Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

In the afternoon, the sunlight blended with the street, and pedestrians came and went like a shuttle, their demeanor relaxed and leisurely.

The sudden sound of hooves, the rider's impatient shouts, the conspicuous border guard uniforms, and the cold, standard-issue steel swords all startled pedestrians, causing them to scatter in panic.

The galloping warhorses, like icebreakers breaking through solid ice, forcefully plowed through the flow of people, speeding northward along the cleared passage.

Jia Cong gazed into the distance, his expression somewhat grave. The last military report urgently sent to the Empress was from the Liaodong border garrison, bringing the earth-shattering news that the remnants of the Mongols had seized the military granaries.

He didn't know which military town the three riders had come from, and it was the same urgent report from 800 li away.

The horses were heading north of the city, where the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions were located. Further north lay the Great Zhou Palace.

In short, the urgent dispatch of military reports by the border troops at this time is definitely not a good thing.

A few days ago, Jia Cong and Yang Hongbin discussed the military situation in the north at the Dali Temple government office. They believed that after Anda Khan seized the military granary, there would definitely be other unusual activities.

Heading north could cut off the retreat routes of Xuanfu and Jizhou, allowing for opportune moments to capture them.

"By taking advantage of the convenient supply routes to the south, with fast horses and elite cavalry, we can march day and night and head straight for the capital."

His words at the time were not just empty talk; Anda Khan was prepared to gamble everything when he dared to launch a surprise attack on the military camp.

The events that Jia Cong deduced were based on the common sense of Anda Khan's military strategies.

Now that the border troops have once again rushed to Beijing with an urgent report, if it is the latest military intelligence from the remnants of Mongolia, the situation will likely be even more difficult to manage.

Thinking of this, Jia Cong felt extremely heavy-hearted. He had originally planned to return to the workshops outside the city before sunset to supervise the construction and renovation work.

However, he changed his mind and returned to the manor first, because staying in the city would allow him to receive news of the battle more quickly.

He instructed Jiang Liu to turn around and return to the Earl's mansion first, but halfway there, he suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves again.

This time, the three riders were still on fast horses. Although they wore military uniforms, they were not in the colors of border troops, but rather were scouts from the Five Military Commands.

The knight still carried a tricolor flag on his back and a leather bag for delivering messages, maintaining his posture of delivering urgent reports from a hundred miles away. The sound of his hooves was rapid and thunderous, causing another commotion in the street.

The three-man cavalry continued their journey north of the city, presumably following the same route as the previous wave of border cavalry.

Jia Cong noticed that the pedestrians on the street frequently showed expressions of horror, and many people were already discussing the matter.

The news that the northern military garrisons had been occupied by the remnants of the Mongols had already spread throughout the city after the morning court session, and everyone in the capital knew about it.

At this time, the two military reports that had been sent to the capital by fast horse had already caused a stir among the common people, and it was feared that the turmoil would soon spread...

Jia Cong's worries deepened. With several waves of military reports arriving in the capital in a single day, he was almost certain that something major had happened in the north.

Once the carriages entered the east gate of the Earl's mansion, Jiang Liu was instructed to summon the steward and send out more shrewd servants from the outer courtyard to gather information on the streets.

If any military cavalry moves through the city again, or if news comes from various military offices, immediately return to the prefecture to report.

……

After returning to the inner courtyard, he headed towards his own yard. Along the way, he saw lush trees, magnificent pavilions, and a clear stream that meandered from the depths of the flowers and trees, cascading into the crevices of the rocks.

The scenery was beautiful and serene, full of charm, but Jia Cong had no heart to appreciate it.

As I passed by a stone bridge, I saw Daiyu with Zijuan walking across it.

She wore a light blue jacket with embroidered plum blossoms, a white cross-collar inner garment, a light yellow pleated skirt, and a bright red feather gauze cloak with a white fox fur lining.

With a beautiful face, dark hair, and a blue sapphire phoenix hairpin, she was graceful and elegant, like a fairy.

When she saw Jia Cong in the distance, her expression suddenly lit up with joy. She waved to him from afar, called out "Third Brother" once, and then quickly crossed the bridge to meet him.

When they got closer, Jia Cong asked, "Where did you come from, sister, and where are you going?"

Daiyu smiled and said, "After lunch, I was reading music scores in my room, but I got a little tired and was just about to go to my second sister's room to talk."

Why did Third Brother return to the manor so early? He said yesterday that he was going to pay a visit to Xuantian Palace, although he calculated that it would not take more than a day.

But these past few days you've often mentioned important matters at court and the busy affairs of the government office. I assumed you would return to the government office first after descending the mountain. Why did you return home before sunset?

Seeing that Daiyu had left in a hurry and her hair was disheveled by the wind, Jia Cong subconsciously reached out to brush the messy hair away and gently tucked it behind her ear.

The two moved closer and smelled Daiyu's sweet and intoxicating fragrance. Her face was snow-white with a blush, and her hair was as black and shiny as clouds, making her exceptionally beautiful.

My fingers touched her smooth, silky earlobe, and an indescribable beauty arose within me. The jadeite silk and beaded earrings swayed slightly at the touch, shimmering in the sunlight.

Seeing that Jia Cong was getting carried away and his actions were a bit too intimate, Zijuan blushed slightly and subconsciously turned her body to the side.

Daiyu smiled at Jia Cong with her bright eyes, showing no shyness, but glanced left and right.

She tidied her hair a little and said reproachfully, "Third brother is too presumptuous. Why did you start fighting? Be careful that people don't see this and think it's something serious."

When Jia Cong saw Daiyu's graceful figure and charming beauty, most of his worries and anxieties dissipated.

He laughed and said, "Let people look if they want. Let whoever takes it seriously talk about it. It'll save people from worrying. I'm not afraid."

Daiyu hadn't felt much shyness from his earlier intimacy, but after hearing his words, her pretty face turned bright red.

She even understood the meaning behind his words; the dissatisfaction and domineering tone he conveyed actually pleased her.

He gave a slight snort and said, "Why are you acting like a scoundrel for no reason? I'm not going to mess with you."

……

Although Daiyu's tone was reproachful, she didn't take Jia Cong's teasing to heart. Instead, she asked, "Third Brother hasn't said why you're returning to the manor so early?"

Jia Cong sighed, "I was originally going back to the workshop, but as soon as I entered Hongde Gate, I encountered several waves of messengers reporting that the situation was very bad. There must have been another incident in the northern military region."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu frowned slightly and said, "Didn't they say that the Mongols raided the military granaries and obtained a lot of grain and fodder to get through the winter? Why are they still not satisfied and causing trouble during the New Year?"

Jia Cong said, "They're not just after supplies. This time they're making a big move. If I'm not mistaken, they're definitely going to send troops south. The imperial court is going to have a major war."

Daiyu was originally a young lady from a wealthy family and would never have cared about military affairs. It was only because she was influenced by Jia Cong that she paid more attention to them in her daily life.

Upon hearing the talk of a major war and seeing Jia Cong's worried expression, her heart fluttered wildly, feeling utterly lost.

With a slight frown, she said softly, "Third Brother once led troops in the Nine Borders. Now that the Mongol Tartars are invading, just as Sister Yun said, Third Brother will also go to war?"

Seeing her worried expression, Jia Cong reached out and took her small hand. It was soft and smooth as silk, seemingly boneless, yet it felt chillingly cold, making her appear very helpless.

He felt a pang of heartache and led her to sit down in a sheltered veranda. He said, “His Majesty values ​​the power of firearms. If my old friend Meng were to march south so brazenly, I would most likely have to go with the army.”

His Majesty has been very lenient with me, and has been generous with official titles and ranks over the years. As the saying goes, "An army is raised for a thousand days, and when the country goes to war, I bear military merits and it is my duty to do so." This is the right thing to do.

Sister, don't worry. I'm not a common soldier; I won't be on the front lines. Nowadays, the imperial court has a great arsenal of firearms, unlike in the past when everything involved swords and spears...

The four seas of the Great Wall are at peace, but the remnants of the Mongols beyond the Great Wall are the primary threat. A war is inevitable sooner or later. If we can win the war, we can cut off their foundation and then enjoy more peaceful days thereafter.

My uncle mentioned in his letter that after you come of age, he would send you back south to visit your family. Once the war is over, I can accompany you back south, and we can have a good look around.”

Daiyu laughed at his words and said, "You're the best at coaxing people. I don't believe you easily. Since you've said it twice, you can't go back on your word anymore, or I won't stand for it."

Jia Cong smiled slightly: "When have I ever lied to you? I always keep my word."

As he spoke, he involuntarily reached out and put his arm around the girl's slender waist. Daiyu blushed and pinched his palm, then slapped him.

Looking around, Zijuan was nowhere to be seen; she had apparently gone off to wander off somewhere.

She scolded playfully, "Third brother, where are you putting your hands? It must be Ping'er and the others spoiling you; you're getting more and more unruly..."

……

Shenjing, the Ministry of War.

The official residence of Minister Gu Yankui has been very busy these past few days, with officials from his ministry frequently coming and going. Officials from the Five Military Commands and the Ministry of Revenue also often come to handle official business.

Since the day the military report from Liaodong was urgently sent to the capital, Emperor Jiazhao has supported various countermeasures and has been implementing them one by one in a very fast-paced manner.

The Five Military Commissions had long lost their military power and now only handled matters such as transporting military supplies. The Ministry of War was almost entirely in charge of dealing with the important tasks of the war against the remnants of the Mongols.

Within the past few days, the Ministry of War, acting on the imperial edict of Emperor Jia Zhao, has completed the advance troop deployment, mobilizing 40,000 guards from the four surrounding prefectures and conscripting 20,000 from the five military camps.

Sixty thousand elite troops have been assembled in the northern suburbs of Shenjing City and have been successively transferred to Dezhou and Tongzhou in the north to strengthen the defense of the north.

The defenses of the capital and surrounding areas were also strengthened, with the nine gates of the capital city being reinforced and 45,000 elite troops deployed to guard the area closely in case of any unforeseen events.

The mobilization of the army consumed enormous amounts of grain and fodder, and the Ministry of Revenue was kept brightly lit with candles all night long, with grain transported continuously from various places.

Not only did they have to deal with the troop buildup around the capital, but they also had to transport grain and fodder to the nine key border towns to alleviate the pressure of grain shortages caused by the loss of military supplies.

Gu Yankui is an old minister in his sixties who has been working in the Ministry of War for many years and has never been as busy as he is now.

He has been staying up all night for several days, eating and sleeping in the official residence, and has not returned home for many days.

In recent days, Emperor Jiazhao has summoned the officials to the palace daily to discuss important matters with the heads of various departments. The most important matter is the appointment of the commander-in-chief for the war against the Mongols.

The news of the loss of the military stockpile was announced at the morning court session, and the civil and military officials were filled with righteous indignation. Many veteran generals in the court volunteered to fight.

Among them were quite a few who volunteered to lead the army, including Prince Zhao Li Chongmao, Duke Qi Chen Yi, and Minister of War Gu Yankui. Prince Teng, the military governor of the capital garrison, also volunteered to be the commander-in-chief according to official custom, though he met with the emperor and officials, most of them didn't take it seriously.

However, Wang Ziteng still had to maintain the proper demeanor expected of an official. Ever since Wang Ziteng severed ties with the Jia family, he had been sidelined and sidelined by Emperor Jia Zhao for a long time.

He was extremely ambitious for officialdom and had been trying to escape his current predicament. As a high-ranking military officer, military merit was the best way for him to turn his life around.

Therefore, although he volunteered to be the commander, which was in accordance with the rules of officialdom, he may not have been without the ambition to make the pretense a reality.

As for Duke Qi, Chen Yi, he was also a valiant general who had followed the retired emperor in battles on the frontier. He was a contemporary of Duke Rong, Jia Daishan.

Among the descendants of the Eight Dukes, Chen Yi is the only surviving duke and nobleman, which shows that he had made great military achievements and enjoyed great prestige in the army.

Although Chen Yi is old, he still serves as the Left Army Commander of the Five Military Commissions. His actual power is self-evident, but his military rank is indeed not low.

Given Chen Yi's qualifications and military rank, his self-appointment as the commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Mongols was far more reliable than that of Wang Ziteng.

Gu Yankui volunteered to be the commander-in-chief, which had the same meaning as Wang Ziteng's. However, he was indeed acting out of the rules of officialdom, feeling that he was not qualified to be a commander-in-chief. The emperor and his minister understood this without saying a word.

In addition to the three mentioned above, several other second-rank military commanders from various prefectures and generals from the nine border towns submitted petitions requesting to be appointed as commanders.

These petitions for battle flew to the Emperor's presence, vividly portraying the high morale of the troops.

However, among the generals who volunteered for battle, the one most recognized by the officials and whose voice was implicitly the loudest was Prince Zhao, Li Chongmao.

In fact, it is not surprising that there is such a tendency in the court.

King Zhao was the eldest son of the emperor, of noble status. Leading the army to attack the Mongols was a grand and legitimate act that could win the hearts of the army. His political intentions were extraordinary.

King Zhao once served as a commander on the frontier. He was young and strong, had made outstanding military achievements, and possessed the ability to be a commander. He also enjoyed considerable prestige in the Zhou army.

Even though the King of Zhao was shrouded in gloom due to the Jinling Guard case, he still possessed an aura that made him difficult to ignore.

At the morning court session that day, King Zhao and several other high-ranking generals volunteered to serve as commanders before the emperor.

Several self-proclaimed loyal and upright censors, a number of dedicated officials from the Six Ministries, and some military generals all stepped forward to second the motion.

After court that day, the King of Zhao issued an apology, canceled the birthday banquet at his palace on the eighth day of the month, returned the gifts from all the guests, and closed his doors to visitors in preparation for the war.

His words and actions, his humility and sincerity, and his willingness to fight for his country are truly moving.

……

However, the northern expedition against the Mongols is a war for the Great Zhou Dynasty. The commander of an army is no small matter, and the implications are far-reaching. It cannot be taken lightly.

Having the talent of a general does not mean that one can easily appoint a commander. The emperor and the officials each need to weigh the pros and cons, the weight of which is difficult to express.

Therefore, when the generals requested to fight, Emperor Jia Zhao kept the matter under wraps and did not make a decision for the time being. In the past few days, he summoned Gu Yankui and discussed the matter with him.

In truth, Gu Yankui knew that the Emperor already had a suitable candidate in mind for the position of commander-in-chief...

As he was reviewing several official documents from the Ministry of Revenue concerning the requisition of grain and fodder from various regions, he needed the coordination of the Ministry of War.

After finishing annotating the official documents, Gu Yankui wanted to take a short break, as he was getting on in years and couldn't handle sitting at his desk for too long.

Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps outside the door. He looked up and saw Peng Runan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, rushing into the official residence. He was pale and looked nervous, holding an official letter in his hand.

He said, "Your Excellency, something terrible has happened. Jizhou Town has sent an urgent military report. A few days ago, they received several defeated soldiers from Xuanfu Town and learned that Xuanfu Town had been captured by the Mongol army."

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the remnants of the Mongols besieged Xuanfu Town, cutting off roads in both the east and west directions and blocking all kinds of news. After two days of siege, they relied on spies inside the city to trick the south gate into opening.

The Tuman tribe's prince, Badu, led tens of thousands of elite troops to breach the city walls and carry out a massacre, though the attack was halted midway.

However, the number of soldiers and civilians who perished exceeded 40,000, and of the 13,000 defending soldiers, less than one in a hundred survived.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yankui's expression changed, his blood rushed to his head, he felt dizzy and swayed as if he were about to collapse.

Peng Runan quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Please take care, sir. This is a matter of great importance, and we need your strong support to handle it."

The military reports didn't stop there. According to the defeated soldiers in the city, after Badu captured Xuanfu Town, Anda Khan divided his troops and marched south; their whereabouts are now unknown.

……

Gu Yankui's face was ashen, but he remained calm and said, "Arrange carriages and horses immediately. I need to go to the palace to see the Emperor right away!"

He had barely finished speaking when footsteps sounded outside the official residence, but this time it wasn't a Ministry of War official who entered, but a military officer in uniform.

As soon as he entered the official residence, he said hurriedly, "Lord Gu, I have been ordered by Commander Chen of the Left Army to deliver an urgent military report to you."

Scouts from the Five Military Commands went north to investigate and found traces of the remnant Mongol army twenty miles from Hongshuji. They investigated the insignia and banners and confirmed that the army was personally led by Anda Khan of the Tuman tribe.

Judging from the dust and smoke of their cavalry, the visiting Mongol army numbered no less than 50,000.

When the scouts returned with urgent news, Hongshuji was already fully prepared for battle, and it seemed they wouldn't be able to hold out for long..."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yankui's face paled even more. He hastily found a map of the Nine Borders, unfolded it on his desk, and quickly located the location of the Red Tree Village.

He exclaimed in alarm, "This is bad! Anda Khan is planning to plunder grain and supplies along the military supply route and head south to take Shenjing!"

The military officer said, "Lord Chen also made the same conclusion. He has already sent General Yao, the Right Army Commander, to the palace by carriage."

Before departing, I sent word that the two lords would be waiting at the Meridian Gate, and together with Lord Gu, they would enter the palace to meet the Emperor.

…………

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace, the rear hall and warm pavilion.

Emperor Jia Zhao's desk was piled high with memorials to review, but every morning after the court session, he still went about his duties without fail, handling government affairs in an orderly manner.

He would not deliberately speed up, but he would never intentionally slack off or slow down due to fatigue or boredom.

Although he would have cabinet scholars draft and review the routine government affairs reports submitted by various ministries, it saved him a lot of energy and effort.

However, important political memorials that required his careful review and consideration could still easily fill his daily time for governing.

Perhaps it was his innate diligence and hard work, perhaps his ambition to surpass his predecessors and become a wise and benevolent ruler, or perhaps it stemmed from the hard-won throne and his supreme desire for power...

Perhaps it was the interweaving and fusion of all the aforementioned reasons that shaped the Jia Zhao Emperor of today.

Regardless of public opinion or private sentiment, regardless of the bizarre rumors circulating, and regardless of the sinister and bloody events that have settled in the past, which people dare not touch.

Judging from the current situation, Emperor Jiazhao deserves to be called a diligent and capable ruler. Even ministers who harbored resentment towards him, or even those who secretly plotted against him, had to admit this.

Since the Liaodong garrison sent an urgent military report that the military depot in Donggang Town had been occupied, the court has been rapidly implementing various countermeasures.

Emperor Jia Zhao was still furious and hadn't slept well for several nights, but he continued his daily court sessions and routine government affairs as usual.

He seemed to have a few more strands of white hair on his forehead, and his expression was more haggard than a few days ago.

Just as he finished reviewing the memorials at hand, he was about to get up and stretch his muscles.

The eunuch on duty outside the palace came in to deliver a message: Minister of War Gu Yankui, Left Army Commander Chen Yi, Right Army Commander Yao Ruchang, and others.

He had entered Chengtian Gate to request an audience, saying that there was urgent military news from the north, which he wanted to report to the Emperor.

Hearing that the three ministers had arrived together, indicating their considerable influence and claiming to have urgent military intelligence from the north, he had a bad feeling.

……

The emperor's face instantly darkened, and he ordered the eunuchs to immediately issue an edict summoning the three to the warm pavilion for an audience.

After waiting for about half a cup of tea's time, which seemed both short and extremely long, Emperor Jia Zhao paced restlessly, creating an unusually oppressive atmosphere in the warm pavilion.

It wasn't until the three ministers entered the warm pavilion that Emperor Jiazhao, his expression grim and filled with barely suppressed rage, impatiently asked, "Gentlemen, has the Remnant Kingdom made any unusual moves again?"

Left Army Commander Chen Yi was also a meritorious and veteran official, worldly-wise and knowledgeable, and should not have been someone who would be timid.

But feeling the terrifying aura emanating from the emperor, he couldn't help but tremble and was speechless for a moment.

Gu Yankui calmed himself down slightly and stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, we have just received an urgent military report from Xu Guanya, the General of Jizhou Garrison."

Prince Badu of the remnant Mongol tribe besieged Xuanfu Town. On the fifth day of the first lunar month, he captured Xuanfu Town, and the 13,000-strong defending army was wiped out.

The Mongol army massacred the city in one day, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 soldiers. Scouts from the Five Military Commands reported northward that after the fall of Xuanfu Town, Anda Khan divided his forces and personally led a large army south.

At the crossroads of the nine borders, there was a red tree settlement, where only three thousand soldiers were stationed. It is feared that the settlement has now fallen.

Judging from Anda Khan's troop movements, he is surely heading south along our supply lines, heading straight for the capital, Shenjing.

Upon hearing Gu Yankui's memorial, Emperor Jiazhao was struck dumb. His face turned ashen, his eyes filled with boundless rage, and his body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Guo Lin didn't dare to breathe loudly either. He quickly took the military report from Gu Yankui and carefully presented it to the emperor.

Emperor Jia Zhao's movements were somewhat stiff. He quickly flipped through the military report, his eyes gradually turning bloodshot, and he became increasingly furious.

He shouted, "These barbarians from beyond the Great Wall are so audacious! How dare they bully me like this!"

Emperor Jia Zhao's voice was shrill and furious, echoing endlessly in the warm pavilion, causing everyone present to tremble.

The words had barely left his lips when Emperor Jia Zhao coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining the military report crimson, and slumped onto the table before collapsing backward… (End of Chapter)