Chapter 62: Expansion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard

"Hmm, sit! No formalities between us." Jia Jing waved his hand!

Zhu Que has already been transferred by Jing Sheng Di to serve under Jia Jing, and together they are heading to Bashang Daying for appointment.

"Now that we've returned to Shenjing, many matters must be set in motion!" Jia Jing said gravely.

"Lord Hou, your command!" Zhu Que's expression tightened.

Jia Jing sat at the table, his gaze deep as he looked at Zhu Que, and said:

"The capital may seem calmer than the border passes, but hidden currents are raging, making it even more perilous."

"The first issue is intelligence; the Embroidered Uniform Guard now has only five hundred men, yet must cover Liaodong and Shenjing—far too few."

"You must use these five hundred as the backbone, secretly expand the manpower; in Shenjing the Imperial City Office and Secret Guard are hard to develop, so go to other provinces."

"These days the Da Han Empire suffers year‑after‑year natural disasters and endless war, leaving famine‑stricken refugees everywhere; you, who are of spotless reputation, must expand the Embroidered Uniform Guard to at least five thousand within a year."

"Not only must we densely station in Shenjing and Liaodong, but also establish bases in all thirteen provinces of the two capitals; for major affairs, I must receive the news before the court does."

"Even the surrounding False Qing, Mongolia, Annam and other regions of the Da Han must have a few covert agents placed now, so they can be expanded whenever needed. Can you achieve this?"

Zhu Que heard this, his expression shocked, and replied repeatedly:

"Understood, I accept the command!"

He had long wanted to expand the Embroidered Uniform Guard; as its commander, having only five hundred men under him was truly stifling,

but previously conditions were immature and the timing wrong, so Jia Jing kept telling him to wait; now he finally can showcase his abilities.

Jia Jing saw Zhu Que's excited expression and couldn't help but give a wry smile, shaking his head.

He naturally knew Zhu Que had long desired to increase the Guard's manpower, but before there was no money or authority, so expansion couldn't simply be declared.

The crucial point is that if the court discovers covert development of the Guard, it would be seen as treason, a crime punishable by extermination of the family.

Even though Jia Jing previously had a system, he dared not take such a huge risk.

As for why he dares now,

it is because, after inheriting the martial prowess of Lu Bu and Xiang Yu, Jia Jing's confidence has greatly increased.

With his current strength capable of matching ten thousand men, he deems himself truly beyond the court's control, able to command troops and hold a region, ensuring his own safety.

So, having a fallback, Jia Jing dares to risk, plot the world, and truly embark on an enterprise.

Now the Da Han Empire has reached a precarious brink, and although Jing Sheng Di claims to be reforming and strengthening, the outcome is uncertain, forcing preemptive measures and early planning.

Jia Jing spoke again:

"In Liaodong, we've seized a lot; the initial funds and provisions should be sufficient."

"But this is water without a source; once spent, it's gone. The secret factories in Liaodong can now operate, and riding the Guard's expansion momentum, we can open our merchant houses across the lands."

"While conducting business to fund the troops, we also use local manpower to safeguard the enterprises, creating a virtuous development."

"Meanwhile, recruit some personnel for commerce and have them ready."

Jia Jing's continuous victories in Liaodong, having slaughtered over a hundred thousand Qing Army, naturally yielded abundant spoils.

It should be known that wherever the Qing Army arrives, they conduct carpet‑like plundering, burning, killing, looting, amassing countless gold, silver and treasures.

Even after sharing profits with the court and the Liaodong General Office, Jia Jing still retains nearly a million in cash and goods, which is more than enough to fund the Guard's early development.

As for the factories in Liaodong, they naturally operate using system‑rewarded formulas for brewing, sugar‑making, soap‑making, glass‑making, salt‑making, and so on.

Although Jia Jing hasn't opened merchant houses in Liaodong, he has secretly commissioned craftsmen to produce the finished goods according to the formulas!

After all, many products, even with formulas, require repeated experimentation to succeed; beverages especially need to age before they can be sold.

Now that sufficient strength is at hand, we can gradually commence operations.

Zhu Que looked at Jia Jing and said calmly:

"Recruiting some manpower is no problem, but conducting business is truly beyond my skill; Lord Hou should find someone else to manage it."

Jia Jing smiled and said:

"First, just find some capable managers; later I'll assign someone else to handle this whole affair!"

"Finally, regarding intelligence, these past few days you should focus on gathering information about Jingnan Wuxun and Bashang Daying."

"Now the Son of Heaven has appointed me to oversee Bashang Daying; I anticipate inevitable clashes with the Jingnan line, so first discern their foundations before I can apply the proper remedy."

"Also, compile the intelligence from Rongning Second Mansion; we must find an opportunity to clean it up, as a tidy house is needed to receive guests!"

Zhu Que inhaled deeply, bowed, and said:

"I will gather the intelligence as soon as possible!"

Jia Jing nodded:

"Alright, then consider how to act; report any news promptly."

Having said that, Jia Jing stood up and left.

He went alone to the front‑yard jujube tree to practice martial arts, took a bath, removed his armor, and only then returned to the back‑yard room.

It was already approaching the hour of the Rat, and Xiangling and Xiaohong had long finished delivering the items; now only Xiangling remained in the house, leaning at the table and dozing, clearly very sleepy.

The sound of Jia Jing opening the door startled her; she hurried to rise and pour water for Jia Jing, but Jia Jing waved his hand and said:

"Not needed! I just drank earlier! It's late, go sleep with Xiao Jiaoer! I don't need you to attend to me here!"

"From now on you may move freely in the courtyard without such restraint! As long as you keep out of trouble, I will protect you!"

Xiangling shyly nodded, and walked slowly to the adjoining room to wash up and go to sleep.

……

It was the hour of the Rat.

At this moment, Daiyu's small courtyard still glowed with candlelight.

Daiyu, draped in a robe, lay half‑reclined on the step‑up bed reading, covered by a thick brocade quilt.

She had been looking at the book for half a moment without turning a page, her gaze fixed silently on the pages, clearly lost in thought.

At that moment, Zi Juan held a small bowl of steaming Bird's Nest, approached Daiyu, and said with a light laugh:

The miss also hasn't eaten anything tonight; she must be hungry! Try the bird's nest the marquis lord sent; I hear it's top-grade goods produced over in Liaodong! Back at the mansion, these weren't easy to come by.

Daiyu's train of thought was interrupted by Zijuan; she came to herself and inadvertently asked:

Did you just send me one, or do all the other girls have one?

Just now, when Xiangling and Xiaohong came over, it was already late; they only exchanged a few words at the gate with Zijuan before leaving, so Daiyu didn't know the details.

Zijuan chuckled and said:

Although this bird's nest is something all the other young ladies have, Xiangling and Xiaohong are the first girls who came to present it.

Besides, there are some precious items like ginseng and deer antler, but only you, miss, have them. The marquis lord shows you special concern, so now you surely won't worry that your maternal cousin is inferior to your paternal cousin!

Daiyu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she spat angrily:

Saying that just makes me seem petty! It's not because you blabbed, going to Third Brother and saying I'm unwell for no reason, making him worry about this little matter right after he returned!

Zijuan gathered her smile and spoke seriously:

I think the marquis lord is even more solemn and dignified than the elders of the mansion, yet he is extremely caring and protective of you girls; otherwise I wouldn't dare speak so freely!

The miss's health was never good, and lately she's been eating and sleeping little, while the female servants in the mansion aren't attentive.

Have them prepare a light meal just for the miss, yet they dare to make excuses and delay! Now that the marquis lord has returned, I see who would still dare to neglect the miss!

Lin Daiyu's face darkened a little at those words; she gazed quietly at the steam rising from the porcelain bowl in Zijuan's hand, her eyes seeming a bit hazy,

She whispered:

We are merely staying here as guests, and they are not our masters; how can we blame them for being neglectful!

I think you'd better not cause them more trouble! They already say I'm a petty, picky maid, not as generous and considerate as the precious miss in dealing with others; if I stir up anything else, who knows how they'll gossip about me behind my back!