade to tell the kitchen to make a few dishes you like, and that you sisters shouldn't cause any trouble.

Xiangyun was still unconvinced. She snorted and turned her face away, no longer looking at Baoyu. Baoyu habitually wanted to apologize, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

……

At this moment, the curtain at the entrance was half-lifted, and the person could be heard before being seen.

"The old ancestor's place is so popular. Could it be that an invitation was sent out, and everyone has arrived so neatly?"

Wang Xifeng entered the hall with a smile on her face and graceful demeanor. Her black hair was like a cloud, and she wore a large phoenix hairpin with five tails and blue jewels, which shone brightly.

She wore an ochre-red satin round-necked jacket with scattered flowers, a beige stand-up collar inner jacket with a dark floral pattern, and a horse-face skirt embroidered with bamboo, chrysanthemum, swastika, and auspicious symbols on her lower body. She was dashing and elegant, bringing brilliance to the whole room.

He laughed and said, "There aren't many visitors at your residence today, so I've had some free time and came to see what's going on at the old ancestor's place."

"I hadn't even stepped inside when I heard the old matriarch announce a banquet. I've arrived at just the right time! Please save me a seat so I can also join in the feast."

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Since you're here, don't go home for lunch. Join us for a lively feast."

As soon as Wang Xifeng entered the hall, the atmosphere immediately became lively and warm, and the unpleasantness caused by Baoyu's words was also greatly reduced in an instant.

The sisters smiled, but Baoyu was a little scared when he saw Wang Xifeng, fearing that she would gossip and expose people at any time.

……

Ignoring Baoyu's gloomy expression, Wang Xifeng saw Shi Xiangyun looking angry and laughed, "Why is Xiangyun looking like this? Who's been so rude to you?"

Xichun, who was cracking sunflower seeds nearby, casually said with a smile, "I found it quite amusing to hear Sister Xiangyun and Second Brother arguing just now."

Wang Xifeng pinched Xichun's cheek; it was so smooth and tender, it felt wonderful to the touch.

He laughed and said, "You're just a little girl, yet you're already watching the excitement and making merry, as if you want the world to be in chaos."

Wang Xifeng turned around and glanced at Baoyu, then smiled and said, "Brother Bao, it's been a few days since we last met. The new purse on your waist is really nice; did your maid make it for you?"

A few days ago, a customer came to visit, and I saw a similar pattern, but I couldn't remember which brand it was from..."

……

Upon hearing this, Baoyu's face turned pale and his legs went weak. He hadn't checked the almanac before going out today, and of all things, he had run into his second sister-in-law. Her words were truly sinister.

Xi Ren, who was standing nearby, was also shocked to hear this. The Second Mistress was really going on and on. She didn't want the Second Branch to get involved with the West Mansion so much, and she even tried to put the Second Master down whenever she saw him.

How can I cross the threshold of the West Mansion in the future? I'll have to talk to the Second Master when I get back and tell him to stop bothering me here.

To avoid upsetting Second Madam and causing her to cause trouble for Second Master.

But with Second Master's temperament, it's unlikely he'll stay out and cause trouble; there's no point in saying more...

Baoyu forced a smile and said, "Sister Feng is joking. This is a common pattern made by the maid. Every household uses it. There's nothing strange about it."

Wang Xifeng also stopped there, lest Baoyu forget the pain once the wound healed and try to curry favor with the old lady, which would create unnecessary complications.

When Grandmother Jia heard Wang Xi's words, she smiled bitterly to herself. How could Feng'er have fallen ill after finding the purse in the side room last time?

As soon as she came in, she started looking at Baoyu's purse. What a strange habit this was! It made Baoyu's face turn pale with fright.

Grandmother Jia also asked Yuanyang to inquire about this matter. It is said that Wang Xifeng investigated the incident in the side room for a long time but could not find the person who caused the trouble.

I don't know where that slut came from, but she's ruined Baoyu, a perfectly good man...

……

Just as Grandmother Jia was about to change the subject, Wang Xifeng said, "Second Sister, I heard Ping'er say today that two carts of grain were delivered to the East Mansion yesterday."

I remember that the two prefectures stockpiled enough grain before the Lunar New Year to last until the end of February. Why are you still buying grain? How long will that last?

Yingchun smiled and said, "I was just about to talk to Sister Feng about this. I was sitting in your courtyard this morning and forgot about it for a moment."

The purchase and stockpiling of grain in the Eastern Prefecture was a special instruction given by Congdi, who said that a major event had occurred in the north and that the court would definitely go to war with the Mongols.

The granaries of the Nine Border Garrisons were looted by the Mongols, and the imperial court is currently collecting grain from various regions to make up for this huge deficit.

This will inevitably affect market grain prices. The future course of the war is still uncertain, so it's always good to be prepared. It would be one thing if grain prices rose after the New Year, but it would be quite troublesome if we had enough money to buy enough grain.

Our family is not like ordinary households; we have many mouths to feed, which is why Brother Cong instructed us to buy grain as soon as possible.

The weather is still cold now, so the food we buy can be stored for six months without spoiling, enough to last until next May.

Congdi also instructed Fengjie to inform her that the West Mansion should also purchase several cartloads in the next couple of days, as there are more people here.

Grandmother Jia, having once been a housewife herself, possessed some wisdom and said, "Cong-ge'er understands the ways of the world; his idea of ​​hoarding grain is absolutely right."

In the past, whenever war broke out, powerful families would stockpile grain in advance. Regardless of the risk of war, early preparation was always the right thing to do.

Wang Xifeng said, "In that case, the West Mansion should hurry up and buy grain. The grain we bought at Duan's Grain Shop last time was not only of the highest quality, but also at a very fair price."

"Sister Baochai, we'll have to trouble Brother Pan with this matter. Having connections there will make things easier."

……

Upon hearing this, Baochai paused slightly, feeling that Duan Chunjiang was too shrewd and had extraordinary business acumen, making him a difficult person to handle.

Baochai was always very worried about her brother's reckless and careless behavior and his tendency to cause trouble. She was always concerned about him associating with such people.

Before the New Year, I discussed with Aunt Xue about having my brother Xue Pan cut off the grain store business, just to be on the safe side.

Now, naturally unwilling to involve his brother any further, he said, "The Duan family's grain shop closes on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month and hasn't reopened yet."

My brother settled the accounts before the New Year and hasn't had any contact with Duan Qingjiang since. I'll have to go back and ask him again if there's any grain left in the shop.

Yingchun smiled and said, "I had the steward check it out a long time ago. The Duan family's grain shop hasn't opened yet, so I had the steward find a new buyer. The price is reasonable, and the rice is top-quality."

Baochai smiled and said, "That's for the best. Since the East Mansion has already bought it, it's reliable. It's convenient for Sister Feng to buy it with her family."

Wang Xifeng didn't care when she heard this, and just told Lin Zhixiao to find the steward of the East Mansion and to do everything accordingly.

Only two cartloads of rice were purchased in the East Prefecture, while the population of the West Prefecture had doubled, requiring five cartloads to be sufficient. Other matters will not be discussed further.

Baoyu had come eagerly, still harboring wicked intentions, hoping to get close to his sisters Daiyu and Baochai, but instead ended up feeling very resentful.

Threatened by Wang Xifeng's purse, he became trembling with fear after she entered the hall, not daring to utter a single word.

These days, they still talk about such mundane things. They even go on and on about buying rice. Wouldn't it be better to talk about romance and nature?
Sister Feng is fine, she's just a housekeeper's wife anyway.

My second sister is so beautiful and talented, and she's a lady of high birth, yet she's involved in household chores and cooking. It's such a waste of such a person...

……

Baochai breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Duan Chunjiang wouldn't be involved.

Thinking back to before New Year's Eve, the four prime shops rented out in Jinling had already received six months' rent in silver notes, which is a truly reliable and legitimate business.

My second uncle wrote to say that this business deal was excellent, covering most of the losses from previous years, and that if things continued this way, the family business could remain prosperous for a long time.

Before summer arrives this year, my second uncle will send Baoqin to the capital to await her marriage. With more people in the family, we must be extra cautious in everything we do.

If I don't let my brother cause trouble again, not only will he not earn much money, but he'll also be taking on unnecessary risks...

Then Wang Xifeng asked, "Second sister, there have been far fewer visitors these past few days. I went to a few houses for New Year's feasts and heard quite a few rumors."

The Mongol Tartars in the north caused trouble and robbed the government troops' granaries. This matter involved the capital, and several noble families' sons and relatives were summoned to the Dali Temple for questioning.

That sounds rather alarming. Brother Cong has been missing for the past two days, busy with official business, but it's probably nothing to worry about.

There shouldn't be any other connections, right? The family is counting on him.

Yingchun smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sister Feng. Since we can't see him during the day these past two days, we sisters have been having dinner in his courtyard, so we have some free time to chat."

"My brother Cong did go to the Dali Temple these past two days, but not to be summoned; he was there on official business. This matter has nothing to do with him..."

Baochai was intrigued by this, as she had paid close attention to official matters ever since Jia Cong became an official.

Daiyu was a proper young lady from an official family, and Baochai often chatted with her, so she already knew a lot about the rules of officialdom.

He knew that whether Jia Cong held a position in the Hanlin Academy or worked in the Ministry of Works' Firearms Department, it had nothing to do with the Court of Judicial Review.

The Dali Temple is a place for judging cases and arresting people, so why would Brother Cong go there to do official business?
Yingchun didn't elaborate, and naturally, she wouldn't ask further...

…………

Shenjing, the official office of Dali Temple.

Two days ago, a military report came from Liaodong that the military outpost in Donggang Town had been captured by the Mongol invaders. Emperor Jiazhao summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.

Detailed implementation rules were drafted overnight, and the relevant government offices, including the Ministry of War, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, immediately began operations.

The following morning, during the court session, important matters concerning troop deployment, grain requisition, and inspection were announced to the civil and military officials in the court, with the details and confidentiality omitted.

This immediately sparked heated discussions, with civil officials filled with righteous indignation, calling it a great disgrace.

Each submitted their memorials, their words flowing freely and eloquently, all emphasizing the need to eradicate the remaining Mongols in order to wash away the shame, deter the barbarians from daring to offend the might of the Great Zhou Dynasty again.

Military officers, unlike civil officials, didn't have as many tricks up their sleeves. Their reports were sharp and direct, accusing the military outposts of lax defense and the officers responsible for dereliction of duty, demanding severe punishment.

Furthermore, an imperial censor made a scathing remark in court: Donggang Town is adjacent to Xuanfu Town and Jizhou Town, and both towns have scouts patrolling the border daily. Why was there no awareness of the robbery of the military depot?

This is due to lax defense by the border troops of the two towns. They must be investigated and held accountable, and the negligent and incompetent generals must be replaced. The discipline of the nine border garrisons must be rectified to prevent future troubles.

Many meritorious nobles and military generals volunteered to lead troops into battle against the Mongol invaders, reclaim lost territory, and demonstrate the nation's prestige.

……

Jia Cong remained silent in the court. As someone involved in the situation, he knew Emperor Jia Zhao's strategy. In fact, the plan had already been decided in the warm pavilion last night.

Today, most of the memorials presented by the court officials are just empty words to maintain appearances; the emperor on the throne will not take them seriously.

Among the generals who volunteered for battle, Prince Zhao, Li Chongmao, was prominently listed. He was full of vigor, his expression was indignant, and his words were earnest, which moved everyone.

This caught Jia Cong's attention. He thought of the words that Yuan Chun had conveyed through Baoqin, and the invitation to the birthday banquet on the eighth day of the month, which made him think back to it all...

King Zhao once quelled the rebellion of the remnants of the Yuan dynasty's Chahan tribe in the western Tibetan lands, wiping out 60,000 elite rebel troops. His military achievements were no less remarkable than Jia Cong's.

Whether measured by military resources and military achievements, or by status and prestige, Prince Zhao, Li Chongmao, is qualified to be the commander-in-chief in the battle against Anda Khan of the Tuman tribe.

However, the Great Zhou Dynasty had more than just the Prince of Zhao as a general with such ability. The emperor appointed the commander-in-chief of the army not simply based on his status and military achievements.

The trade-offs required were extraordinary, involving the consolidation of imperial power, guiding the direction of the court, and the ebb and flow of public opinion...

But Jia Cong didn't really care who the commander would ultimately be, because it was none of his business.

However, one thing is certain: given King Zhao's deep affection, it is inappropriate to hold a banquet with the national war at hand.

The birthday banquet at Prince Zhao's mansion on the eighth day of the lunar new year will definitely be canceled, which will save Jia Cong from some social obligations, and is exactly what he wanted.

……

In the past two days, in addition to reconvening the workshop officials and craftsmen, he has been working hard to produce porcelain mines, bullets, cannonballs and other firearms in accordance with the plan for using firearms in combat.

Another important official duty was to set aside time each day to travel to and from the Dali Temple government office.

Because of the political discussion held in the warm pavilion of Qianyang Palace that day, he proposed various investigation strategies to investigate the major case of leaked military secrets.

Emperor Jia Zhao granted him the authority to participate in the investigation of this case, and Wei Guanyao, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, appointed Yang Hongbin, the head of the Court of Judicial Review, as the person in charge of the case of the leak of secrets from the military granary.

After leaving the palace that day, Wei Guanyao invited Jia Cong to the Dali Temple every day to discuss strategies for investigating the case.

Jia Cong and Yang Hongbin were close friends who had worked together on a major case in Nanjing and had a smooth and tacit understanding in their communication and consultation.

Over the past two days, Yang Hongbin has summoned officials for questioning daily based on the list of officials involved and compiled their statements.

Before sunset each day, the two would review the transcripts, look for clues, and quickly identify the suspects who leaked the information.

However, after two days of investigation and questioning nearly half of the officials with access to classified information, the Dali Temple found nothing and the case remained unsolved.

……

That day, the two of them went through the interrogation records as usual, and Jia Cong selected a few from them.

He said, "In the past two days, the Dali Temple has questioned more than half of the officials, but to no avail. I think there must be a reason for this."

Yang Hongbin's eyes brightened slightly as he asked, "Yu Zhang is known for his meticulousness; could he have seen through the clues?"

Jia Cong said, "The officials under your command who are questioning you are all seasoned investigators. If the officials being questioned are truly involved in leaking secrets, it will be difficult to hide it from them."

After much thought, I roughly guessed the reason. While the leak of information about the military depots did indeed occur in the three major government offices, it could be either intentional or unintentional.

Yang Hongbin was puzzled for a moment and said, "I would like to hear the details."

Jia Cong said, "Everyone knows that the Great Zhou is in a standoff with the Mongol remnants, and has the advantage of terrain and popular support, with ample military supplies on the nine borders."

In contrast, the Mongol tribes were fragmented, loosely integrated, and lacked cohesion, giving the Great Zhou an absolute advantage over the Mongol tribes.

Even if the two states make peace, the Great Zhou will still be in a dominant position. Which of the three secret officials is an ordinary person? They would not fail to see this simple truth.

Those who harbor ulterior motives always seek to advance their careers by associating with the strong when they are weak.

The strength of the Great Zhou and the Mongol Empire is clearly distinct. I don't think these officials from the three secret ministries would be so foolish as to defect to the Mongol Empire for no reason.

Most leaks of military supplies are not intentional, but rather unintentional, with the people involved unaware of them.

Even if the officials of the Court of Judicial Review are shrewd and capable, it is difficult for them to fabricate any evidence and uncover anything suspicious from an honest and upright person.

Yang Hongbin suddenly understood and said, "Yu Zhang is absolutely right. Is there a strategy to deal with this?"

Jia Cong said, "When officials are questioned and they determine that there has been no leak, they will naturally avoid unfavorable matters when answering questions, so as not to put themselves in a false accusation."

Without a license, no criminal offense can be carried out. Even the most astute auditing officials are at a loss. Therefore, auditing must find another way.

Try to find clues by starting with these officials' close associates or familiar colleagues.

Jia Cong pushed the selected transcripts in front of Yang Hongbin.

He said, "I have carefully studied and considered these interrogation documents, and I think they deserve special attention. We should try to investigate them thoroughly, and perhaps we can gain some insights..." (End of this chapter)