Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

Just as Niu Jizong and Feng Tang were chatting and laughing.

Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong, the garrison commanders of Yulin City, quickly approached Jia Jing's horse, bowed deeply, and said:

"Your humble servants, Zhou Yingyuan, Deputy Commander of Yulin City, and You Shiyong, Colonel, pay their respects to Marquis Jingwu!"

"Thank you, Lord Marquis, for saving our lives and avenging our brothers who died in the Battle of Yulin!"

The two had already learned Jia Jing's exact identity from Niu Jizong and others, and knew that the young general in front of them was the Marquis of Jingwu who was ennobled in a battle last year.

At the same time, we also learned that this marquis, who was skilled in killing generals and seizing flags and was exceptionally brave, was the General Who Conquers the West and the Governor-General of the Three Borders, whom the imperial court had sent to lead the war in the Northwest.

The two men were filled with gratitude and bowed deeply to Jia Jing.

The two men knew in their hearts that if Jia Jing hadn't rushed to their aid day and night, and if Jia Jing hadn't single-handedly charged into the 50,000-strong Northern Yuan army and routed them, this battle would have been a great victory.

They were probably already killed by the Northern Yuan along with countless other people in Yulin.

Jia Jing glanced at the two men. Before coming to the Northwest, he had learned about some military officers in the border towns.

Among them were Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong.

Zhou Yingyuan was initially appointed as the clerk of a county in Liaodong during the Han Dynasty. He was a man of courage, insight, wisdom, and bravery.

In the early years of the Jingsheng era, the puppet Qing army attacked this county under the command and organization of Zhou Yingyuan.

The entire city's military and civilians held firm, united as one, vowing never to surrender, and dealt a heavy blow to the Qing army besieging the city.

After the war, Zhou Yingyuan abandoned his literary pursuits and joined the military, where he repeatedly distinguished himself in battle.

Ji Gong was promoted step by step by Emperor Jingsheng to the rank of Fourth-Rank General of the Righteous Army and Second-Class Earl. At the end of last year, Emperor Jingsheng transferred him to garrison Yulin.

You Shiyong, on the other hand, was a military officer who was known for his bravery. He had followed Nian Gengyao in the battle of Ningyuan and made meritorious contributions in the battle east of the city.

After years of military service, he accumulated merits and was promoted to the rank of Colonel of the Fifth Rank, Second Class Viscount.

In addition, You Shiyong was actually related to Jia Jing by marriage; You Shiyong's cousin was the father of You Shi, the mistress of Ningguo Mansion.

Although the You family's father was dead, and the relationship was somewhat distant, they could still be considered as one of their own.

Jia Jing glanced at the two men's blood-stained robes and numerous wounds, and said in a deep voice:

"I am deeply trusted by His Majesty and appointed as the General Commander of the Three Border Regions and Four Garrisons. Rescuing Yulin is naturally my duty!"

"The Northern Yuan invaded my border town without cause, killing countless of my people and soldiers. I, this lord, am mortal enemies with them, so why should I utter a word of thanks!"

"It is you two and your soldiers who have worked hard in defending the city."

"I have witnessed your valiant fight against the Northern Yuan, your unwavering resolve to fight to the death, and I will certainly petition the court to award you honors!"

At this point, Jia Jing changed the subject and asked:

"However, could you please explain why Yulin City has high walls and thick fortifications, ample food supplies, and why the imperial court has repeatedly issued orders to guard against the Northern Yuan since the end of last year?"

"How could the Northern Yuan have breached the city gates so quickly, almost causing the city to fall?"

Jia Jing asked this question not because he thought Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong had failed in their defense of the city, leading to the critical situation in Yulin City.

Based on what he saw when he arrived: the two men fought bravely and tenaciously against tens of thousands of Northern Yuan troops, and did not seem like incompetent or cowardly people.

Given their unwavering determination to resist and the fact that neither of them was incompetent according to the investigation, how could the Northern Yuan army have breached the city gates so quickly, almost causing the city to fall?

Why is the commander of Yulin Town, Marquis Ji'an, nowhere to be seen?

There must be a reason he doesn't know.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yingyuan's expression turned solemn. He pondered for a moment, but before he could speak...

Yu Shiyong, who was standing to the side, had already angrily raised his voice:

"Your Excellency, it's all that son of a bitch, Marquis Ji'an's fault! He secretly sold off the city's stored grain, and last night he led a group of his personal guards and trusted men to flee the city in a panic."

"We were completely unprepared, which allowed the Northern Yuan to take advantage of the situation and breach the south gate!"

"That bastard almost killed all the people in the city. If it weren't for the Marquis's timely arrival, Yulin would probably be a ghost town by now..."

You Shiyong could not hide his resentment towards Marquis Ji'an.

He has always been outspoken and straightforward, saying whatever comes to mind.

When faced with Jia Jing's question, he spoke frankly and without any regard for the fact that Marquis Ji'an was his superior, and he scolded him mercilessly.

Upon hearing this, Niu Jizong and the others nearby were filled with righteous indignation and joined in the cursing:

"What? Marquis Ji'an abandoned the city and fled? As the commander-in-chief, abandoning the city and fleeing is a capital offense!"

"That wimp..."

"What a cowardly coward!"

Seeing this, Zhou Yingyuan, as if having made up his mind, knelt down again and said:

"My lord! Marquis Ji'an abandoned the city and fled, causing countless innocent soldiers of our Han army to die tragically."

"If it weren't for the Marquis's timely arrival and unparalleled bravery, the people and brothers of Yulin City would have all been killed by him!"

"This humble general does not ask Your Excellency to seek rewards from the court for us, but only that Your Excellency petition the court to severely punish Marquis Ji'an, so as to avenge the soldiers who died under our command!"

You Shiyong also knelt down in the tunnel:

"We beg Your Excellency to uphold justice for us and severely punish this treacherous Marquis of Ji'an!"

The soldiers from Yulin standing nearby also bowed and shouted in unison:

"Please, Your Excellency, grant us justice!"

Jia Jing looked at Zhou Yingyuan and You Shiyong, who were solemnly bowing, and then at the soldiers kneeling all around.

He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly, saying:

"According to the Great Han Law, any general or commander who guards the border and abandons a city or fortress when it is attacked and besieged by bandits, or who fails to establish defenses and is thus ambushed and captured by bandits, shall be beheaded."

"His Majesty has entrusted me with the command of the three border regions and four towns, and has also bestowed upon me the Imperial Sword, allowing me to act as I see fit."

"The Marquis of Ji'an is a coward who abandoned the city and fled. I will not let him get away with this!"

"Rest assured, not only will Marquis Ji'an be punished, but his entire household will also be imprisoned and punished by the court."

According to the "Military Law" clause in the Great Han Code, if a border general fails to defend a city or fortress and abandons it without authorization when the enemy attacks and besieges it.

Anyone who fails to take adequate precautions, resulting in the attack and fall of a city, shall be sentenced to death by beheading.

This regulation explicitly defines the act of "abandoning a city" as a serious military crime. Regardless of whether actual losses are caused, as long as there is an act of abandoning the city, it constitutes a capital offense.

Furthermore, if a general retreats in the face of battle or flees from a besieged enemy city, he will also be subject to execution.

Faced with frequent border crises, the Han Dynasty placed extreme importance on military discipline, and severe punishments became an important means for the court to maintain its defenses.

Of course, the extent to which specific laws can be implemented depends on who controls them.

The Duke of Cao is a good example; his loss of the city and subsequent escape resulted in heavy casualties for the Han Dynasty.

However, thanks to the protection of the retired emperor and the instability of Emperor Jingsheng's power in the previous two years, he escaped death.

However, Marquis Ji'an was not so lucky. Now Emperor Jingsheng had seized power, and the Jingnan faction was like grasshoppers in autumn.

This time, not only will he himself be unable to escape death, but his entire family will also be held accountable.