CHAPTER 680: CHAPTER 545 YU QINGYI BREAKS INNATE_2

Yang Zhenshan’s reason for refusal was quite perfunctory.

Emperor Yanping spoke discontentedly, "You aren’t that old, so why have you become increasingly indolent?"

"I am old!" Yang Zhenshan blinked as he looked at Emperor Yanping.

Wasn’t he old?

It was now the sixth year of Yanping, and calculating the time, he had been in this world for nineteen years, and he was now fifty-seven years old.

To call him an old man in his sixties was not an exaggeration.

"You~~" Emperor Yanping was both amused and annoyed.

However, he also felt relieved.

In fact, he was somewhat conflicted about appointing Yang Zhenshan as the Left Governor of the Navy Commander’s Mansion. He believed that Yang Zhenshan was the most suitable person to manage the Navy Commander’s Mansion, yet he was also reluctant to have Yang Zhenshan in that position.

The reason lay with the Tenglong Four Guards; he had not failed to notice their loyalty to Yang Zhenshan, which, frankly speaking, could almost be seen as Yang Zhenshan’s private army.

In the Tenglong Four Guards, Yang Zhenshan’s orders were probably more effective than those from the court.

And besides the Tenglong Four Guards, Chongshan Town was also Yang Zhenshan’s stronghold.

Emperor Yanping liked to play the game of balance, but he just couldn’t balance Yang Zhenshan, because Yang Zhenshan seemed to have no desires or wants at this point.

And because of Yang Zhenshan’s lack of desires, he felt he had somewhat let down Yang Zhenshan and wanted to compensate him.

In short, Emperor Yanping was quite conflicted, wanting to make use of Yang Zhenshan yet also hoping that Yang Zhenshan would continue to be desireless.

"Forget it, whom do you think would be suitable to take charge of the Navy Commander’s Mansion?" Emperor Yanping asked, no longer dwelling on it.

Yang Zhenshan pondered and responded, "There are quite a few suitable candidates, like Marquis Hai Ning and Marquis Suning. These two Old Marquises are both capable!"

"Why are they suitable?" Emperor Yanping asked with a furrowed brow.

Yang Zhenshan explained, "Managing the Navy Commander’s Mansion isn’t actually that troublesome. Moving forward, the main focus will be on training and expansion. Any military leader with experience in command can handle it, but given the complex situation in the East South Sea Domain, there might need to be an Innate Martial Artist stationed at the Navy Commander’s Mansion. Therefore, I think these two Marquises are the most suitable!"

Emperor Yanping nodded, "I understand!"

Both Marquis Hai Ning and Marquis Suning were seasoned generals of Dasheng. Although their military deeds weren’t as outstanding as Marquis Jianchang Zhang Luan, they had experience in leading and training troops, enough to manage the Navy Commander’s Mansion.

With Yang Zhenshan’s suggestion, Emperor Yanping no longer hesitated and soon appointed Marquis Hai Ning, Li Chao, as the Left Governor of the Navy Commander’s Mansion.

As time moved to mid-March, the Navy Commander’s Mansion was officially established, while Yang Zhenshan was already preparing to head to Southern Border Town.

Yang Wanqing’s wedding date was set for April 18th, and it would take approximately a month to travel from the Capital City to Southern Border Town.

However, Yang Zhenshan had a plan to expedite the journey. He prepared to take a warship southward from Jin Hai Guard, then proceed westward along the Song River from Songhe Prefecture in Jiangnan, land at Jiujiang Prefecture in Yun Gui, and then travel by land to Southern Border Town.

This way, a month’s journey could be shortened to twenty days.

While the Yang family was preparing for Yang Wanqing’s wedding, Deng Yuehe, Li Chengzhang, and Wang Mingjian came to visit the Marquis Mansion together.

In the tea room at the front hall of the Marquis Mansion, Yang Zhenshan warmly invited them to sit and asked with a smile, "How is it? Are you getting used to living in Dasheng?"

Deng Yuehe smiled, "It’s more or less comfortable, just feels a bit unfamiliar!"

"Unfamiliarity doesn’t matter. You’ll get used to it after living here for a while!" Yang Zhenshan smiled.

The three of them sat relaxed in front of Yang Zhenshan, engaging in casual conversation.

Today, they were quite satisfied with this outcome.

Although living in Dasheng was not as carefree as on Star Moon Island, at least Yang Zhenshan had kept his word, helping them acquire official positions and giving them a chance to integrate into Dasheng society.

Compared to other families from Star Moon Sect, they were indeed fortunate.

Other clans have all been exterminated, tens of thousands of their people were thrown into the sea to feed the fish.

This time, they came to visit Yang Zhenshan with the intention of seeking refuge, as they were generals who had surrendered and were now eagerly wanting to integrate into Da Rong. However, relying only on themselves, they feared it would be difficult to blend into Da Rong, hence they needed Yang Zhenshan to help them get recognized by the officials and generals of Da Rong.

Regarding this, Yang Zhenshan neither accepted nor rejected their request, merely stating, "You are all officers, once appointed, you just need to cooperate with your superiors and take care of your responsibilities!"

"Control your clansmen well, withstand some grievances, try not to stir up trouble. By doing so, within three to five years, you will be completely integrated into Da Rong."

Whether it’s Deng Yuehe, the Right Commander, or Li Chengzhang and Wang Mingjian, the deputy admirals, they are all in deputy positions. The court would not rely heavily on them right away, let alone give them command over troops, so this arrangement is most appropriate.

As for integrating into Da Rong, it is definitely going to involve some hardships.

When the Yang family first entered the Capital City, they were also looked down upon, even though Yang Zhenshan had good relations with Duke Ning Mansion and Changping Marquis Mansion. But who would dare to underestimate Marquis Jing’an Mansion now?

Whether these three families could integrate into the officialdom of Da Rong would depend on themselves. Yang Zhenshan looked favorably upon Deng Yuehe, as previously Deng Yuehe had not had an ideal time at Star Moon Sect. After switching allegiance to Da Rong, her days would likely be better than those at Star Moon Sect.

As for Li Chengzhang and Wang Mingjian, it would probably take a long time for them to adapt to the life in Da Rong.

"Thank you, Marquis, for your guidance!" The three of them expressed their gratitude.

After babbling on for over an hour, the three of them proposed to take their leave. However, Deng Yuehe asked Li Chengzhang and Wang Mingjian to leave first and spoke alone with Yang Zhenshan, "Marquis, I have reached the Innate Realm, I hope the Marquis can give me further guidance!"

She had successfully broken through to the Innate Realm with the help of the Three Yellow Plums given by Yang Zhenshan, but she was concerned about whether to reveal her cultivation.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and said, "There’s nothing specific to instruct. Just go to the Offerings Office to register. You need not have too many reservations. Da Rong has over forty Innate Martial Artists; just in the Imperial City alone, there are more than ten. One more or one less of you won’t make a difference!"

In Da Rong, although the status of Innate Martial Artists is revered, it is just as it is.

If it were at Star Moon Sect, Deng Yuehe becoming an Innate Martial Artist would definitely lead to a redistribution of power within the sect. But in Da Rong, one Innate Martial Artist can hardly influence the court dynamics.

"I understand now, thank you for the guidance, Marquis!"

Deng Yuehe left the Marquis Mansion feeling joyful. If she could reveal her cultivation, it would naturally be best, as it would help raise her status in Da Rong.

March 20.

Yang Zhenshan, Yu Qingyi, Yang Mingcheng, Ms. Wang, Yang Mingzhao, Yang Chengye, along with hundreds of servants and guards carrying Yang Wanqing’s dowry, left the Capital City to head toward Southern Border Town to send off Yang Wanqing for her marriage.

The large mansion of the Yang family was now managed by Yang Chengmao and Wang Mingzhe.

There was no alternative since Yang Mingzhi and Yang Minghao were still in Chongshan Town, and now in the Capital City, only the younger generation of the Yang family remained.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t worried about these youngsters, as the younger members of the Yang family had always followed the rules, and both Yang Chengmao and Wang Mingzhe had come of age and it was time for them to practice managing the household.

The group, in high spirits, boarded a warship at Jin Hai Guard. When they arrived at Jiujiang Prefecture, it was the beginning of April.

After sailing for ten days, Yang Zhenshan felt somewhat bored, but now traveling by land, he felt much more comfortable.

He rode Red Cloud, who happily kicked its hooves and neighed joyously.

Another horse, also named Red Cloud, accompanied Yu Qingyi in the carriage.

The high mountains of Yun Gui Province made the mountain roads tremendously difficult to traverse, even the official roads were bumpy. Yu Qingyi, who had sat in the carriage for half an hour, could no longer bear it and decided to ride a horse, finding it more comfortable than traveling by carriage.

Not in a hurry, Yang Zhenshan took his time, stopping now and then, traveling from Jiujiang Prefecture to Lizhou Prefecture, and then crossing over mountains to reach Jianxia Prefecture.

After passing Jianxia Prefecture, they entered the territory of Southern Border Town.

However, the official roads of Jianxia Prefecture were even more difficult to navigate, especially at Jianxia Pass, which was truly a formidable strategic pass.

Located in the northern part of Jianxia Prefecture, it served as the ultimate gateway to the southwest of Da Rong, essentially the entrance to the southwest.

If Southern Border Town were to fall, Jianxia Pass would be the most important barrier for Yun Gui Province.

It is said that this city gate was built by the previous Dasheng Dynasty and had a history of a thousand years, with the territory of the Dasheng Imperial City ending at Jianxia Pass.