The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 15 Making Friends

As soon as it snowed, Li Hu remembered what his comrades said: Once it snows in Beijing, it becomes Beiping.

It was snowing heavily and everything was white.

The winter of the second year of Yongchang was a year of heavy snow in the capital. After the early snow on the eve of the winter solstice, several heavy snowfalls followed.

This was naturally a great auspicious sign for the whole year, but it made Li Hu very busy. There were many slums in his jurisdiction, and not only did the houses collapse, but many people died, especially in the southern suburbs.

The prefect of Shuntian Prefecture could pretend not to see it, but Li Hu could not. He led the soldiers from the South Camp to rescue the poor people and arranged for them to live in nearby temples and Taoist temples in the name of the government.

Li Hu's behavior attracted countless people's ridicule, and even the prince laughed at him for being too kind.

The callousness of these people deeply hurt Li Hu's heart. Thinking back to the beginning, their ancestors were also poor people who suffered from hunger and cold. They rebelled because they could not survive, and only then did they have the wealth they have today.

It's only the fourth generation and they've forgotten everything!
Especially the emperor, he used the so-called evidence provided by the Northern Pacification Office to purge the entire Infantry Command Office, raided the left and right wing generals, the chief and deputy generals of the northern, left and right battalions, and the homes of several officials. The silver was transported to the palace in carts, and it was said that there were two to three million.

Even though he made such a huge fortune, he didn't allocate any money for disaster relief.

In addition, Emperor Yongchang's behavior frightened the nobles in the capital, who were afraid that he would start a large-scale purge and implicate them.

It is already the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the streets are filled with people buying New Year's goods, hawking their wares, bargaining, and chattering, making the place very lively.

Li Hu, dressed in plain clothes and holding an umbrella, walked straight to a restaurant, followed closely by four soldiers from the Southern Camp dressed as followers.

Ni Er, dressed in the uniform of a general, was already standing at the stone steps outside the door with a smile, obviously waiting for Li Hu.

Next to him was a young man wearing a coarse cotton jacket, with white snow floating on his body.

As soon as he saw Li Hu, Ni Er immediately went to greet him: "I am honored to see you, General!"

Li Hu waved his hand: "Don't be so polite, don't be so polite."

Ni Er waved to the young man and said with a smile, "General, this is my neighbor Jia Yun." Then he said to Jia Yun, "Quickly pay your respects to General Li!"

Jia Yun smiled widely, and first greeted him, then knelt down and said, "I pay my respects to General Li!"

Li Hu looked at him carefully and had to admit that the Jia family members all had good looks. Jia Yun was the third Jia family member he had met. When he received the La Festival gift, he met Jia Zheng, a serious and rigid person, but he also had the elegance of a scholar.

As for the other one, it was Jia Lian, the one who "pushed everything, whether fragrant or smelly, into the house". He was seen at a banquet at Wang Ziteng's house. It was said that Da Lian Bao, Jia Tanchun and Feng Lazi were all there, but unfortunately he could not enter the backyard.

Before the New Year, Ni Er arranged to treat Li Hu to a drink.

The reason why Li Hu came was, firstly, to give face to Ni Er, and secondly, he also wanted to take a look at this good guy who was loyal and righteous in the original novel.

Li Hu smiled and stretched out his hand, saying, "Please stand up, please stand up."

Jia Yun stood up.

Ni Er turned sideways and extended his hand as if to invite someone in: "Please come in, sir."

Li Hu was not humble either and strode in.

It's the end of the year and the restaurant business has entered its peak season. The price of private rooms has increased a lot compared to usual and reservations need to be made several days in advance.

After the door was closed, four soldiers from the South Camp stood outside the private room, two on each side.

Li Hu took off his fur coat, sat down on the main seat, and said with a smile: "I just went to Yuqing Palace, so I was delayed for some time."

Ni Er smiled and said, "Your Excellency's visit to the palace is like our visit to a restaurant."

At this moment, Jia Yun poured the wine from the thermos to Li Hu, and said softly: "Everyone in the capital knows that the current emperor and the crown prince think highly of General Li. Being trusted and reused by two generations of emperors, General Li will surely establish great achievements that will be passed down through the ages."

If they are both flattering, Jia Yun is far better than Ni Er. No wonder he can handle Feng Lazi.

Li Hu looked at him and smiled: "Sit down, sit down."

Jia Yun: "Yes." He poured Ni Er some wine and then sat down.

Ni Er raised his glass, stood up and said with a smile: "I am a rough man and I can't speak well. Thank you for your kindness, sir." Then he drank it in one gulp.

Jia Yun also stood up and drank it in one gulp.

Li Hu: "Sit down, sit down." He also picked up the glass and drank it.

Jia Yun picked up the wine pot and filled Li Hu's cup first, then filled Ni Er's and his own cup. Ni Er picked up the wine glass again and said, "My ancestors, my great grandfather, lived in the capital, but unfortunately they were not capable and could only beg for food in the market. I thought that was it, but who would have thought that your kindness in reshaping me will be remembered by me forever!" He drank the wine in one gulp.

Li Hu picked up the wine glass but took only a sip this time. "I've had people check you. You may look like a scoundrel, but you're actually not a bad person. You never harm poor people, and you often help people out of difficulties. You're a kind person, so you agreed to Zhang Cheng's suggestion."

Ni Er smiled.

Li Hu: "Zhang Chengdu told me that I can make an exception for you because of your contribution." He then said to Jia Yun: "Tomorrow you will go to Guangqumen to check on the storehouse. The monthly allowance is three taels of silver, plus the tips and commissions, so you will have at least seven or eight taels of silver in your pocket every month."

Ni Er was overjoyed: "Thank you, sir, for your grace!" He quickly reminded Jia Yun: "Second Master Yun..."

Jia Yun gritted his teeth and suddenly said loudly to Li Hu: "I don't want to look after the warehouse. I want to serve under the general and wait for orders. Please grant my wish!" After that, he knelt down.

Ni Er was shocked: "Master Yun!"

Li Hu smiled and looked at him: "Nanying is not Shuntianfu, it is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War, and its organization is consistent with that of the Beijing Camp outside the city. It is also trained according to military standards and serves as a soldier in wartime. You have to think it through."

Jia Yun: "Please grant me your blessing, General."

Li Hu looked at him carefully again, then nodded and said with a smile: "It seems that Wang Ziteng does not understand the Jia family. You are not all just enjoying wealth and honor, eating, drinking and having fun, and living a luxurious life without any ambition."

Jia Yun was stunned and his face looked a little unhappy.

Li Hu stabbed him lightly and then said, "Since you have thought it through, I won't say much. Well, you can go and be a team officer under Zhang Cheng."

An official position that is not high up in the official ranks is still an official position!

Jia Yun was overjoyed and could not help but bow his head and said, "I thank you, sir."

Ni Er hurriedly reminded: "Why don't you toast the general?"

Jia Yun stood up and when he reached for the wine jug, his hands were already shaking slightly. He then added another hand and used both hands to fill Li Hu's cup. He also poured some wine for himself and held it up with both hands: "This is my humble servant's toast to the General." He then drank the wine in one gulp.

It was snowing heavily and cold outside, but it was warm as spring in the study.

The imperial desk was piled high with memorials, and Emperor Yongchang was reviewing them with his hands moving non-stop.

At this time, Dai Quan came in holding a tray with a pile of ink paper on it.

Dai Quan said softly, "Your Majesty, the Northern Pacification Office sent the records of various prefectures."

"let it go."

Emperor Yongchang put down his pen, picked up the pile of records and looked at them carefully one by one.

Several pages of records caught his attention.

"On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Yongchang, at the time of Si, Prince of Beijing Shui Rong sent people to deliver couplets and purses to the Ningguo and Rongguo mansions. Jia Zhen of Ningguo mansion evaded the question, saying he was not at home, so Jia Zheng met with the housekeeper of Prince of Beijing mansion."

"On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Yongchang, at 3:00 pm, the governor of the Beijing camp, Wang Ziteng, sent his younger brother, Wang Zisheng, to deliver New Year's goods to the Zhongshun Palace."

With a "humph", Emperor Yongchang continued looking down.

"On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month in the second year of Yongchang, at the end of the Si hour, the children of Rongguo Mansion entertained Li Hu."

Jinyiwei had spies everywhere, always monitoring the movements of powerful ministers. Occasionally, they would send people to monitor some middle and lower-level officials who behaved abnormally.

As for Li Hu, it was because he offended the entire Jinyiwei.

Emperor Yongchang threw the record in his hand onto the imperial desk and pulled out a piece of paper from the file. On the paper was the prince's handwriting: At the end of the Chen hour, Li Hu came to the palace to visit the patient and ask about his health. He said that his subordinate Ni Er invited him to a banquet and asked him to set up a connection with Jia Yun, a branch of the Rongguo Mansion, and help him find a job in the Southern Camp. Your son agreed.

Emperor Yongchang leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes: "He has a murderous heart."

Dai Quan thought about it and felt that Captain Qiu had lost his mind. This was not only trying to sow discord between the emperor and his subjects, but also deceiving the emperor, which was a big taboo!

Dai Quan thought about it and asked tentatively: "Should we remind Captain Qiu?"

Emperor Yongchang still closed his eyes: "No need. Pick one of the jade ruyi presented by Rongguo Mansion and give it to Li Hu."

Dai Quan's eyes flashed: "Yes." He bowed and walked out.

Jia Yun, wearing a brand new robe and covered in snow, strode into the back street of the Jia family with a knife slung across his body.

In less than half an hour, the news that Jia Yun had found a low-ranking job in the South Camp spread throughout the back streets of the Jia family. Some people were envious, but more people sneered at him!
(End of this chapter)