The Red Chamber: Starting from Saving Xue Baochai

Chapter 13 Shen Yuan's Initial Discussion on the World Situation

Yingtian Prefecture Yamen, inner hall.

Jia Yucun was sitting in the main seat, his face gloomy and anger surging in his heart.

"Tell me, why is Shen Yuan able to appear in the examination room?"

The doorman looked confused and uneasy, and whispered, "Master, I don't know either."

He really didn't know, and his mind was still a little confused at the moment.

The waiter clearly told him that he had succeeded. The man saw Shen Yuan with his own eyes finishing the dinner that was drugged, so it must be true. But why was Shen Yuan still able to make it to the autumn military examination at 15:30?

It's simply unbelievable and bizarre.

"If you can mess up such a small matter, what use do I have for you?"

"boom!"

Jia Yucun was furious and threw the teacup in his hand heavily to the ground, breaking the tea into pieces and splashing all over the doorman.

Menzi lowered his head and said nothing, but a feeling of sadness rose in his heart.

In the past two years, he has done a lot of shady things for Jia Yucun, and can be said to have done his best.

As a result, he got nothing good. The clerk job that had been promised to him was postponed again and again and there was no sign of it happening in the foreseeable future.

Jia Yucun suppressed his anger and said in a cold voice, "Shen Yuan has won the first prize in martial arts and has also caught the attention of the governor and the commander-in-chief. What should I do?"

He stared at the doorman again and said, "Did Shen Yuan find out about the drugging?"

"My Lord, Shen Yuan was able to take part in the imperial examination normally, so he probably didn't notice anything, and the waiter who was in charge also hid himself."

"Well, tell that person not to show up in the near future, just in case."

Jia Yucun thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Go to Tongfu Inn tomorrow and tell him that I'm inviting him to a banquet to congratulate him on his success in getting the top prize in the imperial examination."

"Yes, sir."

The next day, at Tongfu Inn, Room No. 5.

Shen Yuan glanced at the invitation sent by the doorman and looked silent.

Putting the post aside, he raised his eyes and looked at the doorman. After staring at him for a while, he asked in a clear voice, "What do you think of Jia Yucun?"

When Menzi heard this, he was surprised. He never expected that Shen Yuan would comment on Jia Yucun in front of him.

He pretended to be apprehensive and said, "I don't know what Shen Jieyuan means."

"Don't worry, we are not allowed to leave this room today."

Shen Yuan waited for a while, and seeing that the doorman remained silent, he said calmly: "The gourd monk in the gourd temple."

When the doorman heard this, he was horrified. He was stunned for a moment and asked in a trembling voice, "Shen Shen Jie Yuan, how do you know that?"

"It doesn't matter how I know it. What matters is that you know what kind of person Jia Yucun is, and I know it too."

Although the young man had revealed the truth, the doorman did not dare to criticize Jia Yucun casually, so he said, "I really don't understand what Shen Jieyuan meant. If Jieyuan has anything to say, please speak directly."

Shen Yuan said calmly, "Zeng Shiyin did give Jia Yucun a gift of silver, but he saw his benefactor's daughter in trouble and did nothing about it. Isn't he a ungrateful person?"

Menzi was shocked again. He didn't know who the young man in front of him was, and he knew everything about the father and daughter of the Zeng family in the past.

He collected his thoughts and dared not to be perfunctory to Shen Yuan anymore. He said softly: "Although the prefect is of low moral character, I am a nobody, how dare I..."

"You know that Jia Yucun and I have a grudge. You don't need to hide it from me." Shen Yuan asked, "Just tell me, what do you want?"

Menzi naturally heard that Shen Yuan wanted to incite him to rebel, and now he was negotiating terms.

After thinking for a while, he said, "I had hoped that Lord Jia would arrange a clerk position for me, but now I have figured it out. It is difficult to be an official or a clerk in this world. It is better to get some money, live a comfortable life and be happy and free."

Seeing that he had relaxed, Shen Yuan did not want to beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "If you help me overthrow Jia Yucun, you will get three thousand taels of silver after the task is completed, which is enough for you to live out the rest of your life."

As he said this, he took out a silver note and placed it on the table. "If you agree, I can give you five hundred taels first."

When Menzi heard this, his eyes lit up. This was beyond his expectations. He said excitedly, "It's up to you, sir!"

"You go back first." Shen Yuan said, "Just tell them that I'm out and you didn't see me at the inn."

Hearing this, the doorman bowed and was about to leave when he saw Shen Yuan saying, "There is one more thing. Where is the waiter?"

The doorman's heart trembled slightly, it turned out that the boy already knew.
Time flies, and August 15th is here in a blink of an eye.

More than a hundred military candidates gathered in the governor's office.

Considering that everyone would gather with relatives, friends and family in the evening, the governor set the banquet at noon.

Although it was called a luncheon, everyone had already arrived before noon. Not only the newly-minted military scholars, but also important officials from the three ministries and Yingtian Prefecture had all arrived early, reserving some time before the meal for free communication and to build relationships.

"Brother Shen, you are now famous in Jinling. How do you feel about this?"

"It's just someone trying to flatter you."

"In the recent tabloids of Hanmozhai, you are considered the most popular candidate for the title of martial arts champion."

"The tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. There is nothing to worry about. The self-reliant person can stand firm against the wind."

Jiang Fan felt relieved when he heard that. He was originally a little worried that Shen Yuan might get lost in all the flattery and forget his original intention.

Now it seems that Shen Yuan is more clear-headed than him, a bystander.

"When does Brother Shen plan to go to Shenjing?"

"I still have some things to deal with right now, but I probably won't stay in Jinling for too long."

Jiang Fan smiled and said, "Brother Shen, don't forget to call me when you get there. I will go to Beijing with you, so we can take care of each other on the way."

Shen Yuan looked at Jiang Fan, and asked in surprise, "Brother Jiang, are you not planning to stay at home in Jinling for the New Year?"

It is just the Mid-Autumn Festival now, and the spring examination next year will be in February, so there is still half a year in between. Military candidates from all over the country will basically set out for Beijing after the Chinese New Year.

Jiang Fan replied: "It doesn't matter. My father doesn't like me much anyway."

Shen Yuan smiled but said nothing. Governor Jiang looked like a strict father who never smiled. It seemed that Jiang Fan was a little intimidated by this father.

"Let's not talk about him, but you, Brother Shen, have never mentioned anything about your family. I don't know."

Shen Yuan was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "My father passed away due to illness when I was young, and my mother also passed away several years ago."

"Sorry." Jiang Fan felt a little reluctant. The young man in front of him had an open mind, but he never expected that his life was so rough.

Shen Yuan smiled calmly. Although his face looked indifferent, one could still feel a hint of sadness in his heart. This was the memory and emotion from his original body.

After that, the two continued to talk about other topics. They were quite cheerful later and laughed from time to time.

Not far away, Yingtian prefect Jia Yucun was looking over here.

He was somewhat surprised to see that Shen Yuan had a close personal relationship with the governor's son, but then he recalled the scene of the two of them high-fiving each other on the training ground that day, and he understood.

The young man's power was growing, and he was determined not to be hostile to him any longer.

After thinking about it, he walked over and took the initiative to lower his posture and greeted him. "Mr. Jiang, this is Shen Jieyuan."

"Prefect Jia." Jiang Fan nodded with a calm expression. He has never been fond of official socializing.

Shen Yuan looked at Jia Yucun and said something meaningful: "Sir, unpleasant things shouldn't have happened between you and me."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yucun's smile froze, and he was a little confused. He said, "What do you mean? I thought there was still some friendship between me and Shen Jieyuan."

Shen Yuan smiled but said nothing.

He really disliked people like Jia Yucun who were hypocritical. It's not that he had a strong sense of justice. If Jia Yucun had not plotted against him many times, he actually didn't want to have too much contact with him.

However, since things have already happened, he cannot just turn a blind eye and swallow his anger. That is not Shen Yuan's character.

If that guy is a real villain, then Jia Yucun is a hypocrite. Hypocrites are more disgusting than real villains. However, he does not intend to let any of them go.

Seeing Shen Yuan's indifferent expression, Jia Yucun was about to reprimand him, but saw a middle-aged man walking towards him.

"Uncle Li." Jiang Fan greeted the visitor.

This man was named Li Da, and he was a close aide to Governor Jiang Zhongnian.

"Son."

Li Da greeted Jiang Fan, then looked at Shen Yuan and said with a warm face: "The governor invites Shen Jieyuan to come over for a chat."

Shen Yuan nodded and said, "Thank you for leading the way, sir."

After saying that, Li Da took Shen Yuan to the study room on the right side of the hall, leaving behind Jia Yucun who was surprised and Jiang Fan who was curious.

In the study, Jiang Zhongnian saw Shen Yuan coming in and said calmly, "Sit down."

Shen Yuan sat downstairs. After a moment, a waiter came over and poured him tea. Then the waiter and Li Da left the room together.

"Greetings, His Excellency the Governor."

"No need to be polite. I heard from Jiang Fan that you two are close friends and consider each other as bosom friends. In that case, you can just call me uncle." Although Jiang Zhongnian was still serious, his expression was much more mellow. He said, "I heard that you are also a scholar. You are really good at both literature and martial arts."

"Uncle, you are too kind."

"Why did you choose to take the path of martial arts examination?"

"I think I'm better at fighting."

Seeing Shen Yuan's unusually brief answer, Jiang Zhongnian thought that he had some concerns, so he said, "You don't need to be too reserved. Today I just want to have a simple chat with you as an elder."

Shen Yuan: “.”

He naturally didn't believe that the governor of a province would take time out of his busy schedule to chat with him just for fun.

Moreover, he was not reserved, but he was not good at civil service examinations. If there was any other reason, it was that he thought military officers could be promoted faster.

When troubled times come, powerful military force will be much more useful than those centuries-old strategies and brilliant articles.

Shen Yuan said: "In today's Great Zhou, there are foreign enemies all around and border troubles are endless. I hope to do my best to help."

"Oh? It seems you have some insights into the current situation of our Great Zhou. Why not share them with me?"

Shen Yuan looked at Jiang Zhongnian and thought for a moment.

He originally wanted to enter the officialdom. If he could get the recognition of the Jinling governor, it might be helpful in the future. It would not be a bad idea to express some opinions appropriately.

After considering his words, Shen Yuan said in a clear voice: "Now the Great Zhou has both internal and external troubles, and the internal troubles seem to be in the bone marrow, while the external troubles seem to be in the heart. Therefore, although the internal troubles are more serious than the external troubles, the external troubles are more urgent than the internal troubles."

Jiang Zhongnian's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he asked, "Why do you think the internal troubles are? Why are the external troubles? Tell me in detail."

Shen Yuan said: "I think my uncle knows better than me what the internal troubles are."

It's not that he didn't want to say it, but he was too sensitive. He didn't know whether his words would spread out. As the saying goes, under the emperor, there are guards all around, and there is no wall that is impenetrable.

In fact, the internal troubles of the Great Zhou were similar to those of any other dynasty in the middle and late stages.

The court was fighting for power, being arrogant and extravagant, the people in the countryside were in chaos and exploited constantly, and the annexation of land made it difficult to collect taxes, leading to a polarization between the rich and the poor.

Moreover, in recent years, natural disasters have continued to occur. The combination of the two has resulted in refugees everywhere, and there is a tendency for them to rise up in rebellion.

As the governor of a province, didn’t Jiang Zhongnian know all this?

Jiang Zhongnian sighed when he heard this. He certainly knew where the internal troubles lay, but there was nothing he could do. He also didn't think that the young man in front of him could come up with any effective methods.

Shen Yuan naturally has some ideas, but it is not convenient to talk about them now, such as allocating taxes according to the land area, encouraging commerce, and building workshops.
All of these are interconnected and require those in high positions to have enough courage to succeed.

Jiang Zhongnian no longer worried about the internal troubles, and asked: "Why don't you talk about the external troubles?"

"Now, the Great Zhou is surrounded by enemies on all sides! However, the Great Zhou has more losers than winners, and the situation in the nine borders is critical."

Shen Yuan spoke slowly, but he only talked about the general situation and did not mention specific merits and demerits.

It's not that he doesn't want to go into more depth, it's just that the time is not right yet. He is still just a martial arts candidate and there is no point in saying more.

It was just right to say this, which could make Jiang Zhongnian pay attention to him, without worrying that these words would be heard by people with ulterior motives.

After hearing what Shen Yuan said, Jiang Zhongnian seemed to agree and looked at the young man in front of him with even greater respect.

A powerful warrior with great intelligence may be able to turn the tide and save the collapsing building at a critical moment in the future.

Collecting his thoughts, Jiang Zhongnian said to Shen Yuan, "Some people say that you are the most likely candidate for the top martial arts prize in the next spring exam."

"It's just that some people are trying to gain public attention, or they are deliberately flattering him."

"Too flattering to death? That's a good word." Jiang Zhongnian said, "But I do have high hopes for you. I hope that in half a year, I'll hear from Shenjing that you've won the first place in the spring exam. Your uncle will be happy for you."

"Thank you."

"But there are a few things I want to remind you of."

"Listen to your uncle's advice."

Jiang Zhongnian looked more serious and said, "In this Great Zhou, you only need to win the trust and appreciation of His Majesty, and don't care too much about other people, including me."

Shen Yuan was stunned when he heard this. He chewed on the governor's words and understood in a moment.

This was to win him over in advance for the emperor, and also to give him a shot of prevention to prevent him from being pulled into a certain interest group, especially a military honor group.

The Governor of Jinling is truly dedicated to the public and selects talents for the country.

After a pause, Jiang Zhongnian added: "Remember, as a minister, you should be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. You must not use the military for personal gain, which will only cause trouble."

Shen Yuan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said thoughtfully: "Thank you for your advice, uncle. I'll take note of it."

Personally, he actually admires people like Jiang Zhongnian, who never forget their original intentions, stick to their consciences, and govern for the public good.

If there is any partiality, it is towards the emperor who is high above everyone else. Loyalty to the emperor is basically engraved in their bones.

Shen Yuan came to this world of the Red Mansion not to cause chaos in the world.

If the emperor had not failed, why would he need to slay the dragon!
Isn’t it nice to have your lovely wife in your arms and do some exercise every day?
He, Shen Yuan, has never been a noble person.
(End of this chapter)