Ningguo Mansion
The two sisters of the Zhen family both wear dresses with plain blue as the main color. The hairpins on their heads are also decorated with white pearl flowers, which are as elegant as clear water hibiscus and have double lotuses.
A small face as big as a palm, white and pink like peach blossoms that have just bloomed in February, and eyes that are as agile as streams under the willow-leaf eyebrows.
One has a face with melon seeds, willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes, a pointed chin, and a little bit of bright and translucent light shining in his eyes.
Three women are performing a play, and a group of young girls gather together. Apart from talking and laughing, it is inevitable that they will have other thoughts.
Xiangyun said softly: "Third sister, I heard that this time, when Brother Heng comes back, we should be able to fight."
Baochai said softly: "Sister Yun wants to see a battle. There is nothing interesting in a battle. People who are strangers are fighting each other with swords and guns, and rivers of blood flow."
The girl paused slightly, feeling worried in her heart.
Zhen Lan said: "I heard that the Jurchens came this time with 50,000 people. People in the city are saying that the Jurchens are less than ten thousand and they are invincible. Rumors are spreading everywhere."
Tan Chun pursed his pink lips, his bright eyes flashed with thought, and said softly: "This time the Jurchens raised an army to invade. They said they were leading fifty thousand soldiers and horses. They were probably bluffing. Otherwise, so many soldiers and horses would eat the horses." , I don’t know how much they consume every day. They are wandering at sea and have no stable supply of military supplies. There is no way they can have 50,000 people. And even if it is reduced in half, in the long run, the daily expenses will be huge, and they will definitely not be able to compete with the official army. "
Generally speaking, the insight that can see the importance of military supplies exceeds that of many people.
Zhen Lan glanced at Tan Chun, a girl with handsome eyes and plucked eyebrows. She was moved by the heroic spirit on her face and felt surprised in her heart.
Zhen Lan answered softly and said: "Even if it is folded in half, there are still 25,000 people, which should not be underestimated. The Jiangbei camp originally had 6,000 naval troops, and the Jiangnan camp had 12,000, but the latter has since Zhenhai. After the war, the quota has not been fully reached. The total number may only be more than 10,000 sailors, and they are still training. If we fight at sea, we will indeed be inferior to others."
Tan Chun looked at Zhen Lan with shining eyes and said softly: "Sister Lan can't calculate like this. The number of the army and navy is not as good as theirs, but the army also has the infantry and cavalry of the Jiangnan Camp. If we rely on the strong terrain, It is not impossible to block the Jurchen fleet in Suzhou Prefecture and Jinling Prefecture, and at the same time hold back the ships at Haimen, waiting for Brother Heng to return and then take charge of the war."
"But he was beaten passively and was exhausted from running for his life." Zhen Lan said softly.
Tanchun said: "Not necessarily. As long as we resist for seven or eight days, the Fuzhou Navy will rush over to help. In other words, the longer the time is delayed, the more beneficial it will be to the army. I'm afraid..."
"What are you afraid of?" Zhen Lan raised her eyebrows and looked at the girl, feeling an unspeakable jealousy in her heart.
How come this girl is so knowledgeable about military matters and she is only thirteen years old?
Baochai also put down the tea cup with one of her fat little hands. Surprise appeared on her plump and snowy face, and her crystal-clear apricot eyes looked at Tanchun unwaveringly, with a hint of seriousness.
The third sister is really amazing, what she said... is really like that.
Brother Heng taught her this?
Thinking of this, she felt a little bit disgusted in her heart. Brother Heng always bit into the golden lock and never told her anything about the outside world.
Daiyu blinked her starry eyes and looked at Tanchun with the same surprise, thinking to herself, no wonder Brother Heng treats the third sister differently.
However, Tan Chun frowned his heroic eyebrows, pursed his pink lips, and said softly: "I'm afraid that the generals in the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps are eager to lead their troops out, and Brother Heng is not here, and if they suffer another defeat, then... Trouble."
As he spoke, he sighed softly and said, "Brother Heng is not here."
Zhen Lan: "..."
I don't know why, but I feel a little weird. Don't analyze so much before, the key is still in this sentence, right?
Your brother Heng is not here, so you don’t trust anyone, right?
Zhen Lan suppressed the strangeness that suddenly arose in her heart, frowned and said: "Jinling's side can block it this time, but it is not easy to counterattack. The Fuzhou Navy has been away from the battle formation for a long time, even if it comes, it will not be easy." It doesn’t necessarily mean that we can defeat the Jurchens.”
Tan Chun raised his bright eyes and looked at Zhen Lan, saying: "There is no need to win. Those Jurchens don't have food, grass and fresh water, so they won't last long. Brother Heng should be back by then."
Seeing the two of them, Daiyu said something to each other, her bright starry eyes sparkling under her smoky eyebrows, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a sweet smile: "Listen, you guys, our family now has two more military planes." You are already a minister, and you are also the third girl in the clan, so we are really destined to be together."
When the two girls who were whispering heard the words, their bright and charming faces blushed slightly.
Everyone laughed.
Only Baochai smiled, a flash of surprise in his moist apricot eyes, "Our family?" Our family?
"Pfft." Zhen Xi couldn't help laughing. Under her curved willow-leaf eyebrows, her bright eyes as bright as a stream curved into crescent moons. Li Duo smiled lightly and said, "Third sister, you finally found a rival this time."
In fact, even the past envelopes between fiancé Fang Kuang and Zhen Lan may not say this, because Zhen Lan not only likes to recite poems and compose poems, but also likes to talk about court affairs and side affairs.
However, because several people have not received any honors, the military affairs of the DPRK are all based on smoke and mirrors.
Zhen Lan smiled softly, but she was also generous, and said softly: "Normally, no one tells me this at home. The knowledge of the third sister is really extraordinary among the girls I have met. Compared with those men and women. I don’t know how much stronger it is.”
After all, she is also a girl who has been baptized by Zhen Baoyu's words such as "man's eyebrows are dirty" and "fresh daughter".
The girl said, staring at Zhen Xi, and said angrily: "Fourth sister, I usually ask you to read more, but you don't do it. You may have to talk to the Minister of Military and Aircraft about this all the time in the future."
As soon as these words came out, everyone laughed, but the smiles were not often filled with joy.
Tanchun looked at Zhen Xi, who was the same age as him, and sighed quietly, feeling bitter in his heart.
Why the surname Jia? If her surname is also Zhen...
Baochai picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then glanced at Zhen Xi with lowered eyes.
This little girl from the Zhen family looks weak, not as scheming as the third girl from the Zhen family.
Zhen Xi's cheeks were filled with light laughter, and the red clouds stretched all the way to her earlobes. She clearly understood the overtones of her third sister's words, and she was also talking to a military minister, wasn't it...Brother Heng.
"I'm reading. I've read a lot recently." Zhen Xi pouted and said angrily.
She has been reading the military books left by Brother Heng in the past few days, as well as the Three Kingdoms dialect book, which she has read several times, and she also understands some of the strategies in it.
Xiang Yun, a "silly man", didn't understand the riddles of several people, and said with a smile: "Sister Lan, don't underestimate the third sister. She has learned the skills of marching and fighting from brother Heng."
"That's really disrespectful." Zhen Lan looked at Tan Chun with a smile on her face and whispered.
The girl smiled, and under her curved willow-leaf eyebrows, her slightly narrow phoenix eyes exuded a shrewd, intelligent and charming charm. Compared to Zhen Qing, she was undoubtedly more immature and ignorant, but her shrewd and exquisite thoughts were probably... Among the people present, Baochai was the only one who could compete with him.
Tan Chunqiao's face showed shame and anger, she glared at Xiangyun and said, "Sister Yun, you are the only one who knows."
The feeling of loss in my heart became stronger and stronger.
She will be worse than...Sister Yun in the future.
Why is her life so miserable?
Xiangyun's apple-like cheeks were as rosy as the clouds, with an innocent smile, and said: "That's right. Brother Heng only shows you the secrets, and asked you to help write the paperwork."
Zhen Lan was slightly surprised when she heard this, and couldn't help but ask: "This... Brother Heng asked the third sister to help handle military documents?"
Baochai explained: "That's not the case. When we were in Beijing, Brother Heng liked the third sister's capable and cheerful temperament the most. He usually let her read the documents and didn't shy away from her about anything."
The third sister is also her sister-in-law.
"It's not a secret, it's just ordinary affairs. Brother Heng is in charge of several yamen now. I'll go over and help him." Tan Chun said with a chuckle.
In fact, compared to the fate of the girl in the original novel, where she still had to look up to Mrs. Wang, the care of her clan brother Jia Heng has undoubtedly made the girl more calm and confident.
As I get older, the essence of literary talent and the charm of forgetting the world after seeing it become more and more obvious.
Zhen Lan nodded, looked at Tan Chun with deep eyes, and said with a smile: "That's really strange."
Such a powerful minister of military aircraft could not be so open-minded, or he liked the character of this heroic clan girl.
Listening to the words of several people, Zhen Xi's eyes with hidden spiritual charm were a little absent-minded, and she held the pink handkerchief and twisted it gently.
Brother Heng is good at everything. That day he was with his eldest sister and second sister...
Zhen Lan said: "What Sister Tanchun said is that it is really difficult for people here in Jinling to attack easily now. If they suffer another big defeat, people here in Jinling will be even more frightened, and the situation may take a turn for the worse and be out of control." ”
Daiyu Yanyan frowned, her starry eyes moved slightly, her heart was full of longing, and she said quietly: "So, we still have to wait for Brother Heng to come back. I don't know where he is now."
Baochai's face looked as if it were a pear, and there was a hint of absent-mindedness on Baoxue's face. Her pink lips twitched slightly, and she faintly felt that something was wrong. No, was this what she should say?
Did Yan'er steal her words?
No, she is...
In fact, since Jia Heng and Daiyu learned Xin Qiji's poems together, Daiyu has unilaterally declared that Jia Heng is her husband from a psychological level.
Even in later generations, it is possible to talk about marriage to a yellow-flowered girl.
Originally, Daiyu was not a person who was very good at hiding her likes and dislikes. If she hadn't been warned by Jia Heng in advance, people would have discovered the clues long ago.
But as time goes by, Baochai will inevitably be unable to hide her from the fiery eyes.
At the same time, in the Zhen family manor, the wind and rain were like darkness, and the forest branches and leaves were whirling. Under the autumn sun, the withered yellow leaves were knocked down by the rain.
In the backyard, in a two-story embroidered building with cornices and brackets, Zhen Qing, dressed in a plain dress, sat behind a desk by the window, flipping through the account books with one hand and fiddling with the abacus with the other.
Through the brush hanging on the pen holder, you can see the full moon hanging in the sky under the slender and white neck, trembling Wei Wei.
Zhen Qing raised her eyes and spoke to Zhen Xue, who was sitting not far away and coaxing Shui Xin.
As for the son of Zhen Qing and King Chu, he is now coaxed by Mrs. Gan and all the nuns. The old man likes children.
Zhen Qing's peach-like face was filled with a smile, and she said softly: "This month, the two-huai salt method was sold in Jiangxi, and I made over one hundred thousand taels of silver in just one month."
Zhen Xue was braiding Shui Xin's hair. The young woman's face was as gentle as water, and she said softly: "I heard that the Lianghuai Salt Transportation Department also confiscated the salt tax. The new salt law proposed by Zi Yu is really good." It benefits the country and the people.”
Zhen Qing smiled and said: "Sister, I'm afraid that the Customs and Taxation Branch established in Guangdong Province is also a cornucopia."
It's a pity, if that bastard helps her, what can't she do?
Shui Xin said softly: "Mom, let's go to godfather's house and play with Aunt Lin and Aunt Yun."
"You kid, you want to play with other people all day long." Zhen Xue's beautiful eyes were soft and flowing, and there was a bit of amusement on her face.
Xinxin is not only close to Ziyu, but now she is also very close to several sisters in his family.
"Three aunts are gone today." Shui Xin said in a waxy voice with eyes as bright as black grapes.
Zhen Xue pinched her daughter's pink face and said in a doting tone: "She went to see your fourth aunt. What were you doing there? Your godfather is not at home."
"I want my godfather, mother." Shui Xin pouted, took Zhen Xue's hand, and said, "When will my godfather come back? He's been out for so long."
The bright smile on Zhen Xuexue's beautiful face gradually faded away. She stroked the ring on her hand and sighed quietly in her heart.
How could she not miss him...
Zhen Qing cast her gaze and said softly: "Ningguo Mansion is a bit more lively. After Sister Xi'er passed by, the house became even more deserted. No wonder the third sister has been there frequently in the past two days."
Mrs. Zhen has passed away, and the Zhen family has been declining at a visibly slow rate recently.
Anyone with insight in Liangjiang's official circles can see that if it weren't for the two princesses, the Zhen family would have disappeared in an instant.
When I was staying at the residence, I had a grudge against the Zhen family. Some of the older officials in Jinling official circles still remembered this.
Just as the two sisters were talking, the nanny from outside suddenly came in and called out: "Two princesses, I have called you over."
When Princess Chu Zhen Qing heard this, her beauty returned to her gorgeous and charming state, and she said to Zhen Xue beside her: "Sister, let's go there together."
Zhen Xue responded with a "hmm", handed Shui Xin to her grandma to take care of her, and followed Zhen Qing to her father Zhen Yingjia's study.
In the study, Zhen Yingjia was talking to Zhen Shao and Zhen Xuan. On the pearwood chair leaning against the corner, Zhen Zhu was sitting like a frost beating an eggplant.
In just one month, Zhen Zhu lost a lot of weight, and his expression didn't look good. He was obviously very sad.
The "early" death of Mrs. Zhen had a great impact on the fourth master of the Zhen family.
Zhen Yingjia looked at the erect Zhen Zhu, her lips moved, and she felt a little unbearable, and advised: "Fourth brother, let him let the past go. Don't regret it too much."
Zhen Zhu sighed, his eyes were slightly red, and he said dejectedly: "Brother, it was me who harmed the Zhen family."
Zhen Yingjia sighed: "It is my Zhen family that deserves this calamity. The old lady is in the Spring and Autumn Period, and she is supposed to be in mourning. It has nothing to do with the fourth brother's previous incident. Fourth brother, don't blame yourself."
Seeing that Zhen Zhu was still arguing, Zhen Shao frowned and said in a deep voice: "If you want to comfort your mother's soul in heaven, and now the Jurchens are attacking in a big way, then show the blood of my Zhen family."
"Second brother." Zhen Xuan's face changed slightly, and he persuaded in a low voice.
Zhen Shao snorted coldly, his face gloomy.
Hearing the words, Zhen Zhu opened his mouth, lowered his head and said nothing, a flash of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Master, the two princesses are here." The steward entered the study and said, pulling the four Zhen family brothers who had different thoughts out of their own thoughts.
Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue entered the study together and saluted Zhen Yingjia: "Father."
Then he saluted Zhen Shao, Zhen Xuan, and Zhen Zhu, calling them "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle" respectively.
When Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue sat down, Zhen Yingjia said softly: "You have also heard the news in the city. Now the Jurchens are coming fiercely. What your second uncle and I want to say is that our family has been favored by the emperor, can your second uncle take it away?" The love has returned, and you will be loyal to the country. Your fourth uncle is also a military commander, so this time you should be able to pay for your crime and perform meritorious service."
When Zhen Qing heard this, thoughts appeared in her charming eyes, and she said, "Father, Ziyu is not in the capital now."
Well, when the beauty called Zi Yu, it was not that she was too lazy to pretend, but that after Zhen Xi promised Jia Heng, Zhen Qing could completely treat her as her brother-in-law.
Coupled with the relationship between Zhen and Jia's family, there is no need to worry about others being suspicious.
Mainly because of Princess Chu's noble status and the fact that she has a son by her knees.
Zhen Qing has always been a competitive person. Just like in the entire Jia family, except for Jia Rui, whose oars and oars were wiped out in ashes, who would dare to have Sister Feng's ideas or suspect that Sister Feng is not a woman?
The so-called person is well-established, but who knows that he is a contrast bitch?
Zhen Yingjia asked softly: "Who is in charge of Jiangnan Camp now?"
Zhen Qing thought for a while and said in a clear voice: "It seems to be the commander of the Henan capital and a group of generals from the Beijing camp."
Zhen Shao looked thoughtful and asked, "What does the princess think of going to the imperial court to go to war?"
Zhen Qing frowned, hesitation visible on her jade-like face, and said: "If love comes back, it would be better if no one else takes over. However, the second uncle and the fourth uncle can also go to the hospital, but this... seems to be the case now." Some don’t have time to make the trip.”
As I talked, I also felt that it was very difficult, but that bastard went to Guangdong and has not come back yet.
Zhen Qing added: "However, the second uncle and the fourth uncle should work together. This is not greed for power. This is a matter for the country. Going to war with filial piety is something worthy of praise for the country and the family."
Zhen Yingjia took over the conversation, sighed, and said, "I'm afraid that the Holy One will not allow it."
In fact, there was another detail during this period that made the Zhen family shudder.
Even after Mrs. Zhen passed away, there was no response from the palace. Instead, the Supreme Emperor issued an imperial decree posthumously conferring a posthumous title on Mrs. Zhen.
As for Emperor Chongping, he was silent for almost the entire process, just like when Zhen Zhu led the navy and died in the battle, he was as silent as death.
In other words, in the eyes of the emperor, the Zhen family no longer needs to do such superficial things as giving them a posthumous title.
This is actually a strong political signal that the Zhen family is about to lose power, let alone having two princesses.
To put it bluntly, the two princesses were not involved in the Zhen family, so they were so grateful that they were so grateful.
And those who are interested are also waiting for the last shoe to fall. According to private chat analysis among the officials who live in Jinling City, the Zhen family will be in bad luck by the end of the year at the latest, or even earlier.
Zhen Yingjia naturally sensed the cold and chilling atmosphere of impending disaster, and was trying to save herself in the last attempt to preserve a trace of vitality for the family.
The expedition of the two brothers Zhen Shao and Zhen Zhu was an opportunity to improve the already negative impression of the emperor.
Zhen Qing sighed and said: "Father, when... Ziyu comes back, I don't think he will be unaware of such a big war."
Under Zhen Xue Liu Ye's slender eyebrows, her soft and beautiful eyes looked worried, and she said in a low voice: "Don't worry, father. After Zi Yu comes back, he will probably think of ways to eliminate it. Sister Xi'er... didn't she follow Zi Yu? "
She and her sister had joined in, and now there was Xi'er, and Ziyu... he probably wouldn't stand idly by.
Big deal, worst case she calls him again...Brother Heng.
Zhen Qing whispered: "But father, don't hold too much hope. The money loss... ugh."
She actually had no position to say this. Some of the money was squandered by the clan on behalf of the emperor, but part of it was also sent to the prince.
And she and her sister are nothing if they don't have a family.
Zhen Yingjia nodded and said softly: "Ziyu left Xi'er after all, he will miss his old love."
Zhen Zhu listened to the side, his expression changed for a moment, and finally he sighed secretly, with mixed emotions in his mind.
My daughter actually followed that man, is this her fate?
…
…
Zhoushan sea area, Zhejiang
At this moment, one warship after another lined up, the autumn wind was bleak, and the flood waves surged. Duduo stood on the bow of the ship, looking at the distant coastline.
Not far from him was a tall, middle-aged general with a strong back and a muscular body. He had a Chinese character face and thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was none other than Lee Do-soon, the commander of the North Korean Jeolla Province Navy. This time he brought a total of nearly 10,000 elite navy troops.
The senior Jurchen officials were shocked when they heard that Duduo was defeated in the south of the Yangtze River, but they did not immediately recall Duduo, but asked the North Korean navy to provide full support.
Because wreaking havoc in the southeast and coordinating Mongolia is the Jurchen's established strategy, it will not change because of a previous minor defeat.
"Master, our troops have gathered at the mouth of the river, but Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture are guarded by Chen Han's soldiers, making it difficult for them to land and break through." Deng Biao said.
"Give orders to Gang Leader Yan and Gang Leader Shangguan to send all their troops to harass Suzhou Prefecture and County and attract the attention of Chen Han's army." Duduo said in a deep voice.
This time, as Li Daoshun led the North Korean navy to come for reinforcements, Duduo initially integrated the water bandits active in the waters of Zhoushan and along the coast.
In view of the "turning back" operation of these pirates in the last sea battle at Haimen, Duduo was no longer prepared to let a group of pirates act as the main force to defeat the enemy, but let them stand aside and cheer.
At this time, Wei Guang, the young novice monk of the Hulu Temple, smiled and said: "Master, Uncle Yongning is not here, and it is a time when people in Jinling City are panicking. Master, after winning the first battle, Jinling is in the bag. At that time, Chen Han was north and south." Isolation is not far from national subjugation.”
Duduo nodded and ordered: "This opportunity is indeed rare. Li Daoshun, you organize the navy to invite the Han army from Haimen to fight."
Li Daoshun cupped his fists and raised his hands.
Following Duoduo's order, the naval pirates under his command were divided into two teams. The navy headed by Li Daoshun approached Haimen and had a tentative fight with the Daying Navy in Jiangnan and Jiangbei, which was patrolling the sea.
Other pirates, such as the Sihai Gang, the Nujiao Gang, the Giant Whale Gang, and pirates active in Fujian, threatened Songjiang Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture and other wealthy and blessed places.
For a time, urgent military information from all over the country was delivered to the Jiangnan camp one after another, and placed on the desks of Qu Guang, Cai Quan, Xie Zaiyi and other generals.
(End of chapter)
