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

"However, the reason why the Northwest War was won was firstly because the Emperor was wise and decisive, had no intention of compromising or seeking peace, and firmly supported the war effort."

"Secondly, it was due to the soldiers' bravery, the unity of the people, and a bit of luck; it wasn't entirely due to my efforts."

Jia Jing calmly added a sentence, downplaying his own contribution in his words!

Now that he has reached the pinnacle of his power and influence, he no longer needs to boast about his achievements to promote himself!

Upon hearing this, Shi Ding paused, and seeing that Jia Jing's expression seemed genuine, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

Duke Jing is so young yet he already wields immense power in the court, and he remains so humble and cautious. He truly deserves to be called a hero of his generation!

He also met many promising young talents, such as Nian Gengyao.

However, most of these people become arrogant, domineering, and conceited after achieving merit, and very few can maintain their integrity and self-control!

To put it bluntly, even the former Dukes Rong and Ning probably didn't possess the same martial prowess and temperament as Jia Jing today.

Shi Ding's gaze sharpened for a moment, then he spoke with admiration:

"With such military achievements, the Duke remains humble and composed. No wonder His Majesty relies on him as a pillar of the state and calls him a minister who revitalizes the Han Dynasty."

"With a worthy successor, the Rongguo family has found its rightful leader! Our four great families, Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue, will now have a pillar of support!"

Shi Ding's words undoubtedly acknowledged Jia Jing's status as the head of the four major families, while also playing the emotional card of the four families' close ties.

Jia Jing did not reply. He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest. The sound was not loud, but it was particularly clear in the quiet hall.

He slowly shifted his gaze from Shi Ding's face to the map of the nine border regions on the north wall, paused for a moment, pondered for a while, then straightened his expression and said:

"I suspect that Lord Shi's visit is not merely to congratulate me?"

Shi Ding's words, a mixture of praise and regret, had made Jia Jing understand his intentions.

"this……"

Shi Dingrong paused, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

It must be said that, faced with Jia Jing's imposing expression, he surprisingly felt a bit nervous. After composing himself, he decisively stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and carefully chose his words:

"Since the Duke has asked, I will speak frankly!"

"I have come here for two reasons: first, to congratulate the Duke on his investiture as a duke; and second, to seek a position under his command!"

"Now the Duke is the most outstanding military commander in our Han Dynasty, in charge of twelve battalions, and also holds the title of Minister of War. He is in dire need of capable people under his command."

"Although I am not very talented, I served under the former Rongguo in previous years and won several battles."

"Back then, when I was serving as a military officer in Xuanfu Town, three thousand cavalrymen from the Northern Yuan invaded. I led eight hundred men in a night raid on their camp, beheading more than two hundred and rescuing more than a thousand captured civilians. For my merits, I was awarded the title of Second-Class Earl."

"Later, I was transferred to Datong Town. When the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan personally led 30,000 cavalry to invade the south, I defended the city with 8,000 troops for seven days. The palisades outside the city were burned down and the city wall was knocked down in three places."

"I personally drew my sword to block the enemy's mouth, sustaining two wounds, but I did not retreat a single step. In that battle, I killed over ten thousand enemies and forced the enemy army to retreat. After the battle, I was rewarded with the title of Third-Class Marquis of Zhongjing."

"I've fought for over ten years, surviving through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I'm not some mediocre person who lives off the merits of my ancestors."

"Although I am old now, I can still draw a two-stone bow, ride a spirited horse, and wield a sixty-pound iron spear."

"Last month, I rode a horse and shot arrows outside the city. Within a hundred paces, I hit the target seven or eight times out of ten. My back and legs are fine, and I have a good appetite. I can eat three bowls of rice in one meal."

"If the Duke does not believe me, he is free to test me. I do not want any good job; I only ask to be able to lead troops into battle again."

"I have never disgraced the late Rongguo Kingdom before, and if I can serve the Duke now, I will never bring shame upon him!"

Shi Ding loudly presented his resume, and then patted his arm to show that he was in good health.

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing nodded. He knew everything about Shi Ding's affairs and knew that Shi Ding was not talking nonsense.

Shi Ding's title of Marquis was earned through his military achievements. He had served on the battlefield for over a decade, and his merits were genuine. He was one of the few brave and valiant individuals among the founding military heroes.

This is also why Jia Jing intended to use him.

In rectifying the military achievements of the founding fathers, it is necessary not only to promote and punish those who are not good at their duties, but also to know how to appoint the right people to the right positions.

There are indeed quite a few vacant positions in the 12th Regiment Battalion, and they need to fill them with their own people.

Jia Jing's gaze remained calm as he looked at Shi Ding for a moment before speaking unhurriedly:

"Since Lord Shi is willing to serve the country, I naturally welcome him."

"However, the Twelve Battalions are responsible for guarding the capital, and I intend to train them into a truly elite force capable of fighting tough battles."

"In the future, when we are able to fight for the emperor and bring peace to the world, we cannot afford to be careless or negligent in the slightest."

"If you were the commander of a battalion, and you encountered instances of soldiers embezzling funds and exploiting their own troops, how would you handle it?"

"If you were tasked with reorganizing a battalion of soldiers, and found to be full of people with connections and those who got in through back channels, what would you do?"

This is clearly a question posed to examine teachers!

Although Jia Jing intended to employ Shi Ding, he still had to test him.

Firstly, we cannot allow them to obtain their positions too easily, and secondly, we must set standards for selecting future generals.

Secondly, one should observe their principles, courage, talent, and political stance.

When you reach a position like the commander of a battalion, personal martial prowess is often not the key factor; what matters is your political stance, military philosophy, courage, and strategy.

In addition, these two issues are also key issues for the future governance of the Han army.

First, there's the problem of corruption involving exploiting soldiers and drawing salaries without working. This problem is persistent and difficult to eradicate. If Shi Ding's answer is ambiguous or even shows leniency, Jia Jing will not employ him.

Secondly, it involves using back channels and connections, which is mainly aimed at the subsequent rectification of the founding military merits.

We need to observe Shi Ding's attitude and courage. If he is afraid to offend people or doesn't understand the situation, Jia Jing will politely refuse him.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ding straightened his expression. He knew that Jia Jing was testing him. After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice:

"Eating salaries without working and exploiting soldiers has been a chronic problem in the military affairs of our Great Han Dynasty. Not only are military officers who lead troops like this, but even military officers in the garrisons are not exempt from eating salaries without working."

"The military affairs of our Great Han are now deeply entrenched in corruption, and it is absolutely impossible to reverse this corrupt atmosphere without a firm resolve."

"Therefore, I believe that a crackdown without an iron fist is necessary. If I encounter such a situation, I will first check the accounts, then mobilize the troops. If the accounts do not match, I will summon each person involved for questioning."