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

Inside the study at Yanmen Pass, the candlelight crackled, casting a dim, yellow glow on Jia Ren's weathered, resolute face. Though weary, it radiated an indomitable fierceness.

Upon hearing the words "deceased wife," Jia Ren's body, which had been sitting as steadily as a mountain, suddenly trembled. He was as if struck by lightning and lost his senses for a moment.

In an instant, his thoughts seemed to traverse thousands of mountains and rivers, drifting irresistibly towards the image of his gentle, virtuous, and devoted wife from that distant era.

He turned his head slowly and stiffly, his gaze finally settling on the woman in front of him.

The woman was no longer the beautiful woman she once was; her face was haggard and sallow. The vicissitudes of time and the hardships of life had left deep, crisscrossing marks on her face like two carving knives.

Jia Ren's lips twitched violently a few times, as if a thousand words were churning in his chest, but when he tried to speak, something seemed to choke him, and he finally fell silent.

Looking into the woman's eyes, which were filled with sorrow and deep weariness, Jia Ren let out another long sigh. The sigh was heavy as lead, filled with endless guilt, heartache, and the helplessness of being a man.

"You've truly suffered these years, guarding this desolate and bitterly cold land with me..."

These words seemed to shatter the last line of defense in the woman's heart.

Her tears, which she had been holding back for so long, burst forth like a river bursting its banks. Unable to contain her surging emotions any longer, she threw herself into Jia Ren's broad, strong arms and cried out, as if she wanted to release all the grievances she had held back over the years.

These days, the officers and soldiers in the manor are coming and going frequently, and even she, a woman, can sense that something earth-shattering is about to happen at Yanmen Pass.

When she heard the devastating news that 100,000 Xiongnu cavalry had besieged the pass, she did not panic or lose her composure like an ordinary woman. Instead, she chose to stay quietly by Jia Ren's side, preparing his two meals a day herself, just so that he could have a hot meal.

She knew very well that her husband was the general of Yanmen Pass, the gateway to the Great Qian Dynasty, and would never abandon the pass and flee.

Her only regret was that despite serving Jia Ren for many years, she had not been able to give him a son or daughter to continue the family line.

Jia Ren gently stroked the woman's withered hair in his arms, listening to her heart-wrenching cries, his heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

The woman in his arms was nominally Jia Ren's concubine, but in reality, she was his first wife's dowry maid, and they were as close as sisters.

On the ancient and vast territory of the Great Qian Dynasty, there has always been an ironclad rule about conquest, like a blood-stained red line that cannot be crossed.

From emperors who rule the world to soldiers who charge into battle, no one may bring their wives and children when leading troops into battle.

When the men went into battle, the women had to stay behind, not only having to live alone in their rooms, but also having to shoulder all the heavy responsibilities of the family's logistics.

People are often superstitious about ghosts and gods. Unless it is an emergency to defend against an enemy, a general will always ask a fortune teller to divine the future before going to war.

If the divination indicates "suitable for travel", the general will be full of heroic spirit and head to the battlefield with an unwavering belief in victory;

Conversely, if the hexagram indicates "great misfortune" or "defeat," even if the opportunity to win is fleeting, the commander will rein in his horse and proceed with caution.

Because in their hearts, the will of Heaven cannot be defied, and going against Heaven will surely bring annihilation.

For military campaigns, women were the biggest taboo, considered an omen of bad luck.

The military discipline of the Great Qian Dynasty was strict, and it was generally believed that yin energy would clash with the military spirit, and the presence of women would shake the morale of the troops.

If soldiers bring their families with them to battle, how can they be expected to risk their lives and concentrate fully on their duties if their hearts are preoccupied with the safety of their wives and children?

Therefore, sending women to the battlefield was an absolute rule.

However, for a high-ranking official like Jia Ren, who was in charge of a region, it was reasonable for him to bring a concubine or find a caring woman to serve him at the border in order to meet his physical needs and daily life. This could be considered a kind of alternative "benefit".

After all, military commanders stationed on the border faced harsh conditions, not only having to confront the blades of foreign enemies but also various sugar-coated bullets.

Gold and silver treasures, stunning beauties, high-ranking official positions and generous salaries—these temptations constantly lured the border guards, attempting to induce them to collude with the enemy, betray their country, and open the gates.

As the saying goes, "When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor's orders." With the emperor far away, the court could not keep track of every detail of the border situation.

To prevent the garrison commander from developing disloyalty, his family members would usually be "invited" to live in the capital.

Ostensibly for care and protection, it was actually a hostage situation, intended as a warning to the border commander.

Your life and fortune are in the capital, so do not make any mistakes, or you will regret it!

Of course, none of this has anything to do with Jia Ren.

Firstly, his wife had died early, and he had no children.

Secondly, he came to the border region at a young age, and the various things in the capital had nothing to do with him. In fact, to put it bluntly, Jia Ren didn't care who the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty was now.

Previously, the only people he cared about were his current concubine and the soldiers and civilians at Yanmen Pass. Later, he only added Jia Lang to the list.

Just as Jia Ren was gently comforting the woman, trying to calm her grief, a heart-wrenching cry suddenly came from outside the door, breaking the silence of the night.

"General!"

"General!"

"Great news! Vice General Jia is back!!"

A young soldier ran wildly outside the door, shouting. His voice was sharp and distorted with extreme excitement, filled with the joy and thrill of surviving a disaster.

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren's previously dull and weary tiger eyes instantly flashed with two beams of light, and he stood up abruptly as if injected with a powerful stimulant.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Jia Ren exclaimed "Good!" three times in a row, his voice booming like a bell, his tone filled with barely suppressed joy and exhilaration.

"I knew this kid was incredibly lucky; even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take him. He won't die so easily!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

.........

On the other side, in Jia Lang's courtyard.

After entering the city, according to military regulations, Jia Lang should have immediately paid his respects to Jia Ren, the general of Yanmen Pass, and his officers, and reported in detail on the course and results of the fierce battle.

However, the repeated bloody battles, coupled with the long-distance raids day and night, had already pushed Jia Lang's physical strength to the limit.

At this moment, he felt as if his legs were filled with molten iron, and with each step he took, his muscles protested wildly. He felt as if he were walking on clouds, feeling weak and powerless.

Therefore, Jia Lang, clinging to his last breath, decided to return to his private residence for a short rest, wash up, and tidy himself up before meeting his superior.

At this moment, the warhorse beneath Jia Lang seemed to sense its master's exhaustion, and stopped neighing. Instead, it carried its master slowly and steadily toward the familiar courtyard.

When Jia Lang arrived at the courtyard gate, he looked at the usually heavily guarded entrance, which was now deserted, and his brows furrowed tightly, forming a "川" (river) shape.

Normally, two elite guards would stand like door gods at the entrance of his courtyard, their hands on the hilts of their swords, looking imposing and awe-inspiring.

At this moment, the vermilion gate was tightly closed, and there was hardly anyone around. The surroundings were deathly silent, exuding an indescribable desolation and eeriness.

"Hasn't that bastard Li Tiedan come back yet?"