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

"So, Jia Lang not only received no support from the Jia family, but was actually a 'rebellious son' who was expelled from the family?"

Emperor Qian Yuan raised an eyebrow, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and asked with half-closed eyes:

Xia Shouzhong quickly added insult to injury:

"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case!"

"According to investigation, when Jia Lang went to Yanmen Pass to join the army, he had spent all his money and could only buy a minor captain's position!"

"snort!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan let out a cold snort, and a chilling aura instantly spread out.

Selling official positions!

Although this was already an unspoken rule in the Great Qian Dynasty court, bringing it up in public still annoyed the emperor.

Xia Shouzhong, standing nearby, trembled with fear and lowered his head even further, terrified of the emperor's wrath. After all, he, the Grand Eunuch, had handled many such matters before.

However, just as Xia Shouzhong thought he was about to be punished, Emperor Qianyuan's expression suddenly brightened, followed by a burst of wild laughter:

"Okay! Okay!"

"This is not good! This is not good at all!"

"Hahaha! Heaven is truly helping me!"

"I should really thank those fools in the Jia family!"

"If they hadn't been so blind as to drive this exceptional talent out of their home, where would I have found such a peerless general!"

"General!"

"This is a great general bestowed upon me by Heaven!"

Emperor Qianyuan suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and his voice booming like a bell, making the hall reverberate.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; having spent decades in the deep palace, Xia Shouzhong understood his master's capricious nature better than anyone. But at this moment, what truly shook his soul was not the emperor's rage, but those resounding words—

"The Great General!"

What did these three words mean in the Great Qian Dynasty?

It means having complete control over the military forces of the realm, and it means having the authority to establish one's own government with the same rank as the Three Excellencies!

This Jia Lang, in one battle, became a god, directly rising from a down-on-his-luck member abandoned by his family to the top, catching the emperor's eye and becoming a future military god!

Xia Shouzhong lowered his head, his heart churning. He knew that the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty was about to change because of this young man named Jia Lang.

.........

The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, the rising sun poured down like molten gold, bathing the majestic Golden Palace in a dazzling golden light.

The entire hall seemed to be cast in pure gold, solemn and majestic to the extreme, exuding a sacred majesty that made people dare not look directly at it, just like an ancient divine mountain suppressing the center of the imperial city.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating, as if even the air itself had frozen. Yet beneath this deathly silence, an irrepressible restlessness and anticipation were subtly surging within.

The civil and military officials, dressed in brocade court robes, stood on both sides according to their rank, as upright as pine trees, holding their breath and waiting for the supreme figure to descend.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

As the thunderous roar of kneeling worship resounded, the sound seemed to overturn the glazed tiles on the roof of the palace.

Emperor Qianyuan sat high on the nine-dragon lacquered throne. Today, he did not have his usual cold face. Instead, a meaningful and gentle smile appeared on his lips.

He gently offered a helping hand, his voice clear and melodious:

"My beloved subjects, rise."

This unusually gentle tone startled the officials who had just stood up. They exchanged glances without making a sound, their hearts filled with doubt.

In the past, during the morning court sessions, Emperor Qianyuan was known for his unpredictable and tyrannical presence. Especially since the Xiongnu had besieged the pass, the sky had been overcast all day, and the oppressive atmosphere that penetrated to the bone made people afraid to even breathe.

But today, the Emperor actually smiled?

And why is he smiling so warmly?

Did the sun rise in the west?

Just as everyone was completely baffled, Yang Chengyu, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet who stood at the head of the civil officials, narrowed his shrewd eyes slightly, and in the glint of his eyes, he seemed to have caught a hint of something unusual.

Emperor Qianyuan, perched high above, took in the subtle expressions of the group of old foxes below, and the smile on his lips deepened.

He leaned forward slightly and spoke slowly, each word seeming to strike a chord in everyone's hearts:

"My beloved ministers, I received a letter of good news yesterday, and I am sharing it with you all today."

"Xia Daban."

Emperor Qianyuan called out softly.

Xia Shouzhong, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward upon hearing the sound, holding the victory report, tinged with the murderous aura of the border, high in both hands, and bowed in response:

"Your servant is here."

"Read it aloud to all my beloved subjects, so that everyone can be happy."

Emperor Qian Yuan gave the order casually, but a hint of mockery lurked in his eyes.

"As you command!"

Xia Shouzhong cleared his throat, then abruptly unfurled the scroll, his sharp yet resonant voice instantly echoing throughout the hall:

"On the ninth day of the ninth month, the Xiongnu amassed 100,000 iron cavalry, pressing down on the city like dark clouds, and stormed the border!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the court changed color.

One hundred thousand Xiongnu?

It really was about Yanmen Pass. Could it be that Prince Teng really got away with it?

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, whispering amongst themselves like flies buzzing in the air.

Xia Shouzhong ignored this, took a deep breath, and suddenly raised his voice, carrying a murderous aura reminiscent of the clash of swords and the thunder of horses:

"On the night of September 14th, under a dark and windy sky, Jia Lang, the deputy general of Yanmen Pass, led a thousand elite soldiers out of the city gates and stormed straight to the heart of the enemy! They set fire to the supplies of the 100,000-strong Xiongnu army! That night, flames soared into the sky, more than a thousand were beheaded, and the heads of Xiongnu leaders were trampled underfoot!"

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding directly within the Golden Palace!

The entire court was instantly in an uproar! Whether it was the miracle of burning down the enemy camps or the bravery of beheading the enemy chieftain, either of these achievements was enough to be recorded in history and praised for centuries!

"Silence! What kind of behavior is this!"

Emperor Qian Yuan frowned slightly, gave a soft shout, and his imperial aura instantly suppressed the entire scene.

Once the hall fell silent again, Xia Shouzhong wiped the sweat from his brow and continued reciting, his pace quickening and his voice becoming increasingly impassioned:

"On September 23rd, the Xiongnu, cut off from their supplies, launched a fierce counterattack, their assault on the pass proceeding with unstoppable force! Our army fought desperately, but the city gates were ultimately breached by battering rams!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's heart leaped into their throats, and they even forgot to breathe.

However, Xia Shouzhong's next words struck everyone like a thunderbolt:

"In this critical moment of life and death, Jia Lang, the deputy general of Yanmen Pass, charged out of the barbican alone on horseback!"

"With a single hand, he lifted the massive gate-slamming chariot! Then, alone, he held the line, resisting immense pressure, and forcefully slammed the two precious gates shut!"

"We have held back 100,000 barbarian cavalry beyond the pass! This battle is a great victory!"

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Immediately following was a commotion as loud as a volcanic eruption!

"Is...is this even human?"

"To lift a battering ram with bare hands? That would require incredible strength!"

"One person closing the city gates? That's something out of mythology!"

Xia Shouzhong had no choice but to stop and look to Emperor Qianyuan for help.

Emperor Qian Yuan, however, seemed to be enjoying the shock, smiling without saying a word.

At this moment, among the ranks of military officers, those veterans who had fought bloody battles on the frontier stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

They knew better than anyone the terrifying weight of the Xiongnu's gate-closing chariot, and even more so how much force it took to close the city gate.

Jia Lang's actions are simply inhuman!

This is unparalleled divine power! This is a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex!