The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 267 Copying Liaodong
The imperial palace and the imperial city are not the same.

The imperial city not only includes the imperial palace, but also ancestral temples, inner court, government offices, military units, and various warehouses, as well as gardens and parks.

Most government offices were located between Chengtian Gate and Dazhou Gate.

The gate was called the Daming Gate during the Ming Dynasty, the Daqing Gate during the future Qing Dynasty, and is now called the Dazhou Gate.

There were quite a few people going in and out of the Da Zhou Gate.

Wang Xin left the Ministry of War with practiced ease. After exiting through the Great Zhou Gate, he found that the soldiers at the city gate were not strict in their checks, and these checks were mostly directed at those entering.

Along the city walls on both sides of the extremely tall city gate tower, many people were sitting, squatting, or standing.

The square, which is shockingly wide and paved with neat stone bricks, is still filled with all sorts of people and things.

Whether the animals are parked here or passing through the square, mules, donkeys, and horses must carry manure bags and are not allowed to defecate on the ground. In fact, there are similar rules in other parts of the city, but they are not as strict as here.

Besides tea shops, various sedan chairs and horse-drawn carriages were also parked there.

Each household's servants waited for their masters at the foot of the city wall, or they would come from their homes to fetch them when the appointed time arrived.

"The general is here."

Shi Ping and the others, who were also squatting in the crowd, saw Wang Xin coming out of the city gate. One of them quickly reminded his companion, then stood up to fetch his horse, while Shi Ping rushed over to greet him.

Wang Xin has already seen Shi Ping.

But he turned around.

Looking at the strict rules and the fact that everyone goes their own way at the gate of the imperial city.

This is the imperial city.

I spent three years on this, and I never expected that I would be qualified to enter and leave this place.

"General."

Shi Ping called out softly, not knowing what had happened.

Wang Xin withdrew his gaze, smiled, and instructed, "Have someone tell Miss Ping that the matter of buying a house in the capital is up to her. She can make the decision. If she really can't make up her mind, she can discuss it with Feng. We will return to Tongzhou."

Shi Ping nodded and waved behind him.

Upon seeing Shi Ping's actions, the others led their horses forward, and Shi Ping then instructed one of them to go to the Jia residence.

Wang Xin ignored all of this and led his men out.

There are quite a few rules in the city; you can't just do whatever you want.

When livestock enter or leave the city, there are rules about which way they go, which roads they take, including the requirement to put manure bags on their rear ends, as well as which roads carriages and pedestrians take. In addition to the explicit rules, there are also customary rules.

Whoever goes first, goes first.

What causes what causes what?

Wang Xin and his party of seven or eight, riding horses, made quite a show of force, but it wasn't unusual.

According to the rules, people walk on the left when entering the city gate and on the right when exiting. Although the roads are crowded, they are orderly and not congested.

The thing that had been weighing on my mind has finally been put to rest.

Although I had considered everything carefully and thought there shouldn't be any problems, no one can guarantee there won't be any unexpected events. Even now, I can't say that everything is safe.

But ultimately, there's a 90% chance that things won't work out, and if they still don't, there's no need to regret it.

Feeling refreshed, Wang Xin smiled and, even on horseback, took in the sights of the capital city streets with great interest.

exactly.

A crowd of onlookers gathered by the roadside. Wang Xin, riding on horseback, could see clearly that two vendors were arguing over where to set up their stalls, and eventually, things got out of control and they started fighting.

One vendor smashed another vendor's head, leaving the latter bleeding profusely.

"It's bleeding."

"How could you act without any sense of proportion?"

The people gathered around started talking.

Fighting is fine, but bleeding is.

The incident quickly alerted the soldiers patrolling the streets of the Five Cities Garrison. They apprehended the peddler who had injured the man, who was now pale with fright and kneeling on the ground begging for mercy.

The likely outcome is that either the merchants pay up, the soldiers get a little something, and the merchants, who have been bleeding money, give in, and the matter is settled. If it gets more serious, it won't be good for anyone.

Wang Xin didn't care.

This is society.

In the adult world, there is no such thing as right or wrong.

They're all just looking out for themselves.

The merchant who assaulted the man was dressed in hemp clothing; he was just a peddler who didn't earn much money and struggled to support his family. He had to fight for good spots just for money.

He got a good spot, so no one else got a good spot.

Who is right?

Who's wrong?

If he doesn't get a good position and earn money, his family won't have anything to eat.

There are three kinds of unfilial piety, and no one is the greatest.

To support his wife and children and care for his elderly parents, this vendor disregards morality and etiquette.

Now that he has caused trouble, what will he do if he can't bear the consequences?
Serve cold.

It's not like doing math problems where every question has an answer.

In short.

A person who is not full just wants to be full.

People only think about morality and etiquette after they've eaten their fill.

If you're still not full.

It's either death or continuing to fight like before.

If even personal matters are so troublesome and unsolvable, what about the world at large?

The Great Zhou Dynasty was known for its porcelain.

Even with many problems, Wang Xin had to be careful.

Unless one is not a Zhou person.

As long as one is not a Zhou person, one doesn't care whether the Great Zhou porcelain is real or not; one can simply treat it as one's spoils of war. One wouldn't feel bad even if one smashed it, since it was stolen and had no cost.

Therefore, Wang Xin only trusted those who were inwardly virtuous and outwardly wise.

Wang Xin despised those who spouted benevolence and morality, were obsequious to outsiders, but launched fierce attacks internally, acting like kings inside and saints outside, and he would never allow himself to become such a person.

The unity of knowledge and action.

Wang Xin didn't care about the Hu people at all; the rules were only for his own people, and all he needed to do was win against outsiders.

Internally?

He did not need the people of the Great Zhou to fear him, revere him, or worship him.
Everyone is equal.

Live again.

Wang Xin didn't want to continue settling for less and wanted to live a clean life. Although he wasn't a saint and had human desires, he wanted to be worthy of those who had wronged him.

This was the case in Yangzhou.

This was the case in the capital.

The same is true in Datong.

I am very careful in my actions because I understand the importance of responsibility.

Just like how she treated Ping'er and Qingwen.

I must first find out what they want for the future and make sure I can meet their needs before I can make a promise to them and agree to accept them.

Now I am a guerrilla general of the Great Zhou.

How can one act impulsively when one is not responsible to the Hu people but is responsible to the people of the Great Zhou?
We now have a grasp of the situation in Datong, but we cannot be careless.

The original division of the family property will continue.

Zhang Jifu wouldn't support him becoming the second Feng Yong, so he needed to make plans early to avoid being passive later.

If you don't plan ahead, you'll fail.

Lu Zhongheng knew that Wang Xin was going to visit Zhang Jifu today.

They attached great importance to it and arrived at Hexi Camp early in the morning to wait.

Not only did he come, but he also brought two companions. Because of Lu Zhongheng, the three of them easily entered the Hexi Camp and were provided with a clean and tidy house to stay in.

Because the main force was transferred to Datong, there were many empty rooms in Hexi Camp.

"Can General Wang really accomplish this?"

Lu Zhongheng and two companions sat down around a round table with a teapot and teacups on it. One of them, a scholar in a blue long robe, looked on with curiosity. Not only him, but the other was also very interested.

“Wang Xin is an extremely conservative person,” Lu Zhongheng analyzed.

The two were stunned.

The scholar in the blue robe wondered if he had misheard and couldn't help but say, "Although I have never met General Wang, I have heard of his reputation. He is a man who has won every battle and is not lacking in courage and strategy. How can you say that he is conservative, Brother Lu?"

"Hahaha."

Lu Zhongheng couldn't help but laugh out loud, and finally said with a smile, "You guys don't know."

The two men who arrived were scholars from Yangzhou. The one in the blue robe was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), and the younger one was a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial imperial examinations). They had come to the capital to study at the Imperial Academy in preparation for the future imperial examinations.

A hero needs two helpers.

Lu Zhongheng himself has no real power and needs someone to cheer him on.

Others value his noble status, and both sides have their own interests. They are also from the same hometown, so they are natural neighbors. Lu Zhongheng also asked the two of them to help spread the word about Wang Xin's matter.

That's why Lu Zhongheng brought two people with him. Firstly, Wang Xin met with Zhang Jifu today, and the truth of the matter came to light. Secondly, they could discuss the matter face-to-face and respond quickly, regardless of the outcome.

The three were talking.

"Brother Lu."

Wang Xin entered with a smile.

"Brother Wang."

Lu Zhongheng saw Wang Xin, stood up and smiled.

Only then did the two realize it was Wang Xin, and they also got up to look at the person who had come in.

Indeed young, not even twenty-five years old.

Even if the twenty-five-year-old guerrilla general was just a military man, his future was still very promising. The scholar in the blue robe, though self-conscious of his status, did not slack off and stepped forward with Lu Zhongheng, while the younger scholar stayed where he was.

Wang Xin glanced at them and smiled as usual, "Please forgive me, may I ask who these two are?"

"This is Zhang Yuncheng, who is also observing affairs at the Ministry of War. This is Zeng Zhi, who is studying at the Imperial Academy. Both of them are from my hometown and have helped you before," Lu Zhongheng introduced them simply and in detail.

Wang Xin understood.

Lu Zhongheng had mentioned this matter before, and he quickly cupped his hands to the two of them and said with a smile, "I should have come to thank you earlier, but I dared not disturb you. I don't know how many times I urged you, but Lu Zhongheng only introduced you to me today. It shows how lazy he is."

"You, Wang Xin, are something else."

Lu Zhongheng pointed at Wang Xin and said speechlessly, "You're trying to curry favor with those two by using me as a pawn. You deserve to die."

Zhang Yuncheng and Zeng Zhi glanced at each other subconsciously.

The relationship between Lu Zhongheng and Wang Xin is indeed extraordinary; they are both Lin Ruhai's men.

After a while of greetings.

Lu Zhongheng asked with concern, "How is it?"

Wang Xin didn't hide anything, nodded, and calmly said, "It shouldn't be a big problem."

"Done?"

Lu Zhongheng was surprised instead.

He had been involved in this matter all along. Whether it was when he first arrived in Datong or when he was arm wrestling with Feng Yong in Datong, Lu Zhongheng had done a lot of work for him.

Wang Xin also knew it.

Lu Zhongheng's actions were not solely due to himself.

For someone of his status, being needed by others is his greatest value; this is what it means to cultivate one's reputation.

If you've taken a favor from him, you'll have to repay it in the future; that's always been the rule in officialdom.

Zhang Yuncheng and Zeng Zhi were also shocked.

They also played a role in establishing the Datong Western Army after branching out from Datong.

Such a big matter was not handled by any bigwigs, but by a few insignificant figures. Lu Zhongheng was of noble status, but he had no official rank or grade, and Wang Xin was only a third-rank military officer, not to mention the two of them.

Zhang Yuncheng swallowed hard, then stammered, "The Western Army of Datong, including Shuozhou and the five counties of Mayi?"

"This matter has not been explicitly stated yet, but judging from Grand Secretary Zhang's attitude, he most likely will not suppress it, so if nothing unexpected happens, this is probably how it will be."

Upon hearing Wang Xin's words, Zhang Yuncheng suppressed his arrogance.

Putting aside the fact that this person actually accomplished the task of leading the Western Army in Datong, the fact that he could easily meet with Grand Secretary Zhang shows how important he is to Grand Secretary Zhang, who is the future Grand Secretary.

I don't even have a way to curry favor with him, so even if this person is a martial artist, his future status will probably not be lower than mine.

You can't have a guerrilla general leading an entire area, can you?

According to the rules, the person in charge of an army should be a general. This person is too young. Even if he is not promoted to general, he will be promoted to assistant general. It is only a matter of time before he is promoted to general.

Thirty years old?
If one can become a general at the age of thirty, becoming a military governor within the next twenty years is absolutely no problem; one can also rise through the ranks by gaining seniority.

"What does General Wang plan to do after returning to Datong?"

at this time.

The scholar who hadn't said much until now took the initiative to ask.

Wang Xin smiled and said, "I will need Brother Lu and everyone else's help."

"what's up?"

"The matter of provisions."

Wang Xin explained it again.

Unlike others, my roster mostly reflects actual numbers, and I need a considerable amount of supplies.

"Don't you already have a chamber of commerce in Datong?" Lu Zhongheng asked back.

"The imperial court can't possibly not contribute a single penny; that would be outrageous."

Wang Xin shook his head.

Although the imperial court cut military expenses, it still provided some supplies. The generals were exploiting the soldiers, and there were large vacancies in the troop rosters. In reality, the generals secretly kept their own retainers, maintaining a certain tacit understanding.

But what if the entire Western Army of Datong were supported by themselves?

The imperial court will likely become uneasy.

This is also why I want to split up the family business.

He only kept a few hundred elite soldiers by his side to train as officers, so that the court would feel at ease with him.

As for the troops that are sent out, if the imperial court really cannot afford to supply them, or if they are excessively embezzled, I will certainly not ignore it. The Datong merchants are there to prepare for all these places.

Still the old rules.

If the imperial court distributes the funds accurately, then the public treasury's reserves will remain untouched.

If the imperial court embezzles funds, the public treasury will make up the difference.

If the imperial court doesn't contribute a single cent, then the entire public treasury will have to pay.

Lu Zhongheng and the others said no more.

They could easily guess Wang Xin's concerns about this matter; many things cannot withstand scrutiny.

"Brother Lu previously said that Brother Wang was conservative in his actions, which puzzled Zeng Zhi and me." Zhang Yuncheng sighed, then smiled at Wang Xin and said, "Now it seems that's indeed the case."

Wang Xin glanced at Lu Zhongheng and joked, "Brother Lu knows me quite well."

Lu Zhongheng actually nodded. "Master Lin said you often have ingenious ideas, and it turned out to be true. That's why I often pay attention to you, and I've learned a lot from you."

Wang Xin paused for a moment.

Being stared at is not a pleasant feeling.

With more and more clever people eyeing me, I fear my possessions will soon be completely plundered.

Zhang Yuncheng and Zeng Zhi both looked on in agreement.

The young Zeng Zhi, unable to contain himself, saw that the atmosphere was good and asked the question that had been on his mind: "I wonder if what Brother Wang did in Datong can be replicated in Liaodong?"

Liaodong?

Wang Xin looked puzzled.

Liaodong is located outside the pass and is the fiefdom of the Prince of Dongping. Although it is managed by the Liaodong Regional Military Commission, it remains isolated from news.

Since arriving in Beijing, I have been busy with many affairs. Although I wanted to pay attention to Liaodong, I was powerless to do so. I didn't expect that someone would care more about it than I did.

"Although Zeng Zhi was born in his hometown, his family members were officials in Liaodong," Lu Zhongheng mentioned.

Wang Xin suddenly understood.

It seems that Zeng Zhi's family was a prominent local family in Liaodong.

That explains why Lu Zhongheng brought him along, even though he was only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). Although his personal status was insufficient, his family connections were.

(End of this chapter)