Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Jia Lian had met his grandmother a few days ago, and he felt warm in his heart when he thought about the scene of recognizing his relatives that day.

That morning, Jia Lian got up early, washed, changed into new clothes, and headed to Zhang's house with generous gifts. Along the way, he was very excited, imagining what the relatives he was about to meet would look like.

When he arrived at the Zhang family's house, he found the entrance already crowded with people. His third uncle, eldest cousin, and second cousin, who were all in Beijing, were already waiting for him at the gate, their faces filled with joyful smiles. Seeing this, Jia Lian couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his heart.

After entering the mansion, Jia Lian was led to the main hall to meet his grandmother. Seeing Old Lady Zhang seated in the upper seat, he felt a surge of familiarity. Old Lady Zhang looked at Jia Lian lovingly, her eyes filled with joy and anticipation. She held Jia Lian's hand tightly, inquiring about his life and expressing her deep concern for him.

During his conversations with his family, Jia Lian felt the warmth and affection they shared. Although he had never met them, their shared blood ties allowed them to quickly connect. His third uncle was particularly intriguing. Although he appeared indifferent, his eyes were filled with genuine concern. This silent care warmed Jia Lian deeply.

Jia Lian experienced an unprecedented level of favoritism from Madam Zhang. She treated him with the utmost care, even personally serving him food and urging him to eat more. This treatment made Jia Lian feel incredibly happy and profoundly understood the importance of family.

This visit left Jia Lian feeling a deep sense of family affection and warmth. He deeply realized that no matter where he was, his family would always be his most solid support. Therefore, he secretly resolved to follow in his uncle's footsteps, study diligently, become a man of great achievements, and seek justice for his mother and brother.

In the Zhang family's study in the capital, Jia Lian respectfully bowed to Zhang Ying and said, "My nephew Jia Lian greets my uncle." Zhang Ying looked up, smiled, and asked, "Lian'er, have you ever been to your grandmother's?" Jia Lian replied, "To answer your uncle's question, I have already been to her and had a conversation with her. Later, she wanted to go for a walk in the garden, so she asked me to come find you." Zhang Ying nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Lian'er, is there something important that brings you to my uncle today? If so, don't be shy, just tell me directly."

Jia Lian hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered the courage to speak firmly to Zhang Ying, "Uncle, I hope to learn some skills from you. I want to avenge my mother and brother." Zhang Ying looked at Jia Lian's resolute gaze and felt a sense of relief. He knew that Jia Lian was a child with great ambition and determination.

Zhang Ying patted Jia Lian on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Okay, since you are so determined, I will teach you. But you must not be impatient about revenge; you must take a long-term approach. First, you should study with me, learn military tactics, and then we can gradually plan our future."

Jia Lian was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately knelt down to kowtow in gratitude. From then on, Jia Lian stayed at the Zhang family and studied diligently under Zhang Ying. He believed that one day he would be able to realize his dream.

Time flew by, and two months passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Ying, knowing Jia Lian was getting older and lacking a natural talent for reading, taught him through storytelling. One day, Zhang Ying was recounting the legendary story of Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period. When they got to the famous Empty City Stratagem, Jia Lian suddenly interrupted, "Uncle, if it were me, I would never risk the same as Zhuge Liang. I would lead the people in the city to evacuate."

Zhang Ying asked curiously, "Why?"

Jia Lian answered without hesitation: "The purpose of war is not to kill, but to protect. If the lives of innocent people are sacrificed just because of a war, it is not a just act."

Zhang Ying's eyes flickered with admiration, surprised that Jia Lian had such profound insights. He nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Lian'er, your thoughts are truly commendable. However, war is often complex and unpredictable, and sometimes we have to make difficult decisions. However, the belief you speak of in protecting the people must always be upheld."

"Uncle, in your opinion, is there any better way under the circumstances at that time?" Jia Lian asked.

Zhang Ying pondered for a moment before replying, "If we want to protect the civilians, perhaps we could send spies to infiltrate the enemy forces and spread word of an ambush within the city, raising suspicion. This might slow their attack or even cause them to retreat. At the same time, we could set traps at the city gates, such as dug pits and placed spikes, to block the enemy's advance. Finally, we could utilize the terrain, such as mountains and rivers, for defensive purposes. However, this strategy is difficult to implement and requires precise planning and accurate execution."

Jia Lian pondered Zhang Ying's words, gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of war. He knew that war wasn't simply a battle of arms, but a contest of wisdom and courage. Only by mastering strategy could one achieve victory on the battlefield. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but lament his previous naiveté.

"In addition, we can also take advantage of the city's special geographical location and adopt some clever tactics. For example, we can set up fire traps near the city gates, take advantage of the enemy's chaos during the siege, ignite the fire, and trap them in a sea of fire. Or we can use water sources to create obstacles, such as digging up the canals that the enemy must pass through, making it impossible for them to move forward smoothly. Of course, these all need to be analyzed and decided based on the specific situation." Zhang Ying further elaborated.

Jia Lian listened with rapt attention, as if transported to the vastness of an ancient battlefield, feeling the throes of war. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and a passion for war welled up within him. He realized that war wasn't just about blood and violence; it was a profound science. Every detail could affect the course of a battle, and every decision hinged on the lives of countless people.

He thought of his grandfather, Jia Daishan, his heroic presence on the battlefield, and was filled with admiration and yearning. At that moment, he secretly resolved to diligently study military knowledge, continuously improve his abilities, and become a wise and responsible general to protect the peace of the region. He knew that this would not only bring him personal glory, but also the aspirations of his family.

Jia Lian listened with great interest and nodded continuously, expressing his deep agreement with Zhang Ying's words.

Zhang Ying patted Jia Lian on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Lian'er, the battlefield situation is ever-changing. Only with the ability to adapt flexibly and a strong strategic vision can victory be achieved. I hope you can put what you have learned into practice and achieve great military exploits for our country and our people."

Jia Lian nodded solemnly, indicating that he understood. Zhang Ying smiled slightly, thinking that this boy might achieve great things in the future.

Jia Lian held Zhang Ying's hand tightly and said solemnly: "Uncle, don't worry, I will not let you down!" Jia Lian looked at Zhang Ying firmly and said, "Uncle, I will not let you down!" From then on, Jia Lian studied military strategies more diligently, looking forward to showing his talents one day.

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