The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

At this time, Shui Rong didn't know that Bai Hongzhi had destroyed his family's ancestral land.

This is the Huai'an Canal Wharf, where dozens of large ships loaded with military rations, weapons, gunpowder and artillery have hoisted their sails. On each ship stood a White Lotus sect member wearing a white scarf.

Shui Rong stood on the stone steps of the dock and shouted to the White Lotus leader standing below: "These military supplies must be escorted to the front camp within five days! Anyone who delays by even one day will be executed!"

The White Lotus leaders answered loudly, "Yes."

Shui Rong: "Let's send the boat."

The White Lotus leaders immediately walked towards the river, shouting loudly: "Heave the anchor! Heave the anchor!" Then they all boarded the large ship close to the dock.

"Send the ship!"

"Send the ship!"

Orders were heard from all the boats.

It happened to be a favorable wind at that time, and the sails were fully winded, heading downstream of the canal.

Shui Rong was still standing there quietly, but his eyes couldn't help but flash with excitement.

With the help of the Western Yi people, Shui Rong converted some of the captured grain ships into simple warships, equipped with a large number of cluster guns.

Dozens of modified warships and more than a hundred grain boats have already sailed down the river, covering the sky and the sun. In a few days, they will arrive near the surface of the Yangzhou River, and by then, both land and water routes will gradually form a siege.

As long as they defeated the warships of the Yangtze River Navy patrolling on the river outside Yangzhou City, the army could easily break through Yangzhou City, take the money and food of Yangzhou City, and then attack Liuhe westwards, and then kill into Anhui Province, leaving the main warships of the Yangtze River Navy that blocked the entrance of the Grand Canal to the river to starve.

At this time, Yang Qilong came over with a stack of official documents and reported to Shui Rong: "Pei County is lost."

Shui Rong frowned: "So fast?"

Yang Qilong smiled bitterly: "Although those rebels have taken up arms, they don't have much fighting power. Facing the elite troops of the imperial court, it's already very good that they can hold out for one day."

Shui Rong was silent for a moment, then asked, "How long can Xuzhou be defended?"

Yang Qilong shook his head: "It's hard to say. But when the imperial army wiped out the various rebel forces in Xuzhou Prefecture and chased them to Yangzhou, our main force had already entered Anhui."

"How about we go south to attack Nanjing?" Shui Rong suddenly asked.

Yang Qilong's eyes widened. Attacking Nanjing? Are you kidding me?! Not to mention the Yangtze River Navy and the Jiangnan Camp that blocked the river, Nanjing is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with high walls and thick walls. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. They can be worn out to death!

Shui Rong smiled and said, "It was just a joke. I've thought about it carefully and decided to open up a new battlefield to disperse the imperial forces. Send a detachment north to attack Shandong and take Qufu directly."

Yang Qilong's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile: "This is a good idea. Although the reputation of the Duke of Yansheng is bad, its influence is still there. The court will definitely send troops to rescue and send more detachments to the north to completely disrupt the court's strategy."

Shui Rong: "Let's go back and discuss it."

The rain outside was getting heavier. Inside, Li Hu and Lin Daiyu were sitting opposite each other, looking at each other. Xueyan was sitting on a stool by the door, eating melon seeds, looking at Li Hu's sleeves and blinking her eyes a few times.

Li Hu broke the deadlock: "Xiangling must have lost a few chess pieces because she wasn't paying attention."

Lin Daiyu looked at him, meaning: Am I so easy to be fooled?!

Li Hu coughed and then said, "Well, I'll be more generous and I lose this game of chess."

Lin Daiyu laughed angrily: "You mean I'm stingy?"

Li Hu: "Hey, don't accuse me! I didn't mean that."

"Bah!" Lin Daiyu spat, "You're still a marquis! You can't beat the opponent so you steal chess pieces. You're a rogue. I'm ashamed for you!" As she said that, she laughed. Suddenly, she noticed Xueyan's eyes looking at Li Hu's sleeves from time to time. She immediately understood and grabbed Li Hu's sleeves, trying to pick the pockets in his sleeves.

Li Hu was anxious: "What are you doing in broad daylight? Men and women shouldn't touch each other, men and women shouldn't touch each other!" He grabbed Lin Daiyu's sleeves tightly to prevent her from searching his pockets.

Lin Daiyu had an expression that said "as expected". Then she smiled so much that two shallow dimples appeared on her face and her little face turned red.

Li Hu glared: "A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated! If you continue to do this, I will not be polite! Alas, alas~ Men and women should not touch each other"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "I know you hid the chess piece in your sleeve. Get rid of it as soon as possible and don't make me suffer." As Li Hu was talking, she reached into his arm and grabbed the opening of his pocket. Li Hu's clothes were all made by Lin Daiyu, and she knew exactly where the pockets were.

Li Hu subconsciously pulled his arm back, and with a "swish" sound, Lin Daiyu's white and tender little hand was revealed, holding a piece of gauze.

Then there was a "rustling" sound, and several chess pieces rolled down on the chessboard, along with a very familiar handkerchief.

Li Hu's face turned red: "Well, it must be Xiangling's doing!"

Lin Daiyu could not help laughing. She laughed so hard that she fell backwards. She held the chessboard with her hands. She was so excited that she could not speak. Suddenly, she cried "Ouch" and fell on the chessboard.

Li Hu was startled: "What's wrong?"

Lin Daiyu lay on the chessboard, her shoulders shaking with laughter: "I'm out of breath!"

Li Hu felt relieved when he heard this. He stretched out his hand and picked up Lin Daiyu. He held her in his arms and gently rubbed her belly while saying, "Take a breath and exhale slowly."

It took Lin Daiyu a while to catch her breath. She leaned her head on Li Hu's shoulder, her eyes shining, her face smiling, and her whole body filled with happiness.

Li Hu picked up his purple clay teapot and fed Lin Daiyu a sip of tea, saying, "Don't pick other people's sleeves. It's not good."

Lin Daiyu said angrily: "Then why do you always pick my sleeves?"

Li Hu: "I'm thick-skinned!"

Seeing Li Hu say this so confidently, Lin Daiyu laughed again.

Xueyan, who was eating melon silently on the side, couldn't help laughing and covered her mouth.

Li Hu was worried that Lin Daiyu would choke on her breath from laughing again, so he gently stroked her back, "Okay, be careful not to choke on your breath from laughing." He glared at Xueyan again, "Little traitor."

Xueyan was startled at first, then she muttered in a low voice, "It's not like I haven't been caught by a girl before."

"What did you say?"

Xueyan hurriedly covered her mouth to indicate that she had said nothing.

Lin Daiyu laughed and punched him: "Don't bully Xueyan."

Li Hu: "For my wife's sake, I'll let you off this time. If you do it again, hmph."

Xueyan nodded cooperatively.

Lin Daiyu: "Let me tell you something"

Li Hu interrupted her directly: "Just make the decision."

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and said, "The house over at Xiangshan Villa has been completed."

Li Hu understood: "Want to go and take a look?"

Lin Daiyu: “Yeah.”

Li Hu held her hand tightly and said, "If you want to go, let's go. We can go there early tomorrow morning, even if it rains knives from the sky."

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him and said, "You're talking nonsense again. Wait a couple of days. I'll have to send someone over to clean it up."

Li Hu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

Lin Daiyu smiled happily, and her eyes suddenly caught sight of the handkerchief on the chessboard. "Why did you steal my handkerchief again?"

Li Hu: "What do you mean by yours or mine? Even you are mine. Besides, this is given to me by you."

Lin Daiyu was too lazy to argue with him. She turned her body, changed to a more comfortable position, leaned in Li Hu's arms, and slowly closed her eyes.

Li Hu smiled, lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, then reached out and pulled the thin blanket from the kang over, gently covering Lin Daiyu with it. (End of this chapter)