Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 531: Chapter 475, Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!

A night without words.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yang Zhenshan changed into his qilin attire, ready to enter the palace to express his gratitude.

Riding in a carriage, Yang Zhenshan first came to the Fengtian Gate, stepped down from the carriage, and showed his Marquis seal; the personal army guarding the gate let him pass through.

As Marquis Jing’an and Right Commander under the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, Yang Zhenshan could enter and exit the Fengtian Gate freely.

Because the Five Army Commandery’s government office was situated behind the Wuying Hall in the Imperial City just like the Cabinet’s office was behind the Wenhua Palace in the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Yang Zhenshan could enter and exit the Fengtian Gate and the Wuying Hall freely, but he could not do the same with the Taiji Palace.

Apart from attending the early court sessions and being summoned by the Emperor, civilian and military officials were not allowed to freely enter the Taiji Palace.

Yang Zhenshan arrived in front of Fengtian Gate, handed over his letter of gratitude, and then stood quietly in front of the gate, waiting for Emperor Yanping’s summons.

However, after a short while, a young eunuch came out to tell him that the gratitude expression was waived.

Stroking his beard and looking at the palace inside the gate, Yang Zhenshan asked with a calm expression, ”Does Your Majesty have any other commands?”

”No!” the young eunuch said in a low voice with his head bowed.

Yang Zhenshan pondered.

Emperor Yanping doesn’t even want to see him?

Damn it!

Is this a sign of great dissatisfaction towards me?

Humph, this unreliable Emperor, if you don’t want to see me, I don’t want to serve you either!

Of course, these were only his thoughts; he would never voice the words ’unreliable Emperor’.

He didn’t pay any heed to the young eunuch and turned around to leave the Imperial City.

Having anticipated the cold treatment from Emperor Yanping, Yang Zhenshan was not surprised as this appointment was indeed a promotion in name but a demotion in reality. If Emperor Yanping had been especially close to him, it would have been truly strange.

Stepping out of the Imperial City, Yang Zhenshan then went to the Left Army Commander’s Mansion.

The government offices of the Five Army Commandery were outside the Fengtian Gate of the Imperial City. The Six Ministries, the Five Army Commandery, the Imperial Court of Sacrificial Worship, Honglu Temple, Ancestral Affairs Office, etc., were all on the street in front of the Fengtian Gate.

Arriving at the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, Yang Zhenshan first went to see Duke An, Anhuai Ren, the youngest among the six Dukes of Da Rong who was just over thirty years old, thin in stature, and with a calm gaze.

Upon seeing Yang Zhenshan, Anhuai Ren immediately revealed an enthusiastic smile, ”Marquis Yang, I have been waiting for you for quite some time!”

Yang Zhenshan hurriedly bowed his hands in response, ”This humble one greets Duke An!”

”Marquis Yang is my senior; how dare I allow Marquis Yang to show such courtesy!” Anhuai Ren returned the gesture with a smile.

The two exchanged pleasantries and compliments, and then Anhuai Ren led Yang Zhenshan to his study.

They both took their seats, and Anhuai Ren’s attendants served tea.

Yang Zhenshan tasted the tea, mmm, it must be the premium Yunxi Longjing!

”Thanks to His Majesty’s favor in entrusting me with the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, but I am of modest ability and shallow learning, afraid that I might not live up to His Majesty’s trust. Today, with Marquis Yang’s arrival, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief,” Anhuai Ren said with a cheerful look at Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan paused in his tea-drinking.

You are favored by His Majesty, but I am very much disfavored right now!

Humph, does all the court, both civil and military, not know that I have been demoted under the guise of promotion?

Aren’t your words squeezing me?

Yang Zhenshan understood in his heart; this Duke An did not welcome him as warmly as he seemed to.

But upon reflection, it made sense. Being in charge of the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, Duke An naturally feared that Yang Zhenshan might vie with him for power as the newly appointed Right Commander.

Although in the Commander’s Mansion the Left Commander took precedence and the position of Right Commander was mostly ceremonial, Yang Zhenshan was after all a seasoned campaigner of battles with a renowned military record. In comparison with Yang Zhenshan, Duke An, as the Left Commander, indeed seemed too young.

Lacking in experience and accomplishments, the only thing he could leverage was the prestige of his noble duke title.

If Yang Zhenshan were to vie for power with him, Duke An might really not be able to withstand it.

”Ha ha, Duke An jests. These recent years I’ve been fighting on the frontiers, accumulating many injuries, and now often feel my energy flagging. Previously in Chongshan Town, I dared not slack off. Now that I am back in the Capital City, it is the perfect time for me to rest and recuperate!”

”Furthermore, Duke An is in the prime of life, the perfect time to serve the country. I would brazenly take the opportunity to rest, and hope for Duke An’s understanding!”

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard, his face carrying an expression of complete faith in you.

He had no interest whatsoever in the Left Army Commander’s Mansion. Although the title of the Left Army Commander’s Mansion sounded important, in reality, it meant very little.

The Five Army Commandery was only responsible for managing the garrisons, it neither had the power to deploy troops nor the authority to command the Camp Soldiers. Most of its responsibilities revolved around logistical support.

Of course, this is not to say that the Five Army Commandery was devoid of power, but compared to the border town Generals, the restrictions on the Five Army Commandery were far too many.

Being in the Capital City was different from being in Chongshan Town. In Chongshan Town, Yang Zhenshan alone could be decisive. Whether it was governor Pang Tang or the garrison eunuch Zhang Mingzhong, they both complied with his commands.

But in the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, it was nearly impossible for him alone to be decisive. With the Emperor above him, four commanders and two General Mansions below him, and the Ministry of War intervening in between, his title as Marquis Jing’an was of no use at all.

So rather than being bound hand and foot in the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, Yang Zhenshan would rather stay at home and rest comfortably.

Hearing what Yang Zhenshan said, the smile on Anhuai Ren’s face grew even brighter.

”The younger generation still has much to learn from Marquis Yang! I hope that Marquis Yang will continue to impart his wisdom to me in the future!”

”Ha ha, certainly, certainly,” Yang Zhenshan responded with laughter, humoring the conversation.

After some more idle talk, Anhuai Ren had someone take Yang Zhenshan to visit his study.