The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 281 Burning the bridge across the river
Zhao Tong walked in from outside the hall, leading a few eunuchs holding small boxes.

Li Hu's hearty laughter came from the west warm room.

Zhao Tong coughed and spoke: "Your Highness, the cakes are here."

"Then bring it in." The prince's voice came out.

Zhao Tong: "Yes." He answered and led a few young eunuchs in.

Li Hu sat on a low stool next to the recliner and talked to the prince who was half lying and half sitting on the recliner.

Zhao Tong: "Your Highness, where is it?"

The prince smiled and said, "It's our General Li who is hungry."

Zhao Tong smiled and waved to the young eunuchs.

A few young eunuchs understood, placed four small boxes on the low table next to Li Hu, opened the lids of the boxes and left.

There are two items in each box. The one in Li Hu's hand is lotus root powder and cinnamon sugar cake, and the other is a loose goose oil roll.

Li Hu picked up a piece of cake and ate it. He then saw another box filled with small fried fruits of various colors with cream. He picked up a peony-shaped one and tasted it. It tasted good, so he ate a little more.

The prince looked at them greedily, so he picked up a scroll and ate it.

Li Hu took a sip of tea, put the remaining noodles and cakes in a box, and said with a smile: "I'll take the rest back to eat."

The prince smiled and nodded.

Li Hu suddenly remembered: "Oh, by the way, how long will it take for the lychees to arrive this year?"

The prince looked at Zhao Tong.

Zhao Tong thought about it and replied, "It should be in one or two days."

Li Hu looked at the prince: "Your Highness."

The prince said: "This is the first batch this year. I can't get more than a few."

Li Hu smiled and said, "We'll share half when we meet."

The prince smiled bitterly: "Okay, I'll give you half."

Li Hu smiled and said, "I heard that the goshawks in Yinshan are pretty good. When I return victorious, I'll catch one for Your Highness to play with."

The prince shook his head: "No, I dare not touch that thing." Then he picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, "As long as we follow your strategy, the negotiations with the Jurchens can be concluded in a few days. With this achievement, plus the destruction of the Ulanqab League, you can definitely be promoted to a noble title before your wedding." At this point, he looked at Zhao Tong: "Then you will have to call me the Loyal and Brave Marquis."

Zhao Tong immediately smiled and half bowed: "Congratulations to the Marquis in advance."

Li Hu bowed and was about to speak when Dai Quan's voice came from outside: "Your Highness."

The prince and Li Hu looked at each other and then said, "Come in."

The door curtain was raised, and Dai Quan walked in. He bowed deeply to the prince, glanced at Li Hu, and then spoke: "Your Majesty read the negotiation record presented by Jia Yucun, and praised General Li in front of several old men in the cabinet, and said that General Li would be rewarded handsomely after the peace treaty was signed."

The prince smiled and glanced at Li Hu.

Li Hu also showed a look of joy on his face.

Dai Quan continued, "Your Majesty has agreed to the advice of the elders. The cabinet will be fully responsible for the next negotiations."

Li Hu was startled and asked in surprise: "What about me?"

Dai Quan: "His Majesty said that General Li has worked hard these past few days, so he should take a good rest."

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's good, take a good rest and prepare for the next battle."

The prince said nothing, just stared at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan turned his gaze to Zhao Tong and said, "Close the palace door, and watch from outside. No one is allowed to approach."

Zhao Tong: "Yes." He looked at the prince. The prince waved his hand.

Zhao Tong then retreated, and soon the sound of the palace door closing was heard.

Dai Quan cleared his throat and said, "General Xie Jing is leading a large army in Hetao, crossing the Wolf Mountain and attacking the heart of the Ulanqab League from the flank."

Li Hu was stunned again, and had to say: "Yes, Xie Jing and the others are close. I heard that the Daqing Mountain in late autumn is picturesque, I really want to go and see it."

Dai Quan was also silent for a moment, then continued, "Your Majesty said that this battle concerns the fate of Dashun. We need an old general who is well versed in military strategy to lead the troops across the Daqing Mountains and fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Ulanqab League."

Li Hu stood up suddenly: "The remnants of Chahar?"

Dai Quan was silent for a moment. "Well, last year, Datong and Xuanfu suffered heavy losses, so we recruited a large number of new soldiers. We need to train them."

Li Hu's face changed immediately. It turned out that I had been busy for a long time but got nothing.

The prince's face fell.

There was silence.

Li Hu never expected that the emperor would cross the river and then destroy the bridge. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and asked Dai Quan: "What about me? You can't let me, the one who proposed the strategy, stay at home and bask in the sun, right?"

Dai Quan said with a smile: "The battlefield is always full of blindness, and this time we have to cross the Yinshan Mountains and fight deep into the Mongolian hinterland. It is too dangerous. Your Majesty, this is for your own good."

Hearing this, Li Hu almost laughed out of anger.

The prince spoke: "Okay, you have been busy in the Ministry of Rites for the whole morning, go back and have a rest." As he said this, he winked at Li Hu.

No matter how unwilling Li Hu was to accept it, he had to swallow his anger with saliva, turned around and walked out.

Dai Quan sighed.

The prince stared at Dai Quan and asked, "Did something happen?"

Dai Quan shook his head and whispered, "Now your majesty will leave some secret matters to Marquis Zhongjing and others." Then he bowed to the prince, bowed and retreated.

The prince was stunned at first, and then a fierce and cold light flashed in his eyes!
At this time in Bei Huitong Hall, Hong Zhou was sitting in the main seat in the living room with a grim face.

Yongyan walked back and forth in the room with a red face, cracking his fingers.

Yongyan walked to the coffee table and suddenly stopped, saying viciously: "Damn Li the Barber!"

Hong Zhou picked up the tea bowl on the table beside him, took a sip, put it down, and sighed in his heart. Li Hu was too strong. After a morning of negotiations, not only did they fail to gain any advantage, but Li Hu also found their weak spots and used war and food to intimidate them, forcing them to make huge concessions.

At this time, a red-capped official came in excitedly, greeted Hong Zhou and Yong Yan, and then reported: "Just got good news, the Han court has sent someone to negotiate with us!"

Yongyan was shocked: "Really?"

The man in the red hat nodded excitedly.

Hong Zhou: "Who?"

The red-topped man: "It's not clear yet. I only know that the cabinet will be fully responsible for the next negotiations."

Yongyan clapped his hands excitedly: "Great! The Han civil officials are all softies. As long as we take a tougher attitude, threaten them with war, and delay a little, we can control them and get enough benefits!"

Hong Zhou smiled and nodded.

At this time, Yongyan's servant came in with a kettle and made tea in front of the coffee table.

Yongyan picked up the tea bowl, drank a few sips in succession, and then put it down. He said to Hong Zhou: "We can take this opportunity to ask the Han people to agree that our caravan can go to the interior to trade and get the certificate to go to Hanzhong Prefecture in Shaanxi."

Hong Zhou's eyes lit up: "Okay."

The servant refilled Yongyan's teacup with tea and slowly walked out.

(End of this chapter)