Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

On the 14th day of the first month of the 16th year of the Jiazhao era, at sunset.

Twenty miles northwest of the capital, in a dense forest nestled at the foot of a mountain, a large cavalry force was vaguely hidden.

All cavalrymen controlled their warhorses, either soothing or feeding them, trying their best to keep the horses quiet.

More than a thousand warhorses gathered, and apart from the occasional snorting, they made no other sounds.

Jia Cong saw Yu Xiuzhu leading his personal guards, weaving through the cavalry and keeping them quiet.

Around noon today, Jia Cong led two thousand cavalrymen out of the camp. After galloping for sixty li, he slowed down.

Because Jiang Xiaoliu had encountered remnant Mongol cavalry scouts a hundred li from the camp, the entire army needed to be on high alert even sixty li from the camp.

This dense forest is the only place within dozens of miles where two thousand cavalrymen can be concealed.

Although firearms are far more powerful than cold weapons, to remain invincible, muskets must be kept outside a safe firing range.

Without artillery suppression and cover, if several times the number of cavalry breaks through the safe firing range, even the most advanced breech-loading muskets would be powerless to turn the tide.

Jia Cong led two thousand musketeer cavalry, whose mobility was no less than that of the elite Mongol cavalry, but the accuracy of musket fire would drop to its lowest point when the horses were galloping at high speed.

To unleash the devastating power of a musket formation, musketeers must dismount, reload, and fire, requiring a careful consideration of the pros and cons and precise timing.

……

On the edge of the dense forest, Jia Cong leaned against a large tree, using the telescope given to him by Nuoyan to gaze into the distance.

Ahead lay an endless wasteland, overgrown with weeds, the world silent and deserted, filled with a desolate and lonely atmosphere.

Ellie stood beside him, dressed in military uniform, with fair skin and a heroic air.

He wore a polished helmet and silver-lacquered armor with mountain-patterned patterns, the fiery red plume of his helmet fluttering slightly in the wind.

Jia Cong's many personal guards were extremely curious about this overly handsome young soldier who followed his commander closely and even shared a bed with him.

Ellie was wearing a heavy suit of armor, yet she seemed to carry it as if it were nothing, showing no trace of femininity.

With a saber at his waist, he rode his horse with incredible speed and skill, making him more valiant than any other man.

Although he looked effeminate, his skills were undeniable, surpassing even the personal guards. It seemed there was some reason why the commander had chosen him…

Although they felt that his relationship with the commander was ambiguous, none of them dared to underestimate him.

In addition, whenever they joked or laughed behind each other's backs, Jiang Xiaoliu and Yu Xiuzhu would scold them in a low voice.

This became a fascinating topic of conversation among the soldiers, helping them pass the time during the tedious marches.

Jia Cong naturally noticed this, but he didn't take it to heart at all.

Ellie was well aware of the situation, but she ignored it and continued to stay close to Jia Cong, appearing fearless.

Her unbridled arrogance aroused a strange admiration in her personal guards.

To be able to justify such an ambiguous and intimate affair between men is truly too heroic.

……

Jia Cong put down his telescope, seemingly sensing something, and turned to look back. The guards behind him immediately turned their gaze away, revealing a strange tacit understanding.

Jia Cong whispered in Ellie's ear: "Ellie, you've done me a lot of harm. These guards will definitely believe that their commander is a homosexual."

Ellie couldn't help but chuckle: "This is really a good thing. When we move the army back to the capital this time, your reputation as the Marquis of Weiyuan for your romantic affairs will surely spread throughout the capital."

So I've decided that I'll treat you better from now on, be closer to you than before, and let these bastards see what's what, so that this matter becomes more concrete.

When these big mouths return to Beijing, they'll definitely spread the word. I really want to see what a spectacle it will be.

"By then, which young lady would dare to provoke you? You wouldn't even be able to get a wife. That would be hilarious!"

Seeing Ellie beaming with joy, Jia Cong suppressed the urge to pinch her and chuckled in a low voice, "Women are the most venomous of hearts; can't you wish me well for once?"

Ellie chuckled softly, "Don't worry, even if other girls find you annoying, I'll still pay attention to you and let you know how good I am."

Jia Cong peered through his binoculars, muttering, "It's not enough that you're paying attention to me. If you really cause me trouble, I'll drag you down with me to pay off my debts!"

Ellie blushed, her heart filled with inexplicable sweetness, and she pinched Jia Cong.

Jia Cong suddenly thought of something and asked in a low voice, "Hey, how do you plan to treat me better and be closer to me? Tell me, I want to learn something too."

Ellie's face flushed pink, and her ears turned red as if she had thought of something. She tilted her head and said, "You want to know? I'm not going to tell you..."

The guards behind them saw them whispering to each other, not knowing what they were talking about.

Not only did they talk and laugh softly, but they also started touching me inappropriately, which gave me goosebumps and I couldn't bear to watch anymore.

……

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ellie asked, "Yuzhang, the road ahead is clear, and there are no signs of any Mongol cavalry. Why are we all hiding and not moving?"

Jia Cong said, "The area ahead is all plains with no cover whatsoever. Our two thousand cavalrymen are a formidable force."

Once the entire army forms ranks and marches rapidly, they can immediately detect the movements of anyone lying prone within ten miles.

This terrain is advantageous for cavalry charges but disadvantageous for musket formations, as the rate of reloading and firing of muskets is still slower than the rate of a cavalry charge.

The enemy has no fewer than 15,000 cavalry, several times more than us. Even if we can resist and suppress them with 2,000 musketeers, we will suffer heavy casualties.

Although our cavalry are equipped with additional porcelain mines, if our whereabouts are revealed, we will attract a charge from several times the number of Mongol cavalry.

Without artillery suppression, repelling an elite cavalry force several times larger would be extremely difficult.

……

Ellie said, "I've seen the newly developed breech-loading gun. Its range and power are both formidable. Isn't that enough to suppress cavalry?"

Jia Cong said, "The breech-loading gun is indeed powerful, but it is a newly developed firearm, and the number produced is far from enough. There are only about eight hundred finished guns."

This is not enough to create overwhelming firepower. The range and power of breech-loading guns have been greatly improved, but compared to the speed of a fast horse charging, the rate of fire is still somewhat inferior.

When more sophisticated firearms are developed in the future, the rate of fire will be greatly improved, and even without artillery suppression, it will be enough to counter cavalry short-range charges.

At that time, even the largest elite cavalry unit would have no other fate but to become sitting ducks…

……

Since Geng Jia Cong went to war, Ellie had witnessed the test firing of the breech-loading gun. The rapid reloading speed and the extremely powerful shooting force amazed her.

She simply couldn't imagine that there were any firearms in the world with a greater power and rate of fire than the new breech-loading gun...

Jia Cong said, "I have ordered two thousand cavalry to conceal their movements and rest briefly, so that Lin Zhen can lead the infantry to the location I have designated."

Their artillery was very heavy and moved slower than the infantry. It was estimated that they would not reach the area thirty miles west of Shenjing until after dark.

As long as he sets up the artillery positions on that gentle slope and completes the setup as required, we will have no worries.

"Based on the findings of the scouts, we can launch a timely attack to counter the enemy..."

……

Shenjing, the Dali Temple government office, the prison dungeon.

The prisons of the Three Judicial Offices, compared to those of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Court of Judicial Review, were less terrifying, bloody, and cruel, but they still exuded a sinister atmosphere.

The dungeon was built on two levels, and was very spacious and sturdy. It had many doors and was heavily guarded. If a criminal was trapped inside, there would be no way to escape.

Yang Hongbin and Wei Guanyao walked along the long corridor, the oil lamps on the walls casting a dim yellow light that made their shadows indistinct.

Yang Hongbin walked to a cell, reached out and opened a small window in the door, and Wei Guanyao approached to look inside.

Seeing Duan Chunjiang slumped on the haystack, they found that not only were his hands and feet bound tightly, but his mouth was also gagged and his ears were plugged.

Yang Hongbin said, "Sir, Duan Chunjiang is meticulous. He infiltrated the capital as a spy and was able to steal military secrets and accomplish such a great feat."

This person must be mentally strong. We need to find another way to open him up, block all his escape routes, and then interrogate him. That should be more effective.

But it can't be delayed until sunset tomorrow at the latest. Although I sent someone to his shop to tell him that there is not enough green rice in the city and he has to go out of the city to raise more.

"Since the nine gates of the capital were closed, he was delayed outside the city for a day. If he lingered too long, his accomplices would surely notice."

……

Wei Guanyao nodded slightly and asked, "You secretly arrested Duan Chunjiang and Huiniang this time, but didn't touch Chen Ruichang. Do you have a plan?"

Yang Hongbin said, "I do have a plan. Although Chen Ruichang is the main culprit, he is, after all, the grandson of the Duke and a general of the Five Armies Commandery."

Moreover, although Duke Qi, Chen Yi, was away on a military expedition, his eldest grandson, Chen Ruiwen, a third-rank general, was still in charge of affairs in the Duke's government.

This man holds a high official position, has a good reputation among officials, and is on good terms with various noble families; he is not an easy person to deal with. If you want to enter the mansion and arrest Chen Ruichang, it would be best to first obtain a confession as evidence, so that you can make a final decision and avoid any unforeseen complications.

Moreover, when we took Hui Niang, Chen Ruichang had just left Hui Niang's house, so he couldn't possibly know about Hui Niang's disappearance before tomorrow morning.

Moreover, all nine gates of the capital have been closed, and the Duke of Qi's mansion is under strict control by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so there is no need to worry about this person escaping.

I have investigated Hui Niang's background. She is not Mongolian, but a local of Datong.

She was unaware of the leak of military supplies; she was likely misled by Duan Chunjiang.

Of the three, Huiniang is the easiest to deal with. We can find a loophole in her, and it won't take long for me to get her to confess completely.

If she confesses that Chen Ruichang told her about Hongshuji, and then Huiniang tells Duan Qingjiang about it, then the evidence of Chen Ruichang leaking military secrets can be established.

When the time comes, I will personally come to arrest him. If Chen Ruiwen tries to cause trouble or obstruct, he will be relying on his power as a nobleman to obstruct matters of national law and policy!

So I haven't even made a move against Xue Pan yet, because I don't want the news to spread too quickly.

Wei Guanyao smiled and said, "You have thought this through very carefully and properly. This matter is aimed directly at the Duke of Qi's mansion, and it will definitely cause trouble for many hereditary noble families."

These people are always in cahoots. The Court of Judicial Review is the legitimate authority of the Three Judicial Offices. We are not the cruel officials of the Court of Judicial Review.

One must act with sufficient reason and justification, leaving no room for criticism, lest someone incite or create momentum and ruin the emperor's important governance.

Duan Chunjiang, how do you plan to interrogate him...?

…………

Yang Hongbin said, "I first got a confession from Hui Niang, and then interrogated Duan Chunjiang to let him know that the spying on military intelligence had all been exposed."

Even though Chen Ruichang is a son of a noble family and did not intentionally leak military secrets, he can hardly escape punishment. It is hoped that he will be sensible and reveal his other accomplices in the city.

If he refuses to comply and insists on resisting, I will immediately resort to severe torture and pry open his mouth as quickly as possible.

Because his capture could only be concealed for two days at most. Once that time was delayed, his accomplices would definitely find out and scatter like birds and beasts.

The Court of Judicial Review is the legitimate authority of the imperial court and does not advocate the abuse of harsh punishments. However, Duan Chunjiang is a treacherous spy, a descendant of Han Chinese, who has forgotten his ancestors and deserves to die.

Because of his espionage, military depots were seized, military towns were massacred, and his blood debts are countless and his crimes too numerous to recount. He is not among those whom the Dali Temple will pardon, and I will show him no mercy!

Wei Guanyao knew that Yang Hongbin was calm and collected, and that he always preferred to take things by wisdom rather than force. However, at this moment, a murderous look appeared on his face.

His expression hardened slightly as he said, "We must spare his life, but we can't let him die a quick death. This man must be executed in accordance with the law. The rest is up to you!"

……

After Wei Guanyao left, Yang Hongbin personally interrogated Huiniang. Through a series of words of coercion and inducement, without even needing to torture her, Huiniang confessed.

Yang Hongbin probed and led her with his words, and she realized that Hui Niang was unaware of the truth. She did not know how serious the consequences of that gossip about Hongshuji were.

He couldn't help but admire Duan Chunjiang's skill. He had stolen the secrets of the Donggang Town military depot with ingenuity and without leaving a trace, keeping all the people involved completely in the dark.

If it weren't for discussing the case with Jia Cong back then, Jia Cong, with his meticulous thinking and keen insight, would have determined that Chen Ruichang was a prime suspect after careful consideration.

The Dali Temple may take many detours, and the case is still in a state of flux. It will not be able to clarify the case or capture the culprit so quickly.

Yang Hongbin was amazed by Jia Cong's extraordinary talent and paid more and more attention to Duan Chunjiang. He feared that it would not be easy to extract the secret from him.

……

When he arrived at Duan Chunjiang's cell with Hui Niang's confession, he had the ropes on his feet untied and the gags removed from his mouth and ears.

He said, "I suppose you're a shrewd person. I don't need to waste any more words; you should already know your current situation."

Hui Niang has confessed that you instructed her to inquire with Chen Ruichang about grain transport routes so that you could do grain business, and she believed you.

Chen Ruichang had mentioned Hongshuji to her, which is how you learned about this matter. Through Hongshuji, you traced its origins and eventually found the location of the military depot.

You are a very cautious person, but you didn't expect that a plate of sheep intestines would give you away. You are not a Han Chinese, but a genuine Mongolian!

Even though Chen Ruichang is a son of a noble family, he will not escape the law this time. I hope you can be pragmatic.

If you confess everything I want to know, I might spare your life.

Duan Chunjiang sneered, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? Once I'm in this Dali Temple prison, I know I'm doomed. Whether I talk or not, it's all the same."

"You think you can fool me with just a few words? For the mighty Dali Temple to resort to such tricks is utterly laughable."

……

Yang Hongbin smiled sinisterly, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. I never expected you to confess, otherwise all these tricks would be useless. Men, come here!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than several burly jailers entered, dressed not in the uniforms of the Dali Temple officials, but in the uniforms of the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards).

These men grabbed Duan Chunjiang, held him down, and used a thin rope to gag him to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide. They then tied his hands and feet behind his back, their methods quite skillful.

Yang Hongbin said, "The Dali Temple doesn't have any experts in torture, so I specifically asked Commander Xu for you. How are your skills?"

One of the Imperial Guards laughed and said, "Lord Yang, please rest assured, the Court of Judicial Review is a respectable place, so leave this dirty work to us."

"Our skills are top-notch, among the best in the capital. Commander Xu instructed us to obey Lord Yang's orders here."

Yang Hongbin sneered, "This man is a descendant of Han Chinese who fled north. He is a spy planted in Shenjing by Anda Khan. It was this man who leaked the secrets of the military granary."

I don't need to say more, you all know how many lives he owes. Use severe torture, use all your skills, and remember to go all out!

Prepare a good ginseng soup, make sure to keep him alive and make him suffer until he confesses.

This man is a wanted criminal for leaking military secrets. You must do everything in your power, but if you kill him, even Commander Xu won't be able to protect you.

The leader of the Imperial Guards laughed and said, "Sir, you are joking. We are just trying to make a living. If we kill someone, we will lose our skills."

"You don't need to say a word, sir. We'll take our own heads and offer them to you as a football. Rest assured, sir, just watch!"

He turned back to look at Duan Chunjiang, and the fawning expression he had just displayed vanished without a trace.

With a ferocious expression, he said, "More than 800 soldiers were killed in the Northern Army Garrison, and 40,000 people were massacred in Xuanfu Town."

You fucking know how deserving you are to die, yet you still refuse to behave. You deserve to be humiliated by us!

……

Duan Chunjiang had just been prepared to die, thinking that since he wasn't even afraid of death, what else was there to care about?

Hearing Yang Hongbin's sinister words, the jailer's terrifying expression changed instantly, and he couldn't help but tremble.

The head of the Imperial Guards said with a smile, "Lord Yang, we'll handle this dirty work. We don't want to offend your eyes. Please go and rest first. We'll make sure you're satisfied."

Yang Hongbin didn't even look at Duan Chunjiang before turning around and stepping out of the cell. He heard Duan being dragged out of the cell, and then heard the iron door of the torture chamber slam shut.

Before he reached the end of the passageway, he heard Duan Chunjiang's scream, a sound so shrill it seemed inhuman.

Those few experienced executioners from the Imperial Guards were truly swift and efficient, almost impatient, and even seemed to be enjoying themselves...

The screams grew louder and louder, echoing through the dungeon like demonic sounds that could pierce the ears.

The screams were not only filled with unbearable pain, but also with a strange fear. It was unclear what methods Duan Chunjiang had been subjected to, but his screams were so shrill and unbearable.

Yang Hongbin recalled Duan Chunjiang's arrogance and his seemingly fearless attitude, and felt nothing but sarcasm and disdain.

……

Just as he was about to walk out of the passageway, he suddenly heard a scream, but it was a woman's voice. He quickly walked to Hui Niang's cell.

They found her huddled in the corner, pale-faced, with tears streaming down her face, screaming while covering her ears. It seemed she recognized Duan Chunjiang's voice.

Yang Hongbin's eyes flickered. He called over a jailer and said, "Watch this woman. Don't let anything happen to her. If anything goes wrong, report to me immediately..."

He had just stepped out of the dungeon when he saw Zhou Ping rushing over, his expression showing surprise and bewilderment. Zhou Ping said, "Sir, I've been looking for you everywhere."

Yang Hongbin's eyes lit up, and he asked, "How did you find your way here? Is there anything important?"

Zhou Ping said, "Does my lord still remember when you said that the Xue family was famous in Jinling and had such a wealthy family business?"

Why would they abandon their homeland and move their entire family to the capital, even residing in the Jia family's residence for several years? This behavior is quite suspicious.

I also instruct you to send a letter to the three judicial departments of the capital to collect relevant documents and investigate the matter.

"I followed your instructions afterward, and today the three judicial departments of the capital have sent a reply, confirming that they have indeed uncovered a major problem."

Yang Hongbin looked serious and quickly asked, "What major problem have you found?"

Zhou Ping's expression was very strange as he said, "The official reply from the three judicial departments of the secondary capital states that Xue Pan died of a sudden illness four years ago..." (End of Chapter)