Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Although Cong-ge is not at home, you sisters are often by his side and have learned his knowledge and skills, so you can make decisions on important matters."

Following Lin Yatou's advice, this approach is definitely correct. Now that things are settled, you sisters can talk things over yourselves; it's no fun keeping us old folks company.”

Daiyu and Yingchun then got up to take their leave. After they left the hall, Madam Wang said, "Old Madam, are we just going to let Master's official position go unchecked?"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia remained expressionless and said, "I know what you're thinking. Even noble families have their ups and downs; it's just the way things are."

You need to think more openly. These days, because of Cong'er's promotion, many old friends, relatives, and female relatives have been visiting. They often talk about the military depot leak case, which has become very dangerous.

Duke Chen Yi of Qi is the only one among the eight dukes who still holds the title of duke. He is also an official in the Five Military Commands and his influence in the officialdom is now even deeper than that of the Jia family.

However, even such a figure, after his grandson Chen Ruichang was confirmed to have leaked secrets, was dismissed from his position as deputy commander-in-chief by the emperor in just a few days.

Otherwise, how could Cong-ge'er, at such a young age, have so easily ascended to the position of governor? There are even rumors circulating among the old relatives that Chen Yi has been escorted back to the capital by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and may be convicted and demoted.

It is evident how deeply His Majesty abhorred the leak of military supplies. Although Zheng'er was not directly involved in the leak, he was nonetheless implicated because of Xue Pan.

Even the Duke of Qi could not escape this matter, so how could Zheng'er escape unscathed? Just as Lin Yatou said, Zheng'er's eventual demotion and exile would be considered an escape from unscathed.

You need to think long-term and not worry too much about empty titles and honors. As long as the two households are well-managed, and Zheng'er supports the second branch of the family, the whole family will be stable, and you won't suffer any major losses.

Lady Wang's face flushed as Grandmother Jia saw through her thoughts. With her mind firmly in Grandmother Jia's grasp, she dared not utter another word, lest she be mortified.

Grandmother Jia sighed, “You must have been resentful before, saying that I favored Lin the maid more than my own granddaughter. Today you heard her words.”

This girl comes from a family of scholars and officials, and is well-versed in poetry and literature. Before she even reached marriageable age, she was already so intelligent, insightful, and discerning. What ordinary girl could be as capable as her?

Of all the girls in our family, none of them are quite as good as her. Don't let her delicate appearance fool you; she's strong-willed at heart, and her personality has become more cheerful and she's getting better and better.

She'll become a lady of a prominent family in the future, probably even more powerful than us, which is why I thought of betrothing her to Baoyu. But in the end, it didn't come to pass; it's just their fate.

Unfortunately, the Lin family is a prominent family in Jiangnan, and their noble title had long been lost. Furthermore, Ru Hai is currently serving in Yangzhou, so the Lin family has no real roots in the capital, which is quite a pity.

Who knows who will be lucky enough to get this precious girl, Lin, in the future? She's beautiful, talented, a perfect wife and mother, a blessing for generations to come...

……

Lady Wang was cold-hearted and narrow-minded, with a stubborn and ruthless nature. She disliked intelligent and clever women the most, believing that such women were too smart, lacked manners, and were born restless.

She disliked her sister-in-law Jia Min in the past, and now she dislikes her daughter Daiyu as well. It is all because of this prejudice that she feels very uncomfortable and unhappy when she sees Grandmother Jia praising Daiyu excessively.

However, she understood the implication in Grandmother Jia's words: now that she valued Cong-ge'er's power and influence, she had considered matchmaking Lin-ya-tou and Cong-ge'er, but ultimately felt it was not quite appropriate.

Although the Lin family was a scholarly family, they were located in a remote corner of Jiangnan and had no powerful roots in the capital, which was a bit of a drawback. Only the Shi family of Baolinghou was the most suitable.

The Shi family of Shenjing is a family with two marquises, and it is also the maternal family of the old lady. The third master, Shi Ding, is a trusted minister of the emperor. Only through the marriage between Jia and Shi can the power of both families be greatly enhanced.

Lady Wang, also from a distinguished family, naturally understood such a simple truth. Although there were signs that the young man from the East Mansion was to be betrothed, he would still have the honor of having two noble titles.

The old lady had long been plotting this scheme, a tactic passed down through both families, and her desire to bring Jia Cong and Xiangyun together was not something that had been going on for just a day or two; the Jia and Shi families were mostly aware of it without saying a word.

Thinking that he, Baoyu, could only marry the daughter of a wealthy merchant, while that boy from the East Mansion enjoyed such a privileged life, with noble ladies and daughters of officials at his disposal, it was truly outrageous...

……

The Earl's mansion, inner courtyard garden.

A gentle spring breeze blew, and the stone path was cool and secluded. Daiyu and Yingchun returned from the West Mansion and strolled leisurely in the inner garden, chatting.

She wore a long, open-fronted jacket with gold-embroidered flowers, a coral-red inner garment with a small collar, and a peach-red pleated skirt. She was as beautiful as an orchid, with a slender waist, skin as smooth as jade, and an ethereal and charming demeanor.

Yingchun said, "Sister Lin, as you just said, Brother Chen was a great help. If it weren't for his idea of ​​submitting a petition to plead guilty, the Second Master would probably have been severely punished."

"My brother Cong is not at home now, and both households are without a head of affairs. If things really come to that, I don't know how distressed and anxious he will be when he returns to find the Second Master in trouble."

Daiyu said, "Second sister, there are some things I didn't tell my grandmother earlier. The eldest brother of the Chen family came to help, not only because he and the third brother are from the same school."

Yingchun looked puzzled and said, "What do you mean by that, sister? Could it be that there's something else going on behind Brother Chen's visit to help us?"

Daiyu said, "Second Sister is not familiar with the Chen family, so she won't think too deeply about it. However, Elder Chen has been kind to my father, and the two families have always been on good terms."

Because I lived with my maternal grandmother for a long time, my father often taught me about the affairs of the capital in his letters, allowing me to be influenced by the elegance and refinement of the people in the capital. In his letters, my father often mentioned Minister Chen of the Ministry of Personnel.

This old official had experienced many ups and downs in his career. He was implicated in the change of the empress, and his career was marked by several rises and falls. He eventually became the head of the Six Ministries. He was a meticulous and shrewd person who had a deep understanding of officialdom.

My father said that he was a shrewd and calculating person who did not act rashly. The fact that the eldest brother of the Chen family came to help was no small matter; it must have been at the behest of the elders.

The fact that the second uncle was convicted of Feng Yuan is related to the major case of leaking secrets from military garrisons. However, the Chen family advised the second uncle to report the matter and plead guilty, which is suspected of concealing his crimes and interfering in politics, and may even be detrimental to the emperor's health.

Lord Chen is a wise man, and according to common sense, he would not be so radical, unless he felt that such a handling was acceptable. Historically, the power to investigate and punish officials has always belonged to the Ministry of Personnel.

The official document regarding the suspension and detention of the second uncle must be approved by the Emperor and the officials. Former Deputy Commander-in-Chief Chen Yi had already been dismissed from his post in the campaign against the Mongols by the court due to the crimes committed by his second grandson, Chen Ruichang.

The third brother, who succeeded as deputy commander-in-chief, was also implicated in a major crime and his relatives were convicted of serious offenses. This happened repeatedly; where is the face of the Emperor and the court? How can the morale of the army remain for the campaign against the Mongols?

Daiyu glanced around and lowered her voice, saying, "Therefore, the eldest brother of the Chen family must have received permission from Lord Chen to come to the mansion to help, and Lord Chen is acting on the Emperor's will..."

Yingchun was shocked when she heard this, and then Daiyu said, "The truth of the matter must be like this, but these words are too taboo. Rongqing Hall has never been able to keep secrets."

My third brother once said that the West Mansion is full of spies, and the Second Madam has such a personality; her words and actions are worrying. How could I dare to say it out loud? I just know what I'm talking about.

In short, the second uncle was quite lucky. Even though he committed a sin this time, it wouldn't cause any major disaster. Ultimately, it was all because of the third brother.

The Emperor has bestowed a very generous reward upon Third Brother for his military achievements outside the city. Now, with the matter concerning Eldest Brother Chen, it is clear that the Emperor has high expectations for Third Brother.

I just hope that my third brother will have good luck and achieve military merit again, and return victorious as soon as possible. These little things at home are not worth it and will eventually disappear.

…………

North of Shenjing and west of Yunyan lies Yuanzhou City.

The sky was vast and overcast, and the tall and majestic city stood like a natural barrier, stretching east to west, seemingly able to block all the torrents of the world.

The sturdy, mottled city walls are covered with pitted and uneven scars, all traces of arrows and swords. Soldiers on the city walls are on guard, with swords and spears standing ready and bows drawn.

Many siege ladders had overturned beneath the city walls, and the bodies of fallen soldiers lay scattered about, their deaths varied, some stabbed by swords and spears, others pierced by arrows, and many more falling to their deaths.

Among the fallen corpses were a small number of soldiers from the Great Zhou army, all of whom died tragically, with slash wounds and twisted and broken limbs, having fallen from the city walls during the battle between the two armies.

Amidst the pile of corpses, burning rockets were stuck in the ground, flames scorching the bodies, billowing black smoke, and emitting a nauseating stench of burning flesh, as well as a thick, suffocating smell of blood.

The world was desolate, filled with murderous intent. Human life was as worthless as grass; flesh and blood were buried in the yellow earth. Whether marching towards victory or collapsing in defeat, every step was stained with human lives.

Three days ago, Marquis Liang Chengzong of Pingyuan abandoned Yaoshan Post Station and retreated to Yuanzhou City overnight. Anda Khan then led a large army to pursue him southward, and set up camp three miles outside the city half a day later.

The nearly 200,000-strong army of the remnants of the Great Zhou and the Mongols, just like the fierce battle at Yaoshanyi on the day before, once again confronted each other at Yuanzhou City. However, this time, the Great Zhou was in a defensive position and had to retreat.

In the past two days, Anda Khan has launched several attacks on the city, using a considerable number of troops. The offensive is becoming increasingly fierce, but Liang Chengzong has held firm and remained calm, making the defense of the city very secure.

Within the battle zone beneath the city walls, and within the range of arrows fired from the city walls, countless pits had been dug and dense barricades had been set up, making it impossible for the elite cavalry of the Mongol army to get close.

Anda Khan once tried to fill in the pits on the outside to make it easier for cavalry to move towards the city wall and shoot arrows, but as soon as they got close to the city wall, they were attacked by a rain of arrows and could not succeed at all.

Moreover, Zhou's military was well prepared, with an inexhaustible supply of arrows. If Anda Khan wanted to capture Yuanzhou City, he could only rely on infantry to scale the walls, and even had to convert cavalry into infantry.

However, the Mongol army has always been skilled in cavalry warfare, and infantry attacks are not their forte. They have lost many soldiers in the two days of siege. Fortunately, the Zhou army defends the city and never takes the initiative to go out and fight.

Even after each attempt to repel a siege, the soldiers on the city walls would cease their pursuit with arrows, seeking neither merit nor fault. Anda Khan would also slow down his offensive, rest his troops, and devise other strategies.

With only tens of thousands of troops encamped and facing off, even with the offensive slowed, the daily consumption of food and supplies could not be stopped, and the supply lines to the north were constantly flowing in. The remnants of the Great Zhou and the Mongols were once again locked in a stalemate...

……

On the city wall, Liang Chengzong, the commander-in-chief of the Great Zhou army fighting against the Mongols, was fully armored and looked majestic and dignified. He was holding a telescope and looking out at the remnant Mongol camp several miles away.

The camps stretched out like a dense cluster of stars, filling the view for miles around. The soldiers and horses were clearly visible, moving frequently yet maintaining perfect order, inspiring awe in all who beheld them.

In the far north, billowing smoke and dust were clearly visible, and a large army was seen marching south, gradually merging into the camp of the remnant Mongols, as it was a reinforcement army of the remnant Mongols that was moving south one after another.

Standing beside Liang Chengzong was Liu Yongzheng, the deputy commander-in-chief of Liaodong. Since Jia Cong was not in the Yuanzhou army, Liu Yongzheng was actually in charge of the deputy commander's duties, and he dared not slack off in patrolling the city walls day and night.

Liu Yongzheng said, "General, we used 10,000 troops to defend the city on the first day, and reduced it to 7,000 troops in the following two days. The city wall of Yuanzhou is wide and spans more than several miles."

Seven thousand soldiers were barely enough. Whenever the enemy's offensive intensified, the seven thousand-strong defensive line on the city wall would appear somewhat thin, and sometimes even be stretched thin.

"General, should we restore the troops to ten thousand? This would allow for more flexible troop deployment on the city walls, ensuring the city's absolute safety."

Liang Chengzong shook his head and said, "We set up traps and barricades within the city's firing range, and suppressed the attacking forces with a rain of arrows. The attacking forces could not deploy and have been suppressed to a certain extent."

Seven thousand men to defend the city, though not a large number, are enough to hold their own in a fierce battle. Unless it is a critical moment, reinforcements should not be sent easily, so that Anda Khan can sense the strength of the defending forces.

Once a siege begins, sufficient reserves can be deployed below the city walls to rotate the defending troops on the city walls at any time, ensuring they maintain sufficient combat power and guaranteeing a solid defense line that is not easily breached.

However, the garrison troops only need to be rotated, and unless absolutely necessary, the number of troops on the city wall should not exceed seven thousand. Two gaps in the defense line should be set up in a high-lying area in the east of the city.

If the remnants of the Mongols attack the city again tomorrow, they can expose a weakness at the breach and allow some enemy troops to climb the city walls. The number of troops should be controlled to around 100. Traps should be set up in advance at the breach.

Once the enemy has scaled the city walls, kill them on the spot. Set up such openings every other day to disrupt the established patterns and make it impossible for the enemy to predict what will happen. This matter requires your personal attention.

We must let Anda Khan know that Yuanzhou City has high walls and deep fortifications. Although our army has defended the city, it is not impregnable. Our army may run out of manpower and is not invincible.

By giving the enemy the necessary confidence to capture the city, we can keep them firmly tied down outside the city, exhausting their lives and supplies. We can then wait in comfort while they are exhausted from their long march.

Although they looted 650,000 dan of grain from the northern military granaries, which might be enough for them to consume for a year, it would be sufficient for us to tie them down for two months.

Jia Cong led his troops north, a long march of thousands of miles, to buy him enough time and give him as much room for maneuver as possible. This was the key to the battle, and defeat would be decided in one fell swoop.

In addition, orders were issued to all fortresses on both sides of Yuanzhou City to be on high alert and to increase patrols in all areas, and not to allow a single Mongol to sneak into the pass. Anyone who is negligent will be executed on the spot!
We mustn't let Anda Khan find out anything about what's happening inside the Great Wall. Although Anda Khan is cunning, the fate of the 20,000 troops from the Barbarian Sea was something he couldn't have imagined before witnessing the power of firearms...

Before Anda Khan becomes suspicious, the city's defensive lines must be used to maintain control and sustain the current situation for as long as possible.

Liu Yongzheng looked north and said, "General, the Marquis of Weiyuan has led his army deep into enemy territory. Although his military strategies are quite ingenious, they are also risky and truly worrying."

Liang Chengzong said, "When we won the great victory at Yafu Pass, we never expected it to be such a great victory. Several thousand troops on the outskirts of Shenjing were facing off against 20,000 elite cavalry, which was beyond the realm of common sense."

Putting aside these impressive achievements, whether it's winning the imperial examinations or solving cases in the south of the Yangtze River, he always manages to amaze people. His strategy in this battle is grand and meticulous; I believe he can pull it off.

…………

Outside the city of Yuanzhou, in the camp of the remnant Mongol army, a group of several hundred elite Mongol cavalrymen galloped out of the rear gate and stood at attention in an orderly fashion.

The leader was dressed in military uniform, wearing a golden helmet and a curved sword at his waist. He was handsome and heroic, and his yellow horse neighed softly as if it wanted to gallop.

It was Noyan Taiji of the Ordos tribe. Beside him was a tall man with white hair and beard, dressed in luxurious clothes, exuding a majestic and imposing aura. This man was none other than Jirang Khan, the chief of the tribe.

Noyan immediately looked back at Yuanzhou City and said, "Father Khan, this time Anda Khan is full of fighting spirit. He has sent 20,000 troops south from Xuanfu. It seems that he is determined to take Yuanzhou City."

With the number of soldiers increasing daily and military supplies running out, the three major tribes all needed to mobilize troops to protect the supplies. Did Father Khan truly believe he could succeed this time, break through the three passes, and directly capture the capital?

Jirang Khan said, "I haven't thought too far ahead, but these past few days, as my army has been attacking the city, I've been paying close attention to the Zhou army's city defenses. I imagine you've noticed some clues as well."

The number of Zhou troops defending Yuanzhou City has decreased significantly in the past two days, and the defenses of some city walls are too weak. If our army intensifies its offensive, the Zhou army will surely show weaknesses.

Originally, Emperor Liang Chengzong withdrew his troops from Congyaoshan Post Station overnight. He was always good at military tactics, so people would be more cautious and watchful. However, the number of Zhou troops stationed on the city wall continued to decline.

This indicates that the chaos within the pass caused by Man Hai's army was already deep. Emperor Chengzong of Liang led his army to retreat to Yuanzhou City to defend the city and redeploy troops to deal with the situation. The outcome was beyond doubt.

There is a saying among the Han people: "Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice." If Man Hai's 20,000 elite cavalry can stop Liang Chengzong's counterattack and confront and maneuver against him, then Man Hai's 20,000 elite cavalry can achieve their goal.

Even if Liang Chengzong were a famous general at the time, he would be overwhelmed by this, and the Great Zhou would fall into a huge decline. Anda Khan's reinforcement of troops and supplies is timely.

Now we need to observe the offensive over the next few days. If our army breaches the walls of Yuanzhou, it will mean the Zhou army is at its last gasp, and no matter how hard they hold out, the city will eventually fall..."

……

Noyan Taiji said, “What Father Khan said makes a lot of sense. Back then, our ancestors were defeated by Li Tianling of the Great Zhou and fled to the northern desert to preserve our bloodline. Could we really regain our dominance over the Central Plains?”
I have heard my mother mention many times that although the current emperor of the Great Zhou is ruthless and cunning, he is a capable and shrewd ruler in governing the country. Emperor Chengzong of Liang was a famous general at the time and had defeated Anda Khan several times.

Unexpectedly, in this war between the two states, the ruler and his ministers quickly fell into a disadvantageous position, which was completely unexpected. The Great Zhou's firearms, renowned throughout the world, have yet to be used; this is something we must be wary of.”

Jirang Khan glanced at Noyan with a meaningful look in his eyes and said, "I know that you befriended Jia Cong in the capital and admire his talent and demeanor, but he is ultimately just a young man."

The battle between the two states, involving nearly 200,000 people, was unpredictable and constantly changing, and could not be reversed by any one person or event. Although Jia Cong was renowned, could he possibly defeat Liang Chengzong?

This time, Anda Khan ordered each of the three tribes to send troops to escort the grain supplies. In fact, it would have been enough to let Shuergan do it. Why did you personally lead the troops to escort the grain supplies...?

Noyan said, "I am the tribal chief. I will personally lead the troops to transport grain and take an extra 500 elite guards with me to reduce the casualties of the Ordos tribe."

Every warrior of the Ordos tribe is the tribe's most precious asset. As long as they die less under the city walls, it's worth the trip for me. Besides, staying on the front lines is boring.

Father Khan, I will return with the grain in ten days. If Yuanzhou City remains impregnable, we will need to make other plans. We cannot let Anda Khan dictate the situation, lest we sink deeper into trouble.

"At that time, I intend to select trusted and capable men to travel westward, detour, and sneak into the interior, hoping to contact Marquis Jia Cong of Weiyuan, and renegotiate the matter of private trade in the border region..." (End of Chapter)