Chapter 1003
Jia Qiang's Practice at the Pier
Chapter 1003 Jia Qiang's Practice at the Pier
"Report, Lord Marquis, Captain Ji sent a secret report that the exit of the secret passage to the west has been found. It is inside the Anyang Mountains. Captain Ji has arranged for people to investigate. About a thousand people escaped and went straight to the depths of the mountains. After two hours of pursuit, nothing was found. That's why he ordered me to come and deliver the message."
Sheriff's Mansion,
In the main hall,
The kneeling person was none other than He Yixiu, a centurion of the Imperial City Division, who had just returned from exploring the tunnel. This time he was covered in dirt and looked very embarrassed. It was obvious that he had suffered a lot in the cave and had wasted so much effort.
"It's so far, from the county governor's mansion to the Anyang Mountains, it's at least dozens of miles. Since the tunnel can accommodate one person, it shows that the mountain in the backyard is really piled up. In this case, Captain He, you should notify Captain Ji to withdraw the people and guard the cave entrance. Let the brothers have a good rest. You've been busy all day."
Zhang Jinyu thought about it and decided that since the people had already escaped, it would be useless to look for them again. Unless he really wanted to go to war for a few people, he might as well go south and meet a few of them.
"Yes, sir, I will go back and pass on the message."
He Yixiu's face was filled with gratitude and excitement. He had been busy from morning till night and had barely had a chance to eat. He also let the thief escape. Fortunately, the Marquis was kind and righteous. He bowed his head and the thief left the main hall.
King Zhou Ding of Jin, who was sitting on the east side of the table, filled a cup with wine and raised his glass.
"My Lord, this time I went south, I fought three battles, won three battles, wiped out the enemy army, and shocked the world. I would like to thank you here."
He stood up and spoke, finished the drink in his hand, and then bowed. How could Zhang Jinyu accept it casually? He also stood up and returned the greeting, saying;
"Your Highness is too polite. The victory in the south this time was all thanks to the emperor's reputation and the officers under his command. How can I be greedy for credit? The people of the world are with the court, not with the rebels. I have the right time, place and people. How can the rebel leader not be defeated?"
Zhang Jinyu said it aloud, but he also had a little suspense in his heart. He originally thought that the area inside the Great Wall was rich and powerful. The rebellion of the two religions was like tearing off the fig leaf of the court. Many governors in various parts of the country had different intentions, and the princes were even more ambitious. The court was in dispute, and the civil officials were in internal friction, so that the local areas were in chaos.
As a result, the people were living in misery. When dry wood meets a raging fire, it will only burn out. These seem to be a replica of the Ming Dynasty in the previous life. It is said that the Ming Dynasty fell under Chongzhen, but some history books say that the Ming Dynasty actually fell under Wanli, and some history books say that the Ming Dynasty began to fall under Jiajing. No matter who was responsible for the fall, the emperor cannot escape responsibility.
"My Lord is still so humble. It is natural that the soldiers are brave. A general should set an example. That is the job of a general. Only a commander can coordinate the overall situation and win the battle thousands of miles away. My Lord's use of troops is unpredictable, but I am still a little worried."
After the two of them sat down, they picked up their chopsticks again and put some meat and vegetables into their mouths, as if they were two good friends, chatting at leisure. It can be said that only now did Zhang Jinyu know that the eldest prince really wanted to seize the throne. Of course, the eldest son of the legitimate wife usually has innate advantages, one is age, and the other is the order of seniority.
The civil officials of the imperial court all read the teachings of the sages. This is unmatched. It all depends on how the two princes perform. When I think of this, I will recall the bravery of the second prince, the literary talent of the third prince, and the calmness of the eldest prince in front of me. It is difficult to make a decision.
"I wonder what you are worried about, Your Highness?"
"My Lord, it is said that these bandits are good at hiding and are difficult to wipe out. Even if there is one person left, they will revive. I want to complete the task in one battle and completely wipe out the two bandits to prevent future troubles."
These words were very decisive, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed across King Jin's face. Obviously, he was not just talking, but Zhang Jinyu smiled bitterly in his heart, thinking that he was taking it for granted.
Not to mention him, since the emergence of the White Lotus Sect, who in every dynasty has wanted to wipe them out? But who has done it? This thing cannot be eliminated by wiping them out. If the people are hungry, sooner or later the Black Lotus and Yellow Lotus will appear.
"Your Highness, the world is in chaos. What we need to do now is to stabilize the government. The soldiers in the Beijing camp have suffered heavy casualties. They need to be replenished in Beijing. The Taiping Sect and the White Lotus Sect are serious threats, but they cannot be completely eliminated. For now, we can only drive them to Lingnan for prevention."
The words were cryptic, but they also pointed out the situation in the court. Now is not the time to consider these traitors, but to consider future matters. In other words, it is what the emperor should consider. Now it is just a prince, and it is too much to consider.
The King of Jin was startled, he sat there thinking carefully, what the Marquis said made sense, he originally thought that he needed to completely wipe out the leaders of the two sects, but now it seems that even Marquis Luo Yun is not sure, he can only drive them away, although the three counties of Lingnan are not small, but the mountains are high and the water is far, the miasma is everywhere, and the Shanyue tribe is undisciplined, so perhaps this is a safe way, after all, he feels a little unwilling.
"What does the Marquis think?"
"Go south to Weizhou and capture Linyuefu, then cut off the White Lotus Sect's retreat route, capture Linzhou, Qinzhou and other places, and encircle the White Lotus Sect's main force. In this way, the two sects will be defeated and unable to recover. All that's left is to use Weizhou as a place to store food, garrison Linyuefu and Linzhou, and block the enemy in the Lingnan area. The rebellion in southern Beijing can be brought to an end."
This is also Zhang Jinyu's general idea. The lifeblood of the court, the Beijing Camp and the Imperial Guards, cannot be held in his own hands forever. If the war goes well, there will definitely be a group of old ministers who will come out to make trouble. If it does not go well, there will also be people who will talk behind your back. Therefore, how to grasp the benefits is a science. Fortunately, every city can produce a lot, which is enough to appease the soldiers.
The King of Jin looked at Marquis Luo Yun steadily. He didn't seem to be lying. These were good ideas. Linzhou, Weizhou, and Linyue Mansion just blocked the southern part of Beijing. It seemed that the Marquis had already made up his mind. Thinking of his father's instructions to him in Beijing, he tried his best to wipe out the high-ranking officials of the two sects. I'm afraid there is not much hope.
"Well, then, I'll do as the Marquis says. If there's a chance to destroy the bandit leader,
After a pause, he asked,
"If we really encounter the leader of the bandits, surround and kill him at all costs."
Zhang Jinyu picked up the wine cup and said coldly,
"Okay, my lord, let's do it."
"Dry."
Beijing,
At the dock outside the West City, Jia Qiang had packed his clothes and brought the servant from Jia Rong's mansion, the brothers from the two mansions, and the eldest brother of the Xue family. They all asked for two tables at the tavern on the dock.
Drink together to celebrate Jia Qiang's practice.
Xue Pan also learned about this later, and he felt a little guilty towards Jia Qiang. After all, although he knew about the affairs of the mansion, he never dared to step forward to help. He hid in the yard for many days. With his temper, how could he stay calm? If Xue Baochai hadn't sent someone to watch him, he would have come out long ago.
The day before yesterday, when he heard that Jia Qiang was going to Jiangnan, he could no longer hold back, so he found Jia Qing and others, and calculated the date. He would host the wedding for Jia Qiang at the dock.
on the table,
Everyone was silent. Even in a good life, there were always troubles. Xue Pan was a little depressed. He looked at everyone, slammed the table hard, and took a pot of wine to fill the wine bowls in front of everyone, and said;
"My dear brothers, these days, I have been helped by you. As an elder brother, I am ashamed. I have heard about what happened to Brother Qiang, but I am an outsider after all. I am not surnamed Jia, so I dare not get involved. It is reasonable for the brothers to blame me. I will drink this bowl of wine first as an apology."
He pursed his lips, picked up the wine bowl in his hand, and drank it all in one gulp, not caring about the residual liquid left at the corner of his mouth. His expression was a little complicated. The others didn't know what to say, so they looked at Jia Qiang who was sitting there quietly. After not seeing him for a few days, Brother Qiang had changed a lot.
"Brother Xue, Brother Xue, how dare I blame you? If it weren't for the small change you sent me in time, I wouldn't even have a full meal after I got out of prison. Besides, Brother Xue is also staying at Rongguo Mansion temporarily, so it's really not easy for me to interfere."
Jia Qiang also picked up the wine cup and drank it slowly. His words were mostly polite. Jia Qing and others felt strange. It seemed that the eldest brother of the Xue family was not really sincere.
I don't know if Xue Pan didn't understand, he just laughed.
"Oh, Brother Qiang, I don't have anything to give you on your trip to Jiangnan. Here is some money, one hundred taels of silver, enough for your food and drink on the road. Don't be bad on yourself. It is said that a poor family makes a rich journey. Be careful out there."
Everyone was a little stunned, but looking at Xue Pan's face, it didn't seem like he was lying, so everyone's faces looked much better. Jia Qiang looked at Brother Xue steadily, a little dazed, and smiled. Looking at the silver coins on the table, he didn't hesitate, stretched out his hand to take it, and wrapped it around his waist.
"Thank you, Brother Xue, for your advice. I will never forget it. This trip to Jiangnan is also for Master Zhen's funeral. It will take more than half a month to go back and forth. If I delay for a few more days, it will be the end of the month. Then, I will come back and gather with all the brothers. This time, it's my turn to toast. Cheers."
The heroic spirit was immediately apparent, and the atmosphere at the table became much more lively. Jia Qing and others also stood up and clasped their fists.
"Brother Qiang, take care on your journey. Let's put aside the school affairs for now. We have already enrolled. The teacher who came here is quite talented. After Brother Qiang comes back, we will study hard and pass the imperial examination one day."
I was inspired. Now that Jia Lan has emerged from the Jia family and is an official in the capital, the majesty of the great grandmother is getting more and more important. Who wouldn't want to be grateful? Therefore, many of the children of the Jia family really want to study. Fortunately, the great grandmother is kind and righteous. Not only does she give each of them a monthly allowance of three taels of silver, but she also provides them with a meal. Who wouldn't remember the great grandmother's kindness?
"Yes, Brother Qiang, they say that everything is inferior except for studying. I have wasted a lot of time and I am really ashamed. I was able to get a place this time thanks to Brother Qiang. I would like to thank you, Brother."
Jia Qin bowed and led everyone to bow together.
"Thank you, brother,"
Jia Qiang blushed, how dare he argue for the credit, he said hurriedly;
"Everyone, we brothers have been through thick and thin together. It's no big deal to say these words. Today, I'm leaving. I want to thank Brother Xue and all the brothers for coming here to see you off. It's said that after sending you a thousand miles, you must say goodbye. Today, we should drink heartily. Cheers." "Cheers,"
Everyone was toasting each other, and after three rounds of wine and five kinds of dishes, they were eating happily. However, as they were about to leave, Jia Qin was not good at drinking. After drinking three cups of wine, his face was ruddy and he was a little drunk. I don’t know if he couldn’t help it, but he slammed the table and cursed;
"Brother Qiang, Jia Rong is really not a good son. Master Zhen passed away, but he didn't go to the funeral. He asked you to go. It's obvious that he has bad intentions. A few days ago, I found him in Rongguo Mansion. His face was ruddy. He didn't look sick at all."
"That's right. Others may not know, but we brothers know that the three concubines in the mansion followed him to the mansion. Maybe he married them under a different name."
Jia Fang was also full of jealousy, as he always encountered good things. Xue Pan's eyes lit up with curiosity when he heard this. These were all bad things, and he had heard them all while living in Rongguo Mansion. In the past, people said that Jia Rong was timid, but in his opinion, it was all nonsense. He could do such things and not shy away from others, which showed that he was a real man. He didn't know how pretty the three concubines were, but it was a pity that they were all members of the Jia family and it was not easy for him to get involved.
The more they talked, the angrier they became. Jia Qiang tried to appease them, saying:
"Everyone, you must not talk about these things. Today is a farewell. You and I cannot ask about the affairs of the mansion. The West Manor is managed by the Second Madam, and the East Manor is managed by the First Madam. It is not your turn. As for Brother Rong, I heard that he was divided among the three concubines and sent back to his hometown. No matter what, you must keep your mouth shut now. It is a safer thing for you brothers to study more."
It was also a kind persuasion. Now it was different from the past. The younger generation could not participate in the affairs of the master family.
It seemed that the time was almost up, and the manager downstairs sent someone upstairs to shout,
"Mr. Qiang, the time has come, let's get on board."
"Okay, I'll be right there,"
After answering, Jia Qiang stood up and bowed to everyone, saying,
"Brothers, Brother Xue, please take care and see you later."
"See you later,"
After farewell,
Jia Qiang took the package and hurried downstairs. Everyone was very reluctant to let him go, and they didn't know when they would be able to return. Just when everyone was feeling depressed, Xue Pan patted the table and said,
"Everyone, it's a rare opportunity for us to come out. We won't go back to the capital. We'll stay at the dock. Aren't there those sisters? Come on, come on, brother will clear the guests, and we brothers will have some fun."
After that, he called everyone to go to the brothel at the dock, and each of them ordered a girl. There was no other jokes, and they just performed the Zhougong etiquette in a hurry.
Only at the dock, Jia Qiang was alone, boarding the marquis's merchant ship and drifting downstream.
inside the city,
Rongguo Mansion,
In the Pear Garden, Ping'er got up early every day, drove the people in the courtyard out to do the work, and left herself alone in the room to accompany them. It is said that there is no beauty in the military camp, and sows are as beautiful as Diao Chan. It is absolutely true.
Second Master and Grandma have been together for a few days and have seldom gone out. There are so many things going on in the mansion, and they are all over the place.
Especially today, someone from Master Rong came to inform that someone else had gone to Jiangnan. I waited for him all morning, but I didn't dare to go into the inner room to disturb him. While I was hesitating,
Grandma's voice came from the inner room.
"Ping'er, come in and change your clothes,"
"I got it, grandma,"
Ping Er carefully lifted the curtain and opened the door to go in. She saw a screen with a picture of a beautiful woman and her grandmother's clothes hanging on it. She walked around the screen and went inside. The clothes were scattered on the floor, making it a mess.
When he looked up, he saw his grandmother sitting on the bed, her face rosy and her snow-white plumpness looming, while the second master was still sleeping soundly with his chest exposed. He felt a little shy, so he quickly took the clothes and put them on his grandmother. After a while, she was finally dressed properly.
"Go outside and serve the meal. When the Second Master gets up, you can change his clothes."
"This is grandma,"
Ping Er was a little puzzled. Normally, when the Second Master changed his clothes, it would never be her turn. Could it be that Grandma had other intentions? She responded at first, and then heard Grandma ask;
"Is there anything important going on in the mansion these past two days?"
Wang Xifeng sat down, picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, and moistened her throat. It was all because of Jia Lian's lack of sympathy for her that her throat became a little hoarse, but at least her longing for her was resolved. When she thought of this, she would think of the night when the hoarse shouting came from the grandmother's room, and she couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
"In reply to Grandma, the housekeeper still comes to pay respects every day. Everything is as usual. The garden repair is progressing very quickly, especially the main hall, which has already started to build its outline. There is also something else happening outside the house."
Ping Er squatted on the ground, constantly collecting clothes for Grandma, thinking of Rong Ge's words, who didn't know how they got through.
Wang Xifeng raised her eyes and asked with a half-smile:
"Why, is there anyone who is blind enough to miss this opportunity?"
"Grandma, that's not the case. Yesterday, Zhong'er from Rong's house came here and said that Rong missed Master Zhen so much that he accidentally fell off the wall and injured his leg. He couldn't go to Jiangnan, so he discussed with Jia Qiang and decided that he would go to Jiangnan on behalf of Dongfu to attend the funeral. The time they set for the trip is today."
Ping'er's eyes flickered. Although the things in the East Palace were not secrets, they were not known to everyone. After all, the three concubines had entered the palace.
Wang Xifeng put down her tea bowl and snorted coldly. It sounded nice. There were a few things about the rich and powerful families that could be kept secret from her. But since they had already discussed it, it was not impossible.
"It's settled. Since we've already discussed it, there's no need to spread it. By the way, it's said that after Jia Rong returned, he divided the family again and sent those three away again. Is that true?"
Wang Xifeng was somewhat suspicious. She had seen those three concubines before. Although they were not extremely charming, their looks were top-notch, especially their graceful figures. Given the temperament of the men in the Jia family, how could she let them go back?
Ping Er did not hide it, she put the clothes in her hands on the chair, leaned over and whispered;
"Grandma, they said they sent her back, but a day later, they changed her identity and brought her back. I don't know where Rong found three girls to replace the three concubines. A few days later, she was sent away from the farm."
These can't be found out, but unfortunately, the two manors are building forts, and the East Manor's Manager Yu has to send people to the manor every day to report the progress of the construction, no matter how big or small the things on the manor are, how can they be concealed?
So, just ask around and you'll know.
"Haha, I've become more cautious. If that's the case, we should keep it a secret. After all, they were bought by the Jia family with money. If Jia Rong really likes them, he can make them slaves. Even if he marries them as concubines in the future, they can still have children, which can be considered as expanding the family. The old lady won't tell you, but she should still be thinking about these things."
After a sigh, she recalled the time when Jia's mother talked about the East Mansion. She sighed and said that these things were always a thorn in her heart. Then she thought of her belly and could not help but touch it. She did not know if she could get pregnant in the next few days. Her eyes were full of longing.
(End of this chapter)