Chapter 459: Second Rank Promotion Reward!

Dong Fu.

Jingming Hall.

This main hall was originally built when Jia Zhen was present, and all its furnishings were extravagantly luxurious:

A massive desk carved from rosewood with a coiled dragon, a floor covered with gold‑thread woven prayer mats, antiquarian shelves on all four sides displaying bronze artifacts of the Shang and Zhou periods whose authenticity is uncertain, and even the pillars are wrapped in copper sheets engraved with gilded cloud patterns.

After Jia Jing moved in, he kept only the large desk and a few chairs; everything else was removed.

Now the main hall's four walls are empty, the golden‑brick floor shines like a mirror, and it exudes a stark, martial austerity.

On the left side of the hall, at some unknown time, a sand table transferred from the army was placed.

The sand table is enormous, occupying almost half the hall; it is piled with the mountains, rivers, and streams of the capital region, Guard Posts, and passes, each official road and each agricultural settlement marked clearly with fine sand and wooden pieces.

At this moment Jia Jing had returned from the palace, seated on a grand horse‑mounted golden sword behind the hall's low table, his gaze calm as he surveyed the four people standing below.

These four are the system's reward for his promotion to Second Rank, each one an extraordinary talent!

The first, about forty years old, tall and lanky, with broad shoulders and a wide back yet not crude, has a lean, clean face, three long whiskers beneath his chin, trimmed impeccably.

His eyebrows and eyes are gentle, but his pupils hold a calm, almost austere certainty; standing steadily in the hall, his armor shows no murderous aura, appearing as natural as everyday clothing.

Only when he draws his sword does the old callus on his palm reveal his general's nature.

The second stands eight chi tall, with a tiger's back and bear's waist, a face like purple sandalwood, high cheekbones, sharply cut brow bones, deep eagle‑sharp eyes, and a short beard under his jaw exposing the flesh.

Even standing still, he resembles a fully drawn bow; his voice sounds like a great bell, his smile reveals white teeth, yet it sends a chill down one's spine, exuding a terrifying aura!

The third is young and fierce, with a sharp edge that cannot be hidden in his brows and eyes; tall and broad‑shouldered, his sharply angular face always bears a half‑smile.

His armor is polished to a gleam, his cloak bright red, and he looks like a blaze at its peak; especially his eyes, bright as a newly forged blade, sharp and scorching.

The fourth is of medium build, with a pale face and slight whiskers, clear brows and eyes, distinct lip lines; he does not look like a general but rather a well‑read civil official.

His gaze lacks murderous intent, yet possesses a penetrating sharpness, like a treasured sword hidden in its sheath.

"We have seen you, my lord!" As Jia Jing was assessing them, the four bowed and saluted him together.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Jia Jing's eyes, and with a slight sigh he said:

"Everyone, no need for ceremony! How fortunate I am to receive assistance from Tian De, Bo Ren, Jing Chang, and Yuan Jing—you four!"

"With you all here, many upcoming matters will be much easier! My military reforms can now be more flexible!"

Xu Da, styled Tian De! A native of Hao, from a farming family.

Chang Yuchun, styled Bo Ren, from Huaiyuan. He has a striking appearance, unparalleled bravery and strength, and a monkey‑like arm adept at archery.

Lan Yu, styled Jing Chang.

Qi Jiguang, styled Yuan Jing.

Jia Jing did not expect that the reward for his Second Rank promotion would be such a grand package, granting him four top generals at once, the most outstanding four commanders in over two centuries of Ming history!

There is no need to speak of Xu Da; he was the foremost founding hero of the Ming Dynasty, a military genius personally praised by Zhu Yuanzhang as the "Great Wall".

He commanded over twenty major battles in his life, captured Jiqing, pacified Chen Youliang, annihilated Zhang Shicheng, led the northern campaign that overthrew the Yuan, reclaimed the sixteen Yanyun prefectures lost for four hundred years, and secured ninety percent of the Da Ming territory.

Chang Yuchun was the Ming Dynasty's first great warlord, fierce and battle‑proven, never suffering defeat in his lifetime,

His martial skill was supreme, his long arms excelled at archery, always leading the vanguard; he claimed he could lead a hundred thousand troops to roam the world, and the army nicknamed him "Chang Ten‑Ten‑Thousand".

In the Battle of Caishi Cliff he leapt ashore and settled the fight in one blow; at the Battle of Longwan he shattered Chen Youliang's army of hundreds of thousands, and at the Poyang Lake battle he bravely led the Ming forces to annihilate Chen's troops.

Lan Yu may be slightly inferior to the previous two, but unquestionably he is a top early‑Ming general.

Zhu Yuanzhang likened his military talent to that of Wei Qing and Li Jing; he excelled in long‑range raids and large‑scale troop engagements, and his victory at the Battle of Banyu'er Sea directly crushed the main Northern Yuan forces.

As for Qi Jiguang, he was the premier military strategist of the mid‑to‑late Ming, with a lifetime of brilliant campaigns: pacifying Japanese pirates in the south, defending against the Mongols in the north, achieving nine victories along the southeastern coast, and completely eradicating the Japanese threat;

He guarded Jizhou for sixteen years, deterring Mongol cavalry from advancing south, truly embodying "I do not seek titles, only peace on the seas".

Later records note he fought hundreds of land and water battles without a single loss, earning the title "Great Ming War God".

More remarkable, he not only excelled in warfare but also left valuable contributions in training and theory.

He invented the "Mandarin Duck Formation," combining long and short weapons with flexible tactics to counter Japanese swords; he recruited volunteer farmers and miners to form the "Qi Family Army," enforcing strict discipline and equipping them with improved weapons such as wolf‑blade spears.

He also authored "New Book of Military Merit" and "Practical Record of Training," systematically summarizing training methods and tactics, revered by countless later generals as a model.

Without exaggeration, each of these four is capable of commanding hundreds of thousands of troops,

Moreover, each remains a rare unmatched talent in today's Da Han Empire.

So-called great Da Han generals like Nian Gengyao and Yue Zhongqi appear somewhat inferior before them!

And Jia Jing, now seated with four famed generals, truly possesses the capital to dominate the world and suppress all directions.

It must be said, although Jia Jing's personal martial prowess and military quality were outstanding, he had few reliable subordinates.

Aside from Zhu Que, only Qin Qiong of Liaodong could earn his absolute trust!

As for Niu Jizong, Feng Tang, Ma Guocheng, Shi Ding, You Shiyong, Feng Ziying and the like, either their abilities are mediocre or they have tangled connections, making Jia Jing hesitant to entrust them with major tasks.

But now, with Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu, and Qi Jiguang, the situation changes dramatically.

As long as these four oversee the generals and control the Da Han's million‑strong army, his foundation becomes instantly truly solid!

He now has no worries; he can freely reorganize military affairs and even reshape the Da Han at will!

"By your command, we shall walk through fire and water, swearing to follow you to death!" The four, with respectful expressions, clasped their hands in unison.

Undoubtedly, characters produced by the system have loyalty maxed out!

Jia Jing waved his hand, his eyes showing admiration, and said:

"Please, all sit down!"

Soon after the four were seated, Zhu Que hurried into the hall, his expression solemn as he handed Jia Jing a slip of paper, saying:

"Lord, this is intelligence just sent over from the Dingcheng Marquis's residence! My subordinates have already had the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate; the information is solid and accurate!"

Jia Jing's expression froze, halting his conversation with the four; he took the slip, narrowed his eyes, and sneered:

"How fitting that the emperor emerges from Jinzhou City, turning the capital region into a battlefield; they cannot handle proper affairs but excel at conspiracies and tricks!"

The slip clearly recorded the scene that just occurred inside the council hall of the Prince of Nan'an's residence, detailing who said what and their expressions, as vivid as if seen with one's own eyes.