The Red Mansions

Chapter 932 Emperor Chongping: Ziyu, don't let me down (ask for a monthly ticket!)

The sun rises and the moon sets, and time flies like an arrow.

After a few days, Jia Heng didn't go home to linger in the hometown of gentleness, but stayed in the Beijing camp all the time, staying with the general and school of the Beijing camp, preparing for various matters before dispatching troops.

First of all, Emperor Chongping issued a special decree in the morning that the Second Assistant of the Jin Cabinet, Shao Fu, and Minister of Rites, Han Huang, was the Bachelor of Huagai Palace and the Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, and Li Zanjin, the University of Wuying Palace and Shaobao, was the Second Assistant of the Cabinet.

So far, the situation of the Han Dynasty has been initially determined.

After that, Lin Ruhai, the Minister of the Household Department, went to Taiyuan to supervise the raising of money and food as an imperial envoy, so as to replenish the military supplies on the spot.

Qi Kun, Minister of the Household Department, was responsible for the supply of grain and fodder in Beiping, while Chen Cheng, the minister of the storehouse, Qijun Wang, was responsible for escorting the army grain to the front line of Datong.

Just like that, the [-] cavalry army led by Jia Heng also arrived at the time of departure.

In the 16th year of Chongping, on the [-]th day of the first lunar month, the weather became overcast and cloudy, and a bit of biting cold wind blew on the newly sprouted willows outside the city of Shenjing. The flag fluttered.

Shenjing City, North City Gate Gate Tower

"Woo!!!"

With the blowing of the horn, Emperor Chongping stood above the city wall, looking up at the mighty cavalry army, which stretched for several miles, and gradually went away.

The [-] cavalry troops of the Beijing battalion left Beijing in a mighty manner and headed for the Taiyuan Army Town, and the [-] infantry behind them would head for the Taiyuan Army Town with luggage and food in a few days later to replenish the army's food and supplies.

Emperor Chongping turned his eyes away from the banners covering the sky and the sun in the distance, and asked Li Zan, the second cabinet minister beside him, and said, "When will Li Qing leave?"

Li Zan said: "Weichen's side is also ready, let's leave immediately."

"With Li Qing in Beiping, I can rest easy." Emperor Chongping praised, with emotion in his eyes, and said: "I hope everything goes well in this battle."

This time, it can be said that he acted arbitrarily and appointed Ziyu to fight a crucial battle. If he wins again...

Ziyu, don't let me down.

Han Huang looked at the galloping army in the distance, and his mood was a little agitated. It was not because of the Northern Expedition Army, but because he had just been promoted to the chief assistant.

The head of the cabinet, Kui, is extremely courteous. He is under one person and above ten thousand people. He displayed his political ambitions and left his name in history.

On the other side, Princess Xianning, who was dressed in brocade clothes and flying fish clothes, looked at the Beijing army from a distance, and felt sorry for her pure and beautiful jade face.

She originally wanted to go with her husband, but the mother and concubine did not allow it, and the husband seemed to think that she was going to add trouble, after all, it was because of having a cousin.

Li Chanyue saw a look of worry on her beautiful face, and said softly: "Cousin, Mr. Jia is gone."

The cousin is so attached to Mr. Jia, and now Mr. Jia has gone to Taiyuan, and he has not seen him for several months.

Princess Xianning took Li Chanyue's hand, looked at Li Chanyue with clear eyes, and said in a low voice, "Chanyue."

Sometimes, she is not as good as her cousin, who can go to war with her husband.

"Cousin, let's go back first." Li Chanyue said.

Princess Xianning nodded, looking at the gradually invisible cavalry team.

After three days of fermenting public opinion, the people in Beijing and China have already turned their attention to this war. It can be said that not only the people of Shenjing, but also the whole Han Dynasty are concerned about this major event involving the national destiny of the two countries.

Naturally, Ningrong and Rongfu also received the news that Jia Heng was leading the army. Mother Jia sent several rounds of servants to inquire about the situation. Knowing that Jia Heng had already led the army, they were secretly worried.

Heng Wu Yuan

It was noon in spring, the spring was brilliant and beautiful, the temperature had risen a lot, and the golden soft light fell on the girl in the honey-colored jacket. Red, and when the head is slightly lowered, the earrings on the earlobe are shining brightly.

Baochai was sitting on the kang couch, and on the small table was a bamboo basket with needles, threads, scissors, etc. inside, and Baochai was sewing a thin piece of clothing in her hands.

It's not Jia Heng's clothes, but the girl's small clothes, these intimate clothes, Baochai and the girls in the garden are all made by themselves, without the hands of others.

Ying'er said softly, "Miss, uncle is gone."

Baochai paused for a moment, and put down the clothes in her hands, a hint of melancholy appeared on her pink and snowy face, and she sighed softly.

How does she not know.

Ever since I came back, I haven't said a word in her room, and I only met once during the Lantern Festival that day, but there were too many people at that time, so I couldn't say much.

Thinking of this, I sighed faintly in my heart, gathering less and leaving more, probably so.

It's fine if you go through the door.

Ying'er took the teacup full of tea and passed it over, saying, "Master is too busy, so I will go to Miss Lin's Xiaoxiang restaurant once when I come back."

Hearing this, Baochai put down the needle and thread in her hand, and said softly, "He has to be busy with outside affairs, it wasn't Uncle Lin who came that day."

With that said, he took the teacup and drank a cup of tea lightly.

Ying'er looked at Baochai, lowered her voice, and said, "There are too many people around the uncle, the matter of the girl must be settled earlier, at least let the old lady and the wife know, this time the uncle If so, you have made meritorious service."

In fact, after Jia Heng was made a first-class Marquis of Wu, or Baochai was one year older, his mentality changed somewhat, and he wanted to disclose his relationship with Jia Heng.

In other words, like a lover who is not public in the circle of friends, he begins to notice something is wrong.

And just as Baochai was thinking, another maid Wen Xing's voice came from under the eaves, saying, "Miss, Miss Lin is here."

Not long after the words fell, Daiyu, accompanied by Zijuan and Xiren, entered the house.

"Sister Bao, what are you doing in the house?" Daiyu wore a lake-blue embroidered orchid dress, a white collared jacket, and her starry eyes under her curved and smoky eyebrows were clear and bright, and asked Baochai.

Baochai stood up, with a smile on her face, she took Daiyu's hand naturally, and said softly, "Here you come."

Daiyu said coquettishly, "Come and see my sister."

Brother Heng is leading the army again, so she can only talk to Sister Bao for a few words of her own.

In the Ningguo Mansion, in front of Qin Keqing, Daiyu always had the feeling that she was a concubine (little third), but she didn't really go to look for Qin Keqing, but because of the "exchanging letters and reading" last time, she got more with Baochai A little close, and gradually there is a bit of plastic sisterhood with the same waiter.

Baochai pulled Daiyu to sit on the kang couch, and said with a chuckle, "He's going to fight today, and he didn't come to say goodbye to us."

Daiyu said: "Brother Heng has been in the Beijing camp for the past few days. This battle seems to be more dangerous than that in the south of the Yangtze River. Does Sister Bao know the reason?"

Seeing surprise in Baochai's almond eyes, she smiled slightly on her pink and jade-skinned face, and asked, "Didn't he tell my sister?"

Daiyu shook her head lightly, licked the powder to moisten her lips, and said: "The words were vague, and I didn't ask too much. Today I heard that my father will go to Taiyuan Mansion in two days, so I said yes." Raise food for the army."

"Then I don't know. After he returned to Beijing, he didn't come to my side." Baochai said with a calm smile on Lirui's jade face, seemingly casually.

Are you here to show off?

Daiyu: "..."

She really didn't mean that.

"Brother Heng is too busy, and Sister Qin seems to have only stayed there for one day." Dai Yu said softly.

Baochai seemed to sigh with emotion and said: "Yes, I just went back to Beijing for a few days, and then I went out again. I have been outside for a year or two."

Of course, the title also rises so fast like something.

Daiyu said softly, "I hope this year's battle can be won as soon as possible."

She and Sister Bao are also in the same boat. Since she and Brother Heng made love, they also get together less and leave more.

Chai and Dai were talking, when the maid from the outside came in with a smile and said: "Miss Bao, Miss Lin, Grandma Heng said that the palace gave me some things, so I will send some here for the girls to choose."

As they spoke, several nuns came in, holding pearl necklaces and all kinds of gold, silver, pearl and jade jewelry in the beautifully crafted brocade box.

Baochai smiled lightly and said, "I don't wear these very much, my sister quickly picks out two, they look better."

Daiyu said softly: "This is my sister's place, of course it is my sister who picks first."

This nanny is also very interesting, let's send it to Sister Bao first?

Baochai looked at the jewelry holding the brocade box in front of her, smiled and said, "It looks fine to me, but the objects in the palace are quite different from the outside."

As he spoke, he picked two pieces at random, one was a bracelet and the other was an earring.

And Daiyu also picked out a pair of earrings and a phoenix hairpin, and asked Zijuan and Xiren to keep them away. The two sisters sat together and talked again, and Jia Heng was the only one who could talk.

Baochai's moist almond eyes turned to look at the girl, and said softly: "Sister is worried about him."

Daiyu nodded, and said softly, "Sister is also worried about it."

Baochai sighed softly, and said: "So what can I do if I miss you, and I can't help you much. We can only take care of the family's affairs at home, and just don't let him worry about it."

Daiyu gave a "hmm".

No wonder he let Sister Bao take care of the business of the shop outside, because he knew she could do this.

Baochai smiled and asked, "This time when my uncle came back, did he tell my sister about the important things in her life?"

Daiyu's face was stunned, she pursed her pink lips, and said somewhat unnaturally: "I mentioned it."

She told Sister Bao like this, she wouldn't be jealous, would she?
Suspicion flashed across Baochai's watery almond eyes, and he smiled lightly and said, "Did he propose marriage to my uncle?"

This can be guessed, the hairy child has also reached his age, with his temperament.

Daiyu shook her head lightly, then nodded again, and said softly, "Talk to Daddy about my affairs."

Thinking of that person's straightforwardness and fieryness that day, why did he say it in front of his father, without trusting anyone.

Hearing this, Baochai took Daiyu's plain hand and said with a smile on her plump, white and greasy face, "What did uncle say?"

"Father agrees." Dai Yuyu said in a charming voice with a slightly shy cheek.

Baochai smiled lightly and said, "Sister Mao'er is a lucky one, we'll just wait for him to come back."

Now that Uncle Lin is in charge, the marriage is a sure thing.

As she said, she put her arms around Daiyu's shoulders, showing a deep affection for sisters.

……

……

At this moment, the cavalry troops drawn from the [-]th regiment of the Beijing camp were divided into several teams and quickly approached Taiyuan.

The vanguard of the five thousand cavalry led by Xie Zaiyi had already rushed to Taiyuan yesterday.

When night fell, the army was stationed in Tongzhou, and tents were placed on a large open space in the southwest of the city, while the governors of Tongzhou and the officials of the state government were busy preparing food, grass and luggage.

In a slightly larger tent, an oil fire was lit in a brazier, and the blazing flames illuminated the entire room, dispelling the darkness.

Jia Heng put down the marching map in his hand, came to the table, turned his eyes to the girl who was laying out all kinds of dishes and dishes, and asked, "Xiaoxiao, sit down and eat."

The two sat down.

Jia Heng looked at the girl and said softly: "At this moment, there is already a fight in Mongolia. When we get to Datong, don't be too late."

Chen Xiao picked up a piece of egg and put it in Jia Heng's bowl, said: "Although the Jurchens are brave, they should not be so fast. The Mongolian cavalry army is not a mob."

Jia Heng said: "I hope so."

It would be somewhat embarrassing if we waited until Datong and Mongolia was wiped out.

Under Chen Xiao's brows, she looked at the young man with bright eyes, and asked, "Are you also nervous?"

Jia Heng shook his head and said softly: "It's not that I'm nervous, it's just that the emperor placed high hopes on it. It's not yet known whether I can get all the merits."

Judging from the previous naval battles, the Jurchen Banner Ding was very brave. No one can say whether the Jingying cavalry can fight in the field.

Chen Xiao put down the chopsticks, gently took the young man's hand, and said in relief: "It's good to be normal, my father was not as good at fighting as you when he was young."

In fact, she could also feel his pressure. If she couldn't win this battle, those in the palace would be somewhat disappointed.

Jia Heng looked at the girl, and said with a light smile, "Then my son-in-law can be regarded as a young man."

When Chen Xiao heard this, Yanli's cheeks blushed slightly, her eyes showed a look of embarrassment, she picked up the chopsticks and knocked on Jia Heng's bowl, and said, "Let's eat your meal."

The two ate their meals in silence.

Jia Heng put down his chopsticks, took a handkerchief and wiped his mouth, his gaze turned clear again, and he said in a low voice: "The official document has already arrived in Shanxi, ordering the allocation of 40 shi of grain for military supplies. It’s probably impossible to get it all together.”

According to the record in "Du Zhi Zou Yi" written by Bi Ziyan, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs of the Ming Dynasty, ten thousand people need two hundred stones of rice a day, that is, two catties per day for one person, and an army of [-] will consume [-] rice a day. Shi, horses need a bunch of grass and three liters of soybean feed a day.

Food and grass should be prepared according to one month, that is 36 shi, and 40 shi is expected to be lenient.

On Chen Xiao's clear and beautiful face, she sized up the young man with shining eyes, and said, "Are you planning to use Shanxi merchants?"

Jia Heng said softly: "The eight Shanxi merchants have stores selling rice grains in Taiyuan, and Qu Lang has already gone to collect evidence of smuggling by the eight Shanxi merchants, and the news is only a few days old, but there is still a breakthrough in this matter. "

Thinking of this, he put down the teacup in his hand and called out: "Li Shu."

"Commander." Li Shu, a hundred households in brocade clothes, came from the outside, cupped his hands and said, "Commander, please give me your orders."

Jia Heng looked serious and asked, "Did Qu Zhenfu send any news?"

Li Shudao: "Go back to the governor, but it hasn't been delivered yet."

Jia Heng pondered and said: "Send someone to keep an eye on it, what about the grassland?"

"Just about to report back to the governor." Li Shu took out a short bamboo tube from the sleeve and said, "The governor, the Naiman tribe and the Aohan tribe have agreed to attack Mongolia and have sent troops."

In the past few days, from the original preparation stage to the launch of the offensive, the Jurchen annexation of Mongolia has officially kicked off.

Jia Heng took out the paper from the bamboo tube, read it, and handed it to Chen Xiao who was beside him.

Chen Xiaoqing's eyes flickered, after reading the words on it, she raised her eyes to look at Jia Heng, slightly parted her pink lips, spit out a few words, and said, "Soldiers are precious and fast."

Jia Heng said: "Let the generals pass down the order that the officers and soldiers should rest early and set off early tomorrow morning."

"Yes." Li Shu cupped his hands and left.

Jia Heng looked at Chen Xiao and said, "I'm in a hurry, first communicate with Er Zhe from Chahar Mongolia, and let him resist for a while."

If the military power of the two towns of Taiyuan and Datong is confiscated, and Shanxi merchants are seized, the whole process needs to be vigorous and resolute, and cannot be dragged along.

"I'll help you search for Shanxi merchants. You try your best to gather the military power of Datong, dispatch troops and generals, and contact E Zhe." Chen Xiao said in a cold voice, "I'll tell you if there is anything."

Jia Heng nodded and said, "Well, that's also good."

Xiaoxiao can now be regarded as his lieutenant general.

Time flies, and before you know it, three or four days have passed, and Jia Heng led the cavalry to head towards Taiyuan Mansion in Shanxi without stopping.

Taiyuan General Army Yamen, official office

In the front and back halls, soldiers holding Yanling swords are guarded tightly, and the six characters "Taiyuan Zongbing Yamen" are printed in Song style on the phoenix lantern under the corridor eaves.

In the hall, there were many people, with clear distinctions between them. Sitting on the lacquered pear flower chair on the left, Wang Chengyin, the commander-in-chief, was actually about fifty years old.

The full name of the commander-in-chief is the commander-in-chief of military affairs, who is the commander-in-chief in border towns, and admirals in localities. Generally, he is a second-rank general, but there are also high-ranking generals who follow the first rank, and Wang Chengyin is the latter.

Not far away were the governor of Shanxi Gu Binghe, the governor of Shanxi Luo Jingwen, and the commandant of Shanxi Xiang Bin.

Because Taiyuan is the prefecture of Shanxi, it is not only the place where the governor is stationed, but also a lot of government offices. However, because Wang Chengyin holds a heavy army and Taiyuan's special military status, his authority is not under the governor.

Wang Chengyin paused, and said in a deep voice: "Master Gu, the Beijing Cavalry Army will arrive in a few days, and the official document to raise money and food has already been sent to the governor's office. I wonder if the two adults have prepared the food and fodder for the army?"

This Yongning Marquis Xing soldier came here, and he insisted on participating in the battle of Jurchen to destroy Mongolia with his full stomach, because he was afraid that Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was aimed at Peigong and came to rectify Taiyuan's military affairs.

This Marquis of Yongning is not as easy to fool as King Beijing.

Gu Binghe glanced at Luo Jingwen, and with a smile on his old face, he said, "Lord Luo, have you ever prepared all the food and fodder for the clan?"

Luo Jingwen looked hesitant, and said in a low voice: "There is still 30 shi of grain in the treasury of the Fuzhong, but this is emergency food before spring plowing and summer harvest. We can only take 20 shi to supply the army temporarily, and let the court transfer it later."

Commander Xiang Bin of Shanxi capital frowned, and said in a deep voice: "The Beijing camp has dispatched 40 cavalry this time. These carry rations and not much luggage. We need Shanxi to supply the army for one month. The household department means Shanxi. Raise first, and then the Ministry of Households will reduce and exempt this year's summer grain after the event, and first pay for all [-] shi of grain, and then raise the rest."

This is a strategy proposed by Lin Ruhai and Qi Kun. One is to ensure that the cavalry has no shortage of supplies, and the other is to appropriately save manpower for transportation.

That is, instead of appropriating the hundreds of thousands of shi of grain from the household department, it will be supplied locally by the Shanxi treasury, and then subtracted from the amount of money and grain that was handed over to the household department for the summer grain that year.

Of course, the food and fodder will be transferred from Shenjing in the future, otherwise, Shanxi will not be able to support so much food and fodder.

The governor of Shanxi, Gu Binghe, had a stern look on his fair face, and said in a deep voice: "What Commander Xiang said is true, the military situation is as urgent as sparks, and the most urgent thing is that there is no shortage of military rations. The remaining [-] shi, let the prefectures and counties in the lower Shanxi Collect some, one hundred thousand shi is not too much, just a few hundred shi in each county."

At this time, Luo Jingwen's face showed embarrassment, and said: "Master Gu, last year a lot of autumn grain from Shanxi was transferred to Beijing for supply, and now all counties are fighting famine, I'm afraid it's not easy to collect the [-] stone grain and fodder. There are other beans and hay, and there is no supplement in the treasury."

Gu Binghe said: "But the military situation is like a fire. If the military plane is delayed, it's not a joke. Then you will suffer the common people."

The general who conquers the captives, equipped with the emperor's sword, can cut first and then play.

Luo Jingwen said: "If you don't want to think about any other ideas, the lower officials mean that the Jingying will buy grain from the merchants, and it will also solve the problem of transshipment?"

Jiang Yan, the prefect of Taiyuan, was a middle-aged official with thin cheeks. He took over the conversation and said: "What Master Fantai said is very true. Since the imperial court wants to transfer grain and fodder from Shenjing, it is better to buy rice grain in Shanxi and save the need to transfer it. It’s a waste, this army probably won’t only fight for a month, I heard there are still infantry coming from behind.”

If the imperial court spends money to buy grain and fodder, it will be a big deal.

Gu Binghe twirled his beard with his hands, and said: "This matter has also been mentioned in the official documents of the imperial court. The Ministry of Household Affairs sent a minister to buy grain."

"Father, the soldiers and horses from the Beijing camp have arrived." Wang Deng, the son of Wang Chengyin, hurriedly entered the flower hall of the back house, and cupped his hands towards Wang Chengyin.

Wang Chengyin looked at Gu Bingwen who was on the side, and said, "Master Gu, Lord Luo, Commander Xiang, and Lord Jiang, let's go and greet him together."

Everyone nodded and got up from their seats.

At this moment, the [-] cavalry troops who arrived one day earlier were the governor of the Guoyong camp and his acquaintance Xie Zaiyi. At this moment, the cavalry general of the Beijing camp, who is famous for riding and archery, stopped the cavalry behind him and looked forward. The tall city wall of Taiyuan.

As an important city guarding the Guanzhong, the Taiyuan City Wall is much more majestic than other city walls.

Accompanied by the heavy sound of "squeak...", the winch turned, and the gate of the copper ingot was slowly opened. After a while, there were a lot of officials coming from the inside.

There are literature and martial arts, gradually approaching the front.

"In front is General Xie." Wang Chengyin, the leader of the Datong General Soldier on the horse, clasped his fists at Xie Zaiyi.

Xie Zaiyi returned the salute and said, "General Wang."

Wang Chengyin got off his horse, and then, like a signal, all the generals behind him got off their horses one after another.

The governor of Shanxi, the chief envoy, the magistrate of Taiyuan and others also got off their sedan chairs one after another, came from behind the cavalry, came to the front, greeted Xie Zaiyi and exchanged greetings.

(End of this chapter)