Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 707: Chapter 461: Grand Marshal, Second Only to One and Above All Others! (Two-in-One)_2

Song Changming heard this and thought it made sense, so he gladly accepted the promotion.

In fact, he hadn’t been a Grand Marshal for very many years.

Logically speaking, the position of Grand Marshal should not have come to him.

But looking at his promotion history, you can see that Song Changming’s path has always been through exceptional promotion.

Either due to outstanding performance or repeated meritorious deeds.

In as short as one or two years, or as long as five or six years, he would always finish a round of exceptional promotion.

By comparison, he held the position of Grand Marshal for a relatively long time this time.

”Congratulations, Young Master Song.” Xi Yanxue congratulated at just the right moment.

The Grand Marshal of the military is a top leader in the Military Department and one of the most important officials in the system of imperial authority.

The status is exceedingly high, being under one person but above thousands.

Usually, this position would be reserved for a member of the Prince family’s kin.

For Song Changming, a non-imperial family member, to qualify is unprecedented.

However, this is not difficult to understand.

Prince Cui’s intention to win over Song Changming is evident.

Especially after jointly resisting the Su Family, Song Changming and Prince Cui, representing the Hu imperial family, have become extremely closely bonded.

Giving the position of Grand Marshal would only make their connection even more tight and secure.

In Xi Yanxue’s view, Prince Cui’s action is normal.

Someone as talented as Song Changming cannot be befriended enough.

Xi Yanxue’s thoughts turned, and her eyes shifted to her daughter on the side.

”Perhaps it might actually be right to keep my daughter here...”

She originally intended to take Su Qingqing back to Fox Mountain for meditation, but now her thoughts have changed.

Keeping Su Qingqing by Song Changming’s side is Qingqing’s own strong wish.

And Song Changming, in the previous battle, had fully demonstrated his strong personal power, capable of protecting her daughter.

Seeing Song Changming accept the position of Grand Marshal, Prince Cui was the happiest, and Hu Tomb looked relieved.

After several rounds of wine and tea, the group finally left.

Xi Yanxue took Su Qingqing away.

Prince Cui returned to the Prince’s Mansion with Hu Tomb; after this battle, they still have many matters large and small to deal with urgently.

The Su Family, being a member of the Changsheng Family, their annihilation will surely have a significant impact, possibly causing an uproar across Yun Province.

If Prince Cui handles it poorly afterward, he might face significant controversy and trouble because of this.

Of course, these are not Song Changming’s concerns for the time being.

In the days that followed, he recovered his state, consolidated his Grandmaster Cultivation, and completed the handover of the Commander’s seal and other responsibilities with Hu Tomb.

The news of his official appointment as Grand Marshal only spread a month later.

This naturally caused quite a stir in the main city area.

Song Changming’s name is now known by every family and faction as the key figure Prince Cui is focusing on cultivating.

None expected that after the battle against the Su Family, Prince Cui would have Hu Tomb step down in favor of Song Changming as Grand Marshal.

This action shows how appreciated and favored Song Changming is by Prince Cui.

Not even a century old, being a Grand Marshal is unprecedented in anyone’s life experience.

In the military, this matter also sparked some controversy.

Not everyone accepted Song Changming’s appointment as Grand Marshal wholeheartedly.

Yet, with Prince Cui’s order, the subordinates had no choice but to obey.

Mid-August, Second District, Military Department headquarters.

In a sizable council hall, forty-eight Cuiqi Army Grand Marshals gathered, sitting in an orderly sequence set after the grand parade.

At this moment, these Grand Marshals showed varied expressions.

Some were quietly conversing and greeting each other, while others stood with arms crossed, eyes closed in rest. Behind them stood a Personal Guard holding a Military Flag, indicating the army each led.

Additionally, there were some important Internal Affairs Officers from the Military Department and Commanders from the Prince’s Mansion present.

In short, significant cadres and officials from the Military Department had all gathered.

”The Grand Marshal has arrived!”

At the sound, all the Grand Marshals present, regardless of status, rise to their feet, looking towards one side of the hall.

Song Changming, dressed in the gilded Marshal armor and Python Robe, slowly entered.

The eyes of all the Grand Marshals naturally fell on Song Changming.

Though Song Changming appeared youthful, he carried an extraordinary aura, especially his mighty physique and Qi Blood, exuding an unparalleled imposing air.

No one in the Military Department dared to underestimate Song Changming.

When Song Changming lifted his Python Robe and seated himself in the Marshal’s Chair, his Grandmaster aura naturally spread, solemnizing the entire hall.

Song Changming replacing Hu Tomb did cause some controversy within the Military Department, but such disputes were mainly among the younger soldiers and reserves and did not include the seated Grand Marshals and military high officials.

They were not blind; they witnessed Song Changming’s power when he defeated the Su Family’s Patriarch outside the main city; they all had seen with their own eyes and understood well.

Song Changming taking the position of Grand Marshal was merely a reflection of Prince Cui’s evident intent to win him over, which was understandable.

Not only was Song Changming’s future promising, but his current power was already overwhelmingly qualified to lead as Grand Marshal.

In fact, for a Martial Arts Grandmaster capable of such prowess, merely being a military commander was underutilizing his talents.

Additionally, given Song Changming’s outstanding performance and significant contributions in the Su annihilation battle, understanding these reasons, all the Grand Marshals present respected Song Changming with no objections.

”Welcome the new Marshal to his seat.”

All the Grand Marshals and military high officials performed a synchronized salute after Song Changming took the Marshal’s Chair.

”At ease, take your seats,” Song Changming said.

He remained composed, unruffled, as he had been in the Military Department for decades and understood it well.

As long as his position was within the Military Department, it was his comfort zone, even if he now held the top position.

Upon his words, everyone thanked him as they took their seats.

Song Changming instinctively glanced at the first seat to his left below; that Grand Marshal chair was empty; only a Personal Guard stood behind with a Military Flag, indicating it was the First Army’s Commander’s seat.

The sacrifice of Hu Donghuo that day was an earthquake-level news for the entire Military Department, equaled only by Song Changming’s sudden appointment as Grand Marshal, shocking many.

Hu Donghuo’s sacrifice was also the final trigger for the Su Family’s downfall.

Besides the First Army’s Commander position still being vacant, there were two other empty Grand Marshal seats.

This means, in the Su annihilation battle, three current Military Department’s Grand Marshals were sacrificed.

Every military Commander is indispensable to the Military Department, holding great significance.

Rarely is a major battle fought at the cost of a Commander’s life.

The previous full-scale Demon Race invasion was one such occasion; the Su Family annihilation battle was the second in recent years.

”This is my first full meeting with a Marshal’s Order since taking office. Firstly, to let you know me, and secondly, to determine the candidate list for four vacant Marshal positions...”

Song Changming spared few formalities, quickly getting to the point of the meeting.

The three sacrificed Commander positions need filling, and the position of the Nineteenth Army’s Commander, which he previously held before becoming Grand Marshal, also requires a successor.

As before, each Commander proposes candidates from their armies, and he finalizes the candidate list personally.

Then, just as he became Commander of the Nineteenth Army, through comprehensive evaluation and selection, the best are chosen, ultimately selecting four new Commanders.

The process is essentially the same.

As for who the four selected new Commanders will be, it depends on the performance of the shortlisted individuals.

For many in the military, having four new Commander positions available is a rare and long-desired promotion opportunity.

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