Dream of the Red Chamber: After being exiled, I went on a killing spree in Liaodong.

Upon hearing the noise, the soldiers guarding the city immediately moved the barricades and opened the passage.

"A great victory??"

Sun Hai's pupils contracted, and his brows furrowed.

How could those incompetent bastards from the Beijing Garrison possibly win?

He suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard twice, left and right.

Only when a burning pain shot through him did he realize—it wasn't a dream!

"This... Niu Jizong actually has such abilities?"

A storm raged within him, and he immediately ordered, "Send scouts! I need to know exactly what happened in Liaodong!"

Jin County, inside the General's Mansion.

Holding a secret letter, Wu Sheng walked slowly and deliberately to Jia Yi.

"Lord."

His voice sounded a little strained.

"What is it?" Jia Yi leaned casually against the table.

"You...take a look for yourself." Wu Sheng handed over the letter, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

While his men were cleaning up the Liaodong General's residence, they discovered letters between the Rongguo Mansion and Xiong Ke.

Jia Yi opened the letter, glanced at it, and slowly smiled, letting out a soft laugh:

"Oh."

No wonder Xiong Ke took such good care of me; it turns out someone was stirring things up behind my back and pushing me into this mess.

The letter was stamped with the general's seal of his cheap father, Jia She, but anyone with eyes could see that the seal of the Rongguo Mansion had long been firmly in the hands of the second branch of the family.

As for Jia She? At most, he might dislike the original owner for being incompetent, but he would never collude with foreign enemies to put him to death.

The answer is self-evident.

"Madam Wang, Madam Wang...we'll settle the score slowly when I return to the capital."

Jia Yi's smile remained, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes, revealing a chilling killing intent.

"Thank you for your hard work." He nodded to Wu Sheng.

"Well... I'll take my leave now." Wu Sheng felt a chill run down his spine and hurriedly retreated—that smile just now was more terrifying than a ghost.

Two days later, the swift horse, traveling at an alarming rate of 800 li, finally rushed into the gates of the capital, kicking up a trail of dust.

Inside the imperial study, Xia Shouzhong practically burst through the door:

"Your Majesty! A great victory! A great victory in Liaodong!!!"

Emperor Yuankang was bent over his desk reviewing memorials, his eyes dark and swollen, having suffered from insomnia and loss of appetite for days. Hearing the sound, he abruptly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light!

"What did you say?"

He snatched the battle report, his eyes scanning its contents, his face turning from white to red, then from red to shocked.

"Is this... real?"

His voice trembled. This record was outrageous! It was like something out of a storybook!

"The one who delivered the message!"

"yes!"

A moment later, Xia Shouzhong helped a soldier covered in the grime of the elements into the hall. The man was still in his armor, his face was covered in blood and mud, and his legs were trembling, but he forced himself to kneel.

"Speak," Emperor Yuankang stared at him, "explain the Liaodong War to me clearly from beginning to end, in detail."

"Yes... Your Majesty."

The soldier took a deep breath and began to speak—

How to launch a night raid on the enemy camp, how to make a 300-mile raid in the snowy night;

How to defeat the main force of the Later Jin with 3,000 exhausted soldiers;

And how could one person, armed with a gun, charge into enemy lines as if they were in an empty field, slaying generals and capturing flags, without sustaining a single injury...

Xia Shouzhong's jaw nearly dislocated from hearing this.

No wonder the Emperor didn't believe it at first! This isn't a war; it's a historical drama! It's like gods descending to earth!

"A peerless warrior..."

Emperor Yuankang murmured, his eyes burning with fervor, "I have actually obtained such a prodigy!"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

A young eunuch hurried in, bowed, and reported:

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus has arrived."

Emperor Yuankang rose to greet him:

"Come, follow me to greet Father Emperor."

Before the words were finished—

"No need."

An aged yet dignified voice pierced through the palace doors, and then the retired emperor slowly entered, followed closely by Dai Quan.

"I heard about the great victory in Liaodong?"

The retired emperor's gaze sharpened. "Could that lousy army led by Niu Jizong really have wiped out the Later Jin's 100,000-strong army?"

He squinted, his tone filled with disbelief.

I came here in person just to confirm with my own ears whether this battle was real or fake.

"You should tell the Emperor Emeritus yourself."

Emperor Yuankang glanced at the messenger whose throat was practically burning, his voice low but unquestionable.

"yes!"

The soldier straightened his back, his throat dry, but he repeated the Liaodong battle report word for word—the three chieftains of Jianzhou were beheaded, thousands of enemies were captured, the loyal and brave camp stained the Blackwater River with blood, and Jia Yi personally killed Nurhaci on the snowy plain!

The hall was as silent as an abyss.

The retired emperor squinted, remaining silent for a long time, his fingertips lightly tapping on the dragon-patterned armrest.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly: "That bastard Jia Daishan... the offspring he left behind are truly ruthless!"

He felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of lingering fear washed over him.

Fortunately, Jia Yi was "not clear-headed," otherwise, with such a killing god sitting in the court, who could suppress him?

"Indeed." Emperor Yuankang continued, his eyes gleaming. "This young man is unparalleled in bravery and courage, truly a pillar of the nation."

He paused, then tentatively asked, "Father, what do you think should be the reward?"

The retired emperor glanced at him and said meaningfully:

"I'm old. You can make these decisions yourself."

—This is a good opportunity to gradually hand over military power.

Otherwise, it remains to be seen whether his son will be able to keep those covetous princes and grandsons in check after he passes away.

Emperor Yuankang understood immediately and proclaimed:

"Jia Yi is hereby granted the title of First-Class Marquis of Loyalty and Valor! He is granted a prime location on Ningrong Street to build a mansion comparable in scale to that of a Duke!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze quietly swept towards the retired emperor.

The retired emperor remained silent, merely nodding slightly before turning and leaving.

But the moment I stepped out of the palace gate, a figure appeared in my mind—

Qin Keqing.

She was the last surviving daughter of the late Crown Prince, possessing unparalleled beauty, and had been raised in the palace without ever being married.

If she could be betrothed to Jia Yi... it would be an excellent marriage alliance.

But then I thought, everyone outside says that kid is mentally unstable and will pull out a knife to kill people at the drop of a hat...

What if we ruin that delicate flower?

That's it.

It's not too late to wait until he returns to the capital, summon him to the palace to see for himself, and then make a decision.

Poor Jia Rong was still laughing in his dream, embracing his future wife, completely unaware that the green light above his head had quietly spread to the sky above the Forbidden City.

"Xia Shouzhong!" Emperor Yuankang suddenly raised his hand, his eyes filled with barely concealed joy.

"Immediately dispatch someone by fast horse to Liaodong to convey my imperial decree—"

"Issuing Jia Yi to lead the Loyal and Brave Camp to return to the capital along with the Beijing Garrison!"

The imperial edict was issued, and a storm was brewing.

Some people applauded and raised their glasses in celebration;

Some people knelt before the coffin, gritting their teeth.

The Ning and Rong mansions were brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, servants ran around delivering messages, and cheers filled the air.

Meanwhile, the families of those nobles who died in battle burned incense and set up memorial tablets, with paper money flying everywhere.

Hatred surged towards Grandmother Jia like a cold tide—

If she hadn't allowed Jia Yi to start a war without permission, her own sons wouldn't have ended up buried beyond the Great Wall.

What can be done about how hateful it is?

Jia Yi is now the court's number one meritorious official, and even the retired emperor personally praised him as "a fierce general like a tiger."

These disgraced families could only swallow their tears of blood.

Since we can't defeat the Jia family, let's take down the hand behind them—Wang Ziteng!

At first, he only wanted the censor to impeach him and disgust him.

Now? No way! He must be ousted from his position as the military governor of the capital garrison!

He used his official hat to pay tribute to the heroic souls of his fallen comrades!

Meanwhile, in the east wing of the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Lian kicked open the study door, his footsteps booming: "Master! Great news has arrived!"

The moment he pushed open the door, the scene before him made him immediately lower his head and close his eyes—

Jia She was disheveled, embracing his newly acquired concubine, the room filled with the scent of spring.

He cursed inwardly: This old bastard, he doesn't even care about being seen in public while indulging in lewdness!

"You scoundrel!" Jia She roared, hastily fastening his belt with the help of his concubine. "If you can't give me a straight answer, I'll skin you alive!"

"Master, the Third Young Master has performed another extraordinary feat!"