I'm in the Red Mansion

Chapter 33 Historical turning point
Huh? Unconsciously, the experience of Hunyuan Zhuanggong increased by ten points.

If you keep following this pace, you will be able to pass the entry level and reach the proficient level in ten days. This is a pleasant surprise.

In the following days, Jia Cong continued to learn how to write eight-legged essays from Jia Dairu, but his progress was a little slow.

However, since there is a proficiency panel, Jia Cong believes that by the time of the boy's test next year, he will be able to at least reach the proficient level, or even the minor success level.

I believe it won't be a problem to deal with the boy's test.

Another good news is that after a few days of accumulating, the silver he had on hand finally exceeded two hundred taels, reaching two hundred and thirty-six taels.

Jia Cong decided to return the two hundred taels of silver he had borrowed from Lin Daiyu first.

As for the silver sent by Yingchun and Tanchun, it is difficult to return it because the silver was a gift, not a loan.

Jia Cong decided not to return their money and would deal with it later.

Jia Cong changed the silver into banknotes. He called Hongxiu and asked her to deliver them to Lin Daiyu and express his gratitude to her on his behalf.

Logically speaking, for such a favor, Jia Cong should go to the house in person to express his gratitude.

However, Lady Jia had placed him under house arrest, so Jia Cong would not easily set foot in the front yard, so he had no choice but to send the maid Hongxiu to make the trip on his behalf.

Hongxiu left immediately, and Jia Cong continued reading.

Not long after, Hongxiu came back and saw the Third Master reading seriously. She quietly poured a cup of tea in front of Jia Cong, then quietly left.

After a while, Hongxiu came over to report: "Third Master, Miss Lin is here."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong put down the book and went out to greet him in person.

"I didn't know Sister Lin was coming, so I didn't come to greet you. I hope Sister Lin will forgive me."

Lin Daiyu glanced at Jia Cong and said in dissatisfaction, "Brother Cong, it's only been a few days, and you're so impatient to return the two hundred taels of silver?"

"Have you heard some rumors? Or are you afraid of being implicated by me? Or do you think that I am not worthy of being friends with you?"

Jia Cong couldn't help but say: "Sister Lin, what are you talking about? Sister Lin helped me in my time of need. I will never forget this kindness in my life."

"I'm paying you back because I got some money recently and I'm now well off. If I didn't have the money it would be fine, but now that I have the money I'll feel bad if I don't pay it back."

"It's windy and cold outside, Sister Lin, please come inside and talk."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "If that's the case, then that's fine. If Third Brother Cong is short of money again, just come find me."

After entering the house, the two sat down as host and guest and chatted for a while.

Jia Cong couldn't help but say, "Sister Lin, you've come at the right time. I have a question in my mind and I want to ask Sister Lin to solve it."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Brother Cong, do you have any questions? Just ask me. I promise to tell you everything I know."

Jia Cong couldn't help but say: "Sister Lin also knows about my previous situation. I have read the history before this dynasty in history books."

"I know nothing about the current situation of this dynasty. I hope Sister Lin will enlighten me."

Jia Cong knew basically nothing about the current situation of the dynasty.

Apart from Lin Daiyu, no one really asked about Jia Cong. Jia Huan was close to him, but Jia Huan himself was not clear about it.

When he first came through, Jia Cong was busy trying to survive.

Now that he has settled down temporarily, he is preparing to take the imperial examination to gain fame, so he still needs to have some understanding of the situation in this dynasty.

Lin Daiyu was the best candidate. Lin Daiyu wanted to say something but stopped herself. Jia Cong understood and said to Hongxiu: "Hongxiu, go down first. You don't need to come in unless I tell you to."

Hongxiu said, "Yes, Third Master."

After Hongxiu left, Lin Daiyu said, "Third Brother Cong, I only heard about this dynasty from hearsay."

"What comes out of my mouth goes into your ears. I may say it as nonsense, and you may listen to it as nonsense. I will not recognize it once I leave this door."

Although Lin Daiyu was just a little maid, Lin Ruhai was the Imperial Inspector of Salt.

He naturally understands the situation of this dynasty and will not be wrong.

Jia Cong could not help but say: "Sister Lin, just tell me what you want to say. I just want to have an understanding of this dynasty. I will not make it public."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "At the end of the Ming Dynasty, natural disasters and man-made disasters made people's lives miserable, and various rebel armies raised the banner of anti-Ming."

"Among them, Li Zicheng, the rebel army, grew rapidly. But later, Li Zicheng was accidentally shot and killed."

"I, Li Yan, the founder of the Great Xia Dynasty, took over the banner of King Chuang, led the four kings and eight dukes, conquered the capital, and established the Great Xia Dynasty."

Hearing this, Jia Cong's expression changed slightly.

He roughly understood that the history of the Dream of the Red Chamber was actually a parallel world.

History took a turn at the end of the Ming Dynasty. Li Zicheng, the King of Rebellion, was shot and killed. Li Yan successfully ascended to the throne and established the Great Xia Dynasty.

Then Lin Daiyu continued, "After that, Taizu promised Wu Sangui, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Kexi that they would be given the title of king, which would be hereditary."

"Pull these three former Ming generals who guarded the border into our camp."

"Next, the king and his subjects worked together as one, and finally drove the Qing army out of Daxia. In the end, Wu Sangui, Geng Jingzhong, and Shang Kexi were named King of Pingxi, King of Pingnan, and King of Jingnan."

Hearing this, Jia Cong was stunned again.

Although history has shifted, it still has a certain inertia.

Unexpectedly, in this world, Wu Sangui and three others did not become the foreign kings of the Qing Dynasty, but instead became the princes of Daxia.

Lin Daiyu continued, "After Taizu established Daxia, he worked hard to govern the country and cultivate the people, and Daxia soon entered a prosperous era."

"The Qing dynasty, on the other hand, fell into a series of internal turmoil and rapidly declined."

"However, several decades after Taizu's death, the Great Xia Dynasty gradually fell into disrepair, the people were in a state of laziness and the military was weak, and the country's strength declined sharply."

"It was the Qing Dynasty that was eventually unified by Huang Taiji. As a result, the Qing Dynasty grew stronger. Soon they launched a large army and made a comeback, forcing Daxia to retreat step by step without being able to resist."

"In the end, in just over a decade, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were lost. Eventually, the Emperor Chongren, the retired emperor, moved the capital to Bianjing."

"The Crown Prince of Emperor Chongren strongly advocated to prepare for war and recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. However, from the Emperor Emeritus to most of the civil and military officials in the court, they were all indulging in pleasure. They were afraid that the Crown Prince would anger the Qing Dynasty and invite revenge from the Qing Dynasty."

"Therefore, the former prince was falsely accused of rebellion and committed suicide."

"Not long after, the Qing Dynasty marched south and surrounded Bianjing. The retired emperor Chongren was terrified and gave up the throne to the current emperor Yonglong."

"Emperor Yonglong decisively used military generals and personally stepped onto the city wall with a sword in hand. The people of the capital were all shocked by the current emperor's actions."

"I heard that all the young and strong men in the capital city rushed to the city walls to defend the capital. Women, children, old and young all helped to transport supplies, food and hot water."

(End of this chapter)