Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 529: Chapter 473: Entering the Capital City_2

Nobles or bureaucrats, over the course of more than three hundred years in Da Rong, inside the Capital City, with comings and goings too numerous to count.

At the very moment when Yang Zhenshan entered the Capital City, quite a few nobles received the news.

Duke Ning Mansion.

Inside the quaint and old-fashioned warm pavilion, Zhou Mao was playing chess against an elder with white hair.

The two old men were so evenly matched in their game whether for the black or white pieces.

A stout man came in from outside, seeing them quietly playing chess, he did not disturb them but simply stood aside quietly waiting.

After about the time it takes for a pot of tea, Zhou Mao tossed the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard, looking quite helpless, he said: ”All these years, this old man has never won against you!”

The elder on the opposite side stroked his white beard and laughed, ”I’ve told you long ago, even if you practiced for another hundred years, you’d still be no match for me!”

Listening to his mocking words, Zhou Mao wasn’t angry. He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and then looked towards the stout man.

The stout man stepped forward immediately, whispering: ”Marquis Jing’an has entered the city!”

Zhou Mao nodded imperceptibly, then waved his hand to signal that the stout man could leave.

”Marquis Jing’an, is he the General of Chongshan Town?” The elder opposite seemed quite interested.

”Yes, Marquis Jing’an Yang Zhenshan, he is the one who set fire to the Wuliang Hu Clan’s seventy-thousand-strong army!” Zhou Mao said.

The elder was surprised, ”How has he come back? Shouldn’t he be in Chongshan Town?”

Zhou Mao glanced at him irritably, ”Don’t you keep up with the affairs of the court?”

”The court, heh~” The elder showed a disdainful face, ”I’d rather sleep in than bother with those messy affairs!”

Zhou Mao knew the temperament of his old friend well, aware that he had no interest in the political affairs of the court, so he didn’t bother talking about it anymore and instead explained: ”Before the new year, Marquis Jing’an was promoted, becoming the Right Commander of the Left Army Commander’s Mansion! Lan’er succeeded him as the General of Chongshan Town!”

”Promoted!” The elder raised his eyebrows, his snow-like brows filled with mocking meaning, ”Who did he offend then?”

”I don’t know, perhaps His Majesty is dissatisfied with him!” Zhou Mao said.

”His Majesty!” The elder’s eyes drooped, ”Then it seems he can only retire in the Capital City now!”

”Heh, Chongshan Town is indeed a good place!” He laughed sardonically at himself.

Zhou Mao poured him more tea, ”You’re wrong there, Marquis Changping also served as the General in Chongshan Town!”

”So now he can no longer lead troops too!” The elder said.

”...”

Zhou Mao was somewhat speechless.

It seemed that Chongshan Town really wasn’t a good place.

Starting from over three decades ago, few of the successive Generals of Chongshan Town ended well. Not exactly ended badly, but simply had no good prospects.

Duke Dingyuan Zhang Shouwang was dismissed from his post due to the defeat in Fushan City, causing the downfall of the entire Duke Dingyuan Mansion.

Marquis Changping Liang Chu did manage to annihilate the East Sea Hu Clan, but now he no longer leads troops and holds the post of Left Governor of the Central Army Commander’s Mansion.

Ji Feiyu, heh, let’s not talk about him.

Now it’s Yang Zhenshan’s turn, the illustrious Yang Zhenshan has also come back to the Capital City to retire.

Checking back, from Jiang Zhen, the Great General who campaigned in the north over thirty years ago, none of the five successive Generals of Chongshan Town were reused.

Only Marquis Changping Liang Chu did slightly better, having served as the head of the Imperial Guards for a few years.

”Let’s drop it, today both of us are just idlers, these matters are not ours to concern!” Zhou Mao said with a touch of melancholy.

The elder put down his teacup, smiled, and said, ”Another round?”

”Let’s!”

Zhou Mao challenged and lost repeatedly but was never discouraged.

Picking up the chess pieces, the two engaged in battle once more.

...

Prince Dai Mansion.

A burly youth was swinging a long spear in the training field; the dark iron spear seemed weightless in his hands. As the spear danced, within a three feet radius around him spear points crisscrossed, leaving no gaps.

”Your Highness, Your Highness!!”

At this moment, a little eunuch ran over joyfully.

The youths in the training ground put away their long spears and glared at the little eunuch dissatisfiedly, ”Didn’t I say? No one is to disturb me when I am practicing with the spear!”

The youth in front of them was the Prince Dai, the fourth son of the emperor.

The current Emperor Yanping had five sons and six daughters, and he had granted titles to all his children upon his ascension to the throne.

Prince An, the eldest son, is twenty-one years old this year, born of the Empress Mrs. Yu.

Second Prince, Prince Ning, is nineteen years old this year, born of the Imperial Concubine Zhang.

The Third Prince died young.

Fourth Prince, Prince Dai, sixteen years old, also born of the Empress Mrs. Yu, is the youth in front of us.

Fifth Prince, Prince Hui, is thirteen years old this year, born of the Noble Concubine Lan.

Sixth Prince, Prince De, is ten years old this year, born of Noble Concubine Ms. Wang.

Among them, since Prince Hui and Prince De are still young, they are currently living in the imperial palace. Prince An, Prince Ning, and Prince Dai have all built their mansions outside the palace.

Prince Dai just established his mansion this year; he hasn’t been living in Prince Dai Mansion for even a month.

The little eunuch grinned, ”Your Highness, Marquis Jing’an has entered the Capital City!”

Upon hearing this, Prince Dai’s eyes suddenly lit up, ”Really?”

”Truly, Liu Bin saw with his own eyes the carriage team of Marquis Jing’an Mansion entering the city through Guangtong Gate, and they haven’t reached the Marquis Mansion yet!” reported Xiao Anzi.

”Where is Liu Bin!” Prince Dai put away his spear and asked.

”He still needs to keep watch over the carriage team of Marquis Jing’an Mansion, so he sent someone back to report first!” Xiao Anzi said.

A gleam appeared in Prince Dai’s eyes, ”Quickly, take out the things I’ve prepared! We’re going to visit Marquis Jing’an right now!”

”Ah, Your Highness, it is already getting dark!” Xiao Anzi reminded.

Prince Dai looked up at the sky; it was already evening, the sunset like flames spreading across the sky.

He scratched his head, ”Then shall we go visit him tomorrow?”

”Hehe, Your Highness, it won’t be too late to go tomorrow. Marquis Jing’an has already returned, you don’t have to be in such a hurry now!” Xiao Anzi said.

”Right, what you said makes sense!”

Prince Dai calmed himself, thought for a moment, and said: ”Let’s go, let’s go and have another look at the gift for Marquis Jing’an!”

Saying that, he threw the long spear onto the weapons rack, and headed towards the distant storeroom with long strides.

...

Imperial Guard Department in the Imperial City.

Nansheng listened to Jiang Cheng’s report, his eyes growing colder and colder.

”Chief, shall we...” Jiang Cheng waved his hand, making a chopping gesture.

Nansheng looked at him, his gaze as venomous as a snake, making Jiang Cheng shiver with cold.

”Don’t use those little tricks on me, or I will make you wish you were dead!”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng’s face turned pale with fear, and he knelt on the ground with a thump, ”This subordinate wouldn’t dare!”

”You’d better not dare!”

Nansheng looked at him coldly and then continued, ”Now that Marquis Jing’an has entered the Capital City, he will not be able to stir up any trouble! Our task is not to deal with Marquis Jing’an, understand?”

”Yes, this subordinate understands!” Jiang Cheng said in a low voice, still kneeling on the ground.

”Send a message to the south, ask them, now that Marquis Jing’an has returned to the Capital City, how should we proceed?” Nansheng spoke with a chilly expression.

”Yes!” said Jiang Cheng.

Nansheng stood up, glanced at Jiang Cheng who was still kneeling on the ground, ”Don’t do anything to anger me, or you should know the consequences.”

With that, he stepped out of the grand hall of the Imperial Guard Department.

Jiang Cheng crawled towards the main hall’s doorway, ”This subordinate sees the Chief off!”

Only when Nansheng’s figure had completely disappeared outside did Jiang Cheng raise his head and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

After leaving the Imperial Guard Department, Nansheng immediately went to the Taiji Palace’s Imperial Study Room.