Chapter 72: Going to Bashang Daying

It can be said that each Jingnan Wuxun holds a high position and wields military authority, which is why, even after nearly ten years on the throne, Jing Sheng Di still has to take them into consideration.

Zhu Que continued:

"Among the Four Marquises in Jing, the Marquises of Nanxiong and Yongjia are the supreme emperor's absolute confidants, each commanding three thousand Ye Lin troops, primarily to guard the Dragonhead Palace."

"The Marquises of Linchuan and Zhongqin, however, hold real power in Bashang Daying and have many confidants. Since the founding emperor, Bashang Daying has been under the control of Jingnan Wuxun, and most of its Zhonglang Generals and Commandants are people from Jingnan Wuxun's side."

Jia Jing's complexion darkened at the words; from the Military Governor, the Deputy Military Governor, down to the Zhonglang Generals and Commandants, most of Bashang Daying belong to Jingnan's side, which he had already known.

If that were not the case, Jing Sheng Di would not have needed to dispatch him to reorganize Bashang Daying, returning his imperial sword and two hundred thousand taels of military provisions.

He probably knows that without a major purge, it would be hard to seize control of Bashang Daying's hundred‑thousand‑strong army in a short time.

"The Marquises of Linchuan and Zhongqin must be discussing how to deal with me, the Military Governor, right? Bashang has always been Jingnan Wuxun's territory; how could they allow an outsider like me to meddle!"

Jia Jing asked Zhu Que with a half‑smile, half‑sneer.

Zhu Que laughed:

"Lord Marquis, your guess was correct; the day before, the Marquises of Linchuan, Zhongqin, Nanxiong and others gathered at the Cheng Guo Gong Mansion to discuss how to deal with you, my lord?"

"Their hostility toward you is considerable; they not only claim to outwardly obey while secretly undermining you."

"They even plan to incite a soldier mutiny, drive you out of the camp, and simultaneously have the court censors blame your incompetence, hoping to elevate the Marquis of Linchuan to become Bashang Daying's Military Governor!"

Jia Jing sneered disdainfully:

"I certainly have no intention of relinquishing the military authority I hold! But to think they could sideline and expel me with these childish tricks is utterly overreaching!"

"What evidence of illegal and disorderly conduct have the Embroidered Uniform Guard gathered against the Marquises of Linchuan and Zhongqin?"

Zhu Que replied with a slightly odd expression:

"There are far too many; no special collection is needed. The Marquises of Linchuan, Zhongqin and others have been rotting in Shenjing City for years."

"The number of illegal and disorderly acts is countless, but most don't involve untouchable nobles, so no one bothered to intervene!"

"Beyond the trivial murders and slave atrocities, even in Bashang Daying they have committed serious crimes."

"Bashang Daying's hundred‑thousand troops had over forty‑thousand soldiers' pay siphoned off, and the remaining sixty‑thousand soldiers' wages were largely embezzled by them in collusion with the supervising eunuch."

"Arms and provisions were secretly smuggled out and sold to Jin merchants; the soldiers rarely trained, and were instead sent to serve as craftsmen for the powerful families in Jingying, earning favors."

"Since the former Duke of Cheng left office, military discipline has further deteriorated; these days the Marquis of Linchuan even openly brings courtesans into the camp for debauchery."

"Honestly, the subordinates who saw the reports were incredulous; Bashang Daying, which guards the imperial capital, has become this rotten."

"Had the general not repelled the Qing Army's assault, they might indeed have captured Shenjing City."

Jia Jing, hearing this, laughed in anger:

"After all, after we finally granted him the title, we still won't let him enjoy it!"

Jia Jing also hadn't expected Shenjing's troops to have decayed to this extent; Liaodong also has cases of soldiers living off empty rations and drinking blood, but nowhere near as severe as Shenjing.

But on reflection, it's understandable; the border troops still face pressure from outside enemies, fight frequently, and retain some combat capability.

Meanwhile, Shenjing's forces rarely fight or even suppress bandits, so there's no fear of them!

I suppose Jingying is similar.

Whenever a dynasty reaches its end, these problems strikingly resemble each other.

"Alright, compile the evidence of illegal and disorderly acts by the Marquises of Linchuan and Zhongqin over the years, and also organize the intelligence on Bashang Daying. Make it solid, and tomorrow we go to Bashang Daying."

Jia Jing instructed.

"Understood! Lord Marquis, rest assured; aside from everything else, regarding the Liaodong treason, they cannot escape the crime of a house‑search and execution!"

Zhu Que bowed and took the order.

The next morning.

Jia Jing, clad in armor, left Rong Guo Mansion; three hundred personal soldiers and Zhu Que were already waiting outside the gate.

"Lord Marquis!" a personal soldier called, leading a Red Hare Horse forward.

Given Jia Jing's strength and the weight of his shining silver Dragon‑heart spear, ordinary horses no longer suit him; fortunately, the system provided a Red Hare Horse and a Black Horse, which he alternates riding.

Jia Jing swung onto the horse and said to Zhu Que:

"Have them load all the imperial rations allocated by His Majesty, and we depart."

At Jia Jing's command, hundreds of riders spurred their horses forward toward Bashang Daying.

Bashang Daying lies north‑west of Shenjing City; when the founding emperor considered safety, mobility, and supply issues,

he placed it at the junction of the Yanshan Mountains and the plains, occupying the passage through Geng Pass to Mongolia, backed by mountains and facing the city—a major strategic hub shielding the capital and repelling northern threats, truly a geographic throat.

The site is about 50 li from Shenjing City; exiting the city gates, a half‑hour ride brings you there, allowing both defense against invaders and effective deterrence toward Shenjing City.

Jia Jing led his personal troops at a leisurely pace, observing the surroundings while heading toward Bashang Daying.

Xue Baichai said many Jinling civilians suffered from hunger and displacement; Jia Jing saw that the villages around Shenjing were no better.

All around was a white expanse; Jia Jing initially thought the snow from the previous day hadn't fully melted,

but upon closer inspection, he realized the tree bark along the road had been stripped clean, glaring under the sun.

Occasionally, a few emaciated, scantily clothed refugees or peasants were seen far off, drinking a mixture of mud and meltwater to fill their stomachs; upon seeing Jia Jing's party pass, they kept their distance.

The surrounding fields were mostly barren, the villages sparsely populated, and he even came across several bodies frozen from starvation, starkly discarded in the wasteland, their clothing stripped.

Fortunately, they had not yet been cannibalized by others.

Abandoned dead infants were numerous, especially girls; impoverished families could not afford to raise them in winter and left them in the wild.

"White bones lie exposed in the wilderness, a thousand miles without a rooster's crow. Among the living, a hundred perished; recalling it tears the heart," Jia Jing felt a pang of sorrow.

This is the fate of civilians in chaotic times; there is no worst, only worse.

Having come into this world, is it only for my own survival?

Now that I have the ability, I should make even a tiny change to this world.

Jia Jing silently resolved.

An hour later,

Jia Jing and his companions arrived outside the garrison of Bashang Daying; they saw the corner towers and bastions towering, and several deep trenches dug outside the camp.

At that moment the camp gate was still open, and at the entrance a lone soldier leaned against the wall, lazily warming himself by the fire, not even holding a weapon.

"Who goes there?" Seeing Jia Jing and the group of cavalry rush forward, the guard at the gate hurriedly shouted in panic.

"The new Military Governor has arrived; why don't you open the gate!" Zhu Que rode forward on horseback and barked coldly.