Dream of the Red Chamber: I can upgrade my entries!

Chapter 103 New Nobles Arrive at the Door and Pay Homage to the Lord, Where Will They Go From Here?!

"Master!!!"

A group of maids carried in tea and snacks, placing them one by one on the table.

"Please take your seats, everyone."

Jia Yan extended his left hand in a gesture.

"Ah."

Niu Jizong, Liu Fang, and Hou Xiaokang sat on the left, while Wang Ziteng, Nian Gengyao, Yue Zhongqi, and Zhang Guangsi sat on the right.

The two groups represent the noble forces led by Jia Yan: the founding line and the Yongping line.

"call!"

Picking up his teacup, Jia Yan blew on it before taking a sip and said calmly, "Someone has made a move."

'Thump!'

The people below felt a jolt and all looked up at the same time.

"Nephew."

"Could it be that Yuan Congxun is getting restless?"

Niu Jizong was the first to speak and ask.

The others didn't quite understand and remained silent, just sitting quietly.

"They don't dare to even consider that."

"As long as the Emperor Emeritus remains unchanged, the Yuan Cong lineage will be firmly nailed to the Twelfth Regiment Camp."

"However, some people are different; their treacherous intentions have never changed."

As he fiddled with the teacup, Jia Yan's face revealed a cryptic expression.

"I heard that the Emperor Emeritus has bestowed upon you the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Army."

"Is it related to this matter?"

Wang Ziteng, who has always been fond of scheming, spoke directly.

what?
Upon hearing this, Niu Jizong and the others' expressions changed drastically.

Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—this is no good job. Everyone hates him. For a dignified military commander of the dynasty, a first-rank general of the cavalry, to be assigned to this position is not a favor, but an insult to Jia Yan.

"No, absolutely not."

"I'm going to the palace to ask them how this could be?!"

Enraged, Zhenguo Marquis Niu Jizong jumped up, intending to leave, while Hou Xiaokang and Liu Fang's faces were equally gloomy.

Even Yue Zhongqi, Nian Gengyao, and Zhang Guangsi, who had recently arrived in the capital, were somewhat confused about what the royal family was doing.
"Uncle Cow!"

Jia Yan gave a soft shout, stopping Niu Jizong.

"Nephew."

"How much blood has the Jia family shed for the Great Qian Dynasty? How can the Emperor Emeritus do this?"

Niu Jizong faced Jia Yan directly, his expression filled with excitement.

“Yes, my dear nephew, we cannot allow this to happen.”

"The retired emperor chilled the hearts of the founding lineage!"

Hou Hsiao-kang and Liu Fang were equally indignant.

"Don't be impatient."

Looking at the three of them, Jia Yan remained calm and said, "The country has been established for less than a hundred years, and the power of the nobles is deeply rooted."

"After the Yuan Cong incident, the retired emperor supported the Yuan Cong noble lineage to counterbalance the founding lineage."

"Among these people were former loyal ministers and former traitors of the Ming Dynasty, who wove a new network to suppress the founding lineage."

"After this battle, the founding lineage has been revived, and the Yongping lineage has been added. My position as the Marquis of Wu is extraordinary. If I were to hold real power, not only would the retired emperor be restless, but the current emperor would probably have to take a desperate gamble."

boom! ! !
After he finished speaking, the entire main hall fell silent.

Niu Jizong and the other two looked grim, and only then did Wang Ziteng and the other three understand the reason.

"Nephew."

"But no matter what, you can't become the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Army."

"Throughout history, which person who has been in charge of an organization has ever had a good end?"

Niu Jizong understood the reasoning behind this, but he still felt indignant on Jia Yan's behalf.

"Yes."

Hou Xiaokang and Liu Fang urged him in unison.

Once they came to their senses, Wang Ziteng and the other three stared intently at him.

"Does Uncle Niu really think the Embroidered Uniform Army will act on my orders alone?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Army includes the retired emperor, the current emperor, Prince Yizhong, and many other powerful figures. Calling it a sieve is an understatement."

Jia Yan scoffed, making no attempt to hide his contempt for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This force was not pure from the beginning. It absorbed people from the former Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard and Eastern Depot. How could it be of any use?

If it were truly usable, why would the retired emperor and Emperor Yongping have established their own new inter-agency organizations?

'.'

Niu Jizong and the others looked at each other, not surprised at all.

“Zhong Shanbo has hit the nail on the head. This commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is just a tool.”

"The royal family is counting on me to deal with those people for them."

Jia Yan pursed his lips, a playful look on his face.

"This"

Niu Jizong and the other two showed no change in expression, but Nian Gengyao, Yue Zhongqi, and Zhang Guangsi were greatly alarmed.

The Jia family, with two dukes, is hailed as the head of the nobility. Now, another marquis has emerged, who has devoted himself to the country and lived up to expectations.

What is the royal family doing, scheming against the Jia family time and time again? How can anyone not think about this?
"Nephew."

"But what about those four families?"

After a moment of contemplation, Niu Jizong uttered a single word.

"If you ask me, the founding emperor should have dealt with them back then. What was the point of keeping these menaces around?"

Hou Xiaokang said indignantly.

“Ping’an Prefecture is gone, so it can’t be the Prince of Beijing’s Mansion. As for the others, the Prince of Dongping’s Mansion is practically defunct. Living under the emperor’s nose, it has long lost its influence. Sending them back to Yunnan means that the former Prince Mu’s Mansion will never return.”

"Then, the most likely candidates are the Prince of Nan'an's residence and the Prince of Xining's residence."

Liu Fang boldly speculated: "The Prince of Xining's Mansion has always been respectful and has never overstepped its bounds while stationed in Xining Prefecture."

"The Zheng family moved to Yunnan decades ago, and the Fujian navy is controlled by the Marquis of Jinghai's mansion. What right do they have to take action?"

'? ? ? '

It was the first time that Wang Ziteng and the other three had heard these secrets, and their eyes widened in disbelief.

“The current Prince of Nan’an, Zheng Keshuang, is no good person.”

Niu Jizong sneered, "Among the four princes, the Nan'an Prince's Mansion is the most interesting, having been passed down for four generations."

"Zheng Zhilong used the Zheng family's fleet as a pledge of loyalty to obtain the throne. After Zheng Chenggong took over, he received the edict of the retired emperor and voluntarily went to Yunnan to take charge of Kunlun Prefecture. His eldest son, Zheng Jing, succeeded him, but died at the young age of 40."

"Zheng Jing's eldest son, Zheng Kezang, was born from an affair between him and his fourth brother Zheng Rui's wet nurse, Chen, which was considered shameful. His second son, Zheng Keshuang, was born to his concubine, Huang."

"Zheng Jing had one civil official and one military officer under his command, who were trusted ministers and took charge of the military and political affairs of Kunlun Prefecture. They were Chen Yonghua and Feng Xifan. His eldest son, Zheng Kezang, married Chen Yonghua's daughter as his principal wife, and Feng Xifan's daughter married Zheng Keshuang."

"Zheng Jing and Chen Yonghua both died in the same year. Feng Xifan, together with Zheng Jing's cousin and others, launched a coup and killed Zheng Kezang first. He then petitioned the court to establish Zheng Keshuang as emperor, and the court had no choice but to agree."

"In order to punish the Prince of Nan'an's family, the military governor of Kunlun Prefecture will be appointed by the imperial court and will no longer be given to the Zheng family."

"Over the years, Zheng Keshuang has been harboring a lot of wicked schemes. What wouldn't he dare to do?"

'Huh?'

Everyone present was astonished upon hearing this. "Uncle Niu guessed correctly."

"The Prince of Nan'an's mansion is secretly colluding with Prince Yizhong and is plotting to provoke the Kingdom of Qianxiang to send troops."

“Zheng Keshuang wants more than just a small Kunlun Prefecture.”

Jia Yan said with a half-smile.

"My Lord".

"Does he want the whole of Yunnan?"

Wang Ziteng was the first to react and blurted it out.

'what? '

Everyone looked surprised.

"Prince Yizhong is truly generous."

Liu Fang sneered.

"hehe!"

Everyone else present understood that it was only because Prince Yizhong had promised to govern Yunnan for generations that the Zheng family supported him.

"The southwest still needs some time to ignite."

"The urgent matter is not the Prince of Nan'an's mansion, but the Prince of Beijing's mansion."

"I have just received definite news that someone is colluding with the Later Jin in secret, and the Jurchen Tartars are already aware of the current situation of our dynasty."

"In the Battle of Datong, Shanxi Town, Datong Town, and Xuanfu Town suffered heavy losses. Yulin Town, Ningxia Town, Guyuan Town, and Gansu Town are far in the northwest. If Liaodong Town is in trouble, only Jizhou Town can provide support."

"Among the nine border regions, the most corrupt is Jizhou. There are probably less than half of the 50,000 soldiers. Everyone from top to bottom is just embezzling funds."

Jia Yan's additional information caused everyone's expression to change drastically.

"How dare you?!"

Niu Jizong and others were furious.

Since the Ming Dynasty, the blood feud between the Jurchen Tartars and the Great Qian Dynasty has accumulated for countless years. The Later Jin has never given up its desire to destroy us, and the entire dynasty regards it as the number one enemy. The fact that the Prince of Beijing's Mansion has colluded with the Later Jin is intolerable!
Moreover, if the Later Jin knew the current situation of the dynasty and launched a large-scale invasion, the 50,000 troops in Liaodong would be unable to withstand the attack alone. The only troops that could be mobilized would be the three major camps and twelve regiments stationed in Shenjing. This would be another "Yuan Cong War", with every family dressed in mourning.

"Earl of Huaiyuan, Earl of Lintao, Earl of Qingjiang".

"Half a lifetime of bloodshed on the battlefield earned him the title of First-Class Earl."

"If you hadn't come today, your careers would have been bright, but now that you've come, you bear my mark."

“In the future, when that person in the Qianqing Palace uses you, he will be somewhat hesitant.”

"Do any of you regret it?"

Suddenly, Jia Yan's gaze fell on Nian Gengyao and his two companions, and he said inexplicably.

Of everyone present, Niu Jizong, Hou Xiaokang, and Liu Fang were originally nobles from the founding lineage. Wang Ziteng was related to the Rongguo Mansion of the Jia family by marriage. His appointment as the military governor of the Beijing Garrison was also due to the Jia family's influence. He had long been on the same side as the Jia family.

The only exceptions were Nian Gengyao, Yue Zhongqi, and Zhang Guangsi, who were border generals and did not belong to any particular faction.

"You flatter me, my lord."

Nian Gengyao said with a wry smile: "My family has been famous officials for generations. My grandfather served as a prefect, and my father served as the acting governor of Huguang."

After eighteen years of diligent study, he passed the imperial examinations for the first, second, and third ranks, and was awarded the title of Jinshi. He then participated in the metropolitan and palace examinations, ranking 218th in the third class and was granted the title of Jinshi.

"I switched from civil to military service, and after many years of delay, I finally became the General of Datong, only to receive a hereditary title. If it weren't for this battle, I probably would never have had the chance to be promoted in my entire life."

“I admire the loyalty and righteousness of the Jia family and am impressed by the bravery of Zhuge Liang. I have no regrets in this life.”

"I know."

Jia Yan smiled and teased, "You and Zhang Tingyu were both Jinshi graduates from the same cohort, and were appointed as Shujishi by the Emperor Emeritus to study in the Hanlin Academy."

"That year, you were only twenty-two years old. You were young and successful, and you liked to frequent brothels. You were known as a 'frivolous and wicked young man'. You were also very knowledgeable and had a great reputation for your literary talent, which made you the target of jealousy. You loved to talk about Song and Ming Neo-Confucianism, and you were particularly fond of Wang Yangming's philosophy of mind. You especially admired Lu Zhi, a famous prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, and often quoted Lu Xuan Gong's memorials."

"I was young and ignorant, and I have made you laugh at me, my lord."

Nian Gengyao was somewhat embarrassed when his dark past was exposed.

"Hahaha!"

Everyone present burst into laughter, feeling a greater sense of kinship with this nobleman who had passed the imperial examination.

“What you say is very true, brother.”

"Without you, my lord, we would not be where we are today."

"Even if it's His Majesty himself, let alone the Emperor Emeritus, I will still come."

Zhang Guangsi was honest and straightforward, and spoke his mind.

"That's how it should be!"

Having received the family's teachings, Yue Zhongqi would certainly not abandon Jia Yan and side with someone else.

"Great!"

Seeing this, Jia Yan nodded, inwardly full of praise.

With three new generals from the previous dynasty joining his camp, Jia Yan has already gained a significant grasp on the future of the world.

"Master!"

Several maids entered from the outer room and carried a horizontal map to the center of the hall, attracting everyone's attention.

"Since the three of you trust me, I will naturally not let you down. I am willing to do great service to help you be ennobled."

"Thank you, Marquis Wu."

Nian Gengyao, Zhang Guangsi, and Yue Zhongqi were deeply moved and immediately stood up to pay their respects.

The young man before them was far more convincing than the emperor in the Forbidden City, for Jia Yan was a sixteen-year-old military commander, a unique figure throughout history.

"Our dynasty has suffered greatly from the Battle of Datong, and the Jurchen Tartars will never let this opportunity pass."

"With the Prince of Beijing's mansion working in cahoots from within and without, a major battle in Liaodong is inevitable."

"Your marquisates will depend on this battle."

Meeting the gazes of the three, Jia Yan spoke in a deep voice.

"Please give your orders, my lord."

Nian Gengyao and the other two exchanged glances and said in unison.

"Everyone, please take a look."

At this moment, Jia Yan was already standing in front of the map, pointing to the location on the map, and introduced: "Jizhen, stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Juyongguan in the west, is 2,140 li long. It guards the capital and is the first among the nine border regions."

"There are more than 190 passes of various sizes, which have always been strategic passes and fortresses that are contested by military strategists. There is one general, three deputy generals, twelve brigade commanders, six guerrilla generals, ten guerrillas, eight garrison commanders and eight camp officers, one central officer, and twenty-six supervisors."

"The initial number of officers and soldiers was set at 100,000 (including Jizhou, Yongping, Changping and Miyun), but it was reduced to 50,000 in the early years of Yongping. The administrative center was Santunying."

"If there is any change in Liaozhen, Jizhen will be the first to be affected. The soldiers in Jizhen are now lax in their fighting spirit and discipline, and they are exploiting the soldiers from top to bottom. The actual number of soldiers is less than half of what is on the Ministry of War's register."

'Um? '

As they gazed at the clearly defined forces and garrisons on the map, Nian Gengyao and his two companions wore extremely solemn expressions.

Niu Jizong, Liu Fang, and Hou Xiaokang exchanged glances and leisurely sipped their tea. These matters were destined to be irrelevant to them. It would be a laughing stock for the whole world if the three marquises were to be appointed to local posts. Only Wang Ziteng was somewhat uneasy, since he hadn't been called by name.

"Jizhen is not far from Xuanfu. Is the Earl of Lintao willing to take on this mess?"

Jia Yan looked at Yue Zhongqi and said seriously, "This is no small task; the interests of everyone in Jizhou are intertwined."

"If you want to purify Jizhou, it means you will offend everyone, and the first one to bear the brunt is Zu Chong, the commander-in-chief of Jizhou."

"Our ancestral family was a military family during the Ming Dynasty, and they were related to the Marquis of Chong'an's family by marriage for generations."

"Am I afraid of him?"

Yue Zhongqi stepped forward and said firmly, "He should be afraid of me."

A small family, first betraying the Ming Dynasty, then surrendering to the Manchus, then betraying the Manchus again, and finally surrendering to the Daqian Dynasty. A three-surname slave, what a joke.

The Yue family has been stationed in Xuanfu for generations and has a distinguished military record. He is a first-class earl who has fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. What is there to fear?
Xuanfu is less than 800 li away from Jizhou. If the Jizhou garrison wants to overturn the table, they'd better think twice about whether the swords of Xuanfu's 50,000 soldiers are sharp enough!
"it is good!"

Jia Yan greatly admired Yue Zhongqi's sharp spirit and made the final decision: "Then it's you."

(End of this chapter)