The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

According to records, bird-playing existed in the Tang Dynasty, but it reached its peak during the Dashun Dynasty. After the Dashun Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, it not only conferred titles on a large number of meritorious officials, but also on the descendants of many meritorious officials. These people did not study, practice martial arts, or do anything else. How could they spend their time with money and free time? So they used bird-playing as a form of entertainment. Where there is demand, there is supply, and the bird market was born.

The third prince walked into the bird market carrying a bird cage as usual. The market was always bustling with stall owners bargaining with customers, several people holding bird cages chatting together, and people who had just bought a bird and did not know the ins and outs of bird-raising were humbly asking for advice.

The third prince was also a regular here. He would sometimes stop to exchange a few words with acquaintances, and sometimes continue strolling with a faint smile on his face, seeming to enjoy this way of life very much.

In the distance, the steward of Prince Zhongshun's palace came over carrying a birdcage.

As soon as he saw the Third Prince, the steward walked over quickly and said, "Greetings to His Highness!"

The third prince smiled and nodded: "Why, you also like to play with birds?"

The steward smiled and said, "How could I understand these things? They are just for show. Please invite Your Highness to come to my house someday. I do have some beautiful birds. Please enjoy them."

The Third Prince smiled and said, "Maybe some other time. By the way, what has the Emperor's uncle been busy with lately?"

The steward gave a bitter smile and said, "Eat and drink and act."

The third prince frowned and said, "Go back and tell him. I will go to pay my respects to the emperor's uncle in a few days."

The steward replied softly, "Yes."

The Third Prince took the birdcage and walked forward a few steps, then stopped and walked back: "Go back and tell the Emperor's uncle to pick up his martial arts again. The situation in the south will soon change significantly."

The manager's eyes lit up. Is Wang Ziteng going to be defeated?

At this moment, the steward of the Third Prince's Mansion hurried over and said breathlessly: "Your Highness, I just heard that Li Hu defeated the Mongols at the foot of Daqing Mountain, and the Beijing camp was rescued."

The third prince's face changed immediately and he turned and walked out of the bird market.

Li Hu's victory report was now placed on the imperial desk in the western warm room of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Yongchang had obviously read the victory report, but had also obviously not made any comment on it. He walked around in the warm room with his hands behind his back.

The prince stood beside the imperial desk with his head down, waiting quietly for Emperor Yongchang to speak.

After walking around the warm room, Emperor Yongchang walked back to the imperial desk, looked at the victory report, and finally spoke: "Draft an imperial decree. Li Hu will be promoted to the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, and his rank will not be reduced for the next generation! In addition, all the meritorious personnel recommended by Li Hu will be approved."

The prince replied softly: "Yes"

Emperor Yongchang paused and said: "Let Li Hu escort the Beijing Camp into the pass first, and then wipe out the remnants of the Ulanqab League."

The prince was shocked when he heard this: "Should we wipe them out first? The Mongols come and go like the wind. Once they escape into the depths of the desert, it will be difficult to find them!"

Emperor Yongchang: "I believe in Li Hu." He looked at the prince and said, "You are also aware of the situation in the court. Although the Beijing camp has suffered heavy losses, there are still nearly 100,000 infantry and more than 10,000 cavalry. The consumption of manpower and horses is too great!"

Prince: “But.”

Emperor Yongchang raised his hand and said: "Although a small accident happened, the strategy formulated by Li Hu was still completed. Next, we just need to let Li Hu slowly clear out the enemies. There is no rush. I have finally understood that Li Hu is the one who has to deal with the Mongols. As for the others..." He shook his head.

The prince was shocked. Are they going to keep Li Hu outside the pass?
Emperor Yongchang saw through the prince's thoughts, but did not say anything. He changed the subject: "The most urgent task is to quell the White Lotus Rebellion. Only when the Central Plains is stable can the court gather troops to fight against Mongolia again. Go and take charge of the government." He stopped looking at him and picked up the victory report to read it line by line. The prince opened his mouth and had to bow and leave the warm room.

Emperor Yongchang stopped reading the victory report and took out a memorial from the memorials. Huang Jinzhong's secret memorial arrived half an hour earlier than Li Hu's victory report.

Placing the secret memorial next to Li Hu's victory report, Emperor Yongchang began to read it. From time to time, he raised his head and thought silently. After thinking for a moment, he continued reading.

After reading the last line, Emperor Yongchang showed a bewildered look in his eyes. Huang Jinzhong said in the secret memorial that it was the serfs who blocked the Mongols' retreat. It was because of their defeat that the Mongols seized the opportunity to break out. Is it really just a coincidence?

Suddenly a beam of light shone in and the door curtain was lifted.

Emperor Yongchang came to his senses.

It was Dai Quan, who walked in with medicine.

Emperor Yongchang closed Huang Jinzhong's secret memorial and covered it under Li Hu's victory report.

Carrying the bowl of medicine to Emperor Yongchang, Dai Quan took a sip himself first and said with a smile, "It's just right, not too cold or too hot. Your Majesty, drink it quickly."

Emperor Yongchang took the bowl with both hands, drank the medicine in one gulp, and rinsed his mouth with warm water from Dai Quan. He then smiled and said, "Well done, Li Hu. You have resolved the war in the north in just over a month, which has lightened the burden on the court."

Dai Quan apologized with a smile: "This is all thanks to the emperor's planning, the loyal and brave earl and the soldiers."

Emperor Yongchang: "Now he is the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery!" He then walked back and forth again, saying: "Although the cavalry is almost gone, most of the infantry were saved, which can be regarded as preserving the main force of the Beijing Camp, especially the Shenji Camp, which suffered no losses. To exaggerate, Li Hu is my benefactor and also the benefactor of Dashun!"

Dai Quan's eyes flashed, what does it mean to count? If it weren't for Li Hu, the Beijing Camp would have been annihilated. At the same time, he was secretly shocked. He didn't expect the Mongols to be so insidious and cunning. The Ulanqab League and the Chahar Tribe plotted against the Beijing Camp, and the Xilingol League plotted against them.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly stopped and said, "For such a great contribution, I should give him something else. General? Forget it, he is too young. Title? The Li family has only him. Hey, what do you think of my title and reward for Lin Ruhai?"

Dai Quan was stunned. What was this? If he was going to give a reward, he should give the daughter of the Lin family a reward!

Emperor Yongchang made a decision: "Yes, reward Lin Ruhai. Draft an imperial decree to grant Lin Ruhai the title of third-class earl and allow him to wear a dragon robe!"

Dai Quan swallowed his saliva. Lin Ruhai went from being a nobleman to a distinguished person?
The news of Li Hu's great victory quickly spread throughout the capital. Unlike Wang Ziteng's victory report, it caused a heated response in the capital.

The news also reached the Ordnance Bureau.

In the bedroom, William was sitting at the desk under the window, writing something with a quill pen.

After writing a paragraph and crossing it out, William raised his head and thought for a moment before continuing writing.

After a long time, William put down his pen, picked up the paper and looked at it. Many lines of words were smeared on it.

After reading the letter, William sighed deeply. This was a letter he wrote to the governor. This huge empire was not something they, France, could provoke. They had firearms that were as powerful as the French flintlock rifles, and they also had a huge army. This empire suppressed domestic uprisings while sending hundreds of thousands of people north to fight the Tatars, and they won. It was terrible!

William hoped that the Governor would send an envoy to meet the Emperor of Dashun and not start a war with this huge empire. (End of this chapter)