Chapter 276 Mutual Use
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Not only did Li Hu not negotiate with the Jurchen delegation, he didn’t even show up.

Huitongguan was divided into the South and North Huitongguan. Heshen lived in the South Huitongguan in Mixiang, Dongjiang, while Hongzhou and Yongyan lived in the North Huitongguan next to the Hanlin Academy.

Hong Zhou sat on a chair in the middle of the hall with his eyes closed.

All the officials of the delegation came, but they just stood there silently, and no one said a word.

Finally, footsteps were heard outside the courtyard gate, and then Yongyan walked in angrily.

“Too deceiving!”

Yongyan walked to Hongzhou and picked up the tea bowl to drink. His hands were still shaking slightly. He took a sip and threw the tea bowl to the ground: “No more talk! Return to Shengjing and start the war!!!”

The officials looked at each other and turned their eyes to Hong Zhou.

Hong Zhou slowly opened his eyes and said calmly: “You all go back. We are not going to the Ministry of Rites today.”

“Hey!” All the officials bowed and retreated.

Hong Zhou then looked at Yong Yan: “Still haven’t seen it?”

Yongyan nodded.

Hong Zhou stood up and walked back and forth with his hands behind his back.

Yongyan: “The cabinet won’t see us, Li Hu won’t see us either, so they sent a Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites to talk to us, and used grain as a bargaining chip.”

Hong Zhou walked to the coffee table and stopped suddenly: “Fifteen, do you think the Han people really want that piece of land?”

Yongyan: “Of course. If we take down the Daling River defense line, the Han cavalry can march to Shengjing City at any time.”

Hong Zhou: “So, the Han people know that we will not agree.”

Yongyan was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed: “It’s bad! The Han people are using negotiations to paralyze us!”

Hong Zhou glanced at him and then shook his head: “No! Whether it was the initial request for Fu Kang’an to pay with his life or the current demands, they are just means for them to put pressure on us in order to make us accept their real conditions!”

Yongyan was startled and looked at Hongzhou with his eyes open.

Hong Zhou: “If I’m not mistaken, the real target of the Han people is the Mongols.”

Yongyan asked, “Mongols?”

Hong Zhou nodded and said, “This is a big game. Destroying the Yik Zhao League is only the first step. Next, they will eliminate the Mongolian tribes south of the desert one by one, and finally concentrate their forces to deal with us.”

Yongyan said “Oh” and his face suddenly became serious.

Hong Zhou suddenly laughed.

Yongyan looked at him in confusion.

After laughing, Hong Zhou said: “The Mongols have become more and more disobedient in the past two years, especially the Xilin Gol League. The cattle, sheep and war horses they surrender are getting less and less. We can borrow the swords of the Han people to make them sober up, and use them to consume the strength of the Han people.”

Yongyan’s eyes lit up and he nodded.

At this moment, a man in a red hat came in with a letter. He made a front brow and then reported to Hong Zhou, “Your Highness, this is a letter sent by the Han people, saying it is a letter from He Zhongtang.” Then he handed the letter over.

Hong Zhou took the letter, opened the seal and read it. After reading a few lines, a sneer appeared on his face.

Yongyan: “What’s wrong?”

After reading the letter, Hong Zhou looked at the man with the red hat and said, “You go outside and watch. No one is allowed to come near.”

The man in the red hat replied, “Yeah.” and walked out.

Hong Zhou: “The fox’s tail is exposed.” Then he handed the letter to Yongyan.

Hong Zhou then said: “It is obvious that this servant He Shen has fallen into the trap set by the Han people.”

Yongyan’s eyes flashed: “Heshen didn’t understand the situation outside, and he must have paid a heavy price. Should we help him?”

Hong Zhou sneered: “No need, there are many slaves like him.” At this point, he lowered his voice: “The Han people want to use Heshen, so let’s take advantage of them. Your father doesn’t want to see fratricide, so let’s use the Han people to get rid of Fu Kang’an and the Eight Banners nobles behind him! Then you can come out to clean up the mess and use the information passed by Heshen to fight a beautiful annihilation war!” Yongyan nodded excitedly.

Hong Zhou: “This is something between us two, no one else can tell it, including He Shen’s affairs!”

“I understand.”

Yongyan was silent for a moment, then said, “Don’t worry, uncle. When I take over the throne, I will appoint you as the Prime Minister, an iron-hatted prince, and your title will be hereditary!”

Hong Zhou smiled with relief.

Yongyan: “What should I do next?”

Hong Zhou: “Help He Shen and at the same time send a message to Shengjing, putting all the blame on Fu Kang’an.”

Yongyan: “Okay! Let’s do as Fifth Uncle wishes.”

Hong Zhou thought for a moment and said, “We can’t let the Han people get away with it either. We need more food.”

Yongyan nodded.

Hong Zhou: “Let’s go to the Ministry of Rites to see Jia Yucun and ask when we can see Li Hu.”

Li Hu didn’t know that his strategy had been seen through by Hong Zhou. At this time, he was busy selecting girls.

In the original novel, Jia Qiang brought the little actors back to Beijing only after the Grand View Garden was built. Now, not only did he return early, but he also completed the extra tasks assigned by Jia Lian excellently.

The twenty-four girls that Jia Qiang bought were naturally carefully selected. Needless to say, their conditions were excellent, they were all smart, beautiful, and had special skills.

In order to show respect and for the sake of Rongguo Mansion’s reputation, Jia Lian proposed to select from a farm outside the capital, saying that people must not say that the young actors specially bought by Rongguo Mansion to learn opera for Jia Yuanchun’s visit were the ones left over by Li Hu.

In response, Li Hu just smiled and followed Jia Lian to his farm in the suburbs of Beijing.

Looking at the twelve young actors selected by Li Hu, Jia Qiang’s heart bled. These were the girls he favored the most, and yet they were all taken away by Li Hu.

On the other side, Jia Lian said something and Li Hu laughed loudly.

The twelve girls stood in the hall with their bodies slightly bent, cautiously, glancing at Li Hu from time to time, observing his every move.

At this time, the manager came in with the instructor.

Li Hu took a few glances and pointed at a few teachers at random.

The manager led several other instructors and retreated.

Jia Lian picked up the tea bowl on the table beside him and took a sip. He put it down and said with a smile, “You, you picked all the best ones.”

Li Hu smiled and said, “The twelve that stayed are not bad either.” As he spoke, his eyes swept across the faces of the twelve girls and finally landed on one of them.

The girl had brows as furrowed as spring mountains, eyes as bright as autumn water, a thin face and a slender waist, and was graceful and elegant, looking very much like Lin Daiyu who had just entered the mansion. She was exactly the right age.

Lin Daiyu is not like this now. After more than a year of conditioning, Lin Daiyu is in good health. She can enjoy all kinds of food, drink fine wine, and be free and unrestrained.

Well, those little hands are very strong.

Thinking of this, Li Hu subconsciously touched his waist.

After taking a look, Li Hu nodded with satisfaction.

Li Hu did not select all the twelve officials. He did not want those who were arrogant and trouble-making, and left them to Rongguo Mansion.

For the sake of the plot, Li Hu also agreed with Jia Lian that the twelve girls from the two families would be named Twelve Officials, to make the relationship between the two families appear close.

Jia Lian pulled out a gold watch from his bosom, looked at it, and said, “It’s almost noon, let’s go back.”

Li Hu nodded: “Taihe Building has prepared wine and food.”

(End of this chapter)