Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

A worn gray silk curtain hung between the main hall and the inner room. Baochai was sitting on the kang (heated brick bed) in the inner room, with a small embroidery hoop on the small table. She had only finished embroidering half of it before leaving it there.

Her hair was as black as silk, simply tied in a bun. She no longer wore the peony hairpin, and instead had a peach wood hairpin in her bun, which made her look very simple and elegant.

Wearing a light blue cotton-padded jacket with a dark floral pattern, an indigo blue vest embroidered with silver thread, and a white satin cotton skirt, her attire lacked any trace of luxury, exuding a sense of loneliness amidst its elegance.

She used to wear a pale blue palace flower in her hair, but she had long since taken it off and locked it away. Although she still had fair skin, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and was bright and charming, her pretty face had become thinner.

She held a miscellaneous book in her hand, but she had no interest in reading it. She was just putting on an act, sitting there in a daze, looking worried and troubled.

Since Xue Pan was imprisoned, Pear Fragrance Courtyard has been shrouded in gloom and despair. Aunt Xue, who doted on her son, was now in grave danger and her life hung in the balance, and she wept day and night.

Baochai could only endure the sadness and loneliness in her heart, trying her best to comfort her mother every day. She herself became more and more exhausted, and thought of Jia Cong all the time, feeling increasingly desolate and helpless.

Since the day she sent the letter to Jinling, the mother and daughter went to the Prince's Mansion to ask Prince Teng to help Xue Pan. When Prince Teng heard the details, he hesitated.

It is said that the court is currently engaged in a war against the Mongols, and Xue Pan's involvement in a major military case is far too contrary to the times. It is necessary to make careful plans in order to make a decision.

Aunt Xue and Wang Ziteng were siblings, and they could easily understand the meaning behind her words. Her brother was making excuses, and his daughter had indeed guessed right. She felt even more sorrowful and helpless.

Now all I want is for the letter to be delivered to Jinling as soon as possible. I place all my hopes on Xue Yuan. I count the days almost every day, trying to figure out where the letter has arrived. It truly feels like an eternity.

……

Aunt Xue sent someone to the yamen to inquire about the situation. She originally wanted to visit her son, but the Dali Temple said that Xue Pan was involved in a major military case, and the court did not allow visits to prisoners of important criminals.

Aunt Xue was both shocked and frightened, and inevitably burst into tears again. She could only ask Jia Zheng for help, but Jia Zheng was already in a difficult situation because of Jia Yucun's affair and was extremely worried.

However, he couldn't refuse Aunt Xue, so he reluctantly visited Yang Hongbin. Because of his relationship with Jia Cong, Yang Hongbin treated Jia Zheng with great courtesy and explained various matters to him.

The evidence against Xue Pan is clear, and he does not need to be tortured or interrogated at present. He is currently only being held in prison, and I will try to take care of him so that he suffers less.

Jia Zheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and returned to tell Aunt Xue the details. He also said that Yang Hongbin was Jia Cong's close friend, and since he had made the promise, Xue Pan would certainly not be mistreated in prison.

Aunt Xue saw that her brother held a high position but stood idly by, while her brother-in-law, though not a high-ranking official, was willing to do things for his son. The difference in their feelings was obvious.

Although Jia Cong was away on a military campaign, he had extensive connections in the capital, including close friends with high-ranking officials in the Court of Judicial Review who were willing to lend him face and take care of his son.

As Aunt Xue sat in her own predicament, seeing the situation before her, she felt increasingly regretful and frustrated. If she had granted her daughter's wish earlier, she would have had more to rely on now...

……

Baochai sat listlessly in her room, wondering when Jia Cong would return in triumph, when her third uncle would arrive in the capital, and then she thought of her brother's punishment, fearing that the family's reputation would be ruined from then on.

Once you reach that point, the hopes and dreams you once held will inevitably become increasingly distant. It's truly a heart burdened with a thousand sorrows, lingering and unresolved, driving one to the brink of despair.

Just as she was feeling troubled, she heard footsteps outside the main room. Jin Chuan said, "Second Miss, Third Miss, Miss Lin, Miss Shi, you've all arrived."

Since the Xue family's misfortune, out of sisterly affection, Yingchun, Daiyu, and others would visit Pear Fragrance Courtyard every day to chat with Baochai and help her relieve her worries.

Baochai perked up and lifted the curtain, asking Jin Chuan and Ying'er to serve tea. The sisters had only been chatting for a few minutes when they heard several muffled claps of thunder outside, seemingly coming from afar.

Moreover, the thunder was very strange. Unlike usual thunder that would only rumble a few times and then stop, it sounded one after another without ceasing, as if the sky had collapsed.

The sisters, encountering such a strange event for the first time, were all somewhat pale-faced. They felt a buzzing in their ears and even the ground beneath their feet trembled. They looked at each other in astonishment.

They quickly went out of the main room to listen, and the rumbling thunder became clearer. Birds in the birdcages hanging on the veranda were jumping around wildly and chirping in fright.

Yingchun said, "How can there be thunder on such a sunny day, and so strong and so frequent? It's making people uneasy. This has never happened before."

Baochai said, "Even thunder on a clear day only makes one or two sounds before it stops. It's too strange that it keeps making dozens of sounds like today."

……

Shi Xiangyun's bright eyes darted around, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she said, "This doesn't sound like thunder at all. Didn't you hear it clearly just now? There were so many sounds in a row."

Every sound was the same. How could thunder in the sky sound like that? I thought it sounded like cannon fire. When it comes to this kind of thing, my third brother is the best at it.

Although I have never heard of cannons firing, my third uncle has mentioned it many times. He said that the Great Zhou cannons were also modified by my third brother and were a hundred times more powerful than any other musket.

The cannons made a tremendous noise when they fired, like thunder in the sky. There were so many shots just now, so it must have been many cannons firing at the same time, no doubt about it.

It's likely that my third brother caused this commotion. He's not exactly the most skilled at handling firearms, but this time he's leading six thousand Shenji soldiers, and I heard he brought a lot of cannons with him."

Daiyu laughed and said, "Although I don't know anything about cannons, my third brother went to Tongzhou five days ago, which is several hundred miles away from the capital. How could he hear the cannon fire from so far away?"

"It's clear you're making this up. Sister Yun has been acting strangely lately; she can't stop talking about Third Brother, even the thunder in the sky involves him. When did they become so close?"

Yingchun and her sisters all laughed when they heard this, but Shi Xiangyun felt guilty. Normally, with her quick wit and enthusiasm, she would have liked to banter and argue with Daiyu, which would have been quite interesting.

At this moment, she lost her confidence, her face flushed, and she said something contrary to her true feelings: "Who would be friends with him? Third Brother is only good at studying, he's too dull and boring in other aspects!"

Baochai, however, seemed oblivious to the gossip of the others and suddenly said, "Could it be that Brother Cong isn't in Tongzhou, but is currently near the capital, which is why he's causing this commotion?"

The sisters all laughed and said they would never believe it. Shi Xiangyun even took the opportunity to get rid of her shyness and embarrassment, and laughed and said that Baochai was even better at making up stories than she was.

It is also said that the third brother has been gone for four or five days. How could he still be wandering around the capital? He must have already arrived in Tongzhou and dealt with many Mongol Tartars.

Baochai herself realized that she was being a bit delirious as soon as she spoke. It was probably because her brother had encountered a serious incident and she was so anxious and helpless that she wanted Jia Cong to support her.

How could she be so delusional, hoping he was still wandering around the capital and would be home soon? He's thousands of miles away now; how could he possibly help her...?

The sisters chattered and discussed the strange thunder, their idle gossip in the boudoir was pleasant and amusing, which relieved some of Baochai's worries.

In truth, behind their words, they were all thinking of Jia Cong, only the details of their thoughts differed from one another.

……

After chatting for a while, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters, worried that Baochai would be bored staying in her room, went to the garden to stroll and talk.

Now that Baoyu has moved out of the West Mansion and gone to study at the Imperial Academy, the inner courtyard of the West Mansion is much quieter, and the sisters can move around without any worries.

When the sun was high in the sky, Baochai had her maids set out a meal in Pear Fragrance Courtyard and invited the sisters to eat together. But then Wang Xifeng came over.

He smiled and said, "I was going to visit my aunt and sister today, but before I left, I ran into Lin Zhixiao's family who came to report on me. I happened to get news about Brother Cong, and I'm just coming over to tell you about it."

Yingchun hurriedly asked, "Didn't Cong go to the North Three Passes? How did Lin Zhixiao's wife know his whereabouts? What's going on? Sister Feng, please tell me quickly."

Wang Xifeng laughed and said, "Brother Cong is not at Beishan Pass. This morning he was still wandering around the eastern suburbs of the city, and he was fighting with the Mongol Tartars and even won the battle."

Shi Xiangyun said, "Oh dear, I guessed right. It was indeed Third Brother who caused the commotion. Sister Feng, did you set off cannons to beat up the Mongol Tartars?"

Wang Xifeng asked in confusion, "What about setting off cannons? Lin Zhixiao's wife didn't say anything. Her husband heard about it from the city while he was out on business."

It is said that this morning the Mongol Tartars suddenly attacked, and a massive cavalry charge towards the east of the city. The Cong brothers somehow ended up there and killed and wounded many Mongol Tartars.

Many soldiers on the city wall witnessed it firsthand, which is why the news spread into the city. It can't be wrong. Just you wait and see, Brother Cong is going to be smug again!

Wang Xifeng was extremely familiar with Jia Cong's schemes. Whenever he made a fuss, it was usually for something good, as he would surely earn military merit in such a battle.

Last time Jia Cong went to Liaodong, he was granted the hereditary title of Earl of Weiyuan. Now he is fighting against the Mongol Tartars outside the capital, which seems to be a great achievement.

If he can gain further military merits and rewards this time, the eldest branch of the Jia family will become even more powerful and influential, and she will also rise in status within the Jia family, giving her husband Jia Lian more support outside the home...

……

Daiyu didn't care about Jia Cong's meritorious service in killing the enemy, but asked, "Sister Feng, Third Brother has driven back the Mongol Tartars, isn't he going to return to the city victorious now?"

Upon hearing this, Baochai's heart skipped a beat. She was filled with panic and completely lost. How wonderful it would be if he could come back...

The question Daiyu asked was also what Yingchun wanted to say, hoping her brother would return. Shi Xiangyun and Baochai were also watching intently, waiting for Wang Xifeng's reply.

Wang Xifeng said, "It's not so convenient for him to come back. Although Brother Cong killed and wounded many Mongol Tartars, the Tartars were too numerous for him to resist."

It is said that he led cavalry northwards, followed by a large contingent of Mongol Tartars. No one can say for sure what happened after that, but the second master of the Shi family led troops out of the city to reinforce them.

You don't need to worry too much. Brother Cong is incredibly capable. What hasn't he accomplished over the years? You've seen him suffer losses before, and this time will surely be the same."

Shi Xiangyun said urgently, "If Third Uncle knows Third Brother's situation, I will go back to the manor right now. If Third Uncle doesn't return, I will wait. I must know whether Third Brother is safe or not." The sisters all thought it made sense, so Wang Xifeng asked Feng'er to go out and tell Shi Xiangyun to prepare a carriage to go back to the manor.

Feng'er had only been gone a short while when she returned and said, "The Second Madam of the Shi family has arrived. She just entered the inner courtyard and is now heading towards Rongqing Hall..."

…………

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

As soon as Lady Li, the Marquis of Zhongjing, reached the entrance of the hall, she saw graceful figures swaying on the covered walkway to the left, dressed in splendid robes and brocade skirts—the young ladies and misses of the Jia family.

The one leading the group was her niece, Xiangyun. Before she even got close, she asked, "Auntie, I was just about to go home, but you've come all this way."

I was just about to ask my third uncle if he had returned home. I heard that my third brother was fighting the Tartars outside the city, and my third uncle even went out of the city to reinforce him. I wonder if my third brother is safe?

Madam Li smiled and said, "I was just about to talk about this when I came to the mansion. I saw you were in such a hurry. Wait until we go into the hall and talk about it together with your aunt. You will all be relieved to hear it then."

Upon hearing the word "reassuring," the sisters all breathed a sigh of relief. After entering the hall, Li exchanged a few pleasantries with Grandmother Jia before explaining the purpose of her visit.

He laughed and said, "Just now, the master sent someone back to the manor to say that Cong-ge'er has been camping outside the city for the past few days, and this morning he was fighting with the Mongol Tartars in the south of the city."

Although the Tartars were numerous and had been pursued for a long time, and although they have now escaped, many soldiers on the city walls are watching the battle, and the news will likely spread throughout the city.

The master feared that you would hear the rumors and worry about Cong-ge'er, so he specifically sent me to the manor to inform you that Cong-ge'er is perfectly fine and has even distinguished himself in battle.

Yingchun hurriedly asked, "Since Brother Cong is fighting outside the city and has made great contributions, could you please return to the city? Are you still outside the city now, or have you gone somewhere else?"

Madam Li shook her head and said, "Master only sent a personal guard to deliver a message saying that Cong-ge'er is doing well, but he didn't say anything else. I shouldn't inquire about matters of state."

Although Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others were disappointed upon hearing this, they were content as long as they knew that Jia Cong was safe and sound. Moreover, he had made meritorious contributions in battle and would likely return in triumph soon.

……

East of the capital city, at Hongde Gate.

Marquis Zhongjing, Shi Ding, led two hundred elite cavalrymen to escort two tall carriages into the city. The carriages were covered with curtains, making them completely sealed off and airtight.

Although it attracted the attention of many passersby, no one could see what was inside the car, and the guards looked solemn, so no one dared to approach easily.

Shi Ding then sent Wang Lin, the military advisor of the central army, to accompany him. The carriage was escorted to the Ministry of War. When Gu Yankui, the Minister of War, learned of the news, he personally went out of the government office to make arrangements.

Two carriages entered the Ministry of War's yamen through a side gate. Immediately afterwards, all four gates of the Ministry of War were closed, and an order was given to the officials inside to stop moving around.

Then six or seven prisoners were taken off the carriage. These prisoners had all removed their outer clothes and were only wearing various kinds of inner garments, so it was impossible to tell their specific identities.

These people were all burly and strong, and all of them wore hoods so that their faces could not be seen. One of them had injured his thigh and walked with a limp.

After handing over the important matters, Shi Ding instructed Wang Lin to immediately lead two hundred elite cavalry out of the city to set up camp, without lingering for a moment, while he himself went to the palace to meet the emperor.

……

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace.

Although Shi Ding and Jia Cong agreed that the annihilation of nearly 20,000 remaining Mongol cavalry and the capture of their commander Anda Khan's second son, Man Hai, should be kept strictly confidential for a short period of time.

However, when Jia Cong faced off against the remnant Mongol cavalry on the outskirts of Shenjing City, thousands of soldiers on the city walls witnessed the battle, many of whom were archers.

These soldiers would take turns on duty and would pass through the city, so it was impossible to keep Jia Cong's battle against the enemy outside the city a secret.

Fortunately, the earth-shattering artillery battle took place thirty miles northwest of the capital, in a desolate wilderness, making it much easier to block the news.

After discussing countermeasures with Jia Cong, he made some arrangements for his elite cavalry before personally escorting Man Hai and the others back to the city. He then immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor.

……

Because today was a day of rest for the emperor, Emperor Jiazhao went to the warm pavilion to attend to state affairs early in the morning. Not long after, he also heard a thunderous sound. He ordered people to investigate, but to no avail.

It wasn't until Shi Ding entered the palace to report that he learned the origin of the thunderous sound. At that moment, he was holding the memorial and reading it, his face filled with joy and surprise.

He laughed and said, "Such a great victory, I cannot witness it with my own eyes. The might and power of the Great Zhou army is truly a regret of my life. Shi Ding, is the artillery formation really that powerful?"

Shi Ding said, "When I arrived to provide reinforcements, the artillery on the hilltop was firing in a devastating barrage, like divine punishment. It was devastating and earth-shattering, leaving both men and horses devastated."

However, after only half an hour of continuous bombardment, of the 16,000 elite Mongol cavalrymen, only a little over 1,000 survived, and almost all of them were wounded.

With Jia Cong's workshops charging into battle and setting up an ambush on the flank of the Shijiatu, this battle has annihilated 18,000 elite Mongol cavalrymen, a glorious victory for our dynasty!

……

Upon hearing Shi Ding's words, Emperor Jiazhao's face lit up with excitement. He recalled that among the princes, he had been diligent and pragmatic in his dealings with others, but his military skills were mediocre.

Compared to the brilliant and accomplished King Wu of yesteryear, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts, the former Emperor Yong'an was far less impressive. The father and son complemented each other perfectly.

Emperor Jia Zhao inevitably harbored some grievances. Since his ascension to the throne, he had been diligent in governing, and the country was peaceful and prosperous with ample food supplies. However, he had always longed for military achievements.

Victory in battle, expansion of territory, and surpassing one's predecessors had always been his ambitions. However, when he ascended the throne, although there were some disturbances among the surrounding barbarians, they were merely border troubles.

In the sixth year of the Jiazhao reign, Emperor Chengzong of Liang resisted the invasion of Anda Khan. Although he won five battles in a row, he only defended against the enemy outside the pass. The court and the public regarded it as a duty to guard the border.

When the eldest prince led an army of 100,000 to quell the rebellion of the Chahan tribe in Hezhou, beheading 2,000 and capturing more than 10,000 soldiers and generals, it could only be considered a border defense and pacification campaign.

Only two years ago, Jia Cong pacified the Jurchens in Liaodong. Although he only annihilated 6,000 Jurchen troops from three guards, he truly expanded the territory by thousands of miles in the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region.

Emperor Jia Zhao considered Jia Cong's achievements to be comparable to those of his predecessors, which is why he rewarded him so handsomely and conferred upon him the first hereditary earldom in the Jia Zhao dynasty.

Although today's battle outside the city did not result in any territorial expansion, Jia Cong's annihilation of nearly 20,000 elite Mongol cavalry with only a few thousand troops was a brilliant victory unparalleled in the Jiazhao Dynasty.

The year before last, the eldest prince led an army of 100,000 to quell a rebellion, but only managed to annihilate more than 10,000 Chahan tribesmen. Compared to that, Jia Cong's achievements this time are truly astonishing.

Emperor Jiazhao, suppressing his excitement, said, "Where is Jia Cong? Why didn't he come to the palace with you to pay your respects? He has rendered great service this time, and I will reward him handsomely."

……

Shi Ding was slightly shaken upon hearing this. Although he knew that Jia Cong's extraordinary achievements deserved the Emperor's favor and rewards, the Emperor's reaction was somewhat unexpected.

Emperor Jia Zhao, who was always rigorous and pragmatic, was always calm and meticulous in his dealings and never showed his emotions. It was extremely rare for him to utter such words of praise and reward.

Shi Ding said, "Your Majesty, after the artillery battle ended, Jia Cong and I interrogated the captured generals and learned that there are still two thousand remnants of Mongol cavalry entrenched in Wawu Town."

We, your humble servants, believe that several thousand elite remnants of the Mongol army are entrenched beside the Emperor in the capital, posing a significant threat to the nation. We should press our advantage, strike while they are off guard, and annihilate them as soon as possible.

Jia Cong and I discussed and decided on a plan. Jia Cong led four thousand musketeer cavalry, and I assigned him two thousand cavalry archers, all under his full command, to rush to Wawu Town to wipe out the remaining enemy forces.

Jia Cong is a first-rate general. His four thousand musketeer cavalry are already an unstoppable force. Now, with an army several times larger, they will surely wipe out the remaining two thousand enemies without a doubt.

……

Emperor Jia Zhao laughed and said, "Your thinking is thorough. With the remaining enemies in Wawu Town eliminated, the four prefectures surrounding the capital can rest easy. The army at the three northern passes can focus all its efforts on defending against the enemy."

Emperor Jiazhao pointed to the memorial submitted by the emperor and said, "Jia Cong's memorial, which proposes a counterintuitive plan, is indeed a brilliant scheme, but it is better than seeking it in dangerous situations. What do you think?"

Shi Ding said, "Jia Cong seized Anda Khan's secret order from the brocade pouch and deduced Anda Khan's military plans from it. This is a great opportunity for this battle and must not be missed."

To ensure the success of this plan, the victory thirty miles north also needs to be kept strictly confidential. Jia Cong has already mobilized several thousand soldiers to clean up the battlefield to ensure that no one escapes.

Before I entered the palace, I personally escorted the criminals, including Man Hai, in a covered carriage and secretly imprisoned them in the Ministry of War's prison. With Lord Gu personally in charge of this matter, we can be assured that everything will go smoothly.

My four thousand archer cavalrymen will no longer enter the city. I have ordered them to set up camp outside the city to guard it. They have all personally experienced the artillery battle of the Divine Machine Battalion to prevent the news from leaking out if they enter the city.

Two hundred of my personal guards escorted the prisoners to the Ministry of War and have already set up camp outside the city, not staying in the city for even a moment, to ensure that news of the great victory can be kept secret for more than ten days.

Although Jia Cong's plan is risky and unconventional, if successful, it will secure victory in the campaign against the Mongols. I believe this plan is feasible.

Jia Cong is a brilliant strategist, quick to adapt to changing battlefield situations, and possesses astonishing courage and strategic acumen. Such a daring and unconventional plan might not be feasible for others, but Jia Cong is certain to succeed!

Emperor Jia Zhao said in a deep voice, "You are right. Everything he has done in the past few years has been extraordinary. Others may not be able to do it, but he can."

"I will trust him one more time. This great victory had its reasons, and it is necessary to temporarily suppress the news. Jia Cong has made such a contribution, and I cannot fail to reward him..." (End of this chapter)