Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 18 Receiving the Imperial Decree in the Hall: Jia Yan's First Signs of Talent!
"I understand."

At this moment, Jia She understood the whole story; it was probably his 'elder brother's' scheme.

"Ningguo Prefecture".

The Jia family members couldn't help but look at Jia Zhen, who stood there innocently, having known nothing about the whole thing from beginning to end.

Jia Zheng felt a little more at ease. After all, his eldest son Jia Zhu had died young, his second son Jia Baoyu was only twelve years old, and his illegitimate son Jia Huan and grandson Jia Lan were still very young. No matter what, it was impossible for him to send his branch of the family to receive the imperial decree.

"Father!"

Jia Lian and Jia Rong panicked even more; no matter how you looked at it, they were the only option.

But going into battle is not child's play. With their utterly weak hands, what else could they be but sending themselves to their deaths to fight the Mongol Tartars?
Jia She disagreed. His elder brother was hailed as a distinguished member of the Jia family and the former crown prince's top strategist. How could he not have a backup plan? Naturally, he would not let the Jia family members shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

Jia Zhen was overjoyed. If Jia Rong went to the battlefield and unfortunately died in battle, the Ningguo Mansion would still have a good reputation. Taking care of his daughter-in-law Qin Keqing would be a piece of cake. Why not do it?

"The Jia family, the Ningguo Mansion, Jia Yan obeys!"

Just then, a powerful male voice rang out in Rongxi Hall. Everyone looked over and saw a dashing young man in a black brocade robe with gold trim and a jade crown binding his hair. He stepped forward and took the imperial edict from Su Peisheng.

"Okay, okay."

Su Peisheng, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, recognized the person he was waiting for at a glance and praised, "Young Master Jia."

"His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus have praised you highly and hope that you can achieve military merits and bring glory to your family."

"Please inform His Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus that the Jia family is not all dead and should serve the country and fulfill their duties faithfully."

With a serious expression, Jia Yan spoke firmly.

"it is good."

Su Peisheng gave the handsome young man in front of him a deep look, then said nothing more, simply waving his hand.

The eunuchs standing behind him lifted the red silk cloth on the tray, revealing the official robes and seal of a sixth-rank Tiger General.

“Tap tap.”

Led by Dong Yong, the guards took the tray from the eunuch and stood expressionlessly behind Jia Yan.

"Old Madam, General Jia."

"Farewell!"

Su Peisheng bowed slightly to Grandmother Jia and Jia She, then turned and left Rongxi Hall. The eunuchs and Imperial Guards followed suit and withdrew, leaving the entire Rongguo Mansion in a state of bewilderment.

"Second brother."

Jia Zhen was the first to come to his senses, his eyes filled with surprise and distrust. Clearly, he recognized his own brother, Jia Yan.

He had heard some of what had happened at Ningguo Mansion. Every one of the guards who followed Jia Yan was a brave and fierce man, and those few outstanding maids must have been four first-class maids specially arranged for Jia Yan by Jia Jing.

"Second uncle?"

Jia Rong, standing to the side, stared blankly at Jia Yan. He was a complete stranger to Jia Yan, having only met him once before.

"Eldest brother, Uncle She, Uncle Zheng."

"In urgent matters, we must proceed with caution. Please forgive me for not greeting you beforehand."

Facing the gazes of all the men in the Jia family, Jia Yan spoke frankly.

"Are you Yan-ge'er?"

"So it was you who my elder brother chose."

Jia She stared at the heroic young man before him with a complex expression, his heart churning with turbulent emotions.

The second son of the Ningguo Mansion, whom they had raised for fifteen years, had never appeared in public before. Yet, he suddenly appeared at this moment and accepted the imperial decree. The secrets hidden within this are enough to make people think deeply.

"Yan-ge'er".

The usually upright and serious Jia Zheng rarely showed a bewildered expression; he was truly unfamiliar with Jia Yan.

"I'm sure you all understand the meaning of the imperial edict."

"Father has made arrangements for all the manpower; there is no need for the two mansions to make any plans."

"I have already accepted the imperial decree and will be appointed as a Tiger-like Colonel of the sixth rank in the imperial court. I will lead troops into battle soon."

"The provisions and salaries still need to be handled by the Ning and Rong prefectures. What do you think, Uncle She, Uncle Zheng, and elder brother?"

Facing Jia She and the other two, Jia Yan continued.

"That's how it should be!"

Jia She and Jia Zheng exchanged a glance and replied in unison. Jia Yan accepted the imperial edict as a member of the Jia family, and no matter what, the Rongguo Mansion had no reason to ignore it.

Moreover, judging from his age, Jia Lian is the most suitable candidate to receive the imperial decree, so why would they be so hypocritical after getting such an advantage?

"Second brother."

Jia Zhen immediately stated, "The manor is willing to contribute 100,000 taels of silver as military funds."

"The Rongguo Mansion is the same."

Jia She and Jia Zheng blurted it out.

'Thump!'

The words fell.

The expressions of the people from both families present changed slightly, especially Madam Xing, Madam Wang, and Wang Xifeng. Two hundred thousand taels of silver was not a small amount for the Jia family; the annual output of the Jia family's two mansions and twenty estates was barely that much.

However, since Grandmother Jia did not object, the others present could only watch helplessly as a group of men made their decision.

"can."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yan smiled. The 200,000 taels of silver that Jia Jing had given him was enough to meet the needs of the 800 elite cavalry. The Ning and Rong mansions had also given him another 200,000 taels of silver. Why not take it?

Moreover, this money played an indispensable role in his arrangements in Shenjing.

"Uncle She, Uncle Zheng."

"I still need to prepare for the expedition, so it is inconvenient for me to stay here for long."

"This item will be returned to Uncle Zheng. The West Mansion is quite lively."

As they were talking, Jia Yan handed the jade stone in his hand to Jia Zheng.

"Uh..."

Slightly startled, Jia Zheng took the jade, feeling a sense of familiarity. Before he could ask any questions, Jia Yan's figure had already disappeared into the distance.

"Grandma, Uncle She and Uncle Zheng."

"I'll take my leave now."

Jia Zhen had a lot on his mind, so he quickly said goodbye to Grandmother Jia and the others and returned to Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Rong, You Shi, Qin Keqing, and a group of servants from Ningguo Mansion hurriedly followed.

“Yan’er’s words have a hidden meaning; I’m afraid my second brother will have to ask his wife about it.”

Jia She glanced at Jia Zheng and offered a reminder.

"evil creature."

"What did you do?"

Jia Zheng recognized the jade in his hand as the one Jia Baoyu always carried with him. His face darkened with anger, and he shouted angrily.

"Ancestor."

Jia Baoyu hid behind Grandmother Jia in fear, not daring to look at Jia Zheng even once.

"Baoyu, don't be afraid, your father won't dare to do anything to you."

Grandmother Jia, feeling sorry for Jia Baoyu, comforted him kindly.

"Mother."

Upon seeing this, Jia Zheng was furious. His hoarse voice echoed in Rongxi Hall: "Yan-ge'er wouldn't make things up without reason. This wretched boy must have done something shameful, and you're still protecting him."

"You all go out first."

Jia She waved his sleeve and gave instructions to the servants and pageboys around him.

"Yes."

The servants of Rongguo Mansion left Rongxi Hall one after another, closing the middle gate and the main gate, leaving only the side gate for entry and exit.

At the same time, every noble family in the capital received an imperial decree. The existing noble families were either from the founding line or the Yuan Cong line. Without exception, all nine Yuan Cong marquis families chose to offer 100,000 taels of silver, which was their tacit agreement.

Of the four princes who were part of the founding lineage, the Prince of Beijing and the Prince of Dongping, who remained in the capital, each contributed 200,000 taels of silver. Of the eight dukes and twelve marquises, only the Marquis of Baoling chose to contribute silver. The other families accepted the imperial decree, appointing one of their sons as a sixth-rank military officer and recruiting 3,000 soldiers.

Moreover, the Jinxiang Earl's Mansion, Shoushan Earl's Mansion, Xichuan Earl's Mansion, Suiping Earl's Mansion, and Zhubei Earl's Mansion all accepted the imperial edict. Feng Tang, the head of the Xichuan Earl's Mansion and General Shenwu, and Wei Jingyuan, the head of the Zhubei Earl's Mansion, personally joined the Beijing garrison to aid Datong.

(End of this chapter)