Red Mansion: Incense and God Road, starting from the City God of Shenjing

Chapter 52: Jia Cong gathers his troops to guard the capital camp
"I tamed this mount accidentally during a previous outing."

Jia Cong answered casually, but his attention was entirely on the official road along the way.

There seem to be several times more pedestrians on the official road today than in the past.

Most of them were ragged people, and many of them had families with them.

"Manager Xia, are these refugees?"

Jia Cong asked after thinking about it.

“Anywhere has been hit by disasters this year?”

"Your Majesty, you don't know that the capital is rich, and every autumn and winter, many dignitaries will give out porridge and charity for various reasons."

"Over time, every year at this time, there will be people suffering and their families coming to Shenjing to beg and try their luck."

Xia Shouzhong was not just a close attendant of Emperor Shunde or the chief steward of the imperial palace.

He also heads the Imperial City Division, the intelligence agency under Emperor Shunde.

“But this year, there are indeed many more people coming than in previous years.”

"Is there a disaster somewhere?"

"I know that the Marquis is a kind-hearted person. When the news arrives in a few days, the Ministry of Revenue will mobilize money and grain for disaster relief."

"I see!"

Jia Cong nodded.

The Beijing camp was stationed in the south.

It is only fifteen miles away from Shenjing City.

It was originally divided into four parts to guard the capital, and later Daqian enjoyed peace for a long time.

Then some civil officials wrote to the emperor, saying that Shenjing was the capital of the country and should not be surrounded by the atmosphere of war and killing, as it would be detrimental to the culture and elegance of the country.

That's why it was moved to its current location.

As they were talking, the group arrived at a camp that stretched for twenty miles.

"The eunuch Xia Shouzhong, who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department, has come to announce the decree that the new commander of the Beijing Camp, Marquis Zi Yi Jia Cong, will take office."

"Go and report immediately!"

Xia Shouzhong stepped forward and stated his identity.

After hearing this, the guard did not dare to delay and hurried back to the camp.

Soon, a dozen armored officers came on horseback to greet them.

"General Zheng Shangdong is appointed as the deputy commander of the Beijing Camp!"

"Greetings to General Manager Xia, and General Jia!"

After dismounting, he was visibly stunned when he saw Jia Cong riding on a white tiger.

But he quickly reacted.

He knelt on one knee.

I felt uneasy.

In Shenjing City, he is the only one who can wear purple robe at such an age.

Your Majesty sent this evil god to take charge of the Beijing camp.

I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse.

……

"Get up, take me into the camp, and hand over the military power."

Jia Cong rode on a white tiger and looked down at everyone.

Previously investigated.

After the death of Wang Ziteng and Zhao Qi, the highest-ranking official in the Beijing Camp was Zheng Shangdong.

Deputy Commander of the Beijing Camp.

He is over 40 years old and comes from a poor family.

Now he has reached the seventh level of acquired martial arts strength.

It's a pity that my potential has been exhausted. Without a fortuitous encounter, I will have no hope of becoming a martial arts master in this lifetime.

His advantage lies in his maturity, meticulousness and carefulness.

"promise!"

Zheng Shangdong took the order.

He took Jia Cong and his party into the camp.

The Beijing camp exercises once every three days. There was no exercise today, but the camp was in good order.

Jia Cong saw it and nodded secretly in his heart.

Arrived at the big tent.

Xia Shouzhong first read the imperial edict in public, and then Jia Cong took out the half tiger talisman and seal that he had just obtained from the palace.

Wait until verification.

It is the boundary of documents.

"General, these are the documents on the Beijing Camp's organization, personnel, equipment, and food supplies. They are all recorded here."

This part is more complicated.

There were dozens of rosters alone, and including other items, they filled up half of the tent.

Jia Cong spent half an hour patiently reading through some records on food, fodder, and equipment.

I noticed some slight deviations, but they were minor details and there were no major omissions.

"Deputy Commander Zheng, the Fenwu Camp is short of 3,000 dan of food and fodder."

"The three thousand soldiers in the Guoyong Camp are missing fifty horses!"

"Within three days, I will know the outcome."

Jia Cong casually pointed out two mistakes and criticized Zheng Shangdong.

Keep the rest in mind and don't worry about it anymore.

Those in a high position need to be good at managing others.

This kindness does not mean that you cannot tolerate any flaws in your eyes.

Instead, he knew that some things were more important than others. "I was negligent before, I hope you will forgive me, sir."

"It will be handled within three days!"

Zheng Shangdong's back was soaked with cold sweat.

He knelt on one knee and apologized.

"Stand up. I am not someone who cannot tolerate any injustice, but I hate those who deceive their superiors and subordinates."

"Deputy Commander Zheng should keep this in mind from now on."

Jia Cong nodded calmly, turned to Xia Shouzhong and invited him: "Manager Xia, the transaction is complete."

"Why don't you come with me to review the soldiers of the Beijing Camp?"

"I will leave it to you, my Lord."

Xia Shouzhong had a flattering look on his face.

There were officers in the tent who were not of high enough status and position and did not know who Jia Cong was.

It was great to see that Xia Shouzhong, the new prime minister, was so respectful and flattering to Jia Cong.

He even called himself an old slave, and felt awe in his heart.

"Deputy Commander Zheng, pass on my order!"

"Beat the drums and gather the soldiers. All the soldiers will assemble on the training ground!"

"promise!"

"The general has given the order. Beat the drums to gather the troops!"

"The general has given the order. Beat the drums to gather the troops!"

……

A moment later, rapid and tense drumbeats rang out throughout the camp.

Jia Cong and his entourage arrived at the parade ground and the reviewing platform.

Soldiers from the 12th Regiment came one after another and stood at designated positions while the officers counted their numbers.

After the three-way drum

The huge parade ground was filled with soldiers.

The troops were in neat order, with shiny helmets and armor.

The flags are fluttering and rustling.

"General, the capital's 12th regiment camp."

"A total of 118,421 people."

"One hundred and eighty-eight thousand one hundred and fifteen people were present."

"Among them, 381 people took sick leave."

"Twenty-five people are overdue!"

After a while, the troops were checked.

Zheng Shangdong reported loudly.

"Go and capture the twenty-five people who are overdue."

"This is my first time to call up the troops. Let's see who is overdue."

"promise!"

……

"Let me go! Do you know who I am?"

"How dare you, a bunch of stinking bastards, to commit treason."

"It's insulting, it's insulting."

After a while, there was a commotion, and soldiers brought the 25 officers who were overdue into the parade ground.

There are officials from general flags to thousand households, with different official positions.

However, their armor was in tatters, and some of them didn't even wear armor.

Just dress like a Confucian scholar.

Even when he was brought before Jia Cong, he still did not behave himself.

Shouting loudly.

……

"Sir, many people have been inserted into the Ministry of War over the years."

"I am a lowly general and have little power, so there is nothing I can do."

Zheng Shangdong explained in a low voice.

In the earliest military system of Daqian, all the troops in the world were under the jurisdiction of the Five Military Commanderies.

However, the past events of the former Tang Dynasty were still fresh in people’s minds. How could the royal family feel at ease allowing these generals and nobles to continue to hold military power?

He turned a blind eye to the small actions of the civil officials.

To this day, the Five Military Governorates has only nominal jurisdiction.

The real power is in the hands of a group of civil officials in the Ministry of War.

The use of culture to control military power has begun to show signs of happening.

"I don't want to know why you're overdue."

"I'm not interested in knowing."

"Deputy Commander Zheng, according to military law, what should we do if the third drum beat has not arrived?"

Jia Cong had a blank expression on his face, but Zheng Shangdong, who had guessed something, looked horrified.

However, he accidentally met Jia Cong's indifferent eyes.

Thinking of the murderous nature of the person in front of him as rumored in Shenjing.

I shivered subconsciously.

"Reply to the general, if the third drum beats have not yet arrived, all of you will be executed according to the law!"

……

(End of this chapter)