The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The sun had already set, but the weather was still very hot and humid, and there was still not a breath of wind.

The window and door were wide open. William, wearing a short coarse cloth shirt, was sitting at a table by the window, writing something with a feather pen. The palm-leaf fan in his left hand occasionally flapped against his legs, apparently because there were too many mosquitoes.

The light outside the window gradually dimmed, and William put down his pen, picked up the rice paper on the table and started to look at it. He found that there were paintings, all of which were of locomotives, carriages, rails, etc. Even the scene of workers adding coal and water to the train was painted.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps, and William came to his senses and looked out the window.

A Western barbarian came over with sweat on his face, stopped outside the window, and said to William: "Major, I just heard that there was a rebellion in the northwest of the Tang Dynasty."

William was surprised and delighted: "Is this true?!"

The Western barbarian nodded and continued, "Half an hour ago, an urgent letter was delivered from the northwest over 800 miles. The Tang Emperor's order to mobilize troops has been sent to the Ministry of War." As he spoke, he glanced at the drawings on the table.

William was excited: "Great!" As he said that, he walked back and forth quickly, then sat down at the desk, picked up a pen and started writing.

West Warm Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation
Li Hu placed a copy of the approved memorial on the pile of approved memorials on the imperial desk, then stood up and stretched his arms. He then said to Wang Wenzhao, who was sorting out official documents at another desk, "It's getting late. Go back and have a rest."

Wang Wenzhao: “Yes.”

After sorting out the last stack of official documents, Wang Wenzhao bowed to Li Hu and walked out.

After extinguishing the candle, Li Hu also walked out.

As soon as he walked out of the palace gate, the little fat man walked in from outside the Yangxin Gate.

Li Hu stopped and looked at him.

Walking up to him, the little fat man reported, "Your Majesty, William's family has indeed sent someone from the backyard, who rode out of the city on a fast horse and headed towards Luhe Posthouse."

Li Hu nodded. Knowing that the Tang Dynasty had a civil strife, the Western Yi people could rest assured and put all their energy on Shui Rong. Let's fight. Only when both sides are hurt can the Tang Dynasty reap the benefits!
There was indeed a rebellion in the northwest. The secret report from the Imperial Household Department had to be sent urgently over 600 miles, while the urgent report from the Governor-General of Shaanxi and Gansu had to be sent urgently over 800 miles. There was a difference of three days in between. During these three days, the situation in the northwest changed drastically. Under the instigation of some extreme anti-Tang nobles, the local people engaged in violent activities, smashing, looting and burning everywhere, burning Tang people's houses, robbing Tang people of their money, and even killing people.

The Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu once again dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion, killing and injuring more than a hundred people and capturing thousands of people, which led to the escalation of the conflict. In addition, the chieftains outside the Tang Dynasty directly sent armed personnel to support the local people. In just two days, the number of rebels increased from more than 10,000 to more than 100,000. The Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu could only suppress the rebellion while asking the court for help.

Li Hu understood that although the rebellion was apparently caused by the unfair judgment of the Lanzhou prefect, the real reason was the complicated historical problems accumulated in the past.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, they completely "resolved" historical issues, then took over the entire Northwest in one fell swoop, laid railway tracks to Central Asia, and waited for the opportunity to join the war.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the corners of Li Hu and the fat man's robes were blown up.

The little fat man laughed and said, "The emperor is really a true dragon emperor. He said that the weather would change and the wind would rise in the evening. Sure enough, it did!"

"Read more books if you have nothing to do."

Li Hu rolled his eyes at him and turned to walk towards Kunning Palace.

As soon as he stepped into the palace, he heard Lin Daiyu's loud and angry voice in the bedroom, and Li Hu paused for a moment.

"Why did you tear up your brother's book again!"

As soon as Lin Daiyu's voice fell, Princess Shouchang's laughter was heard again.

Li Hu smiled bitterly. This girl is so naughty and doesn't look like her mother at all.

Raising his hand to signal the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall to keep quiet, Li Hu walked into the bedroom silently. He saw Princess Shouchang sitting on the kang on the south side giggling, while Lin Daiyu was looking at the pile of "waste paper" in front of her with worry.

Zijuan, Xueyan and Qingwen spotted Li Hu, bowed silently, then covered their mouths and laughed.

Li Hu smiled and then coughed lightly.

Princess Shouchang looked over and immediately shouted, "Father!" Then she used her hands and feet to crawl towards Li Hu.

Li Hu was so frightened that he rushed to the kang and picked up his daughter.

Lin Daiyu pointed at Princess Shouchang and said, "Take care of your precious daughter!"

Princess Shouchang hid in Li Hu's arms with a wronged look on her face.

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes and said, "Look at how aggrieved you are. If someone didn't know me, they would think I was your stepmother and was abusing you!"

"A harmonious family brings prosperity, a harmonious family brings prosperity"

Li Hu could only smooth things over, holding his precious daughter and walking back and forth, saying with a smile: "Good job. Your brother is still a bed-wetting kid, why should he be in such a hurry to learn to read and write."

Princess Shouchang giggled.

Lin Daiyu laughed angrily: "You, just spoil her!"

Li Hu looked at her and said, "My son is still young, it's the right age for him to play. Why are you doing this? Learning to read at the age of two, reading at the age of five, and reading the Six Classics at the age of ten are all bullshit! I have made the decision on this matter. The prince will start receiving formal education after he turns seven. Seven years old is not the age in Chinese years."

Lin Daiyu: “But.”

Li Hu: "Okay, this matter is settled. By the way, where is my son?"

"You said that children should exercise more, which is good for their health and intelligence. The weather is getting cooler, so I asked Nanny Wang to take him out to play."

Lin Daiyu snorted, "You are the kind and good father, and I am the evil mother!"

Li Hu smiled awkwardly. Qingwen couldn't help but burst out laughing, but quickly held it back.

Li Hu took the opportunity to break the awkwardness and glared at him: "What are you laughing at? You have no manners at all! Don't collect your salary next month."

Qingwen: “Ah~”

Li Hu: "What? Go and prepare some bath water for me."

Qingwen said "Oh" and walked out dejectedly.

Zijuan smiled with her hands covering her mouth, then pulled Xueyan out.

Only then did Lin Daiyu burst out with the laughter she had been holding back. "You are so mean. You fined me one month's salary for laughing. Qingwen must be furious."

Li Hu smiled and said to his daughter, "Your mother is not angry anymore."

Princess Shouchang didn't understand, but when she saw Li Hu laughing, she also started giggling.

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at the father and daughter and changed the subject: "I heard there was a rebellion in the northwest. Is that okay?"

"It's just a chicken and a dog. Don't worry."

Li Hu held his daughter and sat down beside the table. Seeing a few newly minted silver coins on the table, he smiled and asked, "How are they?"

"Your Majesty, do you know how many copper coins can be exchanged for one tael of silver in the market today?" Lin Daiyu did not respond to him but asked instead.

Li Hu: "Everyone knows this. One tael of silver can be exchanged for 1,500 copper coins. Why are you asking this?"

Lin Daiyu still didn't reply to his question, and asked again: "Your Majesty, do you know how much it costs for ordinary people to eat a bowl of noodles?"

Li Hu frowned. "It went up to three copper coins two years ago, and this year it dropped back to two copper coins. What happened?"

Lin Daiyu: "One tael of silver can be exchanged for two "yuan" silver coins, and one "yuan" silver coin can be exchanged for ten "jiao" silver coins. Ordinary people only need two copper coins to eat a bowl of noodles. How can ordinary people use your ten cents?"

Li Hu was stunned.

Lin Daiyu smiled slightly: "It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep have been lost. Just continue to use the copper coins as subsidiary currency."

Li Hu looked at her with a smile, then waved.

Lin Daiyu leaned her head closer.

Li Hu quickly kissed Lin Daiyu on the face.

Lin Daiyu smiled and punched Li Hu, "You're so annoying." She then looked at her daughter guiltily.

Princess Shouchang was looking at her with wide eyes.

Lin Daiyu's face suddenly turned red.

Li Hu smiled complacently.

Lin Daiyu glared at him.

After some jokes, Li Hu said, "The situation in the southeast has stabilized, and Jiangnan is also back on track. I plan to let our father return to Beijing to take up his post."

Lin Daiyu was surprised and delighted: "When?"

Li Hu: "I'm going to Beijing for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Are you happy?"

Lin Daiyu smiled happily.

Li Hu wanted to say something, but the little fat man's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, there is some news from the Imperial Household Department."

Li Hu: "Come in."

"Yes." The little fat man walked in quietly and reported to Li Hu: "The bribed spy sent a message that William is drawing the blueprints of the train and the track."

"Oh?"

Li Hu's eyes rolled around and he said to the little fat man, "Go to Heshen's house in person and tell him to find a way to sell the train technology to William."

The fat boy was stunned.

Lin Daiyu was shocked: "This is a national treasure"

Li Hu: "As long as the money is in place, anything can be sold!"

Lin Daiyu: "Should we discuss this with the cabinet?"

Li Hu waved his hand and said, "Railway construction is very expensive, and money is spent like water. If they lay the railway, it will hinder military research and development, and then they will be even more unable to defeat us. They will help us lay the tracks, and then we can directly follow the train tracks to the romantic city and plant the Tang Dynasty's yellow dragon flag on the iron tower."

At this point, he was slightly stunned. It seemed that the tower had not been built yet. Never mind. That's the point anyway.

Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up, it was a good idea. (End of this chapter)