The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 99 Return to Shaanxi
A crescent moon shone brightly on the muddy river water that meandered into the distance.

Li Hu, Xie Jing and their personal soldiers were walking silently on the post road along the river, leading their horses.

Xie Jing: "I went to investigate personally. The army is stationed at the junction of Suide and Yulin. Not only the post road, but even the ravines often used by merchants are guarded by the Second Prince's confidants."

Li Hu nodded. No wonder even the people of Yan'an didn't know that there was a war in Yulin.

Xie Jing: "He is really cruel and vicious. Isn't he afraid that the Jurchens will bypass Yulin and attack Yan'an Prefecture, cutting off their retreat?"

Li Hu didn't say anything and continued walking silently.

Xie Jing: "Tell me, is there anything going on between him and the Jurchens?"

Li Hu quickly interrupted him: "Be careful with your words!"

Xie Jing came to his senses immediately and realized that he had spoken rashly, but he was unwilling to accept it and swallowed his breath.

Li Hu shook his head. If the emperor heard this, he would be in great pain, although it might be true.

He met Xie Jing at the Yellow River ferry and was shocked at the time. He didn't expect that his old boss was still alive.

The two men asked each other at the Yellow River ferry and found out the truth.

Li Hu was filled with sorrow after hearing this, even though he had already learned the truth from the urgent message from the general of Yulin.

Xie Jing was not a fool. He guessed the purpose of Li Hu's trip to Shaanxi. He refused to return to the capital and insisted on following Li Hu to seek revenge.

Xie Jing is a fierce general. Once he enters the battlefield, he is invincible. He kills people everywhere. He is good at fighting tough battles and dares to fight tough battles. If he had not encountered the idiot Second Prince, he would definitely be promoted to deputy general for his military merits this time.

With the help of such a powerful man, Li Hu will be more powerful whether it is seizing military power, rushing to support Yulin, or the planned counterattack on the Hetao Plain.

Li Hu agreed to his request, but also asked him to write a letter and give it to his personal soldiers, who would deliver it to the palace by express horse, along with the sword.

The two drank a jar of wine at the Yellow River ferry and then parted ways. Xie Jing led his men north to inquire about the news, while Li Hu continued to go to Xi'an.

Of course, Li Hu did not go to mobilize troops, but went to the homes of those generals whose families were in Xi'an and asked their families to write a letter home to them.

Although the means are somewhat despicable, they are the most effective.

Li Hu didn't believe that he had such great charm that he could not just raise his arms and shout and the generals would come to his side.

Xie Jing: "There is an open space upstream of the river. Let's rest for a night and set off tomorrow. We can reach Suide in the afternoon the day after tomorrow."

Li Hu nodded, and everyone mounted their horses.

The horse team galloped together and gradually disappeared into the night in the distance.

In the night, a star of fire shines brightly.

Then, a ballad with a high-pitched and passionate singing voice came over.

Li Hu, Xie Jing and his party, who came under the moonlight, were attracted by the singing and they all pulled the reins and listened attentively.

Li Hu smiled. This should be the Xintianyou of northern Shaanxi. It is simple, with a free and soothing rhythm.

After a while, the singing stopped, and Li Hu got off his horse and said, "Let's go and take a look."

Ox carts and mule carts filled the open space beside the post road.

A bonfire was burning, illuminating many haggard and tired faces.

The sound of horse hooves and footsteps could be heard.

Several young men stood up, pulled out axes from the cart behind them, and stared at the distance on the post road.

The others also stood up.

Li Hu and his party led their horses to the open space.

A young man shouted, "Who is it?"

Li Hu: "We are merchants heading north, and we are here to rest."

The young man stared at them closely: "Merchants? Are there any merchants like you?!"

Wang Daniu: “How outrageous!”

Li Hu waved his hand and said, "It's late at night. Please be kind and we won't disturb you."

The young man was about to say something when an old man came up and looked Li Hu up and down. He saw that Li Hu was dressed in rough clothes but had an extraordinary bearing. The power he exuded was much greater than that of the county magistrate. And the people behind him all had swords hanging from their waists. They must be government officials.

Li Hu also looked at him.

The old man spoke: "Excuse me, sir. We are delivering food and fodder to the army. We have to be careful!"

Li Hu: "Food and grass? Why isn't there anyone from the local government escorting it?"

The old man said, "My guest, you may not know that all the officials in the government offices at all levels in Yan'an Prefecture have been withdrawn, and a group of young and strong men have been recruited to cooperate with the Yulin Guards in counterattacking Hetao."

Xie Jing was so angry that he said, "How shameless!" Li Hu pretended not to hear and asked, "Where are you sending all this food and grass?"

The old man hesitated for a moment and replied, "Suide."

Li Hu and Xie Jing quickly exchanged a knowing look.

The old man said: "There is still some open space here. If you don't mind, please come in."

Li Hu: "Thank you for your help."

The old man turned to the young men and said, "Bring some dead branches."

Another bonfire was lit.

Li Hu pulled the old man to sit down by the campfire.

Another bonfire was lit.

Wang Daniu toasted a pancake over the fire and handed it to Li Hu.

Li Hu handed the cake to the old man.

The old man: "No, no, I've used it before."

The older villagers were fine, but a few young and strong men stared at the meat pie in Li Hu's hand, followed by a few loud sounds of swallowing saliva.

The old man smiled awkwardly: "Countryside children have never seen the world."

Li Hu said to Wang Daniu, "Give each of us a pancake."

The villagers looked at each other and shook their hands: "We dare not, we dare not."

The old man: "No, no, we brought dry food." As he said that, he took out a hard black steamed bread from his arms.

Li Hu was stunned for a moment, "You guys are just eating this? Didn't the relief grain from the imperial court arrive at the beginning of the month?!"

A young and strong man said: "This is the relief grain." He pointed to the carts.

Xie Jing, who was sitting nearby, stood up suddenly and said angrily: "How can this be? How dare he privately requisition disaster relief grain!"

Li Hu glanced at him.

Xie Jing sat down again angrily.

Li Hu looked at the old man again: "Are all of them recruited?"

The old man said, "Not really. Each household left some food rations according to the number of people. It's spring now and the wild vegetables in the fields are good. We can survive until the summer harvest."

Li Hu looked at the black steamed bread in his hand and fell silent. The Second Prince did not dare to let the court know the real situation in Yulin. Lacking food and fodder, he could only focus on disaster relief grain.

The old man smiled and said, "The county magistrate said that after this battle, the whole of northern Shaanxi will be safe and there will be no more wars. We are not paid for escorting food and fodder for the army, and we have to eat our own dry food along the way. The expectations of our ancestors are right in front of us. For the sake of the children, what does it matter if we suffer a little?"

Li Hu suddenly put down the meat pie in his hand, took the black steamed bread from the old man, broke off a piece and put it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, he was immediately stunned. Is this for human consumption? !

Old man: “Guest.”

Li Hu didn't say anything, broke off another piece and put it in his mouth, then handed the rest to Xie Jing.

Xie Jing also broke off a piece and put it in his mouth, and was also stunned.

Li Hu sighed: "The people are suffering!"

Xie Jing was silent for a moment, then said, "It will be fine once this battle is over."

The old man's eyes flashed, and he was indeed a government official.

Li Hu looked at him and said, "There is something I need your help with."

Old man: “You, you command.”

Li Hu: "Take us to Suide."

The old man looked embarrassed: "This"

Li Hu thought about it, took out a jade seal from his waist and handed it over.

The old man knew it was an official seal and did not dare to take it: "Master, what do you want to do?"

Li Hu paused and said, "Let there be no more war in northern Shaanxi, and let Yulin go from the frontier to the inland."

The old man was shocked, and looked at Li Hu with his two big, skinny eyes: "Really?"

Li Hu nodded vigorously.

(End of this chapter)