Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

The Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace, the rear hall and warm pavilion.

On one side of the imperial desk sat a white jade tripod with two handles, exuding a milky white ambergris fragrance. The incense smoke swirled gently, creating a soothing and mysterious atmosphere.

Chen Mo was a veteran official of two dynasties, who had experienced the ups and downs of officialdom and was a seasoned veteran of the political arena. Upon hearing Emperor Jia Zhao's words, he immediately grasped the profound meaning behind them.

The leak of military supplies was the source of the Mongol invasion to the south and the beginning of its pernicious spread. It cannot be tolerated. However, the most important thing for the court at present is not to severely punish the perpetrators, but to determine the outcome of the war against the Mongols.

Jia Cong achieved a great victory against the remnants of the Mongol elite outside the capital, marking the first victory in the war against the Mongols and reversing the downward trend since the fall of Xuanfu Town. As a result, he was highly praised and promoted by the emperor.

This move was not only to promote rising talents, but also to boost morale for the campaign against the Mongols. The emperor also took this opportunity to dismiss Chen Yi, the deputy commander of Qi State, who was implicated in the leak of secrets.

As a result, Jia Cong became the deputy commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Mongols, and the second most important figure in the army at the three northern passes. In addition, his outstanding military achievements made him crucial to the entire campaign against the Mongols.

The story of Jia Cong and his uncle Jia Zheng is known to everyone in the capital. It is said that Jia Cong was abused by his biological father and stepmother when he was young because of his birth mother, and he almost did not survive.

Thanks to the care and protection of his uncle Jia Zheng, he was able to be raised and educated. Although they were uncle and nephew in name, they were like father and son, with a deep affection for each other, unlike ordinary uncle and nephew.

The former deputy commander Chen Yi has been convicted and dismissed, and his uncle, who succeeded him as deputy commander, has also been convicted of a serious crime. The court will lose face, and there will inevitably be criticism from both the court and the public. The morale of the troops fighting against the Mongols will inevitably be damaged.

Moreover, the Xue family has lived in the Rongguo Mansion for many years, and in the eyes of outsiders, they are like one big family. Xue Pan is involved in a major case and has also exposed Feng Yuan's case. The two crimes are combined and it is difficult to forgive him.

Jia Cong was a high-ranking deputy commander-in-chief in the campaign against the Mongols, leading his troops in battles for the country. However, several members of his family had committed serious crimes. The court's appointment of generals and commanders was bound to be flawed due to their incompetence and lack of understanding.

Governing a country is like cooking a small fish; it requires clear rewards and punishments, as well as weighing the pros and cons, controlling the overall situation, and guiding people's hearts. A slight error can lead to a huge mistake. Chen Mo deeply understands this principle.

……

However, the case involving Jia Zheng and Jia Yucun has already entered the documents of the Ministry of Personnel and the Three Judicial Offices, and it is no longer possible to cover it up. If his crimes are not punished, it will be absolutely difficult to silence public opinion.

Although the emperor asked him about the method of punishing Jia Zheng, he was actually asking for a compromise due to the overall situation. Chen Mo was quite intelligent, and after a little thought, he had a solution.

He said, “Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, Jia Zheng, in the case of Feng Yuan, harbored thoughts of breaking the law due to personal feelings. His conduct as an official is questionable and he cannot escape legal punishment.”

However, he was ultimately guilty in this case. If Jia Yucun, as an official in charge, had been of upright character and honest in his official duties, would he have acted so recklessly and cruelly as to take lives simply because of a letter from Jia Zheng?

The root cause of this case's perversion of justice lies in Jia Yucun's disregard for the law and his currying favor with powerful figures in the capital as a means to advance his own career. He is the primary culprit in this case.

Although Jia Zheng was not the chief culprit, he should be dismissed from his post and investigated according to the law, and his crimes should be thoroughly investigated. However, Jia Zheng was a descendant of the Rongguo family, and his official position was unusual, as he was not a graduate of the imperial examinations.

His official position was granted to Jia Zheng when the Duke of Rongguo was critically ill and submitted a memorial requesting to resign from the palace. The Emperor Emeritus, moved by the Duke of Rongguo's loyalty and courage, bestowed upon Jia Zheng the title of Principal and promoted him to Assistant Minister of Works.

Jia Zheng's official position is a testament to the Emperor's benevolent virtue. To dismiss him and punish him would likely tarnish the Emperor's holy reputation. In my opinion, Jia Zheng's transgression is different from Jia Yucun's.

Emperor Jiazhao nodded slightly and said, "Minister Chen is absolutely right. Jia Zheng's official position is a legacy of his predecessors and the Emperor Emeritus's great favor. As the Son of Heaven, I should repay his kindness with filial piety."

Chen Mo said, “Your Majesty is wise. In my opinion, Jia Zheng’s faults should be investigated and he should be suspended from his post and detained in his residence to reflect on his actions. After Jia Yucun’s crimes are judged and the matter is settled, he should be demoted and exiled.”

This would demonstrate to the court and the public that officials who violate moral principles and cross legal boundaries, even if they are descendants of dukes or relatives of meritorious officials, will be severely punished without exception.

Emperor Jiazhao said, "Minister Chen is experienced in handling affairs, and he has weighed the pros and cons without being lenient or lenient. His approach is appropriate. You should devise and draft the standards for punishing Jia Zheng and report them to the Emperor."

As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but look at the side of the imperial desk, where a map of the north was laid out, with a striking red line marked on it, extending all the way to the three northern passes.

Emperor Jiazhao recalled the memorial delivered by Marquis Zhongjing from outside the city, and his heart pounded uncontrollably. He thought of Jia Cong, who had led his army north without stopping to annihilate the remaining Mongol enemies in Wawu Town...

……

Four miles north of Yaoshan Post Station, towering mountains form a natural barrier, with withered trees and lush grass stretching to the horizon. The ten-mile-long military camps of the Great Zhou and the remnants of the Mongol Empire stand facing each other from afar.

Two armies, each numbering over ten thousand, charged into battle, fighting fiercely to annihilate the other. Such bloody scenes played out almost every day.

In this day-to-day battle, breaches were breached in both sides' tents, but they were quickly and desperately recaptured, and the bloody struggle continued endlessly.

Three days ago, Liu Yongzheng, the deputy general of the Great Zhou, led 20,000 elite troops at dawn to launch an attack on the left flank of the remnant Mongol army camp, which was the largest offensive launched by the Zhou army since the standoff began.

The Mongol army was initially in disarray, but Anda Khan remained calm and mobilized 30,000 troops from the central and left wings to counter the Zhou army's surprise attack.

The two armies fought fiercely for nearly an hour. Anda Khan commanded with composure, not only stabilizing the right flank and center of his army, but also quickly reversing the tide and stabilizing the left flank of his main force.

Just as Anda Khan was mobilizing his troops to counterattack, Liang Chengzong, who had been observing the battle, seized the opportunity and sounded the retreat. Liu Yongzheng, without lingering in the fight, quickly led his troops to retreat.

In the following days, Zhou Jun's campaign was very successful. Anda Khan observed the situation and did not rush into battle, but proceeded cautiously. The two sides were locked in a stalemate, with each side winning and losing.

……

On the watchtower of the central tent of the Mongol army, Anda Khan, along with generals such as Altan, watched the battle on the front lines, but their gazes were more focused on the imposing Zhou army camp in the distance.

Altan beside him said, “Great Khan, the Zhou army has been making frequent victories these past few days, actively seeking battle and advancing rapidly. I have been keeping an eye on them, and their troop strength is decreasing day by day.”

It appears to be outwardly strong but inwardly weak, seemingly lacking in strength. Although the smoke from the cooking fires in Zhou's camp has not decreased, the movement of the soldiers in the camp appears sparse when viewed through a telescope.

Could it be that after Chen Yi's transfer, their forces were further reduced through transfers, which is why they launched the offensive—a pretext to deceive our army and maintain their defensive posture?

Anda Khan said, "Three days ago, they launched a surprise attack with 20,000 elite troops, forcing us to be on high alert. Afterwards, we quietly reduced our forces to maintain the situation."

Liang Chengzong was indeed a shrewd general, and he was very skilled at using this feint. However, a military strategist's outward bluster and inner weakness can only be concealed for a day, not for long.

These past few days, after sunset, I have climbed the tower to look out. Behind Zhou Jun's main tent, torches often move around at night, heading towards the three northern passes, their shapes very obscure and mysterious.

Although the number of torches was small and the display was not particularly conspicuous, it was enough to illuminate the night march, indicating that Zhou's army was retreating south under cover of darkness!
Altang, you guessed right. Their offensive has intensified these past few days, which is a cover-up. They are releasing smoke and mirrors to mislead our army in order to achieve their goal of retreating to the three northern passes.

Since Deputy Commander Chen Yi was transferred from the front lines, Zhou's army has shown signs of decline. They are merely holding on for the sake of it. It must be because Man Hai has led his troops to cause chaos in the interior, which has become a threat to Zhou's army!

We were locked in a stalemate with Zhou Jun at Yaoshan Post Station, wasting troops and supplies, creating an opportunity for Man Hai to take advantage of. After much planning, we finally achieved remarkable results, and it was time to turn the tables.

I hereby issue the order that today's battle be conducted as usual, without revealing any weaknesses. At dawn tomorrow, ten thousand troops will be dispatched from each of the left and right flanks to launch a surprise attack on the two sides of the Zhou army's main camp.

I personally led 20,000 elite troops to attack the central route. Zhou's army has been mobilized to other areas and is already depleted internally. I am confident that we will achieve great success in this battle. I ordered the rear guard to manufacture more siege equipment in preparation for attacking Yuanzhou.

A military order was relayed to Xuanfu Town, commanding the commander to be stationed there and dispatching 20,000 elite troops southward to provide immediate support. The siege of the three northern passes required even more troops...

…………

Two hundred li east of Yuanzhou, at the foot of the densely forested Yunyan Mountain, a sizable Zhou army, with warhorses like clouds and wheels rolling, was rapidly marching north.

Jia Cong, accompanied by a dozen or so personal guards, climbed to a high rock, held up his telescope and gazed westward, clearly seeing the endless military tents covering the distant wilderness like clouds.

Jia Cong said, "The army has passed through the Yuanzhou area. Jiang Xiaoliu relayed my order to set up camp on the spot, cook meals, and conceal any signs of the army to prevent any leaks."

Ellie said, "Yuzhang, this place is close to the encampment of the Mongol army. Within two hundred miles, Mongol scouts will patrol very frequently. We must be careful not to let the enemy discover our presence."

Jia Cong said, "You're right. I ordered the army to stay put so that we could reconstruct the map and avoid taking the route that Man Hai had taken, lest we be discovered by the enemy."

This time, we must head eastward fifty miles into the dense forest, and then lead the army northward via a detour. This is the only foolproof plan to achieve our surprise attack.

After everyone had settled down to rest, Jia Cong looked back at the large group of people bustling in the dense forest. The group was now much larger than the six thousand Shenji Battalion.

As the main army approached Tongzhou, several troops secretly joined the 6,000-strong Shenji Battalion from Tongzhou, Yuanzhou and other directions.

Now, Jia Cong's forces have increased from 6,000 to nearly 20,000, of which 10,000 are elite troops, all of whom are border troops mobilized from the Nine Garrisons. The Liaodong Firearms Battalion has also dispatched 300 elite troops to follow Commander-in-Chief Liang Chengzong south to participate in the war. Yesterday, led by Guo Zhigui, they escorted 6,000 dan of grain and fodder to join Jia Cong.

Although only three hundred men were mobilized from the Liaodong Firearms Battalion, they were elite veterans who had experienced actual combat. Most of them had followed Jia Cong out of the pass to pacify the Jurchens.

These men were veterans of long-term battles in the north. Once they joined the northward-advancing army, Jia Cong incorporated them into the firearms battalion, making them the backbone of each unit and enhancing the firearms army's combat effectiveness.

The guards lit a fire for Jia Cong, and once it was burning into charcoal so that Jia Cong could keep warm, they extinguished the flames to reduce the amount of smoke that could be emitted and thus avoid giving away any clues.

Just as Jia Cong sat down in front of the fire, Guo Zhigui came over and sat down beside him. The two armies had met yesterday, but because the main force was on the march, the two did not talk much.

Jia Cong asked, "Zhigui, I heard that Xuanfu Town has fallen, and you were trapped inside the city and seriously injured. Now that your injuries have healed, please don't leave any hidden dangers."

……

Guo Zhigui said, "The military depot in Donggang Town was occupied. I was leading a grain team to transport grain when I heard the news, so I took two brothers to the nearest town, Xuanfu, to report the military situation."

But he was still a step too late. When he broke through the encirclement, he was stabbed in the back. Although the injury was not serious, it was not to a vital spot, and he recovered after more than ten days.

He was able to escape from Xuanfu Town thanks to the protection of Noyan Taiji of the Ordos tribe. He also prevented Anda Khan's eldest son from massacring the city, otherwise even more people would have died in Xuanfu Town.

Moreover, he didn't mistreat Hou Liang and me after capturing us; he even sent someone to treat my injuries, otherwise I would have had a hard time escaping this calamity. In the end, he even released us secretly.

When he questioned our identities and learned that I was Third Master's trusted servant, his expression changed. I think he spared our lives out of respect for Third Master.

Jia Cong said, "Nuoyan was once the leader of the Mongol delegation. I met him in the capital. Although he is a foreigner, he is very sincere. You are lucky to have met him."

Jia Cong thought of the gentle slope thirty miles west of the capital city, where the artillery array was set up. He had seen Noyan off there, and the two had looked out over the capital and made a promise to meet again someday.

But in the blink of an eye, the two states were plunged into a great war, and the remnants of the Great Zhou and the Mongols had become enemies. Apart from facing each other on the battlefield, he and Nuoyan probably would never have a day of peaceful reunion, which made him feel regretful.

Guo Zhigui took out a booklet from his pocket and said, "Third Master, when I led the grain convoy away from Donggang Town, a man named Sun Yuxiu led troops to chase and kill us."

As a result, we ambushed him in the mountain valley. He confessed that he was from the Sun family of Datong and that he had followed his uncle Sun Zhanying to join Anda Khan. It was they who helped Anda Khan seize the military camp.

We also found this booklet on him, which recorded many shops and names. Master Lian once said it was an account book, and I also showed it to Commander Liang.

He discovered that a cloth shop in Yuanzhou was listed in the ledger. Fearing the risks involved, the warlord sent his trusted guards into the city to arrest the shopkeeper and his employees, and subjected them to severe torture and interrogation.

According to the shopkeeper, they were servants of the Sun family of Datong. This silk and cloth shop was owned by the Sun family of Datong, but for business convenience, outsiders did not know the details.

Since Sun Zhanying, the commander of Datong, secretly crossed the border and defected to the enemy, this shop was like a kite with a broken string. Later, someone sneaked into the pass. It was a member of the main branch of the Sun family named Sun Dali.

This man not only brought a large sum of gold and silver, allowing the cloth shop to continue operating as usual, but also instructed the shopkeeper to collect military intelligence from distant states and secretly send it out of the city on time, entrusting it to a special person to deliver it northward.

However, the imperial army entered the three northern passes and, in accordance with wartime control measures, locked the city gates in advance, strictly prohibiting people from leaving the city to go north, so they had no time to send out messages.

When General Liang learned of this matter, he took it very seriously. He conducted a thorough investigation and eliminated traitors in Yuanzhou and Tongzhou, strengthened the city defenses, and blocked all roads leading north. Anyone who violated the ban would be executed without mercy.

The commander-in-chief asked me to take this booklet to Third Master. He said Third Master is skilled in investigation and deduction, and now that he is leading a lone army, this booklet, which records events along the way, will definitely be useful to him.

……

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong felt a slight chill. According to the testimony of the manager of the Yuanzhou Cloth Shop, the shops and names on the register must be part of the Sun family's network of connections built up over many years.

Before the Sun family's downfall, these shops and personnel were used to help the Sun family make money through business. After the Sun family defected to the enemy, they sent their trusted sons and brothers to turn these shops into spies and mobs.

Sun Zhanying of Datong is truly a treacherous person. The Sun family has long been building up their influence in various places, and now they have all become the eyes and ears of Anda Khan's invasion of the south. This scheme is truly extremely poisonous.

Jia Cong carefully flipped through the booklet. The shops listed were scattered across various prefectures and counties. He was unsure whether these shops were of varying quality or had all become the Sun family's hidden agents.

Many shops, in order to ensure the safety of the army during its planned march, would take strict precautions, saying, "With this booklet, the army can avoid danger and seek advantage during its march."

After the army leaves the foothills, the marching route needs to be changed to avoid the Sun family's hidden spies along the way, to prevent the news from leaking out. If it is impossible to avoid them, then they should be eliminated in advance!

Guo Zhigui said, "Third Master, why should the army bypass them? Just give me three hundred elite soldiers, and I can wipe out all the spies in the book within a few days."

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "This booklet was obtained from a member of the Sun family. We don't know his status in the Sun family, or whether this booklet covers all the undercover agents."

If we follow the booklet and eradicate the hidden agents on a large scale, the commotion will be too great. If we miss even one place, we will alert the enemy, and Anda Khan and the Sun family will find out.

If this leaks our army's movements and affects the overall situation of the campaign against Mongolia, then we will lose more than we gain. Since we already know about these Sun family spies, we just need to be careful and take precautions.

Keep them for now; they may come in handy later. Although I cannot have you lead troops to wipe out these spies, I have other important matters for you to handle.

Tomorrow morning, you will select one hundred elite soldiers, change into civilian clothes, leave the foothills, and sneak into towns. Firstly, to scout the roads for the main army, and secondly, to search for Zhengyi Taoist temples along the way…”

……

The following day, Guo Zhigui led a hundred elite scouts, dressed in plain clothes, who were disguised as woodcutters, hunters, peddlers, travelers, and itinerant merchants, out of the foothills and into the nearby towns.

Meanwhile, two hundred miles away on the desolate plains, where the two armies were facing each other, two elite cavalry units of ten thousand men each launched a surprise attack on the Great Zhou camp at dawn on the left and right flanks of the Mongol camp.

Anda Khan led tens of thousands of elite troops in the central army, slowly advancing and waiting for signs of battle to emerge on both flanks before launching a central assault to rout the Zhou army's camps for miles.

However, the Mongol forces on both flanks advanced with unstoppable momentum, breaking into the Zhou army's camps like sharp blades, and there was no sound of resistance or battle, which made Anda Khan very wary.

He hurriedly ordered the central army to halt its advance and prepare to establish a firm foothold to prevent Zhou's army from plotting against them. After all, Liang Chengzong was cunning and resourceful in his military tactics, so Anda Khan had to be cautious.

Just moments later, messengers from both wings of the Meng army reported that their army had stormed into the Zhou camp, only to find it completely empty and no trace of Zhou troops within several miles.

Anda Khan dispatched hundreds of fast scouts to expand the search area by ten miles, tracking the traces of Zhou's main force, while he himself led the elite troops of the central army to break in and check the movements of Zhou's main camp.

After the generals of the remnant Mongol army entered the camp, they found it empty. Apart from the camp gate, there were several rows of tents inside, which they thought were a cover. Later, even the military tents and equipment were taken away.

Anda Khan laughed heartily and said, "The reason why Liang Chengzong has come to this must be because Man Hai has made great achievements in the pass, leaving Liang Chengzong in a predicament and his troops unable to attend to both ends."

He then fled overnight, presumably using the distant prefecture as a fortress to hold the city and catch his breath, while attempting to withdraw troops back to the interior to deal with the 20,000 elite troops of the barbarian sea.

Altang, convey my military order: the army shall immediately advance towards Yuanzhou, set up camp five li outside the city before sunset, prepare siege equipment, and launch a full-scale attack on Yuanzhou City at dawn tomorrow.

"We must tie down Liang Chengzong's forces entirely in the distant prefectures, allowing the barbarian seas to expand their influence. The longer this drags on, the more the Great Zhou will crumble internally and collapse without a fight!"

……

The Ordos generals followed Anda Khan into the camp. Noyan Taiji found the camp empty, so he led his personal guards on horseback to inspect it before returning to Jirang Khan's side.

He said in a low voice, "Father, the Zhou army retreated in an orderly manner, without any sign of disorder. I always feel that there is something strange about this matter, and it seems inappropriate to rashly take Yuanzhou."

Jirang Khan said, "The infiltration of 20,000 elite cavalry from the barbarian seas into the pass is no small matter. Wawu Town is right next to the capital. If the capital is attacked by a surprise force, the Great Zhou must be in great chaos."

Emperor Chengzong of Liang withdrew his troops and defended the city, using the remaining forces to deal with the situation. This was a last resort; internal stability must precede external defense. I have carefully considered this matter and found no flaws.”

Noyan Taiji said, “Father Khan, I am not saying that Liang Chengzong’s retreat was due to any flaws, but the firearms of the Great Zhou are renowned, so why have they not been used since the start of the war?”

Jia Cong was the first person in the Great Zhou to advocate firearms and had an impressive record of suppressing the Jurchen Three Guards. Such an outstanding talent in firearms should not have been overlooked by the Zhou emperor.

However, after many days of fighting, Liang Chengzong had a large number of generals under his command, but Jia Cong was nowhere to be seen, nor were there any firearms soldiers. This was not normal and there must be something fishy about it..." (End of this chapter)