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

A hint of annoyance flashed across Shi Guangzhu's round face. He abruptly stood up and sneered:

"Treat me? If it were Duke Jing in person, I'd have to show him some respect!"

"You're just a nobody from a humble background, your ancestors were nothing but peasants begging for food in the fields, what gives you the right to act so arrogantly! I don't believe you'll dare lay a finger on me!"

Jiang Zining, standing to the side, his gaze darkened, his face flushed, and he too stood up, neck stiff with rage, and shouted:

"General Shi is right! We are all of the same bloodline from the founding of the nation, with a friendship spanning over a hundred years. In terms of seniority, even the Duke of Jing would have to call us Uncle."

"You're nothing but a lowly general who rose to a high position by sheer luck, yet you dare to act so arrogantly towards us!"

Xie Jing stood up and said expressionlessly:

"Although General Zhang is the deputy military governor, he has not been in the army for long and does not understand the close relationship between our founding line of military merits."

"I advise you to think twice before you speak or act, lest you ruin your promising future by acting impulsively!"

"The General entrusted you with managing the camp's affairs, not so you could reprimand your own men! You should consult the General before making a decision!"

Xie Jing spoke the words "one of our own" with great confidence because, in fact, he was related to the Jia family.

His younger sister, Xie, married Shi Nai, the Marquis of Baoling, as his principal wife. According to their kinship, Jia Jing had to call Xie "aunt" when he saw her!

The Duke of Shanguo's mansion, the Marquis of Pingyuan's mansion, and the Jia family have been friends for generations.

Although the two families have become closer to the Prince of Nan'an in recent years, they are still of the same lineage from the founding of the dynasty, and they have never stopped visiting each other during festivals!

Zhuque's expression was gloomy, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes as he thought to himself:

These fools who rely on their ancestors' legacy, do they really think that their actions are acting on their own initiative, or that the general will treat them differently?

However, on second thought, it's possible that the General's friendly attitude towards Niu Jizong, Shi Ding, Feng Tang, Han Wu, and others led them to misjudge the situation.

They believed that he wanted to unite the founding line of military officers in order to build a large following in the court and consolidate his military power!

After all, even he himself hadn't expected that after the General returned to the capital, the first thing he would do was to target the founding heroes.

It's just that the General and the Emperor were too secretive and didn't reveal a single word!

Zhuque's mind raced, then she swept her aggressive gaze over Shi Guangzhu, Jiang Zining, and Xie Jing, her expression stern as she coldly said:

"I am the one personally appointed by the Grand General to command the military affairs of the Twelve Battalions. You have violated military law and insulted your superior."

"I will punish you sons of bitches according to the camp's military regulations. Why should I need to ask the General for permission?"

Suzaku retaliated in kind, his words carrying a hint of humiliation!

Upon hearing this, Shi Guangzhu's expression changed drastically. He kicked over the chair next to him and angrily said:

"Insolence! My sister is a virtuous consort personally appointed by the Emperor himself. By calling me a son of a bitch, aren't you also insulting her?"

"This is disrespect to His Majesty! I will impeach you for the grave crime of disrespect!"

It has to be said that fate is so strange. The title that Yuan Chun never got in her life has now been obtained by Shi Guangzhu's sister!

Jiang Zining followed closely behind, angrily saying;

"You scoundrel, you're nothing but a lackey of the Duke of Jing, yet you dare to speak so disrespectfully to us!"

Upon hearing Jiang Zining's words, the expressions of everyone who had been silently watching the scene in the barracks changed.

Zhuque is, after all, a marquis, and cannot be insulted in this way.

The hot-tempered Ma Guocheng couldn't sit still any longer.

He was one of only two people present, besides You Shiyong, who were not from the founding line of the Wu Xun.

After the incident involving Marquis Linchuan and others, he had always looked down on these noble sons who only knew how to do evil by relying on the legacy of their ancestors.

He immediately slammed his fist on the table, his face darkening, and stood up, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. He roared:

"Jiang Zining, Shi Guangzhu, I'll fuck your mothers! You bunch of worthless bastards who have disgraced our ancestors!"

"Violating military regulations, undermining military discipline, showing no remorse, and daring to be so arrogant in the central command tent!"

"General Zhang is the one appointed by the Grand General to command the army; how dare you slander him!"

Then, he spoke loudly to the Vermilion Bird:

"General Zhang, we've killed countless ignorant fools like this in the Northwest! Why waste words with them? Just order your men to capture them and punish them severely!"

Zhuque remained silent for a moment, then nodded, immediately pulled a command arrow from the general's desk, threw it down heavily, and solemnly gave the order:

"Come here! Seize these two and deal with them according to military law!"

"Yes!" The guards on either side took the command arrow, responded, and immediately stepped forward to subdue Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu.

"Let's see who dares! I am a First-Class Baron personally appointed by the Emperor, the Commander of the Zhenwei Camp, and a fourth-rank official of the Imperial Court. You, a mere Deputy Military Governor, have no right to punish me!"

Jiang Zining immediately drew the sword from his waist, stiffened his neck, looked at Zhuque beside the general's desk, and said angrily.

Shi Guangzhu's face darkened, and he said sternly:

"What audacity! My sister is the Virtuous Consort, and I am the Emperor's brother-in-law, a first-class general!"

"If you dare to take me, and the palace finds out, none of you will escape punishment!"

Xie Jing's expression changed, his lips moved, and he exclaimed in surprise to Shi Ding, Hou Xiaokang, Feng Ziying, and the others who were sitting silently:

"Lord Shi, Lord Hou, we are of the same lineage as the founders of the nation. Now that we are being bullied, are you just going to sit idly by and do nothing...?"

"Lord Zhang is acting as the military governor and acting in accordance with military law, which is perfectly appropriate!" Shi Ding's deep voice interrupted Xie Jing's entreaties.

After his conversation with Jia Jing that day, he already understood Jia Jing's intention to reorganize the founding lineage!

Today, we did not help Zhuque hold Shi Guangzhu and Jiang Zining accountable, which was already out of consideration for our past relationship. How could we possibly help Shi and Jiang to defy Zhuque's military orders!

Feng Ziying, Hou Xiaokang, and others also remained silent, their lips pursed.

They may not know that Jia Jing is going to reorganize the founding lineage, but they have all served under Jia Jing and are well aware of Jia Jing's trust in Zhuque and his ruthless nature in enforcing the law!

In the military, military orders are paramount. Given that Shi and Jiang openly insulted their superiors and resisted military orders, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for Zhuque to directly order them killed!

Zhuque raised her eyes and glanced around at the expressions of everyone in the barracks, then secretly put what she was holding into her sleeve.

Since he chose to launch his attack today, he must have made ample preparations.

At this moment, not only were hundreds of soldiers stationed outside the barracks, but he also held in his hand the military commander's token and a handwritten order given to him by Jia Jing.

Anyone who dares to step forward today to collude with the enemy and disobey military orders will basically be on the list for this major purge within the camp.

"Take these two scoundrels down immediately. If they dare to resist, kill them without mercy!" Zhuque waved his hand again and said coldly.

Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu were both blusterers with little substance. Seeing that Zhuque was about to get serious and the other founding military heroes weren't helping, they panicked. Watching the personal guards' longswords approach step by step, Jiang Zining's hand holding the sword trembled, and sweat poured down his back as he instinctively uttered a threat:

"General Zhang, aren't you afraid that your abuse of power and unjust accusations will cause unrest among the 80,000 soldiers of the capital garrison, and that the Emperor will punish you if he finds out? I want to see His Majesty... I want to see the Grand General..."

Before the words were finished, a cold, resounding voice, like the clanging of metal and stone, came from outside the barracks:

"Who wants to see me?"

The curtain was lifted from the outside, and sunlight poured in, creating a bright white passageway inside the tent.

A troop of elite soldiers clad in armor appeared on the flagstone-paved road leading to the camp.

With a cold expression, Jia Jing, surrounded by his entourage, slowly and deliberately entered the central military barracks.

The generals in the room tensed up and rose to their feet, causing a clattering sound of their armor plates clattering together.

"This humble general greets the Great General!"

With a solemn expression, Jia Jing glanced at everyone in the room, then slowly walked to the armchair behind the commander's desk in the barracks and sat down in the center.

Ma Guocheng stepped forward, his hand on his sword, and stood to Jia Jing's right. Zhu Que stood to Jia Jing's left, whispering something in his ear. The barracks were instantly filled with armored soldiers with their hands on their swords, keeping watch on both sides.

As Jia Jing listened to Zhu Que recount the events, his indifferent gaze swept over the panicked faces of Shi Guangzhu and Jiang Zining, carrying an indescribable weight, like a sword yet to be drawn.

After a long pause, Jia Jing, his face expressionless, coldly uttered two words:

"Raise the tent!"

"The General has taken up his tent!" The guards echoed in unison.

In an instant, drums thundered throughout the camp, and countless officers and soldiers gathered at the central barracks!