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

"General! Now that we know the movements of the barbarians, I believe we should immediately write to Pianguan and Ningwuguan, requesting the Ministry of War to dispatch troops to their aid at full speed!"

"This is an extremely urgent military matter. If the imperial court learns of it, they will certainly not stand idly by!"

A lieutenant general abruptly stood up, his armor clanging crisply. He clasped his hands together, his voice revealing an undisguised anxiety and a hint of relief.

However, upon hearing this, Jia Ren, who was sitting in the main seat, curled up a bitter smile that was more unsightly than crying.

He slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the adjutant as if he were looking at an innocent child.

"When Lieutenant Li reported the news, my urgent message, delivered by express courier, was already on its way to the capital."

Jia Ren's voice was hoarse and low, like two rough pieces of sandpaper rubbing together, carrying a deep sense of powerlessness.

"However... the commotion caused by these barbarians is unprecedented in more than a decade."

"Pianguan and Ningwuguan are also in a state of panic, barely able to protect themselves, let alone have the strength to help me."

Jia Ren shook his head, pressing his fingers heavily on the sheepskin map on the table, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"As for the imperial court..."

Jia Ren paused, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes, "The capital is a thousand miles away from here. Even with the fastest courier service, it would take dozens of days to go there and back."

"By the time the imperial court makes a decision and the army sets off, it will be too late!"

"Distant water...cannot quench immediate thirst!"

This bucket of cold water extinguished the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in the council chamber.

The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment, and a feeling of despair spread through the air like a plague.

Yes, waiting for reinforcements is like waiting for rain to fall on a dry riverbed—a hopeless and suffocating prospect.

"Squeak—"

In the midst of this deathly silence, a piercing sound of a door being pushed open suddenly rang out, like a sharp knife slicing through a taut drumhead.

"Who?!"

"Wasn't it ordered that no one was allowed to enter?!"

Xu Canjun, who was hot-tempered and had nowhere to vent his anger, suddenly turned around and roared, his one eye bulging as big as a copper bell.

"Hmph! It's this old man!"

"What, General Xu, are you going to chop me up too?"

Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.

General Wang, dressed in slightly worn cotton armor, strolled slowly out of the shadows with his hands behind his back, a look of laziness and disdain on his face.

"You old scoundrel Wang!"

"You only arrive when the fire is at your doorstep! If you miss this crucial moment, you'll have several heads to chop off!"

Lieutenant General Xu was so angry that his beard trembled, and he pointed at Lieutenant General Wang's nose and started cursing.

"you!"

Wang Canjiang's face stiffened. He was about to retort when he saw Jia Ren's cold, hawk-like eyes sweep over him from above.

"That's enough!"

Jia Ren slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to tremble violently.

"What kind of time is this to be engaging in such verbal sparring!"

"Haven't you had enough of arguing after all these years?!"

This angry shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing the crowd.

Jia Ren's icy gaze pierced directly at General Wang:

"General Wang, as a veteran, do I really need to teach you the meaning of 'strict military discipline'?"

"This will be noted for now, but if there is another offense, you will be executed without mercy! Return to your posts!"

General Wang felt a chill run down his spine at that glance, and swallowed back the whole tirade he had prepared.

He glared at Commander Xu with hatred, then walked to the last seat and sat down in a huff.

But the moment his bottom touched the chair, he heard Lieutenant General Li's death knell-like whisper in his ear:

"The Xiongnu have mobilized 100,000 troops and 20,000 archers, and have already reached a hundred li outside the pass..."

"What?!"

General Wang sprang up from his chair like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his old face turning deathly pale, and his voice becoming shrill and distorted:

"Is...is this news true?!"

"Lieutenant General Li, do you know what the crime of falsely reporting military intelligence is?"

"That could cost you your head!"

He stared intently at Lieutenant General Li, trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on the other's face, but all he saw was solemnity and deathly pallor.

"sit down!"

Jia Ren shouted sternly, the deep lines between his brows so pronounced they could trap a fly, "If you dare to undermine morale again, drag me out of the camp and behead me!"

"General...General, I..."

Wang Canjiang trembled all over, as if all his strength had been drained, and slumped back down, his lips trembling, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

Seeing his elderly subordinate, over sixty years old, pale with fright, Jia Ren felt a pang of pity, but mostly a deep sense of sorrow.

If his children and grandchildren were successful, he should be enjoying his retirement at this age, instead of having to live in constant fear and risk his life to make a living.

"General Wang, calm down."

Jia Ren sighed, his tone softening slightly, but still maintaining his authority.

"Now that everyone is here, let's discuss it."

"We can't count on the imperial court. In the end, we 30,000 brothers and every blade of grass and tree at Yanmen Pass must be defended by ourselves."

He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sharp and piercing:

"Tell me your thoughts: should we fight or defend? How should we fight, and how should we defend?"

A suffocating silence fell over the hall once again.

After a long while, the one-armed strongman, General Xu, suddenly slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly.

"What's the point of negotiating! General, let's fight!"

His eyes were red, and he brandished his last remaining fist, his voice booming:

"Let's fight these beasts to the death!"

"Killing one is enough to break even, killing two is a bonus!"

"Even if you fill it all in, it'll still break a few of their front teeth!"

"It's better than hiding in your shell and waiting to die!"

Jia Ren closed his eyes and gently shook his head.

spell?

What can we use to put it together?

The Xiongnu were a nomadic people who moved swiftly on horseback, and their armored cavalry, in particular, were the elite of the elite.

The garrison at Yanmen Pass consisted mostly of infantry, and they could only fight by relying on the city walls.

If it were a field battle, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

War is never won with mere passion.

"General Xu, please calm down."

Jia Ren opened his eyes and gestured for him to sit down. "If we could hold out simply by fighting desperately, I would draw my sword and march out of the pass right now. But besides fighting desperately, is there any other better strategy?"

Lieutenant General Xu sat down reluctantly, muttering to himself:

"If this won't work, and that won't work, are we just going to wait here to die?"

At this moment, another military advisor, dressed as a civil official, cautiously asked:

"General, if we don't fight head-on, could we use a feint? Or... abandon the pass and retreat?"

"Foolish!"

Before Jia Ren could speak, Lieutenant General Xu retorted with a string of insults.

"Abandon the pass? Behind us lies Taiyuan, the heart of the Central Plains!"

"If we let these wolves in, how many people will suffer?"

"Have you lost your conscience?"

The soldier was berated mercilessly and shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

Time passed slowly, and the candle flame suddenly burst, casting distorted and menacing shadows of everyone.

Despair washed over everyone like a tidal wave.

In that moment of utter silence, when even breathing seemed heavy, a deep yet penetrating voice suddenly boomed in the center of the hall:

"Generals."

"If you trust me, I have a plan."

"Although it's a risky move, if it succeeds, we can ensure the fall of Yanmen Pass and annihilate the enemy!"

Everyone looked up abruptly and saw that Jia Lang, who had been sitting upright at the head of the left side with his eyes closed as if resting, had stood up at some point.

His figure was as tall as a tower, backlit by the candlelight, his expression hidden in the shadows, except for his eyes, which shone frighteningly bright, like a ferocious beast that had been lurking in the dark for a long time, finally baring its fangs.