Chapter 76: Ascending to Office
In just a few days, the entire Heavy Mountain Fortress had undergone a drastic change.
Newly appointed Governor Luchong De, with the title of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, had taken office. The new garrison commander, Changping Hou Liang, had brought five thousand elite cavalry from the western part of the Da Rong Imperial Dynasty. The new Prefectural Commander was said to be a young eunuch surnamed Lu.
“These pieces of news are quite astounding!”
In the study room of the Lin Guan Fortress, Yang Zhengshan listened intently to Yang Mingzhi’s report, unable to help but sigh.
These pieces of news had all been gathered by Yang Mingzhi, who often entered and exited the Fortress City to collect information. He liked to make friends with people from all walks of life, such as yamen runners from various government offices, servants from noble residences, and soldiers guarding the city gates.
Don’t underestimate these seemingly unimportant individuals; they had plenty of connections and information.
“Father, will this have any impact on us?” Yang Mingzhi asked with some concern.
Yang Zhengshan chuckled and said, “You’re thinking too much; we’re not important enough to attract anyone’s attention.”
It wasn’t that he was underestimating himself, but rather, given his identity and position, nobody would bother to pay attention to him.
As for others, even Zhao Yuan wouldn’t be able to ascend to prominence.
Of course, the higher-ups were in an uproar, and the lower levels would also be affected. However, Yang Zhengshan was in the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner, and above him, there was Zhou Lan keeping an eye on things. These low-level officials could still live their lives in peace.
“Oh, by the way, how’s Luo Jin doing?”
He suddenly thought of Luo Jin.
Zhang Yu De had already returned to the capital, and the Zhang family in Heavy Mountain Fortress was bound to fall.
Although Zhang Yu De wasn’t punished, the Zhang family had already been marked for decline. Zhang Yu De’s fate wasn’t decided by the imperial court because he was the emperor’s servant; even if he were to be punished, it would be up to the emperor himself, not the imperial court.
As for the Zhang family, it was only a matter of time before they crumbled.
“I haven’t seen him; he seems to have gone to guard the city gate,” Yang Mingzhi replied.
Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, thinking that Luo Jin’s son was imprisoned in the city gate’s large prison, and he must have gone to rescue him.
“Go take a look this afternoon and see if there’s anything you can help with. Since the Zhang family has already fallen, we don’t need to hide anymore!”
Previously, Yang Zhengshan had been cautious due to the Zhang family’s influence, but now that they had declined, there was no need to be concerned.
Just as he finished speaking, Old Li arrived.
“Your honor, Luo Zhang wishes to see you!”
Yang Zhengshan raised an eyebrow; this was quite sudden!
It seemed the Zhang family’s downfall was happening even faster than he had anticipated.
“Please come in!”
A moment later, Luo Jin arrived with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy.
“I, a humble servant, thank Your Honor for saving my life!”
As soon as he entered the study room, Luo Jin knelt down.
Yang Zhengshan helped him up, saying, “It’s all in the past; I didn’t save you!”
“Your Honor!” Luo Jin’s eyes reddened. “You not only saved me but also my entire family!”
He genuinely thanked Yang Zhengshan.
If it weren’t for Yang Zhengshan’s advice, his whole family would have been killed by the Zhang family.
The rumors were started by him, and it was precisely those rumors that caused the Zhang family to take a step back.
The key point was that the Zhang family had retreated for a few days; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to wait for the Zhang family’s downfall.
As for the reason behind the Zhang family’s downfall, it actually had nothing to do with the rumors. The Zhang family’s fate had already been sealed before they spread the rumors.
“Everything is in the past!” Yang Zhengshan patted Luo Jin’s shoulder, looking towards the boy beside him. “Is this your son?”
“Your humble servant, Luo Zhen, thanks Your Honor for saving his life!” Luo Zhen said respectfully, his head bowed.
Having experienced a great setback, Luo Zhen was no longer as reckless as before.
He had realized the magnitude of his mistakes.
Yang Zhengshan’s face wore a warm smile as he said, “From now on, don’t be reckless anymore; think thrice before acting, and consider your family!”
“Your humble servant will remember,” Luo Zhen said, his head still bowed in shame.
“Your Honor, this is a small gift of gratitude from me.”
Luo Jin took out a gift box.
Yang Zhengshan accepted the gift box, glancing at it, and his smile grew even wider.
The gift was quite generous, with precious medicine and expensive fabrics, worth over a hundred silver taels.
However, there was no cloth from the Luo family’s textile shop.
That was precisely why Yang Zhengshan was happy.
It meant that Luo Jin was simply expressing gratitude and not trying to repay Yang Zhengshan for saving his life.
The favor remained unsettled, which meant that Luo Jin still owed him a debt of gratitude.
There was no cloth from the Luo family’s textile shop; the gift was just a gift, and the favor remained a favor.
If there were cloth from the shop, it would mean the favor was settled.
“Then I’ll just decline your gift,” Yang Zhengshan said, accepting the favor.
“If Your Honor has any instructions in the future, I, your humble servant, will not decline,” Luo Jin said, a smile on his face.
Yang Zhengshan kept Luo Jin for lunch, and their relationship grew closer.
…
In the following days, the higher-ups in Heavy Mountain Fortress were in an uproar.
The new officials were taking office, and the three giants of Heavy Mountain Fortress were rising to power. The first move was to reward the meritorious.
Although the campaign to retake the city had ended in defeat, many generals had distinguished themselves.
For example, Zhou Lan and Yang Zhengshan.
On the third of August, Zhou Lan returned to Lin Guan Fortress once again.
Unlike the last time Yang Zhengshan went to see her, this time she had lost her melancholy demeanor and regained her previous heroic bearing.
“Is there good news, General?”
In the study room, Yang Zhengshan asked, noticing the joy on Zhou Lan’s face.
Zhou Lan took a light sip of her tea and replied, “Not exactly good news, but not bad either.”
“Oh?” Yang Zhengshan poured her a cup of tea. “What’s the news?”
“I’ve been transferred to the position of Deputy Commander of the Jian Ning Guard,” Zhou Lan said with a smile.
Yang Zhengshan was taken aback.
Deputy Commander!
The Jian Ning Guard was in Jian Zhou City, over a hundred miles west of the Fortress City.
It was an ascension, but it also meant Zhou Lan would be leaving the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner.
Zhou Lan had the backing of the Ning Guo Gong Fu, and Liang Shi, the new garrison commander, was also a noble. Although Liang Shi couldn’t consider Zhou Lan as a close friend, he should give her a suitable position.
“And what about Lin Guan Fortress?” Yang Zhengshan asked, his brow furrowed.
What would he do now that Zhou Lan was leaving?
Should he stay in the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner?
Don’t be ridiculous; without Zhou Lan’s backing, he would be unable to do anything in the Left Vanguard.
Zhou Lan smiled, “What do you plan to do?”
Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and said, “I’ll follow you to Jian Ning Guard.”
Zhou Lan seemed to be very pleased with his answer. She then handed him a document from her sleeve.
“This is yours.”
Yang Zhengshan opened the document and was stunned after reading it.
“Welcoming River Fortress Defense Officer!”
He had been promoted to the position of a thousand-man commander under the Jian Ning Guard, responsible for Welcoming River Fortress, San Shan Fortress, Xiang Yuan Fortress, and Lin Guan Fortress!
It made sense; Welcoming River Fortress belonged to the Jian Ning Guard.
As long as Lin Guan Fortress was incorporated into Welcoming River Fortress’s jurisdiction, it would naturally fall under the Jian Ning Guard.
Yang Zhengshan suddenly found it very amusing.
Zhou Lan had previously dismantled the signboard of Lin Guan Fortress, and now she was putting it back up.
The current Lin Guan Fortress was no longer a military camp under the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner but a garrison camp under the Jian Ning Guard.
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