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

After Shi Ding finished speaking, he looked at Jia Jing.

There were some things he didn't know whether he should say or not, but it was no exaggeration to say that the four great families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue were closely related, especially since he was personally mentored by the late Duke Rong, Jia Daishan.

Now that the Jia family has produced someone like Jia Jing, he should naturally follow his lead, even if it means helping Jia Jing do things that offend people!

Based on what he had specifically inquired about regarding Jia Jing's reorganization of the Ba Shang camp and the military reorganization in the Northwest, as well as his previous conversation with Jia Jing, he sensed that Jia Jing was probably somewhat dissatisfied with the current state of the founding line of military officers!

Or perhaps the emperor intended for Duke Jing to reorganize Wu Xun!

This is actually not some difficult-to-guess secret.

From the moment Jia Jing returned to the capital, countless eyes were fixed on him, waiting for his next move!

Most of the civil and military officials in the court understood that as the emperor's most trusted person, Jia Jing could not possibly be only responsible for the task of reorganizing the Twelve Battalions upon returning to the capital!

The civil officials were worried that Emperor Jingsheng would allow Jia Jing to interfere in government affairs, using military force to govern civil affairs, assisting in the implementation of new policies, and rectifying official corruption.

Wu Xun was naturally worried that Emperor Jingsheng would order Jia Jing to investigate the vacancies and reorganize the military.

Therefore, Shi Ding wanted to test Jia Jing's intentions by mentioning the matter of the Prince of Nan'an.

Unfortunately, he did not achieve his goal!

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, offering no comment on the actions of the Prince of Nan'an.

Instead, her face was ashen, and her voice was calm as she asked:

"Lord Shi, having been sidelined by the court in the Five Armies Commandery all these years, have you ever regretted acting too 'upright' back then?"

Shi Ding clenched his fist, narrowed his eyes slightly, and sighed in a deep voice:

"Perhaps I did at the beginning! But if I had to do it all over again, I think given my personality, I still wouldn't be able to avoid acting the same way!"

"A military man would rather break than bend. If someone abandons all principles for the sake of merit and money, then that official position will only bring disaster upon his descendants!"

Jia Jing picked up the teacup, held it in his hand, and felt the warmth emanating from it. A hint of appreciation slowly appeared in his eyes.

Overall, after asking him questions, he was relatively satisfied with Shi Ding's answers and responses.

Combined with the intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jia Jing had already made up his mind.

He waved his hand, his tone softening, and said in a deep voice:

"Lord Shi, please sit down! I am already aware of your situation!"

"I will submit a memorial to His Majesty shortly, recommending you as an officer in the Twelfth Battalion and concurrently as the commander of the Fenwu Battalion."

"I hope you will be diligent in your duties, lead your officers and soldiers well, prioritize military law, care for your soldiers, and not disappoint the expectations of me and the court."

"I'm giving you the officer's rank, but let me make this clear: there must be absolutely no corruption, bribery, or violations of military discipline within your camp, or don't blame me for not showing you any mercy!"

Emperor Jingsheng actually gave Jia Jing the power to appoint and dismiss officers within the Twelve Battalions, but Jia Jing would still submit a memorial if necessary.

This was not only to uphold the authority of Emperor Jingsheng, but also to avoid unnecessary suspicion between the emperor and his ministers over such trivial matters.

When it comes to dealing with Emperor Jingsheng, Jia Jing has always adhered to the principle of doing more rather than making mistakes.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ding's face flushed red, and a hint of excitement appeared on his face.

He thought he would only get the position of battalion commander, but Jia Jing directly appointed him as a middle-ranking officer of the third rank.

The responsibilities of a middle-ranking officer are significant. They are responsible for conveying military orders and coordinating various battalions. They are ranked above the battalion commanders, and the power and authority of this position are extraordinary!

Not to mention that he also led the Fenwu Battalion, holding two positions at the same time, making him the fourth most important figure in the 12th Regiment Battalion.

Shi Ding stood up, cupped his hands in gratitude, and said:

"Thank you for your trust, Your Excellency. I am deeply grateful and will always remember your teachings!"

What pleased Shi Ding was not only his successful bid for an official position, but also his successful connection with Jia Jing.

Nowadays, everyone in the court knows that following Duke Jing is the path to promotion and high rank.

After all, none of the generals under Duke Jing's command have failed to improve in the past few years!

Seeing that Shi Ding had changed his form of address so quickly, Jia Jing frowned and said:

"Do not publicize this matter before the imperial court issues the appointment."

"Furthermore, the capital city is currently rife with undercurrents and turbulent times. While matters of state are important, one must also pay attention to matters at home!"

"We must manage the people in our household well, instilling in them a sense of awe. Minor matters can be overlooked, but illegal or disorderly conduct must never be tolerated!"

Shi Ding asked with a hint of doubt on his face:

"I wonder what you mean, my lord? Over the years, I have strictly disciplined the sons of the Marquis of Zhongjing's household, and none of them have committed any crimes."

"I'm not afraid to say this, my lord, but the Marquis of Zhongjing's mansion has been struggling financially these past few years because of my meager salary."

"The household is short of funds, so my wife often has to do needlework until late at night to supplement the family income."

"Yun'er is also a victim in this matter. Hasn't she mentioned it to the Old Madam and the Marquis?"

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"The Marquis of Zhongjing's residence is generally good! But what about the Marquis of Baoling's residence?"

"You and Lord Baoling are brothers from the same clan. If something happens to him, can you escape responsibility?"

Shi Ding's expression changed slightly. He lowered his eyes and pondered, saying:

"My second brother... although he is fond of pleasure and his behavior is a bit unrestrained, he shouldn't have done anything illegal or disorderly."

"Although we have separated our residences, I still keep track of the situation in his residence."

"Perhaps Jin-ge'er and Neng-ge'er were spoiled by Xie-shi, but they are just like Bao-yu."

"At most, he's a spoiled brat who doesn't understand the ways of the world, not a wicked person. Has Your Excellency heard something?"

Jia Jing's gaze lingered on Shi Ding's face for a moment, then, without hiding anything, he said:

"The Xie family was coaxed into taking on lawsuits, abusing their power and accepting bribes, and many of the servants of the Marquis of Baoling's mansion also committed many misdeeds."

"Although the matter is minor, it could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives, causing unnecessary trouble!"

A loud drum doesn't need a heavy hammer; Shi Ding was a sensible man, so Jia Jing stopped there.

Shi Ding's lips moved slightly, and he cupped his hands in greeting:

"Rest assured, my lord, I will handle this matter upon returning home!"

After the two exchanged a few more words, a guard's voice came from the doorway reporting:

"Lord Duke, the old lady of Rongguo Mansion has sent someone to invite you and Marquis Zhongjing to have lunch at the West Mansion."

Jia Jing stood up and said:

"Lord Shi, the old lady has prepared a meal; let's go together!"

Shi Ding smiled and agreed:

"I was just about to go see the old lady!"

The two then walked out of the hall one after the other and headed towards the Rongguo Mansion.

The gauze curtains of Rongqing Hall were half-rolled up, and the midday sun poured in from the doorway, illuminating the blue bricks inside the hall.

Two large round tables had already been set up in the hall, with bowls and chopsticks neatly arranged, and cold dishes served first.

Grandmother Jia lay reclining on the couch, wearing a red gold headband, her face looking rather pale. Yuanyang gently massaged her head from behind.

Madam Xing, Madam Wang, Aunt Xue, and Madam Niu were sitting to the left, talking.

Xiangyun sat on an embroidered stool by the door, leaning slightly forward, laughing and joking with the little actor.

Hearing the curtain rustle and seeing Jia Jing and Shi Ding enter one after the other, she was the first to notice them, stood up, and rushed over, a sweet smile spreading across her apple-shaped face as she called out:

"Third brother, third uncle, you've arrived!"