The Red Mansions

Chapter 795 Jinyang: Are Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps prepared for battle? (Ask for a monthly pass!)
As Shen Fang of the Liangjiang Governor's Mansion received the news that the Jurchen army was suppressing the border and the soldiers had reached the old capital of Jinling, the news spread rapidly throughout Jinling City.

The southern province had an open atmosphere, and the scholars were romantic, and many scholars were active. In just one night, in the morning of the next day, some details about the military situation were leaked by some scribes with all-hands-on-the-eyes.

Especially compared to the [-] sailors, the nearly [-] sailors that Jiangnan Jiangbei Camp has just built can't compete with it in terms of book strength, let alone that Yongning Bo is not yet in Jinling City.

Jinling is about to face disaster!

This panic spread slowly in Jinling City, and a hidden undercurrent also emerged, mainly trying to throw the pot on Jia Heng's head for the Jurchen and pirates' attack on the old capital of Jinling.

Going far away to Haojing, AWOL!
On the morning of the second day, last night's heavy autumn dew stained the black and green eaves tiles, and the weather was drowsy, as if an autumn rain was brewing. In front of the archway with the inscribed plaque on the governor's office of Liangjiang, horse-drawn carriages lined up from the main entrance to the street corner.

After more than a month, the official hall of this wind and rainy yamen was once again full of officials from the Six Departments of Nanjing, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Imperial Academy.

Lin Yingqi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, was nearly fifty years old, his hair was a little gray, and his face was full of wrinkles and gullies. He was frightened and begged, "Shen Zhitai, this Yongning Bo is not in Jinling, and the Jurchen army is under pressure. You need to make up your mind." yes."

Shen Tiyuan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishments, twisted his beard with his hand, and said in a low voice: "This time, 5 Jurchens have come, and Jinling's soldiers and horses are only [-]. Most of them are newly recruited soldiers. I heard that the Ministry of War has left the arsenal not long ago. The corruption case of the Ministry of Cleaning Officials, so that the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps are not fully prepared, and now the Jurchens are invading the territory, how can I resist this?"

"Master Shen is right. Uncle Yongning, who originally went south to lead the army to train the military, did not do his job properly. He went to the east of Guangdong to drive the sea ban. Now the entire Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps are embarrassing generals. How can this stop the vicious women? Real person? Shi Gu, the Minister of Rites, sighed and said in a slightly hoarse voice.

A group of other officials heard the words and echoed in agreement.

Shen Fang said: "My lords, don't be in a hurry. I have already sent people to invite the Marquis of Annan, Qu Guang from the Jiangnan Camp, the Water Commander from the Jiangbei Camp, and other relevant generals. Please be calm and don't worry, my lords."

Dong Chongxue, Minister of the Ministry of Officials in Nanjing, frowned into the word "Chuan" and said worriedly: "Master Shen, why are we not in a hurry? All the adults know what is going on in Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps. This time is different than last time. Fifty thousand women Really, relying on Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps alone, I am afraid that they will collapse at the first touch, and at that time, Jinling City will be under fire, and there may even be fear of shaking the country."

As soon as this remark came out, the faces of all the officials in the official hall showed horror.

As soon as this remark came out, Fang Yaochun, the Imperial Academy's sacrificial wine, took over the conversation and said in a clear voice: "Master Shen, these northern generals may not necessarily engage in water warfare, and they are not as mature as Marquis Annan in seeking the country. In my opinion, Marquis Annan and the governor of Liangjiang should be allowed to The government temporarily co-manages the Jiangnan camp, and dispatches elite soldiers and generals to the river mouth to guard and guard against bandits landing on the shore, burning, killing, and looting."

"What Mr. Fang said is very true. Now that there is a vacancy for the Minister of the Ministry of War, Mr. Fang might as well recommend himself, and join the Jiangbei Daying Navy to supervise the water battle and turn the tide?" a censor suddenly said.

Fang Yaochun's face changed suddenly when he heard the words, and he said angrily: "The old man is also grateful for the difficult times, so he can make suggestions for the country. Why should you be sneering and sarcastic? The old man is a literati, and he has no power to restrain the chicken. Wouldn't it be more troublesome to go to the front of the two armies?" ?”

The censor was also stunned when he heard the words. He originally wanted to compliment him, but who knew...

In a blink of an eye, there was another dispute, and there was a lot of talk.

At this time, Shen Fang stood up suddenly, and said, "Everyone, stop for a while."

As he said, he stretched out his hand and pressed it.

Seeing that the disputing voices of the officials gradually subsided, Shen Fang said: "Lord Fang's words are not unreasonable, it's just that the previous imperial decree was issued both at home and abroad, and Bo Yongning transferred the Jiangnan and Jiangbei battalions, so naturally he planned a strategy to defeat the enemy and win the battle. Uncle Yongning's intelligence and general strategy, even if the number of soldiers and armaments in the south of the Yangtze River is uneven, it will not hurt the nobles, and he will definitely be able to make great achievements for the court, so you don't have to worry about it."

He just used this to roast Yongningbo Jiaheng on the fire, Jurchen led [-] sailors this time, he wants to see how this battle is fought!

As for the safety of Jinling, it should be no big deal if the reinforcements from the provinces arrive later.

It can be said that the governor of Liangjiang was no longer willing to take matters into his own hands after the defeat of Zhen Zhu's army before.

But Wu Maozu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, clearly didn't like it, so Cang Sheng said: "This uncle Yongning is not in Jinling to organize the army, but he has to go to Guangdong Hai. Now Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps are facing enemies, and no one can be found. How can we do it?" Can you count on it?"

Mei Dunben, the right deputy governor of the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, also said: "Master Shen is right, this Yongningbo is leaving his post without authorization, and the officials thought that it was An Nanhou and Liangjiang Governor's Mansion who would gather troops together Horses, it’s good to fight against the captives together.”

When Shen Fang heard this, he glanced at Maydenben indifferently, and thought to himself, does this person have a grudge against him?
Shen Fang's face was solemn, and he said righteously: "Soldiers, important affairs of the country, the place of death and life, the way of life and death, I am a civil servant who is not good at planning and planning. If I guard Jinling, I will live and die with Jinling City! I have already waited for my country. , duty-bound! I have already informed Marquis Annan and Commander Qu Du, and I think the two veteran generals should have a plan to retreat from the enemy."

As soon as these words were said, the officials of the six Nanjing ministries in the official hall praised him one after another.

Then they are all thinking, when they go back, they have to let the family members pack up the gold and silver, and first go along the Yangtze River to Jingzhou, Xiangyang and other places to escape.

Living and dying with Jinling City... The situation seems to be not good?

Following the noise of a group of officials, they did not come up with a charter in the end. It was not until noon that they each left Liangjiang Governor's Mansion in twos and threes with complaints and anxiety towards Jia Heng.

At this time, among several young people, a young man with an elegant face swept his eyes from the crowd, went up against the flow of people, and called out: "Father, what did Lord Shen say?"

This young man with the Six Steeds of Jinling has a tall and straight figure, an imposing appearance, sword eyebrows and star eyes, a blue silk shirt, and a jade pendant hanging around his waist.

And this piece of jade pendant was a keepsake given to each other under the witness of the elders of both parties after they married Zhen Lan, the third miss of the Zhen family.

"What else can I say, I'm just waiting for Uncle Yongning to return from Guangdong Province, and said that all military affairs will be decided by the generals left behind in the Jiangnan camp." Fang Yaochun said angrily, and got into the carriage under the curtain raised by the butler, Immediately he raised the curtain of the car and said, "Go and have dinner with some of your friends, and I have to visit Mr. Xie for my father."

Shaobao, Xie Yue, Shangshu of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, lived in Jinling for the elderly. This Xie Shaobao, who had been in Longzhi for 27 years and tried his best to turn the situation around when Liaodong was defeated, has now spent his life in Jiangnan.

Hearing this, Fang Kuang frowned, and had no choice but to bow to the slowly leaving carriage, watching his father's carriage merge into the traffic flow.

Du Ding, a well-known scholar in the south of the Yangtze River, said: "Brother Fang, after the first battle in Haimen, Mr. Shen can no longer control the affairs of the Jiangnan camp. Everything will be discussed after that uncle Yongning comes back."

Ruan Yin, another well-known scholar in the south of the Yangtze River, smiled, and said: "Master Shen was frightened by what happened last time, so he was dismissed and retained, and there is no decree to return to his post yet."

This man named Ruan is usually bold and unconstrained, and doesn't care about trivial matters. Everyone knows his temperament, and after getting acquainted with him, he doesn't think he is disobedient.

Xiang Shizhang reminded: "Brother Ruan, Master Shen is also our teacher, you can't do that."

Ruan Yin smiled and said: "Brother Xiang remembered wrongly. Ruan was selected in the Bingchen year. At that time, Mr. Lei from the Ministry of Rites was the examiner, and the same examiner was the governor of Jiangnan and Mr. Zhao, a former school teacher who was transferred to Fujian. My lord has never had the friendship of a teacher."

Wang Guo is a 25-year-old young man with a simple appearance, sharp eyebrows, and calm eyes. He said: "Uncle Yongning went to the east of Guangdong, and the Customs and Taxation Department has a lot of time to prepare. It is supposed to be on the way back. .”

Du Ding nodded and said: "Brother Wang is right, these Jurchens must be investigating this matter and intend to take the opportunity to commit crimes."

When Jia Heng defeated Duoduo in Haimen back then, it still attracted the favor of some scholars in the entire Jinling City. In addition, Xu Kai, a former Hanlin scholar, also frequently made Jia Heng famous in letters with his friends in Jiangnan.

Therefore, not all scholars in the south of the Yangtze River take it lightly.

"Brothers, I'm going to the restaurant for dinner. It looks like it's going to rain today." Fang Kuang's eyes were a little condensed, and the gloomy sky at this moment could be seen on his elegant face.

Everyone responded with a voice, then took the umbrella from Chang Sui, and walked with the umbrella open.

Several people went to the restaurant and entered a commonly used box. Among all the scholars, Fang Kuang was from the most noble family, and today he was treating guests again, so he sat in the first place.

At this time, Ruan Yin asked with a smile: "Ziye, when will you marry the young lady of the Zhen family?"

Everyone also looked at Fang Kuang with amused eyes.

Although Zhen Lan and Fang Kuang's marriage was ordered by their parents and a matchmaker, they are also well-known to each other, because Fang Kuang is famous as the Six Horses of Jinling, and Miss Zhen San and Miss Zhen Si are famous talented women in Jinling.

Therefore, during the Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Festival, under the witness of the third master of the Zhen family, they met each other once and admired each other.

Fang Kuang frowned, smiled and said: "The Zhen family just had a funeral, and we have to wait another two years. You all know that I want to get married after taking the exam. Woolen cloth."

Mentioning this matter, a tangle surged in my heart.

The Zhen family had something like Zhen Zhu in the past, and the old lady Zhen went west again. The Zhen family’s momentum is not as good as before. I heard that there is still a difficulty to overcome. If it affects his career in the imperial examination...

But thinking of that beautiful red silk face, as well as the knowledge, knowledge and poetic diction of the usual correspondence, it is still a little hard to let go.

Actually, Zhen Lan could be his concubine, just like Zhen Xi who was sent to Ningguo Mansion.

Thinking of this, Fang Kuang's heart skipped a beat, feeling an unbalanced emotion welling up.

Then Jia Ziyu is one year younger than him, if his surname is not Jia, what can He De do?
Since Jia Ziyu can take the Fourth Miss of the Zhen family into the mansion as a servant girl, why can't he, Fang Ziye?
As the saying goes, there is no impenetrable wall in the world, and the fact that Zhenxi was entrusted to Jia Heng by the old lady Zhen on her deathbed, there is no way to hide it from someone who cares, let alone an in-law like the Fang family.

The Fang family may have other ideas in mind.

The same is the daughter of the Zhen family's concubine, co-authored to be Yongning Bo's concubine, the Fang family treats her as a regular wife?His Fang family is inferior?
Seeing Fang Kuang's dazed expression, Xiang Shizhang smiled and complimented him, and woke up the young man from his trance, saying, "Ziye has lofty aspirations, I admire you."

As he spoke, he raised the wine cup and offered a toast to Fang Kuang.

"Why don't a man have a wife?" Ruan Yin smiled, raised his wine cup, and toasted Fang Kuang.

Everyone also tacitly agreed not to mention the Zhen family anymore.

In fact, everyone didn't say anything, but they also felt that the daughter of the Zhen family was not a good match for Fang Kuang.

No one else, because the Zhen family is not a scholarly family, and in the eyes of all the scholars and eunuchs in the south of the Yangtze River, they look like nouveau riche.

At this moment, Jinyang Princess Palace

It was in the afternoon, and there was indeed a light rain in the sky. The branches and leaves of several sycamore trees swayed with the wind, and the branches and leaves were full of smoke. The eaves tiles flowed down and hit the stone steps.

The eldest princess of Jinyang wore a light red dress and a peach heart bun. She didn't see any complicated and gorgeous hairpins. She put down the needles and fabrics in her hands, and her beautiful eyes were full of worry under the willow-leaf eyebrows.

In the past few days, the beauty suddenly thought of sewing children's clothes, which might be prepared in the future, so the skills she had been unfamiliar with for a long time finally came into use again, and what she sewed was the children's silk fabrics.

After listening to Lianxue's narration, Li Ren felt a worried look on her gentle and soft jade face, and asked, "What do you say outside?"

Lianxue said in a low voice: "His Royal Highness, this time Jurchen has come with tens of thousands of sailors. The boats are gathered at Jiangkou of Songjiang Mansion, Suzhou Mansion, and Taicang Mansion. I don't know when they will come ashore to attack."

Thinking appeared on Yurong, the eldest princess of Jinyang, she put the needlework in her hands aside, and said in a clear voice, "Is the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps prepared for battle?"

"I heard that preparations for the battle have already begun, and the navy has been dispatched to Haimen." Lianxue said softly.

The eldest princess of Jinyang was silent for a moment, and suddenly said without beginning or end: "It's... been a while, he should be back, and besides, such a big thing happened again."

In fact, when the patrol boats of the Jiangbei Camp detected the enemy's situation at sea, they sent an emergency report to Jia Heng with a letter sent by flying pigeons. , has arrived in Jinling.

At this moment, Jia Heng and Chen Xiao abandoned their entourage first, and under the guard of Jinyi Mansion, they rode fast horses and quickly returned to Jinling.

Lianxue said softly: "Your Highness, should we go back to Kaifeng first, or go to Xiangyang to hide?"

Princess Jinyang's complexion was as frosty, and she whispered: "There is nothing to hide here. It's not that there are no soldiers in the two camps in the south of the Yangtze River and the north of the Yangtze River. The leaders are not all sent by him now. There is no one more powerful than Jinling." safe place."

Jiangnan and Jiangbei battalions now have [-] soldiers and horses combined, which may not be sufficient for naval warfare, but it is still more than enough to protect Jinling without losing it.

And as time goes by, according to Chen Han's emphasis on the ancient capital of Jinling and the important place of wealth in the south of the Yangtze River, support troops from all walks of life will continue to gather towards Jinling.

Even the Fuzhou Navy and Zhejiang Navy heard that the pirates were harassing the south of the Yangtze River, and they also sent warships and navy to attack and contain them from the flanks.

Lianxue said: "Your Highness, do you want to send another letter to Uncle Yongning?"

Princess Jinyang nodded and said: "It's fine to send a letter, he is probably on the way at the moment, send someone to call Xianning and Chanyue over, I will tell them a few words."

After the two little girls arrived in Jinling, they visited a lot of famous historical sites in the past two days, but it rained today, and they are still in the embroidery building. I don’t know what they are doing. They told Princess Jinyang that they were rehearsing dances. .

Lianxue responded softly, and while the two were talking, suddenly a young girl in her twenties, with a plump face came from the outside. Has a natural-looking blush.

Yuan Chun, dressed in light yellow clothes, with her hair in a bun, came gracefully and called out in a low voice, "Your Highness."

"You're here too." Princess Jinyang's beautiful eyes sparkled, she looked at the girl gently, and asked, "But did you hear the news from Jinling City?"

Yuan Chun nodded his head and said softly: "Your Highness, it is now spread all over the city that pirates are making trouble in the sea area, and the new army in Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps is less than [-], and they cannot withstand the pirates and Jurchen's [-] troops." , Now the big households in the city are packing up their gold and silver, thinking of fleeing Jinling."

Princess Jinyang's beautiful eyes flickered coldly, and she said coldly: "These people who are greedy for life and afraid of death, last time Zhenhai was defeated, they were like this, and now they really don't have a memory at all."

Yuan Chun sat down and asked expectantly, "Your Highness, is there any news about Brother Heng?"

The eldest princess of Jinyang sighed softly, her eyes were full of resentment, and she said: "I don't know where I am now, maybe only these two days."

Yuan Chun heard the words, the snowy jade face was covered with a faint color, and he said softly: "People in Jinling City are in panic now, brother Heng is not here, it seems like a backbone is missing."

Princess Jinyang patted Yuan Chun's hand lightly, and said in a low voice: "There are still many generals and schools from the Beijing camp left in Jiangbei Daying and Jiangnan Daying. Soldiers and horses will support Jinling, so don't worry too much."

Yuan Chun nodded slightly, but a strong longing for Jia Heng surged in his heart.

At this moment, the voices of Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe came from outside, and then the two entered the wing.

Princess Jinyang said softly: "Xianning and Chanyue are here."

Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue were also discussing the matter of bringing [-] sailors to attack. Now they entered the room, bowed to Princess Jinyang, and asked about Jia Heng's itinerary. Naturally, it was like Yuanchun. disappointment.

……

……

Ningguo Mansion

In the backyard, mist and rain shrouded the courtyard, and the sky and the earth were vast. Because the sky was dark, candles were already lit in the wing room. Sometimes the wind blew, and the candles swayed with the wind, projecting a few exquisite, graceful, or plump figures on the backyard. on the screen.

Today, Mrs. Cao brought her two daughters, Li Wen and Li Qi, over to visit, and they are talking with Mrs. You in the back hall.

"That said, the rain came down, one autumn rain and one cold." Youshi looked at the wind and rain outside, and said with emotion.

This Grandma You was dressed in a plain orchid dress, her head and face were plain, looking at the wind and rain outside at this moment, her eyes under her beautiful eyebrows were a little dazed.

At this time, the servant girl Yindie brought hot tea and passed it to Mrs. Cao and Mrs. You.

Mrs. Cao said in a low voice: "Recently, the city is in turmoil and people are panicking."

Youshi asked in surprise, "Auntie heard it too."

In the past few days, she has been chanting scriptures and praying for him in the Buddhist hall in the backyard of the mansion, and also heard some news.

Mrs. Cao sighed, and said: "Right now, people are talking about it in the streets and alleys. I heard that this time is more dangerous than the time when the Zhen family was defeated. It's really a rainy day."

Cao's boudoir also read books, otherwise he would not have entered the Li family of Jinling, a famous eunuch who is a family of poems and books, as his daughter-in-law, and he used widows to pull Li Wen and Li Qi, two little girls, and usually taught them a lot. Write poems and songs.

Seeing disappointment on Youshi's weak and beautiful face that didn't wear makeup, she said: "I thought the south would be more peaceful, but I didn't want all the Jurchens to make trouble here in the south of the Yangtze River. I hope that Jinling City will not suffer from war."

The last time he went to war, she was worried. Fortunately, he won the battle in Haimen, but he didn't want Jurchen to refuse to let her go, and led the people to make a comeback.

And across the face of a screen painted with ladies, the spacious and elegantly furnished room is also brightly lit with candles, and the fragrance is wafting in the smoker cage. Warm and pleasant.

Yingying and Yanyan, pearls and jades, all of them are plump, white or greasy, or delicate, and there is also a look of worry on their faces.

In addition to the little girls like Chai Dai, Yun Tan, Wen Qi, Zhen Xi, etc., there is also Zhen Lan who came to visit her younger sister.

(End of this chapter)