The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

It was snowing heavily, with snowflakes fluttering all over the sky. The big flag on the corner tower was fluttering in the wind.

The snowy wind blew across his face, causing a stinging pain like a blade. Li Hu tightened the white fox fur scarf around his neck, took the telescope from Wang Daniu and looked towards the end of the prairie.

The sky was getting darker and darker, and in the vast snow curtain, all you could see was white snow.

Wang Daniu stamped his feet to avoid the cold, and quickly glanced at the fortifications in the distance: "It's so cold, the chevaux de frise must be frozen. If Fu Kang'an wants to launch an attack, he must use his warhorse to break through this circle of fortifications. So many chevaux de frise will be enough to kill him!"

Fu Kangan's army was on the other side of the prairie.

In such bad weather, everyone has their own advantages and disadvantages. Fu Kang'an's army is more adapted to the environment here than them, but the weather is too cold, and bows and arrows are useless after a few shots. They have muskets and artillery. However, due to the strong snow and wind, the range of muskets and artillery is greatly affected.

Putting down the telescope, Li Hu turned to look inside the city. At this time, more than ten artillery batteries had been built in the city. In order to ensure that the cannons could be fired, he also ordered people to build houses for the cannons, with charcoal fires burning inside. Of course, the ammunition was stored separately.

Wang Daniu: "It's so cold, Fukangan can't wait too long. I think he will make a decision in a day or two. Either he bites the bullet and attacks, or he goes back."

Li Hu nodded.

A personal soldier said: "Someone is coming!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a horse galloping towards them in the wind and snow.

Wang Daniu: "It's the Jurchens!"

The Jurchen woman galloped to the chevaux de frise, pulled the reins to a stop, jumped off her horse, and began to climb over the defensive circle formed by the chevaux de frise.

Wang Daniu asked in confusion: "Is he here to gather intelligence?"

Liu Xianglian, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up: "He should be here to issue a challenge."

Everyone turned their eyes to Li Hu.

Li Hu said nothing and just looked at the Jurchen quietly.

Finally, the Jurchen woman climbed over the last chevaux de frise and ran to the foot of the city. She shouted in stiff Chinese, "I'm here on the order of my general to tell General Li that the Russians have invaded our border. We are going back to fight them. We will fight them again in the spring next year!" She repeated it loudly and left without looking back.

do not fight?
Everyone looked at each other, and then turned their eyes to Li Hu.

Rakshasa?
Li Hu's eyes flashed, and he realized that it was Hong Zhou and Yong Yan who took action.

Wang Daniu's eyes rolled around: "Should we give chase?"

Li Hu said unhappily: "If you don't understand, just shut up." He put on the white fox fur sleeves, turned around and went down the corner tower.

Everyone followed quickly.

Wang Daniu grabbed Liu Xianglian and asked, "Did I say something wrong?"

Liu Xianglian smiled bitterly and said, "Fukangan must have withdrawn his troops long ago. Besides, they are withdrawing, not rout." After saying that, he chased after him.

Wang Daniu blushed and followed him down.

The sound of heavy drums began to beat, and the commanders of each camp dressed neatly and rushed to the central military tent.

In the central military tent, Li Hu sat in front of a low table in the middle.

Huang Jinzhong, Chen Qiang, Zhou Xun, Wang Yaozu, Liu Xianglian and others sat in front of the low tables on both sides, waiting for Li Hu's military orders.

Li Hu didn't waste any words and told them what had just happened.

Huang Jinzhong: "Could it be a trick?" As he spoke, he realized that if Fukangan led his troops to attack the garrison city behind him, he would be seeking his own death.

All the generals laughed silently.

Li Hu coughed and continued, "General Huang's concerns are not unreasonable, Wang Yaozu."

Wang Yaozu stood up: "Yes."

Li Hu: "Send out scouts immediately to find out the surrounding situation."

Wang Yaozu: “Yes!” he answered and strode out.

Li Hu: "Although Fukangan has withdrawn his troops, we cannot let down our guard, because next time Fukangan will lead more troops to attack! Even the Mongolian tribes in the south of the desert, such as Xilin Gol League, may also join the war."

The atmosphere in the tent suddenly became solemn.

Li Hu continued, "The mountains are blocked by heavy snow, so the news can't be sent out for a while. It will definitely be too late to wait for the court to send troops for support. Besides, the court can't send too many reinforcements at the moment. So, we have to find a way ourselves."

All the generals understood and turned their eyes to Huang Jinzhong.

Huang Jinzhong was silent for a moment, then asked, "Mongols?"

Li Hu nodded.

Huang Jinzhong: “How much?”

Li Hu was silent for a moment and said, "At least 20,000." Huang Jinzhong was anxious, "Too many. The number of Mongolians in the army must not exceed that of Han people! We must be on guard against others!"

Li Hu: "I have another idea. Ten thousand Mongols, and the rest are recruited from the Han people in the Hetao area. How do you think?"

Huang Jinzhong hesitated again: "Ten thousand Han people, isn't that a bit too many?"

Li Hu was a little unhappy: "Then what do you think is a suitable amount?"

Huang Jinzhong's eyes flickered continuously, and then he gritted his teeth and said, "Five thousand. I dare not report any more to the emperor."

Li Hu was delighted, but he pretended to be silent for a long time before he said, "I'll have to trouble the military supervisor to help the emperor." He then said to Liu Xianglian, "After this battle, you can go back."

Liu Xianglian stood up: "Yes."

Li Hu also stood up and said loudly: "No more nonsense, let's train our troops and wait for the decisive battle."

All the generals stood up and answered loudly: "Yes!"

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-February of the sixth year of Yongchang. Spring had arrived, the weather had warmed up, and the big trees on both sides of Qianmen Street had sprouted green buds.

Qianmen Street was still bustling with people, and passers-by all glanced at a money shop with a large plaque that read "Li's Money Shop".

Suddenly, the earth-shaking sound of firecrackers came from the door of the money house.

Li San, who had changed into festive clothes, personally held a string of firecrackers held up by a bamboo pole and walked out of the gate with the sound of firecrackers popping.

A group of servants carried firecrackers and set them off in a lively manner.

"Quick! Carry it in!"

Kong Qingxiang came over with a few servants carrying boxes.

"Third uncle!"

Kong Qingxiang bowed politely to Li San, took the bamboo pole from Li San's hand and put it away.

Li San smiled and nodded.

At this time, Jia Lian's servant Zhao'er came with a few servants driving a carriage.

Zhao'er: "Uncle San, this is our Second Master's private money. From now on, it will all be kept in the Li's Bank."

Li San: "Okay. Carry it in."

Soon after, carriages loaded with large boxes stopped in front of the money house.

As if it was pre-planned, Jiao Da of Ningguo Mansion, Wang Shanbao of the main house of Rongguo Mansion, Jin Wenxiang, the brother of Jia Mu's maid Yuanyang, Xue Pan, Jia Yucun's housekeeper, the housekeeper of Liguo Mansion, the housekeeper of Baoling Marquis Mansion, and the families of the generals of the Rui Shi Battalion all came.

Looking at the large boxes being carried in, the onlookers exclaimed in amazement.

The window of a street-facing box on the second floor of the tavern opposite Li's Money House opened, revealing three young men in plain clothes.

The three were exactly the top three in last year's imperial examination.

Tanhualang's eyes flashed: "How arrogant!"

The runner-up snorted, "A bunch of borers!"

Tanhualang: "Especially Li Hu, he is the biggest corrupt official in the Dashun Dynasty. It's only been half a year, and he has embezzled millions of spoils of war and even used the imperial post stations. Bah! The imperial post stations are almost becoming his Li family's." After saying this, he felt something was wrong and stood there in a daze.

The top scholar's eyes flashed with a faint light: "Let him be arrogant for a while. When the war in the north is over, we will instigate the imperial censor to impeach him. Even if we can't bring him down, we will make him spit out the money he embezzled!"

They both nodded in unison: "Yes!"

Number One Scholar: "According to the time, the imperial edict from the Tartar Emperor should have been delivered to Fu Kang'an."

Tanhualang: "It's time for this war to end."

Emperor Yongchang selected ten people from the successful candidates in the imperial examination and after more than a month of observation, he kept three of them as tutors.

The three of them were all disciples of the emperor and his close ministers. In addition, the three of them were indeed very hardworking, so they were promoted to attendants in early February and drafted imperial edicts and notes for the emperor.

Suddenly, the door of the box was pushed open!
The three turned around in surprise.

A young man rushed in like a gust of wind, panting: "Something bad has happened. Prince Zhongshun was defeated and was almost captured by the White Lotus rebels."

The top scholar was startled and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"

The young man: "I heard that someone attacked the rear wing. I'm not sure, let's go back quickly!"

The three of them looked at each other and walked out quickly. (End of this chapter)