The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The flags on the city walls changed, and the capital was named Li again, but everyone understood that this Li was not the same Li!

However, everyone's anxious hearts were finally put at ease. The martial law in the city was lifted, and except for being unable to leave the capital, everyone's life basically returned to normal.

All the officials from various ministries in Beijing came. There was wailing outside the Cining Palace. Some were crying for the country and people of Dashun, and more were crying for their own careers. Now that Dashun was gone, where should they go?
Inside the main hall, all the concubines, led by Jia Yuanchun and the Queen Mother, burst into tears.

In the side hall, the chief minister of the cabinet and two university scholars, Shi and Meng, sat there quietly, with bewildered and slightly desolate looks on their faces.

At this time, Jia She and Jia Yucun appeared at the door of the side hall. The chief minister of the cabinet and the two grand secretaries Shi and Meng stood up immediately, and three pairs of eyes looked behind them like magnets.

Jia She and Jia Yucun walked in, and the three of them were still looking outside the door.

Jia Yucun coughed and spoke, "The princess was caught in a night breeze last night and needs to rest. She can't come."

Meng Daxueshi asked anxiously: "Did the princess say anything?"

Jia Yucun shook his head slightly.

The little light that had just appeared in the eyes of the three people immediately dimmed. The Princess of Zhenbei did not come, nor did she bring any words. This was a bad sign!
Jia Yucun felt mixed emotions. His female student seemed to have said nothing, but in fact she had said everything!

The chief minister of the cabinet fell into his chair and said in a hoarse voice: "Dashun is dead!" Tears flashed in his eyes.

Scholar Meng was a man of temperament. Upon hearing this, he trembled violently, and then tears welled up in his eyes.

Although Mr. Shi had no tears, he still took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the corners of his eyes.

Jia She sighed silently, turned and walked out.

Behind him, the cabinet chief shouted, "Lord En!"

Jia She walked to the door and stopped, but did not look back.

The chief minister of the cabinet knew that Jia She had guessed what he wanted to say, so he did not try to hide it and said directly: "The country is no longer safe, but we have to find a way to save the emperor and His Royal Highness Prince An, and leave a bloodline for the royal family."

Jia She did not turn around and said: "Prince An is in Niu Ben's hands." After saying that, he walked out.

The Prime Minister of the Cabinet stood there in a daze.

Scholar Meng: "Let's go and ask the Princess of Zhenbei for help."

The cabinet chief's eyes lit up: "Yes, go and ask the princess!" After that, he ran out like a flash.

"go together."

Before Grand Scholar Shi could react, he was pulled out by Grand Scholar Meng.

Jia Yucun seemed to understand something and blinked his eyes. If you want to ask for help, you must have the attitude of asking for help and show your sincerity! The only thing the court can offer now is reputation and righteousness. With this reputation and righteousness, Li Hu's reputation will not be damaged. In addition, promises do not mean that they will definitely be fulfilled. After all, the little emperor is in Niu Ben's hands.

Thinking of this, Jia Yucun took a deep breath. What a good trick! Is this still the little girl who was so weak that she could be blown down by the wind?

Thinking of the teacher-student relationship between him and Lin Daiyu, Jia Yucun's heart was burning. After so many years, he finally had a real big backer! And Zhen Yinglian from the Zhen family would be one of the nine concubines in the future. One queen and one concubine, it was settled!
At this moment, the Minister of Rites hurried in and reported to Jia Yucun: "Minister, the Imperial Observatory has chosen an auspicious day."

Jia Yucun raised his hand and said, "Just take care of these little things."

The Minister of Rites was stunned.

Jia Yucun coughed and continued, "The most urgent task is to protect the only bloodline of the royal family. The Prime Minister and the others have gone to the Zhenbei Palace. I will also rush over and beg the Zhenbei Princess. Do you understand?"

"Yes." The Minister of Rites bowed deeply to Jia Yucun, then stepped back.

Jia Yucun's eyes flashed, Jiao Xing was good at making soup, so he asked her to visit his female student, make soup, and get in touch with the mother and daughter of the Zhen family. Having made up his mind, Jia Yucun strode out.

A melodious music came from the big tent, accompanied by bursts of noise.

The rebel soldiers were coming in and out, carrying trays and cups.

Several singing girls, who might have been captured from Baoding City, were sitting in a row in the big tent and playing music.

The Emperor Datong, also known as the Prince of Nan'an, was sitting on the dragon throne in the center at this time. The table in front of him was filled with seafood delicacies, fine wine and fresh fruits.

While drinking fine wine, Prince Nan'an talked with Old William and William's uncle and nephew who were sitting on the side seats next to him.

Jia Zheng also came and sat there drinking silently, smiling bitterly in his heart. The wine pot, wine cup and chopsticks used by the Prince of Nan'an were all made of silver, even the cups, plates and bowls were all made of silver, so there was no way to poison him.

"Cun Zhou." A voice sounded in his ears. Jia Zheng looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Prince of Nan'an holding a wine glass and looking at him.

Jia Zheng hurriedly picked up the wine glass and drank it with the Prince of Nan'an.

Prince Nan'an nodded with satisfaction.

At this moment, a spy ran in and knelt before the Prince of Nan'an: "Your Majesty, the reinforcements of Dashun have arrived, and the vanguard has entered the territory of Baoding Prefecture."

Prince Nan'an poured himself a cup and threw the silver cup down: "Try again."

The spy picked up the silver cup: "Yes!" and ran out again.

Just as the spy ran out, another spy hurried in and knelt down before the Prince of Nan'an: "Your Majesty, I saw the Yellow Dragon Banner in the Dashun army's central formation!"

When these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.

Prince Nan'an: "Are you sure?"

The spy: "To reply to the emperor, it is the Yellow Dragon Banner."

"There is a road to heaven but you don't take it, there is no door to hell but you come by yourself. I was just worrying about how to break through the capital, and the little emperor of Dashun came to my door!"

The Prince of Nan'an was excited. He took the wine pot and gulped it down for a long time. He wiped his mouth, stood up and said loudly: "All troops, attack with me to welcome the little emperor of Dashun. We can't let him get away!"

Everyone laughed!
Jia Zheng stood there in a daze, his head buzzing.

In order to receive news from the capital as soon as possible, Li Hu set up a military intelligence transmission line between the capital and Shanhaiguan, consisting of more than 300 scouts on fast horses, and received Lin Daiyu's handwritten letter before dark.

The candlelight illuminated the map spread on the large table. Generals from various camps stood around it, staring at Li Hu who was walking back and forth with eager eyes, waiting for military orders.

Li Hu stopped and looked at the map. He seemed to be talking to Wang Daniu and the others, or to himself, and said, "The troops in the northwest are exhausted from repeated battles and have no artillery. They will be defeated in a day or two. The troops under Niu Ben have no fighting power, and he has no ability to command a large army." As he spoke, he ordered loudly, "Pass the order!"

Go down, cook at three o'clock, move camp at five o'clock, and the whole army will enter the pass!"

All the generals responded in unison: "Yes!"

At three o'clock in the morning, the horn was blown in the central army camp, followed by the horns of each camp sounding "woo woo" in unison. The momentum was so earth-shaking that it seemed as if even Shanhaiguan was shaking.

There is no moon tonight, only a sky full of stars.

When only the morning star was shining alone in the sky, Li Hu also mounted his big white horse and went out of Shanhaiguan wearing armor. The Han and Mongolian infantry and cavalry stationed inside and outside Shanhaiguan gathered into a mighty army and marched towards the capital.

The army rushed into the capital like several long red rivers day and night. Li Hu did not enter the capital. He received a batch of artillery, breech-loading muskets and ammunition sent by Lin Daiyu, as well as an imperial edict with the seals of the Grand Empress Dowager, the two Empress Dowagers and the cabinet, and then led his troops directly to Baoding Prefecture. (End of this chapter)