The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 87 February th Part

Just as the cavalry of the Plain White Banner launched a charge towards the vanguard camp, Li Hu was drinking with Li San.

Li Hu picked up the wine bowl, raised his head, opened his mouth and poured the wine directly into his throat.

Li San also picked up the wine bowl, put it to his mouth and drank it down in a few gulps.

Li Hu was about to pour more wine, but Li San covered the jar and said, "I know you are in a hurry to go to the backyard, but you should also let me eat some food."

Li Hu smiled and handed a bowl of stewed ham elbow to Li San: "This is stewed very well, you should try it."

Li San tasted it and said with a smile, "You go to the backyard, I'll drink by myself."

Li Hu: "Let me accompany you to have a bowl of longevity noodles." Then he looked at the servant at the door.

After a while, two bowls of longevity noodles were placed on the table.

After eating the longevity noodles, Li San stood up.

Li Hu also stood up.

Li San smiled and said, "Okay, go ahead."

As he was speaking, a personal soldier came in with a letter and reported to Li Hu, "General, this is a letter from the Imperial Household Department." Then he handed the letter over.

Li Hu took the letter, opened the seal and read it.

After reading the letter, Li Hu sighed in his heart. The peaceful days were coming to an end. More than 100,000 Mongolian coalition forces gathered in Tokto, and it seemed that they were going to fight a great battle with Dashun.

Who gave them the courage? The Jurchens?

With a humph, Li Hu folded the letter and said to Li San, "I won't accompany you until you grow old." He then instructed the servant, "Take good care of Uncle San. There's a banquet outside, and someone will be here to replace you later."

The servant hurriedly responded with several "yes".

Li Hu then turned and entered the back hall and walked towards the back garden.

Emperor Yongchang was a "workaholic" who was more diligent than the emperor emeritus and had to review a large number of memorials every day.

But the Yongchang Emperor, who had always been diligent in his work, now did not even have the heart to read the memorials. He sat quietly on the dragon throne in the upper study with his eyes closed, with beads of sweat on his forehead. It was obvious that he had something on his mind.

After seeing off several cabinet ministers, Dai Quan returned to the study room and saw beads of sweat on Emperor Yongchang's forehead. He hurried into the compartment, wrung a face towel from the wash basin, walked lightly to Emperor Yongchang, gently wiped the sweat off his forehead, and said softly, "Your Majesty, this is not unexpected. Even if we don't transfer troops from the capital, the troops from Datong and Xuanfu can still defend the Great Wall."

"Is everything normal in Shengjing City?" Emperor Yongchang ignored him and still closed his eyes, suddenly mentioning the Jurchens.

Dai Quan was stunned for a moment, then replied softly, "Yes."

Emperor Yongchang still closed his eyes: "Are the Eight Banners soldiers still stationed in various important places?"

Dai Quan replied softly again: "Yes."

"I have a very ominous premonition." Emperor Yongchang opened his eyes and looked at Dai Quan.

Dai Quan thought for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean that there is something wrong with our intelligence network among the Jurchens?"

Emperor Yongchang stood up, walked to the window and looked out, feeling a little confused: "Tell me, if the movement of the Eight Banners soldiers in Shengjing had not been discovered by the spies, where would they most likely appear at this time?"

Dai Quan was startled, his eyes wandered as he thought for a moment, and he replied, "Two places. The Yanshan Mountains hidden outside the Great Wall can be used to sneak attack the imperial troops coming out to meet the enemy, and secondly, they can directly attack the Great Wall pass. The other is Hetao. However, the imperial court has more than 40,000 elite troops there, and the Duke of Shan is in charge. Your Majesty, don't worry. With the combat power of the Vanguard Battalion and the Elite Cavalry of Yulin, as long as they are commanded properly, they can hold out until the imperial court's reinforcements even if they are surrounded."

Emperor Yongchang believed in the combat effectiveness of the Vanguard Battalion and the Yulin Border Army, and believed even more in Shi Guangzhu's command ability. However, his heart was pounding and he always felt that something big was going to happen.

He suddenly thought of the second prince. Could it be that evil creature?
Emperor Yongchang became increasingly uneasy and a little anxious.

Dai Quan saw it all, but he didn't know what to say. He silently walked to the compartment, picked up the copper kettle, and brewed tea in front of the imperial desk. He then silently brought the tea to Emperor Yongchang and said softly, "Your Majesty, please have a sip of hot tea."

Emperor Yongchang slowly looked towards Dai Quan, and seeing his pleading eyes, he had no choice but to take the wine and drink a few sips. He felt his breathing improve, so he turned around and walked to the imperial desk and sat down.

Dai Quan was happy in his heart but solemn on his face, and stood quietly beside him.

Emperor Yongchang thought for a moment and said, "Draft two decrees: First, all commanders of the Beijing Camp should return to the main camp immediately and make preparations for the march. Second, the 3,000-man camp should be transferred to Zijing Pass." Dai Quan: "Yes."

Emperor Yongchang suddenly remembered: "Most of Li Hu's young and strong men have only been trained for more than a month, so they don't need to go north with the army this time."

Dai Quan smiled and said, "Li Hu will definitely be grateful for your majesty's grace!"

Emperor Yongchang snorted and said, "Although this boy is a bit cunning, he can see the situation clearly and knows when to advance and retreat. This is my reward to him. In addition, I am also doing this for Lin Ruhai's sake."

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He bowed and walked out.

Emperor Yongchang looked at Dai Quan's gradually disappearing figure outside the door, sighed, and said to himself: "Maybe I'm overthinking it, there shouldn't be any problem"

As the sun sets, the afterglow shines on the lake, turning it red. The swaying willows on the shore, as well as all kinds of flowers, plants and trees create a magnificent scenery that is in full view.

At this time, Lin Daiyu was sitting on the railing of the pavilion. She was a little upset and her eyes were facing the lake, but her gaze was not on the lake.

Amber, who was asking the maid to clean the table, saw this and nudged Xueyan gently with her elbow.

Xueyan understood, picked up the tea bowl on the tea table and walked over, saying softly: "Girl, girl, have a cup of hot tea."

Lin Daiyu came back to her senses, said "hmm", but her eyes were looking towards the small bridge leading to the lakeshore.

When the birthday banquet was about to end, an imperial decree came from the palace, and she understood that Li Hu was going to go to war.

Suddenly, a maid's voice came from the lakeside: "The Second Master is back!"

Lin Daiyu stood up immediately, and at this time Li Hu strode over.

As Li Hu walked, he said, "Why are you leaving? Didn't we agree to wait for me to come back and have a couple of drinks?" As he spoke, he had already walked into the waterside pavilion.

Lin Daiyu looked at him: "You're not leaving?"

Li Hu winked at Amber.

Amber understood and quietly waved to Xueyan and the others.

Several people retreated.

Li Hu smiled and said, "Thanks to my father, I don't have to go north with the army this time." As he said that, he sat down on the couch, picked her up and sat her on his lap.

Lin Daiyu punched Li Hu with a slight look of anger: "I'm going to die! Why are you so aggressive!"

Li Hu smiled and hugged her in his arms, telling her the content of the decree.

Lin Daiyu leaned in his arms, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Will it have any impact on you? Will it delay your promotion plan?"

Li Hu: "If I'm not mistaken, I will eventually lead my troops north."

Lin Daiyu leaned her head on his shoulder and looked up at him.

Li Hu whispered, "The emperor has transferred the 3,000-man battalion to Zijing Pass. Not only can they support Datong and Xuanfu at any time, they can also support the second prince."

Lin Daiyu was startled: "Something happened in Hetao?"

Li Hu: “Very likely.”

After hearing this, Lin Daiyu's eyes slowly drooped. Without the 3,000-man battalion, once the Jurchens got involved, the court would definitely send more troops. However, without the protection of the 3,000-man battalion's main cavalry, would the battlefield still be safe?
Li Hu held Lin Daiyu tightly with one hand and patted her back gently with the other hand, saying softly: "Don't worry, in a main battle involving hundreds of thousands of people, a senior general like me will not be injured as long as they are not in a desperate situation."

Lin Daiyu didn't say anything, she buried her head tightly in Li Hu's chest.

Li Hu looked at the sunset in the distance and said, "The scenery is nice. I'll accompany you to visit the garden." At this point, he was silent for a moment, "I have to go to the military camp tomorrow. Those new soldiers need to train well."

Lin Daiyu said "hmm", pushed away Li Hu who was holding her, straightened her clothes, then took Li Hu's hand and walked towards the shore.

(End of this chapter)