The head of the Red Mansion

Chapter 318 'Each Taking a Step Back'

In the imperial study, Liu Zhi was once again kept behind. The two sat facing each other, but remained silent for a long time.

There seems to be nothing more to say about tomorrow's negotiations.

Finally, the emperor sighed, "If Jia Zhen is jumping up and down fighting with the Russians tomorrow, you should stop him more, otherwise his injury may not heal properly for a while."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhi's goal this time was not fifty li, but one hundred li.

Otherwise, Jia Zhen's beating would have been for nothing.

"Your Majesty, are you afraid of going to war with the Russians again?"

"..."

The emperor laughed, “What do I have to fear? The reason I didn’t fight was mainly because I was worried that without the Russians coming, we would have to fight countless battles with the Jurchens and the Mongol tribes.”

Since everyone was familiar with each other, and the Jurchens and various Mongol tribes had always maintained close ties, attacking any one place would not only trigger military intervention from other places, but could also lead to a joint harassment of the nine key border towns.

Dazhao cannot wage a full-scale war along the border.

"But things are different now."

Driven to desperation by the Russians, the Mongol tribes surrendered to the Jurchens, just like the Jurchens.

“While we are fighting for more territory for the Great Zhao, the grasslands of the various Mongol tribes, especially those near the Russians, are expanding, and they are even more willing to fight than we are.”

"Your Majesty!"

The emperor and his minister exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's meaning.

If a real battle breaks out, the Mongols will be the vanguard of the Great Zhao.

Although they are now considered citizens of the Great Zhao, not all citizens are the same, at least for the time being.

After Liu Zhi left, the emperor quickly dealt with state affairs and finally rushed over to Kunning Palace just as lunch was about to be served.

He has an extremely strong desire to gossip.

The Empress was in the palace, where news from the outside was not reaching her. If she heard this, she would definitely be even more shocked than he was.

He only found out about it after he heard that Jia Zhen had been carried there, and sent a eunuch to inquire about it.

Oops!

The emperor felt that bringing Jia Zhen into the court was perhaps one of the wisest and most brilliant decisions of his life.

Madam Shen played the tactic of making an example of someone to scare others.

It not only intimidated the ministers who only wanted comfort and were unwilling to take any risks, but also helped him to give the Russian delegation a shock.

The morale of the soldiers and civilians, as well as the hearts of the various Mongol tribes... will likely be significantly affected by those ten strokes of the cane.

At the dinner table, the emperor casually shared everything that had happened that day with the empress.

As expected, the Empress opened her mouth slightly, looking unsure of what to say for a long while.

"Ten strokes of the cane aren't that heavy!"

Seeing the Empress's eyes slowly turn sad, the Emperor belatedly realized what was happening and quickly comforted her, "Madam Shen only has one son, and she's the kind of person who would risk her life for him..."

"Yes!"

The Empress sighed, “That time, she was attacked herself, killed the assassin, and risked her life to rescue her son and husband.”

As a woman, she is more emotional.

"Her husband couldn't be saved. In the dead of winter, she was alone in the burned-down house, collecting Jia Jing's body. Do you think she was heartbroken?"

The Empress could sense that the Emperor liked her.

But after becoming emperor, he still had other concubines and other children, and now another beauty is pregnant.

But Jia Jing only ever had Sister Shen.

She took all his savings and forced him to raise Xiao Yue'er. Actually, she was thinking that Jia Jing had never experienced hardship in his life, so he might be able to come home in the end.
pity……

"Now that she only has her son and daughter, do you think she didn't feel any pain when she beat Jia Zhen like that?"

emperor:"……"

"You brought Jia Zhen to the court and involved him in the negotiations. He kept coming home and talking to his mother about this and that. Do you think Sister Shen, with her intelligence, couldn't guess your purpose in bringing Jia Zhen to the court?"

I guessed it; he hit his own son.

The Empress sighed deeply. "Your Majesty, if the negotiations go smoothly tomorrow, half of the land we will fight for will be thanks to the beating Jia Zhen received."

"I know, I know."

The emperor nodded hastily, "I will not let Jia Zhen suffer this beating for nothing."

Good heavens, if he doesn't give a guarantee soon, the Empress will start to cry.

……

Ningguo Mansion!
Madam You carefully applied medicine to Jia Zhen's swollen and bruised buttocks, saying, "This was sent by my mother; it's made with the best medicinal materials."

Jia Zhen: "..."

"Don't be angry with your mother."

"This isn't something to be angry about!"

Jia Zhen hissed, "This is territorial expansion."

His son also talked to him for a long time yesterday.

It made him realize clearly that he, like his ancestors, was also expanding the territory of the Great Zhao.

Moreover, this expansion of territory was only caused by the minor injuries sustained by him alone.

Jia Zhen felt that this deal was extremely worthwhile.

"Just you wait, I'll be slaughtering everyone tomorrow."

He was going to put on a desperate show, ready to rally people around and volunteer to fight the Russians at the slightest provocation.

"...Aren't you angry with your mother?"

Looking at him like this, Madam You sensed that something was amiss.

When he came back from the ancestral hall yesterday, his eyes were red and his sleeves were wet. He must have cried secretly.

She felt quite sorry for him at the time.

But who dares to stop a mother's decision?
"...Do you think I dare?"

Jia Zhen scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "Besides, Mother beat me because she wanted what was best for me. It's really my own fault for being so useless."

His mother always told him to listen to Mr. Liu, but unfortunately, he failed at the most crucial moment.

"If Grandpa and Dad were still here, they would have beaten him even harder."

If he couldn't climb a tree properly, his grandfather would whip him until he had to climb it again.

Not to mention major events like expanding territory.

Just like his mother said, as a scion of a military family, he couldn't uphold his ancestors' will and shed blood and sweat for the expansion of the Great Zhao. He couldn't even speak properly. He didn't know how to fight for the compensation that the Russians should give to the Khalkha. He was hopelessly stupid.

"What's ten strokes of the cane?"

His mother loved him dearly; from childhood to adulthood, whenever she tapped him, she only touched him lightly.

"Quick, be careful, help me put my pants on. I still need to tell my mother about what happened in court today."

Anyone in the court who dares to compromise with the Russians is hopelessly stupid.

His mother's actions can be seen as a form of indirect support for Lord Liu.

"Is there anything important happening in court today?"

Lady You carefully pulled down his pants. "Hehe... even the Emperor is being exceptionally well-behaved today!"

Jia Zhen was quite ashamed, afraid that everyone would look at him with contempt.

Fortunately, there was none of that; it seemed to be mostly sympathy and fear!
Jia Zhen whispered, "When the adults are talking, they try to be as concise as possible."

After attending court for a few days, he felt that some people were really long-winded.

It's a very simple thing, but they insist on talking a lot about it, first taking credit for themselves, and then getting to the point.

"Otherwise, do you think I would have come back so soon?"

Jia Zhen helped pull up his trousers as well. "This morning when I went to court, Xing'er and the others carried me. There were obviously more people on the street than usual. Many Khalkha and Urad Mongols were even carrying lanterns by the roadside."

Madam You: "..."

Is being surrounded by onlookers something to be proud of?
"Shou'er said that he specially spent money to pay the staff at the meeting hall to spread rumors. The Russian delegation's Vice Minister Bazel Ackerman and General Iris Roberts were secretly watching us on our way."

If they dare to insist on their original statement again tomorrow...

hum~
Jia Zhen decided to bring several more guards with strong martial arts skills.

Anyway, he didn't really want to be an official anymore.

Although I'm still reluctant to give up my official position as a second-rank official, going to court every day is really tiring!
He made a mistake that led to the emperor dismissing him from his post, allowing him to return home and live a carefree life.

"If they argue with me again tomorrow... I will make sure they know how many eyes Lord Ma has."

After getting dressed, Jia Zhen lay down on the bench and had Shou'er and the others carry him to Shen Ning's courtyard.

"...Does it still hurt?"

After listening to him finish speaking, Shen Ning still asked a question out of concern.

The reason for having Jiao Da do the beating was that they thought the old man would be more measured in his punishment.

But the old man was really angry; I heard he swung the paddle around quite hard.

Shen Ning was relieved that she only gave him ten strokes of the cane; otherwise, Jia Zhen wouldn't have been able to go to court today.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

Seeing his mother's concerned expression, Jia Zhen felt all his pain disappear. "At most seven days," he said in a loud voice, "my son will definitely be alive and kicking again."

"...There's no need for him to be so active and energetic at such a young age."

Shen Ning sighed inwardly, "Tomorrow is your negotiation day again, Zhen'er, have you thought about what you're going to do?"

"The limit is 100 miles north of Lake Baikal, but my son plans to go 300 miles."

Ask for a high price and pay it back on the spot.

In short, he couldn't let this beating go unpunished.

“If they disagree, my son might fight them first.”

"Don't hit it yourself!"

He has never learned martial arts.

Shen Ning said, "Bring a few more people. At worst, after the fight is over, we'll apologize and give up our official positions."

Jia Zhen's filial piety also deeply moved her.

However, the Emperor probably couldn't bear to part with it.

Jia Zhen is too useful; using him is the same as using her.

This also made the old and even new forces in the army feel that the emperor was wise and powerful, and that with the Jia family's example as a warning, their future was also bright.

"Eh~"

Jia Zhen, who only understood the literal meaning, nodded happily and said, "Your son understands."

The following day, almost all eyes were on the negotiating table.

The emperor was somewhat uneasy when he went to court.

They specially sent Xiao Sanzi to inquire.

Just like yesterday, everyone finished the morning court session efficiently, eager to know the progress of the negotiations over there.

As the emperor was leaving court, Liu An's apprentice, Xiao Sanzi, approached him and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Jia has brought eighteen heroes with him today."

what?
The emperor, forgetting all about going to his study, paused in his tracks and stopped abruptly. "He's fighting with the Russians?"

"No no."

Xiao Sanzi hurriedly shook his head, "When Lord Liu and the others saw that Lord Jia brought so many people, they automatically and consciously made way for him. Lord Jia limped to the negotiating table and said directly to everyone that he had been beaten by his mother the other day, and asked if he could start the negotiations first."

Lord Liu agreed on the spot.

The Russian Prime Minister and General, seeing Lord Jia's demeanor, probably felt uncomfortable and were therefore exceptionally polite.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Bazel Ackerman and Iris Roberts, mindful of the Japanese delegation's experience and the way the people of Dazhao looked at them on the street yesterday, were already filled with apprehension.

"Lord Jia held up a map and pointed to Lake Baikal, saying he wanted to move three hundred miles north. The Khalkha people also said that it was originally their territory."

"What did Bazeir say?"

“Bazaar said no, they can sign the treaty immediately if it's fifty miles as agreed last time.”

Xiao Sanzi said, "Lord Jia smashed a cup on the spot, saying, 'Grandma, last time was last time, and this time is this time. Last time he was sitting down to talk, but this time he's standing up to talk.'"

emperor:"……"

He knew that during their negotiations, several tables were put together, with everyone sitting on either side.

The emperor thought for a moment, and realized that because Jia Zhen had a disability, he could only stand and look down at others while they sat down...

Oh dear, what should I do if he can't help but want to laugh?
Although he tried to suppress it, Liu An, Xiao Sanzi, and others who knew him well still knew that the emperor was smiling.

Xiao Sanzi laughed and imitated Jia Zhen's words, "Lord Jia pointed to his own buttocks and asked the Rakshasa people over there, 'Do you know what happened to him? His mother dragged him to the ancestral hall and beat him. If the Rakshasa people don't want him to live, then none of them should live.'"

At that moment, he waved his hand, and my goodness, eighteen burly men rushed in.

Xiao Sanzi was very excited. "When all the Russians changed color, Lord Jia pointed at the map and asked them sternly whether they would retreat or not."

The Vice Minister, Bazel Ackerman, and General Iris Roberts, along with their interpreter, immediately shouted for help from Lord Liu and his men. Everyone was talking at once, creating a huge commotion. Even I, outside, heard a loud 'bang,' and everyone said it was a gunshot.

what?
The emperor was furious. "Who fired the shot? What happened to Jia Zhen?"

"The one who fired the shot was a Russian. The kid drew his gun, but before he could fire, the men that Lord Jia brought bent the barrel, and the gun exploded on the spot."

Xiao Sanzi said, "When I ran in, I saw that the Rakshasa man's hands were covered in blood, and he was screaming incessantly. Both of his arms were broken."

emperor:"……"

"What then?"

Liu An grew anxious and asked on behalf of the emperor.

"Lord Liu immediately questioned their vice minister and general, saying that if they didn't want to negotiate, there was no need to waste each other's time; they should settle things on the battlefield."

Xiao Sanzi was very disappointed. "They argued that it was Lord Jia's men who started it, but Lord Jia sneered and said, 'Yes, it was him. Otherwise, let's not talk anymore and go to the battlefield!'"
They dared not go to the battlefield, and instead changed the subject, saying that three hundred li was too much, and suggested one hundred li instead.

emperor:"……"

"When I returned, they were still haggling. In the end, they compromised. The Russian delegation moved another two hundred miles north of Lake Baikal and gave Lord Jia some gifts to calm his nerves and make amends."

Xiao Sanzi laughed, "Your Majesty, you've struck it rich!"

"……Hahaha!"

The emperor laughed.

How vast is the area 200 miles north of Lake Baikal?
It's comparable to several prefectures.

Moreover, the Hanlin Academy had consulted the geographical records for him. Apart from the extremely cold winters, spring, summer, and autumn were all very good, with abundant fish production. The people could catch large quantities of fish for food, and even pickle them into salted fish or dry them into dried fish to sell here.

Unlike the grassland people who only know how to herd sheep, the people of Dazhao can do everything.