The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

By this time, the sky in the capital had already darkened, and the lights in the study were turned on as usual.

Emperor Yongchang was currently sitting at his desk reading memorials.

Dai Quan took a pair of small silver scissors and cut the forked candle wick, making the candlelight brighter.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly slammed the memorial together, put his hand on the imperial desk, stood up, walked to the window and looked out.

Dai Quan picked up the tea bowl on the imperial table and walked over, saying softly: "Your Majesty, have a cup of tea. Nothing will happen in Qufu."

Emperor Yongchang sighed and said: "What I am worried about is the war in the Central Plains."

Dai Quan was silent for a moment: "Your Majesty, don't worry. There are hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers gathered in the Central Plains. They will be able to quickly wipe out the White Lotus Rebellion."

Emperor Yongchang shook his head: "It's not that simple. The main force of the Jiangnan camp was ambushed, which means there is a traitor in the Central Plains army, and his official position is not low. And there is Prince Zhongshun, I am worried that he is not a match for Shui Rong!"

Dai Quan did not answer. After the incident, the court divided its troops into three routes. Li Hu went to Shandong, King Zhongshun led his troops, the Five Army Camps and a part of the Mongolian cavalry to the south of Chuzhou, and Wang Ziteng led his troops, the local patrol camp and another part of the Mongolian cavalry to return to Luoyang for support.

"How is the rest of the Ruishi Battalion going?" Emperor Yongchang suddenly asked.

Dai Quan understood a little, and said hesitantly: "It's been less than ten days since the Sharp Warriors came back."

Emperor Yongchang was silent for a moment, and then said, "Let them sail south to Xuzhou. Draft another decree for Li Hu, asking him to wipe out the White Lotus rebels in Shandong within a month, and then go to Xuzhou to take charge."

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang turned around and walked back to the dragon throne and sat down, "And Prince Zhongshun, remind him to proceed steadily, don't rush for success, and don't fall for Shui Rong's tricks!"

Dai Quan: "Yes." He answered and handed the bowl of tea to Emperor Yongchang.

Emperor Yongchang took the tea bowl and took a sip, then put it down and asked, "How is the situation outside the Great Wall?"

Dai Quan: "Fukangan and the Eight Banners soldiers fought several battles on the Khorchin grasslands, with both sides winning and losing. There has been no news from Uliastai yet, but judging by the time, the Jurchens should have succeeded."

Emperor Yongchang nodded and said, "Remind Fu Kang'an not to let these Eight Banners soldiers attack from behind. Well, take another 50,000 dan of rice from the Jurchens' compensation and sell it to him. Don't let the Jurchens find out."

Dai Quan smiled and replied, "Yes."

Emperor Yongchang: "I heard from Yuanchun that the old lady of the Jia family fainted again today?"

Dai Quan: "Yes, I was so angry." He suddenly remembered: "Oh, the Ministry of Revenue reported that Rongguo Mansion has paid 100,000 taels of silver for redemption."

Emperor Yongchang laughed angrily.

Dai Quan shook his head. Since the court set up the silver for discussing crimes, apart from the royal family, only two court officials paid the silver for redemption, Jia Zheng and Wang Ziteng. Of course, this does not mean that no court officials have committed crimes, but that the emperor will not accept their silver for redemption. For example, those local officials who stole and sold official grain were all beheaded!
After laughing, Emperor Yongchang said: "If it happens again, I guess Rongguo Mansion will be broke."

Dai Quan smiled and said, "This hundred thousand is from the second house. The Madam still has a lot of savings, and Jia Lian has made a lot of money in the past two years. I dare not say how much, but two or three times is no problem."

Emperor Yongchang's eyes flashed: "Jia Zheng still has one more chance."

Dai Quan was slightly stunned. It would be great to keep Jia Zheng. He could make money and he wouldn't be a threat.

Emperor Yongchang changed the subject: "How is the investigation of the rumor going?"

Dai Quan: "The spies from the Imperial Household Department found some clues in a teahouse in East City. The person who spread the rumor should be a servant of a wealthy family, and he speaks with a southern accent."

Emperor Yongchang: "Southern accent?"

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongchang's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he suddenly asked, "How is the old concubine doing recently?"

Dai Quan: "I heard that he is in good spirits, but he fell down the other day. Your Majesty, don't worry. The imperial physician said that he is not a big deal."

Emperor Yongchang: "Did anyone from the Zhen family enter the palace yesterday?"

Dai Quan: "The old lady of the Zhen family is here, but she only stayed for half an hour before leaving the palace. In the past, she always brought Zhen Baoyu with her, and she would not leave the palace until after dinner." As he said this, he secretly glanced at Emperor Yongchang, observing his reaction.

Emperor Yongchang tapped his finger on the imperial desk and asked, "When did the rumor spread?"

Dai Quan: "Before or after lunch." Emperor Yongchang's face suddenly turned cold.

Dai Quan stopped talking and silently put away the memorials on the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang suddenly stood up and said, "Let's go to the old concubine's palace."

Dai Quan responded and followed him out.

The study room fell into silence.

After a long time, the eunuch on duty called two young eunuchs to carry in a pot of flowers, placed it under the window, and then left.

The Kunning Palace was dark and empty, with only a few faint lights coming through the doors and windows of the side halls.

The eunuch in charge said: "The emperor went to the old concubine's palace."

The queen stood up and walked towards the door. When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and said, "Tell the prince to choose an auspicious day and invite a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva from the Muni Temple for me." After that, she walked out.

Huitong Hall

Heshen sat at his desk with his eyes closed, humming a little tune, obviously in a good mood.

Liu Quan came in carrying a food box, took out a few exquisite side dishes and a pot of wine and placed them on the desk.

He Shen opened his eyes, poured himself a cup, looked at Liu Quan, smiled and said: "Liu Quan, you have been serving me all this time, what should I reward you with?"

Liu Quan smiled and said, "Master, is there something big going on?"

He Shen: "What a great joy!"

Liu Quan: "Since it is a happy event, please give me a glass of wine so that I can also share in the joy."

He Shen did not expect that he would make such a request. He was stunned for a moment, and then said, "You have to think it over carefully. Even if you want 10,000 taels of silver today, I will not regret it."

Liu Quan chuckled: "Even if it's one hundred thousand or one million silver coins, it's not as joyful as my joy."

Heshen was very pleased and praised, "Good servant, you are really good at talking! Okay, I will reward you with a glass of wedding wine." As he said that, he filled a glass of wine and handed it to Liu Quan.

Liu Quan took the wine glass with both hands and drank it down with one gulp.

Heshen burst into laughter.

Liu Quan turned around and went out, brought in a clean cup, and filled it for Heshen.

He Shen picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp, with a smile on his face. He did not listen to Li Hu and secretly sold the information to Fu Kang'an. Of course, it was a few days late. The news just got that the group of Eight Banners soldiers had just destroyed the firearms that Fu Kang'an had spent a lot of money to buy, and they were destroyed by Fu Kang'an who rushed back in a hurry. It is said that Fu Kang'an's losses were not small.

Make money and let them fight each other. In one word, it’s awesome!

Thinking about this, He Shen poured himself another cup, then shook his head and sang: "I am watching the mountain scenery from the city tower, and I hear the commotion outside the city."

In Qufu, Li Hu refilled Lin Ruhai's glass of wine.

Lin Ruhai picked up the wine glass and took a sip: "Have you thought about what to do next?"

Li Hu also poured himself a glass of wine: "While waiting for reinforcements from other prefectures, we will also reorganize the government troops outside the city. We need to gather at least 20,000 troops. We will also wait for intelligence from the sentry camp."

Lin Ruhai nodded: "Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you fight a hundred battles without danger."

Li Hu: "You will be in charge of the next rebellion, and I will help you. With this great military achievement, your official position and title will be promoted." At this point, he smiled and said, "No matter how great my achievements are, the emperor will not promote me."

Lin Ruhai thought for a moment and said, "It's better this way. If there is no title to be given and no reward to be given, it will be dangerous." As he said this, he sighed deeply.

Li Hu raised his glass and said, "When you reach the mountain, there will always be a way out. We can talk about the future later. Come, I'll toast you."

Lin Ruhai also picked up the wine glass: "No more talking, I won't go home until I'm drunk tonight!" He drank it in one gulp. (End of this chapter)