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

Inside the West Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Upon hearing the news of the great victory in the Northwest, Empress Zhou, who was standing beside Emperor Jingsheng, paused for a moment, her beautiful face showing a moment of surprise.

Her voice, softened by surprise, trembled slightly. Her beautiful, sparkling eyes betrayed her astonishment as she exclaimed:

"They won so quickly?"

Are Jia Jing and Jia Zijie really that good at fighting?

It must be said that Jia Jing's swift victory brought a slight shock to Empress Zhou.

"We won! Not only did we win, but we won a great victory. In this battle, we killed the Northern Yuan commander-in-chief, Toghtoa Bukha, captured the Northern Yuan crown prince, and annihilated countless enemies."

"This is one of the few major victories our Great Han has achieved against the Northern Yuan in recent years. Zijie has truly given me a pleasant surprise; I never expected this..."

Emperor Jingsheng's face lit up with excitement, his expression jubilant, as if the pent-up emotions of the past few days had been released all at once.

Only in front of his wife, Empress Zhou, would he reveal his emotions so openly.

Emperor Jingsheng was no less shocked than Empress Zhou, because the good news came so quickly and completely unexpectedly.

It should be noted that at this time, the 20,000 cavalrymen who came to Ba Shang's aid were still on their way to the northwest, and the grain supplies had only left the capital a few days ago. The court was still offering advice and suggestions for peace.

But by this time, the front lines had already achieved victory!

What does "speed is of the essence in war" mean?

What does it mean to have a resounding success?

Emperor Jingsheng even felt that his approach of reducing the expenses of palace staff might be a bit too hasty!

Judging from this trend, it seems like it won't cost much money or grain!

Before the imperial court's funds and provisions could even reach the Northwest, the war there was already over!

This is entirely possible!

With the Northern Yuan suffering such a crushing defeat, the Hunxie and the pseudo-Qing forces were left to fend for themselves. In their panic, it was questionable whether they would dare to continue their invasion of the Han Dynasty.

"It seems there is no need to worry about this battle in the Northwest! After this great defeat, the Northern Yuan will be unable to invade our Great Han again in the short term."

"Once Zijie defeats the combined forces of the pseudo-Qing and the Hunxie, the Northwest will be stable for at least five to ten years!"

"With this five to ten-year buffer period, I only need to focus on strengthening the military, implementing new policies, reforming the bureaucracy, and developing the treasury."

"Why should I worry about not strengthening the nation, resolving internal troubles, and reviving the Han Dynasty! I no longer need to fear having no face to meet my ancestors after death!"

Emperor Jingsheng's gaze momentarily lost focus.

Thinking about how he would truly gain prestige and revitalize the Han Dynasty after this battle, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Having sat on the throne for ten years, this was the first time he felt he had come closest to becoming a restorer of the dynasty.

Even later, when the Han Dynasty's national strength increases and internal troubles are resolved.

He could very well personally lead an expedition against the puppet Qing dynasty, kill Emperor Kangxi in battle, recover the lost territory of Liaodong, and truly achieve a feat no less great than that of Emperor Chengzu!

As for the founding and establishment of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, he dared not hope to be able to match him at this time.

Emperor Jingsheng's ability to envision such a scenario stemmed from the confidence and assurance that Jia Jing's swift victory had given him.

After reading so many memorials today regarding peace talks and the ineffective implementation of the new policies in Jiangnan, the sudden good news from the Northwest is all the more precious, giving Emperor Jingsheng a strong boost of confidence!

Emperor Jingsheng became increasingly convinced that he had chosen the right people this time and was glad that his determination to fight had never wavered.

At the same time, he increasingly looked down on the censors and officials who advised the court to negotiate peace.

This bunch of mediocre people, they've already won the battle on the front lines, and they're still writing letters advising for peace talks!

They're a bunch of good-for-nothings, utterly incompetent!

Xia Shouzhong, who was standing nearby, was also surprised when he heard Emperor Jingsheng say that Jia Jing had defeated more than 50,000 Northern Yuan soldiers with only 2,000 men.

Then, glancing at Emperor Jingsheng's expression and seeing no other unusual reaction besides surprise, he quickly put on a smile as well.

Step forward and offer your congratulations:

"This servant congratulates Your Majesty! Congratulations to our Great Han! This is truly a rare and great victory."

"Since the reign of Emperor Chengzu, there has never been such a great victory against the Northern Yuan. If the news spreads, it will surely be praised throughout the land!"

"From this day forward, Your Majesty's prestige will be greatly enhanced, and there will be no more obstacles to implementing your new policies. Under Your Majesty's wise leadership, our Great Han Dynasty will surely rise again!"

Xia Shouzhong paused after speaking, his expression shifting as he recalled the task Jia Jing had entrusted to him before his departure for the campaign.

He's been busy with the affairs of the Imperial City Guard lately, so he hasn't had time to deal with Yuan Chun's matter yet.

Now that Jia Jing is gaining more and more power, we need to pay even more attention to the things he has entrusted to us. I'll have someone take care of them in a little while!

Yes! Not only should we hold it, but we should hold it beautifully. This is a rare opportunity to deepen our relationship with Marquis Jingwu.

Xia Shouzhong's words were to his liking, striking a chord with Emperor Jingsheng, making his expression even more pleased. He smiled and said:

"You old codger, all you know how to do is say nice things! But you're right this time, after this battle in the Northwest, I have no worries!"

"It's time to free up resources to implement new policies and rectify the Beijing garrison! And there's also that group of lawless officials and gentry in Jiangnan."

"This time, I will thoroughly reform them, uproot them completely, and rid the court of this malignant tumor!"

"In addition, the reorganization of the Ba Shang camp has been quite effective. This time, they were able to defeat more than 50,000 Northern Yuan troops with only 2,000 men."

"While Zijie's bravery in slaying generals and capturing flags is the primary factor, the valor of our Han soldiers is also undeniable!"

"When I inspected the troops at Baling, I noticed that the camp was well-disciplined and capable of great use! After this battle, it is clear that the 100,000 strong soldiers of Baling have been formed."

Emperor Jingsheng was full of confidence. With these 100,000 strong soldiers, what did he have to fear?

Ten years have passed since Jingsheng was established. Time waits for no one, so let's take bigger steps.

Seeing Emperor Jingsheng unusually happy, Empress Zhou couldn't help but extend her slender, jade-like fingers.

He took the paper from Emperor Jingsheng, wanting to see exactly how the report of victory from the front was written.

Emperor Jingsheng did not stop him, but simply folded the paper to cover up the latter part of the article about Shanxi merchants.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Empress Zhou, but the matter was of great importance and involved too many people, so it was better to keep it a secret.

Empress Zhou didn't think much of it; she never really interfered in politics.

If this hadn't happened right in front of her, and she hadn't been so curious, she wouldn't have bothered to read the secret report.

She carefully read through the report of victory on the note, and praised it with a light laugh:

"This Zijie is truly a brave general, with extraordinary courage. He can charge through thousands of troops, slaying generals and capturing flags. He's quite like those unparalleled warriors described in books!"

"Heaven has sent this worthy general to Your Majesty, which shows that it is also intended to help Your Majesty strengthen our great Han Dynasty!"

Emperor Jingsheng's face showed an even greater smile, and he said:

"You haven't met Zijie yet, have you? When he returns to the capital in triumph, I will introduce you to him."

"Zijie is not only a good general, but more importantly, he is extremely loyal to me. I am deeply pleased with him!"

Empress Zhou nodded gently. Jia Jing's rise to power was relatively recent, and she hadn't really seen him closely.

Next time I have the chance, I should bring Biao'er along to meet him.