The Military Governor in Dream of the Red Chamber

"We've done our best. Whether it works or not, we'll leave it to fate," Hu Youcai said calmly when he saw Liu Tianwang looking at him.

This kind of thing definitely requires his cooperation as the military supervisor.

"However, in my opinion, His Majesty is wise and surely aware of the dire situation here. I believe he will definitely provide support," Hu Youcai said with a slight smile. "It shouldn't be a problem to transfer a battalion from the Beijing Garrison. In a few days, there should be news from the capital, and it will likely be necessary for you, Lord Liu, to return to the capital to select the troops."

Hu Youcai added that it was no longer so ambiguous.

Upon hearing Hu Youcai's words, Liu Tianwang's face lit up with joy.

He had previously asked Hu Youcai about it, but Hu Youcai kept making small talk, which made him uneasy.

It turns out that we already had information about this dead eunuch.

This was a good thing, so Liu Tianwang didn't bother arguing with Hu Youcai anymore.

"Let me choose my men?" Liu Tianwang asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Only the troops you choose yourself can be better commanded. His Majesty probably doesn't want any more problems to arise in the border towns," Hu Youcai said.

Liu Tianwang nodded in agreement.

If it was assigned by the Beijing garrison, who knows what kind of disgusting things Wang Ziteng would stuff in.

By then, they will all be a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people. What use will they be except to increase their own burden?

He naturally had some trusted men in the Beijing garrison. Although they were not many, if he really had to choose, he would definitely bring them to the Northeast Road.

These are the people he truly trusts.

"Jia Chen, if I return to the capital, you will come with me," Liu Tianwang said to Jia Chen. "I don't know how often I'll be able to return in the future."

Jia Chen's expression changed; Liu Tianwang's move was truly considerate of his subordinates.

Although Datong Town is about 700 li from the capital, and it would normally take three or four days to get there by horseback, it was not a place one could leave casually because of the military presence in the border town.

If one really needs to ask for leave to go home and visit relatives, one must obtain the approval of one's superior.

No matter how good the relationship is, it's impossible for me to let you take leave so frequently.

Often, these low-ranking soldiers spend their entire lives stationed in border towns, rarely returning to their hometowns.

"But don't worry too much about not being able to go home in the future. As long as the border town is safe, I will allow you to go back once a year." Liu Tianwang thought that Jia Chen was sad because he couldn't go home.

"Thank you, sir." Jia Chen hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Jia Chen wasn't actually in a rush to return to Beijing to visit his family.

His most important task now is to achieve merit and be promoted as much as possible.

Once you're promoted, it will be much easier to return to the capital to visit relatives and friends.

Even when there were no northern barbarians attacking, building fortified villages was one of their achievements, and Jia Chen dared not neglect it.

The speed and quality of the construction of Tunpu were matters of life and death, not just merit.

"Of course, besides letting you explain things to your family, the main purpose of this trip back is to let you select some trusted subordinates from the Beijing garrison, understand?" Liu Tianwang said. "This way, we can strengthen the future of Qianshan Fort. Your next position will be the garrison commander and centurion of Qianshan Fort."

"Yes, I understand."

That's more like it.

Simply going home to visit relatives wouldn't warrant Liu Tianwang making a special request; the key is selecting the right people.

Jia Chen had no objection to this and wholeheartedly agreed, believing that it was best to choose someone you trusted.

From these aspects, it can be seen that Liu Tianwang does indeed value himself.

With this support, the future of Jia Chen Qianshan Fort is quite promising.

He was about to take the first step in leading an army.

How far you can go in the future depends on the beginning.

Will the fortified city of Qianshan fall and everyone perish, or will it hold out and allow one to advance in rank?

We have to give it our all.

As for General Bai, that's normal.

He was already a centurion, so it was only natural for him to serve as a centurion in the army.

However, whether he can actually lead a hundred soldiers is another matter entirely.

After all, the military is facing a huge shortage of personnel.

Upon returning, Jia Chen immediately informed Jia Mao and Liu Cheng of the matter.

After hearing this, Jia Mao immediately started complaining.

He didn't think this was a good thing.

Even if Qianshandun were expanded into a fortified village, it would still be an isolated fort outside the Great Wall, facing a large influx of northern barbarians heading south, which would be too dangerous.

"The orders from above have already been given; we have no choice but to go," Liu Cheng said calmly.

Jia Mao was just venting his frustrations.

What right do these low-ranking soldiers have to bargain with their superiors?

"Yes, we have no choice," Jia Chen sighed. "Fortunately, the military commander will give us the greatest support. As long as the fortress is strong enough, the fortifications are perfect enough, and the defenders are brave enough, I believe we can fight back even against the northern barbarians."

"That's good. Wang Baisheng and the others are back. Everyone knows each other, which is good," Jia Mao said.

These are all brothers who have been through life and death together, which makes people feel more at ease in this town.

Jia Chen and his two companions did not set off for Qianshandun until the third day.

During this period, Jia Chen met with Liu Tianwang twice more.

The main focus was on a detailed discussion of the expansion of Qianshandun.

Liu Tianwang's plan was to expand Qianshandun into a fortified village with a circumference of about 1 li (500 meters).

It's not that we don't want to expand the scale, but we simply have limited funds; building Qianshan Fort alone cost a thousand taels of silver.

Given the scale of the fortifications, Jia Chen drew a sketch specifically for the layout and design of the fortifications and the interior of the castle.

Liu Tianwang saw the various defensive fortifications, trenches, horse traps, and so on marked on the map.

It is much larger in scale than the previous one at Qianshandun.

The city wall was two zhang high, and due to limited conditions, it could only be compacted with mud.

After all, it was just a fortified village, and it couldn't be as sturdy as larger fortified villages like Zhenqiang Fort and Desheng Fort, which were fortified with brick and stone walls.

As for returning to Beijing, it will probably take some time, probably half a month, according to Hu Youcai.

That's why Jia Chen decided to go to Qianshandun first to quickly get the preliminary preparations for the expansion.

Time waits for no one. If we don't build Qianshan Fort while the Chahar tribe is not moving south, we'll miss our chance.

Jia Chen and his two companions returned to Zhenqiang Fort first, where they needed to pay their respects to He Liding, the garrison commander.

After the completion of Qianshan Fort, it was said that Liu Tianwang personally oversaw its affairs, but it was still basically under the jurisdiction of Zhenqiang Fort.

In other words, He Liding will be Jia Chen's direct superior.

He Liding warmly received Jia Chen and his two companions, accompanied by Gao Gou, the former commander of the Beijing garrison stationed at Zhenqiang Fort.

Normally, a centurion like Jia Chen wouldn't be worthy of He Liding's enthusiasm, but Jia Chen is a bit special.

The victory at Qianshandun made Jia Chen's name widely known here, and He Liding also knew that Jia Chen was valued by Liu Tianwang and then Hu Youcai.

That was a favorite of the military commander and the eunuch in charge of the garrison, so he still had to give him face, at least on the surface.

Gao Gou looked at Jia Chen, his heart filled with mixed feelings of envy and jealousy.

To be honest, he was a deputy commander of a thousand households, holding a higher rank than Jia Chen, who was a centurion.

But when it comes to power, that's debatable.

If he had a full complement of men, that would be fine, but the problem is he only has about two hundred men.

Jia Chen's appointment as a garrison commander was essentially a smaller version of the Zhenqiang Fort garrison commander.

From now on, Jia Chen will have the final say in all matters within Qianshan Fort.

If the garrison commander has two centurions under his command, then Jia Chen, the fortress commander, can also command two centurions.

However, with the construction of Qianshan Fort, Jia Chen took on all these responsibilities concurrently.

Such power was not something Gao Gou, the commander, possessed; he was only responsible for military affairs.

Of course, Qianshanbao is outside the Great Wall, and the thought of that made Gao Gou feel a little better.

If he had to choose, he would probably prefer to stay in Zhenqiang Fort, where it is safer.