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

But Emperor Jingsheng simply waved his hand dismissively.

He ordered, "Guards, the Duke of Zhao is old and frail, and is unwell. Quickly carry him back and summon the imperial physician!"

The ministers thought they had misheard!

What?

Old age and physical weakness, feeling unwell?

He was clearly enraged by Jia Jing's scolding, which caused him to vomit blood and faint, but the emperor described it as simply old age, physical weakness, and illness!

Emperor Jingsheng was actually quite pleased!

He had long been displeased with Zhao Guogong, an incompetent and disgraceful figure. If it weren't for the Emperor Emeritus's strong support for Zhao Guogong to serve as the Right Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies Commandery, Emperor Jingsheng would have dismissed him long ago.

Such an incompetent person, who has made no contribution to the court, actually occupies the high position of Duke and holds an important post. It's a joke!

If it weren't for the fact that he, as the emperor, couldn't directly hurl insults, he would have loved to lash out at the Duke of Zhao, or even at the retired emperor, just like Jia Jing!

Of course, he also criticized Xia Shouzhong quite a bit in private.

Previously, when discussing the nobility and ennoblement of Jia Jing, he had already fiercely criticized the Duke of Zhao!

Unexpectedly, this old minister, relying on the Emperor Emeritus's favor, has become so audacious!

Knowing full well that Jia Jing was a trusted minister, he still repeatedly provoked and caused trouble for him!

He fully agreed with Jia Jing's statement that those who offend the majesty of the Han Dynasty, no matter how far away, shall be punished.

Everyone was ready to applaud, but then the Duke of Zhao said something about youthful impetuosity being harmful to the country!

Are spineless cowards like him and the retired emperor, who only know how to surrender and beg for peace, the ones who are beneficial to the country?

This is utterly absurd!

Emperor Jingsheng didn't even bother to feign concern and directly ordered his men to carry the Duke of Zhao away.

This undoubtedly demonstrated his support for Jia Jing in front of all the officials.

After watching the Duke of Zhao being carried out of the palace, Emperor Jingsheng waved his hand again and said with a smile:

"All other officials may leave! I wish to speak with Minister Jia alone, so I will not detain you any longer!"

The other officials naturally dared not raise any objections and bowed, saying, "We take our leave."

After Zhang Tingyu, Niu Jizong, and others left the hall,

Jia Jing hurriedly apologized, saying, "Your Majesty, my words were inappropriate and have caused you trouble!"

Emperor Jingsheng looked at Jia Jing and smiled:

"We don't need these formalities between ruler and subject! I still prefer your youthful vigor just now! Respectfulness is good, but it always feels like something is missing in our intimacy."

"Young people should be spirited, bold, and decisive. Only those who dare to think and act can accomplish great things and achieve great success! They shouldn't be afraid of offending people!"

"You haven't known me for very long, so you don't understand my temperament. It's understandable that you're somewhat deferential!"

"You'll see later; I'm just like you—a straightforward, tough, and unyielding man!"

Jia Jing felt a slight sense of relief and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty is magnanimous and tolerant! But I must not be ignorant of my place!"

"Your Majesty has shown me great favor and recognition. I only wish to help Your Majesty pacify the barbarian tribes and assist Your Majesty in establishing a strong and prosperous Han Dynasty!"

Emperor Jingsheng descended the imperial steps and stood before Jia Jing, his gaze softening slightly as he spoke:

"That's very well said! My lifelong wish is to build the Han Dynasty into a powerful and prosperous nation! If we can truly achieve this, then our lives as ruler and subjects will have not been in vain!"

Suddenly, Emperor Jingsheng looked at Jia Jing with a leisurely air and said:

"Minister Jia, I have a question for you. Can you answer truthfully?"

Jia Jing composed himself, cupped his hands, and said:

"Please inquire, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Jingsheng paused for a moment, carefully considering his words, and asked:

"From your words when you questioned the Duke of Zhao, it seemed you were quite dissatisfied with the Emperor Emeritus!"

Jia Jing: ...

The fact that the current emperor and the retired emperor are at odds is known to almost everyone in the court and the country!

Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those things directly!

After all, the retired emperor was not Emperor Jingsheng's father, but rather a brother who was almost beyond the fifth degree of kinship.

They have no blood relation or affection for each other; on the contrary, they are rivals in the power arena, which is why Jia Jing dares to speak so recklessly!

He believed that Emperor Jingsheng could sense his stance and intentions, but there were some things that a subject should not say directly.

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then spoke frankly:

"It is not that I am dissatisfied with the Emperor Emeritus, but rather that there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country!"

"I simply believe that since the Emperor Emeritus has retired to the Dragon Head Palace, he should enjoy his remaining years, cultivate his character, and not interfere in political affairs!"

"I still remember the year I went on the expedition. Duke Cao suffered a great defeat at Yongning Fort, resulting in countless deaths and injuries among our soldiers and civilians. However, due to the intervention of the Dragon Head Palace, it was said that although Duke Cao was not capable, he was devoted to the country, and in the end, he emerged unscathed..."

"Over the years, the retired emperor has also interfered in the affairs of state, which has led to incompetent people like the Duke of Zhao occupying high positions."

"Therefore, I believe that Your Majesty is a wise ruler and should make decisions independently."

"To ensure that all imperial decrees originate from one person, and that all subjects know only His Majesty as their sovereign and father, is truly a measure beneficial to the country and its people!"

As he finished speaking, Jia Jing's voice gradually grew louder. He was siding with Emperor Jingsheng; what couldn't he say?

Seeing Jia Jing speak so frankly, a barely perceptible smile flashed in Emperor Jingsheng's eyes beneath his thin eyebrows.

Seemingly quite satisfied with Jia Jing's answer, he nodded and said:

"Since you are so frank with me, I will not hide it from you either. I am also very dissatisfied with the Emperor Emeritus's repeated interference in state affairs!"

"The court is now beset by crises and on the verge of collapse. The national treasury is empty; the border tribes have repeatedly invaded and are eyeing us covetously; within the country, there are either natural disasters or rebellions, and there is never a moment of peace."

"In order to salvage the situation, I had no choice but to promulgate new policies and reform the country to strengthen it."

"But what about the retired emperor? He's only concerned with vying for power and winning people's hearts, and he's secretly opposed me on many occasions."

"I can tolerate him, but the national situation cannot wait for him!"

"The reason for transferring you back to the capital is to completely reclaim the military power from Wu Xun, the commander of the Jingnan Army, and clear the way for the new national policies. Only when the new policies are fully implemented can we clean up the bureaucracy and ensure that the country has tax revenue to provide disaster relief, fight wars, and improve people's livelihoods."

"My dear minister, could you lend me a hand? We, ruler and subject, are of one mind, to bring peace to the Han Dynasty for all eternity!"

Emperor Jingsheng held Jia Jing's hand, his eyes fixed on Jia Jing, full of expectation.

Jia Jing's heart trembled slightly, and he looked at Emperor Jingsheng and said:

"If Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to sacrifice my life, even to the point of being shattered to pieces, to die on the battlefield, to pacify the barbarians and help Your Majesty reverse the decline of the Han Dynasty, laying an immortal foundation for lasting peace!"

Hearing Jia Jing agree without hesitation, Emperor Jingsheng smiled with satisfaction, realizing he hadn't misjudged him.

He immediately said:

"Good! You must be tired after this campaign! Go home and rest for a few days, then go to the Ba Shang camp as a military governor! Reorganize the troops there and make them into elite soldiers."

"However, this battalion is undisciplined and mostly unusable. Moreover, it is the commander of the Jingnan Military Campaign, who only listens to the orders of the retired emperor. It will not be easy for you to win over the people."

The position of Jiedushi of Ba Shang was originally held by a third-rank military officer, commanding 100,000 troops in Ba Shang. This position was truly one of high rank and great power.

Emperor Jingsheng's willingness to appoint Jia Jing to this position truly shows that he regards him as a trusted and important minister!