The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 433 Xue Baochai's Flattery
Taiyuan City seemed to have never been so quiet.

Another sleepless night.

Tao Yi, wearing a robe, came into the courtyard.

"master!"

The concubine, in a coquettish tone, stood under the eaves, concerned, "Be careful not to catch a cold."

His wife and children all lived in his hometown.

Only a few concubines remained by his side. Tao Yi waved his hand and said, "Go back."

The concubine left obediently.

"Ugh!"

Tao Yi sighed, and the sound carried far into the middle of the night.

The governor's office was deserted.

Several more groups of people were taken away during the day. Based on everyone's experience, eight or nine out of ten people who are taken away are guilty of serious crimes. Even if there are discrepancies, the difference will not be too much.

in short.

It's highly likely they won't be coming back.

The entire government office was filled with unease, but some people were gloating, as if they were finally getting their revenge.

It's unbelievable that Wang Xin would retain all of these petty, smug individuals.

What should I do.

Tao Yi felt a sense of panic. Upon closer examination, he realized that he himself was in danger, but he was the governor of a province. Wang Xin shouldn't be like this!
We're all colleagues; there's no need to kill each other off.

"Master," the butler rushed in, "someone outside has come to see you."

Tao Yi asked in a panic, "Who could it be in the middle of the night?"

"It seems to be people from Fenzhou, probably asking what exactly happened in Taiyuan."

"not see."

Tao Yi refused.

The Datong army has now entered the city and is under control everywhere.

If this person comes to see me in the middle of the night and the Datong army finds out, arousing their suspicion, wouldn't I be in danger? My weaknesses are not insignificant, and I can't withstand the kind of investigation the Datong inspection team has.

The butler understood.

In fact, it wasn't just Fenzhou; people from all over the country were coming to see the governor, inquiring everywhere.

The entire Shanxi province was leaderless, like a headless fly.

Day two.

Wang Xin's personal guards came to invite him.

Upon learning that it was Wang Xin who wanted to see him, Tao Yi breathed a sigh of relief. His biggest fear was that the inspection team would suddenly appear in front of him, which would have completely dashed his hopes.

They left the governor's office.

A carriage was already waiting at the gate. Tao Yi calmly got into the carriage and left the governor's office.

Everyone in the governor's office saw it.

Everyone was speculating.

The exact population of Taiyuan Prefecture is still unknown. What is certain is that the combined population of the entire Datong area, including Daizhou which originally belonged to Taiyuan, is less than that of Taiyuan.

Taiyuan is a city with a population of nearly one million.

Houses stretching as far as the eye can see, a city that seems to go on forever.

Wang Xin not only personally took charge of Taiyuan, but also moved the main officials of the military governor's office there.

The entire military governor's office was mobilized to address how to govern Taiyuan and solve various problems. Everyone was extremely busy, including Yan Zhongzheng. The tasks included settling the Taiyuan army, improving its combat effectiveness, and even solving the livelihood issues of the discharged soldiers.

In contrast to the desolate, even gloomy, state of the governor's office, the temporary Datong military governor's office, which was using the Taiyuan governor's office as its premises, was bustling with activity.

People were coming and going in a constant stream, and most of them walked very fast.

Tao Yi alighted from the carriage.

The coachman parked the carriage in a designated open space, then untied the reins from the horses' necks and led them to the stables where they would eat hay. If the animals didn't need to be fed, they would be tied to the hitching post.

There were many horses parked there, and water troughs were provided.

The water tank was full, and there was a well not far away.

Tao Yi had already followed the clerk inside.

"Lord Futai."

A person came up to greet them. Tao Yi recognized the person as none other than Gu Chen, the ambassador of the Taiyuan Prefecture Agricultural Reclamation Circuit.

He got better, though.

Tao Yi nodded politely. The other party was a big shot now, and he dared not offend him.

Perhaps he had received advance warning, which explains why this person has been behaving himself these past two years, not going along with the corrupt practices, and has thus become relatively unknown. It turns out that this person, who had been marginalized in the Taiyuan officialdom, has suddenly become an important figure.

"Please come this way, the General is waiting for the Governor." Gu Chen remained respectful.

Tao Yi suppressed his panic.

Wang Xin was reading official documents. The house was very simple. Apart from the other party's official documents and booklets, there were not many other items. Tao Yi had to admit that what he saw was impressive.

Just look at this person's persistence and the scenery he has seen along the way.

If the governor's office were this efficient, there would be nothing it couldn't accomplish. As the governor of a province, Tao Yi was well aware of the vast difference between the two.

"Military Governor".

Tao Yi took the initiative to greet them.

"Please sit down." Wang Xin didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point. "The military governor's office has discussed how to deal with the governor several times. The strongest voice is that we should handle this matter officially and punish him severely according to the law."

Tao Yi was sweating profusely.

Even though he knew that Wang Xin must have a reason for seeing him, he still felt dizzy and his whole body even trembled slightly.

Who isn't afraid of death?

In particular, Tao Yi would rather commit suicide than face a public trial.

"do not worry."

I really have no intention of manipulating this person; getting things done quickly is the most important thing. "Considering that the governor doesn't have any direct cases involving murder, I've decided to grant him a pardon, on the condition that he intervenes to help the military governor's office."

"What do I need to do?" Tao Yi did not give a direct answer.

Fearing that Wang Xin would be angry, he took the initiative to explain: "I still have family members in the mainland, and my children are officials in the court. If it is necessary to harm the interests of my family, I would rather commit suicide."

In the end, Tao Yi's tone became resolute.

"The population of Taiyuan Prefecture should not be less than three million," Wang Xin guessed, even though the Great Zhou Yellow Register only had less than one million.

How can this be.

Leaving aside the thirteen counties and six prefectures of Taiyuan Prefecture, the population of Taiyuan City alone, even just the visible scale, is certainly at least five or six hundred thousand, if not a million. So what about when you add the thirteen counties and six prefectures?

"should have."

Tao Yi had served as an official his entire life, holding a high position. He had some understanding of Taiyuan and the entire Shanxi province. He thought Wang Xin was right and looked puzzled. Did this have anything to do with Wang Xin summoning him?
Surely they don't want to chat idly with me and discuss the ways of being an official?

If that were the case, he could have a good talk with them, but that probably wasn't the case. Thinking of the strength of the Datong Army, Tao Yi couldn't help but feel discouraged.

"With a population of three million, taxes cannot be collected, and there is even a deficit. The taxes owed to the imperial court and wages owed to various parties should not be in the works." Those who know the tricks of the trade understand.

Previously, it affected the interests of the imperial court.

The imperial court wasn't his own; it belonged to the emperor, so Wang Xin didn't care.

It's different now.

Although it wasn't his own, he belonged to the Datong Military Governor's Office, so touching the interests of the Datong Military Governor's Office was equivalent to touching his own.

Tao Yi suddenly realized.

Now I know what Wang Xin is up to.

That's fine. Better to die than to die myself. Tao Yi felt no psychological pressure. "I can probably understand the governor's thoughts, but although I am the governor of a province, my power is limited. I can't make the governor's word. I'm afraid the local areas won't listen to me, and I'm worried that it will jeopardize the governor's important affairs."

"It's alright," Wang Xin said with a smile. "As long as you can handle it, that's fine."

The inspection team took action; that was done by the military governor's office.

If Tao Yi intervened, then it was the Shanxi Provincial Governor's Office that did it; collecting taxes is a duty that the Provincial Governor's Office is obligated to perform.

In the past, the imperial court would have been overjoyed.

However, things are hard to say now. But since we haven't completely broken off relations, everything is negotiable, even if we fight and talk.

Bai, a renowned singer of ancient Song Dynasty style from Shandong, came to the capital from the opera house where he performed.

Once she started performing at Meixiang Garden, she quickly became a sensation throughout Beijing.

Whenever the opera is performed at Baijia Theater, tickets for Meixiangyuan Theater are extremely difficult to obtain.

People listened with rapt attention.

Some people just find it pleasant to listen to, some feel as if they've met a kindred spirit, some are filled with heroic spirit, and some feel a sorrowful autumn song.

"To put it bluntly, everyone's strengths lie in three aspects."

"Oh?"

After the event ended, people lingered, and many stayed behind to chat.

There are tables in the first few rows.

There were fruits and tea on the table, so people could listen to the singing while drinking tea. They were also closer, so they could see more clearly and hear more pleasantly. Of course, the price was also astonishing; ordinary people might not be able to afford it even with a month's expenses.

As for the local people, they were mostly just there to show their support.

With a large audience, money will follow.

Several wealthy young men chatted loudly and arrogantly, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

Their table was in the best spot, and the price of just renting the table was so high that ordinary people dared not look directly at it. They were surrounded by envious glances, which made the young men even more proud.

"The first one is a gift from God; you can't train your voice to be that good."

"That's right. We'll see what happens next. If you're wrong, then you can be the host for today."

"It's easy to talk about."

The young man laughed again, "The second one is extremely beautiful. A pleasant voice doesn't necessarily mean beauty, and a beautiful woman's voice doesn't necessarily mean a pleasant voice. With such a moving and pleasant voice, and such a captivating appearance, how could she not be popular?"

"No problem," his companion readily agreed.

"Thirdly," the disciple drawled, but under the expectant gazes of his companions, he suddenly seemed somewhat bored and said sadly, "it's about Master Bai's personality. Although everyone knows that Master Bai is pretentious, who can't feel her sincerity? The more so, the rarer Master Bai is. She's someone you can only dream of. To hear Master Bai's singing, to see her face, and to exchange a few words with her, what more could one ask for?"

All the disciples fell silent.

There is only one Bai Daren, but many suitors. The more this is the case, the less people dare to mess around.

They may be rich, but they know they can't act recklessly in the capital.

A woman is removing her makeup.

A beautiful woman's face was reflected in the mirror.

"Squeak."

The gate was pushed open, and the theater owner led in two middle-aged men, who were very respectful.

The woman frowned, showing her displeasure.

"I do not receive guests."

The woman guessed that the person who came must be someone from the officialdom, and the theater owner couldn't afford to offend him, so he personally accompanied her. Even so, the woman still didn't stand on ceremony.

"As expected of Master Bai, you are indeed straightforward. Seeing is believing, and today I can confirm your reputation is well-deserved."

Before the theater owner could speak, one of them smiled amicably.

One shouldn't hit a smiling face, so the woman said politely, "Please forgive me, but my rule is that I don't receive outsiders. I'm sorry to have disappointed you all, or those behind you."

The man smiled and said, "Our young lady would like to invite Master Bai to have a seat."

It was a young lady!
The woman was stunned. Before she could react, the other party offered a number she couldn't refuse.

One thousand taels of silver.

One thousand taels of silver to teach someone to sing their own ancient-style Song Dynasty opera, and that's for a young lady from the Xue family.

If this happened in Jiangnan, it would be shocking, but not impossible. Recently, there have been cases in Jiangnan where women have impersonated men to attend school. Although there has been a lot of criticism, there has also been support.

This is the capital city, where the rules are the strictest.

However, since the Xue family came from Jiangnan, everyone could understand.

Although he was not as well-off as others, Bai Dajia remained calm and composed. He was only inferior in birth, and what he was most proud of in terms of his voice and appearance was his own voice.

I've seen countless young ladies, but they're just pretty faces with no substance.

There aren't many people who are good-looking, and I've never seen anyone who is both good-looking and intelligent.

Bai looked very confident.

They followed several maids to a courtyard.

The courtyard was large, but there weren't many people. I could only see the servants outside and the women and maids inside; I couldn't see any other masters or mistresses.

"This is the courtyard that our young lady bought. She comes back to stay for a few days when she wants."

The maid explained.

Although Bai Dajia thought she was easygoing, she was still a little jealous when she heard this.

"Miss."

"Master Bai has arrived."

The maid lifted the curtain, and a fragrant aroma filled the room.

Bai Dajia walked in and saw a woman in the inner room looking down at a booklet, her brows furrowed as if something was troubling her. Upon hearing this, she looked up, and the room suddenly became ablaze with color.

Although Xue Baochai looked somewhat tired, it made her lightly applied makeup appear even more gentle and radiant.

She wore a kingfisher feather and pearl-inlaid phoenix hairpin tucked diagonally into her temple, white jade lilac pendants hanging from her earlobes, a red gold dragon-patterned necklace around her neck, a honey-colored jacket embroidered with gold butterflies and flowers, a pale yellow silk cotton skirt, a five-colored palace sash around her waist, a pair of jade bracelets on her wrists, and small red fragrant sheepskin boots with gold-carved cloud patterns on her feet.

Bai Dajia prided himself on having seen the world and was always arrogant.

Seeing such a person suddenly was far more shocking than for ordinary people; for a moment, they were stunned and even forgot to speak.

"Please come and sit down."

Xue Baochai put down the booklet in her hand, stood up and said with a smile, "The whole capital is talking about Master Bai, who is very admirable. Today I finally got to meet her, which can be considered as fulfilling my wish. Please forgive me, Master Bai."

"Don't dare."

Bai Dajia seemed to have lost his usual ease and became somewhat timid and hesitant.

Hearing the clear, crisp sound of the pearl falling into a silver plate, a sound that could be intoxicating, Bai Dajia suddenly felt jealous. How could there be such a beauty in the world? It was just too unfair.

"Forgive my arrogance, I do not seek to learn everything, I will be satisfied with just a superficial understanding."

Xue Baochai took the initiative to apologize.

Bai asked curiously, "With your status, why would you need to learn my little skills, Miss?"

"Ugh!"

Xue Baochai sighed softly, "Every family has its own problems. Bai Dajia is trying to please people, and so am I."

"Who in the world is worth a young lady currying favor with?" Bai Dajia was curious about this person.

"You think highly of me."

Xue Baochai said earnestly.

Bai Dajia was both amused and exasperated. "Miss underestimates herself."

“But this is the capital city.” Xue Baochai knew, of course, where Bai Dajia’s confidence came from. She came from Jiangnan and thought she could support herself with her own abilities.

But the Great Zhou Dynasty was too large.

Anyone who comes to the capital will be molded and forced to bow their head.

Bai Dajia was a smart man. His expression turned serious. Was his decision to come to the capital a mistake?
(End of this chapter)