The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 303 Confirms Tan Chun
"In March of the fifteenth year of the Shunzheng reign, in the Battle of Tongxian County, Yangzhou Prefecture, Jinling Province, the Yangzhou camp of 1,500 men faced 2,000 Japanese pirates and beheaded more than 300 heads."

"He entered the capital in July of the fifteenth year of the Shunzheng reign, and in the spring of the following year, he led the Hexi Xiaoying south to Zhejiang."

"I went to Datong in the seventeenth year of the Shunzheng reign."

"Entered the Hetao region in the eighteenth year of the Shunzheng era."

Nineteen years have passed since the Shunzheng era began.

If my plan goes smoothly and I can launch an expedition this autumn, the army will be able to return next year. If nothing unexpected happens, the situation will be quelled the year after next, and in another year or two, the Hu people will no longer be a threat.

Seven years have passed since the thirteenth year of the Shunzheng era.

He rose from a commoner to a military commander leading a single route, making great contributions in the fight against Japanese pirates. He also gradually eliminated the barbarian threat outside Xuanda. In ten years, he fought against Japanese pirates in the south and destroyed barbarians in the north.

These two great achievements alone are enough to secure a place in history for him.

I wonder how future generations will judge me.

Wang Xin had mixed feelings.

I feel like I'm a descendant, yet I also feel like I'm not.

In the fourteenth year of the Shunzheng era, which should be the eleventh year of the Dream of the Red Chamber era, Lin Ruhai should have died, but he survived because of his own actions. Lin Daiyu's life was much better than in the original timeline.

This should also be considered my own achievement, but others don't see it that way.

I should treat Lin Daiyu better.

Otherwise, Lin Ruhai would definitely think he was disloyal.

Wang Xin scratched the back of his head. He had moved out of the Grand View Garden without Lin Ruhai knowing. Before leaving, he decided to treat Daiyu to a meal to prevent her father from gossiping about him behind his back.

Although Wang Xifeng was never driven mad, she still had a hard time these past two years.

Grandma Liu didn't run into her.

She wasn't even home when she arrived at the Jia family mansion.

Qingwen was supposed to pass away last year, but she is living a good life because of her own reasons, just like Xue Yan, who is running around all over the country with great energy.

What about the retired emperor?

Lin Ruhai was able to do this because he directly helped the famous doctor from the capital in the book, who was invited to Yangzhou in advance.

Qingwen came to his side.

These people are directly related to him, including Xue Yan, who was originally running around there, but later stayed in Datong for no less than a year. He also worked hard in the south for his own affairs, which changed his original life trajectory.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the fates of these people have changed.

It would be strange if the Emperor Emeritus's fate changed, because I have no direct connection with him, unless it is due to factors I am unaware of, such as being influenced by the "butterfly wings".

However, this possibility is unlikely.

Therefore, we can deduce from this.

Next year, in December of the twentieth year of the Shunzheng era, which is more than a dozen months away, Jia Yuanchun will pass away. Whether she will die of illness as the eunuchs say, or for some other reason, remains unknown.

Two years later, the Jia family's property was confiscated.

Before the Jia family was raided, the Prince of Nan'an was defeated in battle, and the Princess of Nan'an chose Tan Chun from the Jia family. Tan Chun was sent to marry a foreign prince and later became a foreign princess.

The marriage alliance should have been effective.

Because Tan Chun returned to the capital to visit her family, she enjoyed great prestige in the capital and quickly became the new backbone of the Jia family after returning to the Jia family.

This is consistent with the historical strength and status of the Toungoo Dynasty.

Just like Annam, although it broke away from the Ming Dynasty and became independent again, it still paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty and belonged to the Ming Dynasty's tributary system.

That's how I remember it.

These are also our advantages, enabling us to assess the external situation.

Overall.

The border troubles in the south did indeed weaken the Great Zhou Dynasty, but there was no risk of the country being destroyed. It certainly lost a lot of benefits, but peace was restored. Otherwise, Tan Chun would not have been able to visit her family so smoothly and in such a grand manner.

The situation in Liaodong is probably quite serious. For example, the Jia family's estates in Daheishan and Xiaoheishan in Liaodong are losing money, with annual profits decreasing. However, it is still within a manageable range for at least the next three years.

Within three years.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty had many accumulated problems and faced numerous external threats, it did not face a fatal crisis.

However, this does not mean we can be careless.

According to the social descriptions in the book, the end times can be seen in many places, but whether the Great Zhou Dynasty was able to alleviate these conflicts later on is unknown to Wang Xin.

In any case, the retired emperor was definitely defeated completely, otherwise the emperor would not have treated the founding heroes in that way.

Since the retired emperor lost in the book, and he now had to support Zhang Jifu in exchange for Zhang Jifu's support, Wang Xin had to leave himself a way out.

What's the backup plan?

Think about it.

Wang Xin thought of Jia Zheng.

Actually, Lin Ruhai was better, but the more he understood Dream of the Red Chamber, the more he realized that Lin Daiyu's noble background was something a warrior like himself could not be associated with, even if he became a garrison commander.

It's not a difference in rights, but a difference in paths.

Lin Ruhai is a pillar of integrity.

If I were to pursue literature, without mentioning Lin Ruhai's thoughts, I would at least have a sliver of a chance.

Moreover, this idea also came from Jia Zheng.

Although Jia Zheng lacked talent, he was self-aware and willing to submit to others. Knowing Lin Ruhai's talent and his own shortcomings, he had been willing to obey Lin Ruhai for many years and take Lin Ruhai as his leader.

This kind of personality is very valuable.

His elder brother Jia She didn't have it, and neither did Wang Ziteng.

Jia Zheng was able to proactively reveal his intention to recruit Tan Chun as his son-in-law, even though Tan Chun was still young, he was willing to use the pretext of engagement to win her over first.

Lin Ruhai, however, could not do it.

Since Lin Daiyu is still young, he has no need to rush and would not do so.

And what about myself?

Wang Xin did not return to the Jia family mansion.

The belongings at Tubi Manor have been packed up. The only thing left is to find an opportunity to speak with Jia Zheng and set a date for their official departure.

After bidding farewell to Zhang Jifu, Wang Xin returned to the Hexi Camp.

While busy settling artisans from the Bureau of Armory, Wang Xin met with Lu Zhongheng and others to discuss matters. When he had some free time at night, he began to think about his future.

I haven't taken marriage seriously over the years.

When I first arrived, I was single-mindedly focused on climbing the ranks and fighting against the Japanese pirates.

I didn't expect to have come into contact with quite a few people over the years.

Lin Daiyu, Xue Baoqin, Xue Baochai, Tan Chun, Ping'er, Wang Xifeng, and Qingwen—these are girls or women from Yangzhou, Jinling, the capital, all over the country, from north to south and from all corners of the land, all of whom are blessed with outstanding talents and elegant demeanor.

However, Wang Xin didn't think much of it and always regarded himself as their older brother or a proper uncle.

But when the moment came...

Jia Zheng's actions gave him a new option for ensuring his future.

Leaving aside emotions, from a rational perspective...

Lin Ruhai's daughter, Lin Daiyu, is the best, because Lin Ruhai is undoubtedly the leader in the current literati circle, and he is the pillar that the emperor truly cares about.

After the emperor wins, he will have a father-in-law like Lin Ruhai, which will make it easier for him to pass the test compared to others. He has not done anything to offend the emperor, so there is no reason for him to be targeted.

Even because of Lin Ruhai, he was still highly regarded by the emperor.

Unfortunately, that's not very realistic.

Too many factors were at play, such as Lin Daiyu being too young, and Lin Ruhai being a pillar of integrity who wouldn't do something that would damage his reputation, especially since he himself was a military man.

Moreover, even if he were to pursue a literary career, Lin Ruhai would only consider marriage when Lin Daiyu was older, which would be in line with his status.

For those who uphold integrity, reputation is of utmost importance.

Settle for the next best thing.

Jia Zheng is a good choice.

Jia Zheng also belonged to the civil service system and was in the same circle as Lin Ruhai. His status was not low, but he had his own unique advantages. That's why this circle chose Jia Zheng after Lin Ruhai's death and pushed him to the forefront.

However, Jia Zheng was not a paragon of virtue.

He was an official appointed through the privilege of the Ministry of Works, not a proper censor or scholar-official. Therefore, when Jia Zheng betrothed his daughter to him, he felt no guilt whatsoever; on the contrary, it was a real benefit to him, as he needed pragmatic subordinates like himself to support him.

Otherwise, Jia Zheng wouldn't have been so interested.

It was all for profit, but some emotions were mixed in with those interests. Jia Zheng did indeed value his character, which is undeniable.

"Shhhhh."

In the middle of the night, at the camp.

Wang Xin practiced his sword under the night sky.

Shi Ping and Xiao Shitou shook their heads. They were professionals, just as the general had said. They had learned the essence of the thousand-year-old ancestral temple from a young age and had an elder like Chen Zhixing teaching them authentic Tai Chi.

Wang Xin's "fancy moves" might fool others, and he did have some skill, but they didn't really catch their eye.

"You guys should tone it down."

Wang Xin remained silent and put his sword away.

Shi Ping laughed and said, "It's still early, General, why aren't you practicing?"

"You two practically have your thoughts plastered on my forehead, how am I supposed to train? Look how smug you are!" Wang Xin scolded.

Those little brats have grown wings.

Each one is more mischievous than the last.

After being scolded by the general, none of the young men cared. Instead, they grinned from ear to ear, their faces even more smug.

Wang Xin shook his head helplessly and went to the bucket of water that Shi Ping and the others had brought. There were neatly arranged towels on the rim of the bucket. After picking up a towel, Wang Xin washed his face.

A boy in his late teens is growing taller.

Over the years, these young men have had no shortage of meat and have been trained in ancient temples and martial arts families. At first glance, they don't seem burly, but upon closer inspection, one can see that they are tall and strong.

His body is full of muscular muscles, but not the kind that are too grotesque. It looks very natural and has a kind of streamlined natural beauty.

However, those few are still the best prospects.

Tiger back, bee waist, mantis legs.

From behind, his shoulders were particularly broad, his waist was cinched with a belt, making it appear particularly small, and the veins on his legs were bulging and as hard as iron pillars.

Although firearms are developing, they are still some distance away from becoming the only mainstream weapon. Individual martial prowess can still play a key role, but Wang Xin did not intend to use them as elite soldiers for charging into battle.

We have invested so much to train qualified officers, not just ordinary soldiers.

After a couple of years, they'll be sent to lower-level military units for training. After three to five years, they'll become mid- to lower-ranking officers, and after another seven or eight years, they'll be roughly the backbone of the military.

Whether one can become a general who can stand alone depends not only on personal efforts, but also on talent.

Talent is a thing.

If there is, there is, if there is not, there is not.

The reason I'm in such a hurry is that I need to make the most of my time.

Even Ou Yanhu has the opportunity to lay a solid foundation during these years, so that even in the end times, he will have a chance to stand up and withstand the pressure.

But can it withstand it?

Wang Xin did not have absolute confidence.

Nothing is absolute; underestimating others will only lead to a huge price to pay in the end.

Like Ou Yanhu.

My strategy toward Ou Yanhu seems stable, but who knows what the reality is?

Ou Yanhu is not stupid. He will not follow his own plan. He will find a way to break the deadlock, find his own advantages, or find the weaknesses of the Datong Army. On the other hand, the Datong Army does have many loopholes.

The Datong Western Army took a great risk in sending out this expedition, as Zhang Jifu had told them.

Wang Xin was not lying.

It was because he hadn't lied that Zhang Jifu chose to believe him and support him; otherwise, if he had lied and tried to fool Zhang Jifu, he would have been fooled first.

With over ten thousand troops on the expedition, how many will return? How much strength will be left? Will they be able to recover in the future?
Wang Xin had no confidence at all.

Having won the battle, the Western Army of Datong had firmly established itself and gained access to the Qiantao region outside the Great Wall, which provided them with an opportunity to recuperate and rebuild, thus becoming an advantage for the Western Army of Datong.

We lost.

Of course, there will be a price to pay.

In order to increase his chances of winning, he needed to win over all supporters, which led him to support Zhang Jifu in exchange for Zhang Jifu's support.

This road is inherently very dangerous.

Unexpectedly, Jia Zheng's choice gave him an extra layer of security for the future.

Think no more.

Wang Xin went back to the barracks to sleep.

Shi Ping and the others tidied up, leaving behind their guards on duty, and then went back to sleep. The young people had no worries and slept very soundly.

I feel dawn.

Jia Mansion.

In mansions like this, the main buildings are all located in the center.

Jia She's residence is in the southeast.

The main house belonged to Jia Zheng, also known as Rongxi Hall. One side was the residence of Grandmother Jia, and the other side was the residence of Jia Zheng's concubines.

In contrast, Jia She's courtyard was located on one side outside the ceremonial gate, while the other side was the courtyard of several wet nurses.

That's not enough.

Jia Zheng had an inner study, and there was also an outer study outside. How could Jia She, as the eldest brother, not feel aggrieved? Coupled with his temperament, Jia She stormed over to Madam Xing's place early in the morning.

"what happened?"

After Jia She entered the room, the maids inside dared not raise their voices. Only at Madam Xing's signal did they leave in fear.

After the maids left, Jia She couldn't help but question them.

After finally managing to suppress his daughter-in-law, the affairs of the household were still handed over to the second wife.

They actually let the second wife's illegitimate daughter manage the household.

Jia She was already furious, but there was nothing he could do. In the end, he blamed Madam Xing.

“I even managed to win over Prince Teng, and you still can’t handle your daughter-in-law? What kind of mother-in-law are you? I must have been blind to marry you!” Jia She pointed at Madam Xing’s nose and cursed.

Madam Xing was both ashamed and frightened, and she choked up.

"What can I do when the old lady says what she says, and the second wife's housekeeper, Tan Chun, does? Can I disobey the old lady?"

Jia She certainly understood what the old lady meant.

Jia She also harbored resentment towards his mother.

Even though I'm the eldest, she doesn't like me at all. She gets annoyed just by me saying a few words in front of her. But the second eldest, even my farts smell good in her eyes.

"The old lady has lost her mind, and you've lost your mind too?"

Jia She dared not criticize his mother too much, not only because she was the matriarch and held an imperial title, but also because of the disobedience of a son scolding his mother. With layers of rules pressing down on him, he could only take his anger out on his wife.

Wang Ziteng obeyed.

Jia Zhen was his nephew, and he had also heard of his own.

The four families are disrespectful to each other when they are scattered; only by uniting can they have influence. What can Jia Zheng do? He can only rely on Lin Ruhai.

Since being transferred from his position as Salt Commissioner, Lin Ruhai lost such an important post and did not return to the capital, falling into a marginalized situation. Looking at the overall situation, he felt that no one else could take the job.

The old lady also has a younger brother.

One's own family is the biggest obstacle.

Jia She grew increasingly resentful as he thought about it.

The only way now is to first regain control of the household so that I can truly establish myself within the circle of the four great families. Otherwise, how will outsiders know who is in charge of the Jia family and who they should listen to?

Previously, the biggest obstacle was Wang Ziteng.

When Wang Ziteng was in a dominant position, not only himself, but even the old lady had to give way to the women of the Wang family.

Unexpectedly, Wang Ziteng finally humbled himself and became subservient. Without his resistance, however, other obstacles inexplicably appeared. Were they all going to oppose him?

Jia She narrowed his eyes.

(End of this chapter)