The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 36 This boy is very talented
The weather turns cooler in September.

The retired emperor was old and frail and was most afraid of the cold. He usually stayed in the warm room of the Yangxin Palace and lay on the warm couch as usual.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was extremely quiet.

Only the copper bells on the eaves could be heard ringing faintly in the autumn wind.

"Zhang Jifu wrote to me saying that Luo Ming was very strict in training troops in Zhejiang, and he was very ruthless and inhumane. He was completely different from before, and he even said publicly that he would never coexist with the Japanese pirates."

Zhou Daofeng told the retired emperor the latest news from the court and local areas.

Dai Quan, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, stood respectfully beside the retired emperor. The retired emperor had his eyes closed, and it was unclear whether he was asleep or listening to the Prime Minister. Dai Quan admired Zhou Daofeng who was sitting in the audience.

He was in power for twenty years.

The emperor controlled the entire Zhou Dynasty through the scholars in front of him.

"Zhang Jifu's letter was rather obscure. He was worried that Luo Ming could quell the Japanese invasion this time, and asked if I should be on guard. He also asked if I had made any backup plans. I was prepared to tell him that anyone could quell the Japanese invasion, except Luo Ming."

Zhou Daofeng talked about a lot, but he emphasized this matter very much.

The Japanese invasion was most serious in the southeast.

The southeast is the money bag and food bag of the Great Zhou, and as well as the military power, whoever can defeat the Japanese will control the lifeline of the Great Zhou.

"Luo Ming's betrayal, I believe we must make an example of him."

If it were ten years ago, I wouldn't be so tough.

Not now.

Everyone thought that the retired emperor would not live for many years, and those who were obedient before were now ready to make moves. Luo Ming was the general trained by the retired emperor himself. His betrayal was a huge blow to the retired emperor.

I can only use brutal means to achieve the effect of killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

Hearing Zhou Shifeng's words, Dai Quan looked regretful.

Luo Ming was a man of bad luck and a bad character. Although he was talented, he had no place to use his talents. I don't know what he was thinking. If the emperor had not saved him, he, the escaped general, would have been beheaded and sent to the nine borders.

Over the years, the emperor generally did not object to Zhou Daofeng's arrangements.

In Dai Quan's eyes, Luo Ming was already a dead man.

"Need not."

The emperor opened his eyes and rejected Zhou Daofeng's arrangement.

Dai Quan hurried forward to help the retired emperor sit up, then rubbed his head from behind, his fingers trembling slightly, not wanting to make a mistake in the strength.

Zhou Daofeng raised his head in surprise.

The Emperor explained patiently, without pretense of sophistication, "If he can truly put an end to the Japanese menace, I will accept his approval."

Dai Quan kept moving his hands, but he was very surprised in his heart.

Isn't it a compromise if the emperor says this?
The emperor has not dared to do anything big in recent years, and has been making small attempts to gradually seize power. The emperor has turned a blind eye to it and even allowed the emperor to interfere in the financial power of the southeast.

What does it say?
The emperor is indeed old and does not want to continue to struggle. He just wants to spend his old age in peace.

Therefore, the emperor reduced his actions. Now the emperor obviously wanted to interfere in military power. The emperor compromised again. Dai Quan couldn't help but look at Zhou Daofeng.

The emperor must be extremely angry with this confidant of the retired emperor.

Dai Quan couldn't help but think about how he should treat the emperor when he returned. He couldn't offend the emperor.

Zhou Daofeng pondered for a moment, his face solemn, and asked directly: "Does the Grand Emperor think Luo Ming can't quell the Japanese threat?"

The emperor actually smiled.

Zhou Daofeng is a smart man. As long as he is given some ideas, he can see through everything.

The Emperor did not answer Zhou Daofeng's question, but instead asked Dai Quan: "Has that kid Wang Xin arrived in the capital?"

Dai Quan almost couldn't answer.

When he regained consciousness, he quickly replied, "General Wang Xin has escorted Lin Ruhai's daughter to the capital, where she was picked up by the Jia family. According to what the imperial guards below said, she has been placed in the main hall of the Jia family."

"Can those fools in the Jia Mansion understand the importance of this boy?"

The emperor was surprised.

He originally thought of Wang Ziteng, but unexpectedly it was the Jia family.

Dai Quan quickly reviewed the information the Jinyiwei's guards had relayed about the Jia residence. After synthesizing it, he replied, "The guards had been watching the situation at the dock and saw a conflict between the people on the boat and General Wang Xin. Later, the housekeeper from the Jia residence reprimanded the people on the boat and then respectfully welcomed General Wang Xin into the Jia residence."

The emperor couldn't figure out why Wang Ziteng didn't take action.

Unfortunately, the financial resources of the southeast were much reduced, and the Jinyiwei could not be supported. Otherwise, he would have known what the nobles ate for every meal. The retired emperor looked regretful and didn't know where he went wrong.

Zhou Daofeng keenly noticed the emperor's thoughts and couldn't help asking, "Does the emperor think that Wang Xin can defeat the Japanese?" The emperor laughed.

"Our emperor is too impatient and his methods are too crude. I'm afraid Luo Ming won't get his full support. When the situation in the southeast deteriorates, that will be the day Luo Ming dies."

"This kid called Wang Xin, tsk tsk."

The emperor exclaimed in amazement.

"Fifteen thousand against two thousand, and completely annihilated the enemy with only three casualties. And these were militiamen who had been formed for just over a year. Such military talent can break the deadlock violently. This guy also knows how to advance and retreat. Just the word "sacrifice" is remarkable."

The emperor gave such a high evaluation.

Not to mention Dai Quan, even Zhou Daofeng was moved and looked sideways.

The emperor lamented, "What a pity."

What's a pity?
Dai Quan and Zhou Daofeng pricked up their ears.

"If this boy had appeared twenty years earlier and cooperated with you, Zhou Daofeng, both in literature and martial arts, how could our Great Zhou be in the situation it is today?"

"It's not too late now. The Emperor believes this boy has great talent, so I'll pay more attention to him."

"late."

"You and I are old, and we can still struggle for a few more years, but the Great Zhou can't stand it anymore." The retired emperor looked reluctant.

When I was young, I hated nobles very much.

They are all greedy and enjoy greed, occupying the toilet without doing anything. There is not a single promising son. Even if there are some talents, most of them are thinking about their own family. Each family is busy forming alliances and trying to become a powerful family.

But I have to admit it.

It is too difficult to train young people with no connections from the military.

Who knows if it's a mule or a horse.

The nobles were unwilling to give up power, so there were few opportunities to train children from the common people. For decades, there was no one who died halfway, and the most outstanding one was Luo Ming. He was already very capable, but compared to that kid's talent.

The former is equivalent to cultivated talent, and the latter is equivalent to genius.

The two cannot be compared.

Now that he is old, he has to turn around and deal with the nobles. The more he lives, the further he goes back. This Wang Xin is like the vines of a noble family, which will eventually entangle the newly grown trees.

In the past, we could cut it down and plant new land there, but now we have to cooperate with the nobles and can only leave it alone.

Thinking of this, the emperor felt a little bored and tired.

Seeing that the emperor was tired, Dai Quan glanced at Zhou Daofeng.

Zhou Daofeng stood up and took his leave.

Since the emperor specifically mentioned Wang Xin's name, Zhou Daofeng already knew what to do.

After Zhou Daofeng left, the emperor said, "Tell the imperial guards to find out more about Wang Xin's situation in the Jia Mansion."

Dai Quan said with a smile, "Although the children of the Jia family are useless, they are still strong even after their death. I will definitely arrange for someone to keep a close eye on the Jia family."

The emperor didn't say anything.

Dai Quan is loyal but also confused.

If he were as smart as Zhou Daofeng, I wouldn't dare to stay with him.

The Jia family is now supported by its facade. If word gets out that there are rifts between the four families, the power of the Jia family may not be maintained and may not last for two or three years. Wang Ziteng is ambitious and unwilling to go down with the Jia family.

It would be better for Wang Xin to stay in the Jia Mansion, as the Jia Mansion is too weak.

The emperor gave up the idea of ​​removing Wang Xin from the Jia family.

It's a hassle after all.

Still getting old.

If I were only ten years younger, I wouldn't be in the trouble I'm in now.

Time is not forgiving.

Everyone knows they are going to die.

No one dared to offend the emperor.

The emperor closed his eyes, feeling resentful.

(End of this chapter)