Chapter 8

Tao Ran Ju

It was already noon, and Jia Zhen had someone order a table of dishes. Holding a wine cup, he called a few singing courtesans and waited for Jia Rong.

"Master, Young Master Rong has arrived." Lai Sheng led Jia Rong to the private room.

"Father." Jia Rong entered the private room and called out.

"Hmm..." Jia Zhen let out a long sound from his nose, waved at the singing courtesans, and said, "Where have you been playing?"

Jia Rong smiled and said, "I went hunting in the western suburbs with a few friends from the Feng and Chen families. I just got back, and coincidentally, I was afraid of bumping into you, so I didn't dare delay for a moment."

"Rascal!" Jia Zhen slammed the wine cup on the table and scolded, "You're not a child anymore, always hanging around with a bunch of scoundrels, flying hawks and hunting dogs. You never settle down. Where is the demeanor of the eldest grandson of the Jia family?"

Jia Rong was frightened and trembled, lowering his head, not daring to respond. He glanced at Jia Zhen and, seeing that he was only scolding and not having anyone beat him, he felt relieved.

After a round of scolding, Jia Zhen said, "You're not young anymore. You need to find a wife. I have my eye on... the daughter of Qin Ye, a Langzhong in the Ministry of Works' Office of Diet, who is of excellent character and appearance, and would be a good match for you."

Jia Rong's eyes showed confusion as he waited for his father to continue.

"However, this daughter of the Qin family is already engaged to Jia Si'er from Willow Lane. I heard you are familiar with Jia Heng. Give him fifty taels of silver to quietly break off the engagement, and don't make it public." Jia Zhen instructed.

Jia Rong said, "This..."

"What, is it difficult?" Jia Zhen raised an eyebrow and coldly snorted.

Jia Rong forced a smile and said, "Father, it's not difficult, but Jia Heng is eager to please me. However, fifty taels might not be enough for him. If he argues, it will be hard for me to handle."

Jia Zhen coldly snorted. How could he not know his son's tricks? But thinking of the appearance and figure of the Qin family's daughter, his heart warmed. He took out a silver note from his sleeve and said, "Here are two hundred taels. If you still can't get it done, watch out for your skin!"

Jia Rong bowed, took the silver note with both hands, and said, "Father, you'll hear good news from me."

"Get out of here!" Jia Zhen shouted.

Jia Rong, with the silver note in his pocket, turned and left the private room, heading to the back corridor of Ningrong Street.

Leaving aside Jia Rong's search for Jia Heng, let's talk about Jia Heng. After returning home and having lunch, he changed into a martial outfit, borrowed a horse from his cousin Dong Qian, bought some wine and food, and headed to Xie Zaiyi's house outside Anhua Gate.

Xie Zaiyi had agreed to teach him archery and horseback riding on his days off, which were every five days for a major rest and every three days for a minor rest.

Riding and shooting involves shooting arrows from a galloping horse, something Jia Heng had never done even in his previous life, as it was the age of firearms, and the geographical environment of the southwestern border did not provide an opportunity to learn such skills.

If it were just riding, it would be fine.

Upon entering Xie's house, Xie Zaiyi had just finished lunch. Seeing Jia Heng, he was very happy and said with a smile, "I thought you wouldn't come this morning, Brother Jia."

Jia Heng said, "I had some things to take care of in the morning."

He handed the wine and food to Xie Zaiyi's wife.

After a simple meal, they wiped their mouths, and Xie Zaiyi took two bows and a quiver of arrows from the wall, saying with a smile, "Brother Jia, let's go practice outside the city, where it's open."

Jia Heng agreed, and the two rode out of the city. It was mid-afternoon, and the autumn sun gently shone on the earth. They rode through the vast plains and arrived at a desolate area with tall grass.

"Brother Jia, your riding skills are quite good," Xie Zaiyi said, seeing Jia Heng's agile and natural movements on the horse.

If someone had no foundation, it would be very difficult to teach them from scratch. But if they had a foundation, with some guidance, they could improve significantly over time.

Jia Heng said, "I practiced a bit with friends before. I still need to learn from Brother Xie."

Xie Zaiyi smiled and said, "Actually, riding and shooting isn't that difficult. The key is the coordination of your body, eyes, and hands on the saddle. With your foundation, you should be able to master it in three months."

Then, Xie Zaiyi taught Jia Heng the essentials of riding and shooting. They practiced for two hours until the sun set and the sky turned red with the evening glow.

Looking at the distant mountains and forests in the sunset, Jia Heng sighed, "Truly, the land is like a painting, and many heroes have emerged."

Xie Zaiyi took a sip of wine from a leather bag on his saddle and chuckled, "Brother, you don't seem like a warrior but more like a scholar."

Jia Heng smiled and said, "Even famous generals of the past were scholars. If you're just a warrior, you don't need much, but if you command an army of ten thousand, you must know military strategy and tactics."

Xie Zaiyi laughed and said, "Brother, you have big ambitions."

Jia Heng also smiled and said, "Just a few random thoughts."

He rubbed his slightly sore wrist, put away the bow, and said with a smile, "Brother Xie, why don't we hunt some game in the forest?"

Xie Zaiyi smiled and said, "It's getting dark, and the forest paths are uneven. Let's go back and drink."

Jia Heng smiled and did not insist.

The two rode back to Anhua Gate. As they were about to enter the city, it was just getting dark, and they heard the sound of hooves in the distance. A soldier wearing a HanYang hat galloped towards the city gate.

"This is an urgent message from Jizhen." Xie Zaiyi's relaxed smile disappeared, and he said solemnly.

Jia Heng said seriously, "Is something wrong?"

Xie Zaiyi said angrily, "Every autumn, the Tartars raid Hebei and other areas from the northern passes. The Jizhen commander is seeking aid from the court."

After the Cheng Han dynasty succeeded the Ming, they also set up nine border regions, but unlike the Ming, they had lost Liaodong and had shifted to a defensive strategy. Fortunately, the Cheng Han had learned from the Ming and Song dynasties and set their capital in Chang'an, which was well-protected by mountains and rivers, avoiding the frequent alarms in the capital.

Returning to Xie's house, Xie Zaiyi's wife prepared a meal, and the two drank and talked about border affairs.

"Brother Jia, you don't know how the Tartars raid and kill every year. The Jizhen commander, Tang Kuan, hides in the city and watches as the people of Beiping are plundered. It's utterly despicable," Xie Zaiyi said, drinking and cursing the Jizhen commander.

Jia Heng poured wine for Xie Zaiyi and asked curiously, "Brother Xie, have you ever fought the Jurchens?"

Xie Zaiyi said, "Of course. I killed seven Tartars and was promoted to a hundred-man commander. Brother, let me tell you, the Tartars are no different from us. They have two shoulders and one head. It's a shame that the commanders and generals claim that the Tartars are invincible when they number more than ten thousand."

Jia Heng pondered, realizing that the situation was almost the same as in the late Ming dynasty.

However, the Cheng Han had set their capital in Chang'an, which was stronger than the Ming, but the region of Shaanxi... the peasant uprisings.

"Amidst the chaos, you take the stage, mistaking a foreign land for home. How absurd, in the end, it's all for others' benefit."

Jia Heng was startled by this thought.

The interpretation of the "Good Song" by Zhen Shiyin in "Dream of the Red Chamber" was truly chilling.

"If the rebels rise within and the Tartars invade from outside, taking advantage of the Cheng Han's weakness, they could drink from the Yellow River and sweep through Central China. Wouldn't that be for others' benefit?"

Jia Heng sighed. Now that he was in this world of "Dream of the Red Chamber," he had only one path: to gain power and prevent the Han Chinese and Chinese culture from being trampled by the Tartar hooves.

"Brother Jia, let's not talk about these troubling matters. Let's drink." Xie Zaiyi raised his wine cup and gestured to Jia Heng.

Jia Heng smiled and also raised his cup, saying, "State affairs are for the officials to handle. Let's drink."

"That's right, ha ha." Xie Zaiyi laughed, drank his cup in one gulp, and his eyes turned red, perhaps from the alcohol, as he picked up a piece of food.

Seeing this, Jia Heng sighed inwardly. This man had a story.

They drank until the hour of You, and Jia Heng headed home.