The Red Mansions

Chapter 314 Baochai: Can you still complain about others?

Army of the Five Cities

Jia Heng left the palace, and did not return to Ningguo Mansion immediately, but went to Wucheng Bingma Division first.

In the official hall, Jia Heng summoned Xie Zaiyi, Dong Qian, Shen Yan and other generals, as well as the tax department, public security department, fire prevention department, Cangcao, Facao and other officials to accompany him.

Xie Zaiyi was seated first on the left. This former member of the Beijing camp, perhaps because of the casualties of the soldiers and horses of the five cities, had a dignified expression and a serious expression, as if he had the bearing of a general.

The hall was quiet, except for the sound of "swiping" the pages of the briefing in Jia Heng's palm.

Jia Heng looked indifferently, browsing the briefing.

It naturally records the details of the battle to seize the gate of the west city gate, and the casualties of both the enemy and us.

In a word, it is almost the most casualties of Wucheng soldiers and horses in recent years.

Because during the battle to seize the Ximen city gate, Luo Rui's troops of the Liwei camp fought stubbornly against the city wall. The soldiers of the five cities and horses used to hunt down ordinary thieves, and they had never seen such a battle. Casualties were not light.

In fact, not only Wucheng Bingmasi, Jinyi Mansion Tiqi also suffered many casualties.

After Jia Heng turned over the last page, he put the briefing paper aside, raised his eyes, looked at Fan Yi, the master bookkeeper, and said in a low voice:
"The soldiers under the command of Zhongcheng and Beicheng suffered heavy casualties. The yamen should come up with a compensation policy as soon as possible to properly arrange the survivors so as to put people at ease. The public sacrifice is to comfort the heroic spirits who died in this battle. They sacrificed for nearly one million people in Shenjing City to avoid being killed by the soldiers, and they will set up a monument in the west city to record the incident."

In the official hall, the generals and civil servants who heard Jia Heng's words, some of the old officials who had served in the military and horse division in Wucheng, had expressions on their faces.

Public sacrifice?Tree monument?
The soldiers of the Wucheng Bingma Division are still today?
I really enjoy the glory after death...

Jia Heng said: "Soldiers from all five cities must participate."

He did this to highlight the status of the Wucheng Bingmasi.

As for the generals who died in the battle in the Beijing camp, there was nothing like this. The first time he led troops to Cuihua Mountain to suppress the bandits, firstly, there were not many casualties, and secondly, he was an idiot at the time.

The second time he led troops into Sanfu to suppress bandits, he couldn't do it after returning to the squadron, otherwise it would easily arouse the resentment of the civil servants.

But this time it was different. In order to protect the peace of Shenjing City, the soldiers and horses of the five cities fought bloody battles and sacrificed a lot.

In fact, this is also a test. If it goes well, then I will make a suggestion to the emperor, with Chen Qili. For the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the country and martyred over the years, the court will set up a stele to record the events to motivate the generals.

If the resistance is still great and the emperor refuses to allow it, then shelve it for the time being and discuss the matter again in the future.

Fan Yi looked solemn, and said: "My lord, the lower-ranking officials are counting casualties and soldiers. The compensation regulations can be drawn up in two days and submitted to your lord for approval."

Jia Heng nodded, and said: "The Chinese New Year is coming soon, first list the addresses of the soldiers who died in battle, and on another day, I will visit the families of the deceased generals to express condolences."

While speaking, he turned his head to look at Xie Zaiyi at the side, and said: "Commander Xie, Commander Shen, the victory in the first battle is due to the strength of the two commanders. In the past few days, you will be active and brave in this battle. Yes, draw up a title as soon as possible.”

When Xie Zaiyi and Shen Yan heard the words, they clasped their fists together and responded.

Jia Heng said: "In the next few days, the Jinyi Mansion's Tiqi will slowly withdraw, but the soldiers of our five cities' soldiers and horses must still maintain uninterrupted inspections, so that Xiaoxiao will not cause trouble on the street."

The crowd nodded yes.

Jia Heng gave a few more instructions, seeing that it was getting dark, and it was already evening, Jia Heng also asked several generals from Wucheng Bingma Division to go back to their respective posts, and we will discuss it tomorrow.

Only then did he leave Wucheng Bingmasi and head back towards Ningrong Street.

Entering Ningrong Street, passing Rongguo Mansion, before walking forward, I saw a few young servants flashing out from the side of the road, blocking the way, leading a servant with a beard under his chin, said: "Heng Uncle, I am Wang Er who is serving by Second Mistress, you are back, the old lady is waiting in the yard."

Jia Heng frowned, got off his horse, handed the horse to a servant, and said: "Report to the East Mansion, and tell me that I'm back. I'm still in the West Mansion right now, so I'll go back later."

"Hey." The young servant quickly responded loudly, and ran towards Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Heng followed the servants of the Rong Mansion, stepped over the stone steps, and entered the courtyard. It was night and the cold winter wind was blowing the snow on the eaves, and snow powder kept falling down.

Jia Heng walked towards the backyard along the Chaoshou verandah, and asked, "Is there anything wrong in the mansion?"

Wang'er bent down and replied: "Thanks to the uncle, the house is still good, but the daughter-in-law of the uncle's family said that there was a war in the uncle's family, and there is no news from the concubine's young master Xue Biao. "

Jia Heng's face paused, and a trace of doubt appeared in his cold eyes.

Xue Pan?

It seems that Xue Pan has not been seen, but the Guoyong Camp has fully taken over the Yaowu Camp. The military newspaper only said that the governor of the Yaowu Camp was under Li Xun, and many generals died in the chaos. They went to the Yaowu Camp to inquire. Fang Ji, Ni Biao and others involved in Luo Kai's case have not heard any news yet, so it can be said that they do not know whether they are alive or dead.

For the specific details, we can only wait for a little later, when Cai Quan goes to the government to play a role, and then make further calculations.

When Jia Heng came to the backyard, the mother-in-law also reported in layers.

Rongqing Hall
The orange light, as soft as water, dyed the spacious and elegant flower hall, but it couldn't dispel the condensed and cloudy atmosphere.

Reflected by the candlelight, surrounded by pearls and emerald greens, the anxious, silent, or mournful faces are clearly visible.

Mother Jia sat on the Arhat's bed and comforted Aunt Xue with words, and others such as Feng Wan and Yuan Chun also accompanied her and said some words of enlightenment.

Tanchun, Xiangyun and Daiyu are also sitting around Baochai at the moment, talking comfortingly.

Xue Pan's life and death are unknown, and as time goes by, the Xue family's mother and daughter are about to be overwhelmed by despair.

As for Wang Yi's daughter-in-law and her queen's beauty, Jia's mother has ordered Yuanyang to lead her down to rest.

Mother Jia sighed, and looked at the gradually dark night outside through the window, and said, "Brother Heng, why hasn't he come back at this time? Baoyu and his father just came back from the Ministry of Industry, and said The mess is settled."

Because Jia Heng didn't return in a hurry after meeting the saint, and went to Wucheng Bingma Division, the people in Rongqing Hall waited for more than an hour.

It's not that Jia's mother didn't urge Sister Feng to send someone to inquire, but since the news of Jia Heng's interview came, there has been no news.

Aunt Xue's face was full of sorrow at the moment, and although Sister Feng and Mrs. Wang were there to explain it, the worry and fear in her brows and eyes still overflowed uncontrollably.

"Brother Heng, it's time for him to come back." Aunt Xue also raised her head and looked into the distance, her voice already weeping.

On Baochai's plump, white and greasy face, there is a dense look of worry, her cherry lips are tightly pressed, under the slender brows of willow leaves, in her eyes that are as moist as water, there is a faint look of misery and helplessness revealed.

I can only wait quietly, powerless, this moment is a reflection of the state of mind of Aunt Xue and Baochai, mother and daughter.

Sister Feng Liu Shao frowned, and said: "Old ancestor, just sent people to inquire several times, as soon as there was news, he came to report, and he hasn't come back yet, presumably he was caught by something?"

Yuan Chun was on the side, and then said: "Brother Heng, he is in charge of the Wucheng Bingmasi. When Miansheng comes back, he always has to sit in the yamen for a while and ask questions. Didn't you just say that the Wucheng Bingmasi and the Jinyi Mansion are in charge?" For the defense of the capital, brother Heng should be stationed in the five cities right now."

Tan Chunning took a look and said: "Eldest sister said that if you are not in Wucheng Bingmasi, you will be in Jingying. These two places are on the left and right."

Jia Mu hurriedly said: "Then let people go to the Wucheng Bingma Division to inquire about it."

However, before he could send anyone away, suddenly, Lin Zhixiao's family entered the hall and said anxiously: "Old lady, madam, Master Heng is back and has arrived in the backyard."

As soon as these words came out, everyone in Rongqing Hall stood up one after another, with surprise and joy on their faces.

Aunt Xue said anxiously, "I'll go to greet you right away."

As he said that, he wanted to walk outside.

Baochai will also go with him.

Lin Zhixiao's family hurriedly said, "Auntie, it's time to talk."

As Lin Zhixiao's family said, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw a tall and straight figure outside the screen, illuminated by the candlelight, from far to near, but his figure flashed.

Wearing a dark red cloak on the outside, a military officer's official robe with a lion patch on the inside, a young military officer wearing a mountain-shaped wingless crown on his head, and a sword of the emperor on his waist, he walked slowly into the hall. Under his thick eyebrows, there were calm eyes, black and white, Just like spotting paint, the glowing candlelight is faintly reflected in the eyes, Xu Shi has just approached from the icy and snowy outside room, his stern, carved face is like cold jade, seeing the frost of winter.

"old lady."

Jia Heng greeted Jia Mu.

Jia Mu nodded, and hurriedly said, "Brother Heng, Yuanyang quickly move to the embroidery pier."

Jia Heng lifted the back of his official robe and sat down.

Without waiting for Mother Jia to say more pleasantries, Aunt Xue, who had already been on tenterhooks, asked anxiously, "Brother Heng, can you see your cousin Wenlong?"

Jia Heng shook his head and said: "I have been sitting in Daying before, appeasing the generals. Afterwards, when the incident was initially settled, I went to the palace to face the saint. I have never seen Wenlong."

When Aunt Xue heard the words, she felt her eyes darken, and she cried again: "Pan'er, Pan'er..."

However, I heard the calm voice of the young man on the opposite side ringing in my ears, "Wen Long went to Yaowu Camp with General Ni Biao, Army Chief Secretary Fang Ji and others, but Yaowu Camp did not find out afterwards. Several figures."

Baochai closed her eyes slightly, with sadness on her face, upon hearing the words, she opened her bright eyes, calmed down, and asked: "Brother Heng, how many people did you see...how do you say this?"

Jia Heng looked at Baochai, who was about to cry, and said: "Many generals died in the rebellion, but Fang Ji and others did not see the corpses. Presumably, Wen Long should have followed Fang Ji and fled from Yaowu camp. Come out, but now whereabouts are unknown."

Aunt Xue listened at this time, wondering if it was Jia Heng's calm expression that gave her confidence, rekindled the fire of hope, and even pleaded in her tone: "Brother Heng, you must save Pan'er Ah, Pan’er can’t have anything to do, he still said that he was going to enter the barracks..."

"Mom..." Baochai's jade face suddenly changed, and she called urgently.

How can you talk nonsense?
Could it be that if my brother had an accident, he could still blame others for his failure?

Others like Yuanchun, Tanchun, and Daiyu frowned in unison upon hearing Aunt Xue's words.

Aunt Xue also came to her senses at this moment, and hurriedly said: "Brother Heng, I don't... I don't blame you, you can be great, and you are in charge of so many people in Wucheng Bingmasi, you must save Pan'er ah."

Jia Heng's face was silent, neither happy nor angry.

Jia's mother tried to smooth things over and said, "Brother Heng, your aunt is concerned about your cousin's safety, and she is in a state of confusion right now."

Baochai lifted up her jaded face, with tears in her apricot eyes, and said in a choked voice, "Brother Heng, can you think of a way to send someone to look for my elder brother? How, you have to meet people..."

The last half of the sentence, but I couldn't bear to say it.

Jia Heng was silent for a moment, and said: "Wen Long has no news now, but the possibility of his survival is very high. I will ask someone to look for him."

Aunt Xue was sobbing again at this moment, crying: "Brother Heng, you have to save him, my old Xue's family has only one seedling... woo woo..."

As he spoke, he covered his face and wept bitterly.

Jia Heng nodded, turned his eyes to Sister Feng, and said: "Sister Feng, go get a pen, ink and letter paper, before closing the city gate, send someone to Wucheng Bingma Division, and order over there My son, go to the Yaowu camp to send a message, mobilize the soldiers to find Fang Ji, the master of the march, Ni Biao, Xue Pan and others."

Not only Xue Pan, but the whereabouts of Fang Ji, the chief bookkeeper of the marching army, and others are also missing, and they also need to be found.

Without waiting for Sister Feng's order, Mother Jia said to Yuanyang, "Go and prepare paper, pens and letters."

Yuanyang hurriedly went to fetch the pen and paper for the letter.

Jia Heng took the pen, paper and letter paper, and began to write, while Sister Feng whispered to Ping'er, "Ping'er, hold a candle, and light the uncle."

Ping'er quickly agreed, took a candlestick, and approached it for Jia Heng to illuminate.

Facing the gazes of Rongqing Hall, Jia Heng wrote his warrant on the letter paper, thought for a while, took a small seal, and stamped it on the letter paper.

Seeing this scene, Aunt Xue gradually stopped crying and sobbing, and stared at the letter, her eyes couldn't leave her eyes.

And Baochai also quietly looked at the young man who was focused and writing in handwriting, his apricot eyes moved slightly, and there was a little hope in his heart.

Jia Heng finished writing, waited for the handwriting to dry, put it in an envelope, and said in a clear voice: "Sister-in-law Feng, send the servant to Wucheng Bingma Division."

Sister Feng responded, took the envelope, handed it to Zhou Rui's family, and said, "Go, go."

After everything was done, Jia Heng turned his eyes to look at Aunt Xue, and said softly: "Auntie, don't be in a hurry, people have been sent outside to look for it, such a large group of people can't just disappear, they will definitely be found."

Whether they will be found or not, no one can guarantee whether they are dead or alive, so he simply doesn't say anything.

Although Aunt Xue's expression of misery remained unchanged, seeing that Jia Heng had already sent someone to look for her, she couldn't say anything more.

In fact, I faintly want the young leader in front of me to look for it in person, instead of sending someone to write a letter in hand, but it is not easy to take the initiative to speak up.

There was a bitterness in my heart.

After all, he and her family didn't even have an official, and there was a layer of separation from Brother Heng and relatives.

Jia Heng didn't know what Aunt Xue was thinking, took a cup of tea from the mandarin duck at the side, thanked her, and bowed her head to drink the tea.

He was so busy that he really didn't have time to drink a cup of tea.

Mother Jia asked: "Brother Heng, how could there be such a big disturbance in the Beijing camp? And Baoyu's uncle's house, isn't he in charge of the Beijing camp? Did the palace say what's going on?"

In the end, I felt a little sad in my heart.

When everyone heard the words, they all looked at Jia Heng, even Mrs. Wang was listening to Jia Heng's words with a flat face.

Jia Heng put down the teacup in his hand, with a serious expression on his face, he said: "The generals of the Liwei Battalion have turned their backs..."

While speaking, the incident came out.

It’s okay not to talk about these things, otherwise, if Aunt Xue didn’t know how to listen to people’s arrangements, she would finally push the responsibility for Xue Pan’s “death” on him.

Jia Heng continued: "Wang Jieshuai doesn't use human beings. Li Xun and others who presided over the military affairs under his command were greedy and cruel, which caused a mutiny. Those rebellious soldiers had long held grudges against Wang Jieshuai. With the slogan of killing Wang Ziteng on the side of the Qing emperor, in the next two days, I don’t know what kind of troubles will be caused.”

Mother Jia, Aunt Xue, Mrs. Wang: "..."

(End of this chapter)