Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 274, The Beginning of Industry

Inside the Jia mansion, Grandmother Jia was chatting with a group of maids and wives.

It is said that the Jia family's power is growing day by day, and their doors are always crowded with visitors, vaguely resembling the scene when the old Duke was alive.

Everyone complimented, saying, "This is a blessing from our ancestors!"

Grandmother Jia laughed happily.

Baoyu rolled around in Grandmother Jia's arms, acting spoiled, and cried out, "Give me some of this good fortune, give me some!"

Everyone laughed and coaxed Baoyu.

Just then, a woman who couldn't speak, whose identity as the head of a household was unknown, appeared.

She said, "Oh my, my dear Second Master Bao, how could you not be blessed? In my opinion, you are the most fortunate person in our household besides the Old Madam. Your third sister, the Shi family sister, and that Lin sister you've never met—they're all that person's people. Just because of these connections, you'll enjoy endless wealth and honor in the future!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

He stared at the man without saying a word.

The steward's wife panicked, realizing she might have said something wrong.

She wasn't truly unable to speak; she was just new here and unaware of some of the manor's secrets.

She came from Nanjing.

With Tan Chun and Xiang Yun gone, and Ying Chun being restrained by Jia She, who said that the young lady was too old to stay with Bao Yu like before, and Wang Xifeng frequently going to the palace, Grandmother Jia was quite bored without any lively people around her.

Just then, the Lai family fell from power, leaving many stewards in the mansion with vacancies. So, several stewards were newly promoted from Jinling, and she was the daughter-in-law of one of them. She never expected that such a thing would happen now.

Baoyu was stunned almost instantly, staring blankly at the spot where his sisters used to be. Recalling the laughter and joy of the past, tears streamed down his face.

"Third sister is gone, and Yun sister is gone too. What's the point of me living? I might as well smash this damn thing!"

The jade fell to the ground with a snap.

Everyone panicked and started searching for the jade all over the ground.

Grandmother Jia shouted, "Oh dear, my darling, why did you have to break that vital organ? Quickly, someone, throw that gossipy, wicked daughter-in-law out of here!"

In the palace.

Xiao Xiangyun peeked in. Fang Yong was reviewing a document. Xiangyun looked around and said, "That's strange. I clearly saw Sister Feng sneak in just now, but where did she go?"

Under Fang Yong's desk, Wang Xifeng was extremely nervous, her phoenix eyes peeking out secretly. However, Fang Yong's large hand pressed down on her head, pulling her back down.

“She’s not here,” Fang Yong said to Xiangyun in a serious tone.

Xiangyun nodded and was about to leave when Fang Yong said, "Where are you going? Come here and let me hold you for a while."

Upon hearing this, Xiangyun didn't hesitate and walked over confidently.

Fang Yong held her in his arms like a daughter, supporting the little girl's two slightly chubby legs.

Wang Xifeng below felt like she was about to die of nervousness.

She couldn't believe that if Xiangyun discovered that her seemingly glamorous second sister-in-law was actually so promiscuous, how would she face herself in the future?
Fang Yong, however, seemed completely unconcerned, continuing to tease Xiangyun.

Until Xiangyun's face turned red, and her small body leaned softly against Fang Yong's chest.

"Your Highness, please sleep in my room tonight!"

Xiangyun spoke softly.

Fang Yong kneaded the dough and said, "Is it not possible now?"

Xiangyun blushed and said, "But I promised to play hide-and-seek with Sister Lin and the others."

Fang Yong shook his head.

This little girl hasn't forgotten to play hide-and-seek even at this time.

After letting Xiangyun go, Wang Xifeng was finally able to catch her breath.

Fang Yong decided to undertake large-scale construction.

He wanted to open up a road through this territory from Datong to Yinshan and build a city called Hezhou, symbolizing the eternal peace between the Han people and the nomadic tribes of the grasslands.

However, large-scale construction projects are always costly and exhausting, and Fang Yong's current financial resources are not sufficient, making it somewhat difficult to complete such a project.

Fang Yong could not bear to see the people under his rule suffering from forced labor, so after careful consideration, he decided to have his brothers from the grasslands do the work for him.

This is not oppression. Hezhou is a city shared by the grassland people and the Han people. The grassland brothers first perform labor to build the city, and after the city is built, he will find a way to compensate the grassland people for their hard work.

In addition, monks and Taoist priests were also sent to help with the construction of the city.

As for who should be assigned to manage this matter...

Fang Yong turned his gaze to Wang Xifeng.

He patted her ample breasts and said, "Lie down properly, let me help you take care of your body."

Wang Xifeng wanted to retort, "Why? It's always so ambiguous. What do you take me for?"

But before she could finish speaking, Fang Yong slapped her on the shoulder, and she instinctively obeyed, lying obediently on the table.

Wang Xifeng had health problems.

Fang Yong teased Wang Xifeng, saying, "Feng'er, do you know? You have a typical case of yin deficiency."

Wang Xifeng didn't answer, she just kept her head down.

Not long after, Wang Xifeng's body became limp and powerless.

Fang Yong mocked, "Feng'er, you're too weak. You're not even as good as Xiao Xiangyun."

Wang Xifeng turned around and glared at Fang Yong.

It was as if to say, "What young woman could stand someone like you?"

……

The next morning.

Xiao Xiangyun clung to Fang Yong, her slightly short legs wrapped around him. She seemed to be dreaming, and two dimples appeared on her round face.

After a period of tender time, Fang Yong changed into his formal attire and headed to the port to greet the envoys from the British Empire.

Under Huang Wenzhou's leadership, Earl Sweet's warships docked at the port of the capital.

As soon as he disembarked, he expressed his deepest apologies to Fang Yong.

"I apologize for taking you so long. Our King has passed away unexpectedly. As you know, there are always some rats in the shadows who will try to cause trouble at such times. But rest assured, the chaos has now subsided, and the Prince of Wales has taken his place. The terms agreed upon earlier are still in effect."

Fang Yong nodded upon hearing this. He said that the people from the British Empire had been nowhere to be seen for a long time because George III had died.

Many others accompanied Earl Sweet.

There were scientists, bankers, engineers, members of parliament, bishops, and some soldiers, and even a cook.

Putting everything else aside, the chef went a bit too far!
Earl Sweet explained that it was Princess Sofia's cook.

She was afraid she wouldn't be used to the food here.

Sofia, the illegitimate daughter of the late King George III.

She was not originally a princess. It was only after George IV ascended the throne that he recognized her as his sister in order to fulfill the conditions of the marriage alliance with Fang Yong.

Subsequently, Fang Yong also met Princess Sofia.

She was not bad-looking, but a little thin. When Earl Sweet introduced her to Fang Yong, he mentioned the princess's age, which might be a bit young for an Easterner, but just right for a Westerner.

Overall, the preparations this time have been quite thorough.

List of various equipment and personnel, the King's Seal, the banker in charge of the loan, the engineer who conducted the on-site inspection, and the personnel involved in the marriage.

Once Fang Yongyi signs the agreement, ships carrying large quantities of industrial equipment, scientists, and engineers will arrive one after another.

(End of this chapter)