Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 871 Passion and Desire Are Hard to Reject

Rongguo Mansion, Sister Feng's Courtyard.

Wang Xifeng noticed that Ping'er's cheeks were flushed, and her bright eyes were staring blankly at the gift list, her expression rather strange.

He laughed and said, "Ping'er, what kind of face do you have? Did you lose silver or your purse? Is there something wrong with this gift list?"

Ping'er snapped out of her daze and said, "There's nothing wrong with it. I was just so engrossed in watching. The Xia family's gifts are really quite authentic..."

Although she saw through the truth of the matter, even though Wang Xifeng was her closest confidante besides Jia Cong, she did not want to reveal a single word.

Since Second Master Lian was exiled to Liaodong, Second Madam was left alone with her eldest daughter, living a life of widowhood and finding life quite dull.

Therefore, she loves to talk and laugh, and especially enjoys watching excitement. As her enthusiasm grows, she becomes even more excited. It is surprising that Bao Er's wife had such thoughts, wanting to find out the details of her life.

In addition, after Master Lian got into trouble and was convicted, the Second Madam originally thought that the second branch of the family could obtain a title, so she neglected and humiliated the Second Madam. As a result, the Second Madam held a grudge.

The two women had long been at odds. Whenever the Second Madam came to visit the West Mansion, the Second Mistress wished she could chase her away with a broom, and she disliked Master Bao even more.

Last time, when the Second Mistress found the purse in the side room, she couldn't wait to spend the night with it and found an excuse to kick Bao Erye out of the West Mansion. How disgusting that must have been for the Second Household.

Knowing that the second wife's daughter-in-law had done such an outrageous thing in private, Ping'er was almost certain that Wang Xifeng would be overjoyed and add fuel to the fire...

Even if she cares about Third Master's reputation, she will most likely be eager to stir up trouble and will be so quick to speak without thinking that she will inevitably spread rumors.

If the Second Madam and Baoyu lose face, that's one thing, but if such gossip spreads in the inner quarters, the Third Master's reputation will also be tarnished.

He's a Hanlin official, so even if he doesn't do anything wrong, he'll still be the subject of gossip, which could ruin Third Master's future.

Ping'er, seeing Wang Xi's probing gaze, dared not utter a word, lest she arouse her grandmother's craving and cause trouble...

Wu'er and Ping'er spent every day together, and Wang Xifeng noticed that something was wrong with her expression, and Wu'er naturally noticed it too.

He laughed and said, "This gift list is so impressive that it has captivated you. I'd like to take a look and see if I can find it interesting."

As he spoke, he casually took the gift list from her hand, unfolded it without a second thought, glanced at it, and then closed it without making a sound.

He casually remarked, "The Xia family is quite courteous; after all, they are a prominent family."

Then he put the gift list back on the small table, looked down at the household account book in his hand, and appeared completely unaffected.

Wang Xifeng didn't notice at first and said to Lin Zhixiao's wife, "This return gift is quite good. Let's send it to the Xia family like this, and that will settle the matter."

Ping'er returned the eldest daughter to the wet nurse, stood up and said, "This morning, Third Master asked Second Miss to prepare a return gift, and I saw the gifts prepared by Aunt Lin."

Go back and tell the second young lady, so she can have some advice on how to handle things.

Just as Ping'er reached the door, Wu'er put down the account book in her hand and said, "I'm tired of sitting too. I'll come with you and stretch my legs."

Seeing the two girls rush out like a gust of wind, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You two lazy girls, you always come home to slack off whenever you have a spare moment."

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she felt something was amiss. She glanced at the gift list on the small table and couldn't resist picking it up to look through it.

Wang Xifeng, however, was unaware of the situation. Miss Xia's gift list was perfectly normal, and she couldn't see anything suspicious about it.

Wang Xifeng muttered, "There's nothing strange about this gift list, so why are these two girls so eager to see it, acting all mysterious and making it all seem so strange..."

……

In the inner courtyard of Rongguo Mansion, Ping'er, seeing that they had already left Fengjie's courtyard, said, "You also noticed the inappropriateness of this gift list."

Wu'er's expression was strange as she said, "Third Master didn't come home yesterday. The East Mansion received gifts from the Xia family. Qingwen made it clear. Which of us didn't hear it?"

Ping'er said, "This matter could be big or small. This person hasn't even entered the house yet, and he's already doing this kind of thing. Fortunately, Master Bao has moved to the East Courtyard."

If they were still staying in the West Mansion, they would definitely cause trouble after their wedding, and everyone would have to lose face.

I need to talk to Third Master about this when I have time, and tell him to be more careful in his daily life, lest he accidentally fall into a trap.

Wu'er suppressed a laugh and said, "This is not a good thing. There's no need to tell Third Master. If he doesn't even have that intention, hearing it will only annoy him."

If he had the same thought, wouldn't that stir up his interest? And to be fair, this Second Madam Bao is quite pretty...

You used to be a shrewd person, how come you've lost all your wits now? You must have been thoroughly tormented by Third Master, and now you're becoming increasingly muddle-headed."

Ping'er blushed crimson at Wu'er's teasing and said coldly, "Look at you, when did you become such a jealous woman?"

A fur-lined jacket, nothing even started, and you're already worried about Third Master cheating on you with women. You even put on airs in front of me, as if you haven't been tormented by Third Master.

That night, when I went out to get some water and passed through the main house corridor, I heard you calling out…

Wu'er blushed and said angrily, "I'll teach you a lesson for talking nonsense. I won't let you off the hook. I'll tear your mouth apart in a fit of rage."

He reached out and grabbed Ping'er's waist. Ping'er giggled and ran away, with Wu'er chasing after her in quick steps.

Two petite and slender figures strolled and laughed along the covered walkway, exuding a unique and enchanting springtime charm...

Ping'er ran for a while, panting heavily, and had no strength to run anymore. She laughed and said, "If you keep making a fuss here, be careful someone hears the noise. I'll beg for mercy, okay?"

Wu'er grabbed her waist and snorted, "I'll let you off this time, but next time I'll go to get water in the middle of the night, so you'd better watch out and I'll catch you red-handed."

Ping'er blushed and pinched Wu'er, saying, "Actually, you're overthinking it. Last night, after you went back to sleep, I talked to Third Master a few more times."

Actually, Third Master doesn't like Bao Er's wife. It sounds like he's quite disgusted with her, but I don't know why.

Third Master even casually gave that black fox fur-lined jacket to Qingwen. If he truly had designs on her, he wouldn't have done so so carelessly.

Wu'er said, "That's for the best. What kind of woman doesn't Third Master want? Aren't we enough for him to love? Going to stir up that hornet's nest would only ruin our reputation if we caused trouble."

Ping'er suppressed a laugh, not wanting to interrupt Wu'er.

Wu'er continued, "But there's no need to tell Third Master about this. He's such a shrewd man; if we can see it, how could he not know?"

It's pointless to talk about this, and besides, discussing matters like the Grand Mansion is too taboo. If we really bring it up, Third Master won't feel comfortable either. It's better for everyone to pretend to be ignorant.

However, Qingwen privately instructed her that this girl was a hothead and should not be allowed to wear the black fox fur jacket out without careful consideration.

To avoid accidentally causing trouble, let her keep it as a secret.

Now that we've figured out their true intentions, we just need to keep an eye on Third Master and prevent the second branch of the family from getting involved with him. Don't you agree?

Ping'er laughed and said, "Your idea is the most reliable. We'll all help Third Master guard against any other woman, so that he'll only dote on you."

"You've planned this very meticulously; it's exactly the behavior of a jealous woman."

Ping'er had barely finished speaking when she laughed and ran off. By the time Wu'er tried to chase after her, it was too late...

……

Shenjing, on the outskirts of the eastern city, a firearms workshop.

As dawn broke that day, many fully loaded carts lined up and drove out of the workshop, escorted by a large number of imperial guards, heading towards the north gate of the capital.

Jia Cong settled on a post in the city overnight, and Liu Shizhen, as instructed, prepared the construction equipment, materials, personnel, and stockpiled firearms in advance.

The firearms workshop began its relocation shortly after 7 a.m. today, and the pace of the operation was quite fast.

Even the details of the workshop relocation did not require Jia Cong, the workshop's head official, to personally handle everything.

He arrived at the workshop early in the morning to oversee the progress of the relocation, and waited until the first batch of guns and cannons were officially loaded onto trucks and shipped.

He watched the convoy head towards the north gate, gazing thoughtfully at the empty eastern suburbs and the surrounding mountains and terrain.

Suddenly, he turned his horse around and galloped toward a nearby slope, followed closely by more than ten fast horses.

These knights all wore the uniforms of the Divine Machine Battalion and carried long-handled muskets on their backs. They were Jia Cong's personal guards, selected from among six thousand elite troops.

He is about to lead his army into battle, and he must cultivate capable men to collect information, transmit military orders, and protect his safety during the march and fighting.

Among these guards were several familiar faces who had accompanied him to Nanjing to handle the major case involving the Nanjing Guards, such as Jiang Xiaoliu and Yu Xiuzhu...

These people had followed him into battle in Liaodong. They were originally under the command of Wei Yongzhou and Guo Zhigui, and had gone through several battles with him. They were all trustworthy people.

Jia Cong was able to quickly select elites from the Shenjing Camp, mostly with their help, so when choosing personal guards, he naturally had to recruit these people.

Once the group had ridden quickly to the top of the hill, Jia Cong took out the brass telescope, sat on the saddle, and looked around.

Jiang Xiaoliu, who was standing beside him, asked, "Lord, is there something wrong here?"

Jia Cong said, "The reason for building workshops in the suburbs was that land was extremely valuable in the city, but land could be acquired in the suburbs, which would facilitate the subsequent expansion of the workshops."

The location is at a moderate distance from the North Gate and East Gate, and the surrounding terrain is flat and unobstructed, which facilitates fast transportation by carriage and horse. These were originally advantages.

However, in the current war, these have all become weaknesses. If the war becomes protracted, refugees fleeing from the north to the south will inevitably gather outside the city.

If anything untoward happens, the workshop is extremely vulnerable to attack, and even with thousands of imperial guards protecting it, it is impossible to be completely safe.

Fortunately, we had settled the relocation of the workshops before setting out on the expedition; otherwise, it would have been difficult to eliminate our worries about the rear before leading the army into battle.

"Whether the Shenji Battalion's expedition went smoothly or not, the firearms production and supply capabilities of the workshops were key to its success or failure..."

As Jia Cong spoke, he scanned the area with his telescope, and suddenly a grove of trees on a gentle slope in the eastern suburbs of the city came into view.

The grove, with its scattered spring trees, appeared unusually lush and verdant on the outskirts of the desolate city. It contained large patches of verdant pines and cypresses, as well as unidentified evergreen trees, all mixed together, exuding vibrant life.

Amidst the lush greenery, bright yellow high walls are partially hidden, and a few dark blue eaves add a touch of elegance, exuding a solemn tranquility.

Jia Cong was very familiar with this place; it was the Muni Temple in the eastern suburbs of the city, the place where Abbess Xiushan and Miaoyu practiced their cultivation.

……

Muni Temple, located on the eastern outskirts of the city.

In the inner bedroom, Miaoyu sat upright on a futon, striking a wooden fish while chanting mantras and reciting scriptures softly.

On the altar in front of him, there is an image of Guanyin Bodhisattva, a three-legged white porcelain incense burner, and three sticks of sandalwood incense.

Incense smoke lingered, obscuring the two memorial tablets on the altar, making them appear deep and mysterious.

Although Miaoyu chanted devoutly, her face was pale, her lips were bloodless, and her brows showed weariness.

An old nun in the courtyard came to report that a guest had come to visit the mountain gate, paying respects to Abbess Xiushan. He said he was Uncle Weiyuan of the Jia family.

Miaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and she stopped striking the wooden fish in her hand. A hint of joy rose in her heart. Why did he suddenly come to visit?

She got up and left the bedroom, going to the front hall in the courtyard herself. She saw that Jia Cong had already entered the mountain gate and was standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, waiting.

Because Muni Monastery is a nunnery, Jia Cong could not enter the inner courtyard without the abbess's permission, even though he had visited many times.

Miaoyu smiled and said, "Yuzhang, it's been a long time. You have time to come and visit today?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I was on official business at the workshop outside the city today and just stopped by to pay my respects. I also have something important to discuss with you. How is Master Xiushan doing lately?"

Miaoyu said, "Thanks to Yuzhang's renovation of the Muni Temple, the meditation room is warm in winter and spring-like, and Master lives in peace and his health has been stable recently."

He was not in the courtyard today. A few days ago, Zhang Tianshi from Luocang Mountain brought his daughter to visit his master, and the two had a tacit understanding.

Yesterday, Master Zhang sent another invitation to invite my master to Xuantian Palace to exchange magical techniques. This morning, Senior Sister Jingxuan accompanied my master out, but she has not yet returned.

I was unwell, so I couldn't go. If Yuzhang has anything important to say, I'll tell Master when he returns.

……

Seeing that Miaoyu was still beautiful, but her face was somewhat pale and she seemed to lack energy, Jia Cong asked, "Is Miss Miaoyu alright?"

Miaoyu blushed slightly and said, "It's just a common ailment, I'll be fine in a couple of days. Yuzhang is not an outsider, please come into the inner hall for tea."

Seeing that her words were cryptic, Jia Cong didn't press further and followed her into the quiet room in the inner courtyard.

The room had cypress flooring and a small carved elm table. Miaoyu invited Jia Cong to sit on her futon.

She fanned the water on the stove to boil, brewed a pot of fragrant tea, served it on a small lacquered and gilded tea tray, and personally carried it to the carved table.

Then he poured two cups of tea, using a white porcelain bowl made from official kiln clay for himself and the same green jade cup for Jia Cong.

Jia Cong recalled that last year when he sent Zhi Shao back to Panxiang Temple in Suzhou, Miao Yu had brewed tea for the guests, so he asked him to use this green jade cup.

This green jade cup was an heirloom of Miaoyu and her daily private teacup. She thought Jia Cong was unaware of its contents, but Jia Cong knew its contents very well.

He saw Miaoyu holding a sweet white porcelain bowl from the official kiln, gently sipping fragrant tea from it, her posture elegant and beautiful, her expression serene and peaceful, inspiring a sense of tranquility.

He held the green jade cup in his hand; it was warm to the touch, smooth and lustrous like silk, and amidst the smoky aroma of tea, there seemed to be a subtle and refreshing fragrance...

……

Miaoyu said, "The other day, Jinghui and Xiuyan came to see Master and mentioned that Yuzhang is about to be ordered to go on an expedition. I wonder when he will set off?"

Jia Cong said, "I will be heading north in the next few days after completing a few official duties."

Miaoyu lowered her eyes slightly and said, "The battlefield is dangerous, and weapons have no eyes. When you are on the battlefield, Yuzhang, please be careful in everything you do."

Jia Cong nodded and said, "In the past two days, a large number of people from the north have poured into the city. As the war continues, it will surely escalate."

To prevent overpopulation within the city and ensure the safety of the capital, the imperial court will sooner or later strictly guard the nine gates and prevent refugees from the north from entering the city.

When a large number of refugees gather outside the city, even if the imperial court allocates grain for relief, it will inevitably be unable to cope, and the plight of the refugees will be unavoidable, which could easily lead to disaster.

Today I surveyed the terrain in the eastern suburbs of the city. The Muni Monastery is isolated in the eastern suburbs, and the monastery is inhabited by monks, nuns, and women.

The wartime situation is chaotic, and it is extremely dangerous for you to stay in the courtyard. I did not mention this to Zhi Shao, so as not to worry her.

I would like to ask you and the nun to move to my residence temporarily. In times of war, staying in the city will ensure your safety.

After I go to war, Zhi Shao and Xiu Yan will have you by their side, so they can take care of each other, and they can also show their respect to the abbess.

"Once the fighting has subsided, I will send you back to the Muni Monastery."

……

Miaoyu said, "A few days ago, Master Zhang came to visit and mentioned the war between the Mongols and the Mongols to my master. He said that war brings disaster and I'm afraid the harm will be far-reaching."

The Muni Monastery houses ancient palm-leaf scriptures, over eighty years old, which are Buddhist treasures. Such treasures are most vulnerable to the ravages of war.

The craftsman mentioned this matter yesterday, expressing deep concern. He had considered moving it to the city for storage, but had not yet found a suitable solution.

Yu Zhang thought it through carefully. I'll tell her when Master returns; she'll definitely approve.

Jia Cong smiled and said, “That’s great. I’ll be working in the workshop these next two days. I’ll come back at this time tomorrow, and you and the nun can discuss the relocation date.”

I will arrange carriages and men; you will carry the ancient scriptures into the mansion, to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Hearing this, Miaoyu felt a warmth in her heart. She reached out to refill Jia Cong's teacup and asked, "Yuzhang, will the war be critical this time?"

Jia Cong nodded and said, "On the sixth day of the first month, the remnants of the Mongols raised an army of 40,000 and invaded Xuanfu Town on the Nine Borders, and also plundered 600,000 dan of military grain."

This time, their army marching south must number well over 40,000. They have already captured Hongshuji a few days ago, so they cannot be taken lightly..."

……

Along the grain route of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, 150 li south of Hongshuji.

At the edge of the world, like rolling dark clouds, the scene spread and covered everything with astonishing power. Countless soldiers and horses surged into view, their hooves thundering, their swords and spears flashing, and their voices shaking the surrounding wilderness.

They crossed the low hills along the way, encountered scattered villages, trampled large areas of fertile land, and everything in their path was reduced to dust.

A massive horde of troops swept across the wasteland, leaving behind endless killings and looting, yet like delicate ripples in a hurricane, they vanished without a trace in an instant.

Surrounded by troops in the central army formation, a huge golden-topped yurt, pulled by more than ten strong oxen, moved forward steadily and swiftly.

This luxurious tent-like carriage served as the command post for the Mongol Anda Khan's army. At this moment, seven or eight generals were gathered inside, discussing the southern campaign.

Seated in the center of the table was Anda Khan, dressed in a white robe embroidered with gold patterns, a long black fox fur robe, a high-brimmed Hu hat, and a scimitar inlaid with seven treasures hanging at his waist.

He was in his forties, with a robust build, a square face, thick eyebrows, a full beard, and piercing eyes with a restrained yet powerful gaze, exuding an awe-inspiring presence.

On the left of the large table sat Jirang Khan, the leader of the Ordos tribe, and on the right sat Gai'ertai, the leader of the Yongxielun tribe.

There were also six or seven generals standing in front of the table, the leader of whom was Altang, a senior minister of the Tuman tribe, who had once served as the leader of the Mongol delegation and represented the Tuman tribe in the peace negotiations in the capital.

He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, our spies in the capital have just sent a secret report."

The Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty has appointed Liang Chengzong, the General of Liaodong, as commander-in-chief, to go south to oversee the war, and has also mobilized 60,000 troops to reinforce the Tongzhou and Yuanzhou lines.

The intention was to deploy heavy troops at the three passes north of Shenjing to resist the southward advance of the Mongol army.

Upon hearing Liang Chengzong's name, Anda Khan's gaze suddenly sharpened, becoming unbearable to look at...

……

Aletang continued, "Yaoshan Post Station, thirty li away from here, is a transit point on the grain route of the Northern Zhou Dynasty."

Originally there were only 1,000 garrison troops, but now 3,000 elite soldiers have been conscripted from Yuanzhou, bringing the total number of garrison troops to 4,000.

The Zhou people wanted to use Yaoshan Post Station as a vanguard fortress to hinder and delay the offensive of the three armies.

Although Yaoshan Post Station does not have tall city walls, it has built sturdy wooden fortress walls, which are not conducive to a fast horse charge to capture it, and it would probably take a lot of effort to take it down.

In my opinion, the four thousand soldiers at Yaoshan Post Station are of little use to the overall situation, and we cannot fall into the trap set by the Zhou people.

As the saying goes, speed is of the essence in war. I suggest that the army bypass Yaoshan Post Station and directly attack Yuanzhou, a key town of the Great Zhou. Catching the Zhou people off guard will surely yield remarkable results!

A general stepped forward and said, “Great Khan, it is not advisable to detour through Yaoshan Post Station. The Mongol army is marching south and has already captured Xuanfu Town, Donggang Town, and Hongshuji.”

They are invincible in attack and undefeated in battle. Yaoshan Post Station has only a few thousand men and horses, yet they have to take a detour, which will surely damage the morale of the main army.

"This humble general can lead ten thousand vanguard troops; by dawn tomorrow, we will surely raze Yaoshan Post Station to the ground!"

Anda Khan remained calm, seemingly in control, and said, "It is too early to take Yuanzhou by detour."

Yaoshan Post Station must be attacked, but the attack must be launched without breaching it…

(End of this chapter)