serious man in the red chamber

Chapter 8 The Reward in the Palace

It was daylight.

It was not time to open the gate yet, but Yongding Gate was already full of people waiting to enter the city. At this moment, there was a sound of horseshoes, and the people looked in surprise.

A group of cavalry came galloping in the morning light.

The cavalry was approaching, they were military envoys, their faces were black with gunpowder, and their battle armor was damaged, obviously they came from the battlefield.

The military envoy rushed to the gate of Yongding and shouted: "Hurry up and open the gate!"

The people on both sides all showed expressions of astonishment.

With a "click", the huge city gate slowly opened.

"Ningyuan's victory! One hundred thousand battles!"

The envoy whipped his whip violently, and the horse team galloped into the city of Beijing, heading towards the imperial city.

"boom"

The gate of the city exploded immediately, and the guard of Yongding Gate murmured while buttoning his robe: "We have won, we have won."

Qianqing Palace.

Dai Quan and several small yellow gates guarded Zhang Shangwen, the second assistant to the cabinet, and walked quickly to the study.

While walking like flying, Zhang Shangwen asked Dai Quan: "What's going on?"

Dai Quan: "After the military envoys arrived at the Meridian Gate, Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of the Dragon Head Palace, happened to be there, and said that he personally led the military envoys into the palace. Unexpectedly, he led them to the Dragon Head Palace."

Zhang Shangwen was startled, and quickly asked: "Are you sure it's a good news?!"

"Ningyuan's victory! One hundred thousand battles!"

Zhang Shangwen smiled: "One hundred thousand is a bit exaggerated, but as long as Li Chengyang wins Ningyuan City, he will be a hero of the court."

Dai Quan: "Your Majesty is summoning several military envoys who were stopped outside Zhengyang Gate."

Zhang Shangwen trembled violently. The king of a country could only summon a few soldiers to escort the envoy, and strode up to the study room, just in time to rub against a few soldiers whose armor was damaged and their faces were haggard after a long journey. Passing by, he glanced back, at this moment, a small yellow door came over, "Cifu, Your Majesty invites you to enter."

"I see you, Your Majesty!"

He turned around and walked into the upper study room, bowing and saluting.

"No gift, give a seat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhang Shangwen sat down, "Ning Yuan."

"Victory! I'm not mistaken, Li Chengyang successfully captured Ningyuan City."

Emperor Jianwu took a sip from the tea bowl on the imperial case, put it down, and then said: "We have to wait for the military report for details. I have invited Cifu to discuss the matter of rewards."

"."

"Those soldiers said that Jia Hu successfully intercepted [-] Tartar reinforcements at Mount Shou, and that's how Ningyuan won."

Emperor Jianwu sighed softly and said: "One day and one night, the officers and soldiers finally found 71 wounded soldiers among the dead, 3000 of them!"

Zhang Shangwen was taken aback. When he made the battle plan, he considered that the Tartars from Jinzhou would come to help him, so he ordered Jia Hu to lead [-] troops to intercept and contain them, but that was [-].

"So, on Li Chengyang's list of credits, Jia Hu is the first credit, and the Liaodong Army who broke through Ningyuan City is the second credit."

"This"

Emperor Jianwu sighed softly, "In this battle, Jia Hu offended the generals of the Liaodong Army, so he can no longer stay in Liaodong."

Zhang Shangwen nodded, this is an inevitable result of taking the lead, the emperor needs the support of the Liaodong Army, so Jia Hu must leave there.

"Jia Hu is seriously injured and needs to recuperate. I plan to transfer him to Yangzhou for military training."

Speaking of this, Emperor Jianwu hesitated for a moment, and then said: "I suspect that the Supreme Emperor is going after Jia Hu."

Zhang Shangwen was slightly startled, leaned forward slightly, and then said: "Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor wants to win over Jia Hu?"

"good."

Zhang Shangwen was stunned and stopped talking.

There was silence in the upper study.

The eunuch on duty at the Meridian Gate came running out of breath, but he didn't dare to enter the palace gate.

Dai Quan went up to meet him.

The eunuch said, "Ningyuan Victory Report." Then he handed over the military report.

Looking at the unsealed military newspaper, Dai Quan looked back at the study room, a little embarrassed.

"What's the matter?" Emperor Jianwu's voice came from the upper study.

Dai Quan immediately answered: "Return to Your Majesty, Ningyuan has a good news."

The voice of Emperor Jianwu: "Bring it in."

"Yes." Dai Quan took the military newspaper and walked in quickly.

The ancestor of the Jia family, Jia Amnesty and Jia Zheng's mother, Jia Shishi, were ill.

But she fell ill not because of a cold, but because of a letter.

The crux of the matter lies in the matter of the youngest daughter Jia Min. An urgent letter came from Yangzhou. Her beloved youngest daughter's condition worsened and she might not survive the end of the year.

Headed by Mrs. Wang, all the female family members of the Jia family came to pay their respects, and the room was full of people.

In the ward, Jia's mother was lying on the bed, her face was pale, without a trace of blood, and she had lost the spirit of the past. Jia Lian's wife, Wang Xifeng, Mrs. Wang's nephew, sat beside the bed, holding a bowl, and was carefully serving her. Jia's mother had breakfast, and the bowl was porridge made from rice transported to Beijing by the Jiangnan water tank, but Jia's mother had no intention of eating, and shook her head, "Help me up, help me up!"

Wang Xifeng had no choice but to support her against the head of the bed.

Jia Lian hurried in and said to Jia's mother, "The old ancestor is overjoyed!"

Jia's mother understood immediately, and looked at Jia Lian with those two big skinny eyes, "But there's news from Liaodong?"

"Old ancestor, Ningyuan has won a great victory."

At this moment, the sky-shattering sound of firecrackers rang out on Ningrong Street!

The stewards and servants of the Ningguo Mansion were stunned. Jia Rong sent Jia Zhen's coffin to Tiekan Temple. The mansion is still in the filial piety. Who is so bold? !

Lai Sheng's family came out from the courtyard: "What's going on! Who set off firecrackers?!"

Without saying a word, the steward outside the Yimen hurried in: "There is an imperial decree! Quickly open the middle door! Open the middle door!"

Lai Sheng came over in a hurry, and shouted: "Open the middle door quickly! Open the middle door!" Then he said to Lai Sheng's family: "Go and ask Grandma to welcome you!"

"Grandma is going to pay her respects to the old lady"

"Where's Grandma Xiao Rong?"

"Go too."

Lai Sheng's face turned pale, and the huge Ningguo Mansion couldn't find a master to meet the order, and the middle door opened with a click.

Xia Shouzhong, the chief eunuch of Longshou Palace, brought several eunuchs to appear outside the door of the ceremony!

Lai Sheng and the others hurriedly knelt down: "Welcome to the angel!"

"Hehe, get up, get up."

Xia Shouzhong, who had silver hair and was dressed in a scarlet python robe, was all smiles: "Quickly tell your master that there is a great event, and the Supreme Emperor has decreed that you canonize your second master!"

This surprise was no small matter, Lai Sheng hurriedly replied: "Director Xia, please come in quickly, the little one will report to Grandma!"

Xia Shouzhong nodded, and walked into the middle door with the box containing the imperial decree in both hands, followed by a few eunuchs who walked into the Yimen from the side door.

In the backyard of Ningguo Mansion, Jia's mother was dressed in red auspicious clothes and sat in a small soft sedan chair. Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, You Shi and others came in sedan chairs.

"Overjoyed! Overjoyed!" Far away, Lai Sheng's family saluted, his eyes sweeping back and forth among the crowd.

Youshi hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

Lai Sheng's family: "Where is the fourth girl? Is the fourth girl here?"

Mother Jia: "What's going on?"

"Go back to the old lady, Mr. Xia said that the emperor has something to reward the fourth girl."

Jia's mother had no choice but to say to Zhou Rui's family: "Go and bring the fourth girl."

Zhou Rui's family glanced at Mrs. Wang: "Yes." He quickly turned around and ran back.

Seeing Xia Shouzhong standing in the front yard holding the imperial decree from a distance, Jiamu led Xichun and walked over, turned to the south and knelt down.

Xia Shouzhong unfolded the imperial decree in his hand and began to recite: "Order: Grant Ning Guogong the third grandson Jiahu the third-class uncle, confer the rank of Zhaoyong general, and reward him with a bullfighting uniform!"

Mother Jia was dumbfounded, knelt there motionless, and forgot to thank you.

Xia Shouzhong reminded gently: "Mrs. Tai, thank you."

Only then did Jia's mother come back to her senses, and hurriedly kowtowed, "My wife kowtows to the Supreme Emperor for his kindness!"

After announcing the decree, Xia Shouzhong didn't dare to take it, so he hurriedly stepped forward to help Jia Mu, first handed her the imperial decree, and then looked at Xichun, who looked very cute and young, but had a natural aristocratic appearance Temperament, this is Jia Hu's younger sister, Jia Xichun.

"The miscellaneous family congratulated the young lady." As he said, he took a box from the eunuch behind him, and after opening it, he saw a pair of jade Ruyi inside. Winning the battle has made great contributions to our great Zhou! This is bestowed by the Supreme Emperor to the young lady."

Xichun didn't dare to take it, she looked at Jia Mu.

Jia Mu: "This is a reward from the Supreme Emperor, take it quickly."

Only then did Xichun take the box with both hands, and kowtowed: "Thank you, the Empress Long En."

Xia Shouzhong personally handed a tray containing the earl's dress and bullfighting suit to Mother Jia: "Mrs. Tai, the sage doesn't care about government affairs, so he only rewards titles and military posts, as for official posts."

Jia's mother smiled faintly, interrupted him, and turned to Jia Lian and said, "Please drink tea, my wife."

"Yes."

Jia Lian took out a bank note from his bosom and said, "Thank you for your help, don't feel too little."

Xia Shouzhong took a look at it - 500 taels, and took the bank note with a smile, "Theoretically, internal officials shouldn't accept money from foreign courts. If miscellaneous households don't accept it, it seems like we are born." He turned around and shouted loudly : "I still don't thank Mrs. Tai for the reward!"

All the eunuchs said together: "Thank you Madam Tai for the reward!"

Jia Mu said with a smile: "That's all. It's good if you don't dislike it." Then she smiled and said to Xia Shouzhong: "Interviewer, I don't know what happened to my grandson?"

Xia Shouzhong thought about it and said, "I got hurt a little, it's okay."

Mother Jia understood, and hurriedly said, "Maybe go back to Beijing to recuperate?"

Xia Shouzhong was in a dilemma, and at this moment, the sky-shattering sound of firecrackers rang out on Ningrong Street again!

Lai Sheng ran in hastily: "Qian, Chief Dai from Qianqing Palace is here!"

Mother Jia was startled at first, then turned her gaze to Xia Shouzhong.

Xia Shouzhong didn't seem to care at all, he smiled and said to Jia Mu: "The miscellaneous family still has some work to do, so I'll leave now." Then, he led the eunuchs back out.

Outside the gate of Yi, Dai Quan took the lead, followed by four eunuchs, and walked towards Ning'an Hall on foot, followed by more than a dozen small yellow gates carrying eight mahogany boxes.

Just meeting Xia Shouzhong, Dai Quan hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and said with an apologetic smile, "Old ancestor."

"Ah."

Xia Shouzhong glanced at him, then looked at the boxes, and went straight out.

Looking at Xia Shouzhong's back, Dai Quan relaxed his face. The intervention of the Supreme Emperor completely disrupted the emperor's arrangement. The imperial court's rewards are in accordance with the rules. Originally, it was planned to seal Jia Hu as the first-class hereditary general of the Ningguo Mansion. Awarded as a general of the third rank, and went to Yangzhou to train troops and investigate cases. Now the Supreme Emperor rewards him generously in terms of titles, but he can only be demoted to a guerrilla general of the fourth rank in official positions.

Mother Jia and the others stood in the courtyard early on, and when they saw Dai Quan coming in, they immediately knelt down.

"Madam Tai!" Dai Quan hurriedly stepped forward to support her, "There is no order, His Majesty just asks the servants to send some gifts to the family."

A big eunuch commanded all the little yellow gates: "Quick, quick, bring them all in, bring them in!"

A great eunuch lifted the lid of the box, and all kinds of jewels, emeralds, gold and silver jewelry shone brightly under the sunlight, which was eye-catching!There are also all kinds of satin and silk, and the last box is full of yellow gold ingots.

Jia Mu, Jia Lian and Xichun were all stunned.

Dai Quan was full of joy, and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Mother Jia: "Mrs. Tai, Uncle won a great victory in Liaodong and made great contributions to our Great Zhou. These are all rewards from His Majesty. This is the gift list." .”

"Oh?" Mother Jia took the gift list and looked at it. Although she had some expectations in her heart, her eyes lit up. There were nearly a hundred kinds of gifts densely written on the paper, and the most valuable ones were the two Huangzhuang outside the city and the two thousand acres in Zhejiang. Superior paddy fields.

Jia Mu nodded with a smile, and handed the gift list to Jia Lian, "Take ten ingots and wrap it up, and invite the eunuch to drink tea." Then she said to Dai Quan: "Don't think it's too little, take it and give everyone a cup of tea."

Jia Lian responded, walked to the box of gold ingots, five taels of pure gold ingots packed ten, walked to Dai Quan and handed them over.

A big eunuch stretched out his hand, Dai Quan slapped that hand back, took it in person, smiled and said to Jia Mu: "Thank you for the reward, Mrs. Tai." Turning around, he handed the gold to the big eunuch, and then said: " His Majesty appointed Uncle as a guerrilla general of the fourth rank, and went to Yangzhou to supervise the regiment to practice bravery."

Seeing that Mother Jia frowned slightly, she took a step forward and said evasively: "First, Jiangnan is a good place, which is good for my uncle's recovery. Second, Lin Yanzheng still has to rely on his family's support, and outsiders can't be relied on. I also ask Mrs. Tai to write a letter to inform uncle."

Mother Jia looked at him deeply, then nodded, "Thank you Neixiang!"

Dai Quan also nodded deeply, took out a booklet from his sleeve, and handed it to Mother Jia: "This is a copy of the military newspaper."

Mother Jia took the folder and showed it. Looking at it, her nose flared, her eyes were moist, and then she closed her eyes. She couldn't imagine that in the distant Liaodong, three thousand Zhou troops faced a crazy attack of fifty thousand Tartars. , One day and one night, only 71 people survived, and Jia Hu was even found out from the pile of dead people. He was only 16 years old!
The mansion of Song Chengliang, the chief minister of the cabinet, is located in the bustling part of Dong'anmen Street. The mansion is full of cars and sedans on weekdays, but it is unusually cold!
Today's sun is very good. By the small river in the back garden of Xiangfu, Song Chengliang sat on a big rock by the river, like an old monk in meditation, waiting for the fish to take the bait. Since he was ordered to recuperate, he has been lurking in his own In the mansion, the door was closed all the time, and the news of Ningyuan's great victory weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

The reeds on the water moved, and a fish was hooked, but Song Chengliang remained motionless. The housekeeper hurried over and said in a hurry: "My lord, there is news from the palace that your majesty has dispatched guerrilla general Jia Hu to Yangzhou supervises the regiment to practice rural courage."

Song Chengliang didn't speak, he picked up the fishing rod and threw it down to the ground, but it turned out to be a two-inch long crucian carp. The housekeeper was scratching all over the ground, holding it with both hands, and keeping it in a small magnetic altar with clear water.

Only then did Song Chengliang speak, "Notify me, don't provoke him, if something happens, I won't be able to keep them. This is a wild tiger, and he is going to kill people."

(End of this chapter)