Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 58: Things Are Different Now

"Although I had expected it, I never thought it would happen so quickly..."

Duke Shan had no choice but to get up and prepare to return to Beijing.

In fact, he doesn't want to go back yet.

The Huaiyin bandits had great ambitions. Their leader had won the hearts of the people, and even many officials were willing to collude with them. This was indeed a great threat to Daxi.

If possible, he wanted to wait for Wang Ziteng to come over and personally teach him his strategy against the Huaiyin bandits before leaving.

However, this idea cannot be realized now.

The twelve golden medals issued by Emperor Longqing were not only for himself, but also for the generals under him. Although they could rely on the golden medals of immunity from death to disobey the emperor's order, they dared not disobey the emperor's golden order no matter what.

"Ah, well, whatever. I will return to the countryside and enjoy my old age. I am free and happy."

Duke Shanguo murmured something with a wry smile, then sent someone to call Chunyu Jian and entrusted the affairs after his departure to him.

"Remember, before Governor Wang arrives, you must not relax, especially not drink."

Duke Shanguo warned.

Chun Yu Jian quickly agreed.

Chunyu Jian loved drinking, and especially liked to have banquets with his generals.

Because he was rather mediocre in combat, Chunyu Jian enjoyed the thrill of knocking down his opponents one by one at the drinking table.

However, as a general, Chunyu Jian still has basic combat qualities.

Since the Duke of Shan had instructed him in this way, he would endure it for a few days and not drink.

Thus, Duke Shanguo and Chen Zheng set out on their journey back together.

Looking at the majestic city gradually disappearing into the distance, Duke Shanguo couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

How could the enemy break into such a strong city?
Duke Shan admitted that the strategy he formulated against the Huaiyin bandits was cruel, even sinful.

His hands are stained with the blood of innocent civilians.

But he has no regrets.

In any case, it is an indisputable fact that his strategy successfully restricted the development of the Huaiyin bandits.

He squeezed a lot of money from those tycoons to ensure the soldiers' wages and food.

What he left to the next general was an impregnable city blockade.

He is worthy of the court and his position as commander-in-chief.

As for the price of doing so, Duke Shanguo will bear it all himself.

It won't implicate anyone.

In this way, he can be considered worthy of the grace shown to him by Emperor Kangning.

……

Huaizhou City.

Fang Yong took Daiyu to check on the situation at the silk factory.

Entering the factory, nearly a thousand looms are working continuously.

Disabled workers cooperate with each other to carry out weaving. The operation of this loom is very simple. As long as the disability is not too serious, the weaving task can be easily completed.

Fang Yong paid the workers three hundred coins per month, including food and lodging.

The money is not much, but it is enough for these disabled people to support themselves and leave some money left over to subsidize their families.

In the crowd, a skinny woman stared at Fang Yong in a daze.

She really wanted to go forward, but when she saw Daiyu beside Fang Yong, she felt ashamed and her feet felt heavy as if they were filled with lead.

especially……

Lian Jieer stretched out her palm, and her two broken fingers were very obvious.

He came over here.

Lian Jie'er lowered her head in panic and put her hands back into her sleeves.

The middle-aged woman next to Lian Jie'er said with great surprise.

"Hey! Isn't that Yongwa? I heard that he became a high-ranking official, a general or something, but I didn't believe it. Now it seems to be true."

Upon hearing this, Lian Jie'er tried to grab her mother in panic, but it was too late.

The other party had already stood up and shouted:
"Yongwazi!"

Fang Yong looked over when he heard the voice, and when he saw the other person, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

The female supervisor in charge of supervision keenly noticed the change in Fang Yong's expression and immediately slapped Lian Jie'er's mother in the face.

"How dare you be so rude to the general!"

Fang Yong laughed.

He smiled and stepped forward to hold back the female supervisor who was about to take action, saying:
"It doesn't matter. This person and I have a history. Let's just let her go for now!"

Upon hearing this, the female supervisor bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, General." When Lian Jie'er's mother saw this, she couldn't help feeling a little scared.

She realized that the young man in front of her was no longer someone she could boss around.

Fang Yong looked over.

Lian Jie'er's mother quickly knelt down and kowtowed, saying honestly:
"Greetings to the General and his wife."

He then went to pull Sister Lian who was sitting there, and said:

"Lian'er, hurry up and greet the general!"

The skinny girl lowered her head and sat motionless at her workstation, like a wooden sculpture.

Fang Yong sneered and asked casually, "Lijiazhuang is not on the border, how did you get injured?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Jie'er's mother turned pale and lowered her head deeply, fearing that Fang Yong would notice something.

"I, Lian'er and I went to the city to buy something. We encountered government troops on the way and had two of my fingers chopped off."

Fang Yong asked with some doubt:
"The government troops only cut off two fingers?"

Lian Jie'er's mother was trembling and a few beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

In fact, she did not encounter any soldiers at all. She just heard that the treatment in the textile factory was very good, so she cut off her own and Lian Jie'er's fingers, lied that it was the soldiers who did it, and sneaked into the factory.

Now facing Fang Yong's questioning, Lian Jie'er's mother was extremely nervous.

"Not only did the soldiers cut off my fingers, they also raped me..."

"enough!"

Lian Jieer stood up, pushed her mother away, and ran out crying.

She was too embarrassed to stay here.

It should have been hers! It was hers! As the general's wife, she should have accompanied Fang Yong to inspect the factory, not been the one being inspected!

Was her choice at that time really wrong?
Daiyu stood beside Fang Yong, watching the scene curiously.

Being smart as she is, she naturally noticed something.

But Daiyu said nothing and asked nothing.

Fang Yong shook his head and left with Daiyu.

Lian Jie'er's mother knelt on the ground until Fang Yong walked away.

Before leaving, Fang Yongbu said to the factory director:
"That female supervisor is dedicated to her duties and should be promoted to general supervisor."

On the way back, Fang Yong and Daiyu sat in the carriage, and Daiyu gently held Fang Yong's arm.

"Don't you have anything to ask, sister?"

Fang Yong asked.

Daiyu blinked and said:

"Brother, just say whatever you want to say. Sister is listening!"

Fang Yong smiled when he heard that.

"You girl!"

Fang Yong reached out and held Daiyu in his arms, then began to talk about Sister Lian's past.

It's like this...

After Fang Yong finished speaking, Daiyu looked as usual.

Fang Yong asked curiously:
"Sister, why do you look so calm? Don't you have anything to say?"

Daiyu shook her head and leaned lightly in Fang Yong's arms.

"It's just an ordinary little thing, nothing worth talking about."

Fang Yong's eyes turned slightly when he heard this.

"In that case, there is one more thing I would like to discuss with my sister."

Daiyu asked, "What's the matter, brother?"

Fang Yong said: "When Mr. Wu came to me, he gave me two beauties. They have been living in the outer house for a long time. I hope my sister will take the trouble to settle them in the house."

After hearing this, Daiyu immediately looked up at Fang Yong.

Fang Yong just smiled cunningly.

Daiyu was so angry that she poked Fang Yong's waist and abdomen with her little hand.

"Okay, you bad guy, I guess what you said before was just a cover-up, what you're saying now is the truth."

Fang Yong did not refute, but hugged Daiyu and whispered:
"Sister, please help me for a while."

Daiyu blushed and turned away.

"Your beauty, you can arrange it yourself. Who am I to you? Why do you want me to arrange it for you?"

(End of this chapter)