The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 308 Trading
Under the eaves outside the main hall, Jia She was lazily lying on his side on a recliner. On a low stool in front of him was a box, and he was fiddling with crickets with a straw stick.

At this time, Wang Shanbao came in and said softly, "Master, Uncle Wang is here."

"Wang Ziteng is here?" Jia She paused, blinked a few times, and then said to Wang Shanbao, "Go and tell him I'm drunk."

"So leisurely!" Wang Ziteng's voice was heard from the gate of the courtyard.

Jia She and Wang Shanbao were both stunned.

Wang Ziteng walked in with a smile.

The manager followed behind in a rage.

Jia She sat up and waved to Wang Shanbao.

Wang Shanbao understood and led the manager out.

Wang Ziteng strode over.

Jia She said jokingly: "The great judge has come. I am sorry to have failed to welcome him."

Wang Ziteng's mouth twitched, and then he smiled bitterly: "Don't make fun of me. It's really frustrating to be the governor of Zhili to this point. I have to be careful in everything, for fear that those royal family members and nobles will get hold of me."

Jia She was still teasing: "In the more than 100 years since the establishment of the Dashun Kingdom, you are the first governor to be called 'the clear sky' by the common people!"

Wang Ziteng: "The common people, the common people are nothing! As long as those people catch me with the slightest handle, I, as the governor, will not say anything more. Do you know what happened in Luoyang?"

Jia She nodded.

Wang Ziteng sighed and said, "I don't want to be the governor of Zhili anymore. I am always worried. Look, my hair has turned white."

Only then did Jia She discover that Wang Ziteng had a few strands of silver hair at his temples.

Wang Ziteng: "I have thought about it carefully. The strategy that the palace had previously decided on to quell the rebellion is no longer effective. We must gather troops from several neighboring provinces, otherwise we will be defeated one by one by the rebels. This requires the court to select a military general who is both knowledgeable in military strategy and has status to lead the troops."

Seeing that Jia She didn't respond, Wang Ziteng continued, "There is a war in the north now, and the court can only select a few generals. This is my chance to escape from the quagmire and my chance to turn things around." After saying that, he looked at Jia She.

Jia She nodded perfunctorily.

Wang Ziteng: "The emperor has accepted me again. As long as Li Hu doesn't compete with me, those idle people at home can't compete with me. Of course, if Li Hu can recommend me, it will be a done deal."

Jia She looked at him.

Wang Ziteng was silent for a moment. "I won't say those polite words in front of you. I hope that Lord En can help me put in a few words. Whether it succeeds or not, it will be a token of my heart. If I get out of the quagmire, I can also add another boost to the Jia family."

Jia She looked at him and still said nothing.

Wang Ziteng: "I know that in the entire Rongguo Mansion, only Marquis En can talk to Li Hu."

Jia She raised his hand and said, "Don't flatter me. I know my own worth."

Wang Ziteng took a deep breath and thought to himself that this old guy would not act until he saw the rabbit. He had said so much and still refused to accept the challenge. He could only increase the stakes.

"Five thousand silver coins, plus a favor. As for Li Hu, he can set the conditions!" Wang Ziteng gritted his teeth.

Jia She smiled and said, "Your nephew's husband is now in charge of the disaster relief grain in Henan."

Wang Ziteng smiled: "Father and son are fighting together in the battlefield. Naturally, I will rely on Lian'er to support me with the food and grass! Don't worry, Lord En. Lian'er's military achievements will be indispensable."

Jia She smiled and nodded.

Wang Ziteng breathed a sigh of relief: "I have to go to the palace now. Li Hu has Marquis Lao En on his side." After saying that, he said goodbye.

Jia She then stood up and said, "Someone come!"

Wang Shanbao responded and walked in. Jia She: "Go! Bring me all the gifts General Yuehai gave me, and follow me to the Li family."

Wang Shanbao: “Yes.”

On the other side, Wang Ziteng walked out of the black oil gate and went straight to the gate.

"Uncle." A woman's voice stopped Wang Ziteng and he turned around to look.

Zhou Ruijia came over hurriedly, greeted Wang Ziteng first, and then said, "Our wife wants to talk to the uncle."

Wang Ziteng nodded and followed Zhou Ruijia to Rongxi Hall.
After seeing Wang Ziteng off, Zhou Ruijia returned to Rongxi Hall. Seeing that Madam Wang was still sitting there angrily, she brought a cup of tea over and said softly, "Madam, my uncle just said that the Wu family is just a small family. Let them run rampant for a few more days. After my uncle has pacified the White Lotus rebels, we can deal with the Wu family later."

Mrs. Wang was surprised and delighted: "Did Uncle Baoyu really say that?"

Zhou Ruijia: "Did I just deceive my wife?!"

Mrs. Wang: "Well, a person born in a lowly merchant family dares to compete with my Yuanchun for favor and block the way of my grandson." As she spoke, her eyes shone with a fierce light.
Living room of the Loyal and Brave Earl's Mansion
Li Hu hurried here to see Jia She without even having time to change out of his official uniform.

Jia She: "It's a quagmire over there, whoever goes there will get stuck. The reinforcements from Tongguan accidentally killed so many people from Luoyang, this has a terrible impact, the people in the counties that have been captured by the White Lotus will panic, they may join the White Lotus to survive, and who knows how many innocent people will die next. You are still young, it's not worth it. Besides, the palace may not want you to go."

Li Hu glanced at Jia She and asked, "How much good have you received from him?"

Jia She smiled and said, "Not much, not much, five thousand taels of silver, a favor, plus Lian'er's share of the military merit."

Li Hu smiled: "Wang Ziteng is so generous!"

Jia She: "If he doesn't think of a solution, even if he doesn't survive the next three years, he will be plotted against by the royal family and nobles."

Li Hu nodded.

Jia She: "Wang Ziteng is a treacherous man. In order to regain the emperor's favor, he will definitely tell the emperor about our deal. You'd better make him owe you a favor and ask for some money and property."

Li Hu thought for a moment and said, "Okay. I'll go to the palace now, maybe I'll run into Wang Ziteng. Oh, by the way, Xue Pan sent a Siamese pig scented with cypress as tribute from Siam. I'll come back later and have a drink with you."

Jia She: "Okay!"

In the living room, the third prince was pacing back and forth in his princely attire.

Three shirtless men were kneeling outside the door, their backs covered in blood!
The Third Prince walked to the door and stopped, his eyes flashing with ferocity: "Chase! You must bring that bastard Bai Hongzhi back to me and break his limbs!"

The three big men answered in unison: "Yes."

The third prince gritted his teeth and said, "Chase them to Henan!"

At this moment, the butler walked over quickly and reported to the Third Prince: "Your Highness, the Emperor has assigned the task of suppressing the White Lotus Rebellion to Wang Ziteng!"

The Third Prince was shocked when he heard this: "How could it be?"

Butler: "I heard that Li Hu recommended him."

The Third Prince's face changed: "Damn it, it ruined my strategy!"

The housekeeper smiled bitterly. Wang Ziteng was no longer the governor-general of Zhili, so their plan had to be changed. It was all in vain.

The Third Prince paced back and forth rapidly again, saying as he walked: "Make use of the waste and bring Wang Ren in."

Butler: "That hole."

The Third Prince: "Make up for him. These are all leverages we can use to control the Wang family in the future!" He paused, "First, focus on dealing with the Second Prince."

(End of this chapter)