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

"Ha, a mere child, all he does is talk the talk."

General Wang finally recovered. Hearing General Li's analysis, the fear in his heart was replaced by schadenfreude. He muttered something under his breath, not daring to speak loudly, but enough for the people around him to hear.

Jia Ren also frowned, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest:

"Lang-ge'er, what Lieutenant General Li said is indeed a wise and experienced approach to governing the country."

"This plan... is too risky."

Faced with everyone's doubts, Jia Lang smiled.

"risk?"

Jia Lang looked around, his voice suddenly rising eight octaves.

"You all only see the risks, but you fail to see the arrogance of the Xiongnu!"

"They thought we were lambs to the slaughter, that we only dared to defend the city!"

"Then we'll take advantage of their arrogance!"

Jia Lang stepped forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and raised them with a voice like the clash of metal and stone:

"My lord! I need no large army, just two thousand men!"

"Two thousand elite troops, without torches or cooking stoves, all dressed in Hun clothing, with gags in their mouths and bells removed from their horses, disguised as Hunnic cavalry!"

"I am willing to sign a pledge!"

"Once we get close to the grain convoy, we don't need to charge them head-on. We can just set fire to the area and the grain will surely be destroyed."

"Once we succeed, we'll scatter and break through immediately. Even if only a hundred men return, it'll be a worthwhile deal!"

"Once the supply lines are cut off, the Xiongnu will surely fall into chaos!"

"When the time comes, General, you only need to plant a flag on the city wall as a show of force, and I, Jia Lang, will be the vanguard, leading the army out of the city to charge!"

"We will surely wipe out those 100,000 barbarians, leaving not a single one alive!"

These words were spoken with murderous intent and boundless pride!

The entire council chamber fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

A pledge!

These three words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, or a heavy hammer striking a drum, carrying a chilling aura. They echoed wildly in the spacious council hall, slamming into the hearts of every officer and making their hearts pound.

Leaving aside the specific movements of the barbarian supplies, which are shrouded in mist, our scouts have yet to send back any definite news, leaving us completely in the dark.

The elite Xiongnu cavalry escorting the supplies were formidable in combat and incredibly mobile, making them a force of tigers and wolves. Their strength could not be easily shaken by a mere two thousand infantrymen.

However, in a flash, thoughts raced through everyone's minds.

Everyone had already witnessed and firmly believed in Jia Lang's unpredictable and terrifying martial arts skills.

Moreover, this operation was not a futile attempt to directly confront the Xiongnu army, but rather a surprise attack like a sharp blade piercing the heart.

If the timing is right, burning the enemy's vital supplies in one fell swoop can instantly turn the tide and potentially lead to a dramatic reversal of the situation.

All the generals present were seasoned veterans of the battlefield. As they carefully examined the map with their fingertips and repeatedly deduced the plan, they were all amazed to realize that although it was as dangerous as walking a tightrope, once it succeeded, it would turn the tide and truly lift the siege of Yanmen Pass from which there was certain death.

But fortune and wealth are found in danger, and misfortune and fortune are intertwined. If one makes a mistake in military operations, there will be no way out, and the consequences will be so terrible that they are unimaginable.

"General Jia, this humble general believes this plan is far too risky. What if..."

A military officer, his brow furrowed and face grim, slowly rose, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Jia Lang, and spoke with a heavy, solemn tone.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang slowly turned his head.

"adventure?"

Jia Lang raised his eyebrows slightly, his face remaining calm and expressionless.

"When two armies clash, how can they break the deadlock without taking risky moves?"

"Only by combining the orthodox and the unorthodox can we reap such tremendous rewards!"

"Moreover..." Jia Lang paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, before continuing:

"If this succeeds, the Xiongnu will run out of food, and their 100,000-strong army will wither like a tree without roots or water without a source, leaving them with no choice but to retreat!"

"In this way, the immediate crisis at Yanmen Pass will be resolved, and this is a solution that will last forever!"

Jia Lang looked intently at everyone and slowly laid out his plan.

"General Jia, this humble general still believes this plan is utterly inappropriate!"

Just then, General Xu, who was as burly as an iron tower, suddenly stood up again.

"Generals, Commander-in-Chief!"

"Just as General Jia said, if we succeed, those 100,000 Xiongnu will run out of food and won't waste their lives here; they'll definitely pack up and leave!"

"but!"

Before he finished speaking, the expression on General Xu's weathered face changed drastically, becoming more solemn than ever before, even trembling slightly.

"What if it doesn't work out?"

"Wouldn't we have lost two thousand elite troops for nothing?"

"And we also need to involve General Jia, a fierce general capable of defeating ten thousand men?"

"The cost is too high, too high for us to afford to lose!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly opened his eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, and nodded silently, his knuckles lightly tapping the armrest.

As General Xu said, this is a high-stakes gamble.

To lose would mean losing two thousand lives and a future military genius.

Losing two thousand soldiers is still within acceptable limits; how can there be no death on the battlefield?

But if Jia Lang were to be lost, it would be more painful than tearing out his heart; the loss would be too devastating.

"General Xu is quite right, Lang-ge'er. While your plan has its merits, the risks are far too great; it's practically gambling with your life. You must be extremely cautious!"

Jia Ren raised his head and looked up at Jia Lang, who was nearly two meters tall. His eyes were full of pity. He shook his head and comforted him, then turned to look at the crowd below.

"Stop keeping quiet, everyone. Besides Vice General Jia's risky move of recruiting troops, do any of you have other good strategies to defeat the enemy?"

Upon receiving this order, the previously deathly silent hall instantly erupted into chaos, like a bustling marketplace.

Some people, with red eyes, roared that they wanted to open the city gates for a decisive battle, to fight the Xiongnu to the death.

Some advocated for a desperate defense, relying on the natural barrier of Yanmen Pass and firmly believing that even if the 100,000 Xiongnu tried to break through, they wouldn't be able to take down this tough nut.

For a time, a great deal of noise arose, with many different opinions and no one able to convince anyone else.

"Alright! Shut the hell up, all of you!"

Listening to the chaotic arguing below, which sounded like flies buzzing around, Jia Ren felt his temples throbbing and his brain about to explode.

If this barbarian invasion is as minor as in previous years, the suggestions of these adjutants are indeed sound, since that's how they've always gotten by.

But times have changed. The Xiongnu have gathered a full 100,000 troops, including 20,000 strong and capable archers!

Although cavalry are not good at attacking cities, their mobility is unparalleled!

Twenty thousand cavalry!

If these wolf cubs don't attack the city, but instead harass it by circling the city walls, attacking the east gate today and disturbing the west gate tomorrow, and repeating this strategy of exhausting the troops, even if Yanmen Pass is an impregnable fortress, it will surely fall after a long defense!

"Lang-ge'er, how confident are you in the success of your plan?"

Jia Ren took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Jia Lang, and asked in a deep voice.

This question seemed to press the pause button; everyone in the room held their breath, and their eyes were fixed on Jia Lang like spotlights.

"Eighty percent!"

Jia Lang parted his lips slightly and uttered two words.

He actually wanted to say 100%, but to avoid scaring the old man, he humbly said 80%.

Of course, the source of this arrogance and self-confidence is his world-destroying divine power. With this as his reliance, he can kill gods and Buddhas if they stand in his way. Who can stop him?