The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Kang Laosan had a very good strategic vision. Jilin was located in the hinterland of Northeast China and had an excellent geographical location. Building a city here would allow the city to go north to fight against the Russians, control Mongolia in the west, and defend Shengjing in the south, achieving three goals at one stroke.

The Jilin City built by Kang Laosan is located south of Xuantianling and on the north bank of the Songhua River.

Jilin City was originally a large military camp. After two expansions and renovations, it began to resemble a county town.

Li Hu had his eyes on the navy camp near Jilin City. By sailing down the Songhua River, he could reach the middle and lower reaches of the Heilongjiang River and control most of the territory in the north. In addition, the Heilongjiang River had an estuary.

Even though two large charcoal fires were lit, the officials sitting around the fires still felt cold and wrapped themselves tightly in fur coats.

One official couldn't stand it anymore, so he stood up and stamped his feet to avoid the cold, cursing, "Damn it! This damn place is not a place for human beings to stay. It's so cold!"

Another official said: "This place is surrounded by mountains and the city is built on the river. It would be strange if it is not cold."

Another official said: "Such a bitter and cold place is useless. It cannot bring any benefits to the court. Not only will it cost a lot of money, but we will also have to send troops to guard it. It is a sheer waste of the court's financial and material resources."

As soon as these words came out, all the officials started shouting:
"That's right! The land here is barren and the people are poor, and the environment is harsh. It's not worth it to spend a lot of food and money for such a broken place. We must give up!"

"Yes, we must give up!"

At this time, Jia Lian, who was standing by the window holding the hot water bottle, coughed and spoke: "If you don't want to die, shut your mouths."

Everyone was stunned and looked at him in confusion.

Jia Lian still looked out the window: "This is the front line, it's normal for people to die."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Jia Lian slowly turned around, his eyes slowly swept across everyone's faces, and said: "No matter what your identities are or what jobs you have, it has nothing to do with me. Before leaving Beijing, the Deputy Prime Minister asked me to take you back with me, but I didn't agree."

Everyone was stunned.

Jia Lian: "But I brought you here. As long as you behave yourself, I can still bring you back safely for the princess's sake. As for your tasks, watch with your eyes, don't talk, and don't make trouble."

After a pause, he said, "If you want to die, just jump into the Songhua River. Don't implicate others."

Everyone showed expressions of grief and anger.

Jia Lian snorted coldly: "Do you know how many people died in order to take over Liaodong? Do you know who died? They were all their superiors and colleagues! Why should they give up just because you say so?! People should learn to think from others' perspectives and put themselves in their shoes!"

Everyone was silent.

Just as Jia Lian was about to speak, an official spoke up: "We must put the overall situation first."

Jia Lian frowned, "Didn't I say that we would enter the pass after we pacify the remnants of the Jurchens? You have seen along the way that there are indeed remnants of the Jurchens rebelling. You know the prince. He said that the remnants of the Jurchens would be pacified soon, and then the remnants of the Jurchens would be pacified soon."

No one could refute this and everyone fell silent for a moment.

Jia Lian: "Don't worry, I will ask the prince when to have a decisive battle with the remnants of the Jurchen Tartars."

Everyone had no choice but to nod.

At this moment, a loud shout came from outside the door: "The prince has arrived!"

Everyone stood up.

The door curtain was lifted and Li Hu strode in.

Jia Lian stepped forward and bowed to Li Hu: "Greetings to the prince!"

All the officials followed suit and bowed: "Greetings to the prince!"

Li Hu smiled and nodded: "Don't be so polite." Then he stretched out his hand to Jia Lian, "Give it to me."

Jia Lian asked with a smile: "What do you want?"

Li Hu: "Hurry up. I haven't received a letter from home in almost a month."

Jia Lian then took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Hu.

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open and read it, the smile on his face became even wider.

Jia Lian was curious: "Why, the princess didn't write a letter to the prince?"

Li Hu looked at the letter and said, "Don't mention it. I'm working hard in the front, and a bunch of bastards are gossiping about me behind my back. The princess said that if I send too many letters from home, those gossipers will say that I'm exchanging information with you and have bad intentions."

Jia Lian was startled, then subconsciously glanced at the officials.

Some people blushed, but more people lowered their heads guiltily.

After reading the letter, Li Hu said to Jia Lian, "Come on, I'll welcome you!"

Jia Lian said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." He glanced at the officials. Li Hu understood and called He Shen in, saying, "Take them to the front hall to have a drink and tell them about the situation of both sides." Then he walked out with Jia Lian.

Heshen clasped his hands, smiled and said, "My Lords, please come in." Then he extended his hands.

Everyone looked at each other and had to walk out.

Jilin is not like Shengjing, and supplies are scarce. There are only a few home-cooked dishes and some game.

Jia Lian had something on his mind and had no appetite, so he soon followed Li Hu to the study.

By this time, the sky was gradually getting dark.

Wang Daniu lit the candle on the table and brewed two bowls of tea.

Li Hu sat down at the table on the kang and said to Wang Daniu, "Go and do your thing."

Wang Daniu retreated.

Jia Lian sat down on the edge of the kang and looked at Li Hu.

Li Hu picked up the tea bowl: "What's wrong?"

Jia Lian looked at him: "What do you want to do?"

Li Hu: "What do you mean?"

Jia Lian still looked at him: "It has been almost two months since last year's Little New Year, and there are still remnants of the Jurchen Tartars causing chaos near Shengjing City? If it were Wang Ziteng, I might still believe it."

Li Hu put down his tea bowl and said, "The news of the remnants of the Jurchen Tartars in the north starting their rebellion spread at the end of January. The remnants of the Jurchen Tartars in various places started riots in early February, and it has only been ten days since then. Catching the remnants of the Jurchen Tartars is different from fighting a war. We have to identify them one by one. We cannot let a bad guy go, and we cannot wrongly accuse a good guy either."

Jia Lian was stunned for a moment, knowing that he could not win the argument with Li Hu, and then he said: "In the past, you always put the overall situation first and never refused the imperial court's order. Also, the Mongols listen to you. You can completely draw troops from Mongolia to cooperate with the Yongwei Camp to wipe out the remnants of the Jurchens coming from the north, and let the Yulin Guard and Xuanfu Guard enter the pass."

After a pause, he asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Li Hu was silent for a moment: "Now it's not about what I want to do, but about the generals under my command, do you understand?"

Jia Lian was silent for a moment: "I will help you cover it up at the court."

Li Hu picked up the tea bowl and sipped it slowly.

Jia Lian leaned his head closer and said, "I feel like Niu Ben has some thoughts too."

Li Hu stopped the tea bowl that was brought to his mouth and asked: "How do you feel?"

Jia Lian coughed and said, "My master and I both have this feeling. In addition to placing his confidants, Niu Ben also received a large amount of firearms and ammunition from the Military Equipment Bureau. By the way, the second master of the Zhenguo Mansion is Niu Ben's younger brother, and he has become friends with Wang Ren."

"Oh? He made friends with Wang Ren? It seems that this guy is not a good guy either!"

Li Hu smiled. No one who made friends with Wang Ren had a good ending.

Jia Lian: "Except for the 50,000 troops outside the city, all the troops in the capital are controlled by Niu Ben. If he rebels, you must prepare in advance."

Li Hu looked at him and smiled.

Jia Lian suddenly realized that if Li Hu had made up his mind, how could he not be prepared? He was not the kind of person who would sit and wait for death!

At this moment, Wang Yaozu appeared at the door: "Prince."

Li Hu looked at him: "What's the matter?"

Wang Yaozu looked at Jia Lian and raised the letter in his hand: "This is the secret report just delivered."

Li Hu: "Come in."

Wang Yaozu: “Yes.” He walked in and handed over the letter.

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open, and read it, then said to Jia Lian, "Fukang'an has also taken action. He has forcibly conscripted all the young and strong men in Gyeonggi Province and the surrounding counties, barely gathering 150,000 people, and brought the Korean royal family to Liaodong. Now he really has no time to spare."

Jia Lian was shocked: "One hundred thousand? Fu Kang'an is going to wipe out every family in Korea!"

Li Hu was stunned. How did it get to Korea? It was not to the point of exterminating the entire family. During the Wanli period, Korea had a population of over ten million. How many people were killed? He captured thirty thousand people, Shi Ding killed thirty to forty thousand, and Fu Kang'an forcibly conscripted another hundred thousand. With this calculation, there were not many young and strong men near Gyeonggi Province.

At this time, Wang Daniu walked in: "Your Majesty, the news just came that the remnants of the Jurchens in the north will arrive at the battlefield the day after tomorrow."

Li Hu looked at Jia Lian and said, "Let's fight a battle first and then I'll let you go back and report back."

Jia Lian nodded. (End of this chapter)