The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 271 Will it be like the Ming Dynasty?

Wang Xin felt sympathy for many people, but never offered them any help.

Wang Xin would only pity those honest people who were bullied but dared not retaliate, who were extremely weak, but he would also respect their choices and silently observe from the sidelines.

But as long as you dare to fight for your rights.

No matter who it is, Wang Xin is willing to lend a hand and provide assistance to the best of his ability.

The same goes for Lin Daiyu.

Once I move out of the Jia family mansion, I won't have the chance to take her out to play anymore.

The rules of the Jia family are the rules of the Jia family.

Now that I'm leading a separate force and about to be promoted to brigade commander, I can tolerate Lin Daiyu's occasional tantrums. But once I move out of the Jia family mansion, I won't be able to handle it anymore.

Therefore, Xue Baoqin suggested that she bring Lin Daiyu along.

Being confined to the garden all day would drive anyone crazy. When Wang Xifeng was in charge of the household affairs, she was cheerful and outgoing. But after losing power and being cooped up in the backyard, she gradually became melancholic and sentimental.

Xue Baoqin, being shrewd and perceptive, secretly approached Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu was greatly surprised.

"Our ancestors won't agree, and neither will Sister-in-law Zhu."

"Tell me first whether you want to go or not."

Xue Baoqin interrupted.

Lin Daiyu stared blankly at Xue Baoqin.

"Judging from your expression, you must want to go." Xue Baoqin said with a smile, "Sister Lin, why worry unnecessarily? Since Big Brother has brought it up, he will naturally make the arrangements. Are you worried that Big Brother will harm you?"

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief.

This was completely unexpected.

From initial panic to composure, Lin Daiyu nodded.

Xue Baoqin clapped her hands with a smile.

He immediately left Xiaoxiang Pavilion and rushed to Tubi Mountain Villa.

When Wang Xin learned of Lin Daiyu's decision, a look of relief appeared on his face. "Daiyu has a very good personality."

"Better than me?"

Xue Baoqin was unconvinced.

Wang Xin deliberately said, "Better than you."

Xue Baoqin pouted, thinking that her older brother was deliberately trying to annoy her, and ignored Wang Xin.

Wang Xin was also busy with his own affairs.

Seeing this, Xue Baoqin, as if afraid that Wang Xin would forget, couldn't help but remind him: "Remember, tomorrow."

Wang Xin nodded.

This matter mainly stems from Wang Xifeng.

She makes the arrangements, and if anyone asks about it later, she can simply blame it on herself. It's better for Lin Daiyu to be firm in her decision. In this way, even if Grandmother Jia is unhappy, so what?

Lin Ruhai entrusted his daughter to the Jia family because he was worried that he, a grown man, would not be able to take good care of her.

Raising a daughter is different from raising a son.

It's often difficult for a father to get involved in his daughter's affairs.

But if the Jia family makes Lin Daiyu unhappy, that's a different story. Lin Ruhai will definitely be furious, especially with me watching over him.

In short.

Lin Ruhai did not die, and the guardianship of Lin Daiyu did not belong to the Jia family.

Therefore, as long as Lin Daiyu is willing, there are many things that the Jia family cannot do anything about.

Day two.

Three carriages were parked at the small gate of the private alley between the Rong and Ning mansions.

The carriage was also arranged by Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xin and Shi Ping were already waiting at the door, while Qingwen and Ping'er boarded the carriage.

soon.

Xue Baoqin appeared, leading Lin Daiyu by the hand.

"Big brother."

Xue Baoqin felt as if she were a thief, experiencing the tension and excitement of abducting someone else's child. Her heart was in her throat the whole way, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Wang Xin.

Lin Daiyu's face turned bright red.

She thought about it again and again, and several times felt it was inappropriate. She considered having Zijuan refuse, but she couldn't bear to do so.

The journey from Yangzhou to Jinling turned out to be the happiest time of my life in recent years. It felt like I was truly alive again, and I couldn't bear to part with the temptations offered by Wang Xin.

That's why they say the poor boy and the rich girl eloped.

Every turn is accurate.

Think differently.

If someone has been locked up at home for more than ten years, and then a bold person appears in front of them and says they want to take them to the outside world, how many people can resist such temptation?

Add some romance and love, and it's like picking a snail with three fingers—a sure thing.

Even Lin Daiyu couldn't help it, could she?

"Lin girl, you saw your uncle, why didn't you greet him?" Wang Xin deliberately put on airs of an elder.

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes helplessly.

The tension in my heart lessened considerably, and instead, a sense of anticipation arose.

"Oh!" Xue Baoqin clapped her hands and laughed, "I shouldn't call you Sister Lin. Sister Lin should call me Auntie, hehehe."

"You little rascal, Baoqin."

Lin Daiyu ignored Wang Xin, but did not let Xue Baoqin off the hook.

Xue Baoqin quickly begged for mercy and hid behind Wang Xin.

Lin Daiyu glared at Wang Xin.

It's as if it's saying: Who are you going to help?

The youngest daughters actually lost the game of choosing sides. Wang Xin laughed and said, "Let's get in the car first. Once we get to Hexi, we'll have plenty of time to play."

Lin Daiyu realized her mistake and dared not linger, lest she disturb too many people.

Xue Baoqin didn't care. In order to take care of Lin Daiyu, she and Lin Daiyu quickly got into the carriage, along with several maids including Zijuan.

Zijuan tried her best to persuade her mistress to stay.

But it felt like I was back in the past, when I went out with Miss and Master Xin. I thought I would never have another chance, but I couldn't resist the temptation.

Wang Xin rode his horse in front.

The carriage was in the middle.

The group of five riders and three carriages made a small but not insignificant commotion, yet no one came forward to inquire. After leaving Ningrong Street, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baoqin rode together in a carriage, lifting the curtain to curiously observe the street.

Needless to say, Qingwen and Ping'er were overjoyed.

Wang Xin did not go to the Hexi Camp.

The Hexi Camp had strict rules; it wasn't a place for outings, but rather a place to go to Yan Zhongzheng's office.

The Eastern Army's camp was large, but many parts of it were abandoned.

The camp of Hexi Camp had been expanded, especially after Zhang Can's troops were transferred here. They had also cleaned up the surrounding area. The view was open and there was no one around, so it was a pretty good place.

Lin Daiyu was a lady from a prominent family.

Although Wang Xin was brought out, he still paid attention to the necessary precautions.

They set off early in the morning, arrived at noon, had a picnic, and returned in the afternoon. A day had passed, which was enough to make Lin Daiyu and the others happy.

Yan Zhongzheng arrived very early.

Now, like Wang Ziteng, he is of high rank but lacks real power. There are countless officials in the capital waiting for real positions, a situation where some are dying of thirst while others are drowning in floods.

Some officials in Beijing were so wealthy that their hometowns owned thousands of acres of land.

Some officials in Beijing even struggled to provide for their entire families.

Yan Zhongzheng was not exactly incorruptible. He made a lot of money while he was in office. Although he no longer had any source of income and only received a salary, he was still able to support his family.

However, it will cost a lot of money to get him back in his position.

Unlike the normal path to promotion, someone like me would need to at least double my salary to get back to my original position, which would likely drain my savings of many years.

Should I try to fight for it?

While riding his horse, Yan Zhongzheng tried to hunt some prey before Wang Xin and the others arrived. At the same time, he hesitated. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes in the distance. Yan Zhongzheng was quick-witted and instinctively darted away.

He drew his bow and shot an arrow, and surprisingly hit a roe deer.

The deer ran for a while, then bled to death.

When Wang Xin and his group arrived, Yan Zhongzheng had already skinned the animal, washed it clean by the river, and even prepared branches and firewood.

“What good luck.”

Wang Xin laughed.

He didn't care about hunting, and Lin Daiyu and Xue Baoqin weren't suitable for it either.

A horse-drawn carriage.

Now that we've gotten off the carriage, we can rest, have some water, eat some roasted meat, and look at the flowers and plants around us—that should be enough.

Yan Zhongzheng did not expect that Wang Xin had brought female relatives with him.

“These are my two younger sisters. I brought them out to relieve their boredom. Please don’t be offended, Brother Zhongzheng,” Wang Xin said with a smile.

How could Yan Zhongzheng be so tactless? He quickly smiled and said, "General Wang is so good to his family."

Wang Xin and Yan Zhongzheng walked and talked.

The task of dealing with the roe deer was then taken over by the guards.

Shi Ping took a bow out of the bag.

Bows and arrows were not convenient to display; apart from the waist knives at their waists, they had no other weapons, and their bows and arrows were hidden in bags.

Xue Baoqin laughed and said, "Let me play with it."

Lin Daiyu looked at Xue Baoqin.

Shi Ping was stunned for a moment, then obediently handed it over.

Xue Baoqin then asked for a bow and arrows.

Shi Ping then refused, and said with a smile, "Try pulling it open first. If you can pull it open, I'll give it to you."

"You dare underestimate me."

Xue Baoqin did not believe it.

I'm not much shorter than Shi Ping, so why is there such a big difference in our strength?
Xue Baoqin tried again and again.

Shi Ping found it amusing.

Zijuan and the others were dumbfounded; they had no idea that a bow was so difficult to draw.

Qingwen couldn't help but pull Ping'er along, and Ping'er smiled radiantly.

Lin Daiyu interjected, "Don't hurt yourself. We're out having fun, but if you get hurt from overexertion, things won't be as enjoyable."

Hearing the silvery voice, Shi Ping lowered his head, not daring to look at Lin Daiyu.

Xue Baoqin reluctantly returned the bow and arrows to Shi Ping, but instead of being arrogant, she said, "You are really strong, I am not as strong as you."

"It wasn't like that from the beginning. Practice makes perfect. At first, you can't draw the bow, but with daily practice, you gradually get used to it, and it becomes much easier to draw the bow," Shi Ping explained earnestly.

They were talking over there.

Stone worked silently.

He had already pierced the roe deer and hung it on the rack. A campfire was lit below, and a person was there turning it around to prevent the skin from burning. It wasn't hard work, but it required carefulness.

Zijuan and the others were a little reserved.

Wang Xin didn't care.

No one paid attention to anyone else, and everyone went about their own business. Gradually, Zijuan couldn't help but run over to help. Shitou blushed and looked at a loss, which made Zijuan and the others laugh.

Hearing the laughter behind him, Wang Xin smiled.

Yen Chung-cheng was also touched by the pleasant scene. He wondered if he should bring his family to visit the place sometime. He felt much more relaxed and was no longer as nervous as before.

My impression of Wang Xin has improved by another ten percent.

Despite his youth, he was relaxed yet skillful, which explained why he was able to lead such a good army at such a young age. Yan Zhongzheng was increasingly impressed.

"Between the Donghu and the Shuman in Liaodong, who do you think poses a greater threat?"

Wang Xin asked.

Wang Xin dared not claim to know the situation outside the Great Zhou Pass.

I learned this from Zeng Zhi.

As the name suggests, Donghu refers to the Hu people from the east.

The barbarians mainly lived in Nurgandusi.

In fact, the "barbarians" were not a unified tribe, but rather scattered tribes in the Nurgan region. However, they were collectively referred to as "barbarians" by the Zhou government and, based on the terrain, were further divided into "savages," "raw barbarians," and "cooked barbarians."

The barbaric lands are the far north, where primitive people even retain the custom of cannibalism.

The Shengman people lived on the edge of Nurgan and had little trade with the Great Zhou. Since they traded, they naturally recognized the Great Zhou as their overlord. The Shengman people didn't care about such things; they only valued trade and obtaining the resources they needed.

The Shuman people lived in the Nurgan region, which was close to Liaodong.

The Donghu people mainly live in the southwestern part of Nurgan and the northeastern part of Liaoning.

The Donghu were separated from the Great Zhou by mountains, and the land was vast and sparsely populated, making them difficult to eliminate. The various tribes of the Shuman also inherited the military officer positions of the Great Zhou and participated in border trade, with both sides getting what they needed.

"I've heard that 'cooked barbarians' are more dangerous than 'raw barbarians.' What could be the reason?"

Wang Xin inquired.

Zeng Zhi was a prominent local figure, and his perspective on things naturally lacked a certain depth.

Yan Zhongzheng was a military officer who had been transferred from the Beijing Garrison to Liaodong. His feelings were bound to be different from Zeng Zhi's, and Wang Xin wanted to hear more about him.

“In the past, things were better. The barbarians were weak and were often bullied by Korea, so they obeyed the Great Zhou and were generally obedient.”

Yan Zhongzheng sighed, “In recent decades, the population and strength of the Shuman have grown, attracting not only the Zhou people to cultivate the land, but also to build cities. Although the climate is harsh, the region is generally rich in resources.”

Wang Xin already understood.

They're nothing but ungrateful wretches who can't be tamed.

It essentially disrupted the balance.

There is also a balance between the emperor and the military generals. If the military generals become too powerful, they will inevitably want to become emperor. Therefore, the emperor will definitely support the civil officials.

Then the same would be true for the Zhou Dynasty and the barbarians.

However, the former is merely a power struggle, while the latter adds another layer of racial oppression.

The big can accommodate the small.

How can the smaller accommodate the larger? Inevitably, irreconcilable conflicts will arise.

Moreover, barbarian civilizations are backward, and conquering advanced civilizations inevitably brings darkness.

Like Greece being conquered by barbarians, plunging into a thousand-year dark age.

It is like the Mongols conquering the Middle East, bringing a thousand years of darkness to the region.

However, Greece was conquered earlier and not only broke free but also began the Renaissance. The Middle East, on the other hand, was still in the Dark Ages and would eventually be completely left behind.

What is the population of Liaodong?

"Registered population: 400,000."

Upon hearing this number, Wang Xin remained silent.

This 400,000 refers to military households.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty abolished the garrison system, it retained some of its components.

For example, the Liaodong Military Command system.

Liaodong had no prefectures or counties, so there were no local government offices. Without local government offices, there were naturally no households. But how could Liaodong have no households?

More than two hundred years have passed from the Ming Dynasty to the present.

When the Oirat Mongols invaded the capital of the Ming Dynasty, it led to the downfall of the Ming Dynasty and the civil war in the Central Plains, but Liaodong was the least affected.

"How many people are there among the barbarian tribes?"

Wang Xin asked again.

Yan Zhongzheng was a military officer transferred from the Beijing Garrison to Liaodong.

Yan Zhongzheng didn't know why Wang Xin would ask him these questions. It was like asking a blind man for directions. He should have asked the patrol inspector in Liaodong or a local tycoon.

However, Yan Zhongzheng replied seriously: "Many of the various barbarian tribes are not registered. If I were to estimate, the number would be between fifty and one million. Even if it exceeds one million, it wouldn't be much more. The number of 'familiar barbarians' is easier to guess, probably between three hundred thousand and five hundred thousand."

According to Yan Zhongzheng's analysis.

The population of the Shu barbarians ranged from 300,000 to 500,000, while the population of Liaodong was only 400,000. It is not surprising that the Shu barbarians became a threat.

Wang Xin then asked, "Although the population of Liaodong is far less than that of the interior, it must still be around three to five million. Does that mean it is not as large as the 'civilized barbarians'?"

To put it mildly.

The population of Liaodong is over three million.

Let's estimate the higher figures.

The population of Liaodong is over five million.

Yan Zhongzheng fell silent. The population of Liaodong had never been counted. Everyone knew that the actual population of Liaodong was large, but no one knew exactly how many people there were. However, the population of Liaodong was definitely more than 400,000.

"The taxes are high for farmers in Liaodong, but low for farmers in Nurgan. As a result, many people go to the Shuman area, which in turn trades with the interior. Moreover, compared to the Shuman Taiji, who treats people as their own property, the Shuman are much better off than the officials who are lazy."

After listening to Yan Zhongzheng's views, Wang Xin became certain of one thing.

Yan Zhongzheng was a capable general.

Attitude is more important than ability.

If Yan Zhongzheng were merely a general accustomed to the intricacies of officialdom and personal relationships, he would not have possessed such a deep understanding of the local conditions in Liaodong.

This person could answer all my questions, and their answers matched my assumptions, which shows that they had put in the effort to find out and gather information, and that they were quite capable.

As for the common people, they would rather work for Nurgan Taiji than stay in their hometown in Liaodong.

It wasn't because the barbarians were more advanced.

As a newly emerging force, the internal conflicts among the barbarians were far less intense than those among the Great Zhou.

For example, the Later Jin dynasty in history.

How long has it been popular?
In less than twenty years, the government resorted to the most drastic physical purges—first killing the poor, then the rich—to eliminate internal conflicts, demonstrating its backward governance.

The current Zhou dynasty is riddled with deep-seated problems.

This illustrates many points, and it's unclear whether it will be removed from the list.

What if it's not possible?
I have to consider something.

Will the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty be the same as that of the Great Ming Dynasty?
(End of this chapter)