The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 82: Conspiracy on the Grassland
Like the capital, Daqing Mountain also had a night of rain. The difference was that the capital was full of vitality, but here it was freezing cold.

From afar, one can see tents densely packed around the hilltops and vast grasslands within a radius of dozens of miles.

Many Mongolians, waiting for their meals, lined up densely, their ears and noses reddened by the cold wind, but they all looked towards the porridge stall with great longing, waiting to drink a bowl of hot porridge.

In a luxurious tent that looks like a moon surrounded by stars, there is a huge sand table.

The nobles of the Ulanqab League and the Tumed and Chahar tribes sat in front of the low tables on both sides of the big tent with solemn expressions, not saying a word.

They were obviously waiting for something.

Finally, the sound of many people talking could be heard from inside.

Then, the Prince of the Four Prince Banners, the Prince of Khalkha, the Prince of the Urad Tribe, the Prince of Maoming'an Banner, the Prince of Tumed and the Prince of Chahar came out from the study behind the big tent while talking.

Everyone stood up one after another.

Several Mongolian princes walked to the sand table and scanned it. After a long while, Tumed County Prince spoke: "The strategy of Shengjing to make a feint to the east and attack the west is good, but our troops are scattered and we are no match for the Datong border army! How can we break through the Great Wall pass?"

Everyone was silent.

Prince Tumed continued, "As for military supplies, the first batch of 50,000 dan of rice and 10,000 carts of fodder promised by Shengjing has not yet arrived, and our food and fodder can only last for three days."

"Three days?!" Everyone was shocked.

Prince Tumed smiled bitterly: "We can still bear it and only eat beef and mutton, but war horses can't. The grass fodder is already poor in this season. If the quantity can't keep up, they will lose a lot of weight. How can we fight!"

Just then, thunderous cheers came from outside.

Everyone was shocked again.

The sound of horse hooves stopped outside the tent, and then a Mongolian officer ran in: "My Lords, the food and fodder have arrived!"

The six people's eyes lit up and they strode out.

The other nobles followed closely.

In the distance, horse-drawn and mule-drawn carts loaded with food and fodder drove into the camp gate.

At this time, a group of cavalrymen dressed in white armor came towards the big tent, escorting a middle-aged man wearing a ruby ​​crown and a prince's robe with four dragons, and stopped in front of the tent.

Six Mongolian princes led the nobles to greet them and bowed.

The middle-aged man sat on his horse motionless.

The six of them looked at each other and knelt down.

Everyone knelt down in unison.

The middle-aged man then got off his horse and said, "Get up."

Only then did everyone stand up.

The middle-aged man walked straight to the luxurious tent, and the six Mongolian princes followed him.

A team of soldiers from the Plain White Banner also followed in, and the rest stopped other Mongolian nobles.

After entering the tent, the middle-aged man stopped in front of the sand table, looked at the six people who followed him in, then took out Qian Xiaosi's handwritten order from his bosom and announced loudly: "Your Majesty's handwritten order! The kings of Ulanqab League, Chahar, and Tumed accept the order!"

The six people hesitated for a moment, then knelt down one after another.

The middle-aged man said: "Let Prince Heshuo He take charge of the three clans' coalition forces! My Lords, please hand over your seals!"

He is Qian Xiaosi's younger brother, Prince Heshuo Hongzhou, and deputy governor of the Plain White Banner.

All six of them showed surprised expressions.

Hong Zhou's face darkened: "What? Is there any difficulty?"

The team of armored soldiers of the Plain White Banner who followed in took a step forward together.

The expressions of the six people changed drastically. They looked at each other and could only take off the jade seals from their waists and pass them over.

A soldier of the Plain White Banner walked up, took the jade seals from the hands of the Prince of Chahar and others one by one, walked in front of Hong Zhou, and held them there.

Hong Zhou looked at the sand table at this time: "The emperor and the Ministry of War have re-drafted the military strategy. 26,000 troops of the Zhengbai Banner have entered the Yik Zhao League. With the cooperation of the remnants of the Yik Zhao League, they will annihilate the Han army and capture the son of the Han emperor alive."

The six Mongolian princes looked at each other again. The Zhengbai Banner had actually sneaked into the Ikh Ju League.

Hong Zhou continued, "The army will move to Tokto. As soon as the victory report from the Ikh Zhao League arrives, we will directly enter the pass from Yanghekou and capture Datong Town!"

The Khalkha Prince spoke up: "Such a big commotion will definitely not be hidden from the eyes of the Han people, and they will definitely mobilize a large army to support us." Hong Zhou glanced at him and said calmly: "Your Majesty will make arrangements for this matter."

After hearing this, the Khalkha Prince was stunned for a while and had to nod.

Hong Zhou's eyes swept across the faces of the six people, and then said: "The entire army will rest and move camp in two days."

Today is Lin Daiyu's birthday. Although it is not a grand celebration, all the necessary etiquette is observed.

Unlike the men who worship the heaven, the earth and their ancestors, Lin Daiyu would get up early in the morning, wash and dress neatly, and worship the graves of Lin Ruhai and Jia Min from afar.

Before leaving, Li Hu said hello and asked his family to go and pay their birthday wishes to Lin Daiyu after breakfast.

This was the first time Lin Daiyu celebrated her birthday in the capital. Not many people knew about it. Only the palace and the Jia family sent gifts.

Yesterday the Queen sent two young eunuchs to deliver a few toys and a pair of jade ruyi. The Crown Princess sent a lot more, including silks and satins of various patterns, various jade and gold jewelry, and a golden birthday star.

Jia She, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen's families each received one hundred birthday peaches, one hundred bundles of which were decorated with silver thread noodles and a few toys.

Lady Jia's was a lucky charm, and she sent people to various temples to donate money and bring good luck.

The gifts given by Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Xiangyun and Xue Baochai were all two-color needlework works that they had made in the past, while the rest of the people all gave birthday gifts.

In addition, the Xue family sent another birthday gift early in the morning, which also consisted of silk, satin, and gold and jade jewelry.

After sending away the maids and old women, Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, walked into the warm room and leaned on the kang.

Suddenly a bright light shone in and the door curtain was lifted.

Lin Daiyu looked and saw that it was Li Hu.

Lin Daiyu stood up and smiled: "I'm back"

Li Hu walked in with a smile and said, "I'm here to wish my sister a happy birthday." He bowed with both hands.

Lin Daiyu returned the greeting with a smile.

Li Hu bowed deeply, and Lin Daiyu bowed. Then he bowed with both hands again, and Lin Daiyu bowed again.

Li Hu sat down on the kang, looked at Lin Daiyu carefully from head to toe, and said with a smile: "You look good in this outfit today."

Lin Daiyu changed into some newly tailored clothes today, which made her look more beautiful and more elegant.

Lin Daiyu blinked a few times and tilted her head to look at him: "Are you disgusted by the fact that I don't like to dress up?"

Li Hu smiled, a good man does not fight with a woman, and changed the subject directly: "I met Nanny Wang in front of the Chuihua Gate, and the wine and food are almost ready."

whispering sound!
Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes, as if mocking Li Hu's avoidance of the topic.

Li Hu laughed, pinched her little face, then took out a small box from his sleeve, inside of which lay a white jade lamb pendant.

"Come, let me put it on for you." Li Hu untied the strap and moved closer.

Lin Daiyu turned her body slightly, and with her right hand, gently lifted her hair behind her head, revealing her white neck.

Li Hu tied it for her slowly, smiling and saying, "I asked the master craftsman from the Imperial Household Department to make this gown. Although it is not as good as the gown you made yourself, it is also a token of my love."

Lin Daiyu only felt a pair of hands scratching the back of her neck, which made her feel itchy. She blushed and said, "Hurry up!"

Li Hu was stunned for a moment. He really didn't mean to take advantage of her. The lanyard was indeed not easy to tie.

It took Li Hu a while to tie the lanyard.

Seeing that round face slightly flushed, Li Hu smiled and said, "It's not the first time, but it will be better next time."

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and gently stroked the pendant with her slender, white fingers.

"Like it?"

"Ah."

At this time, Zijuan's voice came from outside the door: "Second Master, the banquet is ready."

"Let's go."

Li Hu stood up, took Lin Daiyu's hand and walked out.

(End of this chapter)