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

Chapter 65: The Dialogue Between Two Emperors, and the Choice of the Yue Family in Xuanfu!

On the 23rd day of the fourth month of the seventh year of the Yongping reign, at the second quarter of the hour of Xu (7:45 PM).

In the Hanyuan Hall of the Daming Palace, two figures dressed in dragon robes stared at each other, while the surrounding eunuchs had already discreetly left.

"You came all the way here this morning just to say this?"

Emperor Shunkang glanced at Emperor Yongping and said indifferently.

"Father."

"The Khorchin tribe has 60,000 Mongol cavalrymen under its control, and it may not be a good thing to completely control eastern Mongolia."

"If the Balin tribe were to relocate to the Bashang area, with its dense river network, abundant marshes, and lush vegetation, it would not be long before tigers become a threat."

"There are definitely more people than just Niu Jizong behind this memorial."

Emperor Yongping said with a solemn expression.

"hehe."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shunkang scoffed and said disdainfully, "Fourth Prince, in the end, you suspect that the Jia family is behind this."

"I can tell you definitively that this is Jia Jiazi's arrangement."

"What are you worried about? Are you worried that Jia Jing and Jia She will plot against you, support the fourteenth prince, and pull you off the dragon throne?"

"Father, I..."

Emperor Yongping was speechless.

“You have been on the throne for six years, and you still don’t understand what it means to be an emperor.”

At this point, Emperor Shunkang's tone became even more somber: "A ruler should have the world in his heart, put the people first, and work together with his ministers to govern in peace."

“I know you resent the Jia family for not showing their support immediately when you ascended the throne.”

"But have you ever thought about how much blood the Jia family shed for the royal family? That night, the wives and relatives of Jia Jing and Jia She were all slaughtered."

"Their lack of alignment is the greatest support they can offer. What more do you want from them?"

"Jia Jing is at home with his wife and children. You can't even meet such a small request, and you only stop when you force the father and son to separate."

"Now, the young Jia family member, at the tender age of twenty, has worked tirelessly and painstakingly for the nation, and has finally quelled the rebellion in the northern frontier."

"I am very disappointed in you that you would suspect your subordinates because of such despicable things."

The words fell.

A deathly silence fell over the main hall.

Emperor Yongping's face was a mixture of blue and purple, and his hands under his sleeves were already clenched so tightly they had turned white.

"Let me ask you, is it wrong to bestow the title of Prince upon the three leaders of the northern desert tribes and order them to pay tribute every year?"

"No."

Emperor Yongping answered with difficulty.

"The entire eastern part of the Gobi Desert was handed over to the Khorchin tribe. Sixty thousand Mongol cavalry could barely hold off the Jurchen Tartars. Is that wrong?"

"No."

"Is it wrong for the Bairin tribe to emulate the ancient practice of the Uriyangkhai Three Guards and use it as a barrier outside the Great Wall?"

"No."

Faced with three questions in a row, Emperor Yongping was unable to utter a single mistake in front of Emperor Shunkang.

These three proposals are the best option for the current dynasty, in exchange for decades of peace on the northern border. Why not do it?

"Then why don't you agree?"

"Just because it was a suggestion made by a member of the Jia family?"

Emperor Shunkang walked to the head of the table, sat down heavily, and looked down at his fourth son, his wrinkled old face full of disappointment.

"I"

Emperor Yongping's face was full of shame, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

"Since you've come to ask me, then I'll make the decision."

"The leaders of the three tribes in the northern desert are hereby appointed as the Three Righteous Kings, with a rank equivalent to that of a prince, which shall be hereditary and perpetual, and they shall guard the northern desert."

"The leader of the Khorchin tribe was appointed as the Prince of Huaiyuan, with a rank equivalent to a prince, hereditary and perpetual, to guard the eastern desert."

"The leader of the Balin tribe, Uritu, is hereby granted the title of Huaizhong King, with a rank equivalent to that of a prince, which shall be hereditary and without change. He shall guard the Bashang area. The Balin tribe shall establish three guards, each with 4500 men, and the Ministry of War shall provide them with official seals, armor, and provisions."

Emperor Shunkang raised his hand and issued an edict.

"My son, I obey."

Emperor Yongping reluctantly left Hanyuan Hall.

"The Great Emperor."

"The Tiger-like Captains have already trained 12 men in the three major camps of the capital," Dai Quan, the chief eunuch of the Daming Palace, reported with his head bowed.

"That kid is quick."

Emperor Shunkang's cloudy old eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he teased, "I don't think he's the legitimate son of the Ningguo Mansion, but rather someone from the Rongguo Mansion."

“The late Duke Ningguo, Brother Daihua, and Jia Jing, all of them acted with prudence, but he alone was bold yet meticulous, daring to think and act.”

"This is very similar to Daishan. Back then, Daishan did the same thing, which led to the great victory at Shanhaiguan."

"Isn't the fourth prince trying to break free from my influence? Whether he can seize this opportunity depends on how he acts."

"By the way, how's the investigation going with the place I asked you to go?"

"Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus."

Dai Quan hurriedly reported: "About 200 li west of Gubeikou in Miyun, there are towering mountains on both sides. A small plain has been carved out at the confluence of the Luan River and the Wulie River, with only a few small villages around it."

"That's it."

Emperor Shunkang gave the final decision: "Have someone make the corresponding map immediately."

"The name Chengde was chosen to signify inheriting the virtues and blessings of our ancestors."

"Yes."

Without saying a word, Dai Quan went down to prepare.

West Mountain, Xuanzhen Temple.

"Li Wei, Liu Tongxun."

After listening to Shang Ze's words, Jia Jing, dressed in a Taoist robe, had a glint in his eyes and said meaningfully, "Yan'er wants to use the restoration of prefectures and counties in Ping'an Prefecture to cultivate his own administrative talents. After the war is over, he has established enough prestige in the army."

"For the foreseeable future, we will probably be unable to leave Shenjing for a long time, which is a good move."

"Owner."

Commander Shang Ze of the Black Clouds continued, "The young master has ordered us to escort back this time, and the total value is approximately eight million taels."

"Another portion was given to Luanfeng Pavilion, but the exact amount is unknown."

"I see."

Waving his hand dismissively, Jia Jing said, "Let's leave these valuables for now and he'll make arrangements when he returns."

"A mere eight million taels may not be enough."

"Go and find those two people as he instructed."

"Yes."

Shang Ze left respectfully.

After watching him leave, Jia Jing's gaze turned towards the Forbidden City, a slight smile playing on his lips: 'Qin Yi, Qin Zhao, do you really think you've got the Jia family cornered? I'd like to see whether we, father and son, are the better player, or whether the imperial family has the upper hand.'

At the same time, in Xuanfu Town, at the General's Mansion.

“Xuanfu is a strategic location, with the capital to the south, the desert to the north, the Juyong Pass to the left, and the Yunzhong Pass to the right. Built against the mountains and rivers, the land is narrow and dangerous, and has been a vital passage for nomadic tribes to move south since ancient times.”

"He must value our Yue family because of Xuanfu."

"Now that you have been granted a title in the capital, His Majesty's appointment of you will certainly not be limited to Xuanfu."

General Yue Shenglong of Datong spoke up.

"father."

"what should I do?"

Yue Zhongqi couldn't help but ask.

"He gave you a great gift, a glory that my Yue family has fought and bled for generations without ever receiving."

"People today are not as generous as a young man."

Yue Shenglong gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Father, what do you mean?"

Yue Zhongqi looked at Yue Shenglong with some uncertainty.

"The Yue family hasn't reached the point of taking sides yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

“When that time really comes, our family will naturally be willing to give it a push.”

"With the support of the founding lineage, your work in the capital will naturally go smoothly. Is there any need to choose?"

"Yes."

Yue Zhongqi immediately understood Yue Shenglong's meaning: he is himself, and the Yue family is the Yue family; the two cannot be equated.

(End of this chapter)