The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

In Mongolian, Darigangai means vast grassland. With abundant grass and pleasant climate, it is a natural high-quality pasture. It was praised by the Jurchens as "Jiangnan outside the Great Wall" and designated as a royal pasture to provide high-quality war horses for the royal family and the Eight Banners soldiers.

Every few years, the Qing emperor would lead his princes, ministers and the elite troops of the Eight Banners to hunt here to demonstrate the fighting power of the elite troops and consolidate his rule.

Now everything here belongs to Fukangan.

In front of a large bright yellow luxurious tent, Fu Kang'an, accompanied by Tushetu Khan, Sayin Noyan Khan, Chechen Khan, Zasaktu Khan and the four princes, sat cross-legged on a huge tiger-skin mattress. The table in front of them was filled with large plates of beef, mutton, fine wine and fresh fruits.

The new leader of Xilingol League, the prince of West Sunite Banner and his nobles sat in front of a row of low tables on the left.

On the right sat a group of strange-looking Western barbarians, each with their green eyes wide open, staring at the Mongolian girls who were dancing to the music.

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner saw this and showed a trace of disdain. He picked up a large cup of kumis and drank it in one gulp. His eyes swept across the bright yellow tent behind Fukangan, thinking that all of this would be his sooner or later.

The music stopped, and the Mongolian girls bowed to Fukangan and retreated.

Fu Kang'an raised his glass: "Please."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

At this time, the Western barbarian sitting in the first seat on the right mumbled something.

Fu Kangan looked at the Chechen Khan and asked, "What is this Rakshasa saying?"

Everyone turned their eyes to the Chechen Khan.

The Chechen Khan coughed and replied, "General, Mr. Ivanov said they are willing to exchange thirty flintlock rifles for the girls who just danced."

Fu Kang'an's face darkened: "Selling women?"

Chechen Khan: "This is not a sale, it is an exchange"

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner sneered: "Is there any difference?!"

Tushetu Khan and others also looked unhappy.

There was no need for translation. Ivanov and other Russians had already understood the meaning from Fukangan's expression and stopped smiling.

The Chechen Khan was anxious: "General, we can't keep this secret for too long. Once the court knows about it, they will definitely mobilize the elite troops of the Eight Banners to attack us. If we offend the Russians because of this little thing, we will be attacked from all sides. Think twice!"

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner continued: "On the prairie, there are only warriors who die in battle, and no cowards who hide behind women!"

"Shut up!" The Chechen Khan glared at him fiercely, and then said: "A little impatience will ruin a big plan. The most urgent thing is to expand our strength. Money, land, and women are all fake. If we lose, we will lose everything!"

Zasaktu Khan said: "The imperial court allocates grain to support Mobei every year, but many people still starve to death. This year's grain is definitely gone, and the Han people don't agree to sell grain to us. It's better for them to follow the Russians than to starve to death."

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner muttered in a low voice: "You are deceiving yourself."

Zasaktu Khan gave him a disapproving look.

Tushetu Khan said: "Thirty poles are too few. Let them add some more."

Chechen Khan: "Great General"

Fu Kang'an said "hmm" with a lonely look and lowered his head weakly.

The Chechen Khan sighed, but immediately turned to Ivanov and said a few words with a smile.

Ivanov laughed and said, "Since you are a noble lady, the price will be higher. Then I will give you fifty flintlock rifles."

Those Rakshasas all laughed.

A trace of displeasure flashed across the face of the Chechen Khan, and he translated the words to Fu Kang'an and others.

A hint of coldness quickly flashed across Fukang'an's eyes, and in an instant he smiled again and raised his wine glass.

Everyone drank together with Fukang'an.

At this time, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came over, and everyone looked over.

A Mongolian with a bloody face and disheveled hair came riding this side madly, and when he reached the outside of the banquet hall, he pulled the reins hard and jumped off the horse, shouting "Prince!" while running towards the prince of Xisunite Banner.

The prince of Xisunite Banner was startled. The man had already run to him and knelt down.

Prince of the Western Sunite Banner: "What happened?"

The man cried out, "It was Li Hu, Li Hu, who led his troops to attack our right-wing flag. All the men taller than the wheels were killed!"

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner's expression changed drastically, and then he flipped the low table to the ground and shouted loudly: "Li Hu, I will kill you!"

Everyone looked at each other.

Tushetu Khan slammed the table and said, "This is too much!" The prince of the Western Sunite Banner looked at Fu Kang'an and said, "Please ask the general to make a decision for us!"

Fu Kang'an's face looked even uglier. He had just signed an alliance with the Xilingol League, and Li Hu attacked the headquarters of the prince of the Western Sunite Banner. This was a slap in his face!

Zasaktu Khan: "Where is Li Hu now?"

The man: "I drove the cattle and sheep back."

Driving cattle and sheep?

Zasaktu Khan's eyes flashed, and he asked about the time again, then said to Fu Kang'an: "We are not driving the cattle and sheep very fast. According to the time, we should be able to intercept Li Hu in the territory of the former Fourth Prince's tribe."

Tushetu Khan: "It just so happens that the fourth prince is here, let him lead us to take a shortcut and destroy Li Hu."

The fourth prince greeted him in his heart and looked at Fu Kang'an: "Why did Li Hu drive the cattle and sheep back?"

Fu Kang'an was very smart and understood immediately: "You mean, Li Hu did it on purpose?"

The Fourth Prince's eyes swept across everyone's faces: "Don't forget, Li Hu did not sign the contract. He doesn't want to stop the war at all! This is a trap, a trap for us to take the initiative to provoke a war."

Everyone immediately shouted:

"Bah! What a cunning little thief! I almost fell for his trick."

"Yes, don't fall for this!"

At this time, a Russian man whispered something in Ivanov's ear.

Ivanov showed a sneer on his face, thinking that these people were indeed a bunch of trash. He should suggest that the governor should immediately transfer troops from the mainland, take the opportunity to go south, and plant the flag of the empire on this prairie. This place will surely become the most dazzling pearl in the crown of Her Majesty the Queen!

There are also the Han people mentioned by the Tatars. If there is a chance, test their strength and find out their bottom line.

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner had red eyes: "General!"

Fu Kang'an was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "We have just signed a contract with the Han people. We cannot attack the Han army."

Prince of the Western Sunite Banner: "We have also signed an alliance!"

Fukangan was in a dilemma.

The fourth prince spoke up: "Perhaps this is a misunderstanding. The Han people don't know about our alliance."

Prince of the Western Sunite Banner: "Do you believe it?!"

The Fourth Prince: "I believe it!"

Prince of West Sunite Banner: "You"

The Rakshasa who was talking to Ivanov almost laughed out loud, but quickly held it back.

Zasaktu Khan had already seen it, and a hint of doubt flashed across his eyes.

Fukang'an stood up a little irritably and said, "Okay, I'll send someone to question the old eunuch about this matter." Then he turned and left.

The prince of the Western Sunite Banner said to his subordinates: "Go!"

His men followed closely behind.

The Chechen Khan sighed deeply. It was not a good sign that a good meeting had turned out like this!

The fourth prince's eyes flashed, and he calculated the time. After Li Hu received his secret letter, he made a decision, killing decisively and heroically. This line cannot be broken!

The Fourth Prince's guess was correct, Li Hu did it on purpose.

On a high ground, Li Hu sat upright on a big white horse, and his cavalrymen lined up there quietly. There was no sound from either the people or the horses, all waiting for Li Hu's military order.

In the distance, serfs and herdsmen were driving cattle and sheep forward in a mighty procession that stretched for miles.

Looking at the setting sun which had completely lost its dazzling light, Li Hu sighed, thinking that Fu Kang'an would not come.

Wang Daniu started to curse: "A bunch of rubbish! Cowards!"

Wang Yaozu, Zhou Xun and others also had disappointment in their eyes.

Li Hu rode down and said to Wang Yaozu, "Withdraw the scouts." He then said to Wang Daniu, "Go there yourself and have the ambush troops withdraw as well."

Zhou Xun hesitated for a moment and said, "Marshal, should we wait a little longer?"

Li Hu shook his head: "Go back. The imperial edict should be on the way." (End of this chapter)