The Succession Struggle in the Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 35 Three Clever Strategies for Protecting Your Business

Despite Jia Jing's thorough analysis of the situation, Jia Zheng and the other two were still not entirely at ease.

Jia Zheng then asked, "Brother Jing, how should the household respond next?"

Jia Jing said, "At this moment, it's better to remain still than to make a move."

Jia Zheng asked, "Why is that?"

Jia Jing replied, "The emperor has been on the throne for less than half a year, and his position is not yet secure. The retired emperor is trying to help the emperor consolidate his position and will not deliberately cause trouble for the household for the time being. Therefore, as long as our two households do not act ostentatiously, we will be fine in the short term."

Jia Zheng seemed to be pondering Jia Jing's words and did not ask any further questions. Jia Zhen then followed up with, "Father, the emperor's throne will eventually be secure. How should we deal with it then? Can't we prepare in advance?"

Jia Jing said, "It's not that we'll do nothing at all, but we'll have to act in secret. The reason I called you here today is to tell you how to deal with the situation going forward."

Upon hearing this, Jia She, who had been silent for a long time, said, "So Brother Jing already has a solution. Just tell us directly, and we'll follow it when we get back to the manor."

Jia Jing said, "I have thought about it for a long time and have come up with a rather risky method. I will tell you about it today."

Jia She said, "Brother Jing, please speak freely."

Jia Jing continued, "The first rule is to break away from the nobles and submit to the new emperor. As long as you gain the new emperor's trust, even if the retired emperor blames you later, it won't come to the point of confiscating your property and exterminating your family."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen asked in confusion, "Father just said that it was a good thing that our eldest sister didn't marry into the royal family and that our family had no connection with the royal family. Why are we now trying to rely on the emperor?"

Jia Jing explained, “You sent the eldest maid into the palace simply to make her a pillar of support for the family. However, the eldest maid’s power comes from her family. How can she be that pillar? If she really enters the palace, she will have to deal with the retired emperor and his son. Do you think a maid can fight against those two? The more she tries to help the family, the more dangerous it will be for her. But if she sides with the emperor, it will be a different story. We only need to support the emperor, and the emperor will naturally deal with the retired emperor’s suppression.”

Jia Zheng asked worriedly, "But is the Emperor really willing to offend the Emperor Emeritus for the sake of our Jia family?"

Jia Jing said, "This matter depends on the timing of seeking refuge with the emperor. According to what you have said today, the emperor is trying to clean up the Beijing garrison. However, the Beijing garrison has too many problems and the emperor alone cannot turn the situation around. He needs someone to assist him."

Upon hearing this, the three men understood what Jia Jing was trying to say: to pledge allegiance to the emperor and help him deal with the powerful nobles.

Jia Zheng was increasingly puzzled about what Jia Jing was trying to do, and asked in confusion, "Wouldn't this mean that our Jia family would cut itself off from the noble families?"

Jia Jing said, “This is a last resort. Our Jia family is different from other noble families. They can easily extricate themselves, but our Jia family is too deeply involved in the Beijing Garrison. If the emperor wants to take action against the Beijing Garrison, he will inevitably take action against our two families as well. If we do not side with the emperor, it is equivalent to offending both the retired emperor and the emperor at the same time. Even if we advance and retreat together with the noble families, we cannot escape being purged. It’s just a matter of time.”

Jia Zheng added, "What if the emperor can't stop the retired emperor? Although the retired emperor has abdicated, his power hasn't diminished much. If the retired emperor is sincere, it will be difficult for the emperor to stop him."

Jia Jing said, "If that's the case, I'll handle it. As far as the Emperor Emeritus is concerned, he only truly hates me. As long as the Emperor agrees to protect our two households, I will take care of the former Crown Prince on behalf of the Emperor Emeritus."

Upon hearing this, the other three members of the Jia family were so shocked that they all stood up.

Jia She said anxiously, "Brother Jing, you must not think like that. The situation is far from being so dire that you should risk your life."

Jia Jing said angrily, "Your family and household are about to be destroyed, yet you still harbor illusions. The mansion may seem prosperous now, but it's actually a trap. If you don't find a way to deal with it, it will be too late for you to seek refuge with the emperor once he has secured his position." Jia She said worriedly, "This matter still needs to be discussed with Mother before a decision can be made."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing closed his eyes in disappointment. The three people in front of him were the current heads of the two Jia family mansions, yet none of them could make decisions on important matters.

Jia She only knew how to indulge in pleasure, Jia Zheng was pedantic and incompetent, and his own son Jia Zhen was a typical纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat).

The Jia family has only lasted three or four generations, how could they have fallen to such a state?

Now, if it weren't for the Emperor Emeritus keeping a close watch from above, preventing him from showing his face, why would he have summoned these three fools to discuss matters?

But Jia Jing couldn't do anything about the idiot he encountered.

Taking a deep breath, Jia Jing released his frustration and continued, "For the second point, you should go back and discuss it with your aunt. Ask her to send someone to persuade Wang Ziteng to find a way to be transferred away from the capital as soon as possible, preferably to a position in the border army."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng became somewhat anxious. Wang Ziteng was currently the most powerful backer of the Jia family. Letting him leave would mean the Jia family would lose an ally. He said, "Brother Jing, my brother-in-law was personally arranged by Father to enter the capital camp to maintain the influence of our two families in the military. Letting him leave rashly would be like cutting off our own arm."

Jia Jing said, "Wang Ziteng's position as the Military Governor of the Capital Garrison is the same as the eldest maid's entry into the palace. It seems to have provided the Jia family with a powerful backer, but in reality, it has depleted the Jia family's connections. Wang Ziteng was able to take up the position of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison because my uncle supported him despite the pressure. He has been able to hold this position for so many years thanks to the help of the Jia family's protégés and former generals. Everything he has done in the Capital Garrison has been at the expense of the family's favors. For our Jia family, Wang Ziteng has only taken from us and has offered no help whatsoever. Furthermore, many nobles are eyeing the position of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison. When my uncle was alive, no one dared to say anything. Now that Wang Ziteng has occupied this position for so many years, those people are already impatient. If he doesn't take the initiative to resign, he can expect to be driven out."

Jia Zheng said, "I will discuss this matter with my mother."

Jia Jing suppressed the urge to hit someone and continued with the next matter. He said, "The third matter concerns Rong-ge'er. Rong-ge'er is not young anymore, and I have found him a marriage. You should start making arrangements when you get back."

When Jia Zhen heard his father suddenly bring up his son's marriage at such a crucial moment, he was very puzzled and asked, "Father, is there anything special about this marriage?"

Jia Jing said, "If this marriage is arranged, perhaps the Emperor Emeritus will spare my Jia family."

How could a marriage arrangement have such an effect? ​​Is the woman's family related to royalty or the imperial family?

Jia Zhen continued, "Father, which noble family's daughter is she?"

Jia Jing shook his head and said, "She is not the daughter of a prominent family, but the daughter of a construction worker in the Ministry of Works."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen became anxious and said, "Father, Rong-ge'er is the eldest grandson of the two branches of our Jia family. He will inherit the family business in the future. How can he marry a daughter from a humble family?"

Although Jia Zhen rarely showed such discernment, Jia Jing still firmly said, "Although the Qin family is a small and humble household, their status is noble and they are fully worthy of Rong-ge'er. You should not question them. Just handle things as soon as possible, and the benefits will naturally come to our Jia family in the future."

How could a family from humble beginnings have such a noble status?

Jia Zhen wanted to ask more, but seeing his father's resolute attitude, he dared not say anything more and could only nod in agreement.

I just got back from working overtime, I'm late.



(End of this chapter)