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

Jia Jing's expression changed slightly. He vaguely sensed that Emperor Jingsheng's change might be due to his dream of the fall and extinction of the Han Dynasty.

This deepened his sense of crisis and urgency, to the point that he lost the basic trust between ruler and subject in most of the civil and military officials besides himself...

After thinking for a moment, Jia Jing solemnly said:

"With Your Majesty's words, I feel more at ease. I was worried that the military reform had too many implications, and that if it caused some trouble, it would put Your Majesty in a difficult position."

"Now it seems that I was overthinking things. Your Majesty truly deserves to be called a restorer of the dynasty, a ruler like Yao and Shun. You see things more clearly than I do, and you are more decisive than I am."

Emperor Jingsheng smiled, his gaze deep and meaningful, and said:

"We have to make a decision! Time flies, and eight months have already passed since the tenth year of Jingsheng. There are still so many things to do in the court, with countless matters to be addressed."

"The world is in turmoil, the land is in chaos, and corrupt practices are rampant. Time is of the essence, and I do not want to leave this mess to future generations!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing glanced at the weariness and anxiety between Emperor Jingsheng's brows, knowing that the emperor was once again feeling the pressure.

Of course, this is normal. After all, Emperor Jingsheng has been on the throne for ten years, and his health has deteriorated due to years of hard work in government affairs; his temples are already gray.

They still get sick from time to time, and now that they've finally seen a glimmer of hope for ZTE's revival, there are still all sorts of setbacks. It would be strange if they weren't feeling anxious!

After a moment's hesitation, Jia Jing said:

"My plan is to spend three months thoroughly investigating the capital region, eliminating redundancies, replacing generals and officers, reorganizing garrisons, and reforming the military system."

"Three months later, the successful experience of reorganizing the garrisons in the capital region will be formalized into a system and promoted by the General Military Affairs Office to all military commands and garrisons throughout the country."

"The 'Regulations for Military Reorganization' were uniformly issued to standardize the standards and procedures for military reorganization, promote a unified military system, and completely change the past situation of inconsistent military systems and ineffective orders in different regions by addressing aspects such as troop quotas, military pay standards, training cycles, and equipment allocation."

"At the same time, the system for selecting and appointing military officers will be reformed, gradually changing the old system that was mainly based on 'hereditary succession' and adopting a new system based on 'military merit assessment.' New selection standards will be implemented in all local garrisons, and those without military merit or ability will not be allowed to inherit positions."

"In addition, the establishment of the Great Han Military Register will standardize and institutionalize military management, enabling the court to have a clear understanding of the true situation of all the troops in the country, and fundamentally eliminate long-standing problems such as false reporting, concealment, and empty quotas."

"We also need to unify the military pay standards: all troops across the country, regardless of whether they are border troops, garrison troops, or local soldiers, will be paid according to the new military pay standards. The military pay will be allocated by the Logistics Department of the Zongli Yamen (Office of Military Affairs), bypassing officials from various ministries and local authorities, and will be directly distributed to each army."

"All things considered, including the reorganization of the border troops, the initial reorganization of the army will take about three years to complete."

"The rest is about continuously refining the details and filling in any gaps within this new military administration framework."

Reorganizing the military is not simply about eliminating the old interest groups; the most important thing is to establish new systems suitable for the present and comprehensively enhance the combat effectiveness of the military!

For example, there are measures such as equipment innovation, training enhancement, securing funding and supplies, establishing verification mechanisms, naval restructuring, and resettling laid-off personnel, all of which are interconnected.

If conditions allowed, Jia Jing even considered transforming the hereditary military system of the garrisons into a professional conscription system.

Seeing that Emperor Jingsheng frowned upon hearing "three years," Jia Jing pondered for a moment and then comforted him:

"Your Majesty, rest assured... after three years, the empire will have a million elite troops."

"At that time, under Your Majesty's decree, I will personally lead this million-strong army to pacify the pseudo-Qing in Liaodong in the north, eradicate their filth and eliminate them forever; pacify the tribes of Annan in the south, and bring them under my rule; and pacify the remnants of the Western Regions in the west, and bring their horses to the capital of Hunxie."

"Thus, we will unify the four seas, shake the world, and our might will extend throughout the universe, shaking the ages. With this glorious military achievement, we will forge the unshakeable foundation of our Great Han Dynasty for ten thousand generations."

"At that time, Your Majesty's achievements will be comparable to those of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu. You will be a restorer of the dynasty, an emperor of all ages, and the ruler of all under heaven. You will ascend Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, the Emperor, and all your ancestors, and be revered by all generations."

"Your Majesty, I follow in your footsteps and offer my humble service, hoping to be influenced by your virtuous teachings. I do not seek to be remembered in history."

"I only wish that future generations, when they turn the pages of history, will know that under Your Majesty's command there was once a warrior who received the Emperor's favor and was entrusted with his heart and soul. Under Your Majesty's protection, he charged into battle, unwavering in his loyalty, until his death."

"That's enough for me!"

Jia Jing's face was solemn, his eyes clear and bright, as if a glint of swords flashed in his gaze.

The voice was not loud, but every word was clear, striking the heart like a war drum, resounding with power.

The phrases like "Emperor of the Ages," "Lord of the World," "Ascending Mount Tai," and "Offering Sacrifices to Heaven and Earth" are devoid of any flattery or jest; on the contrary, they are extremely vivid!

Jia Jing's words were naturally intended to give Emperor Jingsheng a passionate vision that would support him to continue on this path with unwavering determination!

Of course, this wasn't just for Emperor Jingsheng; it was also a small goal he set for himself!

He will definitely achieve this goal within five years at the latest!

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingsheng looked at the composed young man before him, his expression changed, and he remained silent for three breaths.

Three breaths later, a blush appeared on his cold, hard face, and he suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter wasn't the restrained, imperial kind of laughter heard in the court, but rather a laughter that burst forth from the depths of the chest, an laughter that couldn't be suppressed.

He laughed for a while before stopping, a smile still lingering on his face, and pointed at Jia Jing, saying:

"Zijie, Zijie, do you know that among all the civil and military officials, you are the only one who dares to speak so frankly and without concealment in front of me?"

"Only if you say it, will I... believe it."

"...If I am fortunate enough to witness this day, you will be my benefactor, the benefactor of my great Han Dynasty!"

"If I am fortunate enough to witness this day, I will have you ride your Red Hare alongside me, and together we will ascend Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth!"

"In the annals of history, you and I, ruler and subject, will share unparalleled honor and be worshipped by all people!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Emperor Jingsheng gave Jia Jing an almost unbelievable promise!

The term "benefactor" does not refer to personal favors, but rather to the contributions to the nation and the virtues of our ancestors. It is the highest assessment of this achievement from the perspective of the nation and its people.

Riding side by side is a symbol of majesty. The two men riding side by side, receiving the homage of the people and officials, is a symbol of the highest honor.

The joint sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, with living officials participating, was the highest level of courtesy, truly symbolizing "sharing the fate of the nation."

This means that, at the level of "reporting to Heaven," the emperor acknowledged that this person had become an indispensable part of the state.

This is no longer just a "minister assisting the emperor," but a "co-founder" of the restoration of the Han Dynasty.

In short, it's roughly equivalent to the oath of brotherhood between Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei in the Peach Garden—a partnership that transcends the roles of ruler and subject.

Jia Jing's expression changed, and he suddenly knelt down, his gaze clear and upright as he looked directly at Emperor Jingsheng, and he said firmly in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty! I ask for nothing else! I only wish to serve Your Majesty in this life, to sweep away the chaos and disorder, to save the Han Dynasty from ruin, and to restore the world."

"When future generations discuss history, they will be able to say: The reign of Emperor Jingsheng began in fifteen years, when the world was unified, the four seas were at peace, and the country was prosperous and the people were safe!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingsheng's expression shifted, his heart trembled, and he cast his warm gaze upon Jia Jing, murmuring:

"May the reign of Emperor Jingsheng last for fifteen years, bringing peace and prosperity to the nation. Can I truly achieve this...?"

…………