Chapter 925
Finally Arrived at the Camp
Chapter 925 Finally Arrived at the Camp
In the courtyard of Rongguo Mansion,
After finishing their meal, the waiters began to take turns to work, replacing those who had just started working.
This substitution,
The courtyard was noisy again. There were so many people and it was hard to say much.
Wang Xifeng thought about it and finally softened her heart, but she still had to give the money.
"Don't worry about what he might do. Everything in the mansion is clearly accounted for. No one can break the rules. You can go without worry. Just ask him for three thousand taels of silver. No, three thousand two hundred taels of silver. Just say that it was me who asked you to do so."
Jia Qiang was overjoyed when he heard this, and he bowed again and thanked him.
"Thank you, Second Madam. Jia Qiang has nothing to repay you for. These days, I don't even have enough money to eat. I am really desperate."
Thinking of the grievances of the past few days, his eyes turned red and tears fell. Jia Qing and others also felt sympathetic and looked unhappy. They were a little careless.
"Alright, a grown man, why do you have to cry? The mansion has its own difficulties. Ningguo Mansion can't afford to support so many people, so they are sent out. Even if they are concubines, they should be nice. Find a place to stay first, and then send them out. Don't say anything nonsense. Ping'er, according to the rules of the mansion, those who move to a new house, give 20 taels of silver to Qiang'er, as a gift in advance from me, grandma."
Seeing that Jia Qiang agreed with what she had just said, Wang Xifeng no longer looked stern. She first tried to comfort him, saying that the affairs of the Jia Mansion were handled within the mansion.
"Don't worry, grandma. Jia Qiang knows what can and cannot be said. Since grandma has made arrangements, who dares to say anything? I don't know what will happen when I go to Rong'er's house tomorrow. I am still a little worried."
The second wife has negotiated terms for me, which are fair. I have a way out, so I can't be ungrateful. With this money and a small courtyard, I have a place to settle down.
His future life would be satisfactory, with money from his job as a steward in Ningguo Mansion, and he would find an ordinary woman to marry. However, deep down in his heart, he was still somewhat unwilling.
Not to mention that Jia Rong had taken all the benefits, and the three concubines followed him to the mansion, but he didn't know that he didn't even have a servant around him, and he didn't know whether Rong Ge'er would be willing to see him.
"Why, are you still afraid that he will act tough? If that doesn't work, let Lai Wang accompany you there. When you get there, tell him what I said and ask him to give you 3,500 taels of silver. From now on, your two families will be even. As for the servants, "
Wang Xifeng was also in a dilemma. Most of the servants in Ningguo Mansion had been dismissed long ago. The remaining ones were all in Madam You's courtyard. In the front yard, there were still some old people following Lai Sheng. The rest were just in charge of the gatehouse. It seemed that all the maids who served people were taken away by Jia Rong. There were quite a few prostitutes.
"Well, there are still many maids in Ningguo Mansion. You can pick a few to take back with you. If you want the people in the backyard, they have all followed Rong Ge'er back to the mansion, so it may be difficult to ask for them."
As the saying goes, once you have eaten the meat in your mouth, you cannot spit it out easily. This is true for money and even more so for women. If you are really greedy, you will definitely not be able to pull your mouth out. After all, those prostitutes were bought with money. So, some things need to be made clear.
Jia Qiang waved his hands repeatedly. The Second Mistress had given him enough face. It was 3,200 taels just now, but in the blink of an eye it became 3,500 taels. She could get so much with just a few words. This showed the Second Mistress's power.
exactly,
There happened to be a shop for sale in the South City. The owner was in the medicinal materials business. Now he has retired and returned to his ancestral home, and is thinking of a way to sell it. However, because the shop is in the South City, no dignitaries live there, so the business is not as good as the East City and the West City. But the profit is small and the sales are high, so the shop is still okay. One room costs 3,000 taels of silver, and the annual rent is more than 300 taels, which can be regarded as an industrial income.
"Grandma, what are you talking about? From now on, I still rely on you for my livelihood. How dare I put forward any more conditions? I dare not ask for a maid because I can't even afford the monthly allowance. But I can ask for two maids to serve me. I dare not think too much about what will happen in the future."
The implication is that if you want to start a family and establish a career, you can't even marry a woman from a small family. It would be better to just have two pretty maids to serve you. Even if they are maids who accompany you to the bedroom, you can still leave a successor.
Wang Xifeng blinked her eyes and looked at Jia Rong, who was still looking at her with a hint of anger. She secretly said what a pity it was. If Brother Zhen was still here, he would have a share in the shops. Now, in the eyes of the old lady, Jia Rong was the only legitimate heir. Although Jia Rong was right, he could not explain many things.
"Okay, I promise you. I do have a group of maids in Ningguo Mansion, some of them are pretty, and I plan to find good families for them to marry.
Since you've spoken, I can't help but give you face, Ping'er, pick two nice ones and send them to Qiang'er. By the way, for the house expenses, the two mansions just happened to have moved out a lot of things from the demolition of the house. If you see something suitable, you can pick it first, how about it?"
"Thank you, Second Madam, for your kindness."
There was a great cheer, and Jia Qiang respectfully took the oar.
"That's good, Ping'er, I'm back."
"Yes, grandma."
Having said that, without further ado, Wang Xifeng took Ping'er along the path in the courtyard, made a circle and returned to the Pear Garden, as if the matter was insignificant.
The remaining Jia Qiang finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and bowed to Jia Qing and the others.
"Thank you brothers for your help. Jia Qiang will never forget it and will keep it in mind. We still need to find a way to make a living, so we will make long-term plans."
Who is willing to be a servant for the rest of his life? If possible, he would still like to earn more money. Why can't he do the business of the Duke's Mansion?
This bow was made with all sincerity, and the others were unwilling to accept it because they were all brothers.
"Hurry up and get up, how can Brother Qiang be so polite? I've been waiting for you as a brother, come on, eat meat, eat meat."
"Yes, come and sit down."
After another round of invitations, everyone sat down again, ordered a table of food, and started eating.
Wang Xifeng, who had returned to the opera house, was unhappy. As soon as she entered the room, she walked to the table angrily and sat down. She took a few sips of tea from the tea bowl and cursed;
"No one in the Jia family is a good person. They are playing tricks on me. Jia Rong said it nicely at the beginning, so Jia Qiang's share should be taken as well. The shops in the East Market and the West Market are worth at least 30,000 taels each. Just take them. You should also negotiate the conditions. Now you have come to me."
I was still angry and wanted to come up with some ideas to calm down, but when I thought about my sister-in-law, I needed to keep her safe. How could I dare to stir up trouble?
So, this anger, towards the two people in Ningguo Mansion, can't be vented, and there are three troublemakers, why didn't I notice it before? If it is really not possible to take a concubine, everyone will want to think about it, but the wife of the main house, living alone in the East Garden,
"Grandma, why don't you give them some trouble so that I can vent my anger. They are blind people who don't even know when to speak."
Ping Er came over, poured tea for Grandma, and helped her come up with ideas.
"You little rascal, you actually have such a mind. I think you are causing trouble for me, your grandmother. As for the Ningguo Mansion, the old lady needs stability. Since you have accepted it, this matter is over. It is right for you to focus on the account book of repairing the garden."
Wang Xifeng had given a lot of power to the housekeeper in the mansion. Now all his energy was involved in the account book of the garden renovation. From the labor to the buffet tonight, every expense was very particular. How could he make ends meet if he was stripped of all the money?
"Don't worry, grandma. I kept all the money I handled according to the old rules. There's even a lot more, so you can't tell."
Ping'er knew it in her heart. The so-called old rule was to keep 10%. Now she had at least 20% profit, so she had enough money for her grandmother to buy the shop.
"Well, that's enough, take a break,"
After a while of fiddling,
The master and servant went to bed, turned off the lights, and continued as usual.
On the official road south of Tongzhou City, the imperial court's nearly 300,000 troops were marching southwards, like a torrent of iron. The black sky was dotted with stars, but they were obscured by the surging light on the official road. The army was approaching from far away, like a fire dragon. The sounds of footsteps, horse hooves, and wheels were intertwined, and the momentum was overwhelming.
"Report, Lord, we are less than five miles away from the first camp. The scouts reported that General Hu has already built the camp and will continue to lead his troops south. He said he will set up camp at the next location and set out again tomorrow afternoon, which is just the right time to avoid the enemy."
outside the car,
Ning Bian was riding a horse outside to report, while inside the car, Zhang Jinyu had been lying on Lan Yue'er's legs and had slept for a long time, with a blanket covering him. On the other side, Jin Wang Zhou Ding wanted to follow the etiquette, but after nightfall, he felt very sleepy. Seeing that Luo Yunhou was so frank, he simply followed his example and lay on the wide seat at the back of the car, taking a nap. Xia Yu sat beside him, yawning from time to time.
The two eunuchs serving at the door were also trying hard not to close their eyes.
Hearing the noise outside the car, Zhang Jinyu opened his eyes angrily and asked, "What time is it?"
"My dear, it's almost midnight,"
Lan Yue'er was still awake. She opened the car window and looked out at the sky. She estimated the time and told the time. Zhang Jinyu sat up, lifted the blanket, stretched his numb shoulders, and gave instructions to the outside;
"Ningbian, tell the brothers that when we get to the camp, each unit will take turns eating. You can sleep two more hours tomorrow. After noon, you will set off immediately."
"Yes. Lord Marquis."
Ning Bian responded outside, and with a wave of his hand, the messengers around him dispersed and passed the order forward. At the front of the team were the Imperial Guards' Right Guard and Xiao Cheng's troops. After knowing the marching route, they saw the camp that stretched for several miles in front of them, with bright lights and bonfires illuminating the sky. Although they were not convinced in their hearts, the marching strategy that Luo Yunhou showed was extremely unexpected.
"Commander, I never thought that Marquis Luo Yun had such a method. The original seven-day journey could be shortened by half. His method is amazing. There is no mention of this in the Art of War."
Deputy General Chen Shang rode on horseback, looking at the nearby camp, where many soldiers were cooking. He could not even imagine eating hot meals at this time.
"Nonsense, how can the military manual teach you when to set up camp and cook? Luo Yunhou is really as famous as he is. After arriving at Daliang City, many bandit troops are afraid that they can't return. We are too fast."
While he was sighing, a messenger came running over and shouted loudly;
"The Marquis has ordered that we enter the camp to eat in order and set out at noon tomorrow."
According to the marching speed of the team, the messenger ran from the back to the front, delivering orders one by one, his voice a little hoarse.
In less than half an hour, the camp ahead came into view, and He Xiaocheng immediately gave the order, saying;
"Chen Shang, hurry up and have the brothers go to the main camp to eat, and then find a place to set up camp and rest at the entrance of the South Camp. We will leave early tomorrow morning. If we stay with the people from the Beijing Camp and arrive at Daliang City late, I'm afraid there will be some things that I can't say. Counting four days, we can arrive half a day earlier."
"Yes, Commander, I understand."
Chen Shang nodded in response. The commander had explained the previous matter, but Luo Yunhou's central army was behind him, less than two hours away, not much faster, so the commander was right to worry.
He called his personal soldiers and ran to the front. He first went to the camp captain to inquire about the situation.
"How did you eat?"
The baggage officer of the camp was standing at the gate at this moment. He thought that it was the carriages of Marquis Luo Yun and His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin that had arrived. However, when they arrived at the gate, they looked so arrogant that it was obvious that they were the old soldiers of the Imperial Guard. They replied in their nasal cavities,
"Oh, so you are the brothers of the Imperial Guard. Of course, there is a place to eat. There is an open space at the south end. The food is all stewed with meat. Just eat it. Come in quickly."
Seeing the imperial guards still riding on their horses, the baggage camp manager looked unhappy. On weekdays, even the generals were polite to him, so how could he be looked down upon? He cursed inwardly, "They are really the master's soldiers who don't know the rules."
The deputy general Chen Shang, who was riding on the horse, also had an unpleasant look on his face. It was obvious that this person was not waiting for him. A small lieutenant actually gave him a cold look. He wanted to scold him, but seeing that the army had entered the camp, how could he delay any longer? He snorted coldly, waved his whip, severely whipped his horse, and galloped away.
The baggage handler who was left behind looked at him coldly and cursed him;
"Who are you doing this for? If it weren't for the arrangement of Prince Jin and Marquis Luo Yun, you would have thought you could eat the food made by the Beijing Camp. Ugh!"
"Your Excellency, you must not do this. Don't let anyone see it. The old soldiers of the Imperial Guard have always been arrogant, not to mention the people of the Right Guard. They are like donkeys and horses. You should pull them out and see them. You may run into the main force of the enemy army when you go south. Let's see if they are as arrogant as usual."
A confidant comforted him, saying that even though they were arrogant now, once they really showed off their weapons, it would be clear if the imperial guards were the masters' soldiers.
"Humph, that depends on their luck. If they flee from the battlefield, others may not dare to say anything, but Luo Yunhou really dares to kill people with a knife."
The steward waved his hands, feeling much better. He looked outside and estimated that it would take a while for the Beijing army to arrive, so he immediately ordered,
"You, go back and heat up the dishes and serve them carefully. When the prince and the marquis arrive in the tent, you will take your men to serve them. Do not be negligent."
"My Lord, please rest assured. I will personally take care of it with my men."
"That's good,"
A few people were still waiting at the camp gate.
Chen Shang led his personal soldiers and walked in front. When they arrived at the southern entrance of the camp, they saw rows of large pots. He then ordered the soldiers to start eating. Half of them ate while the other half dismantled the tents. The whole open space was then filled to the brim.
To the north,
The army finally arrived. After they were divided into different places, in the open space in the center of the camp, which was the central tent of Zhang Jinyu and Zhou Ding, the camp manager had already been waiting there with his body bent when the carriage of King Jin arrived.
Not far outside,
A bonfire was specially lit in front of the big tent, which made him feel warm. Zhang Jinyu lifted the curtain, got off the carriage first, and looked around. Although the camp was simple, the food was hot. Many soldiers had already eaten. He nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that this logistics officer was capable.
Then he looked at the steward who had been smiling beside him. He was fat and wore his official robes in a timid way. He trembled with every step he took. Not only was he making a fool of himself, but he was also from the baggage camp. With this body, no one would believe him if he didn't say he was greedy.
"Are you the camp manager here?"
"Uh, yes, Lord, I am in charge. I, Song Da, will set up the camp this afternoon and prepare one-third of the stoves in each camp. A rotation can provide food for 60,000 troops. It will take less than an hour. The remaining stoves will also be divided up, just enough for the three places. Lord, you are a genius. You can think of a method that is like heaven and man. I am so moved that I can't continue."
As he spoke, his eyes turned red and tears fell. This scene stunned Jin Wang Zhou Ding, who had just got off the carriage. There were still such people flattering him. After getting off the carriage and standing still, he wanted to scold him.
Zhang Jinyu was the first to praise him, saying what a talent!
"Haha, Song Da, great, a good name, and even better work. You can arrange things so thoroughly, I will give you credit for your merit. Song Da, I think you are the eldest in the family, so how about calling you Da Lang?"
"My Lord, you can call me whatever you want. My parents call me that at home."
Song Da smiled widely, and bent even lower. His fat face was squeezed so tight that only a slit was left for his eyes.
"Well, that's a good job. How about managing the next camp tomorrow night?"
Zhang Jinyu didn't care whether he was greedy or not, thinking about whether there would be any changes in the camp tomorrow. Song Da hurried forward, his face serious, and clasped his fists and said;
"My Lord, there will be no mistakes. The three camps are all the same. I will follow the team tomorrow and go there to check for omissions and make up for the deficiencies. This is the first time I have arranged for someone to do this. I used to travel with the army. After experiencing it once before, it is not difficult to do."
"Good, very good. You can achieve such a high level in your first try. You must keep up with the logistics. If you are short of anything or encounter any difficulties, I will take charge. You can report directly to the big tent, but you must ensure that there are no major mistakes. I will cover for minor mistakes."
Zhang Jinyu stretched out his hand and patted the fat arm of the man in front of him. He was also a capable man. Logistics and military supplies have always been difficult. Ordinary people would be at a loss if they did this. This kind of march can only be used in a safe place. When you reach the enemy's territory, you still need traditional methods.
"Thank you, Lord Marquis. You and the prince should go back to the tent and wait. Today, I have prepared the best dishes for His Highness and Lord Marquis. Please do me a favor, Lord Marquis."
Song Da was so happy at this moment. He didn't expect that he would be listed as Luo Yunhou on the list of tasks today. It was really a great joy. He quickly urged the people behind him to prepare a good dinner.
Zhang Jinyu did not refuse. To be honest, she was a little hungry.
"Well, since Dalang is so filial, I will help him. Thank you in advance. Your Highness, please enter the tent."
As soon as he retracted his hand, he made a gesture of invitation to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin in front of him. The Prince of Jin understood and stood up without saying anything. He walked into the big tent first. When Zhang Jinyu followed him in, a voice came,
"My Lord, why are you praising a flattering villain?"
(End of this chapter)