The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 198: Add more fire

It was already late at night when the waning moon rose. Horses galloped through the darkness, moving forward along the canal embankment.

Ahead, a pier with boats moored was visible in the distance.

In the starlight, one could vaguely see a man standing on the deck of the ship, wearing a thick fur coat.

A man walked out of the dimly lit cabin, walked behind the man, and said softly: "Young Master, the time is over, let's weigh anchor."

"The housekeeper hasn't arrived yet, wait a moment." Shui Rong's voice.

That person: "It's been two quarters of an hour since the agreed time."

Shui Rong: "Wait a little longer."

The man couldn't help but said, "Young Master, the steward has already ordered us to weigh anchor as soon as the time comes. We have waited for so long now, we can't wait any longer, otherwise something might happen."

Shui Rong was a little impatient: "I said, wait a little longer!"

The man had to swallow his words.

At this moment, more than a dozen strong men holding steel knives rushed over from the stern.

The man asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

A sturdy man: "The sound of horse hooves."

Shui Rong finally came to his senses and looked towards the distance at the canal embankment.

The sounds of countless horse hooves became louder and clearer.

The man shouted, "Weigh the anchor and get ready to sail!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the boatmen who had been prepared for a long time immediately got busy. The anchor slowly rose up and the boatmen also picked up the poles.

The horse team galloped to the dock and stopped, and then three magpies were called!

"Butler Yang is back!"

Shui Rong was overjoyed and shouted hurriedly: "Quick, turn on the light!"

The man took flint and tinder from the cabin and lit the lantern outside the cabin.

There were footsteps on the dock, followed by Yang Qilong's voice: "Young Master!"

Shui Rong shouted, "Butler Yang!" and quickly directed the strong men, "Springboard!"

The huge springboard was set up, and in the starlight, Yang Qilong and a few others walked quickly over.

Shui Rong walked quickly across the springboard and walked towards Yang Qilong.

"Young Master!" Yang Qilong quickened his pace, walked in front of Shui Rong, and was about to kneel down.

Shui Rong supported him firmly with both hands: "The ground is cold!"

Yang Qilong went there with his legs bent, he was determined to die. It seemed like a lifetime since they last saw each other. He looked at Shui Rong anxiously.

Shui Rong also looked at him: "Glad that you're back!"

Yang Qilong stood up straight and bowed deeply to Shui Rong: "Congratulations to the young master!"

Shui Rong's eyes widened: "It's done?!"

Yang Qilong: “Okay.” Then he told Shui Rong what happened at the post station.

Shui Rong was stunned at first, then he was overjoyed, and he knelt down towards the direction of Jinling: "God has eyes, and may our ancestors bless us!" He kowtowed three times.

Yang Qilong kowtowed three times and helped Shui Rong up.

Shui Rong looked at Yang Qilong: "Is the White Tiger Hall Master dead?"

Yang Qilong was silent for a moment, then replied, "They are all dead."

"Okay, great!"

Shui Rong clapped his hands excitedly, and then said: "Now all the high-ranking members of the White Lotus Sect are dead! This is our chance to annex the White Lotus Sect. Send a message to our people immediately!"

Yang Qilong nodded.

"Could those people be Kong Laoer's men?" Shui Rong suddenly asked.

Yang Qilong thought for a moment and said, "It should be them."

Shui Rong: "Li Hu has always been very careful in what he does. Kong Lao Er must not know about this yet."

Yang Qilong's eyes lit up: "Report to Kong Lao Er?"

Shui Rong nodded and said, "We don't need Kong Lao Er's favor, it will only cause trouble for Li Hu and the emperor." Yang Qilong: "That's right. Let Shandong become chaotic and attract the attention of the court, then Huai'an will be easier to deal with."

Shui Rong and Yang Qilong laughed at each other.

Shui Rong: "Let's go, let's discuss it carefully."

After an urgent delivery of 800 miles, Li Hu's military report and Kong Xiaosi's confession reached the Forbidden City in the early morning of the next day and were delivered to the Meridian Gate just after the sun rose.

Emperor Yongchang got up before dawn and was summoning the fourth prince, the prime minister and several cabinet ministers.

The Prime Minister sat on a low stool beside the imperial desk. The Fourth Prince had no seat at this time and stood solemnly on both sides of the desk with several cabinet ministers.

Emperor Yongchang held a memorial in his hand with a rare smile on his face.

After reading it, Emperor Yongchang placed the memorial in his palm and clapped his hands twice, then raised his head and said to the Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers: "The memorial of the fourth prince is well written! The cabinet immediately drafted an edict according to the fourth prince's opinion, reopening the donation office in Zhili, Shandong, and Jiangsu, but only allowing the collection of donations in rice, not silver."

The Prime Minister stood up and replied, "As you wish."

Emperor Yongchang looked at the Fourth Prince and said, "Dai Quan, take the gifts sent by the foreign envoys to the Fourth Prince's mansion."

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

The fourth prince quickly walked to the middle and knelt down: "It is my responsibility."

Emperor Yongchang interrupted him directly: "Anyone who works hard for the country should be rewarded."

The fourth prince: "Yes. I bow to thank you, father!" He bowed his head and then stood up.

Emperor Yongchang looked at the Prime Minister again: "Is there anything else?"

The Prime Minister hesitated for a moment and said softly: "The front troops of the Beijing camp have passed Jimingyi, and the Ministry of Rites is preparing to welcome the triumphant army back."

Emperor Yongchang: "Tell the Ministry of Rites that I will personally go to the suburbs to welcome the army back in triumph and hold a triumphal banquet in the Fengtian Palace."

Prime Minister: "As you wish."

Emperor Yongchang looked at the Fourth Prince and said, "I have not been feeling well lately and cannot drink. Since the Crown Prince is not feeling well, you will serve me some wine."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap, shocking everyone on the spot!

Even Dai Quan frowned.

Emperor Yongchang coughed lightly.

The fourth prince came back to his senses and fell to his knees. He was so excited that he tried his best to control his trembling hands. He pressed his head tightly against the brick floor and said in a trembling voice, "Your son obeys your order."

Emperor Yongchang leaned back in his chair and said, "I am tired. You can go down."

The Prime Minister and several cabinet ministers looked at each other and answered in unison, "Yes." They bowed and walked out.

The Fourth Prince kowtowed respectfully, then stood up and walked out.

The footsteps outside were getting farther and farther away, and Emperor Yongchang said to Dai Quan, "Spread the word that it was the Fourth Prince's idea to reopen the Donation Prison."

"Yes." Dai Quan understood that once this news spread, it would push all the scholars to the opposite side of the Fourth Prince.

Thinking of this, Dai Quan walked to the compartment, picked up the copper kettle, and poured some tea on the imperial desk. He said softly, "Your Majesty, please have a sip of hot tea."

Emperor Yongchang groaned, picked up the tea bowl and took a sip before speaking: "If it weren't for those things, I would really want to consider him. He is the one who brings trouble upon himself!"

At this moment, the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate rushed in like a gust of wind, holding up the bundle in his hand, and panting, "Shan, Shandong. Urgent delivery for 800 miles."

Dai Quan was startled and quickly took the bundle that was soaked with sweat, put it on the imperial desk, untied the bundle, took out a cowhide envelope with chicken feathers stuck on it and presented it to him.

Emperor Yongchang took the urgent letter, tore open the seal and took a look. His eyes suddenly widened!

Dai Quan was startled and looked at the emperor nervously.

After a long while, Emperor Yongchang put down the urgent letter, picked up another cowhide envelope, tore open the seal, took out the confession and read it.

After reading it, Emperor Yongchang turned his gaze to the eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate and asked, "Where are those eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department?"

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate said: "Your Majesty, I am kneeling outside the palace waiting for you."

Emperor Yongchang: "Let them in."

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate said: "Yes." He bowed and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang looked at Dai Quan and said, "Zhou Kui is dead."

Dai Quan was also shocked!

(End of this chapter)