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

Located in the far north of the Great Qian Dynasty, Yanmen Pass is now swept by howling winds, and the world is filled with a desolate atmosphere. The temperature difference between day and night is astonishing, as if even the air itself can be frozen by the cold.

Although the autumn harvest has just ended and there is still some warm sunshine during the day with temperatures around ten degrees Celsius, this is merely the calm before the storm.

Once night falls like a giant beast swallowing the sky, the temperature plummets to several degrees below zero, the wind is biting cold, and the entire pass is like an ice cellar, so cold that it hurts to the bone.

On this day, three days after the last military conference, the council hall was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water could drip from it. All the officers and generals gathered here, each with a somber expression.

"General, Vice General Jia, I am incompetent and have failed in my duty. Only today have I been able to thoroughly investigate the movements of the Xiongnu barbarians' grain supplies. Please punish me, Your Excellency!"

In the center of the council hall, Lieutenant General Li knelt on one knee, his face full of shame, his hands clasped above his head, his voice filled with undisguised self-reproach and trembling.

"To have ascertained the enemy's situation in just three days is remarkably swift. Lieutenant General Li, there's no need for you to blame yourself. Quickly rise and bring over the detailed intelligence!"

Sitting in the main seat, Jia Ren's gaze was sharp yet gentle as he looked down at Li Canjiang, whose face was covered in dust, and reassured him in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Lieutenant General Li's expression hardened, and he abruptly looked up:

"General, according to the scouts' desperate report, the Xiongnu barbarian army has advanced another forty li. Now their vanguard is only sixty li from Yanmen Pass and has set up camp!"

"As for the crucial supply point for those 100,000 cavalry, it has been located seventy miles to the northeast and is heavily guarded!"

These words shocked everyone present, and their expressions immediately brightened, their eyes gleaming.

Once the Xiongnu's food supply is secured, the battle will have a clear Achilles' heel, and all subsequent predicaments will be easily resolved, instead of the chaos of aimless wandering.

"good!"

"This is fantastic news!"

"If this battle is won, Lieutenant General Li will deserve the greatest credit!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and his excitement was palpable. He clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell.

"Now that the location of the Xiongnu granary is known, then, Lang-ge'er, you..."

Before the laughter subsided, Jia Ren turned his gaze to Jia Lang, who stood silently below.

"General, esteemed generals, now that we have the enemy's granary under our control, speed is of the essence in war, and there is no time to lose. I will go and reorganize the troops immediately, and strive to launch a surprise attack from the city tomorrow night!"

Jia Lang suddenly stood up, his armor clanging as he clasped his hands together.

As Jia Ren gazed at Jia Lang, a towering figure with an imposing presence, his heart was in turmoil, a fierce struggle raging within him.

He secretly hoped that Jia Lang would stay and command the central army, so that he wouldn't have to risk his life.

Looking around, the hall was full of officers and soldiers. Apart from Jia Lang, who else had the courage and strength to take the head of a general from among ten thousand soldiers?

"Go! I have already ordered the generals to assemble the soldiers. You can go to the camp and choose whatever you like!"

After a long silence, Jia Ren slowly closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and finally uttered the words he least wanted to say, each word weighing as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Yes, sir!"

Jia Lang bowed and accepted the order. Then, he suddenly flicked his blood-red cloak, which fluttered in the air like a burning flame. Without looking back, he strode out of the council hall, his back view resolute and arrogant.

After descending the city wall, the night wind was like a knife.

Jia Lang stared directly at the twenty guards in front of him, and they locked eyes for three breaths, a silent understanding flowing between them amidst the killing intent.

"Let's go to the military camp!"

With a swift and decisive gesture, Jia Lang mounted his horse, squeezed its flanks with his legs, and the warhorse, in pain, neighed loudly and galloped off towards the military camp like an arrow, without looking back.

.........

In the military camp's drill ground, the soldiers stood in formation, their postures as upright as pine trees.

Clad in heavy iron armor and carrying gleaming spears, they stood tall and proud, like unshakeable steel mountains, silently enduring the cold wind, awaiting the moment of their unsheathing.

"My valiant sons of the Great Qian Dynasty, do you still recognize me?!"

Jia Lang stood at the highest point of the command platform, his long spear pointing straight to the sky. He shouted loudly, and the sound waves rolled and echoed in the air above the military camp, making people's eardrums hurt.

"General Jia!"

"General Jia!"

"General Jia!"

The soldiers roared in unison, their voices like thunder, deafening, as if they wanted to shatter the dark night and soar into the sky.

Upon seeing this, Jia Lang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a wild yet gratified smile.

Very good. It seems that my two years of baptism of fire at Yanmen Pass have not been in vain. These wolf cubs still recognize him as their leader.

Immediately, Jia Lang raised his right hand and pressed it down heavily. The once bustling training ground instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the crackling of the burning torches remaining.

"well!"

"Although some of you may not know my name, that's alright!"

"All you need to do is recognize this blood-drinking blade in your hands, and recognize those Xiongnu beasts who burn, kill, and plunder beyond the Great Wall! That's enough!"

"Today, I have gathered you all here for one special mission."

"I will choose from among you those who dare to die!"

"Next, I will make a few requests. Those who meet the requirements, please take the next step!"

Jia Lang slowly scanned every resolute, battle-hungry face in the military camp. His voice was calm yet contained explosive power, and every word seemed to strike the hearts of everyone present.

Standing on the stage, Jia Lang, who was well over two meters tall, looked like a majestic war god looking down on all living beings, illuminated by the torches.

Upon hearing Jia Lang's words, Li Tiedan and the other troublemakers stared intently at the figure with eyes full of fanatical admiration.

At this moment, Jia Lang was their only faith, an invincible god!

"All soldiers, listen to my command!"

Jia Lang took a deep breath and shouted in a deep voice, his voice as loud as a bell, making the air tremble.

"exist!"

"exist!"

"exist....."

The series of loud responses erupted like a tsunami, piercing the silent night sky as if trying to break free from the shackles of darkness. The sound waves spread for miles around and lingered for a long time, even making the distant Xiongnu scouts tremble with fear.

On the walls of Yanmen Pass, inside the council hall!

Jia Ren and several trusted generals were still working diligently to rehearse their combined inside-outside tactics with Jia Lang.

Upon hearing the earth-shattering sound coming from the direction of the military camp, Jia Ren and the others simultaneously stopped holding their command arrows and turned their gazes toward the area where flames were shooting into the sky.

"this......"

"Is that commotion coming from the military camp?"

"Such a heavy aura of malevolence!"

A military officer's expression changed slightly, and he spoke hesitantly, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

"It seems Deputy General Jia has already begun selecting his troops; he's moving very quickly!"

Another military officer then sighed heavily, his palms sweating profusely.

"Come on, let's continue the meeting!"

"Vice General Jia is already sharpening his sword. If we hinder him, we will be held accountable even with ten thousand deaths!"

Jia Ren slammed his hand on the table and shouted in a deep voice, his eyes sharp.

"yes!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, responded respectfully, and once again immersed themselves in the tense planning.

Listening to the noisy discussions around him, Jia Ren sighed heavily, as if a huge boulder was pressing down on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

Then, by the candlelight, he looked through the window and stared intently toward the military camp, his eyes filled with the concern and deep worry of an old father.

"Lang-ge'er, you rascal... you must come back alive!!!"

In the shadows, Jia Ren clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, muttering to himself in a trembling voice that only he could hear, his tone filled with a plea.