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

Inside the Martyrs' Tomb, the sacrificial ceremony slowly came to an end.

Standing on the altar, Jia Jing looked down at the more than 100,000 soldiers and countless civilians below, his face ashen, but he couldn't help but feel a little moved.

He handed the rolled-up yellow silk to Tang Bin, who respectfully accepted it with both hands, then turned and walked to the bronze cauldron on the altar.

Bring it close to the blazing flames, and it burns into a wisp of smoke.

Tang Bin's voice rang out for the last time, solemn and dignified:

"Sending off the spirit..."

The war drums sounded again, faster and more powerful than before, like countless hooves galloping across the grassland.

At the same time, the bugle calls sounded, accompanied by a deep, lingering sob that never ceased to be heard.

Jia Jing took a Han army flag from Zhuque and waved it on the altar, his eyes filled with solemnity.

He shouted:

"With the battle flag as our guide, we beseech the heroic spirits to return home! May their souls return!"

More than 100,000 soldiers stared intently at the battle flag, and shouted in unison:

"May your soul return!"

Boom!

The incense in the bronze cauldron on the altar suddenly rose high, the flames flickering and enveloping the cauldron, as if thousands of heroic spirits were truly returning on the wind.

May our soldiers live in peace!

Facing the monument to the martyrs, Jia Jing bowed again, this time bowing for a long time to the stone tablet engraved with names.

All the soldiers watched him silently, their eyes filled with fervor and emotion.

The general has done so much for them. Fighting alongside such a commander would be worth it even if it meant losing your life!

Countless civil and military officials in the Northwest bowed their heads deeply!

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Duke Jing's sacrificial ceremony today has won over the hearts of the Northwest army!

This is not a ritual for the dead, but a way to win over the living. Who will be able to stop his military orders in the Northwest in the future?

…………

Outside Yulin City.

The military camp of the Northwest Army.

Inside the central command tent.

Several rows of stools were placed on each side of the tent, and a huge map table was placed in the middle.

A cowhide map was laid out on the table, with mountains, rivers, cities, and troop deployments marked on it in vermilion ink.

After presiding over the sacrificial ceremony, Jia Jing met with the families of the martyrs and the wounded soldiers before returning to the military camp in the afternoon.

He had changed into military attire and was sitting on a rosewood chair inlaid with blue lacquer inside the tent.

His gaze was fixed on the region west of Hami in the Hunxie Kingdom on the map, his fingers tapping the general's desk in front of him slowly and deliberately.

Jia Jing was pondering how to fight the upcoming battle against Hunxie in order to most effectively achieve the goal of promoting peace through war.

Now that the Northern Yuan royal court has been destroyed, the various tribes of the grasslands have been pacified, and the reorganization of the northwestern border army has been put on the right track.

If we can win this final battle against Hunxie, we can force Hunxie to agree to the peace terms proposed by the Han Dynasty.

He has basically achieved all his expected goals for this trip to the Northwest, and it's time for him to return home.

As for the puppet Qing regime, he had already ordered Qin Qiong of Liaodong to be the main general, leading tens of thousands of cavalry from Liaodong.

The camera was used to launch an attack on the tens of thousands of troops of the puppet Qing army stationed on the Liaodong border, completely annihilating this puppet Qing force as a deterrent.

With Qin Qiong's martial prowess and military strategy, he doesn't need to worry too much about Liaodong. I believe Qin Qiong will not disappoint him.

Hunxie, on the other hand, needs to personally lead his troops out of Jiayuguan to deliver a head-on blow.

However, Hunye is now intimidated by the Han army's sweeping advance across the grasslands and has deployed heavy troops to defend the border, ready for battle.

From Suzhou to Hami, the road was lined with beacon towers and scouts, making a surprise attack almost impossible!

"The main force of the Hunxie on the border is stationed in the Tianshan Plain area east of Xingxingxia and west of Hami."

"The terrain there is open and suitable for cavalry battles. They are wary that I might launch a surprise attack on their capital city, just like the surprise attack on Wolf Mountain."

"But this time, I will annihilate their main force on the border in open battle, completely shattering their illusions and wishful thinking."

Jia Jing took out a vermilion brush and drew a circle around the Tianshan Mountains on the map.

The Tianshan Mountains stretch across the western region, separating the Junggar Basin from the Tarim Basin.

The core area of ​​the Hunye Khanate was in the Ili River Valley. The Tianshan Mountains were not only a natural barrier to the east, but also its most important granary and lifeline.

Capturing the Tianshan Pass would not only effectively cripple the Hunxie Khanate, but also serve as a strong deterrent to the kingdoms of the Western Regions!

A resolute glint flashed in Jia Jing's eyes; he had already devised a comprehensive plan for the upcoming battle.

Defeating Hunxie in this battle is not difficult, but what he needs to do is minimize his own casualties.

We must also exert maximum pressure on the Hunxie Kingdom and use military action to achieve deeper political objectives.

At his level of status and position, he often considers more than just the outcome of a single battle.

"My lord, we have already infiltrated our own people into the entire army of 200,000 men in the three border regions and four towns of the Northwest."

"These are all absolutely loyal soldiers whom I personally selected from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Ba Shang Camp, and your personal guards."

"Most of them are now serving as mid- to low-ranking military officers in the Northwest Army. With your current prestige in the Northwest Border Army, plus the people we've placed here..."

"It can be said with certainty that we have completely taken control of the 200,000-strong army."

Zhuque entered the tent and softly reported to Jia Jing, her eyes filled with a sense of awe and admiration for him.

The memorial service for the fallen soldiers that Jia Jing presided over today was an eye-opening and deeply moving experience for him.

This one sacrificial ceremony was enough to win over the Northwest Frontier Army completely.

This also deeply impressed the people of Northwest China with Jia Jing's image of cherishing his soldiers, planting the seeds of his skill in battle and love for his troops in their hearts.

He believes,

With Jia Jing's unparalleled military achievements in sweeping across the grasslands and his various acts of care for his soldiers, the people and soldiers of the Northwest recognized and respected him more than anyone else.

Even the laws and decrees of the imperial court are probably no match for a single military order from Jia Jing.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jia Jing has now been ignited in the hearts of the soldiers and civilians in the Northwest, becoming a deity.

Zhuque even believed that even if they didn't place their people in the Northwest Border Army, it wouldn't affect Jia Jing's control over these 200,000 border troops.

Jia Jing listened to Zhu Que's words in silence for a moment, then picked up the teacup on the desk and took a sip.

Then he said calmly:

"Yes! I have already petitioned His Majesty to appoint Zhou Yingyuan as the commander of Yansui Garrison, Feng Tang as the commander of Gansu Garrison, Han Wu as the commander of Ningxia Garrison, and Niu Jizong as the commander of Guyuan Garrison."

"Guyuan Town is located at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. It is the location of the General Administration of the Three Border Regions and is responsible for coordinating the military affairs of the three towns of Yansui, Ningxia and Gansu. It is the military command center of the Northwest."

"After I return to the capital, Niu Jizong will continue to oversee the reorganization and garrisoning of the three border regions and four towns in the Northwest."

Jia Jing's return to the capital is not far off, and before leaving, he must first arrange various military affairs in the Northwest, especially the military power of the 200,000 border troops, which he must firmly control.

He doesn't have the habit of busying himself with other people's projects, but instead makes things easier for them.

Therefore, Jia Jing not only allowed Zhuque to place a large number of his own people in the army, but also selected his trusted confidants as the commanders of the four towns.