Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

"Call him over, he is the first graduate of our Martial Arts Pavilion, I want to ask him where he wants to work!" Yang Zhenshan said.

To enter the Martial Arts Pavilion, one must be below twenty-two years of age and possess cultivation of the Postnatal Realm.

To graduate from the Martial Arts Pavilion, one must be twenty-eight years old or have reached the Postnatal Fourth Layer.

After graduation, disciples of the Martial Arts Pavilion will be recommended to the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, where they will be appointed official positions.

Although Zhai Yunhu is not yet twenty-eight years old, his cultivation has already reached the Postnatal Fourth Layer, meaning he can graduate from the Martial Arts Pavilion at any time.

Moments later, Jiang He led a handsome, upright young man into Yang Zhenshan's study.

"Disciple Zhai Yunhu pays respect to Master!" Upon seeing Yang Zhenshan, Zhai Yunhu was deeply moved, and knelt down to kowtow in respect.

All disciples of the Martial Arts Pavilion are considered students of Yang Zhenshan, and even though they are not as close as those directly taught, they still have a legitimate master-disciple relationship.

They not only share the name but also the essence of a master-disciple bond.

Although Yang Zhenshan is not always at the Martial Arts Pavilion, he visits the training field to guide these disciples every time he comes. When there were fewer disciples, the frequency of his guidance was higher. Now, with more disciples, each disciple gets less frequent guidance from him, approximately once every two or three months.

Although his guidance consists of only a few words each time, given Yang Zhenshan's cultivation and understanding of Martial Arts, even a few words are immensely beneficial.

Of course, the most important factor is that their progress at the Martial Arts Pavilion is indeed much faster than practicing at home.

This is due to the Spiritual Spring Water, but they are unaware of its existence, so they attribute their progress solely to Yang Zhenshan's guidance.

As a result, the disciples hold deep respect for the guidance of Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan chuckled and extended his hand to help Zhai Yunhu up, "Excellent! You are our very first graduate of the Martial Arts Pavilion, from today onwards you will be the senior brother of the Martial Arts Pavilion!"

"The progress in my cultivation is all thanks to Master's guidance!" Zhai Yunhu said somewhat sheepishly.

Yang Zhenshan patted his shoulder, "So, have you thought about which government office you want to join? The Martial Arts Temple, the imperial guard, the border army, wherever you wish to go, your master will personally write you a recommendation letter!"

The official position that a graduate of the Martial Arts Pavilion can obtain depends mainly on two factors: one is the recommendation letter from the Martial Arts Pavilion, which knows best how capable a person is. Therefore, when a disciple graduates, they receive a recommendation letter from the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The second factor depends on the Military Selection Department, which ultimately controls the evaluation, appointment, promotion, and awarding of Military Officers.

Zhai Yunhu thought for a moment, then said, "Disciple wishes to join the border army!"

"The border army! Why would you choose the border army?" Yang Zhenshan looked at him in surprise.

Compared to the Martial Arts Temple and the imperial guard, the border army is undoubtedly more arduous.

"Disciple wishes to achieve meritorious deeds!" Zhai Yunhu said resolutely.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, understanding his thoughts.

Although Zhai Yunhu is born of the Marquis Wukang's household, he is merely a son of a concubine, and thus the wealth of Marquis Wukang has little to do with him.

If the Marquis' household were to be divided, at most he could only inherit some land and be a wealthy landlord.

The resources for cultivation and connections Marquis Wukang could provide him were also limited. If he wanted to make a notable mark, he could only do so by fighting on the battlefield.

Opportunities to earn merits are rare in the Twelve Camps of the imperial guard; although the Martial Arts Temple offers many opportunities, it is inclined towards court-related offices and is not part of the military.

"Which of the nine border towns do you wish to go to?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

Zhai Yunhu pondered for a moment and said, "Master, may I go to Chongshan Town?"

Yang Zhenshan laughed, "I don't recommend you go to Chongshan Town."

"Why?" It was now Zhai Yunhu's turn to be puzzled.

Yang Zhenshan explained with a smile, "Because Chongshan Town has too many elite soldiers and strong generals, you'll find it difficult to stand out!"

Zhai Yunhu wanted to go to Chongshan Town clearly due to his connections, after all, Yang Zhenshan himself hailed from Chongshan Town.

But could Zhai Yunhu truly stand out in Chongshan Town?

The answer is very difficult!

Chongshan Town is currently not the strongest or the one with the most military force among Da Rong's nine border towns, but when it comes to the number of Martial Artists, Chongshan Town is undoubtedly the number one.

Zhai Yunhu thought to himself, that's true. Yang Zhenshan had been in Chongshan Town for so many years and had produced countless elite soldiers and strong generals. If he went there, how could he stand out among so many well-trained warriors?

"Then you should go to Beiyuan Town. I believe a great battle with the Wuliang Hu Clan is inevitable, and it should not be difficult for you to make a mark!"

"However, a great battle means danger, you must think it through!" Yang Zhenshan reminded.

Zhai Yunhu firmly declared: "Disciple will charge ahead relentlessly, never failing the teachings of my master!"

"Excellent! Having such determination is good!" Yang Zhenshan looked at him approvingly.

To seek achievements, one must first be prepared to die in battle, to advance relentlessly, never retreating until death. These were the slogans Yang Zhenshan shouted on the battlefield, and the belief described in "Military Training Records."

Walking to the desk, Yang Zhenshan briskly wrote a recommendation letter.

"Go, may your journey of thousands of miles not make you forget your original aspiration!" Yang Zhenshan handed the recommendation letter to Zhai Yunhu, encouraging him.

Zhai Yunhu felt a surge of emotions, "Disciple bids farewell to master!"

He knelt and kowtowed once more.

After leaving the Martial Arts Pavilion, seeing Yang Zhenshan again would be difficult, and if he went to Beiyuan Town, he might not return for many years.

At that moment, Zhai Yunhu's emotions were incredibly complex—grateful, reluctant, and filled with anticipation and unease for the future, a mixture of various sentiments and intense emotions.

"Go, it won't be long before many of your martial brothers will also leave the Martial Arts Pavilion!" Yang Zhenshan helped him up and said.

"Yes, master, please take care!"

Zhai Yunhu bowed and exited the study.

Yang Zhenshan watched his figure, stroking his beard and smiling slightly.

Actually, he was not very familiar with this Zhai Yunhu. With so many disciples in the Martial Arts Pavilion, it was impossible to know each one personally.

But that did not prevent him from having expectations for Zhai Yunhu.

...

While Yang Zhenshan was guiding disciples in their cultivation at the Martial Arts Pavilion, inside the Imperial Study Room in the Imperial City, Emperor Yanping was furiously enraged.

With a loud bang, Emperor Yanping fiercely punched the desk.

"How dare they? How dare they do this?" Emperor Yanping roared.

In the study, a group of eunuchs were terrified, kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Before the desk, Wang Zhongzhi was also kneeling, "Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"

"Calm my anger!" Emperor Yanping glared at Wang Zhongzhi, "These vile vermin have committed such heinous acts, how can I possibly calm my anger!"

Over the past few years, Emperor Yanping had greatly improved his ability to maintain calm, rarely becoming angry.

But today, he could not contain the fury in his heart.

What had enraged him so was the attack on the city by pirates from Yu State.

"Your Majesty, the urgent matter is to investigate this thoroughly and bring all those criminals to justice to comfort the souls of tens of thousands of innocent people!" Chen Zhongshu also advised soothingly.

Emperor Yanping took a deep breath to soothe his angry emotions and then slowly sat down in his chair.

"You all may rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"