The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Feng Tang stayed in Jinling for more than ten days. During those ten days, the entire city of Jinling served their military camp.

Although the soldiers did not enter the city, they set up camp three miles away from Jinling.

Among this group of soldiers was a man surnamed Zhu, named Zhu Shang.

He is twenty-eight years old this year. He is tall and strong, and his family used to be an official family, but they have declined in the middle of their lives. Therefore, he also has a courtesy name - Shangjun.

Zhu Shang was from Shandong. In his youth, he had read several military books and developed excellent skills. He originally intended to pursue a career in military examinations and hoped to fight on the battlefield in the future, hoping to earn a title and secure a good reputation for his wife and children.

However, unforeseen events can occur. The military examination system of this dynasty did not require recommendations, unlike the civil service examinations for scholars.

However, since the current emperor ascended the throne, he has made a sweeping decision to require those with official titles to recommend and vouch for the military examinations.

Zhu Shang came from a poor family. Although his ancestors had been wealthy, by his generation, the legacy had long since faded. Therefore, Zhu Shang did not recognize a martial arts graduate.

With no other option, he had to find another way out.

Just then, Shandong was recruiting troops to reorganize an anti-Japanese army, so he signed up.

After joining the army, he fought in battles across the country, from Shandong all the way south to Jiangnan and Fujian. Because of his bravery, he was appreciated by General Yu, the marshal of the anti-Japanese army at the time.

This General Yu's full name was Yu Meiren. He held the rank of Champion General, a third-rank official, and was also young, only in his forties, making him one of the most outstanding figures in the army at that time.

Zhu Shang was also promoted by him and made a captain.

However, for some unknown reason, just before the final battle against the Japanese pirates, the retired emperor issued an imperial edict replacing General Yu with the Grand General of the State, who was also the Duke of Zhenguo, Niu Qing, to lead the troops.

The reason is that General Niu is experienced and mature.

Not long after General Niu took office, Zhu Shang was removed from his post due to some mistakes and became a soldier again.

This commitment lasted for another three years.

Now he was back at the camp outside Jinling City, and seeing his commander's tent brightly lit day and night, with even women's voices coming from inside, he couldn't help but feel unusually angry.

He had read some books and seen Gao Shi's poems, but in this situation, he could only think of one sentence: "Soldiers are half dead and half alive at the front, while beauties sing and dance in their tents."

He was angry, he was indignant, he could only watch helplessly as the firelight flickered in the general's tent late at night, smell the aroma of delicacies he could never taste, and hear the extravagant voices of men and women.

There were many ordinary soldiers in this military camp, but there were also many sons of military generals and nobles.

Everyone knew that this battle would be a crushing victory, and only the ordinary soldiers at the grassroots level would be in danger of losing their lives, while those rich kids who came here because of their ancestors' legacy would definitely return unscathed.

So Zhu Shang wanted to do something outrageous.

Fortunately, he didn't do that.

The reason he didn't do that was certainly not because he was ultimately afraid.

-

As mentioned earlier, Feng Tang recognized Jia Jue at a glance at the welcoming banquet.

Therefore, after the banquet, Jia Jue invited him to the Rongguo Mansion for a chat.

While the two were talking, a maid came over and said a few words to Jia Jue.

Feng Tang then asked him, "Nephew, if you have something to attend to, why don't you go ahead and do it?"

Jia Jue laughed and said, "It's nothing serious, just that my friend came to see me."

"Oh?" Feng Tang smiled and said, "My dear nephew, you've only been in Jinling a short time, yet you already have close friends?"

Jia Jue then said, "I met this person in Jinling. In fact, he has some connection with my uncle."

Feng Tang then asked, "May I ask what the origin of this connection is?"

Jia Jue said, "He is a descendant of the Duke of Liguo, and his name is Xianglian."

"So it was him!" Feng Tang exclaimed in surprise. "I know him. He's quite skilled, but he doesn't like studying. Otherwise, he would have been a martial arts graduate by now."

Having said that, Feng Tang said, "Why don't you let him in, my dear nephew? I'd like to see him too."

Left with no other choice, Jia Jue said to the maid, "Please invite Master Liu in."

A moment later, the sound of footsteps could be heard.

Feng Tang looked up towards the door and saw a young man, dressed in bright brocade, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a gleaming sword hanging at his waist, walking in with high spirits.

Feng Tang exclaimed, "What a brilliant Liu Xianglian!"

Liu Xianglian entered and bowed to Feng Tang, saying, "Greetings, General."

Then he sat down without saying anything more.

Feng Tang, however, became interested in Xianglian and asked him, "I've heard that your swordsmanship is unparalleled, but I wonder if you've practiced archery, horsemanship, or spearmanship besides swordsmanship? Have you read any military books? If you were to join the army, you would surely become a valiant general!"

Liu Xianglian originally did not want to speak with the officials in the capital, believing that most of them were good-for-nothings. However, Feng Tang had come to Jiangnan to eliminate the Japanese pirates and was doing real work. Moreover, Jia Jue was still here, so he had to give Jia Jue face.

He replied, "I have also practiced archery and horsemanship. As for spearmanship—I'm not bragging, but I am proficient in all kinds of weapons, including swords, spears, clubs, halberds, hooks, and forks. As for military strategy, I read a few books when my father was still alive when I was young."

Feng Tang laughed and said, "My dear nephew, you certainly have a good way of doing things."

The three exchanged a few more words, and Feng Tang said, "Since the three of us are having such a pleasant conversation, why don't we go to the military camp together?"

Upon hearing Feng Tang's words, both Jia Jue and Liu Xianglian's hearts changed.

Jia Jue said, "This is a military camp, a place where ordinary people like us are not allowed to go."

Feng Tang laughed and said, "Why do you say that, my dear nephew? You two are descendants of military merit, so what's wrong with going? Besides, this is no longer the time of Emperor Taizu. With our families, what difference would it make if we went? Although you have already achieved fame and success, the military is the foundation of our family's fortune. You should at least go and see it for yourself."

Jia Jue forced a smile and said, "Uncle, this is not a good idea. What if the Embroidered Uniform Guard sees this..."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Feng Tang laughed. "Jue-ge'er has been in the capital for too long and is too cautious. Once outside the capital, how can the Embroidered Uniform Guard still have such extensive connections? Even within the capital, what can they do? Ever since the year the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was beaten to death by a group of civil and military officials in the Golden Palace, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can only manage affairs within the royal family and the capital. Outside the capital, who is who?"

Looking at Feng Tang's appearance, Jia Jue suddenly realized that his previous impression of Feng Tang was wrong; he was just like many other good-for-nothings in the capital.

He just has some real skills and can lead troops.

So Jia Jue and Liu Xianglian followed him to the military camp.

Throughout the journey, although Liu Xianglian endured it very well, Jia Jue could still tell that he was angry.

"Military camps are sacred grounds; how can outsiders be allowed to enter? How can they be allowed to merely observe them? It is precisely because of such people, and so many of them, that our dynasty is showing signs of decline, and that our army suffers repeated defeats! How foolish! How arrogant!"

Jia Jue didn't speak, he just shook his head.

In this military camp, they met Zhu Shang.