Dream of the Red Chamber: From a Border Ruffian to a Capital Tyrant

In the thirteenth year of the Qianyuan era of the Daqian calendar, the borderlands were in turmoil, the atmosphere was tense and bleak, and undercurrents flowed like venomous snakes, with a crisis imminent.

Yanmen Pass, this ironclad fortress lying across the frontier, is like a sleeping prehistoric beast, firmly guarding the vast land behind it.

Beyond the pass, yellow sand filled the sky, and the howling wind sounded like the wailing of ten thousand ghosts, as if countless hungry wolves were lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce.

Inside the pass, armored soldiers stood in rows, their swords and spears gleaming coldly under the blazing sun, their killing intent lingering and unyielding.

……

"General, the Commander-in-Chief has ordered you to proceed to the council chamber immediately!"

A captain clad in chainmail strode forward, his breastplate gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

He clasped his hands together and respectfully addressed the figure standing tall like a javelin on the city wall.

Why is it described as "teenager"?

Although his face had a touch of childishness, like the rising sun, his body was as majestic as a mountain, frighteningly robust!

Upon hearing the summons, the young man known as the general slowly turned around.

A single glance from him was like a sharp sword being drawn from its sheath, exuding a chilling aura!

What kind of face was that?

His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, his starry eyes shone brightly, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together, revealing an almost wild and resolute determination.

Beneath the boy's face was a towering body over nine feet tall, with muscles like intertwined steel bars, as if he could tear apart tigers and leopards with a single hand, containing explosive power.

The captain felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him. He quickly buried his head in his hands, hugged himself tightly, and his body trembled slightly from extreme excitement and admiration.

This young general, who has appeared like a divine warrior in the past two years, has led his men in bloody battles, annihilating the invading enemy and protecting the iron-blooded glory of Yanmen Pass!

This man was none other than Jia Lang, a top nobleman in the capital and the heir of the Ningguo Mansion! As for why such a prodigy would condescend to come to this bitter and cold place, we will leave that aside for now.

"Understood, I'll go right away."

Jia Lang's voice boomed like a bell, landing heavily on the ground. Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked away, his steps as swift as a dragon and as powerful as a tiger, creating a gust of wind as he headed straight for the council hall.

.......

The atmosphere inside the council chamber was so oppressive it was suffocating.

The commander-in-chief of Yanmen Pass sat in the main seat, his face ashen. The adjutants on both sides sat with their heads bowed, their expressions solemn, and even their breathing became lighter.

Jia Lang stepped into the hall, his gaze sweeping across the room like lightning. He then strode to the center, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke in a thunderous voice:

"This humble general, Jia Lang, greets the general!"

Upon seeing that it was Jia Lang, the general's tense expression eased slightly, and he gestured for him to sit: "I have summoned you all here today because of an urgent report from the border."

"A scout reports that the Xiongnu outside the pass have been frequently moving their troops recently, suggesting a possible large-scale invasion!"

"What do you all think?"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

A moment later, a lieutenant general stood up and said, "These barbarians are greedy; since spring, they have repeatedly plundered villages. Now that the autumn harvest is over and the winter snow has not yet fallen, their troop deployment at this time must be because they covet our grain supplies at Yanmen Pass!"

"In my humble opinion, the only way is to build high walls, stockpile plenty of grain, and defend with utmost vigilance!"

Another lieutenant immediately chimed in: "Indeed! Yanmen Pass is a natural barrier, easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as we act like cowards... no, we must hold our ground and not venture out, the barbarians will have no way to escape!"

"Should we hold out and not come out?"

"fart!!"

A loud shout rang out, and a lieutenant general abruptly stood up, knelt on one knee, his voice like tearing silk:

"General! In previous years, they were just small groups of bandits, but this year the Luandi tribe has swallowed up several tribes. Their ambitions are boundless. This time, it will definitely be a fight to the death. How can a mere defense stop them?"

"snort!"

A cold laugh pierced the air. "General Feng is giving others too much credit."

"Besides..."

"So what if the Xiongnu come in large numbers?"

"Don't we have an invincible young general, or deputy general, Jia, here?"

The speaker was over forty years old, with half-white hair and beard, and a sinister look in his eyes. As he spoke, his peripheral vision was like a knife, slashing fiercely at Jia Lang on his left.

Jia Lang's face was ashen, and he didn't even lift his eyelids, only a disdainful sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

In his eyes, these old hands who rely on seniority to get by are nothing more than withered bones on their deathbed.

"Oh? It seems that Lieutenant General Wang has some reservations about Deputy General Jia?"

The general in the main seat narrowed his eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"This humble general dares not!"

With a forced smile, Lieutenant General Wang clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Deputy General Jia rose to a high position at a young age and has not suffered a single defeat in the past two years. I admire him greatly, how could I dare to have any prejudice against him?"

The general gave him a cold glance, his mind clear as day.

That old Wang is just jealous!

Both of them came here two years ago. Jia Lang risked his life to earn merit and fought his way up from the rank of Qianzong. This old Wang, on the other hand, relied on his connections in the capital to gain seniority. He would hide when there was a battle, and after two years, his official position remained stagnant. It's no wonder he felt resentful seeing Jia Lang, who hadn't even grown his hair yet, riding on his head!

If it weren't for the Wang family, the military governor of the capital, who were behind him, they would have kicked this rotten apple out long ago!

"Could it be that Lieutenant General Wang is jealous of General Jia?"

"Does the authorities think General Jia is too young to shoulder the responsibility of being a deputy general?"

A burly man with a full beard and only one right arm slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his one eye blazing with fire.

"you!"

General Wang's face stiffened. Looking at the empty sleeve, he sneered, "I don't argue with a cripple!"

"You're asking for it! You're asking for it!"

"Does he perhaps think my sword is inadequate?!"

The one-armed strongman flew into a rage, drew his sword from his waist with a loud shout, and his murderous aura exploded instantly!

General Wang was so frightened that his pupils contracted sharply, and he shrank back, chair and all, his face turning deathly pale.

Just as the blade was about to be drawn, a large, iron-like hand pressed down on the shoulder of the one-armed strong man.

With a calm expression, Jia Lang exerted a slight force with his right hand, pressing the burly man back into his seat as if Mount Tai were pressing down on him.

"The General is here, General Xu, please calm down."

Jia Lang's tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable authority.

"Hmph! If it weren't for the sake of the adults, I would have skinned this dog's head alive!"

The one-armed, burly man sat down, cursing and swearing, his one eye fixed on the person opposite him, his anger still simmering.

General Wang secretly wiped away a cold sweat, his heart pounding wildly—to fight this killing god who crawled out of a pile of corpses was like an old man eating poison!

"That's enough!"

The general slammed his hand on the table, his gaze sweeping across the room like a knife. "With a formidable enemy at hand, instead of wasting your energy gossiping, go train your troops on the drill ground!"

He turned to look at Jia Lang, his eyes filled with admiration and satisfaction:

"Although Vice General Jia is young, whose military achievements can compare to those of you present?"

"If anyone can behead a thousand enemies on the battlefield like him, I will personally recommend him for credit!"

Upon hearing this, apart from Wang Canjiang, whose face turned ashen, the gazes of everyone else towards Jia Lang instantly changed, filled with awe and admiration.

These days, only achievements earned by risking your life are truly worth keeping quiet!

Jia Lang simply grinned, his honest and straightforward boldness instantly dispelling the solemnity:

"You flatter me, sir. As a soldier, I have a duty to defend the land; I was merely doing my job!"

"Haha, you rascal!" General Jia Ren laughed and shook his head. "Alright, enough with the formalities. If you were as slippery as them, I wouldn't like you."

Immediately, Jia Ren's expression turned serious, and he waved his hand, saying:

"General Wang, keep your mouth shut. The entire army is on high alert these days, with scouts spread out fifty li! Go and prepare!"

"yes!"

The crowd responded enthusiastically and exited one by one.

Jia Lang walked last, and before leaving, he looked back once more.

Jia Ren, sitting in the main seat, frowned deeply, as if he had aged several years in an instant, a deep concern for the situation.

Jia Lang opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, his gaze hardened, and he turned and strode out of the hall.

Outside, the sunlight was blinding and the wind was biting.

Jia Lang gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

Since you want to fight, then let's fight to the bitter end!