Chapter 133 The Jurchens Are Coming

Jia Jing’s special appointment as Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief caused a great uproar inside and outside the court, but it soon calmed down.

Everything seems calm in the capital, but in fact, various forces are surging.

Every autumn rain brings a chill. Since the heavy rain on August 16, there have been several subsequent rains.

The sky is still gloomy.

This was not a proper day for mourning, so few relatives and friends came, only some close relatives of the Jia family. After the seventh day, the monks and Taoists who had chanted sutras for Jia Zhen in front of the coffin said that Jia Zhen had found a way to be reborn, and they all left; the huge mourning shed was empty, and a gust of autumn wind blew, and the spirit flags in front of the mourning hall rustled, making it seem even more desolate.

Li Hu stood in front of the coffin, took the burning incense stick from Jia Lian, and bowed.

Jia Rong knelt down to return the greeting.

After the ceremony, Jia Lian accompanied Li Hu out.

Li Hu did not come here specifically to burn incense. He accompanied Lin Daiyu to Rongguo Mansion to visit her and ask about her health.

Mrs. Wang is ill, and as a junior, Lin Daiyu has to come to visit her and ask how she is. This is courtesy.

As Li Hu walked, he asked Jia Lian, “What’s going on?”

Jia Lian: “You don’t know?”

Li Hu stopped walking and asked, “How should I know about your family’s affairs?”

Jia Lian looked around and lowered his voice: “I heard from your sister-in-law that the second wife encountered something unclean on her way home the other night.”

Li Hu became excited. Wasn’t that the seventh day after Jia Zhen’s death?
Jia Lian: “She was so frightened that she started yelling and talking nonsense, saying things like ‘it wasn’t her’ and ‘every wrong has its perpetrator’. She passed out when she returned. Rong Xi Tang was in chaos and the Second Master was at a loss as to what to do. It was only when the Old Lady rushed over that the situation was calmed down. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.
The old lady ordered people to take away the second wife’s maid, and at the same time, she ordered people to bring some paper money, and asked Brother Bao to go and exorcise the evil spirit in person. The next morning, they invited the old immortal from Qingxu Temple, drank the magic water for two days, and last evening they were relieved, so they dared to release the news. Under the old lady’s questioning, Zhou Rui’s wife told them everything. “

Li Hu’s eyes flashed. It turned out that the old man was very shrewd. Grandmother Jia guessed the truth based on just a few words.

Jia Lian sighed and said, “Thanks to your reminder, otherwise the Jia family would really have no face to stay in the capital!”

Li Hu understood: “Did you tell the old lady?”

Jia Lian nodded: “Although there are conflicts between the first and second houses, these are conflicts within the family. I still understand the principle that if one prospers, all prosper, and if one suffers, all suffer.”

Li Hu’s face suddenly became serious. This sentence reminded him.

Jia Lian: “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu: “Does this side know?”

Jia Lian was silent for a moment, then said, “The old lady knew that she couldn’t hide it from Grand Master, and was also worried about causing a bigger misunderstanding, so she asked me to tell Grand Master about it.”

Li Hu looked at him.

Jia Lian sighed: “Although the master didn’t say a word, I can see clearly that the relationship between the Ning and Rong families will never be the same as before. For a concubine position that can’t bring any practical benefits to the family. How stupid!”

As he was speaking, a loud shout came from outside the door: “Master Jia Hua has arrived!”

Before he finished speaking, Jia Yucun, dressed in plain clothes, walked in.

“General!” Jia Yucun raised his hands from a distance.

Li Hu nodded.

“Second Master Lian.”

Jia Yucun walked up to Li Hu and stopped. He took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Li Hu: “A letter from the prince.”

Li Hu took the letter, tore it open and read it, then nodded. He had to say that the prince was reliable. The Ministry of War had allocated the weapons and armor that the Sharp Warriors Battalion was lacking so quickly. Now all they needed were new recruits.

At this time, Jia Lian came back with Jia Yucun, who had just finished burning incense.

Jia Yucun: “There are two things that the prince has only just learned.”

Li Hu: “What’s the matter?” “One is about the Jurchen envoys. They did not come from Shanhaiguan, but entered directly from Datong. The leader of the Jurchen envoys was Prince Hong Zhou, who commanded this war, and the deputy envoy was Fu Kang’an, who attacked the general of Xuanfu.”

Li Hu: “Oh? Where are they now?”

Jia Yucun: “We should be heading to Beijing soon.”

Li Hu nodded and asked, “What’s the other one?”

Jia Yucun: “It’s about the Houtao Plain.”

Li Hu’s eyes flashed: “Oh?!”

Jia Yucun: “It is said that the geographical location of the Houtao Plain is very important. Foreigners cannot be trusted. This place, which can be used for both horse breeding and farming, must be controlled by our own people. Many censors in Jiangnan are secretly contacting each other to submit memorials.”

Jia Lian: “These Jiangnan gentry are too greedy!”

Li Hu shook his head. These people only cared about their own interests but not the country. The reason why the treasury was empty was because a large amount of land was controlled by the gentry, and it was difficult for the court to collect taxes.

Just then, Lai Sheng, the chief steward of Ningguo Mansion, walked in with a clerk from the Ministry of Rites.

The clerk bowed to Jia Yucun, then panted and said, “It’s easy for me to find you. The Jurchen envoys have arrived. They didn’t wait for the emperor’s order at Yuhe Posthouse, but came directly to the capital. Preparations are being made at Anding Gate. Please go there immediately, Lord Jia.”

Jia Yucun was startled: “You go and report to the Ministry first, I’ll go after I change my clothes!”

The clerk responded and quickly turned around and ran out.

Jia Yucun looked at Li Hu and was about to speak.

Li Hu raised his hand and said, “Go quickly.”

Jia Yucun turned around and walked out quickly.

Jia Lian looked at Jia Yucun’s disappearing figure outside the door for a long time before he said, “Barbarians are barbarians. They don’t know etiquette and laws.”

Li Hu shook his head. This shouldn’t be the case. Although the Jurchens had won a move, the court still had the upper hand, and it was the Jurchens who first proposed peace talks.

In addition, this was not a matter of etiquette, but an opportunity for the Jurchens to test the attitude of the imperial court.

The Jurchen delegation should be driven back directly, and then the elite troops on the Datong front should be concentrated to fight another battle. No matter what the outcome is, the Jurchens will sit down and negotiate honestly.

Thinking of this, Li Hu sighed inwardly. No matter how many victories the army won, it would all be in vain if those civil officials couldn’t straighten their backs!
Jia Lian suddenly remembered: “I almost forgot that the position of Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel Examination and Reward Department was vacant. With the grace of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I filled this vacancy.”

Li Hu was surprised: “You got promoted!”

Jia Lian nodded, but felt something was not right, but he didn’t know what was wrong.

“Congratulations!” Li Hu clasped his hands and said, “Send a gift later.”

Jia Lian bowed in return: “I won’t be polite with you.”

Li Hu took a few steps forward, then stopped and lowered his voice: “That rumor was really not spread by the Second Wife?”

“No.” Jia Lian said affirmatively.

Li Hu showed a confused look in his eyes. This matter was quite strange. Several parties who had the motive were investigating, but they had not found any clues yet.

It seems like this rumor appeared out of thin air!
At this time, Wang Daniu strode in.

Wang Daniu: “General, Miss Lin’s sedan chair has come out.”

Li Hu nodded and said to Jia Lian, “I won’t go over. Please give my regards to the master for me.”

Jia Lian replied, “Okay,” and walked out with Li Hu.

(End of this chapter)