The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 8 Sowing a Seed

There is a long corridor in the courtyard of the Lin Mansion, with carved beams and painted rafters, and the mountain and water scenery come alive.

The corridor is lined with green trees and filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Wang Xin sat in the pavilion in the corner of the courtyard, and what came into his sight was the rippling pond.

The lotus flowers in the pond stand tall and graceful, some are in bud, some are already in full bloom, their petals spread out to reveal tender yellow lotus pods. When the breeze blows, the lotus flowers sway gently, emitting a faint fragrance.

Faced with such a beautiful scene, Wang Xin felt that he was not elegant, but he was still relaxed and happy.

Wang Xin couldn't help but wonder if the Jia family would be affected if they built the Grand View Garden without Lin Ruhai's legacy.

With my current position as the Assistant General, I won't offend anyone if I don't get involved in conflicts of interest and don't do practical work. I can be a good person, have everyone carry my sedan chair, live my own life behind closed doors, buy a house, marry two wives, and enjoy a life of happiness. That wouldn't be bad.

Sudden.

There came a sound of piano from afar, like a clear spring in the mountains, flowing down, clear and pure, like the singing of birds in the forest, jumping happily. I don’t understand piano, but I didn’t expect the sound to be so beautiful.

Looking at Wang Xin in a daze, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but look proud.

The piano music is over.

Wang Xin was reluctant to leave, probably because it was the girl Lin Daiyu who was playing the piano. He remembered that the girl could play the piano. Thinking of the girl's original fate, Wang Xin sighed even more.

"It seems you still want to suppress the Japanese?"

Seeing Wang Xin's expression, Lin Ruhai asked in surprise.

Although Wang Xin is young, he knows his limits very well.

The Japanese pirates had close ties with local wealthy families and the forces behind them were complex. After Wang Xin's own advice, he did not lose his mind because of anger. Instead, he kept to the red line and did not cross it even a little bit.

Those who go along with many things are not noble people.

Young people are ambitious and want to do something. Lin Ruhai understands this in his heart. Every young person has gone through this. He also values ​​Wang Xin's ability to accept reality. Now the outcome of things is obvious. Based on the character Wang Xin has shown in the past, this should not be the case.

Wang Xin certainly guessed the reason for what happened in Jiangdu and Lin Ruhai’s current attitude.

Just very puzzled.

Wang Xin wanted to get to the bottom of this puzzling matter.

Ordinary people couldn't ask such a question. Lin Ruhai was of high status and was considered his elder, so Wang Xin asked, "Mr. Lin, I have something to ask you."

"What's the matter?"

Lin Ruhai looked at Wang Xin.

"The people call officials their parents, and officials also consider themselves the people's parents. As the sages said, Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, the Parents, and the Teacher are all important. However, over the years, the Japanese pirates have been persecuting the people of Great Zhou in the southeast. Their methods are brutal and inhumane."

"The younger generation is definitely not the only one in the Great Zhou Dynasty who can defeat the Japanese pirates. They have been there before, they are there now, and they will be there in the future. I don't understand why the imperial court can't do such a simple thing, even the common people know it, when it is clearly possible to defeat the Japanese pirates and restore peace to the people."

Wang Xin asked very seriously.

What kind of court was the Great Zhou?

"You shouldn't have such a question." Lin Ruhai said with a frown.

"Why?"

"You're not qualified."

Although it was clearly a word of contempt, Lin Ruhai did not show any contempt at all, as if he was an elder teaching a younger generation.

Wang Xin understood.

I am just a pawn.

A very small chess piece, not worthy of having its own thoughts.

Thinking pawns are dangerous.

Both for the chessboard and for the chess pieces themselves.

Lin Ruhai didn't want Wang Xin to dwell on this. As an ordinary person, he should just live his life well. "You are now an assistant commander. Stay in Yangzhou and don't lead troops in battle anymore. Go to the capital next."

Lin Ruhai didn't allow himself to fight because it was for his own good, not to seize his power.

Wang Xin could understand, but why did he have to go to the capital all of a sudden?
Show a curious look.

"Ugh."

Lin Ruhai sighed, pointed at Wang Xin helplessly, and cursed: "It's all because of the Nantong incident." After receiving the information about the Japanese invasion of Nantong, he made a prompt decision and marched for two days.

It took one day to fight, one day to search for the remaining Japanese pirates in the city, two days to camp outside the city, and six days to return. In total, it was only ten days. But within ten days, a backlash occurred. It seems that the consequences are more serious than expected.

Fortunately, I am not an ordinary person.

"No wonder everyone is so scared when talking about the Japanese. With this kind of situation, who would dare to talk about resisting the Japanese?" Wang Xin sighed.

Lin Ruhai laughed and scolded. "Now you know."

"Thank goodness for Lord Lin, otherwise I wouldn't have made it this time."

"From now on, put away your messy thoughts and do your own job well. There are many things that even I can't do anything about. I can only go with the flow. Who are you to dare to talk nonsense about state affairs?"

Lin Ruhai patted the boy in front of him, then said with concern: "You go to the Beijing camp to take turns, and endure the class army for three to five years. When you have enough experience, you can return to Yangzhou as a guerrilla at least. With your talent, if you don't cause any trouble, you can become a lieutenant general in ten years. As for the lieutenant general after that, it depends on your luck."

The common people suffer.

Officials and gentry don't have a hard time.

What's more, because power and responsibility are not linked, officials and gentry are much more comfortable.

Once you become an official, your sedan chair will be carried by everyone, and no one will offend private individuals because of official business. Therefore, as long as you don't do anything out of line, you can ensure wealth not only for your own generation, but for at least three generations.

If I only get to be a lieutenant general, then my son can at least get a deputy general, and my grandson can still get a captain.

It's official relationships.

Lin Ruhai is really nice to me.

With my current status, living my own life behind closed doors was my original goal, wasn't it?

The ending is beautiful.

For myself.

But Wang Xin was not satisfied.

"I have two captains and 1,500 men under my command. What shall we do with them?"

The real identity of these 1,500 people is Zaoyong, and they belong to the militia.

Only I, and some talented people like He Kuan and Tang Ping were appointed as military governors, and could barely be considered military personnel.

"Do you have any idea?"

Lin Ruhai asked back.

"The 1,500 soldiers are all veterans of war and should not be discarded lightly."

That's fine.

Lin Ruhai nodded.

Many people have already set their sights on these 1,500 veterans.

Of course, Lin Ruhai was unwilling to give it to others for free.

Although these people were recruited by Wang Xin from Yiwu, Zhejiang, they were also trained by their Yangzhou Salt Road. Why should they be given benefits to outsiders?

"Since the imperial court won't allow us to fight against the Japanese pirates, but we still have to protect the local area, these 1,500 veterans can be dispersed to the salt fields to serve as the chief officers. This will provide them with some protection while also allowing them to play their role and lead the salt workers to protect the salt fields."

Wang Xin believed that Lin Ruhai would not refuse.

With so many people going to the salt field and becoming small leaders of the salt field, isn't this also equivalent to strengthening Lin Ruhai's voice in the local area?

"The saltworks may not be able to accommodate so many people, so I also plan to get some fields in Yangzhou and give them to them to farm. These are aimed at ordinary soldiers, such as generals like He Kuan and Tang Ping, so that they can lead the army independently."

Lin Ruhai looked at him with admiration and couldn't help asking, "Have you planned everything on your way back?"

Wang Xin smiled sheepishly and said, "Mr. Lin warned me before, but I didn't listen this time, so I prepared for the worst."

Most people face a dead end.

But I am not.

Sow the seeds of hope this year and reap abundant fruits next year.

(End of this chapter)