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

In the center of the courtyard, Jia Lang stopped.

"Li Tiedan, how many people came back alive with you yesterday?"

Jia Lang closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the pure air unique to ancient times, and when he opened his eyes again, his tone had become as firm as iron.

Upon hearing this, Li Tiedan behind him shuddered as if his tail had been stepped on, and stared intently at his toes as if flowers were blooming there.

Seeing no response, Jia Lang slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on Li Tiedan like that of a hawk.

"General..."

"Last night... only 118 brothers returned."

"As for the other brothers...they..."

Feeling uneasy under Jia Lang's gaze, Li Tiedan's lips trembled as he spoke with a sorrowful expression.

When he spoke of those names that would forever remain beyond the Great Wall, the seven-foot-tall man's voice choked, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot and red.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang closed his eyes again, and a deathly silence spread through the courtyard.

The scene before the expedition last night flashed through my mind: more than a thousand soldiers, each one full of spirit and heroic ambition, stepped into the deadly place.

Now, almost the entire army has been wiped out! Even his twenty personal guards, ten of whom were buried on the battlefield, have perished. Of those who eventually returned, apart from the ten personal guards he still had, only a mere one hundred and eight remained!

"Those brothers who died in battle..."

"What happens after death..."

"Is everything arranged?"

Jia Lang suppressed the throbbing pain in his heart and asked with difficulty, his eyes closed.

"Reporting to the General, those with families have already received generous compensation, but... but most family members absolutely refuse to accept the compensation."

"They said that their son and husband died for their country, they were heroes, and the food should be left for the surviving brothers so that they could kill more barbarians!"

"But those orphans with no relatives or friends... subordinates..."

At this point, Li Tiedan's voice was barely audible, and his head was almost drooping down to his crotch.

Jia Lang felt a pang of sadness; he already understood.

Since they were all daredevils, they were mostly lone heroes with no ties to their cause. If they were all gone, who would receive their pensions?

A feeling of indescribable bitterness and sorrow welled up in my heart.

"Fine, I understand."

Jia Lang waved his hand, his voice hoarse yet filled with unwavering determination:

"Call all the surviving brothers together."

"These are friendships forged through life and death; we cannot let the living grow cold, nor can we forget the kindness of the dead!"

"Yes, General!"

Li Tiedan clasped his hands tightly, his tiger-like eyes filled with tears, and solemnly agreed.

.....

Soon, Li Huowang walked into the courtyard carrying a tray. The food on the tray was steaming hot and fragrant, but it seemed particularly jarring in this sorrowful atmosphere.

"General, the meal is ready. Please have something to eat first."

Li Huowang stepped forward and said respectfully.

"Let's call the rest of our brothers...and eat together..."

Jia Lang glanced at the sumptuous meal, then swept his gaze across the empty courtyard, and gave the instructions in a low voice.

"Yes."

Li Tiedan and Li Huowang accepted the order and invited the surviving guards to take their seats.

There were two large stone tables in the courtyard, which used to be just enough for twenty guards to sit around, but now they seemed eerily empty.

Only a few people sat at each table; they were his closest comrades-in-arms in life, now separated by death.

"call..."

Jia Lang let out a long breath, suppressing the tightness in his heart.

"All..."

"Come on over and squeeze in, sit at this table!"

A few breaths later, Jia Lang pointed to the stone table beside him and shouted at the guards at another table.

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed overwhelming grief, and they silently moved over with their bowls.

"eat!"

At Jia Lang's command, everyone picked up their rice bowls in the dead silence.

The once fragrant and tempting delicacies now tasted as bitter as chewing wax, as if mixed with blood and tears, and were difficult to swallow.

.........

Yanmen Pass!

Beneath the majestic pass, inside the council hall on the city tower.

"General! I've heard there's news about Vice General Jia?"

All the generals of Yanmen Pass gathered together. As soon as Jia Ren stepped into the hall, Lieutenant General Li could not contain himself and stood up abruptly to ask questions.

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren's face, which had been as tense and extremely serious as iron, instantly melted away like ice and snow, revealing a hint of uncontrollable joy.

"That's right, Deputy General Jia returned safely to the pass last night!"

Jia Ren laughed loudly, his voice filled with a sense of relief and pride.

Upon hearing this, the previously silent council chamber erupted into chaos, as if hot oil had been poured over it!

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"I knew it!"

"Vice General Jia is incredibly lucky and blessed. You think you can keep him alive with those mere barbarian hooves? Dream on!"

A burly general with a full beard burst into wild laughter, the sound like thunder rolling across the room, as if to shatter all the gloom and oppression that had been building up in everyone's hearts over the past few days!

"Who says otherwise! This morning I overheard my underlings gossiping, and I thought they were just some drunk fool making up lies!"

Another general slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming with excitement, his face flushed.

"Hmph, making a fuss over nothing!"

"Vice General Jia is a lucky man; his safe return was a foregone conclusion. Why make such a fuss?"

Some generals tried to remain calm, picking up their teacups to conceal their true feelings, but their wildly upturned lips and slightly trembling hands had already betrayed their inner joy.

For a moment, the crowd in the hall was filled with excitement, their words brimming with relief and elation at Jia Lang's narrow escape from death.

However, amidst this boiling jubilation, there was a man as sinister as a venomous snake—General Wang, who was over forty years old.

"How hateful! This brat is incredibly lucky to have survived the barbarians' iron hooves!"

Wang Canjiang lowered his eyes, his heart filled with resentment. Although he did not show it on his face, a deep shadow of gloom and regret flashed in the depths of his eyes like the hiss of a venomous snake.

Jia Ren listened to the commotion among the generals but did not utter a word of rebuke.

When the news of the Xiongnu's attack on the pass arrived, the entire Yanmen Pass was shrouded in dark clouds, and panic spread like a plague.

The wealthy families in the city with even a little bit of assets had already packed up their valuables and fled with their families. If it weren't for the fact that most people were reluctant to leave their homeland, this formidable pass would probably only have armored soldiers and cold spears left, and would have long since become an empty city!

The news of Jia Lang's return is like a shot in the arm, easing everyone's tense nerves.

The boisterous laughter and commotion lasted for a good quarter of an hour before Jia Ren coughed twice, and the hall fell silent instantly.

"General, now that Vice General Jia has returned unharmed, why not quickly invite him here and let him recount how he took the general's head amidst ten thousand troops that night?"

A military officer suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and pleaded for command with eyes full of admiration.

"This matter is not urgent."

Jia Ren waved his hand, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes, "Vice General Jia just escaped from the Xiongnu's den of demons yesterday, and he is exhausted both physically and mentally. Let him rest and recuperate for a few days."

Upon hearing this, the generals all nodded in agreement.

Although they spoke lightly, everyone knew perfectly well that it was an incredible miracle that Jia Lang could return alive and kicking!

"Alright, enough of the small talk."

Jia Ren's gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the generals, his tone calm yet exuding an undeniable composure.

"The return of Vice General Jia is a great blessing for everyone and for Yanmen Pass."

"But relying solely on Vice General Jia's bravery is far from enough. The safety of Yanmen Pass requires the concerted efforts of all generals to resist the barbarians!"

"Come! Let's continue discussing yesterday's strategy. Now that Vice General Jia has returned, our chances of victory have increased by three points!"

"yes!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles.