The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the sea, sparkling like a beautiful painting.

On the fort, a large flag with the Chinese character "Tang" fluttered in the sea breeze.

Under the big flag, Heshen stood there quietly, looking at the distance where the sea and the sky met.

On his left, Liu Quan was holding a monocular telescope and looking towards the southeast, as if he was waiting for something.

Suddenly, thick black smoke rose from the end of the sea and reached the sky.

"I'm back!" Liu Quan's voice trembled, "Master, look!" He hurriedly handed the telescope to Heshen.

He Shen took the telescope and looked at the place where the sea and the sky met. He immediately trembled all over and murmured, "Victory, victory."

A large ship spewing black smoke came from the horizon, followed by a dozen or so seemingly "small" sailboats.

This large ship is the first ironclad ship of the Tang Dynasty and also the first ironclad ship in the world.

As they got closer, Heshen discovered that the ironclad ship was covered in scars. In addition to the huge chimney, wisps of black smoke were also billowing from the deck. Even the armor on the right side had fallen off, revealing the wooden hull inside. There were also more than 50 warships that were converted from merchant ships, but only a small half of them returned, which shows how fierce the battle was.

At this time, several messengers on the ironclad ship signaled to the artillery position.

He Shen put down the telescope, took out a cowhide envelope from his pocket, and ordered the guards behind him: "You must leave immediately and deliver this victory report to the capital within five days!"

The guard took the envelope and answered loudly, "Yes!" Then he turned around and walked away.

At this time, Heshen took out a cowhide envelope from his arms and threw it into the sea.

Liu Quan said with a smile: "Without the navy, Japan is like fish on the chopping board, waiting for us to slaughter them!"

He Shen smiled and nodded. The emperor had already worked out a military strategy with the cabinet and the Ministry of War. Once the other three ironclad ships were launched, they would attack the Japanese mainland. However, they had to capture the island first to remove the last obstacle.

"Here it comes." Liu Quan whispered in Heshen's ear.

He Shen: "Fire cannons and play music."

Liu Quan shouted, "Fire the cannon! Play the music!"

The salutes that had been prepared long ago sprayed out continuous sparks in sequence!
Drum music masterpiece!

The Tang army soldiers on the artillery platform cheered thunderously!

Golden waves crash against the shore. As the Yellow River officially enters the main flood season, the water volume of the river increases greatly, making a heart-pounding roar that shakes the earth.

At this time of year in previous years, the Yellow River embankment was filled with patrolling officials and able-bodied men, but this year only a few felt tents guarding the embankment were left.

Li Hu, Wang Daniu, Bai Wu and the new Jinyiwei commander Kong Qingxiang, who were all in plain clothes, crossed the track and climbed up the zigzag steps to the Yellow River embankment.

A wave more than one meter high surged in from the center of the river, creating splashes of water more than ten feet high on the river bank, and then retreated helplessly.

"Is this the Yellow River? It's so spectacular!" The corners of Kong Qingxiang's robe were lifted high by the strong wind, and his eyes were shining with surprise and excitement.

Bai Wu: "At this time of year in previous years, the Yellow River levee would either burst or be full of collapsed sections that needed repair. A heavy rain would immediately wash it away. Every year it was repaired, but every year it burst, enriching corrupt officials and making the people of Henan suffer. With such a solid levee, no matter how big the flood is, it can hold it back. The people of Henan no longer have to worry! The father-in-law has done a great deed!"

Wang Daniu continued, "Along the way, the people of each prefecture have built a 'living temple' for the father-in-law. This shows that the father-in-law has done great deeds and is deeply loved by the people of Henan."

A shengci is when common people express their gratitude to someone by building a clay sculpture of that person's image and placing it in a temple for people to worship and enjoy the incense.

Li Hu smiled and looked over the levee. With this levee, Henan would no longer have yellow river disasters, and there would be no levee breach for at least 30 years. His father-in-law had indeed done a great deed.

Kong Qingxiang: "I am not trying to flatter you. The father-in-law is a man of both civil and military abilities, and he is the pillar of the country."

Li Hu nodded. The situation in the southeast had stabilized. Lin Ruhai first ambushed the Western Yi coalition on land, and then advanced by land and sea. He won five battles and five victories. He not only drove the Western Yi into the sea and recaptured the port, but also severely damaged the Western Yi coalition fleet. However, the Tang Dynasty also suffered heavy losses. More than half of the eleven new sailing warships were lost, and the Yangtze River Navy also lost nearly a hundred large and small warships. This year, there is definitely no ability to fight back. In addition, the coastal towns were ravaged by the Western Yi people, and the population loss was huge. The economy was in decline and everything needed to be rebuilt. A policy of recuperation must be implemented.

There was also some not-so-good news. When the city was broken, General Wu of Yuehai burned himself to death with his entire family. They did not become captives of the Western barbarians, which saved the Wu family's last bit of dignity.

In order to stabilize the situation in the southeast, Li Hu transferred two of the three ironclad ships that had just been launched to Lin Ruhai and another one to Heshen. He and another ironclad ship escorted Liu Xianglian's troops to the Japanese mainland. Judging from the time, they should be landing soon.

Everything is moving in a good direction!

Kong Qingxiang looked at the rice fields under the river bank and said with a smile: "This year's autumn harvest in Henan will be a bumper harvest."

Li Hu suddenly remembered: "What do you think? Let me show you something first." After saying that, he turned his gaze to Wang Daniu.

Wang Daniu understood and took out a seal from the cloth bag slung across his waist and handed it to Kong Qingxiang.

Li Hu: "This is the memorial of the Duke of Yansheng requesting to resign from his title. If you agree, I will approve it immediately and appoint you as the new Duke of Yansheng and the head of the Kong family."

Lin Ruhai led his troops to the southeast. Li Hu was worried about the instability in the Central Plains, so he started his first southern tour. He did not take the imperial boat or the carriage. Under the escort of the Hetao cavalry, he left the capital and went south. He first went to the Dagukou Fort for inspection, and then continued south. He shot a tiger on Mount Tai, which shocked the gentry in Shandong.

Afterwards, he went to Qufu and stayed at the Kong family for a day. Based on the evidence provided by Kong Qingxiang, he first dealt with a large number of Kong clan members who had committed crimes, and then bought 70% of the land under the name of the Kong family at market price and nationalized it.

After giving a slap in the face, he gave a sweet date. Before leaving, Li Hu issued an order to allocate 80,000 taels of silver from the inner treasury to rebuild the Confucius Temple.

He then went south along the canal to Xuzhou, Yangzhou, and Jinling, and finally met with Lin Ruhai who had rushed over to Hangzhou, and talked about government affairs in the southeast all night.

After that, we headed north and arrived in Kaifeng yesterday.

Kong Qingxiang finished reading the chapter, closed it gently, and was about to speak.

Li Hu looked at the Yellow River and said, "Say what you think."

Kong Qingxiang knelt down and said, "I am willing to follow your majesty till death, even if it means sacrificing my life!"

Li Hu still looked at the Yellow River: "There is a saying that goes, 'There is no dynasty that lasts for a thousand years, there is only a family that lasts for a thousand years.' As long as you inherit the title of Duke of Yansheng, your descendants will all be Dukes of Yansheng respected by scholars. No matter who becomes the emperor, they will give preferential treatment to the Duke of Yansheng's Mansion. You have to think it through!"

Kong Qingxiang: "I swear to follow your majesty till death and build our Tang Dynasty into an eternal dynasty!"

Li Hu then slowly turned around and looked at him with a smile: "Get up."

Kong Qingxiang was delighted and said, "Yes." He bowed his head and then stood up.

At this time, Wang Wenzhao came running over excitedly, hurriedly saluted Li Hu, and then presented an urgent letter with chicken feathers stuck on it with both hands: "Your Majesty, a victory report from the capital, from southern Xinjiang."

Li Hu's eyes lit up. He took the memorial, tore open the seal and read it. After reading a few lines, a smile appeared on his face.

"Zhang Cheng won another battle," Wang Daniu said with a sour tone.

Li Hu looked at him and said, "Are you jealous? You can also go to southern Xinjiang to lead the troops."

"No, I don't have the brains for it." Wang Daniu said righteously.

Li Hu laughed angrily: "You are so shameless!" He turned to Wang Wenzhao and said: "Guiyang Prefecture has been completely recovered, and your parents are unharmed."

Wang Wenzhao trembled all over and two crystal tears flashed in his eyes.

Li Hu looked up at the sky. It was July already and it was time to go back. Lin Daiyu was about to give birth and he had to stay by her side.

"Let's go to Luoyang, and then go directly back to Beijing!" Li Hu walked down another stone staircase. (End of this chapter)