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

夜晚

The night was as dark as ink, and the crescent moon hung like a hook. Under the cover of night, Yanmen Pass appeared particularly solemn and profound.

Inside Jia Ren's mansion, the candlelight flickered, casting the two figures on the wall in varying lengths, their shadows constantly shifting and intertwining.

"Lang-ge'er, the imperial reinforcements will arrive soon. Why are you in such a hurry to risk your life?"

"You should know that you haven't even reached adulthood yet, and haven't even received a courtesy name..."

Jia Ren's eyes were extremely complex, containing the affection of an elder, the authority of a commander, and above all, a deep regret for the lack of talent.

To be honest, putting aside the background of the Ningguo Mansion, just based on Jia Lang's outstanding military achievements at this age, Jia Ren would never want this promising talent to suffer any mishaps.

That's why he summoned Jia Lang to his private residence late at night, trying to use his status as an elder to persuade him one last time to change his mind and abandon that crazy "beheading" plan.

However, Jia Ren was interrupted firmly by Jia Lang before he could finish speaking.

"Uncle, my mind is made up, you don't need to persuade me anymore."

"I have a clear plan for this battle, and I will not act rashly."

Jia Lang stood tall and handsome, his face like jade, his brows revealing a youthful arrogance and confidence as he solemnly met Jia Ren's gaze.

Seeing Jia Lang's spirited and indomitable demeanor, Jia Ren felt as if he had been struck hard by a heavy hammer.

Once upon a time, when I was young and impetuous, wasn't I just as ignorant and reckless, and wasn't I just as courageous and determined for my beliefs?

"Lang-ge'er..."

"That's enough, that's enough!"

"Leading only eight hundred soldiers is far too few; it's a drop in the ocean."

"If you insist on going, then go to the main camp and choose for yourself; the soldiers are yours to pick!"

Jia Ren stared intently at Jia Lang, as if trying to recapture his lost youth and passion in him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Uncle."

"However, eight hundred elite troops are sufficient."

"With too many people around, it's easier to expose your whereabouts and increase the risk of being discovered."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang felt a warmth in his heart and bowed deeply to Jia Ren.

He knew very well that if it weren't for Jia Ren's unreserved trust and protection, let alone executing the plan, his previous disrespectful and disrespectful remarks would have been enough to get him court-martialed several times over.

"You... sigh, whatever, you're such a stubborn fool."

"Go and prepare."

"By the way, when do you plan to leave?"

Jia Ren waved his hand weakly, as if he had aged several years in an instant. Watching Jia Lang turn away, he finally couldn't help but ask.

"We'll depart promptly at midnight tonight."

Jia Lang turned around, clasped his hands in a standard military salute, and then, without any hesitation, turned and walked out the door.

"Lang-ge'er!!!"

Just as Jia Lang was about to step out of the room, Jia Ren suddenly called out from behind him.

Jia Lang paused and looked back.

The iron-willed general's lips trembled slightly, and all his unspoken words were ultimately condensed into four weighty words:

"Come back alive."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang's previously tense face suddenly broke into a bright smile, a smile that reflected the exuberance and fearlessness of youth.

He nodded heavily, then turned around, his figure instantly disappearing into the vast darkness, leaving no trace.

"well..."

After Jia Lang left, only Jia Ren remained in the empty room. He stared at the flickering candlelight and let out a long, worried sigh.

Leaving Jia Ren's mansion, Jia Lang walked alone on the cold streets of Yanmen Pass.

The biting wind cut like a knife, and he couldn't help but shrink his neck, gasp for breath, and subconsciously look up at the night sky.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars twinkled with dazzling light.

This pristine starry sky was a luxury he could only find in his childhood memories in his previous life, in an era filled with industrial pollution.

To be honest, Jia Lang knew perfectly well that he didn't need to work so hard.

After all, it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. Being alive is worse than anything else, isn't it?

only...

Thinking of this, Jia Lang's lips curled into a self-deprecating bitter smile, a smile that concealed both helplessness and ambition.

Humans live only a lifetime, like grass and trees in autumn. We must have some pursuits and goals, otherwise what's the difference between us and salted fish?

Moreover, although this battle seems dangerous, it is not entirely without a chance of success.

Jia Lang had even already planned out his escape route after returning to the capital.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person with no extraordinary strategies. Although he was smart enough, if he were thrown into the officialdom where all the civil and military officials were old foxes, he probably wouldn't even know how he died. He was too naive.

If that's the case, why use your weaknesses to attack their strengths? Why not try a different way of life?

Anyway, he didn't have a clever mind. On the battlefield, he was just a "brute" who relied on his tall and strong body and only knew how to charge around recklessly.

As the saying goes, "When a scholar meets a soldier, reason is useless." As long as you maintain this persona and stand on the right side, you may still have a place in this chaotic world.

After all, for any emperor, a loyal, skilled, but brainless "brute" minister is the easiest and most reliable to use!

Which emperor wouldn't like a good knife?

Of course, Jia Lang did fantasize about wearing a dragon robe and ruling the world, but he was also more self-aware.

He's simply not cut out for it.

In his later years, when he was a corporate slave, he was a top-notch "slacking off" expert.

The thought of becoming emperor, having to attend court before dawn every day, facing mountains of memorials, and having to scheme against a group of cunning old foxes—just imagining that scene makes my scalp tingle and my skin crawl.

Everyone says it's good to be an emperor, to have the whole country at your feet, but who knows how many deadly troubles are hidden behind the scenes?

We must guard against the prime minister's monopolization of power, regulate the selection of officials, crack down on corruption, and quell local rebellions.

In addition to these, there are tasks such as selecting a crown prince, maintaining order in the harem, dealing with natural disasters and man-made calamities, and resisting foreign invasion...

Each and every one of these matters had to wait for the emperor to make the final decision and clean up the mess.

Even if all these issues are resolved, the allure of imperial power ultimately boils down to three words:

Position, money, and sex.

status?

It's nothing more than "all under heaven are subjects of the king," and life and death are decided in a single thought.

money?

It's even simpler: "All land under heaven belongs to the king," meaning all the land in the world, along with the people living on it, is your private property.

As for "lust," needless to say, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines, there were only oxen that died from exhaustion, not land that was over-plowned.

But what else is good about being an emperor?

There wasn't one at all...

Yes, there is no freedom at all!

The more Jia Lang thought about it, the more his mind wandered, and the faster his heart raced. If he didn't lack military power and prestige, he would have loved to seize the throne right away.

But he quickly forced himself to shut out these dangerous thoughts, and sourly concluded to himself:

"Being an emperor is a high-risk job; people usually die young."

"To become emperor?"

"I wouldn't even be a dog!"

"I'm exhausted, like a grandson."

"I should just be a brute general with a large army. As long as I have military power, even the emperor will have to show me some respect."

"Anyway, I can have three wives and four concubines, with one on each side."

"Seven days a week, with a different person serving you each day in rotation, wouldn't that be great?"

"but..."

"Being an emperor is like having a different emperor every single day of the year..."

Thinking of this, Jia Lang shook his head violently, trying to shake out the yellow rubbish in his mind.

A person should have self-awareness. If you don't have grand ambitions, a wife, children, a warm bed, and wealth and honor are enough for a fulfilling life.

Being an emperor is such a difficult and technically demanding job; let those time-traveling predecessors with their exceptional intelligence and deep cunning handle it.

With my level of intelligence, I'd better not embarrass myself by showing off...

By this time, the night was deep and the streets were even quieter, with only the occasional sound of the watchman's clapper.

Jia Lang pulled his wandering thoughts back, the confusion in his eyes dissipated, and was replaced by a will as hard as steel.

He quickened his pace and hurried toward the military camp, where eight hundred brothers were waiting for him, making final preparations for their departure at midnight.

Although he felt a slight uncertainty about the future, he was more filled with fervor and determination for the mission he was about to undertake.

This battle was not only about Jia Lang's fate and future, but also about the safety of Yanmen Pass and the lives of countless people behind him.

Open the bow without turning back the arrow.

Jia Lang could only be like a drawn sword, charging forward fearlessly, slaying gods and Buddhas alike.

Otherwise, there is no choice.