The Red Mansions

Chapter 1368 Gu Ruoqing: Doesn't Junior Sister usually dislike him? (Please give me a monthly t

Chapter 1368 Gu Ruoqing: Doesn't Junior Sister usually dislike him? (Please give me a monthly ticket!)

On the vast ocean, in the cabin——

Winter day, early morning.

A bright red sun shone above the sea, seeming to dye the turbulent sea surface with a layer of golden red glow.

The morning sunlight shines through the carved windows and into the cabin.

Gu Ruoqing let out a moan and slowly opened her beautiful eyes. Her beautiful, bright, narrow and long phoenix eyes seemed to be moistened by water and sparkling like condensed dew. She looked at the young man in the python costume in a daze.

I don't know what happened yesterday, but I was bullied by him in a daze and lost my virginity of more than 20 years in an instant.

Now when I wake up the next day, I don’t seem to feel as lost as I did yesterday.

But at this moment, the beautiful lady, with her curved brows, stared at the young man in the python robe with a dazed look, and a feeling of shame and anger surged in her heart.

He clearly promised yesterday, but went back on his word.

Thinking of the intimacy she had experienced with him last night, her face suddenly became hot as fire and she was filled with shame and indignation.

His previous disrespect towards her now seemed to be a deliberate and calculated move.

At this moment, Gu Ruoqing looked at the blooming winter plum blossoms on the bed sheet, took a dagger from the side, gently cut off the silk, and put it into his sleeve with great care.

After Jia Heng washed off the scent of powder and Gu Ruoqing's passion from his face, he took a towel and wiped the water off his face. He turned around and looked at the beautiful woman with shoulders as bright as the moon, and said, "Now that you're awake, let's have breakfast together."

After thinking for a while, he said, "Ruoqing, wait a moment, I'll ask the servants to get some hot water for you to take a bath and change your clothes."

This is the one-stop service for older single women, which allows them to clear all the levels without stopping.

It directly saves the process like that of Xiangyun and Baoqin in the early stage.

After all, it is really different. Xiangyun is still young, and it is not good to have physical contact too early. It will be enough when she returns to Beijing next year.

However, Gu Ruoqing's idea of ​​marrying him still surprised him a little.

I originally thought that a fleeting romance would be enough for a woman like this, and then she would continue to wander around the world, but I didn't expect it to be like this.

But after thinking about it, I feel it is not as tight as usual, because after all, this is not a world of immortals where once you enter the immortal gate, it is as deep as the sea. Women still have to get married and find their home in the end.

No matter how much Gu Ruoqing was "waiting for a price" in the past, it was ultimately just a woman's nature.

At this moment, Gu Ruoqing took the dress beside her, and then, just as she stood up, she felt her willow-leaf eyebrows wrinkled, and then, she spat secretly.

Soon, she sat down in front of a shiny diamond-shaped dressing mirror. The beauty, with her long hair tied up into a bun, looked at the beautiful and bright face in the bronze mirror.

For a moment, I was filled with inexplicable surprise.

Obviously, he was also amazed by the beauty of the lotus after the rain.

Jia Heng waved his hand to dismiss the guards who were delivering the porridge and buns, and handed the blue and white porcelain porridge bowl and buns to the beauty, saying softly: "There is nothing to eat on the ship when sailing on the sea. Just eat some simple food. You were exhausted yesterday."

Gu Ruoqing: “…”

How dare this scoundrel mention yesterday?

Now that I think about it, it was all lies within lies.

Gu Ruoqing's face was like a rose after the rain, with a cold and elegant aura, and a delicate and charming look. However, there was a coldness in her eyes. She whispered, "You went back on your word yesterday."

Jia Heng: "..."

Why is Gu Ruoqing still thinking about what happened yesterday? You didn't feel well yesterday, did you?

Well, after all, Gu Ruoqing is already injured, so it would definitely not be appropriate to talk about anything else.

Jia Heng didn't say anything else. He approached the beauty and said with a smile, "How can this be considered going back on your word? Children of the Jianghu, don't pay too much attention to those red tapes."

Gu Ruoqing's snow-white face was stunned for a moment, and she felt inexplicably ashamed and angry.

Jia Heng showed a hint of amusement on his face, and gently pulled the beauty's slender hand, saying: "Why don't you complain to Xiaoxiao after you go back and let her make the decision for you."

Gu Ruoqing paused for a moment, snorted, and said, "She will only help the evildoers."

I don't know what her junior sister was thinking, but she tried every means to match her with this man.

Jia Heng smiled and said softly, "She knows how to share and knows that she can't eat alone."

Gu Ruoqing didn't know what she was thinking about. Her face turned red with embarrassment and she turned her head away, obviously a little annoyed.

What was annoying about this person yesterday was more than just his inconsistency.

Jia Heng did not continue teasing Gu Ruoqing.

I just thought to myself, maybe Xiaoxiao is just in need of a meat cushion. Well, is Xiaoxiao acting as a pimp for this purpose?

While the two were talking, they finished their breakfast, and then Gu Ruoqing went to the inner room on the side to take a shower and change clothes.

Jia Heng went to the study on his own, sat down at a lacquered wooden desk, and began to deal with military affairs.

The ships along the way were still equipped with red-haired cannons for attacking cities and strongholds.

This time, he led the army to Korea not simply to expel Oboi's troops, but also to declare the military power of the Han Dynasty.

Just when I was losing my mind, I suddenly heard light footsteps outside, followed by a fragrant breeze, like orchid and musk, refreshing my heart and making my heart surge with inexplicable feelings.

Gu Ruoqing changed into a green brocade dress, and her long black hair was combed into a beautiful and elegant bun. Her cold, crystal-clear face was white with a hint of rosy red, with a lingering touch of spring charm, as if there was some indescribable rosy aura emanating from it.

Jia Heng asked, "Ruoqing, you're here?"

Gu Ruoqing said: "I poured you a cup of tea to warm you up."

Jia Heng looked strange.

This is such a familiar line.

I thought to myself, it was you who poured me a cup of tea yesterday, and then went to drink the tea on the bed in the inner room.

Of course, compared to Xiaoxiao's clear and sweet taste, Gu Ruoqing's taste is obviously a bit salty and bitter.

Gu Ruoqing's beautiful face was already as bright as peach blossoms. She asked, "How long will it take for this ship to reach North Korea?"

"Probably three or four days." Jia Heng said softly, took the teacup in his hand, took a sip gently, and suppressed the salty and greasy taste from last night.

Gu Ruoqing pursed her lips. Her flawless face beneath her curved eyebrows seemed to be lightly blushed. She asked, "What are you doing now?"

Jia Heng said in a gentle voice: "I didn't do anything, I just looked at the map of North Korea."

This is what a woman is like. After she has just lost her virginity, her mind is filled with the image of a man. It can be said that this is the time when she is extremely clingy.

Men are generally the opposite. After getting something, they often start to get bored, then impatient, and eventually abandon it.

Of course, this is Aquaman, the scumbag.

"Before, my junior sister said that you wanted to incorporate Korea into the Han Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty, Korea has been a vassal of the Ming court. How can it be governed by the court?" Gu Ruoqing's face was flushed, and there seemed to be a breathtaking and beautiful spring charm in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes, and her beautiful eyes were as clear as water.

Jia Heng pondered for a moment, his eyes sparkling, and said: "During the Han Dynasty, the four Han counties of Korea were still the territory of the Great Han Dynasty. Later, during the Tang Dynasty, Korea took advantage of the chaos of the Tang Dynasty to become a country, and then gradually became a vassal of the Central Plains Dynasty. The domestic official system and clothing are the same as those of the Great Han Dynasty, and the language is also similar. It can be said that they have the same origin and bloodline, and there is a premise for being included in the rule."

Gu Ruoqing nodded and said softly, "In the past, during the Han Dynasty, it was indeed Han territory, but it was not without reason that successive dynasties did not include Korea in their rule."

Jia Heng said: "Yes, the cost of ruling is too high."

The word "rule", as the name suggests, is relatively easy to understand, but the word "cost" may make Gu Ruoqing a little confused.

Gu Ruoqing blinked her beautiful eyes and asked in confusion, "Cost of ruling?"

Jia Heng said: "Officials are set up and systems are established to support clerks. If you know clearly, the areas in the south of the Yangtze River, the prefectures and counties, are the most fertile areas for taxation, and the areas in the northwest actually do not pay taxes to the court at all. Every year, the court has to subsidize a lot of silver and grain to the remote prefectures and counties."

Gu Ruoqing raised her eyes to look at the young man in the python robe, her eyes sparkled, and her beautiful, cold cheeks blushed unconsciously. She said in a delicate voice, "In the past, the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River also complained a lot, saying that the court used the southeastern provinces to support the people of the world, and treated the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River with pity, while treating the scholars in the north with pity."

Jia Heng said: "But the nine provinces and ten thousand regions of the world are an inseparable whole. If the imperial court had not deployed millions of soldiers in the nine borders to resist the barbarians, how could the people of Jiangnan live and work in peace in the villages and counties? How could the scholars of Jiangnan recite poems and compose essays on the Qinhuai River?"

Gu Ruoqing's beautiful and bright cheeks flushed slightly, and she said, "That's true."

Jia Heng's eyes were piercing as he said in a cold voice, "The Ming court also said it would abandon Liaodong, but once these foreign vassals got the chance, they started to stir up trouble and invaded our Han territory from the south, causing the border to never be at peace."

Gu Ruoqing paused for a moment. Under her curved eyebrows, her narrow, clear, and beautiful eyes seemed to be thoughtful. She said, "What are you going to do next? Help Korea expel the Jurchens?"

Jia Heng said: "Still thinking about what to do."

This is also what makes him embarrassed.

The original intention was to use the Jurchens of Liaodong to suppress Korea, and then the Han Dynasty would reap the benefits. However, as time passed, it became clear that this plan was not so reliable.

The first step is to seek long-term military presence in North Korea, or to support a puppet, to help eliminate North Korea’s native culture bit by bit.

After Liaodong was pacified, they would use the power of the great victory to completely separate the King of Korea, the royal family and the local clans and soldiers, and then gradually bring the Jurchens under their rule.

Gu Ruoqing thought for a moment and said, "When that time comes, North Korea will surely be restored again. It may not be so easy to be included in the rule, right?"

Jia Heng's eyes flickered dimly as he said, "We can only do it slowly and gradually."

From stationing troops in military ports, supporting agents, to economic colonization and cultural infiltration, winning over the powerful and high-ranking officials, until finally changing the flag.

This set of Yan Ge's tactics has pointed out the direction for future generations.

As Jia Heng spoke, he gently pulled Gu Ruoqing's hand and hugged the beauty.

Gu Ruoqing frowned and said, "What...what are you going to do?"

She had just lost her virginity and was unable to walk. Didn't this man have any sympathy at all?

Jia Heng said, "Just hugging and talking, not doing anything else?"

Gu Ruoqing's face flushed slightly, and she felt the young man's arms around her waist, and she felt extremely embarrassed and happy.

Jia Heng gently reached into the skirt, warmed his hands, and gently stroked the beauty's fullness and softness, saying: "Ruoqing, you have been wandering around in the rivers and lakes for these years, traveling north and south, haven't you met the right person?"

Hearing this, Gu Ruoqing said in a gentle voice: "I am not obsessed with romantic thoughts."

In just a moment, I felt that the young man was really troublesome.

She didn’t know why she liked this guy so much... Didn’t her junior sister usually dislike him?

Jia Heng asked: "So what have you been doing all these years?"

Gu Ruoqing paused for a moment, then said softly, "I just traveled around the mountains and rivers and admired the scenery of the world. I didn't do anything else."

Under Jia Heng's sword-like brows, his clear eyes flashed, his mind paused slightly, and a look of understanding appeared in his eyes.

I thought to myself, I understand. I haven’t done anything these days except traveling, eating, drinking and having fun.

Traveling, baking, flower arranging... these are three hobbies. After all, eating, drinking, having fun and not doing anything productive are also hobbies, as are sense of ritual and the like.

There is always a T0 version that suits you.

Right? All the generals? They all suffered from it, right?

Jia Heng sniffed the rich fragrance of the beautiful woman's hair, and his mind was wandering for a moment, and he said, "Ruoqing has seen countless people over the years."

After all, he is the strongest on earth and is already the top man that Gu Ruoqing has ever met.

Gu Ruoqing's beautiful face was covered with a layer of rosy red, she pursed her soft and slightly pink lips and said, "I don't know anyone, those people are just passing clouds."

Jia Heng leaned close to the beautiful lady's ear, held her delicate earlobe, and said, "Ruoqing is good, I know it."

In this respect, Gu Ruoqing is different from people in later generations. At least she has remained chaste for so many years, but her standards are a little higher.

But those Jimei people are shouting that it is feudal and they are living in the Qing Dynasty.

But the bride price is not feudal.

Feeling the young man's obsession with her, Gu Ruoqing's delicate and graceful body trembled, and two bright red spots appeared on her flawless face, with shame and sweetness intertwined in her heart.

Don’t blame Gu Ruoqing. Ninety-eight percent of women are only aroused by two percent of men.

……

……

Time passed quickly as Jia Heng and Gu Ruoqing were spending time together. Three days later, Jia Heng's fleet finally arrived at a port on the coast of Chungcheong Province, North Korea.

The 100,000-strong Jinhae coalition army of the Korean side was now stationed in Chungju, Chungcheong Province, and was heavily guarded by three provincial officials, Park Chungwi, the governor of Chungcheong Province, Yi Sang, the governor of Gyeongsang Province, and Jeon Sa-cheon, the governor of Jeolla Province.

They engaged in a fierce battle with the Korean soldiers in Seoul.

At this moment, Yi Hao's son, Yi Won, had already stationed in Chungju Prefecture with the help of the coalition forces of Chungcheong Province, Gyeongsang Province, and Jeolla Province.

The main reason was that Ajige's main army had just withdrawn from Korea. Only Oboi's 10,000 troops and the 100,000 vassal troops formed by Gui Sizhe and Wang Jing were still in Wang Jing.

At this moment, Li Yuan was wearing a king's robe and sitting on a specially made wide chair in the government office. The boy was only ten years old, with red lips and white teeth, still a young child. Not far away from him stood his uncle Zhang Xin.

"Where is Japan's Han navy?"

Li Yuan's slightly childish and clear voice suddenly rang out in the hall, instantly calming the noisy voices of the ministers below.

I thought to myself that although the prince is young, he speaks clearly and eloquently, and already shows some majesty and divine presence, as well as a natural intelligence.

The Prime Minister Kim Ik below is in his early fifties. In the parallel universe, this minister was the most trusted by King Hyojong Lee Ho in his later years. He escorted Lee Eon all the way out of the capital and made great contributions to the inheritance of the Joseon Dynasty.

The man had an old face and a bright look in his eyes. He cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Lord, yesterday's express delivery showed that the Han navy has already arrived in Jeolla Province."

When Mu Sheng, who was stationed in Edo, Japan, learned that the Jurchens had invaded Korea, he acted decisively and sent a navy composed mainly of Han Chinese navy, supplemented by Jurchen, Korean and Japanese troops, to rush to Korea's aid.

However, due to the long journey and inconvenient travel, North Korea was in chaos and the troops had not arrived yet.

Li Yuan asked hurriedly, "Does the military report say how many naval troops the Han Dynasty sent?"

These were the words that my uncle Zhang Xin had taught me before.

The Prime Minister Jin Yu's face became solemn, and he said with a folded hand: "My Lord, there are about 20,000 troops coming to help."

As soon as these words were spoken, all the Korean ministers in the hall looked at each other and talked non-stop.

What can 20,000 troops do?

The previous coalition forces of Chungcheong, Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces had a strength of over 100,000 troops, but were still powerless against the Jurchens.

For a moment, all the ministers in the hall were talking about it.

In fact, the exiled court in Zhongzhou Prefecture at this moment still has some characteristics of a makeshift team.

In other words, the soldiers who were originally from local aristocratic families took advantage of the changes in the Korean capital to go straight to the central government, and they were unaware of the current military strength of the Han court.

The Chief Councillor Jin Di glanced at everyone in the hall and explained in a deep voice, "My colleagues, you may not know that these are the elite troops of the Han court. One can defeat ten without any problem."

Li Yuan then asked, "Did the Duke of Wei send a messenger to ask for help?"

"My Lord, we have already sent a messenger to the capital to ask for help." Prime Minister Jin Di said loudly with a look of concern on his old face.

The Left Councillor Lin Ji below snorted coldly and said, "But there is still no reinforcement, and I don't know why?"

He was originally the governor of Sangju in Gyeongsang Province.

At this time, a Korean minister below, Song Xu, the current Right Councillor of Korea and the former Governor of Jeonju, said with a folded hand: "Your Majesty, the Han army has already marched out of the border and is marching towards Liaodong in a big way, encircling Wei to save Zhao."

This is a tangible result. The Han Dynasty did not fail to send troops to provide assistance, but chose to save its allies from danger in its own way.

Moreover, it was unrealistic for the Han Dynasty's troops to cross the ocean and send floating boats to aid Korea, both in terms of logistical supply and the timing of the dispatch.

In other words, the Han Dynasty's performance was worthy of the friendship of its suzerain state.

Jin Yu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty."

Li Yuan nodded and said gently, "Send someone to check on the Han court's troops. Where are they now?"

At this moment, on the stone steps of the council hall, the snowflakes had already been swept away, and the wet ground looked like a clear jade mirror, reflecting the dark and bleak winter sky.

A young eunuch staggered to the eaves of the corridor in front of the palace, his fair and beardless face full of joy.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the envoy of the Duke of Weiguo from the Han court has arrived in Seoul." The eunuch said loudly.

When these words were spoken, the Korean king and his ministers in the hall were all stunned, and they couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

"Where is the person?" Prime Minister Jin Di asked impatiently.

Not long after, several eunuchs came with a Jinyi Guard wearing a Feiyu uniform and a mountain-shaped wingless crown, followed by two Jinyi captains as his escorts.

The person was none other than Li Shu, the deputy captain of the Jinyi Palace who served Jia Heng well.

Since he was an envoy of the state, the Korean king and his ministers naturally did not dare to neglect him in the slightest.

The Chief Councillor Jin Yu looked at the envoy from the upper country in brocade and gorgeous clothes. There was a hint of unnaturalness in his old eyes. He said, "Is your envoy a subordinate of the Duke of Wei?"

Under the gaze of eager eyes, Li Shu was silent for a moment and said, "I am Li Shu from Jinyifu, working under the Duke of Weiguo. I am hereby informed by the Duke of Weiguo's military order that our Han reinforcements will arrive in Korea soon, led by the Duke of Weiguo himself. I hope you will go to greet them."

When the ministers present heard this, they were stunned for a moment, and then they were happy again.

Upon hearing this, Jin Yu was overjoyed and asked hurriedly, "Your Excellency, may I ask where the Duke of Wei is now?"

Jia Heng's name is still quite famous throughout Korea. Countless Manchu princes and nobles who once earned the reputation of "God of War" in Korea have all been defeated here.

Li Shu nodded and said loudly: "My governor is at the port now."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hearts of all the ministers in the hall were slightly moved.

Jin Yu turned around, his face solemn, and said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, this old minister will go to greet you personally and welcome the royal division into the city."

"Teacher, are you going to the beach to welcome the Duke of Weiguo of the Han Dynasty?" Li Yuan, who was sitting upright, was at a loss for a moment when he heard this. Fortunately, his uncle Zhang Xin, who was standing beside him, cleared his cough and reminded him.

Li Yuan's face was as white as jade, and he said crisply, "Then I will agree to your request, Master."

And then, the matter was settled.

Li Shu listened to the discussions of the Korean civil and military ministers, with a thoughtful look on his face.

Jin Yu said, "Your Excellency, I will go with you to the port to welcome the Duke of Weiguo."

Li Shu nodded and didn't say anything else. He just went to greet Jia Heng together.

(End of this chapter)