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

Grandmother Jia's words stunned everyone in the hall.

Unexpectedly, Jia Jing was so rude today, yet Grandmother Jia did not punish him; instead, she gave him an official position.

An eighth-rank military officer! That's not a small position!

Moreover, the transition from commoner to official represents a complete change in status and position!

Although Jia Lian donated his position as a fifth-rank official, he was the eldest son of the main wife, and the position was merely a nominal one, made more convenient when dealing with powerful and influential families.

However, Jia Jing, an eighth-rank military officer, wielded real power and could command at least several dozen people on the Liaodong front.

As a family of military heroes, they were well aware of the ranks of military officers in the Han Dynasty.

In the Han Dynasty, military officers were divided into honorary officials and official positions. Honorary officials were assigned ranks, while official positions were assigned real power.

Military officers were divided into nine ranks and eighteen grades.

From a ninth-rank cavalry deputy lieutenant to a first-rank Grand Marshal of the Army.

The eighth-rank military officer is considered a mid-to-lower-level military officer. Generally, the sons of military meritorious families have not yet made any contributions. When they first enter the army, they can only start from the seventh or eighth rank at most.

Although he was just a low-ranking officer, it was a position that many ordinary people could never reach in their entire lives.

As for whether Grandmother Jia could do it, none of the people present had any doubts!

The Jia family, having served as dukes in two states, already had deep connections within the military, even having the right to recommend high-ranking officials like the military governor of the capital garrison.

The previous military governor of the capital, Wang Ziteng, would not have been able to take this position without the support of the Jia family.

So let alone a minor eighth-rank military officer, the Jia family could also arrange for sixth-rank or fifth-rank military officers to be appointed.

This is the prestige of the top nobles who were among the founding fathers of the nation.

Fengjie watched in stunned silence. The events of the day were already bizarre and unexpected, but now Grandmother Jia's arrangement was even more surprising.

What does the old lady mean by this?

There was nothing they could do about Jing-ge'er; they had to appease him.

Or is it that they really see Jing-ge as someone special and want to groom him?

Since the passing of the Duke of Rongguo, the old lady has rarely interfered in external affairs!

Now that Jia Jing has even beaten Lai Da, a confidant of Grandmother Jia, and is so arrogant and disrespectful to the master, why is he not punished at all?

At the very least, he should have been severely punished with a cane, and then made to kneel in the ancestral hall for a few days!

However, she didn't take the lowly eighth-rank military officer seriously.

After all, there were too many eighth-rank officials in the capital. Normally, an eighth-rank official wouldn't even be qualified to enter the Jia family mansion.

Her husband, Lian Er, donated money to obtain the rank of Tongzhi, a fifth-grade official.

Even the grandson of the Lai family, servants of the Jia family, donated money to become a seventh-rank county magistrate. What good is that?

Officials without real power are only good at making friends when they're out in public; otherwise, they're utterly useless!

What kind of official is someone who can't make money?

Is it really true that people become officials for the sake of the court and the people?

Without connections and money to pave the way, one cannot survive in officialdom.

Not to mention, the situation in the Han Dynasty is not good now. I heard that the soldiers and generals in Liaodong have been replaced several times due to death and injury.

The soldiers in Liaodong were not the kind of pampered soldiers who never went to the front lines.

Since the situation deteriorated, there have been small battles every three days and large battles every five days in Liaodong, and the fighting has never stopped.

Compared to the danger, this minor official position is nothing!

As for the concern that Jia Jing might become too powerful and compete with Jia Lian for the title of heir to the Rongguo Mansion, there was none.

Not to mention that Jia Jing has offended Jia She badly today, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is not something that can be easily overcome!

in addition,

Do you really think that fighting bloody battles and being ennobled and appointed as generals is a simple matter?

Which of those military heroes who made great achievements didn't escape with their lives by escaping a hail of swords and arrows?

Therefore, although Sister Feng was surprised, she was not worried, because this was really not a good job.

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Jia She's expression turned anxious, and he quickly said, "Grandmother, this isn't appropriate..."

He had no intention of actually letting this little beast out of the manor, let alone giving him an official position!

If this little beast isn't severely punished, how will he, the master, have any face to stand in the mansion in the future?

Before Jia She could finish speaking, Grandmother Jia interrupted him in a deep voice:

"You're getting on in years, and you don't do your job properly, nor do you take care of your health. You spend your days drinking and carousing, and you've taken one concubine after another. I won't say anything to you!"

"Now that you've caused trouble, you still don't know how to restrain yourself. You insist on making things worse. Will you be happy when the censor impeaches you and strips you of your ancestral title?"

When Jia She saw that Grandmother Jia was angry, he immediately knelt down on the ground, but dared not say another word.

He didn't have Jia Jing's martial prowess, nor did he have the confidence to confront him head-on.

If he really displeases Grandmother Jia, she could impeach him before the Empress and the Empress Dowager, and it wouldn't be impossible to strip him of his title.

After all, the fact that he, a descendant of the Rongguo Mansion, lived in the east wing while Jia Zheng, the youngest son, managed the Rongguo Mansion was clear evidence that he was not favored.

"And you, you never fulfill your duties as a wife, never advise your husband, and let him do whatever he wants. You are too 'virtuous'."

Grandmother Jia then gave Madam Xing a subtle but pointed remark.

Madam Xing also quickly knelt down and obediently listened to the reprimand.

"Jing-ge'er, are you satisfied with my decision? After all, you can't write two Jia names with the same stroke of a pen."

"I know you suffered grievances at home before, which led to what happened today. But father and son shouldn't hold grudges overnight, and it's best for the family to stay harmonious."

Looking at Jia Jing, who stood proudly below without saying a word, Grandmother Jia felt a pang of discomfort. The disturbance caused by Jia Jing had disrupted the entire family, leaving her quite exhausted.

"Grandma is right! The character 'Jia' cannot be written with the same stroke. Your grandson must take our ancestors as role models, diligently practice martial arts, bravely fight the enemy, serve the country, and restore our family's honor! We must not tarnish our ancestors' reputation nor fail to live up to Grandma's high expectations!"

Jia Jing originally intended to take this opportunity to cause trouble and leave the Jia family mansion.

It would be best to be kicked out of the Jia family and make a public break with them.

Even with the system, he didn't want to get involved in the mess that was the Jia family, since the Jia family would eventually face confiscation of their property.

But when Grandmother Jia offered him the position of an eighth-rank military officer, he immediately changed his mind.

An eighth-rank military officer is entitled to receive a system reward.

in addition,

An eighth-rank military officer may not seem like a high position, but it's not easy for ordinary people to achieve.

Once he leaves the Jia family, even with Zhao Yun's martial prowess, it will be difficult for him to rise quickly in rank on the battlefield.

Because promotions are often based not on merit or skill, but on connections and background.

Without the Jia family's backing, it was predictable that credit would be stolen or taken away from them.

However, if one is able to enter the military through the Jia family's connections, as long as one makes a contribution, one can take advantage of the Jia family's network of connections in the military. Not only will one not be bullied or have one's credit stolen, but one will also be treated as one of the founding generation of military merit and promoted vigorously!

Therefore, weighing the pros and cons, staying in the Jia family at this time is actually a better choice.

Although the Jia family was in a complete mess, improving their own strength and status was the most important thing at this time.

This way, whether you stay or leave, you'll have more control.

"Jing-ge'er, you shall move out of the manor from today onwards!"

"Do your job well and work diligently. You don't need to come to this residence anymore! You're exempt from the morning and evening greetings! Come back to see me when you've truly achieved something!"

What Grandmother Jia said next caused everyone's expressions to change; she was essentially kicking Jia Jing out of the mansion.

It seems that although Jia Jing was not punished today, he has seriously lost face in Grandmother Jia's eyes.

Everyone looked at Jia Jing with some sympathy; in their eyes, being kicked out of the mansion was the most severe punishment.

After all, without the protection of the Jia family, what is a minor official of the eighth rank in the capital?

As for saying that you'll come back after you've accomplished something, isn't that just polite talk?

Jia Jing remained expressionless, simply bowing and saying:

"As the old lady commands, Jia Jing will move out of the mansion today!"

"I've made a vow today; I will not return home until I've achieved something!"

Say it!

Jia Jing remained expressionless, bowed to Jia She and Madam Xing again, and withdrew from Rongqing Hall at a leisurely pace.

At this moment, the three sisters, Daiyu, Baoyu, and others behind the screen had finished watching this "farce".

Jia Tanchun picked up a cup of tea and said first, "What a strong-willed third brother! I've always underestimated him."

"If I were a man, I would have left long ago, once I had established myself, I would have my own reasons."

Tan Chun had bright eyes and long, slender eyebrows, and sighed again:

"It's a pity that I won't be able to see my third brother again. Although the old ancestor allowed him to leave the mansion, he told him not to come back until he had accomplished something."

"I imagine it will take at least ten years for Third Brother to rise to the fifth or even fourth rank before he can return to the manor openly!"

"We should see him off this time. Although we don't spend much time together, we are siblings from the same family!"

Yingchun, standing to the side, was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes. She said urgently:

"The Liaodong front is no child's play! A mishap could cost you your life!"

"Besides, the army camp is full of rough and uncouth soldiers. How can Third Brother endure such hardship!"

"I've heard that the soldiers on the Liaodong border fight those cannibalistic Tartars and Mongols every day! What if something happens to my third brother?"

However, Lin Daiyu, standing to the side, flashed a thoughtful look in her eyes and said seemingly casually:

"I think this third brother is no ordinary person; perhaps he can give us some surprises!"

She had just carefully observed Jia Jing's performance throughout the entire event and found that he was not only remarkably calm throughout, but also possessed exceptional martial arts skills.

It's clear he's someone who keeps a low profile and is incredibly bold.

Even when facing his ancestors and maternal uncle, he was polite and respectful, and always in the right.

Unlike other members of the Jia family who reacted as if they were mice before a cat when they saw their elder father, he did not react this way.

Thinking of this, she glanced at Jia Lian in the hall and Jia Baoyu beside him.

Jia Baoyu was leisurely eating the grapes that Xiren had served him when he heard Daiyu's words.

A pang of sadness welled up inside me as I said:

"What's so special about him! I thought he was a refined gentleman, but it turns out he's nothing more than a parasite obsessed with fame and officialdom!"

Tan Chun wanted to argue a bit, but ultimately didn't say anything.

Daiyu chuckled and started cracking melon seeds, ignoring him.