The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 274 The chivalrous young man Feng Ziying

The elegantly dressed young man stopped in front of Tu Chengyu's tent, clearly indicating that he had come for them.

Tu Chengyu had never met this person before, but judging from his attire and demeanor, he must be from an official family. He wondered what his background was.

Just as Tu Chengyu was making his own guesses, the young man dismounted, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said to Tu Chengyu:
"Your humble servant Feng Ziying greets Your Highness Prince Su."

Upon hearing this name, Tu Chengyu couldn't help but scrutinize the person closely.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that this person was around the same age as the Crown Prince, or even younger.

Despite his young age, he has a heroic air about him, which makes him instantly likable.

With such a temperament and this name, if nothing unexpected happens, he should be Feng Ziying, one of the so-called Four Heroes of the Dream of the Red Chamber.

With this in mind, Tu Chengyu couldn't help but ask, "Is he the young master of the Divine Martial General's mansion?"

"Truly, this humble official."

Having confirmed it was this person, Tu Chengyu asked:
"Young Master Feng, have you come to see me?"

"We have come to see Your Highness."

"What business do you have with me?"

"Your Highness, I have heard that Your Highness is recruiting people to manage the disaster victims. I am not very talented, but I can read a few words. Therefore, I would like to request Your Highness to allow me to serve you as well."

As the son of the Divine Martial General, Feng Ziying naturally had a close relationship with the Jia family, so it's not surprising that he knew about Tu Chengyu's recruitment.

However, what intrigued Tu Chengyu was why this general's son would come to work for him.

First of all, Tu Chengyu can be certain that this person did not come for those official positions.

Because the honorary titles held by these sons of officials are all of higher rank than those that Tu Chengyu presented this time.

Secondly, they certainly didn't come to help the disaster victims out of pity.

If they had such intentions, they would have stood up long ago; why wait until now?

Aside from these two reasons, there are many others, but Tu Chengyu can't figure them out for the time being.

So he asked directly, "Why did Young Master Feng decide to work for me?"

Feng Ziying said, "I have heard that Your Highness has worked hard for the disaster victims, and I admire you very much. So I would like to follow Your Highness and learn from your style."

That's a plausible reason, but it's certainly not the real reason.

However, since someone came to help, and it was from an official family, Tu Chengyu didn't want to investigate his true motives.

So he said, "The work here is quite strenuous; I don't know if you can handle it."

Feng Ziying said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I can bear it, and even if I can't, I can endure it."

Based on this kind of momentum, as long as he doesn't fall too far behind, Tu Chengyu will think that this is no ordinary person.

After hearing his words, Tu Chengyu continued:

"Since Young Master Feng is so eager to work here, then I will arrange for you to work under Quan Wenwei and assist him."

Tu Chengyu did not make the same demands of the scholars from the Imperial Academy as he had made of Feng Ziying.

The scholars of the Imperial Academy came here to serve the disaster victims, and Tu Chengyu also wanted to select useful talents from among them, so the requirements were strict.

However, Feng Ziying was most likely just there to experience the place, so Tu Chengyu wouldn't have high expectations of him. Therefore, keeping him at Quan Wenwei's place as a gofer would be quite suitable. Unexpectedly, Feng Ziying disagreed with Tu Chengyu's arrangement.

"Your Highness, I have heard that the scholars who have come today are all to be sent down to live and eat with the disaster victims. I would like to do the same as them."

"You want to eat and live with the disaster victims?" Tu Chengyu asked in surprise.

"That is indeed my plan."

"Have you thought this through?" Tu Chengyu couldn't help but advise, "The rules I set are that since you're going to live and work with the disaster victims, you can't leave the disaster victim camp at will before they leave. Do you understand this?"

"I understand," Feng Ziying replied affirmatively, "and I have already brought the luggage over."

As he said this, he pointed to the horse behind him. Tu Chengyu looked and saw that there were indeed two small packages hanging on the horse's back, so it seemed that they were really ready.

Tu Chengyu didn't know why he had such masochistic thoughts, but for a young nobleman to want to serve the disaster victims was something that would be rare even in eight lifetimes, so Tu Chengyu naturally wouldn't stop him.

So he said to Quan Wenwei:

“Mr. Quan, that camp is short of people. Arrange for Young Master Feng to go there.”

The destinations of all the scholars today were arranged by Quan Wenwei, so he said without hesitation:
"Your Highness, all the camps have been arranged. However, we can arrange for Young Master Feng to sit with others. It won't be too late to let him go to the new camps in a couple of days."

This arrangement is not bad. Tu Chengyu nodded and said, "Then let's find a campsite for Young Master Feng."

Quan Wenwei thought for a moment and said, "Arrange for us to stay at Camp No. 10 of the Jia-Zi camp. That camp is not far from here, so it will be convenient for Young Master Feng to find me if he needs anything."

Quan Wenwei ultimately dared not arrange for people to go too far away.

Tu Chengyu didn't care about any of that, and said to Feng Ziying:
"Then you should report to Camp A, Number Ten."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Feng Ziying replied happily, turned around and dismissed the two servants behind him, then picked up his luggage and prepared to go to the camp.

At this moment, Tu Chengyu stopped him: "Wait here first. I also need to go to the camp for an inspection. Let's go together in a bit."

"It's Your Highness." Upon hearing this, Feng Ziying stood still and waited.

Tu Chengyu then asked Quan Wenwei:
"Mr. Quan, which camp has Zou Xicheng, the one who reported last night, been assigned to?"

Quan Wenwei said, "At the easternmost part of Battalion No. 3, Dingzi."

Tu Chengyu nodded after listening, then came out from under the tent and said to Feng Ziying:
"Let's go take a look."

He then mounted his horse and rode ahead. Seeing this, Feng Ziying also mounted his horse and followed behind.

Riding on horseback, the group quickly arrived at Camp No. 10, Class A.

This area falls under Jia Rong's jurisdiction. When Tu Chengyu and the others arrived, Jia Rong was standing at the entrance of Camp Ten, talking to the newly assigned scholars.

After this period of training at the camp, Jia Rong has undergone a significant change.

His face has become much darker, and he looks much more upright.

That former gentle, weak, timid and fearful spirit has disappeared.

Instead, a shrewd and capable temperament has emerged.

In addition, he was wearing coarse cloth clothes, so if Tu Chengyu didn't see him every day, he probably wouldn't recognize him if he saw him suddenly.

(End of this chapter)