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

"If there's no precedent, why not set one?!"

A burly military general, his eyes blazing with anger, retorted directly. He then strode forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and addressed Emperor Qian Yuan in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty! In my humble opinion, Jia Lang's achievements are unprecedented! To not bestow a title upon him would not be enough to appease the army's morale, nor would it be enough to appease the world!"

"If the hearts of the soldiers on the frontier are chilled, if they feel that even risking their lives won't earn them a title, who will be willing to serve the court? Who will be willing to shield the emperor from arrows and swords?!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly nodded.

In his heart, Jia Lang was not only a talented general, but also a peerless weapon bestowed upon him by heaven to break the deadlock in the court and regain military power!

Emperor Qianyuan already knew about Jia Lang's title; this was merely a formality to see how his ministers would react.

"Your Majesty, General Wan's words are far too alarmist!"

Seeing that Emperor Qianyuan seemed interested, the civil official became anxious and quickly spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of aggressiveness:

"As citizens of the Great Qian Dynasty, we receive the emperor's bounty, bear his burdens, and it is our duty to sacrifice ourselves for the country!"

"How come, according to General Wan, if that young general isn't granted a marquisate, the soldiers of the land will practically rebel? What kind of logic is that!"

"How dare you!"

The moment Emperor Qianyuan heard the word "rebellion," his eyes flashed with a cold light, and he slammed his fist on the dragon table!

"Bang!"

The loud noise made the brush washer jump up, and ink splattered everywhere.

"You are trying to sow discord between the emperor and his subjects, and undermine the foundation of our Great Qian Dynasty!"

Emperor Qianyuan abruptly stood up, his dragon robe sleeves billowing out, and pointed at the civil official, shouting sternly in a voice as thunderous as thunder:

"Guards! Drag this treacherous minister, who dares to criticize state affairs and plot rebellion, away and execute him!"

This outburst was like a bolt from the blue, completely stunning all the officials in the court!

Upon seeing this, all the civil and military officials were terrified, and they all knelt down in unison, banging their foreheads heavily against the gold bricks, shouting in unison:

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!"

The civil official instantly turned ashen-faced, his body went limp like mud, and he desperately kowtowed, begging for mercy, his voice as mournful as a night owl:

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! I know I was wrong! I was confused for a moment! I deserve to die!"

"Take him away! Execute him immediately! Anyone who pleads for mercy will be punished as well!"

Emperor Qianyuan's face was ashen, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at a dead man, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty..."

The sounds faded into the distance until a dull thud of a blade piercing flesh and a final, piercing scream tore through the air before abruptly ceasing.

The main hall was deathly silent.

Only the still-wet ink dripped down the dragon-shaped desk onto the gold bricks, making a heart-stopping "drip-drip" sound.

"snort!"

Emperor Qianyuan's gaze was like a knife as he coldly swept over the trembling officials below. He let out a heavy snort before slowly sitting back on his dragon throne.

The oppressive killing intent made everyone's backs soaked with cold sweat.

"My beloved ministers, let us continue our discussion."

"How should we reward those who fought this battle?"

A moment later, Emperor Qianyuan's indifferent voice rang out again, as if he had just killed not a court official, but a chicken.

However, having learned from past mistakes, which of the officials dared to speak first?

The civil officials lowered their heads even further, wishing they could disappear into the ground, afraid of meeting the emperor's gaze.

The military officers straightened their backs, and although they dared not speak, their eyes revealed an undisguised sense of pride and satisfaction as they glanced sideways at the group of civil officials who were usually high and mighty.

The hall remained silent for a full quarter of an hour; you could hear a pin drop.

Seeing no one respond, Emperor Qian Yuan half-closed his eyes, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the armrest, seemingly pondering some chilling plan.

"Let's put Jia Lang's matter aside for now."

"Let's talk about the rewards bestowed upon Jia Ren, the general of Yanmen Pass."

After a few breaths, Emperor Qian Yuan finally broke the silence and slowly spoke.

Seeing that Emperor Qianyuan seemed to have taken a step back, the civil officials breathed a sigh of relief in unison. Many of them secretly wiped non-existent cold sweat from their foreheads with their sleeves. Then, a murmur of discussion arose as faint as mosquitoes.

"Minister Yang, you are both the Minister of Personnel and the Grand Secretary. Tell me how to best appoint someone in this matter."

Seeing that no one volunteered, Emperor Qianyuan directly named people.

As soon as he finished speaking, the head of the civil officials, an elderly man with gray hair and a meticulously trimmed beard, stepped forward shakily.

This person was none other than Yang Chenyu, the Minister of Personnel and the Grand Secretary.

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that although General Jia Ren was not as brave as that young General Jia in the Battle of Yanmen Pass, he was in charge of the central command and made good arrangements. He defended the isolated city for more than ten days. His contribution should not be underestimated."

Ke Zheng took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. After a moment of contemplation, he respectfully bowed to Emperor Qian Yuan in response:

"This old minister dares to suggest that General Jia Ren be granted the title of 'Loyal and Resolute Earl' with a fief of one thousand households, in recognition of his meritorious service in steadfast defense."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan's expression softened slightly, and he nodded in agreement.

He knew Jia Ren's situation well. He was an honest man who had worked on the border for more than ten years. Even if he hadn't made any great contributions, he had certainly put in a lot of hard work. It was reasonable for him to be granted the title of Earl.

"Can."

Emperor Qian Yuan uttered a single word crisply and decisively.

"The other generals of Yanmen Pass who made contributions in defending the city should also be rewarded."

"Now that Minister Yang is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, are there any specific regulations in place?"

"Your Majesty, the soldiers who defended Yanmen Pass should be rewarded with gold and silver; officers of the rank of lieutenant general and above should be promoted one rank or given a noble title, depending on their merits in battle, to recognize their heroic deeds."

Grand Secretary Yang Chenyu had clearly prepared his remarks in advance, and his words were watertight, giving face to the military generals without undermining the court system.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qian Yuan finally nodded in satisfaction.

Although this old fox is cunning, he is indeed thorough in his work.

This reward suited his wishes perfectly, appeasing the border troops without appearing too abrupt.

Emperor Qianyuan had already planned these rewards last night, but in the ways of the emperor, it is said that "the minister drafts the decree, and the emperor approves it with vermilion ink."

If he were to say it directly, it would seem too hasty.

Now that it has been proposed by the Grand Secretary, it is now considered a "result of the court deliberations," which is perfectly legitimate.

"What Minister Yang says is correct. What do you all think?"

Emperor Qianyuan nodded slightly to Ke Zheng, then his gaze swept across the assembled officials with piercing intensity.

"We second that proposal!"

The officials looked at each other.

The civil officials, seeing that it was their leader who proposed it, naturally had no reason to object; the military officials, upon hearing that they could be promoted one rank and granted several titles, although they felt they were far inferior to Jia Lang, were still doing alright, so they didn't make any more trouble.

For a rare moment, all the civil and military officials reached a consensus.

"Very well, since all my ministers have no objections, then the Ministry of Personnel shall draft an edict based on this and issue it with the seal of office."

Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Emperor Qianyuan waved his hand, finalizing the matter. Then, he leaned forward slightly, changed the subject, and his sharp eyes once again locked onto the entire room, his voice suddenly rising eight octaves:

"Next, we should discuss Jia Lang's reward."

boom!

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials felt a chill run down their spines, their nerves instantly tense to the limit.

The main event is coming!

The official's blood hasn't even dried yet. Now, who dares to say a single "no" at this critical juncture?

"Your Majesty, I dare to submit this memorial!"

Zuo Qianren, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, suddenly flicked his sleeves and strode out from the ranks of civil officials. His expression was solemn and iron-like. He stopped three steps in front of the Emperor, then bowed deeply and raised his hands together above his head.

"In the battle of Yanmen Pass, Jia Lang truly appeared as if a divine soldier had descended from the heavens, charging into battle, beheading countless enemies, and establishing unparalleled merit. His bravery and fierce spirit were witnessed by all under heaven!"

"However, this child is only eighteen years old this year and has not yet undergone the coming-of-age ceremony."

"If I were to bestow upon you a high position and noble title today for your merit in this battle, what will Your Majesty do to reward you when you achieve further merit in the future?"

"Does this really mean they're going to carve out a territory and appoint a king?"

"Furthermore, bestowing titles and rewards is a crucial matter for the state. Without long-term planning and with indiscriminate bestowal, it may open the door to opportunism, leading to future imitations by meritorious officials and chaos in the court. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Zuo Qianren spoke extremely quickly, each word a gem, every sentence like a soft knife, directly piercing Emperor Qianyuan's heart ailment.

"What Lord Zuo said is entirely reasonable; this old minister seconds it!"

Another cabinet minister followed closely behind, his tone respectful yet revealing an unquestionable stubbornness.

"Our Great Qian Dynasty has strict ancestral rules. In the hundred years since the founding of the country, there has never been a precedent of a founding hero being granted a title of marquis or prime minister before reaching adulthood."

"Although Jia Lang is brave, he must not break the rules."

"Moreover, the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind. If he were to achieve success at a young age and attain a high position, he might become arrogant and reckless, not knowing when to advance or retreat, which would harm this promising talent. Furthermore, he might become too powerful and difficult to control."

"Your Majesty, matters of bestowing titles and rewards concern the fate of the nation; they must be handled with utmost care!"

"I urge Your Majesty to reconsider—"

"We urge Your Majesty to reconsider your decision and think twice before acting—"

With Zuo Qianren's loud shout, the entire court seemed to have been in cahoots, and a large number of officials knelt down. The sound gathered into a huge wave of noise that reverberated under the dome of the Golden Palace, making people's eardrums hurt, and it had the momentum of forcing the emperor to abdicate.

Emperor Qian Yuan, seated on the dragon throne, heard the uniform shouts of "Think it over!" and his thick eyebrows instantly furrowed into a deep frown, a clear hint of displeasure and hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Last night, he was so caught up in the euphoria of reading the battle report that he didn't really think about the implications.

At this moment, reminded by these cunning and shrewd ministers, his heart sank.

Yes, Jia Lang is only eighteen years old.

An eighteen-year-old marquis?

This is an extremely rare occurrence in history.

If we praise him to the extreme now, what will we have to reward him with when he is twenty or thirty?

Are we really going to give him half of the country?

If the title is given too high now, and he later holds a large army and becomes too powerful, will the emperor still be able to sleep soundly?

Must we really follow the example of the previous dynasty, where once the birds are gone, the bow is put away; once the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked, and this rare talent is nipped in the bud?

But if we don't reward them, we'll chill the hearts of the soldiers on the border, and who will be willing to risk their lives for the Great Qian?

For a moment, Emperor Qian Yuan felt his temples throbbing, caught in a deep dilemma, his fingers unconsciously rubbing heavily on the armrest of the dragon throne.

The civil officials kneeling below, glancing furtively at Emperor Qianyuan's gloomy and unpredictable expression, couldn't help but let a barely perceptible smug smirk creep onto their lips beneath their bowed heads.

They used this tactic of "retreating to advance" with unparalleled skill. Ostensibly, they were trying to relieve the emperor's burdens, but in reality, they were trying to suppress the arrogance of the emerging military generals and maintain the superior status of their civil official group.

As long as Jia Lang's rewards are suppressed, the power to speak in the court will remain firmly in their hands.

However, just as this suppressed silence was about to erupt, the ranks of military officers were already burning with rage!

"Bullshit!"

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted, and a burly, towering general leaped out of the ranks. His face was trembling with menacing features, his eyes wide open like copper bells, his fists clenched, and the veins on his arms bulging like earthworms. He pointed at Zuo Qianren's nose and began to curse:

"That's utter nonsense!"

"Our Great Qian Dynasty was founded on military might. Our founding emperor once said, 'For every soldier of our Great Qian who beheads a enemy, he will be granted a rank of nobility.' This is an ironclad rule inscribed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!"

"The soldiers on the frontier risked their lives and shed their blood in the freezing cold to achieve this great victory!"

"You bunch of pedantic intellectuals who only know how to talk, sitting in your warm chambers in the capital drinking tea, trying to erase the achievements others earned with their lives?"

"I'm asking you, do you have any conscience at all?!"

"If the heroic souls who died at Yanmen Pass knew that the court they risked their lives to protect had produced such a treacherous and jealous official as you, they would crawl out of their graves in the middle of the night to haunt you and claim your life!"

"Zuo Qianren, let me tell you this: from now on, be careful when walking at night, or you might lose your head!"

"snort!"

"Exactly! It's utterly absurd!"

"If we demoralize the army and the borders fall, will you scholars go to war on horseback?!"

Another veteran was so angry that his beard and hair stood on end. He even spat on the ground, disregarding his composure, and the spittle almost landed on the Left Censor-in-Chief's official boots.

"Insolence! How dare you act so wildly in the imperial palace!"

Seeing that the court was about to spiral out of control, Xia Shouzhong, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, hurriedly shouted in a shrill voice, trying to suppress the heated atmosphere.

"snort!"

Although the military officers were forced to shut up, they still glared fiercely at the kneeling civil officials like roosters with bloodshot eyes, breathing heavily from their nostrils, their faces full of resentment and anger.

The Emperor Qian Yuan above took in everything. He closed his eyes, and two voices were clashing fiercely in his mind.

The "ancestral family laws" of civil officials and the "military merit system" of military generals clashed fiercely in his mind.

A moment later, he abruptly opened his eyes, the hesitation in them replaced by an aura of dominance and resolve. He was going to take a gamble, a gamble that Jia Lang was worth defying all opposition for!

"Shut up, all of you!"

Emperor Qianyuan slammed his hand on the armrest of his dragon throne, causing the jade pendant to shake and unleashing his dragon might:

"This is my imperial court, not a marketplace!"

"What kind of behavior is this!"

The entire court fell silent instantly, holding their breath.

Emperor Qianyuan's gaze swept across the entire hall like lightning, then he spoke with golden words, resounding with authority:

"My mind is made up! I hereby bestow upon Jia Lang, the deputy general of Yanmen Pass, the title of First-Class Champion Earl!"

"His fiefdom comprises eight hundred households, and he is bestowed with a purple-gold fish-shaped pouch!"

"Furthermore, he is hereby ordered to return to the capital immediately to report on his duties. As for the remaining rewards and honors, I will personally meet with this young hero after Jia Lang returns to the capital before making a final decision!"

"I want to see just how many heads and arms this great hero, who, before even reaching adulthood, had, who had routed the Xiongnu Chanyu like a stray dog!"

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, causing all the civil and military officials in the court to turn pale!

Champion!

Not just a count, but also a "champion"! This signifies unparalleled bravery in the army, the highest honor a military general dreams of! An eighteen-year-old boy has risen to the top in one step!

Although the civil officials felt as if they had swallowed a fly and wanted to remonstrate again, when they looked up at Emperor Qianyuan's cold and hard face, which seemed to say "Anyone who dares to speak out will be beheaded," they swallowed the words that were on the tip of their tongues.

To run into bad luck at this time is simply courting death.

The Minister of War opened his mouth, about to say whether the title was too heavy, but he was met with a cold and piercing gaze from Emperor Qian Yuan. He was so frightened that he shuddered and quickly shrank back, trembling as he retreated.

As the words "Dismiss the court" were uttered, this imperial edict, which shocked the court and the public, spread like wildfire throughout the capital at an alarming speed, accompanying the dispersing crowds of the morning court session.

In the blink of an eye, the name "Champion Earl Jia Lang" was being sung in every street, alley, teahouse, and tavern.

The mansions of all the prominent families were in an uproar. The gates of the Ning and Rong mansions were bustling with carriages and people discussing the matter. Some marveled at the emergence of a hero from such a young age, praising him as a "reincarnation of a military god."

Some people sensed a different political trend behind this astonishing reward, secretly speculating whether it was a strong counterattack by the emperor against the civil service.

Just as Xia Shouzhong's sharp words "Retreat from Court" were still echoing in the hall, the Red Feather Messenger, who had been forgotten in a corner and was covered in blood, trembled slightly and scrambled to the front of the hall.

"I...I report to Your Majesty!"

The messenger, his voice hoarse, kowtowed and said:

"Before his departure, my lord General Jia Ren instructed his subordinates to earnestly request His Majesty to allow General Jia Lang to remain at Yanmen Pass for several months!"

"General, your old wounds have flared up and new injuries have been inflicted in the battle against the Xiongnu. The physician has determined that you will need to rest for a year and a half to fully recover!"

"Although the remnants of the Xiongnu have retreated, they fear General Jia like a tiger. As long as General Jia's banner remains, the Xiongnu will not dare to cross the line!"

"We beg Your Majesty to have mercy and allow General Jia to guard Yanmen Pass to stabilize the morale of the army!"

"What? Jia Ren is seriously injured? And he needs to recuperate for a year and a half?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qianyuan's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

Jia Ren is a veteran general; if he falls, the northern defense line will indeed be in serious trouble.

"In that case, the border region cannot be without a general for even a day..."

Emperor Qianyuan pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and he had already made up his mind:

"Therefore, Jia Lang will temporarily assume the position of commander-in-chief and remain to guard Yanmen Pass!"

"It's not too late to return to Beijing after their defenses are stabilized."

Having said that, he seemed to feel it wasn't enough. To completely win over the young tiger's heart and to demonstrate the emperor's boundless grace, he added again:

"Issue my decree! I have heard that in the Battle of Yanmen Pass, our Great Qian border army almost exhausted its resources and suffered heavy casualties."

"Order Wang Aiqing, the military governor of the capital garrison, to place the entire army under the unified command of Earl Jia Lang upon the army's arrival!"

"After relinquishing his military power, Minister Wang must immediately return to the capital to report back without fail!"

This imperial decree was truly earth-shattering!

This was not just about granting a noble title, but also about directly giving them military power!

Command of 50,000 troops, just given away like that?

But Emperor Qianyuan had his own plans:

If we're going to use it, we should use it to the end!

Don't use people who are suspicious, don't use people!

Without sufficient troops and real power, Jia Lang would be nothing more than a figurehead earl upon returning to the capital, unable to become a sharp weapon in his hands against the powerful families.

Only by giving him soldiers and power, and allowing him to cultivate a truly formidable army on the frontier, can this pawn survive!

"Yes, Your Majesty! Thank you for your great favor!!"

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

The Red Feather Messenger was so excited that he banged his head on the gold brick floor until blood appeared on his forehead.

With a flick of his dragon robe, Emperor Qianyuan turned and left, bringing this turbulent morning court session to a close.

But everyone knew that with the issuance of the two decrees, "Champion Earl" and "Control of 50,000 troops," the political landscape of the Great Qian Dynasty, and even the entire world, was about to change.