The Military Governor in Dream of the Red Chamber

Although the Sun family was secretly stockpiling goods, it must have involved some grain and other items. Given the considerable scale of the operation, it was impossible to keep it a secret from a businessman like Lin Heqing.

Of course, given the Sun family's influence in Datong, they weren't afraid of being known.

Everyone knows the truth.

Jia Chen could only sigh in his heart.

It was these beasts who constantly aided the enemy and betrayed the country, which led to the collapse of the Great Hong Dynasty and the fall of the country into the hands of foreign tribes.

"How big is it, Manager Lin?" Jia Chen asked.

"It's probably tens of thousands of taels," Lin Heqing thought for a moment and said, "I mean, that's how much was purchased here in the Great Hong Dynasty."

Jia Chen fell silent.

Tens of thousands of taels of supplies would multiply several times over once they reached the border. If they were to reach the Later Jin, tens of thousands of taels could potentially increase tenfold.

Unfortunately, his abilities were limited.

If I had the strength, I really would like to end this journey halfway through.

A caravan of this size would certainly have a large number of guards, so Jia Chen could only dream about it.

Besides, he didn't know when or from where the Sun family's caravan would depart. The Sun family would definitely keep such matters secret.

"Let's not talk about this anymore, Lord Centurion. After I leave, if you need anything, just ask the people below. I've already given the orders," Lin Heqing said.

He definitely wouldn't get involved in these things; he was just talking to Jia Chen about it.

Because he knew that Jia Chen was not capable of getting involved in such a matter.

Even the military commanders of Datong Town, after the general found out, just pretended not to hear.

"Thank you, Manager Lin," Jia Chen said with a smile.

We might have to come back again; the Qianshan Fort is under construction and needs a lot of odds and ends.

Purchasing from Lin Heqing can save a lot of money.

Jia Chen will remember Lin Heqing's kindness.

Regardless of whether the other party was doing it out of respect for the Jia family, they have genuinely provided tremendous help.

"You're too kind, we're all family." Lin Heqing said with a smile. "Oh, by the way, when I return to Jiangnan this time, I will first detour to the capital to visit the Jia family on behalf of Lord Lin, and also deliver some New Year's goods. Does the centurion have any letters to his family? I can pass them on for him."

"Alright, then I'll trouble Manager Lin with a letter." Jia Chen didn't hesitate.

The letter was basically a way of letting my mother know that I was safe and sound and that she shouldn't worry about me.

This should make Jia Shenshi feel more at ease.

"May I ask what New Year's goods Manager Lin has prepared for the Jia family?" Jia Chen asked.

"I've prepared some Guangling millet, fox fur, and so on," Lin Heqing replied.

There's nothing shameful about this, and it's not a secret.

Guangling millet is very famous; it was a royal tribute and one of the imperial rice varieties.

Local officials in Datong usually send gifts to some bigwigs in the capital during festivals.

The others are also local specialties of Datong.

However, none of these are cheap.

After all, the Jia family was a noble and prestigious family, so Lin Heqing would not send them ordinary goods.

Especially those sent by Dai Linruhai, should be given extra care.

Upon hearing Lin Heqing's words, Jia Chen's heart stirred: "Manager Lin, I wonder if you could also help me bring some New Year's goods?"

"No problem, we're going to the capital anyway. What would you like to prepare, sir?" Lin Heqing asked with a smile.

Jia Chen thought for a moment and said, "I can't compare to Lord Lin. I'm just a roughneck in the army, so I'll be a bit crude and send a few sheep from the grasslands. The sheep from the Tumed tribe are quite famous, but I don't know if it's convenient to bring them?"

"There's nothing inconvenient about it," Lin Heqing said. "Actually, I've also prepared several cartloads of sheep to send to the capital together."

For Lin Heqing, mutton seemed a bit too common; he had prepared for it, but simply hadn't mentioned it.

Finally, Jia Chen said he planned to buy ten sheep, five of which would be given to the Jia family, three to his own family, and the other two to Qin Ye, his future father-in-law, as a token of his goodwill.

Regarding the matter of arranging a marriage for himself, Jia Chen had no idea what Jia Zheng and the others were up to.

But since they're now helping her with her wedding, she feels she has to do something in return.

At the same time, it is also necessary to strengthen one's relationship with the Jia family.

As things stand, the Jia family's influence can still provide them with considerable benefits.

Jia Chen originally intended to pay, but Lin Heqing said that the money was unnecessary and that the ten sheep would be given to him as a gift.

In Beijing, a sheep is worth about one tael (approximately 50 grams).

However, in Datong, they are mainly obtained from the Tumed tribe, so the price is much cheaper, perhaps only 0.2 taels each or even less.

Therefore, Lin Heqing didn't care about those few taels of silver.

After all, everyone knows how many people gave Jia Chen a 50% discount before.

The sheep from the grasslands have better meat quality and a more delicious taste, which is sufficient for a low-ranking military officer like Jia Chen to give as a gift.

The value of the gift was not important. For the Jia family, it was not about the number of sheep, but about their attitude.

When Lin Ruhai gives gifts, he mainly chooses high-end and classy items like Guangling millet, which are elegant and tasteful.

Sheep can only be used as a supplementary delivery item.

Before leaving Lin's Grain Shop, Jia Chen mentioned the firearms craftsmen along the southeast coast to Lin Heqing.

If Lin Heqing has any news about this in the south, he can inform me when he returns next time.

Although the Great Hong Dynasty and the Great Ming Dynasty were similar, Jia Chen could not say that the situation in the southeast was exactly the same.

Lin Heqing did not give a clear answer, only saying he would try his best.

This is actually a polite way of declining.

Jia Chen wasn't dissatisfied; he hadn't had much hope to begin with.

It's best to have it, but there's no loss if you don't.

Lin Heqing obviously had no connection with these matters, and besides, it was quite a distance from Suzhou to there. In ancient times, long-distance travel was inconvenient, so asking him to inquire about these things was asking too much of him.

Back at Qianshanbao, everyone was overjoyed to see the winter coats.

Wang Baisheng and the others were alright; they had worked under Jia Chen before and knew his personality—he treated his subordinates extremely well.

Others who had just arrived, especially people like Lu Dahai, were initially unwilling to come.

I've been here for a few days now, and I've found that the situation isn't as bad as I thought.

We can eat our fill now, and we're even getting cotton-padded coats – things we wouldn't have dared to dream of before.

By the end of October, after nearly two months of construction, the moat and city walls of Qianshanbao had been completed thanks to everyone's efforts, providing them with initial security.

Jia Chen finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Before the city wall was completed, Jia Chen was always worried that the northern barbarians might move south.

We've finally gotten through this hurdle.

It's snowed several times already, and it's freezing cold, especially with the howling north wind that makes your head feel like it's going to split open.

Fortunately, everyone had cotton-padded coats, and they were able to eat their fill, so they weren't so afraid of the cold anymore.

Jia Chen believed that with such weather, the Chahar tribe would not be able to move south this year, as heavy snow would soon block the roads, making it difficult even for cavalry to move.

It seems the imperial court's previous intelligence was incorrect.

Of course, it can't be said that it was wrong. Perhaps there were different opinions within the Chahar tribe, and they eventually gave up.

In short, Jia Chen is now full of confidence. If the Chahar tribe really marches south next year, he believes that with the help of the city walls and firearms, he can fight back if he only defends the city.