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

The council hall inside Yanmen Pass.

The atmosphere here is completely different from the deathly silence outside the pass; it is filled with the frenzied clamor and heat waves of survivors.

Jia Lang sat imposingly on the tiger-skin throne, a symbol of supreme power on the frontier. Looking down at the group of officers below, their faces flushed with excitement as if they had just been injected with chicken blood, Jia Lang felt his head throbbing and his face practically screamed "I have no will to live."

After several days of fierce fighting, even the toughest men would be worn out.

To boost morale, General Jia Ren personally took to the battlefield. Now that the news of the great victory has arrived, the old general's tension suddenly eased, and his old injuries flared up instantly. He collapsed on the bed like a lump of mud, needing help even to turn over, let alone sit here and take charge of the overall situation.

So, after visiting the old general, the group of officers shamelessly and coaxed Jia Lang into taking the main seat.

They even went so far as to say: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary people should be in charge!"

Jia Lang was thus "forced into" this position, half-heartedly and reluctantly.

"Generals, this is my first time sitting in this place, so let's stick to the old ways. Everyone should do their job in the post-battle cleanup, distribution of compensation, and repair of the city walls. Don't let me be the only one who gets exhausted."

Jia Lang rubbed his throbbing temples, waving his hand with a look of splitting headache, his tone full of a strong desire to be a hands-off manager.

"Hahaha..."

The one-armed Commander Xu immediately stood up like an iron tower, pounding his chest with his remaining hand, a rough smile on his face, and loudly teased:

"General Jia, please rest assured, this is a trivial matter, I will take care of it immediately!"

"If you point east, I will never go west! Whoever goes west, I will chop them down!"

"That's right, that's right!"

"Young General, you can rest assured and hold the fort in the central command. Leave the repairs to us; we'll make the city impregnable!"

Lieutenant General Li, standing to the side, also winked and joined in the commotion.

"Young General, your might is unparalleled!"

"Your achievements, General, will be remembered for generations to come!"

For a moment, the entire council chamber was filled with a joyful atmosphere, and the laughter almost lifted the roof off.

The oppression of wartime was too heavy, and now that they have won a great victory, everyone is like a parched land receiving rain. The joy of escaping death is heartfelt.

Moreover, everyone knows perfectly well that Jia Lang turned the tide of the battle and deserves the greatest credit. Once this tremendous achievement is reported to the court, he will undoubtedly receive a substantial reward.

Calling someone "Little General" in advance is not only a way to build rapport, but also a sure-fire political investment.

However, amidst this sea of ​​jubilation, a sinister gaze lurked in a corner, like a lurking venomous snake, fixed intently on Jia Lang, who sat in the main seat.

That was General Wang, his face contorted with jealousy, as if he were about to grind his back teeth to powder.

This man was over forty years old. In the previous battles, he stayed at the back and slacked off the entire time. He was a typical "slacker" general, the first to be greedy for merit and reckless, and the last to charge into battle.

It's easy to imagine that his name wouldn't even be worthy of appearing in the victory report sent to the capital this time; he would only be relegated to a background role in the corner.

"What was Jia Ren thinking, this senile old man?"

"They actually handed the leadership position to some greenhorn!"

Looking at Jia Lang, who was surrounded by everyone like a star, Wang Canjiang felt a surge of bitterness welling up inside him. His face was so gloomy it seemed like someone owed him hundreds of taels of silver.

"I've served in the army for decades, risking my life countless times. Am I really inferior to a mere brat who hasn't even grown his first hair yet?"

"Why should I?!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. His fingernails, hidden in his sleeves, dug deep into his flesh, the stinging pain contorting his face.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps, like raindrops pattering on banana leaves, broke the noise in the hall.

Li Tiedan, clad in heavy armor, strode in, then knelt heavily on one knee, the armor striking the ground with a resounding clang.

"Report! General!"

"A large-scale reinforcement has been discovered outside the pass, bearing the imperial banners, and is rushing towards Yanmen Pass! Judging from those banners, it looks like...it looks like reinforcements from the capital!"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang, who had been lazily leaning back in his chair, instantly sat up straight, his entire body like a fully drawn bow, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Wang Ziteng... has finally arrived?"

Jia Lang's lips curled up slightly, forming a playful yet cold arc.

I knew this old rascal would come to pick the peaches, but I didn't expect him to arrive at just the right time, just in time to watch a good show.

"Generals, don't just stand there! Follow me to greet the court's 'great heroes'!"

Jia Lang suddenly stood up, waved his hand, his battle robe fluttering, full of vigor and heroic spirit!

"Yes, sir!"

The officers' expressions turned solemn, and they responded in unison with a shout that shook the roof tiles, reigniting their murderous aura!

......

At Yanmen Pass, dark clouds loomed over the city, threatening to crush it.

At this moment, the air inside and outside the city gate seemed to freeze, making it suffocating.

Jia Lang stood with his hands behind his back, like a javelin thrust into the city wall, his iron armor gleaming behind him, exuding a chilling aura of killing intent, like a god of war.

He lifted the incredibly heavy iron hammer with one hand, its head gleaming coldly in the pale sunlight. He stood at the forefront of the battlement, his hawk-like eyes piercing through the swirling sandstorm, fixed on the long, rolling black dragon on the distant horizon.

"According to the rules, the warrant must be verified first!"

Without turning his head, Jia Lang glanced sideways at Li Tiedan beside him, giving him a cold look. His voice was deep but carried an undeniable iron-blooded authority.

Li Tiedan understood immediately. His inner energy surged, his muscles tensed like iron, and he roared in a thunderous voice:

"Listen up below the city walls! Regardless of your unit, immediately present your warrant for inspection! Otherwise, arrows will have no eyes!"

Although the army below the city was flying the Great Qianlong Banner, in this borderland where the wind howled and every bush seemed like an enemy soldier, any moment of carelessness could lead to the loss of the gates or even the annihilation of the entire army.

Before their identities are known, even if the Heavenly King himself came, he would still have to speak with his sword drawn!

After all, one wrong step can lead to an abyss of no return, and there is no room for taking things lightly.

A moment later, a lone rider emerged from the enemy ranks and headed straight for the city gate.

Upon reaching the city wall, the soldier reined in his horse, whipped it, and leaped down with fluid, effortless movements. He then respectfully handed a sealed order sealed with wax to the scout, who was already waiting with his weapon at the ready and full of vigilance.

The scout grabbed the warrant, his vigilance undiminished. He quickly exchanged a glance with his comrade beside him, who nodded in tacit agreement. With the creaking of the winch turning, the heavy iron gate slammed shut with a roar, leaving only a crack.

The sentry dared not be negligent in the slightest. Holding the warrant, he ran all the way up to the city wall, panting heavily, and knelt on one knee in front of Jia Lang, presenting it with both hands.

Jia Lang snatched the warrant, his eyes flashing as he quickly scanned the paper. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if weighing the pros and cons, before he tossed it to Lieutenant General Li beside him and said in a deep voice:

"General Li, keep a close eye on things. Don't let anyone take advantage of this. We've seen plenty of cases of forged documents!"

Li Can received it steadily with both hands, his expression solemn. He carefully stroked the seal script and vermilion seal with his fingertips, not missing even the slightest wrinkle, as if he were appraising a rare treasure.

After a short while, he let out a long sigh, his tense shoulders relaxed, and he returned the warrant, clasping his hands in a fist salute:

"General, the seal is correct; it is indeed a joint order issued by the Ministry of War and the Cabinet."

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang's tightly clenched lips finally curved into a slight smile, his cold and hard face instantly becoming more lively, yet still exuding a chilling aura:

"Alright! Since we're on the same side, open the door!"

"Come with me, let's go down and meet these esteemed guests from the capital. Let's see if they've come to offer help in times of need, or to add to someone's already good fortune!"

Before he finished speaking, Jia Lang strode down the city wall, his boots making a dull thud on the blue bricks.