Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Jia Jing smiled and said after hearing Zhu Que's words:

"You get all excited when you talk about the development of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. There's no need to rush this! We'll just take it one step at a time."

"For now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard should prioritize concealment and avoid being detected. Safety is more important than development."

At this point, Jia Jing paused, then suddenly asked:

"A few days ago, I asked you to send people to Jiangnan to investigate the movements of the puppet Qing dynasty, the Hunye Khanate in the northwest, and the Northern Yuan court. Have you received any news?"

After talking with Emperor Jingsheng a few days ago, Jia Jing immediately issued two orders to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

One matter concerns Lin Ruhai, requiring the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate intelligence in Jiangnan and secretly protect Lin Ruhai's safety.

Secondly, regarding the unrest in the Northwest mentioned by Emperor Jingsheng, Jia Jing has been reviewing relevant military intelligence from the Ministry of War concerning the Northwest and Liaodong, and has also sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate the specific situation there.

He learned from intelligence from the Ministry of War that the Hunxie in the Northwest and the Northern Yuan had indeed been restless and active recently, and there was a high possibility that they would invade the Han Dynasty from the south.

Upon hearing this, Zhuque took out a secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard from his bosom, handed it to Jia Jing, and bowed, saying:

"The messengers heading south have sent word that they have reached Yangzhou."

"News has also come from the Northwest and Liaodong today. A few days ago, the Hunye Khanate and the Northern Yuan Royal Court met at Langshan and issued a proclamation, intending to jointly send troops to invade our Great Han. The pseudo-Qing also sent a special envoy to participate."

"However, the specific timing and plan for the deployment of troops are still unknown. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been operating in Liaodong for a long time, so the information is more detailed."

"The Qing court is already discussing the selection of the commanders to lead the troops, and it has been decided that the Qing will launch a two-pronged attack next spring."

"On one side, they tied down the forces of our Great Han in Liaodong, while on the other side, they selected 'General Wang' to serve in the Northwest, commanding the Mongol troops under the pseudo-Qing regime, and together with the Hunye Khanate and the Northern Yuan Royal Court, they marched south."

"Currently, the Qing court is debating which prince should be appointed as the Grand General. Several of Kangxi's sons want to take on this command of troops."

"According to the intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Kangxi would likely appoint either the fourteenth prince of the puppet Qing dynasty, Aisin Gioro Yinzhen, or the thirteenth prince, Yinxiang, as Grand General, and Tongjia Longkodo, the commander of the Mongol army, as his deputy, to lead the war in the Northwest."

"My lord, this is a report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Liaodong, detailing the situation. Please take a look!"

As Zhuque spoke, he held the letter above his head with both hands and bowed as he handed it over.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard had been secretly developing in Shenjing and Liaodong for more than two years, so they had a stronger control over these two places and more detailed intelligence.

In other areas, including the Northwest, the situation is just beginning and intelligence capabilities are weaker.

"Is it confirmed that the army will be dispatched in the spring? Yinzhen, Yinxiang, and Longkodo will be the generals?"

As Jia Jing listened to Zhu Que's report, he frowned and his gaze turned somber.

He took the letter and read it carefully. Combining the news he had seen at the Ministry of War these past few days with his own understanding of the situation in the Northwest and Liaodong, he roughly sketched out the current border situation in his mind.

After reading through all the letters, Jia Jing pondered for a moment, then frowned and said:

"The Qing's reaction was not unexpected. They suffered a major defeat in Liaodong, losing many soldiers and even their eldest prince at my hands. I didn't think they would let it go so easily!"

"Kangxi did have some strategic vision. The reason he secretly joined forces with Hunye and Beiyuan to send troops this time was firstly for revenge, and secondly because he did not want to give our Han Dynasty time to implement new policies and strengthen the military."

"This is clearly a scheme to use one enemy to devour another. Its main purpose is to create chaos in the Northwest and further deplete the national strength of the Han Dynasty through war."

"The imperial court has exhausted its national treasury silver reserves for military training and disaster relief. The finances of our Great Han Dynasty can hardly support the court in fighting a major war in the Northwest."

"Kangxi knew that our Han Dynasty needed time, which is why he couldn't wait to send troops to invade again."

"Once the Northwest is engulfed in war, the imperial court will have no choice but to fight; it cannot abandon the millions of soldiers and civilians in the Northwest."

"But once a war is about to break out, a continuous supply of money and provisions is needed. If the imperial court runs out of money, the longer the war drags on, the more taxes will have to be levied on ordinary people."

"If taxes are too heavy, it will inevitably lead to widespread suffering, resentment, and even war."

"If the domestic situation deteriorates by then, even if the Northwest wins the war in the end, it will be a net loss."

"This is a calculated move! Kangxi is betting that we can't achieve a quick victory on the Northwest battlefield. I suspect his expedition this time will be quite large. This battle won't be easy!"

Jia Jing rubbed his temples and sighed.

The secret report delivered by Zhuque clearly indicated that the joint military action by the three parties was instigated by the puppet Qing dynasty to incite the Northern Yuan and Hunye kingdoms.

During this period, the puppet Qing dynasty repeatedly sent secret envoys to the Northern Yuan and Hunye to persuade both sides to send troops together to destroy the Han dynasty.

His condition for Hunxie and Beiyuan was to make concessions on the spoils of war.

The Han-occupied prefectures and counties occupied in this battle were not taken by the Qing dynasty; they all belonged to the Northern Yuan and the Hunxie.

Furthermore, the pseudo-Qing dynasty provided the Northern Yuan and Hunye with a batch of excellent weapons and a large amount of gold and silver free of charge, demonstrating its sincerity.

Adding to this, the Northern Yuan court in the Hetao region had suffered from consecutive years of famine, resulting in the death or injury of more than half of its livestock, and thus they already harbored intentions to invade southward.

The Hunye Khanate had just unified most of the Western Regions, and its population was surging. However, it lacked pastures and needed new grasslands and slaves.

Therefore, the three parties finally reached an agreement.

Upon hearing this, Suzaku said:

"Indeed. The Qing dynasty's ambition to destroy us remains undiminished, making them the true threat to our great Han dynasty. However, with you, Lord Marquis, here, they are nothing but clowns!"

Jia Jing did not reply. Instead, he stood up, paced around, and walked to the map hanging in the hall, staring at the northwest and Liaodong directions.

After a long pause, a resolute expression appeared on his face as he said:

"He wants to destroy me, and I want to destroy him too. He wants to weaken our nation and cause internal strife, but that won't be so easy."

"I originally discussed with His Majesty the idea of ​​spending some time first implementing new policies, strengthening the army, building up national strength, and restoring the people's livelihood before considering military action abroad."

"But plans can't keep up with changes. Since he's unwilling to give us time to develop, I have no choice but to go along with their wishes."

"They didn't learn their lesson from wiping out their 150,000-strong army last time. This time, we'll teach them a lesson they won't forget."

"If we don't teach these foreign tribes a lesson, they'll all think our Han Dynasty is a pushover, someone anyone can bully!"

Having said this, Jia Jing made up his mind, slammed his fist on the desk, and coldly shouted:

"A single blow can ward off a hundred! The might and power of our Han Dynasty will be revealed in this battle!"

"Suzaku!"

Zhuque looked excited and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Your subordinate is here!"

Jia Jing gave the order in a deep voice:

"From now on, we must prepare for the war in the Northwest. His Majesty has already told me that if the Northwest is mobilized, I will be the commander-in-chief to lead the campaign."

"Immediately increase the number of Imperial Guards to keep a close watch on the Northwest and Liaodong, and have people closely collect intelligence on the three kingdoms of the pseudo-Qing, Hunye, and Northern Yuan, and spy on their movements."

"Files and records should be created for all the princes, dukes, and ministers of the Three Kingdoms, so as to have some understanding and record of them."

"At the same time, we must thoroughly understand the military generals, civil officials, and merchants of the Han Dynasty on the northwestern border, including their life stories, family backgrounds, and relatives."

"If intelligence work is done well, we will have a better chance of winning in future wars."

"We also sent people to thoroughly investigate the terrain, passes, water sources, marching routes, tribal distribution, and strategic locations in the Northwest in advance."

"It would be best to also find out their deployment time and marching strategy, and report back daily without error."