The Military Governor in Dream of the Red Chamber

"Is it because of the guerrilla commander's promotion?" Liu Cheng asked.

"That's right." Jia Chen nodded. "I didn't quite approve of staying here before because the difference in status between us and Chen Tai was too great, and we didn't have much of a connection. Even if we made a significant contribution this time, the good impression it brought would fade over time. Liu Tianwang is different. We all come from the Beijing Garrison. He's an outsider here, unfamiliar with the place and the people. He needs some familiar and trustworthy subordinates."

"I understand," Jia Mao said with a smile. "We're in the same boat as the guerrilla commander, or rather, the lieutenant general." Jia Mao smiled as well, confirming that it was indeed true.

At first, Jia Mao and Liu Cheng were a little uncomfortable with Jia Chen calling Chen Tai and Liu Tianwang by their given names in private, but they thought it was just a private matter and didn't think much of it, and gradually got used to it.

However, they themselves did not address these important figures by their given names like Jia Chen did.

Jia Mao wasn't stupid. The situation had changed; Liu Tianwang had become a military officer and remained in the North East Road.

So if they stay behind, they won't be completely without support.

Since they both came from the Beijing Garrison and had a great contribution to the front of the mountain, Liu Tianwang would likely pay more attention to them.

This would certainly be much better than continuing to stay in the Beijing garrison.

Of course, this refers to promotion.

In terms of danger level, the border town is definitely more dangerous.

Jia Chen knew this, and ever since he learned that Liu Tianwang had stayed, he had carefully considered his future path.

Without further intervention, the Jia family would surely have collapsed.

He suddenly remembered something he had somewhat overlooked.

The fate of this Great Hong Dynasty will actually be the same as that of the Jia family, collapsing suddenly.

They were just a little later than the Jia family.

Previously, I thought that after the Jia family fell, I should try my best not to be implicated, make more money, and still be able to live a comfortable life.

But the country is gone, foreign tribes have invaded, and the people of the Great Hong Dynasty have all become slaves. Where is there any place for them to live?

This is the end of a dynasty, and chaos is about to begin.

To survive in chaotic times, only strength matters.

This strength is military power.

As long as you have military power and troops, you can attack or defend as needed.

Jia Chen is no longer thinking about what will happen after the Jia family collapses, but rather about the chaotic world after the fall of the Great Hong Dynasty.

He would have no chance of gaining power while in the Beijing garrison.

In Datong Town, there is an opportunity.

Even if one doesn't dare to call themselves a brigade commander or guerrilla, having a thousand men under their command is still a means of survival in chaotic times.

As a centurion, I can lead a hundred soldiers here and I believe I can easily become a centurion.

There are still many years before the Great Hong Dynasty falls. In these few years, Jia Chen feels that he can climb up the ranks again, right?

The chances of leading a thousand people and becoming a commander are quite high.

With troops at your command, you have nothing to fear.

"I won't force you to choose," Jia Chen said.

"Second Uncle, you're right. I'll definitely follow you," Jia Mao said immediately.

Although Jia Chen is young, he has always admired Jia Chen.

If before I only admired Jia Chen's martial arts skills, after the battle at Qianshandun, my admiration for him has only grown stronger.

He had also considered that he was just wasting his time in the Beijing garrison.

My elderly mother is in poor health and needs to see a doctor and get medicine frequently, so I can't always earn money by working as a border guard.

The victory at Qianshandun brought in some silver, but without other income, we'll just be living off our savings.

Returning to the capital and relying on mediocrity to get by is unlikely to be sustainable.

Jia Chen's conditions are so much better than his, and everyone is saying they want to stay, so what is there for him to hesitate about?

"I have nothing to say," Liu Cheng said with a smile.

"Alright, it's settled then." Jia Chen laughed heartily.

Jia Mao and Liu Cheng were people he knew well, people he knew inside and out.

Jia Chen mentioned his decision to Hu Youcai.

After hearing this, Hu Youcai sighed and said, "I'm afraid we'll have to stay here too."

"Father-in-law isn't returning to Beijing?" Jia Chen was a little surprised.

Liu Tianwang stayed here, but I haven't heard of Hu Youcai, the military supervisor, staying as well.

"I'm not going back. I just received news that I'm now the deputy eunuch in charge of the Northeast Circuit. Oh, it will probably take a few more days for the imperial decree to arrive," Hu Youcai said. "That's good, I've been promoted."

If Hu Youcai dared to say that, then this matter is undoubtedly true.

He came from the palace, so he was naturally well-informed.

The eunuch in charge of the garrison was paired with a deputy commander.

Just like the garrison eunuch corresponds to the garrison general.

The imperial court had corresponding means to check and balance military generals.

"Congratulations, Father-in-law," Jia Chen said hurriedly.

"It's just a minor eunuch position; I'd much rather have the position of the main eunuch," Hu Youcai said.

Jia Chen dared not speak.

Feng Shan, the eunuch in charge of Datong Town, landed safely this time and was only reprimanded; there were no other punishments.

These past few days, Jia Chen has been staying by Hu Youcai's side. From Hu Youcai's snippets of conversation, Jia Chen has roughly learned some of Feng Shan's background.

Hu Youcai and Feng Shan don't get along, which means that Feng Shan is not on Dai Quan's side.

Feng Shan's words subtly pointed to the retired emperor.

Because Feng Shan had been serving as the garrison eunuch of Datong Town for nearly ten years, at a time when the Emperor Emeritus was still on the throne.

Now that Hu Youcai has stayed, Jia Chen wonders if he really intends to replace Feng Shan.

Is it the new emperor's intention, or the retired emperor's intention?

It involves power struggles at the top, and Jia Chen's position is too low to know much about it.

Perhaps it was because the imperial court wanted to maintain the balance of power in Datong.

Chen Tai doesn't have much of a background, and even with the addition of Liu Tianwang, an outsider, the imperial court might still be uneasy.

Therefore, by adding Hu Youcai, a eunuch in charge of guarding the area, the power could be better balanced with that of the local military generals.

These are some of Jia Chen's guesses.

For him, it was certainly a good thing that Hu Youcai stayed.

In the future, in this Northeast Road, the deputy commander and the eunuch in charge will all have some connection with me.

This kind of relationship is so rare.

It could make my days in the military a little easier.

Even if there were any merits, it shouldn't have been claimed by those in higher positions.

"To be honest, I thought you were going back to Beijing. But now it's all good. You're still with us, and we won't treat you badly," Hu Youcai said with a smile.

Jia Chen was, after all, a member of the Jia family. He could manage short-term rotations to guard the border, but he had never seen anyone stationed there long-term.

Hu Youcai valued Jia Chen and the other two highly; he only felt at ease when Jia Chen was around.

"I will follow your arrangements, Father-in-law," Jia Chen replied.

Besides safety, being by Hu Youcai's side also meant easier promotions.

No matter how you look at it, Hu Youcai was a powerful eunuch with immense authority.

If he disagrees, it will be difficult to carry out some of Liu Tianwang's plans.

Being close to the leader means you'll naturally get all the benefits first.

Wait until I climb higher up the ranks before considering taking command of troops; a centurion is still too low a rank.

After all, the Great Hong Dynasty won't collapse so quickly; I still have time.

……

Sun family in Datong Town.

In Sun Shaozu's study, the butler stood before him.

Sun Shaozu was in his early twenties, tall and robust.

After all, he came from a military family, so his martial arts skills had never declined, and he was proficient in archery and horsemanship.

A few years ago, his father died of illness, and he took over as the head of the Sun family.

To be honest, he has no brothers or sisters.

Aside from other family members, he was essentially all alone.

Although he is young, he is quite shrewd and good at socializing.

Especially within the military officer system of Datong Town, he had the advantage of being from a military family, and it could be said that he had connections with many of the deputy commanders and brigade generals.

"Master, that's what they said over there. All the goods we shipped north last time have fallen into the hands of the guards at Qianshandun," the steward said.