Chapter 897: Beheading Can Build Merit

Twenty li south of the Love Shenjing, Wuwu Town.

Man Hai heard the name Jia Cong, his eyes revealing heat, and said, "Before I led the army out, I once asked the Great Khan who the Great Zhou's responding general was.

The Great Khan mentioned the Liaodong Regional Commander Liang Chengzong, and also mentioned this person, Jia Cong. He was also among the generals on the expedition.

Now it seems that the news from the spies in the Love Shenjing must have deviated. Jia Cong did not go on the expedition and is still guarding the Love Shenjing.

Duan Chunjiang is truly a bucket of rice. He even investigated this news wrongly, almost ruining the major event of military merit.

Han people are Han people after all; they are all unreliable things.

Jia Cong is a master of firearms in the Great Zhou and the main official of the firearm workshop. It is rumored that those strange firearms of the Great Zhou were all created by Jia Cong's painstaking efforts.

Since we infiltrated Wuwu Town, we have eradicated all the living people nearby, and the news has not leaked in the slightest, otherwise, the Zhou people would have mobilized troops long ago.

In their eyes, the capital area should be a very stable and comfortable place, but Jia Cong still guards the firearm workshop with such full strength.

There must be great mysteries in the workshop, and it is likely that a large number of elite firearms are stored there, which concerns the victory or defeat of the Zhou army, which is why even Jia Cong stayed in the capital to take charge."

The Assistant Regional Commander beside him said, "Second Prince, now the Zhou army guarding the workshop is less than a thousand people, and the Prince has twenty thousand elite fast cavalry under his command.

As long as we lead the army to kill toward the firearm workshop, the Zhou people will be caught off guard and will be unable to resist. Our army can easily occupy the workshop.

Once we seize the elite firearms in the workshop, we Mongols will surely be like a tiger with wings. By then, why worry that the Great Khan's hegemony will not be achieved?"

Man Hai grinned hideously, "I have heard that no matter how powerful the firearms are, they all rely on gunpowder to ignite. Which of us Mongols can build that stuff?

Even if we grab more elite firearms, there will always be a day when they run out. Grabbing a pile of dead things is not a long-term plan after all.

The most precious thing in the firearm workshop is not those elite firearms, but the Count of Weiyuan, Jia Cong!

He is a world-famous firearm craftsman. All the firearms of the Zhou people were built by him. As long as we can capture him alive, what firearms will we Mongols not have?

The firearm workshop has weak troops, and Jia Cong appears there. This is simply a heaven-sent opportunity.

As long as I can capture Jia Cong alive, it will be a heaven-shaking great merit. We can temporarily put aside the matters planned by the Great Khan's military order.

As long as we capture this person and go north, the Great Zhou court will lose face, and the Mongols will have countless firearms. Grazing horses in the southern dynasty's rivers and mountains will surely be just around the corner!"

Man Hai said to the personal scouts, "Immediately go to the eastern city of the Love Shenjing to investigate, figure out Jia Cong's daily routine, and return to report to me as soon as possible.

Since Eternal Heaven is so caring, I will definitely not miss it in vain. I must capture Jia Cong alive!

As long as I can achieve this strange merit, the Great Khan will surely not be stingy with rewards. I don't want land or population; I only want what I want most..."

Man Hai stopped speaking when he reached the side, suppressing the hot blood in his heart.

He said to the Assistant Regional Commander beside him, "Jia Cong has a special status and is also a noble high official of the Zhou people. Once we take action to kidnap him, the Love Shenjing will surely send troops to rescue him.

You immediately go to prepare the troops. Except for leaving two thousand-man teams to guard the grain and materials and control the area around Wuwu Town,

the rest of the elite cavalry will be on standby at any time. The Zhou people have always been short of warhorses. Even if the Love Shenjing is the national capital, it is impossible to have more than ten thousand cavalry.

Even if they send troops to rescue, they cannot do anything to our ten thousand elite cavalry. As long as we can succeed, the whole army will immediately retreat north. We must not linger in battle."

The sixteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Rongguo Prefecture, East Road Courtyard.

The sky was not yet bright, the morning light of Ningrong Street was dim, and a carriage set off from the corner gate of the East Prefecture, driving on the quiet street.

The carriage had only traveled for dozens of breaths before stopping in front of the black oil gate. The gate-keeping old woman at the entrance placed a footstool in front of the carriage.

Shi Shu carried the package down and helped Seeing Tan Chun off the carriage. The two entered the black oil gate and went all the way to the inner courtyard of the East Courtyard.

Since the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the official offices of the Love Shenjing ended their ten-day holiday, and all officials officially went to work, and the New Year celebrations came to an end.

Although the country was in a state of war, many key officials in the Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and other offices had already entered the office to work because of the war.

There were also many idle officials like Jia Zheng who stayed at home to spend the fifteenth of the first lunar month peacefully. Only they themselves knew whether they were diligent or idle, cold or warm.

Although the country was in a state of war, the Love Shenjing was no different from previous years. Everything operated according to the original trajectory, and the war clouds seemed to have no connection.

With the official opening of the major official offices, the Imperial Academy, which was a national institution, naturally opened on the same day.

Seeing Tan Chun came over before dawn today because today was Jia Huan's first day of entering the school, so she naturally helped her aunt's brother manage things.

Baoyu also entered the school on the same day as Jia Huan. The difference was that Baoyu was enrolled to study, while Jia Huan was auditing and living in the academy.

Because Baoyu was the eldest brother of the second house, and the Jia family now relied on poetry and books to establish the family, entering the Imperial Academy was a major event. Seeing Tan Chun also had to come to pay her respects, although in her heart it was just a side matter...

In Aunt Zhao's courtyard, Jia Huan also got up early. Since he was encouraged by Jia Cong and guided by Seeing Tan Chun, he had put a lot of effort into his studies these days.

Although the inner reason for his diligence sounded somewhat absurd, he had truly read some books and developed expectations and yearning for entering the Imperial Academy.

If Baoyu knew of this kind of scheming, he would surely be heartbroken for him, lamenting that there was another salary-worm in the family.

The room was packed with many large and small packages. Because Jia Huan was living in the academy to study, the luggage he had to bring was truly not small.

Aunt Zhao was packing on the side while muttering, "You have never left home for a day since you were small. This is the first time you are outside.

Although Cong Ge'er helped you arrange things, he also has face in the Imperial Academy. But now he is away on an expedition and is not in the Love Shenjing, so his face will naturally be smaller.

When you go to the academy to study, don't think you can occupy the power. I have seen it over the years; Cong Ge'er doesn't like these routines.

Even if you can study and enter the school in the future, if you want to fight for a decent future, you will eventually have to rely on his support. Don't do things that make him disgusted.

Living in the academy to study alone, you are not allowed to cause trouble. If you cause trouble again, be careful, or I will peel your skin!

Now tuck your tail between your legs and study hard. When you have achievements, then you can be arrogant; it won't be too late then.

If you can really do this, you will surely please your Third Sister. If she says a good word in front of Cong Ge'er, it will be more useful than a hundred words from ordinary people..."

Jia Huan said impatiently, "Aunt, you are too nagging. I am also a scholar soon. Don't I understand these principles? Do I need you to nag me?"

His eyeballs rolled around. I don't know what he thought of that made him proud, but a strange smile appeared on his face, with a bit of evil spirit.

He smiled and said, "Aunt, you don't have to worry too much. If I were the only one going to the Imperial Academy, my heart would surely be empty, and I would really be afraid that the instructor would scold me for being a fool.

But with Baoyu, this club, together, my heart is solid. My son has enough confidence, so you just watch. I will definitely not lose face for you."

Aunt Zhao raised her willow eyebrows and cursed in a low voice, "You worm-hearted fool, whether you have achievements in studying has nothing to do with Baoyu. You are talking nonsense and your brain is flooded with water."

Jia Huan smiled wickedly, "Aunt, you don't know the trick. If you don't want to be looked down upon and bullied, you have to have someone who is more stupid and useless than you, so others won't care about you.

This is the truth I realized after studying in the clan school for many years. It is definitely not wrong."

Aunt Zhao said disdainfully, "You have been messing around in the clan school. This is also called studying? Don't make me ashamed."

Jia Huan didn't take his mother's contempt to heart and continued to say excitedly, "Baoyu is not only a lazy bone—that's fine—but he is also more shameless than anyone else.

He can't read the words of the sages. To cover up his stupidity, he insults the sages every day, saying that those who study are salary-worms.

Although I am also very bold, I would never dare to say such things. Last time he was beaten by the master, it was because he insulted the scholars of the Imperial Academy for being unloyal and unfilial.

Aunt, you say how can he have a good outcome if he enters the Imperial Academy like this? If I reveal half a word of this, the people in the academy can kill him!"

Aunt Zhao was truly startled by these words and cursed, "You worm-hearted, base seed, just go and study. Why do you have to provoke Baoyu?

He is the legitimate son of the second house, the apple of Grandmother and Lady's eyes. If something happens to him in the Imperial Academy and it involves you, do you still want your little life?"

Aunt Zhao was saying harsh words, but Jia Huan still didn't care. Suddenly, someone snorted coldly at the door. Hearing this voice, Jia Huan couldn't help but tremble all over.

He saw Seeing Tan Chun standing at the door, her pretty face covered in frost, looking at him coldly.

Jia Huan hurriedly apologized with a smile, "Third Sister is here. I knew that Sister had me in her heart and must have come to see me off."

Seeing Tan Chun said coldly, "Stop changing the subject. If you have the guts, say the words you just said from beginning to end again.

I will immediately go and tell the master to break your legs, and you won't have to study in the Imperial Academy, lest you lose the face of the master and Third Brother!"

Jia Huan's face turned pale, and he hurriedly begged for mercy, "Third Sister was just saying it for fun. How could I do such a thing? Please spare me this time."

Seeing Tan Chun's finger was about to poke Jia Huan's face, and she scolded, "If you dare to do such a thing, I won't have you as a brother, and your life and death will have nothing to do with me.

Baoyu is your elder brother. Even if your temperaments are incompatible, you should treat each other with etiquette. Don't let me see you have any crooked thoughts, otherwise, don't think about standing in this house!"

Jia Huan muttered, "Third Sister, I was wrong, okay? I promise you I will never mess with Baoyu." ===== CHAPTER 898 =====

Jia Huan hurriedly begged for mercy, saying, "Third Sister, I dare not say such things again. Please spare me this time; I won't do it again in the future."

Seeing that her words had frightened her brother, Seeing Tan Chun's expression softened slightly as she said, "Huan'er, you must know what is right and what is important; stop dwelling on these trivial matters."

It was not easy for you to finally decide to study, and you have obtained the opportunity to enter the Imperial Academy. Whether you can secure a future for yourself in this lifetime depends entirely on this one chance.

Sending you to study at the Imperial Academy is not just so you can advance your learning, but more importantly, so you can understand principles, grasp the Heavenly Dao, know the rules of propriety, and walk the righteous path.

The book of contemporary essays that Third Brother gave you contains not only eight-legged essays but also lessons on self-cultivation, self-discipline, self-improvement, and establishing one's purpose in the world!

Baoyu is your legitimate elder brother; even if your temperaments do not match, you should still treat him with propriety. I forbid you from harboring any crooked thoughts, or else don't think about having a place in this home!"

Jia Huan muttered, "Third Sister, isn't it enough that I admitted I was wrong? I promise you I will absolutely not go and mess with Baoyu."