The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 185 Awakening
One of the roads to the capital was along the Nine Border Post Road, which had post stations and well-maintained roads along the way, making transportation and accommodation convenient, but it required passing through Tiancheng City.

Tiancheng City was formerly Tiancheng Guard, an important frontline hub in the Datong area. That's why the Ming Dynasty established Tiancheng Guard here. Now it has been renamed Tiancheng City, and a military camp called Tiancheng Army has also been established.

According to the Ministry of War's troop roster, the number of battalion soldiers in the Datong area was 30,000, and the total number of local militia and civilians was 90,000, for a total force of 120,000.

In addition to the Yongxing Army and Tiancheng Army in Datong, there are six other battalions, including the Weiyuan Army and Gaoshan Army. The Yongxing Army has 10,000 men, while the other five armies have varying numbers of men and women, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000. In case of war, they can recruit local militia and soldiers.

To this day, two battalions and companies have lost their names. The Gaoshan Army and Weiyuan Army have only retained their names, with only the old and weak remaining. Apart from the Yongxing Army under Feng Yong, only the Tiancheng Army is still decent.

The general of Tiancheng Army was named Hu Liyong, who was also Feng Yong's most threatening opponent in Datong. However, Feng Yong was powerful, and in general, Hu Liyong mostly obeyed Feng Yong's military orders. Feng Yong also sent his confidants to partially control Tiancheng Army.

In the current situation, the biggest winner is Zhang Wenjin, who has completely taken control of Datong affairs, followed by Hu Liyong.

Like a pie falling from the sky, after Feng Yong returned to the capital, the Tiancheng Army was essentially back in his hands. Of course, the situation in Datong had changed; it was no longer dominated by generals, but by civil officials like Zhang Wenjin.

Because of Hu Liyong, Feng Yong was unwilling to choose this route to avoid being humiliated by him. Feng Yong believed Hu Liyong was a despicable man and was capable of such actions, so he chose the south route, passing through Xiaowutai Mountain to reach the capital region via Zijing Pass.

This road happens to be the main road from Yanmen Pass to the capital. Feng Yong took a long detour, which led to the unexpected encounter between the two in Qiuling.

"General Wang." Because of his obesity, Feng Yong couldn't bear the long journey on horseback. In the mountains, a carriage was not as comfortable as a sedan chair, so he chose a sedan chair and had already lifted the curtain.

His personal guards were not the only ones around him; more than a hundred laborers and soldiers were also mobilized to carry his sedan chair and push large carts loaded with luggage.

Wang Xin had also heard that there were nearly a hundred vehicles in Datong City used for transporting luggage, which were Feng Yong's accumulated assets over the years.

There were less than ten carts in front of him, which should be Feng Yong's most beloved or most valuable ones, which he personally took care of and transported back to the capital. Feng Yong shouldn't be a fool, and there's also a strong possibility that they were used as gifts.

The biggest expenses for the military are twofold: the initial costs of forming the military and the long-term maintenance costs.

Feng Yong must have had assets worth several hundred thousand taels of silver. If he had 10,000 troops under his command, plus the troops stationed in various parts of Datong, would he have been forced into such a situation by his own 2,000 men?

Upon hearing Feng Yong's greeting, Wang Xin stopped thinking about these random things, dismounted, pulled Shi Ping aside, and walked forward, bowing and saying, "Wang Xin, the guerrilla general of Yanmen Pass, pays respects to the military governor of Yongxing Town, Datong."

"Good, good, good." Feng Yong's eyes narrowed into slits as he got out of the sedan chair and waved to Wang Xin.

If it weren't for the tense atmosphere between the two sides, one would think they had a good relationship.

Without hesitation, Wang Xin walked over. In his haste, Shi Ping cried out, "General, don't go!" The other young guards quickly followed, fearing something might happen to their general.

As soon as they moved, the other side moved too.

Wang Xin stopped and turned around to instruct Shi Ping and the others to stay where they were. Although Shi Ping and the others were unwilling, they dared not disobey the general's orders and could only watch the situation nervously, ready to make a move at any moment.

Feng Yong's personal guards, unable to wait for their master's orders, had no choice but to make way.

Feng Yong sat in the sedan chair, the curtain was lifted, and he leaned forward, his eyes filled with curiosity. He couldn't help but ask, "General Wang seems quite bold. Are you really not afraid of me, or do you think I dare not?"

Wang Xin laughed and said, "I serve in the same court as the military commander, so how could the military commander say that he is trying to harm me?"

Upon hearing Wang Xin's explanation, Feng Yong nodded and sighed, "I underestimated you after all. Your defeat is not unjust."

This statement can be considered a compliment to Wang Xin.

Wang Xin was not surprised.

Feng Yong has already accepted the return to the capital, how could he possibly harm me? If he had the intention to perish together with me, he would have gone all out when he had more troops than me before, instead of now that he has given up his military power and is trying to fight me to the death.

The fact that this person was carrying so much wealth is the best proof of it.

So this person probably didn't come to make an enemy, but rather to take the opportunity to ease the conflict with him. Feng Yong used to be a local tyrant in Datong. When he returns to the capital, the situation there will be complicated. Why would he easily make enemies?

It's not that this person doesn't hate him. If given the chance, Wang Xin believes this person wouldn't miss it. It's just that for now, he doesn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, and neither does he want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

Because neither he nor he himself could kill the other party at the moment, Wang Xin believed that even if he didn't have any personal guards by his side, Feng Yong wouldn't let his personal guards do it.

He has a hundred or two hundred guards and laborers around him; the truth can't be kept secret. By the same token, I wouldn't do the same. Feng Yong no longer poses a threat to me; killing him would only bring me trouble.

Seeing that Wang Xin didn't speak, Feng Yong guessed that the man didn't want to talk to him. If it weren't for the chance encounter, the two probably wouldn't have greeted each other in the capital.

But I'm not willing to accept it.

Feng Yong finally couldn't help but ask, "Although I was initially impolite to the general, I didn't go too far. As long as the general is willing to abide by my rules, the general will certainly not be shortchanged. Why did the general refuse? As a result, we have both suffered losses today. Doesn't the general also have to return to the capital to report for duty and await the court's judgment?"

His tone was full of resentment, revealing his true feelings. "It seems the General still doesn't understand," Wang Xin said with a smile.

Feng Yong was stunned and didn't react.

Seeing this, Wang Xin laughed and said, "The court sent me to Yanmen Pass because the military commander's abilities were questionable. The military commander thought that by winning me over, the problem would be solved. He has completely misunderstood the reason. If I were to collude with the military commander, the court would immediately replace me."

Feng Yong blinked, still not understanding. Unwilling to give up until he figured it out, he politely asked, "Why?"

"The commander's failure was not due to his ambition, but to his lack of ability. He failed to stop the Yehu tribe. If only the commander could stop the Yehu tribe, how could the court dare to make a move against him?"

Wang Xin laid out his thoughts in full, hoping that Feng Yong would truly understand.

Feng Yong remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He had many things he wanted to say, such as his many grievances and his methods, but in the end, he could only sigh.

“Talented people emerge in every generation. I admire General Wang’s vision.”

After leaving those words, Feng Yong didn't press the matter further. Wang Xin took his leave, and watching the group ride away on horseback, Feng Yong felt that he was truly getting old.

"General, is this person really that powerful?" a trusted confidant asked curiously.

Feng Yong shook his head and said sarcastically, "Young people think they are special just because they have some talent, that they can change the world, but they don't understand the dangers of the world. He will understand when he has suffered enough."

As the leader of the army, he was the one whose word was law.

Once they leave the army or are separated, don't the generals below them want to step up?
You can know a person's face but not their heart. What haven't you experienced in your life? Those subordinates who seem so loyal on the surface might be harboring some wicked schemes. And those who are taciturn and appear honest might be the most insidious of all.

Young people mock themselves for being foolish and incompetent, but they don't realize that the more foolish their actions, the more stable they become.

He's still young, and young people are easily trusting. He thinks that because he has high prestige, his subordinates won't have any ulterior motives and will only prioritize their own interests. Feng Yong wants to see what happens.

When this young man suffers a major setback, that will be my chance for revenge.

"Let's go." Feng Yong lowered the curtain, sat back down, and the group set off.

The military governor who had been stationed in Datong for twenty years was about to return to the capital to report on his duties. The last time he returned to the capital was ten years ago, and the capital was abuzz with discussion.

Jia Zheng was shocked, even more so than when he heard the news of Datong last time.

While most others were discussing Feng Yong, Jia Zheng was more concerned about Wang Xin. Upon learning that Wang Xin was also returning to the capital, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, telling Lady Wang, "Your Wang family's general is returning to the capital."

"Has something happened to him?" Madam Wang asked in surprise.

Jia Zheng smiled and said, "That's a good thing."

Hearing that it was good news, Madam Wang didn't bother to ask any further questions. She sneered inwardly, thinking, "No wonder I was puzzled when Jia Zheng came to sit in my room. It turns out it's the same as before."

However, he used to be the elder brother, but now he has become Wang Xin.

In the past, whenever his elder brother was promoted, made a contribution, or seized an opportunity, Jia Zheng would come over.

Even though his wife didn't ask, Jia Zheng couldn't help but say, "Wang Xin has made a great contribution to the court this time, solving a major problem perfectly. Even the Grand Secretary praised him in public, and the Ministry of War has also given him high praise."

"Is he going to be promoted again?" Madam Wang finally couldn't hold back and began to ask with concern.

"Promotion must be difficult. The cabinet hasn't revealed anything, and the Ministry of War hasn't given any hints either. But he's young, he can wait," Jia Zheng remarked.

A guerrilla general in his twenties with countless merits, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will eventually rise through the ranks. The only question is how high he will climb; perhaps the Jia family will truly need his help in the future.

Therefore, Jia Zheng had no choice but to make a trip to ease the tension between himself and his wife.

Although Lady Wang was aloof, she still had her own emotions. How could she not be happy that Jia Zheng would humbly come to her? Even if nothing else happened, her position in the mansion was becoming increasingly unshakeable.

Madam Wang said, "I'll tell Feng'er later that Wang Xin has been traveling back and forth a lot and is tired. Tell the people in the manor to take good care of him."

Jia Zheng immediately nodded, "That's how it should be." After saying that, he paused for a moment, as if he had thought of something.

Since the death of her eldest son, Lady Wang has become indifferent and ignores Jia Zheng. The room fell silent, and the maids carefully kept quiet.

(End of this chapter)