The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 295 Jia Zheng's Schemes

Wang Xin has been living in the Jia family mansion for three years.

Not only was he gentle to people, but Aunt Zhao had also heard some of the nonsense the old women of Tubishan Village had said. Naturally, Aunt Zhao was satisfied that such a good man could become her son-in-law.

Jia Zheng wasn't worried about Aunt Zhao; instead, he tried to "please" her.

With this joyous occasion, Aunt Zhao served the master even more diligently, and Jia Zheng left satisfied.

After leaving the courtyard, turn east, pass through an east-west passageway, and head south to the main hall, then into the large courtyard inside the ceremonial gate.

The main building has five large rooms, with side rooms on both sides and deer-shaped eaves rooms that extend into the mountainside. The buildings are interconnected and magnificent, clearly representing the main inner rooms. A large passageway leads directly to the main gate.

Upon entering the main hall, one is greeted by a large plaque with nine dragons in red gold on a blue background. The plaque bears three large characters: "Rongxi Hall." Following this is a line of smaller characters: "Written and bestowed upon Duke Rongguo, Jia Yuan, on a certain date." There is also the inscription: "Treasure of Imperial Calligraphy."

On the large rosewood carved dragon table, there is a three-foot-tall green bronze tripod, and a large ink dragon painting of waiting for the emperor to rise. On one side is a golden bronze vessel and on the other side is glass. There are sixteen nanmu chairs in two rows on the ground.

There was another couplet, made of ebony with engraved silver characters, which read: "The pearls and jewels on the seat shine like the sun and moon; the embroidered robes in front of the hall glow like the rosy clouds."

The line below in smaller characters reads: "Respectfully written by Mu Shi, a fellow townsman and younger brother of the hereditary Prince of Dong'an."

Jia Zheng knew that Lady Wang was mostly not in the main room during the day, but often sat and rested in the three rooms to the east of the main room.

"master."

"The master has arrived."

The maids in the corridor were all stunned when they saw Jia Zheng, and then they all called out to him.

The curtain of the east room was pushed open, and a maid saw that it was indeed Jia Zheng. She quickly went back inside, clearly confirming with the lady in the inner room that it was Jia Zheng. Such behavior was a sign that Jia Zheng rarely came.

Jia Zheng remained calm as he entered the east room. Having not been there for a long time, he couldn't help but take a look around.

The large kang bed by the window was covered with scarlet quilted cloth, with a bright red coin-patterned backrest, a dark blue coin-patterned pillow, and a light blue coin-patterned quilt. On either side were a pair of small lacquered tables in the shape of plum blossoms. On the left table were a Wenwang tripod, spoons, chopsticks, and an incense box, while on the right table was a Ru kiln beauty vase filled with fresh flowers, along with tea bowls, spittoons, and other items.

On the ground, there are four chairs in a row on the west side, each covered with a silver-red floral chair cover, and four footstools underneath.

On either side of the chair, there is a pair of tall tables, with tea bowls, vases, and flowers on them.

The rest of the furnishings need not be described in detail.

Madam Wang had already gotten off the kang (heated brick bed) and was standing by it, her face showing curiosity. She knew that her husband's arrival must mean something serious.

"You guys go down."

Jia Zheng said calmly.

Several maids looked at Madam Wang, who nodded slightly, and only then did the maids dare to leave.

Jia Zheng didn't pay any attention, and instead of getting on the kang (heated brick bed), he sat down on a chair to the east.

Lady Wang didn't say much, silently sat back on the kang, and didn't look at Jia Zheng, with the same expression as always.

Jia Zheng was taken aback.

The words that were on the tip of my tongue suddenly wouldn't come out.

We've been married for many years, and I don't know when we got to this point. We're husband and wife, but we're like strangers, barely exchanging a few words all year round.

Thinking about all this, the excitement in my heart dissipated, and I felt utterly bored.

"Wang Xin will be returning to the capital soon. I'm planning to take him as my son-in-law. What do you think?" Jia Zheng asked directly, his face calm.

Although Lady Wang knew that Jia Zheng was in trouble, she still showed surprise.

"Tan Chun?"

Jia Zheng nodded.

Madam Wang frowned slightly, pondering something in her mind.

Lady Wang was very powerful. She first clashed with her sister, then with her mother, and was eventually completely suppressed. Then Jia Jing got into trouble and Wang Ziteng gained power. Lady Wang also became more shrewd and promoted her niece, Wang Xifeng.

Madam Wang dared not speak openly about the old lady's matter.

However, when it came to matters within the family, Lady Wang was unyielding. Jia Zheng sometimes felt ashamed, realizing that he was somewhat afraid of her when she lost her temper.

Knowing what his wife was thinking, Jia Zheng took the initiative to speak up: "This matter will benefit Baoyu and Lan'er."

Madam Wang didn't believe it and asked in return, "What benefits would I get?"

“I am strict with Baoyu on a daily basis, but it is actually for his own good. Baoyu and Lan’er are both talented in literature. If they work harder, it will not be difficult for them to pass the imperial examinations.” Jia Zheng said, expressing his thoughts.

Hearing her husband praise their son, Mrs. Wang's expression softened considerably.

The atmosphere eased a bit, and Jia Zheng smiled and said, "Before the Tang Dynasty, civil and military affairs were not separated. Since the Song Dynasty, our dynasty has used civil affairs to control the military. This does not mean that we do not value military affairs. On the contrary, civil affairs are supported by military affairs. Which power does not have its own martial arts?"

Civil and military affairs are not separate; one can be an official or a military commander.

Since the Tang Dynasty, civil and military affairs have been separated.

When the imperial court uses military force, it needs to rely on civil officials to coordinate or manage it.

Similarly, any general who leads an army must have connections in the imperial court and be supported by civil officials.

The reasons were complex, and Jia Zheng didn't know if his wife could understand them, so he could only explain the important points.

The second branch of the Rongguo Mansion was determined to be a scholar.

However, the second wife and the first wife did not get along.

The eldest son was skilled in martial arts, the second son in literature, and in the end, it was the second son who came to control the eldest son. However, the eldest son was stubborn and never took his younger brother seriously.

They simply pursued both literary and military careers.

The eldest son could choose first, but unfortunately, the eldest brother couldn't bear the hardship of studying.

Since the second branch of the family is skilled in literature and uses literature to control the military, it is only natural that the second branch will be in charge in the future. Therefore, the second branch is the one in charge of the Rongguo Mansion.

The eldest son's family members were skilled in martial arts, and having a noble title was like adding wings to a tiger; therefore, the noble title in the Rongguo Mansion was inherited by the eldest son's family.

At the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, civil and military affairs were not separated. However, several decades later, civil and military affairs began to be separated, especially when the retired emperor was still the emperor. This was a well-known fact in the court.

Lady Wang was not entirely ignorant.

After hearing her husband's explanation, Mrs. Wang had some lingering suspicions.

Is Wang Xin reliable?

Madam Wang asked doubtfully.

Jia Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, as long as Madam Wang didn't directly refuse, he quickly replied, "Wang Xin's character should be fine."

Madam Wang had no doubts about her own son and grandson.

The eldest son entered school at the age of fourteen and married the daughter of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy at the age of twenty. His talent naturally caught the eye of the Chancellor, who believed that his eldest son could pass the imperial examination. Unfortunately, the eldest son died young.

The second son, Baoyu, was exceptionally intelligent. Although he was usually lazy, the servants in the mansion were not blind. Every time they tested him, Baoyu's answers were so good that even his father couldn't find fault with them.

The grandson, Jia Lan, was no less talented than Bao Yu, and was even more diligent. He also had the help of his maternal grandfather's scholarly family.

High school is inevitable.

This is also why I didn't recklessly stand up for my brother.

He pretended not to see Feng Yatou's suffering over the past six months, letting her endure the hardship.

The old lady wanted to play matchmaker, and she had her eye on Baoyu and Daiyu. From the day Daiyu entered the family, she disliked her sister-in-law's daughter and couldn't forget the mistreatment she had suffered at her sister-in-law's hands.

I just knew it in my heart.

Lin Ruhai's talent and prestige were unmatched, even by her own husband.

Therefore, I did not object to the old lady's idea at the time.

If Baoyu marries Daiyu, then Baoyu will become Lin Ruhai's son-in-law. Lin Ruhai has no other relatives besides Lin Daiyu, an orphan girl.

It would be of great benefit to Baoyu, and Lady Wang had already accepted it in her heart. Two years ago, she had spoken ill of Lin Ruhai, which almost cost him his life, and that had worried her for a long time.

If Lin Ruhai hadn't survived and Daiyu had become an orphan, she would never have agreed to the marriage.

Now her husband has taken a liking to Wang Xin.

Tan Chun wasn't his biological daughter, but he hadn't mistreated her over the years, even though it was mostly because of her. That girl was just too smart; she knew what she should and shouldn't do.

It's because she's smart.

Even if she married Wang Xin, she should know whose support she needs most.

Women whose maternal families are not powerful enough are better off if they have sons, especially successful ones. But if they don't have sons, that's the fate of Wang Xifeng.

I believe she understands.

Besides, a mother's strength is boundless.

Now that she has her own children, she should know better how to behave. How could she possibly expect her mother, from a humble background with no powerful relatives, to help her?
After considering for a moment, Madam Wang relented.

"The marriage of one's children should be decided by the master."

Jia Zheng smiled upon hearing this.

Madam Wang remained calm, showing no sign of joy or happiness.

Jia Zheng disliked Lady Wang the most and did not want to stay any longer. Having nothing more to say, he left.

After Jia Zheng left, Lady Wang looked at the quiet room, which she was used to, but she thought of her sister's family.

original.

My sister's family has taken a liking to Wang Xin.

At that time, Wang Xin was just a lowly commander with little influence. Unexpectedly, in just two or three years, he became a deputy commander and a general who led a region. Even his brother could not do anything about him.

Because of her brother, the younger sister's family also gave up on the marriage.

The younger sister's family depends on her as their older sister, and also on their older brother, so of course they dare not disobey.

But I am different.

Her brother was already struggling to get back on his feet. How important was a position in the officialdom? Madam Wang watched her husband stagnate in the same post for many years.

It was also the same year that Lin Ruhai fell seriously ill and almost died.

Many people came to visit the mansion, including many civil officials whom the man himself did not know. This is what it means to have a specific role for every person; even in people's hearts, status is closely ranked.

Only after Lin Ruhai died did her husband finally get a chance to speak up.

At that time, many people suggested that they should fully support their husbands, send them to other places to gain experience for a few years, and then transfer them back to Beijing. With each transfer, they would be promoted. Once Lin Ruhai recovered, these people stopped coming and stopped mentioning the matter.

Jia Zheng sat in the living room and sent someone to invite several of the gentlemen in the mansion who were hosting guests.

Thinking about his plans for his daughter, he couldn't help but recall the time when his eldest son married the daughter of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. That was the happiest time of his life, as if he could see a bright future for his family in their official careers.

But in the end, it's not a loss.

The eldest daughter-in-law came from a scholarly family and devoted herself to raising Jia Lan. Despite his young age, Jia Lan showed outstanding talent. With such a grandson, Jia Zheng was not too upset.

Although Baoyu was lazy, his talent was indeed amazing.

And then there's the prospect of having a son-in-law who's destined for greatness.

"Although many people mock me for being clueless about practical matters, I'm just lucky," Jia Zheng couldn't help but feel smug.

My brother-in-law, Lin Ruhai, is the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy.

Of the three sons, the illegitimate son was unruly, while the other two legitimate sons were quite good, and there was also a decent illegitimate daughter.

A smile crept onto Jia Zheng's lips.

soon.

Cheng Rixing, Zhan Guang, Shan Pinren, Bu Guxiu, Hu Silai, Wang Erdiao, Ji Haogu and others arrived one after another. Not knowing what the matter was, Jia Zheng told them everything.

"How could Lord Zheng have such an idea?"

Cheng Rixing probed.

Jia Zheng, being simple-minded, failed to see through Cheng Rixing's probing and truthfully replied, "I also read Ru Hai's letter."

Everyone became increasingly curious as to why Lin Ru had been brought up again.

"Ru Hai's letter mentioned Wang Xin, suggesting that Wang Xin is destined for great things. Since even Ru Hai values ​​this person, I have come up with my current idea," Jia Zheng said with a smile.

“Although Wang Xin is diligent, he doesn’t follow the rules. The more he does, the more people he offends. I’m afraid that if Master Zheng takes him as his son-in-law, he will get into a lot of trouble in the future.” Cheng Rixing didn’t quite agree.

Everyone nodded.

Wang Xin was a guest in the mansion, and he followed the path of a martial artist. They didn't have much contact with him on a regular basis, but they still put in a lot of effort to understand him.

"Talented people are as numerous as carp crossing a river. This is not to deny that this person is talented, but I am afraid that this person will not go far."

"It's one thing for him to be alone, but once he becomes Master Zheng's son-in-law, Master Zheng won't be able to get rid of him even if he wants to."

Everyone was talking at once.

Not many people approve of Wang Xin.

"There's only one thing: Wang Xin doesn't send silver to the capital, nor does he allow his subordinates to do so. He's like a lotus rising from the mud, untainted by its filth. Who dares to get close to him? He's a thorn in the side of so many people."

"Good people don't necessarily have good endings; they just blend in with the world."

Jia Zheng hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“Wang Xin is indeed extraordinary. If he were an ordinary person, he would have been reduced to ashes long ago. However, he is not an ordinary person. He knows how to behave properly and can endure hardship. Therefore, his future is limitless.”

Jia Zheng relayed Ru Hai's words to everyone.

"With such a capable and pragmatic person in the officialdom, the court will definitely need him. No matter who is in charge, they will use him, even if they have to hold their noses."

Everyone understood what Lin Ruhai meant.

Upon hearing this, Ji Haogu exclaimed, "Brother Ruhai sees things very clearly."

Like Zhang Jifu.

Wang Xin and Zhang Jifu were not related, yet Zhang Jifu still made good use of Wang Xin.

The key is that Wang Xin doesn't actively cause trouble. He focuses on his work and doesn't get involved in other things. He has a very strong sense of propriety and is low-key. At such a young age, such a personality and ability are truly rare.

After Jia Zheng relayed Lin Ruhai's words, everyone began to ponder this point, and the more they pondered it, the more they realized the truth of the matter.

The main problem was that the court's accumulated corruption had become so deep that it could no longer be ignored.

The previous threat was the Japanese pirates; now it's the threat of the nomadic tribes.

Which one can be ignored?
Even the major military garrisons became too powerful to control, and whichever faction was in charge of the court needed a military man like Wang Xin who was both obedient and capable.

More importantly, this person caught Zhang Jifu's eye.

Luck is also important.

There's also the connection to Lin Ruhai.

The time, place and people are favorable.

Ji Haogu was more concerned about something else and asked seriously, "Can this person be obedient?"

Jia Zheng was stunned.

He ignored the matter.

Wang Xin had his own ideas; he had even dared to defy Wang Ziteng in the past, so he was unlikely to be able to subdue him now.
(End of this chapter)