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

Meanwhile, in the inner bedroom of the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, the atmosphere was so oppressive it seemed to freeze. The air was filled with a nauseating, strong medicinal smell, mixed with the lingering stench of blood.

After bidding farewell to the old fox Prince Teng, Jia Lang didn't even have time to change out of his blood-stained battle robe before heading straight through the corridor to visit Jia Ren, who was recuperating from his injuries.

Wang Ziteng had to inform the veteran general immediately about the "nail" tactic of leaving Wang Canjiang at Yanmen Pass so that he could prepare in advance.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a bitter medicinal smell assaulted my nostrils.

On the bed, the once mighty Marquis Jia Ren, who once commanded respect on the border, now had a face as pale as paper and breathless. His once robust body seemed to have been drained of its energy, and he lay limply in the brocade quilt.

The old doctor beside him was hunched over, his hands moving like sieves as he carefully unwrapped the bandages around Jia Ren's waist.

As the gauze was peeled away layer by layer, the deep wound that exposed bone was revealed to the air, and the tattered flesh was horrifying.

The old doctor bandaged the wound while advising:

"My lord! I beg you, please don't get angry anymore, and please don't get out of bed!"

"The wound reopened this time, but thankfully the bleeding was stopped in time. If it happened again, even a miracle wouldn't have saved it!"

"You are the commander-in-chief of the three armies. If your health collapses, who will take charge of Yanmen Pass?"

"Get out of here! Stop spreading these alarmist rumors!"

Jia Ren impatiently pushed the doctor's hand away, his forehead covered in cold sweat from the pain, but he gritted his teeth and sat up.

"Back in the day, I was hit by three arrows and still managed to chase the Xiongnu for thirty miles. This little injury is nothing!"

"Alright, go down and collect your reward. Don't get in the way!"

The physician was helpless and was about to persuade him again, but was forced back by Jia Ren's murderous gaze. He could only look to Jia Lang, who had just entered the room, for help.

Jia Lang nodded slightly and gave him a reassuring look. The physician, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, scrambled out of the room.

As soon as the door closed, Jia Ren's last breath escaped, and he swayed as if about to collapse.

With lightning speed, Jia Lang stepped forward and used his iron-like arms to firmly support Jia Ren's back, stuffing several soft pillows behind his waist.

"Uncle, that old fox Wang Ziteng is gone?"

Jia Ren leaned against the headboard, panting as he asked, his voice hoarse like sandpaper.

Jia Lang pulled up a chair and sat down, sneering:

"Leave? Not yet."

"But it will be soon. He took me to receive the 50,000-strong Beijing garrison, and then went to whisper with General Wang. I guess they were exchanging instructions. They're probably still saying goodbye at the city gate right now."

At this point, a hint of disdain and coldness flashed in Jia Lang's eyes:

"That old bastard wants to keep General Wang here as a spies, doesn't he even know who Yanmen Pass belongs to now?"

"Such petty tricks might fool sheltered young ladies; he's still too green to try and outsmart me!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ren let out a heavy, cold snort, the pain from his wound causing him to gasp for breath, but he forced himself to curse:

"Hmph! That old cunning turtle, Wang Ziteng, I knew he was up to no good!"

"You came all that time for empty pleasantries, only to find out you were trying to probe my background!"

"If I hadn't been so badly injured, he probably would have run away with his tail between his legs long ago. Why would he leave behind 50,000 elite troops?"

"By keeping General Wang here, they're trying to gain a foothold at Yanmen Pass and grab a share of the spoils!"

A haughty smile curved Jia Lang's lips as he lightly tapped his fingers on the table.

"Don't worry, Uncle. If he wants to pave the road, he'll have to see if I'll let him."

"That Lieutenant General Wang is nothing but a good-for-nothing. Does he think I'm young and easy to bully, and that he can take advantage of me?"

"Hmph, I'll make sure he doesn't even know how he died!"

"Once I completely annihilate this army of 50,000, I'll make sure Prince Teng suffers the consequences of his scheme, losing both his wife and his army!"

Seeing Jia Lang's confident and spirited demeanor, Jia Ren felt a great weight lifted from his heart. He reached out his calloused hand and patted Jia Lang's shoulder heavily, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"Good lad! You've got guts!"

"You are a born warrior. Yanmen Pass will belong to you young people from now on."

"If that Lieutenant General Wang doesn't know what's good for him, then go ahead and do it. Even if the sky falls, your uncle will hold it up for you!"

"Don't worry, Uncle, a clown like him can't cause any big trouble."

Jia Lang felt a warmth in his heart as he felt the pressure on his shoulder. Then his gaze fell on the blood-soaked gauze on Jia Ren's chest, and he frowned. "But Uncle, you have to listen to what the doctor said earlier."

"You must rest and recuperate these next few days. Do not get angry or violent. If you develop a chronic illness, you will suffer on rainy days in the future."

Looking at Jia Lang's youthful face, which was filled with concern and determination, Jia Ren was filled with emotion.

Once upon a time, this child was just a naive little rascal who would ramble on and wrestle with soldiers; now he's a capable military leader. The price of this growth is too high, and it's heartbreaking.

"Haha, it's alright! Go ahead!"

Despite the pain, Jia Ren forced a hearty smile and waved his hand.

"Go and show those pampered soldiers from the capital what real frontier men are like!"

"What truly defines a ruthless character who kicks the Xiongnu Chanyu's head around like a football!"

After bidding farewell to Jia Ren, Jia Lang stepped out of the mansion. The night wind, carrying the unique sand and gravel of the border region, swept against his face, calming his feverish mind somewhat.

At this time, the Xiongnu had just suffered a defeat and were unable to launch a counterattack in a short period of time, making it a good time to reorganize their internal affairs.

As for the 50,000 "gentlemen" left behind by Wang Ziteng, a cold glint flashed in Jia Lang's eyes. He could deal with them tomorrow. With that fool, General Wang, around, it would be a good opportunity to make an example of them.

Upon returning to his temporary general's residence, he heard a commotion coming from inside before even entering.

Li Tiedan led a group of wounded guards to greet them, each one filled with righteous indignation, their faces etched with grievance.

"General! You're finally back!"

Li Tiedan slammed his waist knife onto the table with a loud bang, causing tea to splash everywhere.

"That Lieutenant General surnamed Wang is a complete scoundrel!"

"While you and the General were away, he actually arbitrarily assembled a large army and announced in front of everyone on the drill ground that the defense of Yanmen Pass would be 'jointly' guarded by him and you!"

"Isn't this clearly a move to decentralize power?"

"Exactly! Those spineless cowards from the Beijing Garrison, they all look down on us like we're beggars!"

"The brothers were so angry they wanted to argue, and it almost turned into a fight!"

Another guard was also flushed, with the veins on his neck bulging like earthworms.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lang's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and he exuded a chilling aura of murderous intent.

"What a fine 'joint defense'! This Wang Lieutenant General is quick on his feet; I barely left and he's already itching to become the retired emperor?"

"Do they really think they can boss people around at Yanmen Pass just because they have 50,000 men?"

Jia Lang sneered inwardly. This Wang Canjiang was a typical petty person who had gained power and thought he could suppress him by relying on Wang Ziteng's influence.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated!

This is Yanmen Pass, a battlefield built with blood and bones, not the gentle haven of the capital where you can get by with just words and connections!

"Pass down the order!"

Jia Lang's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "Tell the brothers to go back and rest. Save your energy for tomorrow! Conserve your strength!"

"Tell those gentlemen from the Beijing Garrison to assemble at the drill ground tomorrow morning!"

"I will personally teach them what 'military regulations' and 'battlefield' mean!"

"Let them see how we defeated 100,000 Xiongnu cavalry with only 10,000 remnants!"

"Yes! General, you are mighty!"

A fanatical flame instantly ignited in the eyes of Li Tiedan and the others, and they roared in unison.

After seeing everyone off, Jia Lang sat alone at the stone table in the courtyard, facing a solitary lamp, lost in thought.

Now that he has obtained the title of First-Class Champion Earl, he seems to be enjoying boundless glory, but in reality, he is walking on thin ice.

To advance further and achieve high office, an even greater victory than this is needed.

But the Xiongnu were not fools. Having suffered such a great loss, they would surely retaliate with overwhelming force next time.

Moreover, Yanmen Pass is now like a broken sieve.

The original garrison was reduced to only about 10,000 men, all wounded and barely clinging to life.

The newly arrived 50,000-strong capital garrison was, to put it bluntly, a bunch of "pampered soldiers" who had never seen blood. They were fine with bullying ordinary people, but asking them to fight the Xiongnu to the death? That was as difficult as climbing to the heavens!

Unless... you can turn these 50,000 sheep into 50,000 hungry wolves!

Jia Lang unconsciously drew circles on the stone table with his fingers, his mind racing with calculations.

I cannot return to Beijing yet.

The vortex in the capital was more dangerous than the Xiongnu royal court.

The power struggle between the retired emperor and Emperor Qianyuan was like two mountains pressing down on his head. In the eyes of those shrewd and calculating politicians, his military achievements were probably just a slightly larger ant.

Once you get caught up in the struggle for imperial power, you won't even know how you died.

Therefore, we must stay at the border!

Only here, far from the emperor's reach, can one truly be the local tyrant!

Only here, with a knife in hand, do you have the right to negotiate with those powerful and wealthy people!

The plan gradually became clear in Jia Lang's mind:

First, rectify military discipline!

Whether it's the Beijing garrison or the border troops, if they don't submit, beat them until they do!

Those who are cowardly, behead them!

Only iron discipline can forge an iron army.

Second, make new contributions!

Although the Xiongnu retreated, the grassland tribes were numerous, and there were always those who dared to challenge them.

We must take the initiative and accumulate small victories into a major triumph, piling up titles until the emperor has nowhere left to bestow titles upon!

Third, cultivate trusted confidants!

Although Li Tiedan and his ilk are loyal, there are still too few of them. We need more ruthless characters like myself.

Fourth, return to Beijing for liquidation!

Those relatives of the Jia family who profit from human suffering are all parasites who drag me down. When I return to the capital with a large army, it will be their death day!

Thinking of this, Jia Lang found a brazier, threw the note filled with his plan into it, and watched it turn to ashes.

"General Wang... I hope you'll be sensible tomorrow."

Jia Lang watched the leaping flames, a cruel smile curling at the corner of his lips. "If you don't know what's good for you, this training ground will be your burial ground!!"

Having dealt with his worries, Jia Lang stood up, took off his shirt, revealing muscles as if cast from refined iron.

In ancient times, without mobile phones or computers and with limited entertainment, physical training was the only pastime and the fundamental way to survive.

After doing hundreds of push-ups and a set of hammer techniques, I felt all hot and sweaty.

Jia Lang put away the heavy hammer, wiped his sweat, and looked up at the bright moon overhead. Suddenly, scenes from the time-travel novels he had read in his previous life flashed through his mind.

Awake, I wield power over the world; drunk, I rest my head on the lap of a beautiful woman!

"I wonder how the ladies of noble families in ancient times compare to modern internet celebrities..."

Jia Lang suddenly chuckled and touched his nose.

"It's my own tactlessness that's lacking; how can we compare..."

"But now that I'm here, I'm determined to enjoy this blessing of having three wives and four concubines!"

"After this battle, when we return to the capital, we must pick out a few of the most beautiful girls..."

The night wind blew, scattering the young general's silly laughter into the sandstorms of the border, but it could not extinguish the burning ambition in his eyes.

Tomorrow's training ground will surely be a fierce battle!