Chapter 730: Incident at the Eastern Road Courtyard

Shenjing, late October. The sky was high and blue, the earth was desolate, and the autumn wind was coming to an end.

On the eastern outskirts of the city, on a gentle slope, sat a workshop of considerable scale. The workshop was surrounded by guard towers, with soldiers patrolling, and the security was strict.

Below the slope, dense military camps and tents surrounded the workshop, guarding it like stars surrounding the moon.

For the past few months, this Ministry of Works firearm workshop had been under the direction of the Ministry of Works' Construction Division, engaging in large-scale construction and continuous expansion.

Not only were the areas of the workshops and storerooms continuously expanded and added to, meeting the needs for the construction of a large number of new-style firearms.

Facilities such as dining halls, barracks, and bathrooms providing for the daily life of hundreds of craftsmen were also built in specific areas of the workshop, and a new military training ground was built near the workshop.

Because a few months ago, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao issued an imperial decree, letting Jia Cong step up the construction of a thousand breech-loading guns and simultaneously form the Five Armies Battalion breech-loading firearm team.

The dense military camps and tents below the slope partly belonged to the fifteen hundred imperial guards guarding the workshop, and the other part was stationed with the transferred breech-loading gun soldiers.

From the newly built training ground near the workshop, bursts of dense gunfire were heard from time to time. Several teams of soldiers with solemn military demeanor, holding newly built breech-loading firearms, were lining up for shooting practice.

On the training platform, Jia Cong was dressed in a Grade 5 civil official robe. The strong wind billowed, his robes fluttered, and he was focused on looking at the soldiers' firearm training.

Standing beside him was a sturdy military general, with a helmet on his head and armor on his body, looking majestic.

On the training ground filled with military atmosphere, Jia Cong's scholarly civil official attire looked very different.

But every soldier and general on the training ground would not have the slightest contempt or estrangement because of his attire.

On the contrary, the looks they gave him were full of awe and respect. Whenever a formation passed by the training platform, they would respectfully salute him.

Civil and military officials have always been mutually suspicious. The rough soldiers who had struggled in the military were most unaccustomed to the sour and pedantic ink of civil officials, and most respected those with illustrious military achievements.

Everyone on the training ground knew that the young man in front of them, although he was the leader of the civil officials who had recently become famous in Shenjing City, was also a military noble with outstanding military achievements.

He had once led a thousand troops, fought fiercely in Liaodong, achieved several great victories, pacified the Jurchens, not only had superior strategy but also the bravery to behead generals in battle.

Such a figure in the military camp and training ground naturally became the focus of admiration and attention.

The general beside Jia Cong laughed: "Thanks to the Count submitting a memorial to the Emperor, selecting and transferring the elite of the Liaodong Firearm Battalion back to the capital for training."

"The humble official was able to witness the divine power of this new-style breech-loading gun, which was truly an eye-opener."

"The Count is not only a brave general on the battlefield, but this kind of clever idea is even more ingenious, actually creating such a divine weapon, making the humble official admire him to the point of bowing down."

The general who spoke was none other than Wei Yongzhou, a thousand-commander of the Liaodong Firearm Battalion, who this time was ordered to select and transfer the elite of the Liaodong Firearm Battalion to return to the capital to participate in the breech-loading gun training.

Years ago, Wei Yongzhou was still a platoon leader of the Five Armies Battalion and had traveled thousands of miles with Jia Cong, escorting a large number of firearms into the Liaodong army.

Afterward, he followed Jia Cong, galloping thousands of miles in Liaodong, fighting fiercely against the Liaodong Jurchens, and was promoted to thousand-commander due to his achievements.

Jia Cong returned to the capital to report his duties, and he stayed in Liaodong to lead troops. Midway, he had been secretly transferred to follow Jia Cong to Jin Ling to handle official business and was Jia Cong's confidant in the Liaodong army.

The gun soldiers selected for the breech-loading firearm training totaled twelve hundred people, of which more than five hundred were elite soldiers Jia Cong had selected from the Divine Machine Battalion.

He also submitted a special memorial to Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, saying that for firearm attack and defense in battle, one should use veteran soldiers who had killed on the battlefield, who would surely be able to better exert the power of the breech-loading gun.

The Liaodong Firearm Battalion had followed him in thousands of miles of fighting in the white mountains and black waters, experienced large and small battles, and pacified the Jurchens in one fell swoop; they were all rare elite soldiers of firearm battle formations.

He requested Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao to select and transfer elites from the Liaodong Firearm Battalion to enter the capital to participate in the new-style breech-loading gun training, which would surely be of great use in the nine-border wars in the future.

After the imperial decree reached Liaodong, Wei Yongzhou, as the main officer of the Firearm Battalion, immediately selected seven hundred firearm elites and rushed back to the capital day and night.

After the breech-loading gun training force was ready, Jia Cong allocated two hundred from the newly built breech-loading guns for the firearm soldiers' training.

And he handed the breech-loading gun training manual he had compiled to Wei Yongzhou to train troops according to the law. Now nearly two months had passed, and the firearm soldiers' training had achieved remarkable results.

Wei Yongzhou laughed: "Count, when we fought against the Jurchens, if we had these breech-loading firearms, we would surely have been able to achieve twice the result with half the effort and save a lot of trouble."

He was the main general of the Firearm Battalion, a person who had long experienced firearm battle formations, and his understanding of the use of firearms was higher than that of ordinary people, so naturally, he praised the power of the breech-loading gun endlessly.

Jia Cong said: "No matter how powerful the firearm is, it must be adapted to local conditions and used properly to exert its full power."

"Liaodong is a land of white mountains and black waters, with hilly terrain, gentle slopes, forests, and water veins, which is not conducive to the galloping of clustered warhorses, but can serve as a barrier for firearm advancement."

"If the breech-loading gun is used on the Liaodong battlefield, as long as it is deployed properly, it will naturally achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"But the current heart-and-belly trouble of the imperial court is in the Mobei, where the vast grassland is boundless, without cover or obstruction, and the firearm formation's volley has no barrier."

"The sharpness of firearms in the Liaodong battle is known to the whole world, and the Mongols must have many precautions."

"They have excellent warhorses and superb riding skills. Once they encounter danger, they can escape a hundred miles away in an instant, easily escaping the firearm's range."

"Or by taking advantage of the width of the grassland, they can detour and surround, harassing from both sides, which can also effectively disrupt the firearm formation."

"The use of firearms in the Mobei battle formation is much more difficult than in Liaodong."

Wei Yongzhou was a leader of the Firearm Battalion, and he naturally understood Jia Cong's words as soon as he heard them, and he felt it made great sense.

He said: "According to the Count's words, wouldn't this divine weapon, the breech-loading gun, become a chicken rib on the vast grassland?"

Jia Cong laughed: "That wouldn't go that far. Firearms have different methods of use in different places. With orthodox and unorthodox methods complementing each other, taking advantage of strengths and avoiding weaknesses, they can still defeat the enemy and win."

The two discussed and deduced the use of the breech-loading gun again. Jia Cong suddenly thought of one thing and asked: "Is Zhigui doing well in the army?"

Wei Yongzhou laughed: "This time, I hope the Lord will forgive me. I know Zhigui was once the Lord's page, and the Lord must be concerned."

"Originally, this time the humble official wanted to bring him back together, but this time the elite of the army were all sent out, and those left behind were all new recruits."

"Although the Liaodong army is now suppressing and there is no worry of war, reliable people must be left behind to guard the Liaodong foundation."

"The Count doesn't know, but this boy Zhigui is born to be a soldier. He is not afraid of hardship or death, and it is easy for him to stand out in the army."

"Whether it is going into battle or training troops, this boy knows how to use his brain. Although he is still young, the soldiers are all convinced by him."

"Liu Yongzheng thinks highly of this boy and has tried to poach him several times, wanting to transfer him to be the head of his personal guards, but I have rejected him."

"Before I came out, I thought about it and decided to leave him in Liaodong to help me watch over the Firearm Battalion's belongings."

"I have already recommended him to the Regional Commander to promote him to be my platoon leader."

Jia Cong smiled slightly: "A good man has ambitions in all four directions. Zhigui being valued by Brother Wei is his opportunity and fortune; whether he comes back or not is not important."

Although a platoon leader is only a grassroots military officer, he also manages over a hundred soldiers. Guo Zhigui is only fifteen years old, which is already a very outstanding performance.

It's just that Aunt Zhao hasn't seen her son for several years, and I fear she will be quite disappointed. Jia Cong thought about finding more free time recently to take Zhi Shao to visit the wet nurse.

Rongguo Prefecture, Feng Jie's Courtyard.

Wang Xifeng was flipping through the account book on the desk. Wu'er was sitting on the Arhat couch, teasing the eldest daughter, laughing brilliantly, unable to put her down.

The little girl was stretching her hands and legs, babbling, her pair of big eyes squinting into crescents, which was very cute.

Because winter was about to arrive, Feng'er brought a needlework woman to sew the eldest daughter's winter swaddling clothes, cotton clothes and trousers, winter shoes, and other items in the outer room.

She also ran to the inner room from time to time to compare the clothes she had made against the eldest daughter's hands and feet, and also laughed and played with her little hands.

At this time, Ping'er had finished her household chores and returned to the inner room from outside, poured a cup of warm tea, and was drinking it to quench her thirst.

She said: "Grandmother went to Rongqing Hall to pay respects this morning. Did the Old Matriarch ask about that matter? Has a rule been set now?"

Wang Xifeng laughed: "This matter has been cold for several days. Today, the Old Matriarch couldn't hold back, so she asked about it again."

"This time I made it clear that for Baoyu's marriage, both the Eastern and Western Prefectures' public treasuries would each put up one thousand taels of gift money. The Old Matriarch had nothing to say after hearing it."

Wu'er laughed: "The Old Matriarch is indeed understanding of the family's difficulties."

Wang Xifeng laughed: "Last time I only said one thousand taels, having already pressed the price hard. The Old Matriarch and the Second Lady had already lost their spirit."

"The Old Matriarch is much more alert than the Second Lady. She is impatient to struggle over this, and now that one thousand taels has become two thousand taels, she naturally takes advantage of the situation to step down."

"Fortunately, the Second Lady has been busy these few days and was not in the hall in the morning. I am not in a hurry to pass on the words; the Old Matriarch will naturally talk to her, and I will save some saliva."

"It's just that when I went over today, the Old Matriarch brought up a matter in idle talk, which was quite funny."

"She said that a few days ago, the Second Lady came over to chat, saying that Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun had entered the room for several months, but there was no movement, thinking it was not very easy to conceive."

"She wanted to give Seeing Cai Xia to Baoyu as well, hoping for a result early. These words also sound strange; the Second Lady is actually this anxious."

"Raising a child is not like planting wheat in the field; you can't just water it and sun it for a few days and it will sprout. How many days has it been since Sister Xi Ren and the others entered the room?"

"The daughter-in-law is about to enter the door, and the Second Lady is still anxious to stuff women into Baoyu's room, not afraid of leaving a handle for others, or the young couple fighting and quarreling in the future."

Ping'er said: "Why is the Second Lady thinking of one thing after another? She is actually this anxious now. When the Second Young Grandmother enters the door, are you afraid there won't be descendants in the future?"

Wang Xifeng laughed: "Originally I was also a bit puzzled, but later news came out of Rongqing Hall."

"That day the Second Lady and the Old Matriarch whispered, saying that there was you again in the Third Brother's room."

"Baoyu's room now only has two, which is a bit thin; it's better to add one."

Hearing Wang Xifeng's humorous words, Wu'er looked at Ping'er and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Ping'er's face was flushed, and she muttered: "The Second Lady is crazy about wanting a grandson. If she wants to raise someone into the room, that's fine, why drag me into it? It's so meaningless."

Wang Xifeng's expression was disdainful, saying: "The Second Lady has great ambitions, always comparing Baoyu with the Third Brother, but can these two be the same thing?"

She looked at Wu'er and Ping'er and teased: "That Seeing Cai Xia has grown up this year, and that figure looks like one who is easy to conceive."

"You two are also top-notch plates, and it hasn't been a short time, so why is there no movement? Don't let the other side take the lead, or our first branch will have no face."

Wu'er and Ping'er heard Wang Xifeng talk about lewd words, which were quite bold and explicit, their pretty faces flushed, wanting to laugh but embarrassed to make a sound.

At this time, Lin Zhixiao's wife entered the door with a smile, first talking about several affairs in the prefecture, and asked Wang Xifeng for her ideas on how to handle them.

After finishing the official business at hand, she said: "Second Grandmother, I heard that something happened in the Eastern Road Courtyard yesterday."

Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up, permeated with schadenfreude curiosity, and she asked repeatedly: "How could something happen so well? Tell me quickly what the story is."

Lin Zhixiao's wife said: "Yesterday, Huang Da Nainai from the Eastern Alley went to the Eastern Road Courtyard early in the morning to complain to the Second Lady, making the whole courtyard noisy."

"She said that her nephew Jin Rong had left the family school the day before yesterday and hadn't returned home until dark, and the family was anxious and looking everywhere."

"Later, they found him in a corner of the alley, covered in scars, covered in blood, and his leg had been broken by someone."

"Although his life was not in danger, the doctor said that even if he recovered, he would limp."

"Jin Rong said that although it was dark at the time and he couldn't see the appearance of the person who attacked him, the back looked very much like Huan Sanye's page."

"Added to the fact that Huan Sanye had recently fought with Jin Rong because of jealousy, leaving him bruised and swollen, Jin Rong insisted that it was Huan Sanye who dealt the black hand."

"Jin Rong's mother, the Widow Jin, was crying and screaming, wanting to die. Huang Da Nainai was angry and went to the Eastern Road Courtyard to reason with the Second Lady."

Wang Xifeng listened with great interest, her face full of expressions of not being afraid of trouble.

She laughed: "I didn't expect Huan Xiaozi to be like a frozen cat on weekdays, but actually so fierce, and even able to break someone's leg. I didn't see it before."

"It's just how he formed a feud with Jin Rong, and how he even became jealous."

"How old is he, to actually be hooking up with women outside? It's truly incredible."

Lin Zhixiao's wife laughed: "The Second Grandmother might have misunderstood. It's just a joke; just take it as telling a story to the Grandmother, and it can be considered a bit of fun."

"This jealousy of Huan Sanye is different from others. Now it is spreading like wildfire on the street, saying that Jin Rong is a lover of men."

"He is usually lovers with a classmate at school named Yu Ai. This person is also a true young man. In short, it is the talk inside, extremely unpleasant to hear."

"Huan Sanye actually became jealous because of this matter, which is why he formed a feud with Jin Rong. They had already fought several times before, and I didn't expect him to deal a black hand."

"The Second Lady was troubled and worried that the talk would spread more and more unpleasantly, and the second branch would lose all face."

"She gave the Widow Jin two hundred taels of silver, wanting to suppress this matter, but how could it be in time? This talk has already spread, and can it still block everyone's mouth?"

On the side, Wu'er and Ping'er heard this filthy and disgusting matter, and both were so ashamed that their pretty faces flushed.

In great and wealthy households, with luxury and extravagance, the descendants are absurd, and the matter of playing with men is not uncommon.

Like the likes of Jia Lian, whose behavior is dissolute, not only often hooking up with women but sometimes also using the handsome pages outside the second gate to vent his fire.

But such matters are very filthy and shameless in the mouths of the women in the inner courtyard.

Wang Xifeng spat fiercely and cursed: "Jia Huang's wife originally begged me with a thick face to get her nephew into the family school to study."

"I was soft-hearted for a moment and gave her this face, but I didn't expect her nephew Jin Rong to be such a thing, actually doing this kind of low-class thing. I can be considered to have blinded my eyes."

"It serves this boy right to have his leg broken. I said her nephew was harmed, but she didn't reveal a bit of the truth to me; it turns out she had no face to tell me."

"Huan Ge'er is also a base seed. How old is he, to actually get involved in this shameless matter? He is truly the scum of the Jia family!"

"Since I know this matter now, Jia Huang's wife can't hide even if she wants to. Lin Da Niang, you go and bring a word to the school's master."

"Ask him to immediately expel Jin Rong from the family school, so as not to tarnish the school founded by the ancestors. I will pay for the refund of Jin Rong's tuition."

"If this boy wants to get close to the family school again and harm other descendants of the clan, I will have someone break his other leg!"

Rongguo Prefecture, Baoyu's Courtyard.

Baoyu sat upright at the desk, holding a book, flipping through it lightly, his expression focused, with quite a scholarly air.

Only, what he was reading was not the classics, but the new storybook "Unofficial History of the Mirage" found by Mingyan. The content was interesting, making Baoyu unable to bear putting down the book.

He looked at the storybook for a while, then threw it on the desk, stood up, and walked a few steps in the room, his expression relaxed, even somewhat ambitious.

That day in Rongqing Hall, being despised by the fairy Sister Miao Yu, and later hearing the bad news of studying at the Imperial Academy—all kinds of pain and blows now seemed to have gone far away.

These two days his mood was quite good, in a state of some excitement and joy...

Because two days ago, Lady Wang returned from Rongqing Hall and specifically came to his room to speak.

She mentioned that Jia Cong's room had a new Ping'er, and now there were three people who had entered the room, but he only had Sister Xi Ren and Caiyun, and adding one more would be decent inside and out.

Suddenly, a figure rushed across, seemingly in a hurry to enter the inner courtyard, almost colliding with Lady Wang.

Lady Wang was already feeling uncomfortable, and seeing that this person was Jia Huan, her mood became even more disgusted and repulsed. Seeing him all bruised and swollen, she didn't know what had happened.

She shouted, "You stand still! Look at what you look like—all bruised and swollen, not a bit of the demeanor of a young master of a great family.

That concubine of yours is also a dead person, unable to teach you how to be a person, and can't even keep your clothes and appearance clean. You've lost all the face of the Second Branch!"

Lady Wang originally held the posture of a legitimate mother and rarely scolded Jia Huan, not only often being pleasant but even secretly indulging him.

Even if Jia Huan's behavior was inappropriate, she wouldn't point it out; this concubine-born son growing crooked was exactly what she wanted.

Moreover, she knew her husband was very protective of Zhao Yiniang and her son, so she put on a show in front of her husband, and any sabotage was done privately and secretly.

But ever since that day outside the storeroom door, when she heard Jia Huan crazily abusing the maid Jin Chuan, she had hated and been disgusted by this concubine-born son to the extreme.

The disguise on her face was torn off, and whenever she encountered Jia Huan's impropriety, she would scold him without hesitation.

Jia Huan also knew that his legitimate mother had not been fond of him lately, but he didn't know the reason.

He was glib and slippery with his biological mother, often talking back and playing rascally, and usually didn't have many rules.

But he didn't dare to be the least bit presumptuous toward Lady Wang; even though Lady Wang never beat or scolded him, he was very afraid of his legitimate mother.

This was the etiquette and family education within a great mansion, formed by long-term subtle influence, and there was no reason to speak of.

……

Lady Wang asked, "How did you get all bruised and swollen? Did you cause trouble outside?"

Hearing Lady Wang's unkind tone, which carried a gloomy chill, Jia Huan couldn't help but shiver.

He stammered and said, "Replying to the Lady, the son did not cause trouble. I just came back from school and accidentally tripped and bumped into something while walking."

Lady Wang shouted, "How can you be so careless in the future? If I see it again, I will never forgive you lightly. Go and let your concubine clean you up!"

Hearing this, Jia Huan felt as if he had been granted amnesty, hurriedly bowed to Lady Wang, and ran into the inner courtyard in a puff of smoke.

Lady Wang looked at Jia Huan's back, her eyes flickering, and said to Yu Chuan, "You go and call Chen Da Niang over to talk."