Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 389: Seed Saving
After waiting for a while, Xichun came in with surprise. Jia Zheng knew that she was cold and heartless, so he just exchanged a few pleasantries and then asked her to invite Miaoyu to play chess.

Xichun just raised her eyes and looked around, not knowing why.

Jia Zheng then took out a jade ruyi and handed it to Xichun, saying, "Give this to Miaoyu when the time comes and say it was given by the madam."

Xichun was even more puzzled, but she was told not to ask any more questions by her elders, so she took the jade ruyi and went back in silence. When she entered the Grand View Garden, she took out the jade ruyi and examined it carefully.

Seeing its crude shape, it was estimated to be quite old, but not very fine. According to Jia Zheng's words, Xichun sent her maid to invite Miaoyu. It happened to be Jia's mother's birthday, and Miaoyu copied a copy of the Infinite Life Sutra by hand. She was bored in the Rongcui Temple that day, so she came to find Xichun to play chess.

The two of them played a game of chess, and halfway through, Xichun took out the Ruyi and gave it to Miaoyu.

Miaoyu was startled when she saw the jade ruyi, but asked, "What does this mean?"

Xichun said, "My second uncle called me just now and said that the mistress gave you this jade ruyi."

Miaoyu's pretty face flushed immediately. She knew this jade ruyi, it belonged to the Chang family, and she often played with it when she was a child. When she was five or six years old, it suddenly disappeared, and Miaoyu cried for a long time. Now thinking about it, it must have been her grandmother who sent this thing to the Jia family before she died.

The meaning of sending this jade ruyi at this time is self-evident - Miaoyu Ruyi.

Miaoyu was flustered and happy at the same time, but she no longer had the heart to play chess. Xichun's chess skills were far inferior to Miaoyu's, but she unexpectedly won three games in a row today, and then she saw that Miaoyu was absent-minded.

When Miaoyu hurried back from Liaofengxuan, Xichun hurried to find her third sister Tanchun to ask about the matter.

After he explained the reason, Tanchun thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "Isn't Yu Ruyi in favor of Miaoyu Ruyi? I was at the old lady's place just now, and she also heard Madam mention the marriage of Second Brother Bao. Miaoyu's teacher has always been close to Second Brother Bao, so maybe this will be a success!"

Xichun frowned upon hearing this and said, "Although I often talk with Miaoyu, I know that she is a lonely person. If she really marries Brother Bao, I don't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse."

Tanchun said casually, "How can we girls care about these things? Marriage is always decided by parents and matchmakers."

Xichun thought of herself and could not help but sigh, "I am so uncomfortable. I think it would be better for me to become a nun, with a green lamp always by my side. It is worse than being entrusted to the wrong person."

Tanchun also sighed and said, "Don't think about it. My fourth sister still needs a few more years, but I can't delay for much longer."

As they talked, the two sisters gathered together, heads leaning against each other, lost in their thoughts. Tanchun couldn't help but think of Li Weijian...

But it is said that Li Weijian met Wu Shangxian in the study room. Wu Shangxian was quite tactful and said he was a junior. When he met him, he knelt down and kowtowed, and his words showed that he was willing to "follow the horse's tail and fly thousands of miles away."

Li Weijian politely invited him to sit down and started asking seemingly irrelevant questions, but in fact he took this opportunity to find out about 70% of Wu Shangxian's background.

He was originally from Shiping, Yunnan. He was illiterate but very resourceful. Relying on his proficiency in smelting, he built up a huge family business in Banlao in just a few years. The 20,000 private soldiers were actually half workers and half soldiers. They mined and smelted when they were busy and trained when they were free. If the chieftain invaded, they would gather together to resist.

This time, he even drove nine elephants and countless pack horses to the capital to pay tribute. He was afraid of being embarrassed by officials along the way, so he simply donated a student status, so when he met Li Weijian, he said he was a junior.

Li Weijian had no interest in the silver mine. After finding out the details, he carefully asked about the situation in Toungoo. The Toungoo dynasty changed, just like the Central Plains, and the new dynasty was quite enterprising.

In the past ten years, it swept across Southeast Asia, annexed the Ahom Kingdom and the Manipur Kingdom to the northwest, subdued the Shan chieftains to the north, annexed Nanchang to the east, and destroyed Siam, which had a history of 400 years, to the south. In recent years, it has even collected gifts of flowers and horses from the chieftains of the Dashun border, which shows that it has long coveted it.

Li Weijian finally had a general understanding of Toungoo and asked about Toungoo's military preparations.

Wu Shangxian frowned and said, "Toungoo has no less than 50,000 elite soldiers, and they are also supported by the Western Barbarians. In my opinion, although their elite soldiers are not as good as those of the Beijing camp, they are probably slightly better than the border troops."

Li Weijian nodded slightly, but he didn't agree in his heart. Seeing that Wu Shangxian seemed to be speaking against his will, he knew what was going on. He thought that Wu Shangxian only saw the border troops in Yunnan and Guizhou in the south, and had no idea about the current situation of the Dashun Jingying. It is no exaggeration to say that as long as the logistics supply can keep up, the Dashun Jingying can sweep across Europe and Asia.

The artillery was fine. In the past two years, due to the progress of metallurgy, the Leting Iron Works gradually experimented and developed special steels such as manganese steel. Although the shape of Dashun's artillery has not changed, it can withstand higher chamber pressure and is made lighter.
As for firearms, new firearms have been popularized in the capital and the nine border areas, which means that Dashun's firearms are moving closer to modern rifles. In fact, qualified copper-shelled bullets can be made now, but they have not been popularized due to cost constraints;
In addition, the advancement of military technology has led to the birth of the Dashun military system, which is a change in tactics. In the past, fire musketeers were more like spearmen who could fire guns, and basically they would use bayonets to fight hand-to-hand after firing a few shots. Now, fire musketeers are developing in the direction of archers. Pre-loaded bullets can fire seven volleys in battle, and spiral rifling and Minié bullets allow Dashun fire musketeers to shoot accurately from a hundred steps away.

Dashun had tested this tactic before when he pacified the Dzungars. The continuous rain of bullets on the battlefield made it impossible for the Dzungars to fight hand-to-hand, and they would often collapse before they could even survive seven rounds of volleys.

Therefore, Li Weijian was not worried about any accidents in the war between Dashun and Toungoo. With Dashun's national strength, it would be easy to destroy Toungoo. What really constrained Dashun was Toungoo's deadly infectious diseases, especially malaria.

At this time, the Western Yi had already transplanted cinchona trees, and a small bottle of cinchona cream cost one tael of gold, which was too expensive. Li Weijian thought to himself that he seemed to have heard that Artemisia annua could cure malaria, so he might go to the Imperial Hospital to verify it one day.

If it really comes to be used, then the land of Toungoo may be completely incorporated into the territory of Dashun.

After asking about how long Wu Shangxian would stay, Li Weijian thought for a while and said, "Why not stay in the capital for a while longer and meet Mr. Wu? I will know that there are talented people out there. Maybe I can introduce some to Mr. Wu."

Wu Shangxian was overjoyed when he heard this, and he kept bowing and said, "My Lord, I will remember your kindness in my heart. In the future, if I have to do something, even in the face of danger, I will not be considered a good man if I frown!"

"Hahaha!" Li Weijian laughed and waved his hands, saying, "Recruiting talented people for the country is a matter of course. Mr. Wu doesn't have to do this. Um... I have one more question. I wonder if Mr. Wu's men can defeat the elite soldiers of Toungoo?"

"This..." Wu Shangxian said truthfully, "To be honest, my lord, most of my men are miners, and they are strong. If they are brave and aggressive, and gather a hundred or so people to fight, they will not be afraid of anyone. But the elite soldiers of Toungoo have both elephants and muskets, and they are quite organized in battle. If they fight, I am afraid I will not be able to cope with them."

Are you kidding me? The silver mine produces at least one million taels of silver every year. Wu Shangxian has occupied this place for so many years. If he is really a soft persimmon, even if Toungoo does not come to make a move, I am afraid that the jealous Dashun local officials will have to slaughter him. He can protect himself until now, which shows the ability of his 20,000 private soldiers.

This excuse was made because he was afraid that Li Weijian would use him as a vanguard and then kill him. Li Weijian knew it very well, but he did not point it out at the moment, and only left it to be introduced to his mentor Yan Xiyao later. With the ability of a teacher, it would be easy to deceive... persuade an ambitious man who was born as a miner.

Since it was Li Weijian, he said no more, brought the tea to Wu Shangxian's nose, and smiled. Wu Shangxian was stunned for a moment before he realized that this was a thank you for the tea. He immediately got up in a hurry and followed Wu Haiping out of the study.

After the talented people left, Li Weijian moved to the desk to write and draw, recording the situation in Dongyu one by one, and talking about the countermeasures. Just when he was halfway through writing, Wu Haiping was about to come in and replied, "Master, Miss Bao and Mrs. Xue are here together."

Li Weijian put down his writing brush, frowned and sighed, "Forget it, please come in."

Chen Hongmou had a fight with his teacher Yan Xiyao. Although both of them were injured, it was barely a draw. However, the most critical person, the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, Jia Hua, had been convicted today.

At the court meeting today, the Ministry of Justice presented all the evidence, and Emperor Zhenghe took the opportunity to get angry. Jia Yucun was dismissed from his post, all his writings since birth were confiscated, and he was exiled to Qiongya!

Then the court nominated the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, rejected Chen Hongmou's several nominations, and then decided to appoint Li Futanglai, the governor of Liaodong. This person was neither a member of the New Party nor a member of the Old Party. He was the runner-up in the first year of Zhenghe and a person secretly brought in by Emperor Zhenghe.

Yan Xiyao knew the sage's intentions long ago, so he was not surprised by the favor or disgrace. But the chief minister Chen Hongmou was extremely disappointed, and he was sure that the sage had no intention of reforming again.

Since the case of Jia Yucun was settled, Xue Pan was naturally useless. The Ministry of Justice determined the crime that day, and Xue Pan was convicted of murder and executed in the autumn. This time, Aunt Xue and Baochai must have heard about this and came to Li Weijian in a panic. But at this point, how could Li Weijian intervene?
After a while, Baochai helped Aunt Xue in. Li Weijian just stood up to greet them, and Aunt Xue knelt down with a plop: "Brother Jian... Master Li, please save Pan'er!"

Li Weijian quickly moved away and looked at Baochai in surprise. Baochai's eyes were red at this moment, and her eyes were full of resentment when she looked at Li Weijian. Li Weijian felt embarrassed and stepped forward to support her, saying, "What are you doing, Madam? It's really too humiliating. Get up quickly and we can discuss everything."

Just then Hongyu and Qingwen were outside. Li Weijian hurriedly called for help and managed to help Aunt Xue up.

After they sat down, Aunt Xue started crying again.

Li Weijian heard the complaint hidden in the words, and frowned, saying, "My aunt also knows that Wenlong committed a capital crime. The strategy I proposed earlier was really a last-ditch effort. Who would have thought that there were so many people in the court who were dissatisfied with Jia Hua, and they made a scene in the court. Alas, even the saint knows about this, how can we cover it up?"

Aunt Xue wiped her tears and said, "Brother Jian... Lord Yan is in charge of the Ministry of Justice. If... if we spend more money, I wonder if we can use the strategy of using a substitute to kill someone?"

Li Weijian's expression suddenly changed: "Auntie is so confused! Prime Minister Chen Hongmou wishes he had eight eyes staring at my teacher. At this moment, how could my teacher dare to take risks?"

"Woo woo woo, my Pan'er."

Aunt Xue cried bitterly upon hearing this. Li Weijian sighed and looked at Baochai again. Just by looking at each other, Li Weijian knew that Baochai knew everything and had been tricked by him before. But so what? Xue Pan had committed a capital crime. If this matter had been exposed and implicated Jia Yucun, I'm afraid Xue Pan's grave would have been covered with grass by now.

Because Li Weijian felt that he had a clear conscience, he only glanced at Baochai in surprise, and then said to Aunt Xue: "At this point, Madam, you might as well think about the lenient side. I can talk to the Ministry of Justice for a few words. There is still more than a month before the execution in the autumn. Whether you want to see Wenlong or take this opportunity to leave a child for the Xue family, I will definitely help you if I can."

Aunt Xue, who was originally in a state of panic, suddenly became quiet. Baochai, who was standing by, also advised: "Mother, it is useless to say more now. You might as well think more about the future."

Aunt Xue started to think, and Li Weijian's words did not seem like boasting. If he really took this opportunity to leave a descendant for the Xue family, then there would not be no hope.

Yin hurriedly thanked him and said, "Brother Jian is still thinking ahead. I can't do much now, but Brother Jian doesn't lack money. I will definitely eat vegetarian food and recite scriptures in the future to pray for Brother Jian."

"You are too kind. We are all relatives. It is unethical for Auntie to say that."

Aunt Xue chattered on for a while, then hurried back home with Baochai to discuss the matter.

When the mother and daughter got home, they hurriedly called Xia Jingui and Baochan to come and told them about preserving the seed. Baochan was so sad that she didn't respond. Xia Jingui sneered, "I have been married to you for such a long time, and I have been tossing and turning at night, but there is still no pregnancy. Not only me, but also Baochan and Bilian are not pregnant. Grandma's intention is good, but what can you do now? You have to take two doses of strong medicine every half a month. I am afraid your body is already empty!"

Aunt Xue was so angry that she trembled all over, and she raised her hand and slapped Xia Jingui. After being hit, Xia Jingui bumped into Aunt Xue with her head, causing her to stagger, and then she started to throw a tantrum again. Baochai hurriedly ordered Tongxi and Tonggui to help her back to the front yard, and then she calmed down.

It is said that the speaker may not mean anything, but the listener may take it seriously. Aunt Xue was extremely worried that night, so she went to Baochai and cried, "If that vicious woman is right, the Xue family's eldest branch will be extinct from now on! Woohoo, if the other branches find out, I'm afraid we mother and daughter will be eaten alive!"

Sister Bao thought about it and felt very uneasy. If there was no heir, she and Aunt Xue would be tortured by other branches of the Xue family, or even the Wang family!

Shivering, Sister Bao sent the maid out, closed the doors and windows, and whispered to Aunt Xue, "We'll do our best and leave the rest to fate. If it doesn't work... we'll at least let Baochan have Xue's blood."

Aunt Xue was unable to react for a moment and cried, "Your brother is useless, where did his blood come from?"

Baochai stared at Aunt Xue and said, "Mother, she is Xue's bloodline...but she is not necessarily my brother's."

Aunt Xue was stunned when she heard this, and pointed at Baochai and asked, "You, what do you mean?"

Baochai gritted her teeth and said, "At this point, I have no choice. Besides, the grace of raising is not as good as the grace of giving birth. This child has been raised by mother since she was born. Baochan is just a maid, so naturally mother will have to take care of her education in the future. So when she grows up, who dares to say that she is not mother's grandson?"

After a pause, he continued, "In this case, Xia Jingui will be childless and will probably think about remarrying soon. Then we can take back the shares and save the Xue family business. If Baochan is obedient, it will be fine. But if she has other ideas, the worst that can happen is that the mother will be killed and the son will be kept."

Aunt Xue was horrified. She pondered for a long time. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that although Baochai's plan was vicious, it was the best plan at the moment. So she gritted her teeth and said, "Then I'll do as you say. Let's not talk about what will happen in the future. It's better to send him to the death row first. These few days I will carefully look for a few young girls, widows who have given birth to children, preferably those who can leave your brother with a child."

............................................................

Let’s not talk about the situation of the Xue family, but talk about the Rongguo Mansion.

Grandmother Jia's eightieth birthday has passed. When counting the expenses, Sister Feng doesn't care at all, but Jia Lian feels very sad.

He was now addicted to opium, and felt uncomfortable if he didn't smoke a few times a day. In addition, he had to provide for Youshi, so he had to spend at least 400 silver dollars a month. But today, You Sanjie sent a message saying that opium was out of stock recently, and a small box of opium in the capital had risen to 230 silver dollars.

Jia Lian finally came to his senses and was afraid that Third Sister You had taken advantage of him. Opium was used for viewing and medicine at that time. When did it become so precious?

Jia Lian gritted his teeth and found some seeds, then planted more than a dozen pots in the outer study, waiting for them to bloom and bear fruit. He then went to Xiyi to learn how to make the ointment, and from then on he would no longer have to ask anyone for help.

As soon as one thing is put aside, another one comes to mind.

The cunning man who sold the fumigant disappeared long ago after getting the money, and Jia Lian sent people to search the capital but couldn't find him. Although the unspeakable disease has improved and scabbed, the issue of having children has become a worry!

After pretending to be a filial son for more than 20 years, he finally inherited the title and had a great life ahead of him, but he was made childless by that cunning man. Not only that, Jia Lian even lost interest in sex.

Jia Lian was extremely worried, thinking that if he had no offspring and his second uncle Jia Zheng was still alive, if this matter got out one day, he was afraid that the second branch would seize the heir and the title.

Jia Lian was very depressed for a while. After a few days, Jia Lian suddenly came up with an idea.

On this day, pretending to be a coincidence, he bumped into Jia Qiang who was returning home in the Ningrong Back Street. Because of the incident in Xiaohuazhi Lane, Jia Lian and Jia Qiang had been quite estranged in the past two years.

When they met, Jia Qiang asked awkwardly, "Why is Second Uncle here?"

Jia Lian glanced at Jia Qiang meaningfully and said, "Brother Qiang is old now, it's time to talk about marriage."

Jia Qiang smiled bitterly and said, "Second uncle, you are joking. I have not passed the imperial examination and have no property. How can any girl from a good family be willing to marry me?"

Jia Lian said, "You can't write two Jia characters with one stroke. The Ning Mansion is gone, and you are the only one left. Yesterday, my second uncle and I were discussing that we should help you to start a family and establish a career. Let's go, let's have a good meal today, and then discuss this matter later."

(End of this chapter)