Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 553: 485 Chapter Morning Court_2

Yang Zhenshan once again displayed a look of surprise.

”Wang Shu chuckled, ”Practicing the Yimu Changchun Skill can prolong life; Elder Qingmu lived up to two hundred and eighty years old because he practiced this skill!”

”What level did he cultivate it to?” Yang Zhenshan continued to ask.

”I’m not sure, some say he had Entered Tao, while others claim he only reached Ruwei. But historical records clearly state that he indeed lived to the age of two hundred and eighty!” Wang Shu explained.

Time is too distant, many things cannot be verified, and only a well-ordered Dynasty would have accurate and real historical records.

Three hundred years ago, Da Rong overthrew the reign of Dasheng and also inherited Dasheng’s legacy.

Thus, some ancient historical records can still be found today, but these records often provide briefly-mentioned life stories of individuals, leaving much detail scarce.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, then set aside the cultivation insights of Elder Qingmu.

This book of cultivation insights is excellent, but unfortunately, it is of no use to him now as it focuses on insights about Ruwei.

He hasn’t even achieved control over his Qi circulation yet, let alone Ruwei.

Yang Zhenshan glanced outside, he had been so engrossed in reading that several hours had unknowingly passed, and it was now approaching dusk; no wonder Wang Shu came to interrupt him.

Yang Zhenshan asked, ”If this Marquis wants to copy some cultivation insights, how should I proceed?”

Wang Shu smiled and replied, ”Marquis, just let me know which cultivation insights you need, and I’ll have the attendants at Hidden Skill Pavilion help you transcribe them!”

Yang Zhenshan chuckled; the service was indeed thorough. Not only could he browse at will, but someone would also help him transcribe.

”Time is getting late; this Marquis shall take his leave for now, and return tomorrow!” Yang Zhenshan stated.

”Marquis, please take care!” Wang Shu saw him out of the Hidden Skill Pavilion.

In the following days, Yang Zhenshan visited the Hidden Skill Pavilion daily, spending three to four hours each time. He reviewed all the cultivation insights of the Yimu Changchun Skill and also copied some useful cultivation insights.

Not only insights related to the Yimu Changchun Skill, but he also examined many other cultivation techniques.

For instance, the Concealing Breath Skill, which he also found in the Hidden Skill Pavilion and had some insights transcribed.

As time slowly moved to mid-April, eight days had passed since Yang Zhenshan received the Innate Token.

That day, after returning from the Hidden Skill Pavilion, Wu Hai came to report, ”Marquis, today an imperial eunuch of the Royal Supervisor came to notify, requesting your presence at the court session tomorrow!”

”To attend court?” Yang Zhenshan inquired, ”Did the messenger mention anything else?”

The imperial eunuch specifically handles summoning for the Emperor’s audience.

Since arriving in the Capital City, Yang Zhenshan had never attended court.

It’s not that he couldn’t go to court, but rather he couldn’t be bothered.

What was the point of a man with a nominal position attending court?

”No, the messenger only said to ask Marquis to attend court and not to be late!” Wu Hai answered.

Yang Zhenshan pondered, guessing there must be results concerning the affairs of Nansheng.

”Then prepare yourself, make sure not to miss the appointed time!”

The court sessions in Da Rong were not held daily, but once every five days, specifically on days ending in five or zero.

The court sessions begin from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., and officials almost need to enter the Imperial City between 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. After the session ends, officials still have time to go back for a nap.

Yang Zhenshan was disinclined to attend the court session precisely because it was too early.

Damn it, getting up at three in the morning to go to the Imperial City, with a meeting starting at five, not even animals should be tormented like this.

...

April 15th.

In the middle of the night, Yang Zhenshan woke up, donned his usual attire, and wore a black head cover, a big red jacket festooned with dragons, a gold-trimmed jade belt around his waist, with an embroidered unicorn on his chest.

Dressed, Yang Zhenshan rode horseback to the Imperial City in the dark, with four Personal Followers accompanying him.

He was not allowed to ride the horse into the Imperial City; once he entered, his followers would take his horse to the Left Army Commander’s Mansion, where the followers could also rest.

Having been an official for over ten years, it was Yang Zhenshan’s first time attending court; even though he had been ennobled before, he had not attended the early morning court, only participating in a temporarily convened court session.

After entering through the Wumen Gate, civil and military officials, Marquises, and others waited, clustering in groups and chatting leisurely.

Yang Zhenshan found Marquis Liang Chu; it was still chilly at dawn in April in Capital City, and Liang Chu stood against the wall with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

”Do you know what matters are being discussed at court today?” Yang Zhenshan asked as he approached.

Marquis Liang Chu slightly shook his head, ”Not sure, it might be related to Nansheng, but I doubt Nansheng’s issues would be discussed at the court!”

Though Nansheng’s issues were significant, they actually had little to do with the court.

Such as the Secret Martial Guards, the Twelve Guards of the personal army, and the Twelve Camps of the imperial guard; all of these operate independently of the court.

Thus, despite the significant disturbances caused by Nansheng, its impact on the court was minimal.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a while and then asked, ”Can you introduce me to your family’s Old Man?”

”Old Man!” Liang Chu was briefly stunned, and then said with a bitter smile: ”You mean my grandfather! I can’t introduce you!”

”Why?” Yang Zhenshan looked at him discontentedly.

We’re related by marriage, after all, it’s just an introduction, and you still won’t help.

Liang Chu smiled helplessly, ”I haven’t seen my grandfather for two years; I have no idea where he has gone!”

”Really! Lost!” expressed Yang Zhenshan, astonished.

”Not lost!” Liang Chu, frustrated, said, ”What do you mean lost? Can an Innate Martial Artist over a hundred years old get lost?”

”Then where did he go?” Yang Zhenshan still wanted to seek some advice from him.

He had almost gathered enough cultivation insights from copying texts at the Hidden Skill Pavilion; next, he planned to seek advice from some seniors, visiting An Yuxing and also wanting to consult someone from the Changping Marquis Mansion.

”My grandfather loves to wander the Wanshan Ridge, often not returning home for three to five years; hence, even if you ask me to find him, I wouldn’t be able to!” explained Liang Chu with a headache.

The Wanshan Ridge is a mountain range spanning the entire Dasheng, starting from Suzhou Town in the northwest of Dasheng, passing through Longxi, Longyuan, the southern part of Shanhe Province, the northern part of Jiangnan, straight to the eastern shores of Dasheng.

The entire Wanshan Ridge is replete with countless mountains and crosses the northwestern, central, and eastern areas of Dasheng. Filled with countless natural treasures, it can be said that Wanshan Ridge is one of the greatest treasure troves of Dasheng, providing countless cultivation resources to the martial artists of Dasheng.

Besides Wanshan Ridge, the Jiujiang Mountain Range in the southwest of Dasheng is also one of Dasheng’s treasure troves.

However, the Jiujiang Mountain Range is far from the Capital City, while Wanshan Ridge is just south of the Capital City; three hundred miles south from the Capital City, one can enter the Wanshan Ridge.

It is understandable why the elder from Changping Marquis Mansion liked to venture to Wanshan Ridge.

After chatting casually with Liang Chu, Yang Zhenshan heard the sound of cracking whips; the civil and military officials hurriedly lined up and entered Fengtian Gate, heading for the Taiji Palace.

Emperor Yanping yawned as he received the salutations of the officials.

The morning court then began.

First to present was Minister of Revenue Sun Wenjian, ”Reporting to Your Majesty, the severe drought in Liaodong has been alleviated this year; Shanhe, Jizhou, and other places have already repatriated the disaster-affected people back to Liaodong. Ping Yuan Administration requests the Ministry of Revenue to allocate eight hundred thousand dan of grains for disaster relief!”

”Granted!” Emperor Yanping said casually.

Sun Wenjian continued, ”Ping Yuan Administration also requests exemption of this year’s grain tax of one hundred and fifty thousand dan and silver tax of one hundred thousand taels!”

”Granted!”

”Your Majesty is wise!” Sun Wenjian retired back to the line.

The drought in Liaodong has ended this year; starting from March this year, Shanhe Province and Jizhou began repatriating refugees, but even now, with the refugees returned, there is still a lack of food, and the court can only allocate grains for relief.

After this disaster, it is estimated that it will take ten years for Liaodong to recover.

It’s a helpless situation as natural disasters are merciless; a severe drought alone caused millions to die tragically, and with Yang Zhenshan resettling a million refugees in Chongshan Town, it nearly halved the population of Liaodong.