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

The sound of drums exploded within the Twelfth Regiment's camp at noon; thirty-six large drums, arranged in three rows, struck down simultaneously with their drumsticks.

The continuous, deafening explosions, accompanied by the relentless thunderous drumbeats, echoed across the drill ground, the tents, and into the ears of everyone in the camp.

After the three drumbeats, the bugle sounded again, deep and long!

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the flag officers had already lined up in front of the central army barracks.

The command flag fluttered in the wind, its surface embroidered with a large "Jia" character in gold thread, gleaming in the sunlight.

Near the barracks, apart from the commanders of the twelve battalions, all the officers and soldiers of the battalions, including the deputy commanders, assistant commanders, lieutenant generals, colonels, captains, and colonels, stood in orderly rows according to their rank, a dark mass stretching from inside the barracks all the way outside.

As the bugle calls gradually ceased, the camp slowly quieted down, becoming as silent as a grave!

Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu had given up resistance and were tied up by their personal guards and moved aside. Meanwhile, Jia Jing's desk was now filled with unknown files and books.

At this moment, Jia Jing, seated behind his desk, looked solemnly at the hundreds of people present and spoke in a deep voice:

"This is my first time in the camp. Some of you may not know me yet. Let me introduce myself."

"I, Jia Jing, hold the official rank of General of the Vanguard, and am also the Minister of War and the Military Governor of the Twelve Battalions. I am here by imperial decree to oversee all military affairs of the Twelve Battalions and to control all military administration around the capital! Of course, this includes you as well."

boom!!

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room erupted in uproar.

The Duke of Jing, who was invincible, sealed the wolf's lair, and destroyed the Northern Yuan, may not have been seen by some of you, but everyone has heard of him!

Some junior and mid-ranking officers in the crowd had long admired his name and secretly regarded him as a role model!

"Greetings, General!"

All the officers bowed in unison, their rough voices echoing throughout the central barracks.

Jia Jing's face was ashen, his voice calm and unreadable, as he said:

"Rise, generals!"

As the words of thanks rang out, the generals rose and stood in silence, and the large barracks fell silent once more, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Jia Jing looked around, then spoke in a deep voice:

"The reason for holding this meeting today is not only to meet with everyone, but also to reorganize camp affairs, reiterate military discipline, and enforce military law."

"The Twelve Battalions are the Emperor's personal guards, protecting the capital. They bear a heavy responsibility and are the backbone of all the armies in the land!"

"His Majesty has entrusted me with the 180,000 troops guarding the capital, which means he has entrusted the safety of the nation to me!"

"As the person in charge of the nation, my duty is to train the Twelfth Battalion into the strongest and most victorious army in the world. I dare not neglect my duties or be negligent in the slightest!"

"The first thing to do in order to build a strong military is to strictly enforce military law."

"All generals should know that all the strong armies in the world are characterized by strict discipline, sufficient provisions and supplies, and fair and credible rewards and punishments."

"Since I went to the battlefield, I have been able to win dozens of battles one after another. This is due to the soldiers' willingness to fight and the strict training, as well as the fact that I never withhold military pay and always select the virtuous and capable."

"But I must tell you, the most crucial point is still the strict enforcement of military law."

"For an army, military law is an ironclad rule, military law is the law of nature!"

"Only when military law is firmly established can orders be unified on the battlefield, can the army maintain its footing amidst thousands of troops, can morale be high, and can victory be achieved!"

"Otherwise, no matter how many people there are, they'll just be a disorganized mob!"

"Serving under my command, I expect all of you to firmly remember that military law and discipline must never be abandoned or forgotten!"

"My consistent stance on military law is: to adhere to strict enforcement in all aspects, and to enforce it rigorously to the very end!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the crowd!

The officers and soldiers from the Ba Shang camp were familiar with Jia Jing's military style, so it was alright.

However, most of the officers from the Beijing Garrison were meeting Jia Jing for the first time, and upon hearing his words, their faces immediately showed expressions of discomfort, fear, and apprehension.

Jia Jing and the others quieted down, and Jia Jing instructed the guards beside him:

"Bring Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu forward!"

"Yes, sir!" the guard shouted in response.

Before long, Shi Guangzhu and Jiang Zining, who had already been bound, were escorted to Jia Jing's command desk in full view of everyone.

The two looked rather disheveled, their hands clasped together, their hair disheveled, their faces pale, and their expressions terrified.

"Kneel down!" As the guards kicked his knees, the two battalion commanders immediately knelt down on the ground.

Jia Jing, his expression indifferent, glanced at the two men, his face ashen, and said coldly:

"You two have been acting recklessly in the camp, arbitrarily stopping the training regulations set by me, gambling in groups, corrupting the atmosphere, and assaulting law enforcement officers. That's bad enough."

"Faced with questioning from Deputy Military Governor Zhang, who was authorized by me, you still dared to insult your superior and openly defy orders. You are incredibly audacious! Do you now know your crime?"

Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu's faces turned even paler, cold sweat dripped from their foreheads, and they looked up at the imposing young man behind the desk, trembling all over, speechless for a moment!

Facing Zhuque, the two dared to disregard him because of their family background and connections, but when facing Jia Jing, they didn't dare to utter a single word of excuse!

In terms of family background, Jia Jing's Rongguo Mansion was the head of the founding military lineage.

In terms of power and position, Jia Jing was a first-class duke of the current dynasty, the most powerful military officer in the court, to whom all officials bowed, the imperial guards bowed, and the princes drove his carriage.

In terms of relationships, Jia Jing is the emperor's most trusted confidant and important minister, with His Majesty standing behind him!

Not to mention, several marquises died at his hands...

Seeing that neither of them dared to respond, Jia Jing snorted coldly, stood up, walked to Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu, and said in a deep voice:

"General Shi, General Jiang, weren't you quite the talkers just now? Didn't you say that Deputy Military Governor Zhang was just a retainer and looked down on him?"

Jiang Zining and Shi Guangzhu's faces flushed red, and large beads of sweat seeped from their foreheads!

Jia Jing turned around and slammed his hand on the desk, making a dull thud, and said coldly:

"Let me tell you, Deputy Military Governor Zhang followed me in battles in Liaodong and the Northwest, braving swords, spears, and arrows, and killed countless enemies."

"He slew enemy generals under the walls of Jinzhou, waded through fire with Tongboli, and captured the Khan of the Northern Yuan at the foot of Langshan Mountain. Every scar on his body is a victory."

"He risked his life and shed blood for the court; his achievements were all earned with his life. What right do you have to look down on a military commander who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood?"

"Yes! Your ancestors were indeed founding ministers who helped the founding emperor conquer the country. They certainly made contributions and were capable."

"But what about you? You live off the legacy of your ancestors, sponging off soldiers, greedily exploiting them, bullying men and women, breaking the law, and acting recklessly in the Beijing garrison—that's one thing!"

"Now that they've arrived at the 12th Regiment, they still haven't restrained themselves, engaging in gambling, disobeying orders, and defying discipline—they're simply lawless!"

"How dare you constantly mention your ancestors? You've disgraced the Chiang family, the Shih family, and eighteen generations of their ancestors!"