Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 221 The Origin of the Orb

In mid-June, half a month after the announcement of the results of the special provincial examination, an imperial edict was sent from the palace to the Jia family in Rongguo.

After the content of the imperial edict spread, it caused a stir among the officials and nobles in the capital city of Shenjing. The eldest son of the Jia family was never at peace and even did some new things.

Emperor Jiazhao issued an edict to promote Jia Cong, the top scorer in the Yongzhou provincial examination, as the observer of the Ministry of War and the assistant supervisor of firearms of the Ministry of Works.

Although it was not an actual position yet, a juren was granted the position of administrative director of the Guanzheng, which was considered an extraordinary promotion.

You should know that in the past, officials in charge of government affairs were awarded the title of Jinshi.

The probability of a juren being appointed as an official was very low. Even if he was appointed, he would be a local deputy official such as a teacher, a county magistrate, or a chief clerk. If a juren failed to pass the imperial examination and become a top three jinshi, he could not even become a county magistrate.

Jia Cong was only a juren, but not only was he granted an official title, he was also given the same respect as a jinshi. He was unique among juren of the same year, and such honor was extremely rare.

But there is something that outsiders don't know. In fact, before Jia Cong passed the imperial examination, the Minister of War Gu Yankui and Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding had already recommended him to observe political affairs and serve as a judge.

It's just that Jia Cong was only a scholar at that time, and Emperor Jia Zhao was afraid of causing criticism, so he temporarily gave up. Now that Jia Cong has passed the imperial examination and is qualified to be appointed as an official, the old matter has been made up.

What is even more surprising is that Jia Cong was appointed to positions involving both the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works this time, which makes people feel that he is favored by the emperor.

Only Jia Cong himself knew that it was because the Firearms Bureau of the Ministry of Works was built at his suggestion, and he was familiar with the art of Western firearms, so he was conscripted by Emperor Jia Zhao.

However, there were also people with discerning eyes who realized that whether it was the military observer or the assistant director of the Firearms Inspectorate, they were all related to military affairs and were far inferior to the noble status of the Hanlin Academy classics.

……

As for the marriage turmoil that had arisen in the mansion some time ago, it had now vanished into thin air.

Now everyone in the Ning and Rong mansions can see that Jia Cong's integrity is unstoppable and he has far surpassed Baoyu, Jia Lian and other upright young men of the Rong state.

Although Grandmother Jia was extremely partial, she was also helpless in her heart. She also more or less estimated that the one who would be able to support the Rongguo Mansion in more than ten years would most likely be this grandson who was not her own.

I heard that he would concentrate on the imperial examination in the next two years and was not willing to discuss marriage. Naturally, he would not use his status as an elder to force someone to do anything.

Besides, given this kid's evil nature, I'm afraid we can't force him. If he causes any trouble again, it would be a disgrace to both of us.

Even in an era like this where ethics and morals are strict and filial piety is paramount, other people's attitude and tolerance towards you still depends on your own strength.

From this we can see that Jia Cong has devoted all his energy over the years and put a lot of effort into the Wenhua imperial examinations, and now it seems that the results are gradually showing.

……

So, from the day when the imperial edict was received, Qingzhizhai, which had been idle for half a month, became busy again.

Every morning, Zhishao, Wu'er, Qingwen and Xiangling would get up early to help Jia Cong sort out various chores so that he could report to the yamen on time.

Mao time is from 5:00 to 7:00 in the morning.

In the morning, Jia Cong would handle some war report documents in the lobby of the Ministry of War and classify them according to their importance so that his superiors could review them effectively.

In addition, he paid special attention to matters concerning firearms and the building of the army, made suggestions, and followed up on their implementation. This was also the main reason why Gu Yankui recommended him as the supervisor of the Ministry of War.

Every afternoon, he would go to the Firearms Supervisory Department of the Ministry of Works. The Firearms Supervisory Department was a newly established department of the Ministry of Works. Its system was still being established and there was no chief officer appointed yet. It was temporarily supervised by the doctor of the Construction Department.

Currently, the only person in the Firearms Supervisory is Liu Shizhen, the Deputy Supervisor of Firearms Supervisory.

Last time, Liu Shizhen successfully completed the modification of the Rumi gun based on the sketch drawn by Jia Cong. The power of the newly made Rumi gun was significantly improved, and Emperor Jia Zhao believed that he had the talent of a master craftsman of firearms.

Because he was a third-class Jinshi and the timing was right, he was appointed as the sixth-rank deputy director of the Firearms Inspectorate.

The reason why Liu Shizhen was able to be promoted and show his talents this time was entirely because of Jia Cong's drawings of the modified Rumi gun, which gave him the opportunity to display his talents in front of the emperor.

So he was always grateful to Jia Cong.

Now, seeing that he not only has brilliant ideas in the art of firearms, but also has outstanding literary talent, and that he won the top prize in the provincial examination once, far surpassing himself in his youth, I feel even more admiration and closeness to him.

In addition to researching and manufacturing firearms, another important task of the Firearms Bureau was to recruit famous Western scholars.

However, neither the director of the Ministry of Works and Repairs, who was in charge of the Firearms Bureau, nor Liu Shizhen knew where to start. However, Jia Cong seemed to be familiar with the matter, and took Liu Shizhen to search the east and west markets in the capital, as well as all the foreign churches in the city.

He actually found two foreign monks who were proficient in astronomy and arithmetic.

We even found an Englishman named Masido in a tomato shop in the West Market. Although he was over 70 years old, he had worked as an Ottoman musket craftsman when he was young.

He has a deep understanding of all kinds of muskets used by the Western barbarians. He drifted to Shenjing thirty years ago and has settled there ever since.

Liu Shizhen was ecstatic to find such a famous Western firearms expert.

What made Liu Shizhen even more dumbfounded was that Jia Cong and Ma Siduo could communicate freely in foreign language.

This boy is only in his teens. Where did he learn all these strange skills?
……

Ningguo Mansion, Jia Rong Courtyard.

In the room, Keqing was talking to Baozhu. Before she returned home that day, Jia Cong seemed to have calculated the time and actually waited for her halfway.

He also kept a maid named Baozhu by his side, asking her to protect him, saying that the Ningguo Mansion was not peaceful.

This was also the first time the two met after they parted in Jinling. When Keqing thought of the scene at that time, her heart couldn't help but tremble.

He felt that what he did at the beginning was indeed the right thing to do. He was a hardworking person and actually won the top prize in the provincial examination. His future prospects would be even brighter.

Seeing that he arranged a little girl to protect him, I always felt that it was a bit childish, but I was very happy in my heart.

When he returned to Ningguo Mansion, he would just say that Baozhu was a maid he brought back from his mother's home. Even if someone asked his parents about it, they would most likely guess the reason and make up a lie for him.

Especially my father, he attached great importance to this marriage. Now that I have married into the Ningguo Mansion, he dare not speak out if there is anything. Every time I think of this, I always feel sad.

Ever since she had Baozhu, she felt less panic in this austere and unfamiliar mansion.

Because it was he who brought the pearl, seeing the pearl was like seeing him.

She always recalled the time she spent in Anding Temple in Jinling, which was the greatest comfort in her heart.

From the day Baozhu came, she doted on her and kept her company every day. It is said that he also told Baozhu the same thing.

She felt that being nice to Baozhu was like being nice to him, and she even let Baozhu accompany her to bed.

At this time, Ruizhu was doing needlework in the room, and Keqing gave Baozhu a box of candied fruit.

Ever since that day when she saw Baozhu move the stone bench in the yard effortlessly, Keqing began to understand why he said that this little girl could protect herself.

I don’t know where this skinny little girl gets so much strength.

Watching Baozhu eating the candied fruit with gusto, Keqing asked a question she had never asked before: "Baozhu, how did you know Cong...his, has it been a long time?"

Baozhu replied: "Miss, are you asking about Brother Cong?"

When Ruizhu heard this, she got up and went to the yard, where she sat on the stone bench and did some needlework.

On the way back to the parents' home that day, Ruizhu was of course there too. Fortunately, the grandfather was not at home that day. Since getting married, the grandfather has not been home.

Ruizhu certainly knew Baozhu's origin. If people knew that Baozhu was specially brought to the girl by Master Cong, it would be a disaster. The girl would not be able to explain herself, and she might even lose her life.

Haven't you heard enough about the evil and hateful things that happen in the mansion?

The girl also knew the seriousness of the matter, but she couldn't help asking about Master Baozhu Cong, which made Ruizhu a little nervous.

Every time the girl and Baozhu talked about Master Cong, she would go and sit at the door to prevent the news from leaking out.

The master saw that the eldest master was never at home and would come over occasionally to visit without any regard for etiquette, which was annoying, so the master had to be on guard against him.

Ruizhu has heard a lot of unpleasant rumors since entering Ningguo Mansion. She suddenly understood why Master Cong sent Baozhu here.

(End of this chapter)