The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 90: Adding fuel to the fire 1
Li Hu didn't expect that Jia Yucun was also there, playing chess with the prince in the west warm pavilion.

Jia Yucun glanced at Li Hu, who was sitting in a chair against the wall drinking tea, and silently picked up a chess piece and placed it gently on the chessboard.

The prince calmly made a move and asked, "What do you think?"

This question was obviously directed at Li Hu.

"The weather is getting better, the soldiers' training intensity is gradually increasing, and many people are complaining about not having enough to eat."

Li Hu did not respond to his question. He put down his tea bowl and continued, "Only when you have enough food can you have the strength to train. If you eat too much, the military supplies issued by the Ministry of War will only be enough for half a month."

The prince placed a chess piece on the table and said, "I know what you want to say, but I can't make the decision." As he spoke, he reached into the chess bowl and rubbed the chess piece.

Li Hu smiled: "The emperor said that no matter how big or small the matter is, he must tell Your Highness in advance."

The prince smiled faintly: "I appreciate your kindness."

Jia Yucun took out a chess piece and was about to place it, but he was stunned when he heard these words. There must be something else behind these words!

Li Hu sighed inwardly, couldn't he just follow up the conversation and say a few words of praise to the emperor for the people outside to hear, what a stubborn bastard!
The prince: "Minister Jia?"

Jia Yucun: "The prince's move is truly a stroke of genius, so exquisite that it makes people intoxicated." After saying this, he gently placed the chess pieces.

A hint of pride flashed across the prince's face.

Li Hu raised his eyebrows. Is this possible?

The door curtain was lifted and Zhao Tong came in with medicine.

Holding the bowl of medicine and walking to the prince's side, Zhao Tong said softly, "It's just right. It's not cold or hot. Drink it quickly, Prince."

The prince took the bowl with both hands and drank the medicine in one gulp.

Jia Yucun quickly picked up a glass of water from the side and handed it to the prince.

The prince took a sip of water, rinsed his mouth and spit into the medicine bowl. Then Zhao Tong took the bowl and walked out.

Li Hu watched all of this calmly. The movements were so skillful that it was obvious that this guy had done this more than once or twice.

The prince coughed and said to Jia Yucun, "You should pay attention to the behavior of the officials of the Ministry of Rites. When you have time, help the Fourth Prince and do a good job in the Ministry of Rites."

Jia Yucun was very smart. He quickly stood up, bowed to the prince, answered "yes", bowed to Li Hu, and walked out.

The prince also stood up, walked over to sit next to Li Hu, and asked, "Are you on guard against him?"

Li Hu asked in return: "Your Highness likes Jia Yucun very much?"

The prince looked at him and smiled: "He is the person you recommended, of course I like him."

Li Hu stood there in a daze.

The prince burst into laughter and then started coughing loudly.

Zhao Tong hurried in, gently patted his back, and said with concern: "Your Highness."

The prince took a breath and pushed his hand away, "It's okay." He then asked Li Hu, "What do you think about the military supplies?"

Li Hu understood and expressed his thoughts.

The prince thought for a moment and said, "You can't pay this money. It will give others a handle, even if it's in the name of my father and me."

Li Hu remained silent. The Ministry of War would not give them more military supplies. The prince wanted to avoid suspicion, and the emperor wanted to be fair, so neither of them would pay the money.

Zhao Tong spoke up: "Since we can't increase the military pay, we'll spend every penny in half."

Li Hu asked anxiously: "What do you mean?"

The prince also looked at him.

Zhao Tong: "You can buy fat pigs and sheep from the merchants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

Li Hu: "Is the Imperial Merchant still doing this kind of business?"

Zhao Tong: "What a rare thing. They are responsible for the food of tens of thousands of people in the palace. Just say hello and ask them to sell it to you at a lower price." Li Hu thought for a moment and said, "This matter cannot be concealed. The other generals know about it."

Zhao Tong smiled: "General Li, you are too honest. When the military pay passes through the hands of civil officials such as the Ministry of War, the Governor-General, and the Military Preparation Department, it needs to be handled by many layers of slick hands. Local troops like the Patrol Battalion can basically only get 70%, or even 50%. Of course, no one dares to withhold the pay of the Beijing Camp and the Border Town. The Beijing Camp is not allowed to eat empty pay, nor is it allowed to withhold the pay of the soldiers. How can the generals make money by reducing the treatment of the soldiers?"

The Crown Prince: "If they can be like you, let alone just making less money, even if they lose money, my father and I will be happy."

Li Hu picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. Is it really that fancy?

Zhao Tong brought a bowl of hot tea to the prince.

The prince also took a sip and said to him, "Go see Chief Steward Dai and ask him to report to our father."

"Yes." Zhao Tong stepped out.

The prince raised his hand to signal Li Hu to be silent.

A hint of doubt flashed across Li Hu's eyes.

After drinking half a cup of tea, the prince spoke: "Don't worry about Jia Yucun, I know what's going on."

Li Hu had nothing else to say, so he nodded.

Prince: "What's the matter? Tell me."

Li Hu told the crown prince his guess, and also that the second prince might be backed by the retired emperor.

The prince perked up: "How sure are you?"

Li Hu: "I believe in Duke Shan Guo."

The prince's eyes flashed: "Speak for him?"

Li Hu shook his head: "Adding fuel to the fire."

"Adding fuel to the fire?" The prince looked at Li Hu with a surprised look.

Li Hu replied: "Duke Shan is not an ordinary general. He is a famous general of the two dynasties who is good at commanding large armies. How could he make such a low-level mistake? Not to mention other noble generals, I guess the emperor is also suspicious of this military report."

The prince nodded.

Li Hu: "The upright people in the Censorate, the Imperial Academy, and the Imperial College have already come out and demanded severe punishment for the Duke of Shan's Mansion. The nobles and the military will definitely not sit idly by."

The prince's eyes sparkled again: "Do you want me to speak for the second brother?"

Li Hu nodded. "It has spread outside. It is said that Shi Guangzhu was eager for merit, frivolous and reckless, and fell into the trap of the Mongols. People in mourning can be seen everywhere in the capital. So many people died, the palace must give an explanation."

The prince also nodded. In a few days it would be the seventh day since the death of the soldiers in battle. The people sent by the emperor would definitely not be able to come back in time. If he wanted to quell the public anger, he could only raid the Duke of Shanguo's mansion.

If things turn out as Li Hu guessed, even the emperor would not be able to protect the second prince. He would be taken to the clan house and imprisoned. By the time he comes out, it would be too late.

If Li Hu guessed wrong, he would not suffer any loss.

Thinking of this, disappointment appeared in the prince's eyes. It would be great if the second prince could be demoted to a commoner and confined to the clan house forever.

Li Hu spoke up: "As the saying goes, the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. We must make the emperor believe in the second prince from the bottom of his heart. The strong contrast will make the emperor extremely disappointed in the second prince!"

Before he could finish his words, he heard footsteps outside and Zhao Tong hurried in and reported to the prince: "Your Highness, I have not seen Chief Steward Dai."

The prince couldn't help but frown.

Zhao Tong continued, "I inquired and found out that Chief Steward Dai had left the palace. He said that something happened at the Shanguo Mansion. Many families of soldiers surrounded the Shanguo Mansion and wanted them to pay with their lives."

The prince was startled and then turned his gaze to Li Hu.

Li Hu stood up and said, "I'm just about to go home, so I'll stop by and take a look."

The prince nodded.

(End of this chapter)