serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 485: Three Long Years, Part Two
  The music is sweet.

Several Japanese geishas were sitting in a row under the window of the private room performing the "eight-note combination" stunt.

The round ebony table was piled high with fresh and dried fruits and waterway delicacies.

Xue Pan raised the wine bowl: "Brother Liu, let's drink this bowl first!" As he said that, he raised his head and opened his mouth and poured the wine directly into his throat.

Liu Xianglian praised loudly: "Okay!" Then she raised her head, opened her mouth, and poured the wine directly into her throat.

The two met their eyes and laughed at each other.

Xue Pan picked up the wine jar and first filled Liu Xianglian's bowl, and then filled Xue Pan's bowl with wine.

Liu Xianglian waved her hand: "Sit down, sit down, we are all brothers."

Xue Biao turned his attention to Xue Pan.

Xue Pan smiled and said: "Brother Liu tells you to sit down, so just sit down."

Xue Biao responded, bowed to Liu Xianglian again, and then sat down next to Jia Baoyu.

Jia Baoyu stood up with a toast and said with a smile: "With this glass of wine, let's congratulate the second brother Liu on his promotion to the title of Duke. Come on, let's do it!"

Xue Pan and Xue Biao stood up, holding up the wine bowl and facing Liu Xianglian.

Liu Xianglian also stood up, then held up the bowl and said, "Please!" After saying that, she brought the wine bowl to her mouth and drank in a few sips.

Several people did it together.

Liu Xianglian picked up her chopsticks, put them down gently, and sighed: "Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now there are only the three of us left."

Jia Baoyu and Xue Pan's expressions also darkened.

Liu Xianglian: "Where are the graves of Wei Ruolan and Feng Ziying? I will pay homage to them another day."

There was silence.

Liu Xianglian: "What's wrong?" She glanced at everyone.

After a moment of silence, Xue Pan spoke: "They have no graves."

Liu Xianglian was stunned for a moment, then picked up the wine bowl and drank a few sips.

Xue Biao stood up quickly, then filled Liu Xianglian's glass with wine and said, "Brother Liu, tell us about Tianzhu, so we can talk to others and show off."

Liu Xianglian glanced at him, then smiled bitterly: "Actually, there is nothing to say. It is a magical country. It obviously has vast land, rich agricultural and mineral resources, and a unique geographical location, but it is still poor and backward. Say there’s anything special about it, well, there’s no shame!”

"Oh?!"

The three of them became interested and looked at Liu Xianglian together.

Liu Xianglian smiled faintly: "Do you know how the imperial army invaded Delhi? With a bag of gold, the Tianzhu people told us about the gaps in the Tianzhu army's defense line and helped the imperial army cross the river. Haha, there is something even more bizarre. Delhi does not have any war preparations, and we broke through the Tianzhu Palace without encountering any decent resistance and captured the Tianzhu royal family!"

The three of them looked at each other for a while, then looked at Liu Xianglian together.

Liu Xianglian: "Not only do Tianzhu people have no sense of shame, they are also lazy and have no enterprising spirit!"

Xue Pan: "These are really a bunch of weirdos!"

Liu Xianglian: "Tianzhu has a lot of coal, gold and copper are also quite rich. As long as they are all mined, the empire's shortage of money can be alleviated."

"Brother Liu doesn't know yet."

Xue Biao took out two coins with a shiny white surface from his sleeves and said: "This new type of silver coin is now used in the country. From now on, copper coins will only be used as auxiliary coins, and gold and silver will gradually be banned from circulation." Two silver coins were handed to Liu Xianglian.

Liu Xianglian's eyes lit up as she took the silver coin.

The face of the coin is engraved with the uniform portrait of Emperor Jia Hu and the inscription "The Empire was created in three years." On the back is a flying dragon with the words "Chinese Empire" written on it. Different denominations are marked below, one is "One Yuan" and the other is "Middle Yuan" (five corners). After looking at it, Liu Xianglian weighed the two silver coins in her palms. The silver coins made a clear and melodious sound when they were struck.

".This?" Liu Xianglian was surprised.

Xue Pan smiled and said: "This is called anti-counterfeiting technology. Only real coins can make such a crisp sound. Also, the imperial silver coins are not cast, but stamped by machines. The edges are fine and natural, and they are integrated with the surface of the silver coins. . This kind of machine is modified from a new steam engine, and the private sector does not have the ability to imitate it!"

Liu Xianglian: "How to redeem?"

Xue Biao replied: "One tael of silver can be exchanged for these two silver coins. For the convenience of the common people, there are also two silver coins of two jiao and one jiao, which are much smaller than this."

Liu Xianglian smiled: "It is indeed much more convenient."

Jia Baoyu had been silent, but then he suddenly spoke: "Brother Liu, will you not leave when you return to Beijing this time?"

Liu Xianglian was startled for a moment, then shook her head.

Jia Baoyu: "Didn't they already capture the Tianzhu royal family?"

Xue Pan and Xue Biao also looked at Liu Xianglian.

Liu Xianglian: "The king of Tianzhu actually has no power anymore. The governors of various places are in a state of separatism and independence. Especially the Maratha people, whose strength cannot be underestimated. In October last year, the Maratha people gathered a force of [-] people. The army fought with us in Delhi, and although we defeated them, it did not weaken their strength."

Speaking of this, he lowered his voice, "Due to the continuous expansion of the empire to the western continent, the Xiyi people have already felt the threat. In addition, Shi Ding and Zhao Yi completely defeated the Rakshasa people in the battle of Lake Balkhash. I heard that they fled The kings of the Central Asian countries in West Asia are linking up with local forces and preparing to form a large army to march eastward, and most of the Western Yi and Rakshasa people will also join in!"

He picked up the wine bowl and took a sip, "The emperor has known about this for a long time. It seems that the emperor is preparing to fight a big war with the Westerners in Central Asia. Therefore, the war in Tianzhu must end this year!"

After that, he said to Jia Baoyu: "I will go back after your wedding."

Jia Baoyu smiled happily after hearing this.

Suddenly, the door of the private room was pushed open!
  All sounds stopped abruptly.

Jia Baoyu, Liu Xianglian, Xue Pan, and Xue Biao raised their heads in shock.

Lai Da rushed in like a gust of wind. When he saw Jia Baoyu who raised his head to greet him, he breathed a long sigh of relief and then said: "Second Master, go back quickly. I am looking for you everywhere."

Jia Baoyu was startled and asked urgently: "Do you know why you are looking for me?"

Lai Da's face was full of excitement: "The emperor's favor is so great! The emperor has decreed that the second master be promoted to the title of prince. Master Sun will be honored as the grandson of the prince's palace, and the third master will be given the title of first-class duke. The second master will be the prince of Baojun! Just wait for Bao Er Let me go to the palace to thank you."

Jia Baoyu felt relieved when he heard this, as long as his homework was not randomly checked.

Xue Biao stood up and congratulated loudly: "Congratulations to Mr. Bao for being crowned Prince of Bao County!" After saying that, he bowed deeply.

Liu Xianglian and Xue Pan also stood up and hugged each other: "Congratulations!"

Jia Baoyu woke up and hurriedly stood up to return the greeting.

Liu Xianglian said with a smile: "Go back quickly, I'm rude if you're late."

Jia Baoyu hugged them with both hands and said, "Okay. Tomorrow I will serve wine to apologize to Brother Liu, Brother Xue and Brother Scorpion!" After saying that, he hurriedly walked out.

Looking at the backs of Jia Baoyu and Lai Da who were gradually disappearing outside the private room, Xue Pan suddenly felt a sour taste in his heart. He had spent at least half a year in each of the past three years on the way to escort military supplies, not only for The purpose of avoiding that demonic obstacle is to accumulate military merit, and while his sister Xue Baochai is still favored, he can raise his title.

Three years ago, in the light of the great victory in Liaodong, he was awarded the third-class uncle by Jia Hu. After three years of hard work, he was barely promoted to the second-class uncle.

Now when he sees the Jia family, he must give a big salute. Jia Rong is King Rui, Jia Lian is the crown prince of King Wu, Jia Cong is the first-class duke, and now even Jia Baoyu has been crowned king.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help showing a complicated expression.

Liu Xianglian saw it in her eyes and said with a smile: "Okay, you can't envy this kind of thing."

Xue Pan came back to his senses and smiled awkwardly: "Let's continue drinking." He then said loudly to the Japanese geishas: "Play harder and play louder than usual!"

The music started again.
  (End of this chapter)