Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 971: Chapter 686: The Enthronement Ceremony

Time quickly moved to the fourth month of the twentieth year of Divine Wood.

The twentieth year of Divine Wood, the eighth day of the sixth month.

Yang Chengye issued an edict for ascension, establishing the state with the title “Da’an” and setting the era name as “Jianyuan.”

Yu Shi was appointed as the Empress.

Yang Qinyuan was appointed as the Crown Prince, Luo Keqing as the Crown Princess Consort, and Yang Jijue as the Grand Crown Prince.

Qu Shaogong was conferred as Duke Xing, Liang Jinyan as Duke Ping, Zhou Yuanchen, son of Zhou Xu, as Duke Ning, Xue Ping as Duke Chang, Xie Linxuan, son of Xie Yuan, as Duke Qing, and Han Fei as Duke Cheng.

Of the six dukes, only Qu Shaogong and Zhou Yuanchen were first-class dukes; the remaining four were third-class dukes, and all held hereditary titles.

This conferment of dukes was based not on military accomplishments but rather past relationships.

If it were based on military achievements, currently, no one would qualify to be conferred as a duke, as the Yang family’s uprising was too simplistic, and accumulated military accomplishments were meager.

In addition to the dukes, twelve marquises and thirty-six earls were conferred this time.

The twelve marquises were Yang Mingwu, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu, Song Dashan, Lu Baishu, Guo Ying, Zhang Luan, Yu Tonghai, Luo Feiyu, Luo Bo, Wu An, and Zhang Ming.

As for the earls, Liang Xiu, Song Jie, Zhou Shang’an, Lu Miaoheng, Wang Dahai, Yang Jishan, Yang Qinhua, etc., under Yang Chengye’s command, all received an earldom.

Additionally, Chen Buyu under Yang Mingzhao’s command also received an earldom.

The rest were conferred based on past relations with the Yang family and the scale of military achievements.

In general, any family close to the Yang family or their affiliated families at least received an earldom.

However, Yang Zhenshan’s personal followers and former Yang family guards did not receive titles, as these individuals still belonged to Star Moon Island, not Da Rong.

Even those who had accompanied Yang Mingcheng to Bashu to start a business did not receive any titles.

Of course, these titles are temporary, and there will definitely be more conferments in the future. Zhang Mingwu, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu, Song Dashan, and Yu Tonghai also qualify for dukedom conferment.

Others might be overlooked, but Song Dashan and Yu Tonghai will surely receive a dukedom from Yang Zhenshan.

However, these can be given gradually in the future; for now, it’s as it stands.

As for why Lu Baishu was also granted a marquisate, it’s because Lu Baishu fled to Divine Wood Island with his family before the Da Liang army attacked the Capital City.

Simply put, it was because this fellow pledged allegiance to the Yang family earlier. Although he didn’t participate in the Yang family’s uprising, considering past relations, Yang Zhenshan retained his marquisate status.

After the proclamation for ascension was issued, on June 26, Yang Chengye formally ascended the throne as emperor.

Founding a kingdom and establishing a dynasty, all was done with grandeur.

Moreover, the founding of Da’an was not as rushed as Da Liang previously, as preparations were made for three full months, and that too after having a complete court institution in place.

The entire inauguration and ascension ceremony was exceptionally grand. On that day, Yang Chengye, accompanied by civil and military officials, first worshipped the heavens and the earth, and then paid homage at the ancestral temples and altars of state.

Da’an adopted Da Rong’s music and rituals, with music continuously playing throughout the ascension ceremony.

Once the ceremonial rites concluded, Yang Chengye, along with civil and military officials, entered the Imperial City from the Meridian Gate and again read the proclamation for ascension from the city tower, receiving congratulations and worship from officials and the masses.

Then, on the evening of the ascension ceremony, Chen Buyu and Ma Yan, along with a dozen or so personal followers, arrived at the Capital City.

Entering the Capital City, Chen Buyu regretfully remarked, “What a pity, we just missed it by such a little bit!”

Although the date for Yang Chengye’s ascension had been set long ago, the proclamation was only issued twenty days prior. Chen Buyu received the news while en route, intending to attend the ascension ceremony but unfortunately, despite rushing, still missed it.

Ma Yan also felt regret but could only say, “Forget it, let’s first go pay our respects to the young master!”

“Young master?” Chen Buyu looked at Ma Yan in confusion and asked, “Who is this young master?”

He still didn’t know Yang Mingzhao’s identity, nor did he understand why Yang Mingzhao pledged allegiance to Da’an.

Previously, when Yang Mingzhao allied with Da Liang, they all knew it was a feigned alliance, but this time his allegiance to Da’an was genuine.

Yang Mingzhao didn’t explain it to them, and Ma Yan and others kept silent.

Within the Taiping Army, there was some discussion, but Yang Mingzhao ultimately suppressed it.

Ultimately, the Taiping Army was Yang Mingzhao’s private army. Although many of its mid-to-high-level members were not related to the Yang family, Yang Mingzhao still maintained significant control due to key positions being held by the Yang family.

Regarding Yang Mingzhao’s allegiance to Da’an, Chen Buyu was initially uneasy, but when Li Wenchun entered the cabinet and became a cabinet minister, he felt somewhat reassured.

However, upon learning about Da’an’s conferment list, he felt somewhat dissatisfied. He was delighted to be conferred as Lord Taiping, but Yang Zhao was not granted any title.

In his view, Yang Zhao deserved to be conferred as a duke, or at the very least, a marquis title could have been acceptable.

However, within Da’an’s proclamation for ascension, there was no mention of Yang Zhao, nor of Deng Xing, Li Dagui, and others, which left him very dissatisfied.

He believed Da’an had treated their Taiping Army with indifference.

Ma Yan chuckled at him and no longer kept it a secret, “Young master is the current emperor!”

“Ah!” Chen Buyu was taken aback.

Ma Yan, leading Chen Buyu into the Capital City, explained, “The current emperor hails from the Liaodong Yang clan, you know!”