Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Tongzhou Military Commandery of the Army Against the Mongols.

This place was originally the office of the Tongzhou Prefectural Government, located in a bustling section of the eastern part of Tongzhou City. During the war, the Tongzhou Military Command temporarily requisitioned most of the buildings to serve as the government office.

Because Tongzhou is located behind the three northern passes, and the front lines in Yuanzhou are raging, this place has not yet been affected by the war. Although a small number of people have fled, the market is still bustling with people.

As the sun was about to climb to its zenith and the streets were bustling with activity, suddenly a large number of soldiers appeared and guarded all the intersections, startling passersby into panic.

Many pedestrians recognized these soldiers as the Tongzhou garrison troops, and could even vaguely discern that the guarded intersections were key routes to the Tongdusi government office.

A soldier on horseback came towards them, but was stopped by the guards at the crossroads and immediately detained, because someone recognized him as a personal guard of the deputy commander-in-chief.

A large number of Imperial Guards poured in from various intersections and rushed to the Tongzhou Military Commandery. In a very short time, they had surrounded the yamen.

The guards at the yamen gate drew their swords and shouted to stop them, but they could not stop the Imperial Guards from pressing forward. The situation was on the verge of breaking out and the two sides could fall into a bloody battle at any moment.

An officer from the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped out of the crowd, holding up an imperial edict, and shouted: "I am Xu Kun, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I have been ordered to summon Chen Yi. Do you want to rebel?"

Upon hearing the words "imperial edict," the guards guarding the yamen were all terrified, their morale immediately shrinking considerably. Although they were loyal to Chen Yi, they would not rebel for him.

Xu Kun shouted, "The imperial edict is before us, as if His Majesty himself were here. Tell Chen Yi to receive the edict. Anyone who disrespects it will be punished. You all lay down your swords and step back, or you will be killed without mercy!"

These guards were all Chen Yi's trusted confidants, the most elite soldiers in the country. For soldiers to abandon their swords was tantamount to abandoning their lives. For a moment, they looked at each other, their expressions hesitant.

At this moment, the sound of orderly footsteps came from the intersection again. The Jinyiwei guards who were facing each other parted the road, and many musketeers rushed in, quickly forming ranks and raising their guns at the entrance of the yamen.

Guo Zhigui's expression was solemn as he shouted, "Three-shot formation! On my command, prepare to fire!"

Faced with a dense array of gun barrels, the guards' expressions changed drastically. They were not like the remnants of the Mongol army who were skeptical of the power of firearms, but rather they were convinced of their effectiveness.

The Shenji Battalion's muskets were far superior to swords and spears. Once the three-shot musket formation was activated, they would be powerless to resist and would perish instantly, with no chance of survival.

At this moment, hurried footsteps echoed inside the government office. Chen Yi and Lieutenant General Xu Kun rushed out, shouting, "Stop! Everyone stop!"

……

Xu Kun said in a sinister tone, "Lord Chen, what an arrogant official you are! With the imperial edict before you, your personal guards have drawn their swords. What are you trying to do? Do you intend to rebel?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi was terrified and turned pale. The arrival of the Imperial Guard's henchmen could not be good news. His sudden transfer away from Yuanzhou was indeed a disaster.

He immediately shouted to his guards, "You are all being insolent! Drop your swords!"

The words had barely left his lips when, as if a taut bowstring had been released, guards immediately discarded their swords, followed by others, creating a chorus of clanging sounds as they threw down their weapons, a sound that seemed to convey a sense of relief.

Immediately, a large contingent of Imperial Guards stepped forward and took care of the two hundred personal guards. The situation was brought under control in an instant. Guo Zhigui ordered the gun formation to be regrouped and the gunmen to stand in line and remain on guard.

Chen Yi said, "I was unaware of His Majesty's decree. My personal guards acted rashly and recklessly. I do not know what His Majesty's decree is. I, Chen Yi, respectfully accept it."

Xu Kun unfurled the imperial edict in yellow silk and shouted, "Chen Yi, receive the edict!" Apart from Chen Yi and his personal guards, all the Imperial Guards and musketeers present at the yamen knelt down to receive the edict.

Emperor Fengtian Chengyun issued an edict:

An investigation by the Dali Temple revealed that Chen Ruichang, a prince of the State of Qi and a military officer in charge of land reclamation in the Five Armies Commandery, colluded with Duan Chunjiang, a spy from the Mongol tribes, to leak military secrets from the north.

This led to the looting of the military depot in Donggang Town, which in turn caused the fall of the military town of Xuanfu, resulting in the deaths of 40,000 soldiers and civilians. With all the evidence and confessions, he was the main culprit in the leak of secrets from the military depot.

His transgressions were pernicious, betraying the country and defying the emperor. The laws of the country are strict, and he deserves to be executed. The Chen family has been blessed with imperial favor for generations, a family of meritorious officials and a household of high status, enjoying imperial glory for a long time.

However, he did not think of repaying the country's kindness and harmed the affairs of the state, which greatly disappointed me. Duke Chen Yi of Qi did not manage his family strictly, his family style was decadent, his children were unruly and depraved, and his behavior was corrupt. He cannot escape the blame.

Chen Yide has suffered setbacks and has been corrupted by his upbringing. He is unfit for a high position. To allow him to assume the post of military governor again would be contrary to the laws of the country and the common people. Therefore, he is hereby dismissed and escorted back to the capital by imperial guards to await further instructions.

The position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition against the Mongols shall be succeeded by Earl Jia Cong of Weiyuan. This is hereby decreed.

……

Chen Yi had fought on the battlefield and weathered countless storms; he was by no means a coward or weak person. However, after hearing Xu Kun's decree, he felt as if he were facing certain death, and his whole body trembled slightly.

He never dreamed that the raid on the northern military camp and the earth-shattering war between the two states would be caused by his grandson Chen Ruichang. It was unbelievable and like a bolt from the blue.

He finally understood the cause and effect: Liang Chengzong had just arrived at the North Three Passes and immediately took over military power, so why did he transfer him to Tongzhou so swiftly?

Furthermore, he had preemptively adjusted the garrison formation in Tongzhou, effectively locking himself in the city. While he was a strategist on the battlefield, he wasn't particularly interested in political maneuvering; this must have been at someone's behest.

The only person capable of instructing the commander-in-chief of the army that was to attack the Mongols could be someone from the Shenjing Palace. Such shrewdness and meticulousness, such deep suspicion and scheming, are clearly the methods of the current emperor.

When His Majesty learned that the Duke of Qi's mansion was the source of the disaster, how intense must his anger and murderous intent have been! If it weren't for some reservations, the Chen family would have been doomed long ago.

This time, the grandson Chen Ruichang has caused a huge disaster, pushing the Chen family into an abyss. Even though the emperor is concerned about the hidden influence of the old meritorious officials, he has not put the Chen family to death for the time being.

But it is a foregone conclusion that the Duke of Qi's mansion will never recover. Is it possible that the power and glory accumulated by his ancestors through generations of conquest and conquest will simply vanish into thin air?

As for the life or death of his second grandson Chen Ruichang, Chen Yi had subconsciously ignored it. His chaotic and panicked thoughts could no longer tolerate this wicked grandson. In short, he was doomed.

Now Chen Yi is thinking about himself and the future of the Duke of Qi's mansion, how to survive and find a chance to breathe amidst this earth-shattering disaster...

……

Four miles north of Yaoshan Post Station lies a vast wilderness, with towering mountains forming a natural barrier, and withered trees and grass growing lushly, stretching as far as the eye can see.

The combined forces of the Great Zhou and the remnant Mongols numbered over 100,000, each setting up camp for nearly ten miles, stretching like two long dragons, their imposing presence spanning north and south, each facing the other.

At this moment, on the front lines of the two armies, thousands of soldiers from both sides were charging into battle. Warhorses galloped, shouts rang out, swords flashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and carnage filled the air.

This scene plays out every day: the Great Zhou and the Remnant Mongols confront each other at Yaoshan Post Station, both sides racking their brains to try to break through the other's defenses and win the battle.

The two sides had military tents stretching for ten miles, each blocking the other's path. Those defending their territory would fight for every inch of land, while those riding south would charge and attack fiercely, each confronting the other head-on.

The left and right flanks of both armies were subjected to surprise attacks almost every day. The soldiers of both sides were on high alert, ready to throw themselves into a sea of ​​blood and a mountain of knives at any time, their lives as worthless as grass.

Before the gate of the Mongol army camp, Anda Khan, surrounded by hundreds of personal guards, led the leaders and generals of the three Mongol tribes to stop their horses and watch the fierce battle unfold before them.

Noyan was dressed in full military attire, wearing a golden helmet and a curved sword at his waist. He looked heroic and imposing. His yellow horse, which seemed to be infected by the fighting, neighed softly, as if it wanted to gallop forward.

He silently watched the two opposing forces clash, his handsome face expressionless, only his bright eyes flashing with an unusual solemnity and worry.

He took out his brass telescope and peered at the opposing Great Zhou army formation. There was also a group of generals watching the battle in front of the enemy's gate, with banners waving behind them.

Nuoyan looked around carefully, as if she had discovered something. Her expression changed slightly, and her eyes showed confusion. She silently put away her binoculars without saying a word.

……

Altan, who was beside Anda Khan, also used a telescope to observe the Great Zhou army formation. After observing carefully for a moment, he said, "Great Khan, the Great Zhou army formation seems to have changed."

I have been paying close attention these past few days. Among the generals of the Great Zhou, the deputy commander-in-chief, Duke Qi, Chen Yi, is missing. I haven't seen his battle flag for the past three days.

Duke Chen Yi of Qi was a veteran general of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Zhou army. The commander-in-chief, Liang Chengzong, was present to oversee the battle, but the deputy commander-in-chief was not there, which was quite unusual.

The only possibility is that he has been transferred away from the front line in Yuanzhou. However, with the two sides currently engaged in fierce fighting, how could Chen Yi, as the deputy commander-in-chief, possibly leave the front line at this time?

In the past few days, I have been carefully observing the smoke from the cooking fires in Zhou Jun's camp. Several camps on their right flank have also stopped cooking in the past few days. I estimate that there are more than 10,000 people in these camps.

Moreover, the moment the smoke from the camp's cooking fires ceased, and almost simultaneously the Duke of Qi's battle flags disappeared, it must have been due to a troop movement, and Chen Yi was the one who mobilized the troops!

Upon hearing this, Noyan Taiji frowned slightly. Aletang was truly sinister and cunning; he had noticed such a subtle flaw long ago.

……

Anda Khan listened to Altang's words, took the telescope from his hand, looked carefully for a moment, and said, "The two armies are currently engaged in fierce fighting, so it is only reasonable to send reinforcements."

The Zhou people, however, are diverting troops at this time, and it is being led personally by their deputy commander Chen Yi. Could it be that the barbarian surprise attack has caught the Zhou people off guard, forcing them to divert troops to deal with the situation?

Aletang laughed and said, "The Khan is right. It must have been the Second Prince's surprise attack. The Zhou people were short of horses, and troops from the four prefectures surrounding the capital had been transferred out, so they could not possibly muster more than 20,000 cavalry. The Second Prince's 20,000 elite Mongol cavalry, galloping across the pass, would surely be invincible. After a series of attacks and raids, chaos broke out in the heart of the Zhou people, which is why they had to draw troops from the front to reinforce them."

"The Great Khan, a master strategist, has long planned and deployed this surprise force led by the Second Prince. Now that the Zhou army's front lines are disrupted, they will inevitably reveal weaknesses, allowing our army to seize the opportunity to break through!"

Anda Khan's eyes gleamed, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He said, "Now is a critical moment. We cannot afford to be careless or complacent. We must put on a show as much as possible."

These past few days, we have been closely monitoring Zhou Jun's movements. If any unusual activity occurs, his plan to secretly advance into the interior of the pass must have succeeded. No matter how skilled Liang Chengzong is in warfare, he will surely be trapped in a desperate situation!
However, a secret letter arrived from the vast sea six days ago, stating that the town of Wawu had been successfully captured. A new secret letter was supposed to be sent yesterday, but it was not received.

Altan said, “Great Khan, the Second Prince is stirring up trouble in the pass. The Zhou people will surely mobilize troops to surround and block him from all sides, making it increasingly difficult to send letters. It is only natural that it will be delayed by a few days.”

…………

The gate of the Great Zhou army camp at Yaoshan Post Station.

Commander-in-Chief Liang Chengzong, accompanied by his entire army and two hundred personal guards, watched the battle from the front of the camp gate, seemingly facing the generals of the remnant Mongol army from afar.

Surrounded by his generals, Commander Liang Chengzong rode a tall black horse, clad in fish-scale armor and wearing a black iron helmet. He was tall, with a lean face and a resolute expression.

Liang Chengzong was only in his early forties, but he had been stationed on the border of Liaodong for many years. Living in such a harsh and cold place for a long time, his face showed signs of hardship. Although he was more weathered than the average person, his sharp spirit was undeniable.

He gazed at the two armies charging and fighting on the battlefield, and after a moment said, "Left Army Lieutenant General Bi Yunsheng, listen to my order: after sunset, you will lead a thousand elite troops and return to Yuanzhou overnight."

Within three days, they mobilized all available resources to gather arrows, stones, oil, poles, sickles, and other defensive materials. They also dug pits and set up barricades within a mile of the city wall of Yuanzhou.

Commander Liu Yongzheng, listen to my order: You have always been exceptionally brave. Tomorrow, lead 20,000 elite troops to launch a surprise attack on the right flank of the remnant Mongol camp. Control casualties and do not linger in battle.

For the next two days, we will be positioned on both flanks of the enemy, ready to attack at any opportunity. However, our troop strength and offensive intensity need to be gradually reduced. I will provide further instructions on how to proceed.

Two days later, the various armies withdrew to Yuanzhou in batches, marching through the night, controlling torches, and keeping their movements concealed by gags. Five days later, the entire army withdrew into Yuanzhou, abandoning Yaoshan Post Station!

……

The newly appointed Central Army Commander Liu Yongzheng was originally the Commander of Yafu Pass in Liaodong. Due to his meritorious service in the battle against the Jurchens, he was recommended by Jia Cong and promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong Garrison.

He was a brave general under Liang Chengzong. This time, he followed the army to participate in the battle. The 20,000 border troops conscripted from the Nine Borders were led by Liu Yongzheng and were the most powerful fighting force in the Zhou army.

He said, "General, the two armies are evenly matched now. If we abandon Yaoshan Post Station, the enemy will definitely counterattack and launch a full-scale attack on Yuanzhou. The pressure on the three northern passes will definitely increase."

Liang Chengzong said, "Anda Khan confronted us at Yaoshanyi, but he did not launch a full-scale attack. He was observing the situation and waiting for the right opportunity."

But he couldn't wait for that opportunity, so I created it for him by feigning weakness to lure him south with his army. What I wanted was for him to launch a full-scale attack on Yuanzhou City..."

……

Two hundred miles east of Tongzhou lies the majestic and continuous Yunyan Mountain Range, a place rarely visited by people year-round. Within a hundred miles west of the foothills, it is all desolate wilderness devoid of human habitation.

Merchants and travelers heading north rarely used this route, but instead took the official roads along the North Three Passes, as these areas were bustling with activity, rich in commerce, and suitable for lodging and dining along the way.

Even now, during wartime, these extremely desolate places are often frequented by remnants of the Great Zhou scouts, who either roam or chase and fight each other, but they rarely approach within fifty miles of the foothills.

The vast wilderness outside the foothills is extremely flat and offers no view whatsoever. During wartime, scouts could come and go without being able to hide anything, so it had no value for flanking maneuvers or surprise attacks.

Moreover, the Tongzhou city wall stretches for several miles, like a wedge driven into the wilderness, with fortified villages built at intervals in the gaps, serving as a lookout post to the north and forming a solid barrier for the three northern passes.

Deep in the foothills of Yunzhi Mountain, a sizable Zhou army was marching swiftly through the dense forest. The vanguard cavalrymen brandished long swords, hacking at the branches and weeds that blocked their path.

As the vanguard cavalry quickly passed through, forming a rough passage, the rear guard could then pass smoothly. Although the marching efficiency was average, it was stable and unhurried.

However, some sections of the road that the army passed through seemed to have been cleared by others, saving the vanguard cavalry a lot of effort, and there were even traces of continuous trampling by carts and horses on these sections.

This made the army pass through these areas exceptionally smoothly and quickly, which surprised many soldiers who felt that the journey was strangely unsettling.

……

Jia Cong followed the vanguard cavalry, riding at a leisurely pace. He would frequently take out a brocade pouch, pull out a map from inside, and carefully check and correct the marching route.

The army also hired a guide, a hunter named Qu Shan from the outskirts of Tongzhou. Qu Shan was very familiar with the dense forest roads at the foot of Yunyan Mountain because he hunted there year-round.

If it was necessary to deviate from the original route, he would summon the hunter Qu Shan to discuss the army's next move, ensuring that the march was on the right track and that they would reach their destination in time.

Ellie, who had been by Jia Cong's side the whole time, saw Jia Cong struggling with the map and asked, "Yu Zhang, is the mountain road we're traveling on the same one that Man Hai has traveled before?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "That's right. He led the troops through most of the routes we traveled, but we were carrying many artillery pieces, which required flat terrain to tow them."

Therefore, I would choose the terrain along the way and change the marching route at any time. These artillery pieces are extremely important to us and are the key to victory in this battle.

We have now reached the territory of Tongzhou, and the route we are taking can roughly follow the path taken by Man Hai. However, after passing Yuanzhou, we will have to take a detour to avoid being detected by the enemy.

Ellie laughed and said, "Yuzhang, you have planned this trip ingeniously. Scholars really have sharp minds. I don't know how you came up with this. If we win this battle, will we be able to go home?"

Jia Cong laughed and said, "You've only been out for a short time, less than a month, and you're already homesick?"

Ellie said, "I miss my mother. I had promised to go back to the south with her, but now I'm leaving her alone at home."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "While I can't say we'll definitely win this battle, we're at least 70% confident. If we win, we'll be able to secure the victory and maintain the upper hand, and I guarantee you'll be able to go home soon."

If we could return in the warm spring of March, that would be ideal. The spring breeze is gentle then, perfect for flying kites; all my sisters and I love doing that.

Ellie laughed and said, "I've only ever been good at playing with knives since I was little, and I don't have any brothers or sisters, so I've never actually flown a kite."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Isn't that easy? After we return to the capital, we'll ride horses to the outskirts together, and I'll spend a whole day playing with you. You'll learn to fly a kite very easily."

Ellie turned her horse around and approached Jia Cong with a smile, saying, "You said it yourself, that you would play with me for a day, so don't forget. Speaking of March, I just remembered something."

Before I left for the campaign, I visited your home, and your fourth sister told me that there was a wedding being held at your residence in March. Is that true?

Jia Cong was slightly taken aback when he heard this, and said, "That was my cousin's wedding. Xi Chun loves excitement, so naturally she has always remembered this."

Ellie suddenly asked, "When a noble family marries, the bride must be a lady from a prestigious family?"

Jia Cong thought of Xia Jingui and felt a little strange. He smiled at Ellie and said, "She is not a noble lady. People only care about family background. They don't know that only those with a sincere heart can grow old together."

When Ellie saw Jia Cong's bright smile and his deep, autumn-like eyes that seemed to see into her heart, the words, "Only those with a sincere heart can grow old together," stirred her heart and brought a blush to her cheeks.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Since Jia Cong was granted an official title, guests have been flocking to both Jia family mansions. Since the East Mansion now only has female relatives and Jia Zheng is in charge of receiving guests in the outer courtyard of the West Mansion, most of the guests have come to the West Mansion.

After hearing Yingchun's suggestion, Grandmother Jia treated all guests to simple meals with tea, without any extravagance. Since the guests came only for Jia Cong, she naturally didn't care about such things.

When Lady Wang saw that Jia Cong had regained power and was promoted to the fourth rank, even holding the title of Vice Minister of Works, surpassing her husband in rank, she felt a burning jealousy and lamented the injustice of the world.

Fortunately, the Lantern Festival has passed, and Lady Wang is busy preparing for Baoyu's wedding. She can only temporarily put aside her lofty ambitions and rely on the old lady's favor towards Baoyu.

These past two days, she has been going to Rongqing Hall to discuss all the trivial matters concerning Baoyu's marriage with Grandmother Jia, so as to avoid the old lady from seeing and hearing things that only whitewashed the disgusting things about Jia Cong's promotion and wealth.

Early that morning, Rongqing Hall had no female guests. Madam Wang, accompanied by several maids and servants, brought in several red gift boxes, which, when opened, revealed fine red silk fabrics.

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "These bolts of fabric are quite festive, why did you bring them all over? What's your plan?"

Madam Wang smiled and said, "On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Mrs. Xia came to pay her respects and mentioned that she wanted to find the finest red fabric to make a wedding dress for Miss Xia."

It just so happens that the dowry shop has received Suzhou-made fabric, which is the same type used in the palace and is the best quality available on the market. Please take a look and see which piece catches your eye the most.

I then had someone send that horse to the Xia family. The pattern that the old lady likes, your granddaughter-in-law will surely like..." (End of this chapter)