Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The encampment of the Mongol army marching south, the Ordos tribe's camp.

Just now, in his military tent, Jirang Khan witnessed Anda Khan's troop deployment and strategy, pondered his intentions, and made his own deductions.

He would tell Nuoyan about this, with some intention of testing her, but he didn't expect that he would only have spoken for a short while.

Noyan's mind was so sharp that in just a moment, he analyzed Anda Khan's military intentions with such precision and detail that it was even more thorough than he had imagined.

He couldn't help but feel gratified, knowing that he had such a bloodline descendant, and that the Ordos tribe had a successor. Given time, they would surely stand out among the three tribes.

Noyan Taiji laughed and said, "Father Khan, don't say such things. Father Khan is old but still vigorous. There is no need for me to shoulder heavy responsibilities."

"Father Khan is an eagle soaring over the grasslands, and Noyan only wishes to be a sparrow nestled beneath your wings; this is the life I desire most."

Jirang Khan sighed, "I don't want you to shoulder such heavy responsibilities at such a young age, to work day and night for the tribe."

However, the current situation is unpredictable. Anda Khan implemented this plan, and Manhairu successfully arrived at Wawu Town and gained a foothold around Shenjing.

Before the great battle even began, the Mongols had already gained the upper hand. If Anda Khan were to win a great victory as a result, the prestige and influence of the Tuman tribe would surely rise.

As other factions become increasingly submissive and subservient, the winds of change will shift across the grasslands, and his ambitions will grow ever stronger.

With the balance of power shifting, he will not be satisfied with the status quo of the three major Wanhu alliances and will definitely turn back to annex the Ordos tribe and the Yongxielun tribe.

If the Great Zhou suffers a major defeat in this battle, it will not only affect the fate of both states for more than ten years, but the Ordos tribe will also be drawn into the vortex..."

……

Noyan Taiji said, “Father Khan need not worry too much. Although I have deduced that Anda Khan’s strategy is advantageous, he may be able to win a great victory by going south because of this.”

But this is just speculation. Things are unpredictable and things can change in an instant. The Great Zhou Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, with a wealth of talented people in both civil and military fields.

Anda Khan was concerned with troop movements and food supplies, and his attention was only focused on Liang Chengzong, Chen Yi and others, so he inevitably overlooked some things.

Father must have heard that the Great Zhou has been developing firearms in recent years, which are said to be extremely powerful.

"Back then, Jia Cong led a thousand soldiers armed with firearms and was able to quell the Jurchen Three Guards with several times their number of elite troops. We Mongols have never witnessed this firsthand; there must have been unforeseen circumstances."

Jirang Khan said, "You have also paid attention to this matter. Just now, during the meeting in the main tent, Anda Khan also mentioned this matter, which shows that he has also taken note of firearms."

He even instructed Man Hai to lead his troops to Wawu Town and seize the opportunity to destroy the firearms workshops outside the Great Zhou city.

……

Upon hearing this, Noyan Taiji's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Jia Cong is a shrewd and cautious man. He is the Director of the Firearms Department of the Ministry of Works of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

He is still the head of the Great Zhou Firearms Workshop. Given his past wisdom and methods, I'm afraid Man Hai will not have an easy time succeeding.

I had many interactions with Jia Cong in Shenjing, and we talked about everything under the sun. However, he was extremely cautious and never mentioned firearms.

Father, Jia Cong is a man of profound wisdom and is by no means an ordinary person. The fact that he is so tight-lipped and secretive suggests that the rumors about firearms may be true.

The military strategy of the Han people emphasizes concealing one's strength and using surprise attacks to achieve victory.

His reputation for meritorious service and the title he received during his campaign in Liaodong were not unfounded; he may well be a variable in the future.

Anda Khan, Altan, Manhai, and others had never met Jia Cong.

People know almost nothing about him, and might even think that he was just a young man who had made great progress.

They weren't as familiar with Jia Cong as I was, so they wouldn't care about him or pay attention to the rumors about him...

After saying this, Noyan Taiji turned and looked south, his eyes flickering, and said, "Father Khan, I'm a little tired, I'll go back and rest first."

When Jirang Khan saw Noyan mention Jia Cong, his expression changed and he said, "Noyan, I know you are on good terms with Jia Cong. We cannot act rashly at this critical juncture!"

……

Noyan Taiji stopped and said with a wry smile, "Father Khan is overthinking it. Did you think I would warn Jia Cong?"
Not to mention that it would take at least two to three days to get from here to the capital, and Man Hai has already led his army out overnight, so even if I wanted to, it would be too late.

The war between the two nations has already begun; there's no turning back now. It involves hundreds of thousands of people. Can it really be changed by the thought of just one person?
Moreover, Anda Khan had taken precautions in advance. After giving the order to Man Hai, he immediately issued a lockdown order, indicating that the Ordos tribe was already under his control.

Tomorrow at dawn, we will set out to fight at Yaoshan Post Station. I will deliberately not mobilize my troops. If I move even one person now, Anda Khan will surely notice.

If the Ordos region gives others a handle to use against it, it will inevitably suffer a lot of trouble, which is really not worth the loss.

Moreover, I am a Mongol general who marched south, an enemy of the Great Zhou on the battlefield. Why should the Zhou people trust me?

Noyan wouldn't do something so foolish. After all, I am a Mongol.

……

Jirang Khan looked slightly helpless and said, "Since you are well aware of the risks and dangers, why did you secretly release two Zhou army prisoners a few days ago?"

Noyan's expression stiffened slightly, and he said, "So Father Khan already knows about this."

Jirang Khan said, "I know what's so important, but right now the army is advancing south, and the situation is critical."

If you do something like this and it gets out, you'll be guilty of leaking military secrets, and Anda Khan will use that to blackmail us, which will be very difficult for us to deal with.

Don't take that risk again. Even if those two prisoners of war are kept in the army, there are always ways to save their lives.

Noyan Taiji said, “Father Khan, you may not know this, but the reason I did this is because these two prisoners of war are of unusual status.”

One of them came from the Rongguo Jia family and was Jia Cong's close confidant and attendant since childhood. His mother was Jia Cong's wet nurse.

He was Jia Cong's wet nurse brother. According to Han customs, this person was like a brother to Jia Cong and was also a trusted confidant he cultivated in the army.

When I participated in the peace negotiations in Shenjing, Jia Cong treated me with sincerity, both publicly and privately.

We used to ride horses and hunt, drink and chat happily. He did not wrong me. When he saw me off from the city, we even made a promise to meet again.

It's truly ironic that the mission didn't return to the desert, but instead led an army to launch a surprise attack on the Great Zhou's military outposts.

As Noyan Taiji finished speaking, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, revealing helplessness and a hint of anger.

……

He continued, "Now that things have come to this, I feel guilty towards him."

He secretly released the two men to preserve his friendship with Jia Cong, so that they could meet again in the future.

These two men have been under my strict custody since I captured them, and no one except my confidants knows about them.

Aside from occasionally asking Jia Cong about his childhood trivia, I never revealed any military secrets. Those two were also intelligent men, and they were careful with their words.

On the day the army was marching, I ordered Shurgan to take them away overnight. Both of them had their hands tied and their eyes blindfolded.

I escorted them more than twenty miles out of the enemy lines before letting them return to Liaodong. I did my duty to guard the area, and I accepted it even if I was discovered.

Father Khan, I did this not only out of my own conscience, but also to leave the Ordos tribe with a chance and a way out.

I believe I'm not mistaken; given time, Jia Cong will be no ordinary person..."

……

The Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

The afternoon sun was dazzling, and the blue brick paths in the garden were winding and twisting, with lush holly bushes on both sides.

Zijuan wore a light purple embroidered satin tweed jacket, with a pink five-petal patterned stand-up collar jacket underneath, and a pink long skirt on her lower body.

She was walking along the path towards Jia Cong's courtyard. A cold wind blew, causing her skirt to flutter, revealing her slender figure and delicate waist, a beautiful sight for a young woman.

When she pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate and saw that the courtyard was quiet and no one was moving around, she went directly to the main hall.

Pushing open the door to the main room, one sees the incense burner burning warmly inside, but only Qingwen is sitting there.

She wore a crimson silk vest with a dark floral pattern, a bright red embroidered handkerchief tied around her slender waist, and a deep red palace flower adorned her cloud-like hair bun, making her look very delicate and beautiful.

Holding a bamboo embroidery hoop in her hand, she was embroidering with a needle and thread, her movements were very quick and skillful, a pleasure to watch.

Zijuan laughed and said, "Such a big courtyard, how come you're the only one guarding it? Where have all the other sisters gone?"

Qingwen smiled and said, "So it's Sister Zijuan. What brings you here at noon?"

Today was also a coincidence. Sister Ping'er and Wu'er went to the East Mansion, while Sister Zhi Shao went to the Muni Temple outside the West City early in the morning.

Because of the war that has broken out outside, Abbess Xiushan and Miss Miaoyu are living alone outside the city. Third Master and Sister Zhishao are worried about them, so they invited them to stay at their residence for a while.

When Sister Zhishao left, she took the maids from the courtyard with her to help her pack her belongings.

Lingguan and Douguan were summoned by the Fourth Sister and went off to play somewhere.

Yinglian is a bookworm; she's hiding in the study reading something new. She's glued to the stool, and I can't get her to leave, leaving me all alone.

……

When Qingwen saw the package in Zijuan's hand, she smiled and asked, "What good things have you brought?" Zijuan untied the package and said, "Third Master is about to go to war, so our young lady made him a fur-lined coat."

I stayed up two nights to make it. I'm here to bring it to Third Master. This is for personal wear. You should have Third Master take off his robe and jacket and wear it alone underneath.

"Check if it fits. If it doesn't fit well, the girl will ask you to take it back and have it altered."

When Qingwen heard the word "fur-lined jacket," her heart skipped a beat, and a strange feeling arose in her heart. What was wrong with Third Master? Why was he so fixated on fur-lined jackets?

No wonder the Third Master didn't really like the high-quality black fox fur jacket that someone gave him, and he just gave it to me. It turns out he had something nice from Miss Lin to cushion him.

Qingwen laughed and said, "The fur coats made by you young ladies are a proper match for our Third Master, unlike those worthless gifts from outsiders."

Zijuan laughed and scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting now? What do you mean by 'wild goods sent from the outer three routes'? Who are you talking about?"

……

The reason Qingwen said this was because after Wu'er returned to the mansion yesterday, she specifically mentioned the origin of the black fox fur jacket to her.

Qingwen was furious when she heard this, saying that this Second Mistress of Bao was going too far, causing such a mess before even getting married, which was going to ruin the Third Master's reputation.

It is said that the black fox fur-lined jacket was originally thought to be a good thing, but after hearing this reason, it became useless. It smelled of a foul odor, so he threw it away in a huff.

It was Wu'er who advised her not to act recklessly, and that no one in the courtyard should mention the matter. The black fox fur jacket was kept hidden at the bottom of the trunk, and not even ghosts were allowed to see it.

……

Qingwen quickly changed the subject and said with a smile, "I was just talking nonsense. The Third Master will definitely like what your young lady gave him."

Since Miss Lin has put so much effort into making it, why not come and give it to him herself before Third Master leaves the office? It would be a good way to show her care and would surely make Third Master overjoyed.

It's midday and Third Master isn't home; there's hardly anyone in the yard. How could you possibly deliver this all alone?

Zijuan said, "The young lady asked me to deliver this herself because she didn't want to be too conspicuous."

After all, the young lady is not related by blood, unlike the second and third young ladies who are blood relatives. Miss Xing has been formally married, so it is only natural for them to do needlework for the third master.

"Young lady, you should be a little more discreet. These two households are connected, and Third Master is in deep mourning; it's safe to assume he's not wrong."

Although Qingwen was straightforward, she was not stupid. Although Zijuan's words were not fully expressed, she understood the meaning behind them.

He laughed and said, "I never thought of that. Miss Lin is so thoughtful, always thinking of things for our Third Master."

……

When Qingwen saw that Zijuan had taken out the fur-lined jacket, it was not a rare color like white fox or black fox, but just an ordinary grass-leaf yellow fox fur.

It doesn't look flashy at all. Although the fur color isn't the most eye-catching, the fur is fine and soft, making it a top-quality fox fur.

The padded jacket has fine stitches and exquisite workmanship. The golden buttons on it are bright yellow and have a simple and transparent feel.

Instead of opulent pure gold buttons, they are rare amber buttons, exuding an air of refined elegance.

Zijuan said, "The young lady personally went to the warehouse to choose this material. She said that if the color is ordinary and not too outstanding, it can suppress the good fortune, which seems to indicate that the Third Master is going on a long journey."

These amber buttons are also rare items, sent from Yangzhou as part of the New Year's gifts. The young lady originally intended to use them to make clothes for herself, and they match the color of the fur coat perfectly on this jacket.

Even though Qingwen was a skilled needleworker, she still thought the fur-lined jacket was exceptionally well-made.

……

He chuckled and said, “I rarely see Miss Lin with needle and thread. I never imagined her handiwork was so outstanding. It would be a real shame if she didn’t do more.”

Zijuan laughed and said, "Have you forgotten where Miss Lin is from? Suzhou's needlework and embroidery techniques have always been the best in the world."

Every household was influenced by this culture, so the girls were naturally more skilled at needlework. Although the girls left Suzhou at a young age, they had been doing needlework as a hobby since childhood.

The old woman Wang, whom the young lady brought from Suzhou, was a local from Suzhou and a skilled needleworker. The young lady had learned it from watching her since she was a child.

The girl has always been frail, and the old lady worries that needlework is too mentally taxing, so she doesn't let her do much. That's why you don't see each other often.

Qingwen smiled and said, "That's really good. Now we'll have a chance to put our skills to use."

She held up the padded jacket to herself and laughed, "I've made so many clothes for Third Master, I know his measurements best."

"No need for Third Master to try it on. I can tell at a glance that this jacket fits perfectly. Go back and tell Miss Lin to rest assured."

Zijuan then asked, "How many days has it been since the imperial decree came down? When will Third Master set off for the expedition? Has the date been set yet?"

Qingwen looked slightly downcast and said, "Third Master didn't say it explicitly, so we didn't dare to ask too much. He mentioned it briefly at breakfast today, and it'll probably be in the next couple of days."

He went to the workshop outside the city early in the morning, saying it was an important matter for the Ministry of Works, and also arranged to bring Miss Miaoyu to the mansion.

"Third Master takes care of everything before setting off on his campaign, only then can he leave with peace of mind..."

……

North of the capital city, on Yongchun Street, is the Duan Family Grain Shop.

At the street corner, there is a two-story restaurant with a black signboard with gold lettering that reads "Jixiangju". The restaurant is doing good business, with people coming and going.

This is a restaurant with over ten years of history, frequented by all sorts of discerning diners. No one would attract attention here.

In a private room on the second floor facing the street, several snacks were laid out on the table. Yang Hongbin was holding a wine glass, only taking a sip occasionally.

My gaze was fixed on the Duan family's grain shop across the street. There was a long queue in front of the shop, all of them people buying rice and grain.

After the Mongols invaded and occupied the northern military camps, and then broke through Xuanfu Town, massacring 40,000 soldiers and civilians, the news spread and people were filled with fear.

As the garrison troops from various regions were mobilized outside the city, and the elite troops of the five military battalions in the city were transferred northward, the defenses of the nine gates were gradually strengthened, and the number of northern people entering the city increased day by day.

All these signs of unrest made the people of Shenjing anxious and uneasy, and hoarding of goods by all means began to spread rapidly in the city.

Food has always been of paramount importance to the people, and the panic buying of grain began to intensify.

Even though grain prices have been rising in recent days, it has not diminished the panic buying among the people; on the contrary, it has intensified.

Queues at Duanjia Grain Shop are a common sight at rice and grain stores, but the number of customers at Duanjia Grain Shop is relatively small.

……

At this moment, the door to the private room was pushed open, and an ordinary-looking middle-aged man entered. He was Zhou Tai, a judge under Yang Hongbin.

Zhou Tai had been at Dali Temple for many years, but had always been mediocre and had not shown any outstanding performance.

However, during this investigation into the officials involved in the leak of military supplies, Zhou Tai was meticulous and experienced in handling matters, and he uncovered clues from the grain shop owner, Duan Chunjiang.

This made Yang Hongbin look at Zhou Tai with new respect, and in the past few days he has asked him to allocate manpower to closely monitor the Duan family's grain shop.

After entering the private room, Zhou Tai sat down at the table opposite Yang Hongbin, just like any other drinker.

He said, "Sir, we've been allocating manpower and resources to keep a close watch on the Duan family's grain shop day and night these past few days."

However, nothing seemed amiss in the daily business dealings of the grain shop, and Duan Chunjiang's daily comings and goings were also normal.

However, Chen Ruichang seemed to have recovered from his injuries. Last night, Duan Chunjiang invited him and Xue Pan to go out for drinks and entertainment on the sixteenth floor, but they didn't notice anything strange.

Yang Hongbin picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said, "It seems these three are closely related, and there's a lot going on between them. You should keep an eye on Xue Pan."

Zhou Tai said, "I have already transferred the relevant personnel and investigated this person's background. Among these three, Duan Chunjiang is a shrewd businessman, while Chen Ruichang is quite shrewd in officialdom."

Xue Pan was the only one who was a dissolute young man, wasting his days and doing nothing. He was the least capable of anything among the three.

The Xue family was a prominent family in Jinling, ranking among the four great families of Jinling. They were once as famous as the Jia family of Rongguo. To this day, there is a saying in Jinling: "A good snow in a good year makes pearls as cheap as dirt and gold as hard as iron."

The Xue family was extremely wealthy, but Xue Pan was a dissolute young master, a good-for-nothing who indulged in extravagance every day.

To say that such a person possesses the intelligence and courage to steal state secrets is something I find hard to believe.

Yang Hongbin looked thoughtful and said, "You're right, it's hard for this kind of spoiled brat to achieve anything, but this person isn't without his peculiarities."

His family was renowned in Jinling and rumored to be so wealthy, so why would they abandon their homeland and move thousands of miles to the capital, where they stayed for several years?

Don't you find this behavior suspicious? Faced with such a major case of military secrets being leaked, if anyone involved has any doubts, they should not be let off easily. Perhaps a breakthrough will be found.

Tomorrow, you shall send a document to the three judicial departments in the secondary capital, requesting them to gather the relevant documents and investigate the matter thoroughly.

Zhou Tai said, "After I returned to the yamen, I immediately took care of this matter. In the past few days, while monitoring Duan Chunjiang's comings and goings, I also discovered something else."

He often went to a house in Huarong Lane in the east of the city in the afternoon or at sunset. The house was inhabited by a single woman who had only one maidservant with her.

Our people saw her once and said she was very beautiful, but didn't seem to come from a respectable family.

Each time Duan Chunjiang went there, he acted with some caution, as if he didn't want outsiders to see him. Each time he entered the house, he would stay for one or two hours.

Sometimes, after sunset, they would simply spend the night there and leave quietly before dawn…” (End of Chapter)