Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather
Chapter 187 - 183 The Six Dukes

Chapter 187: Chapter 183 The Six Dukes

Chongshan Pass, inside a very ordinary house.

Wei Cen sat carelessly in the main hall, with a middle-aged scholar in a green robe standing in front of him.

"Sir, it’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just, it’s just~~"

The middle-aged scholar hesitated.

"I know what you want to say, that this isn’t the Commander’s order, just my order!" Wei Cen said calmly.

The middle-aged scholar was also part of the Secret Martial Guards, which was internally composed of various types.

There were regular combat troops referred to as the Tiqi.

There were those responsible for investigation and espionage, known as Hidden Guards.

There were assassins specifically responsible for assassination, known as Blood Blades,

There were those specifically in charge of guarding the Imperial City, known as Dark Guards.

And there were Hidden Guards lurking in the shadows, known as Shadows.

Shadows were everywhere; the Secret Martial Guards were everywhere.

Wei Cen’s squad was part of the Hidden Guards, mainly responsible for investigating and gathering intelligence.

And the middle-aged scholar before him was one of the Shadows.

"Sir, please don’t make it difficult for me!" the middle-aged scholar said with a bitter face.

Wei Cen shook his head and then took a token from his bosom, "You don’t need to feel troubled, this is the Commander’s token, you are acting under the Commander’s orders!"

"I will report to the Commander afterward!"

Although Wei Cen was only a Hundred Households, he was a confidant of Lv Hua and held a significant position within the Secret Martial Guards North Station.

Officially, he was not allowed to use a Shadow privately, but he had Lv Hua’s token, which gave him the privilege to act expediently.

The middle-aged scholar, seeing the token in Lv Hua’s hand, could only reluctantly respond, "I obey the command!"

"Good, I will commend you after the matter is settled!"

After speaking, Wei Cen got up and swiftly left.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged scholar, with a worried and troubled face, agonized for a long time; the task that Wei Cen had given him was genuinely challenging.

"Sigh!"

He finally sighed and also left the yard, heading towards the General Mansion.

"Mr. Lu!"

Upon entering the General Mansion, many civil servants and constables who encountered him respectfully greeted him with a bow.

Meanwhile, he absentmindededly nodded in response.

Soon, he reached the study next to the grand hall of the General Mansion.

In the study, Liang Chu was immersed in handling official duties, while Mr. Lu, familiar with the routines, sat beside another desk and quietly started reading the documents on it.

Yes, he was Liang Chu’s civil servant and the Attendant Student who grew up with Liang Chu.

However, very few knew he was a Shadow planted by the Secret Martial Guards beside Liang Chu.

At this moment, Mr. Lu’s mind wasn’t on the documents before him at all; his thoughts were entirely occupied by the task Wei Cen had given him.

Although he was a Shadow planted by the Secret Martial Guards, in reality, having been by Liang Chu’s side for over thirty years, he had never helped the Secret Martial Guards execute any tasks.

Very simple, his duty was only to monitor Liang Chu, and as long as Liang Chu showed no disloyalty, he didn’t need to perform other tasks.

Just as Mr. Lu was still struggling with this, Liang Chu suddenly raised his head, "Lu Shou, do you know Tan Jingtai from Songzhou Guard Deputy Magistrate?"

Lu Shou suddenly shivered, "Marquis, why do you bring up this person?"

He felt a bit panicked because Wei Cen’s task for him was to help Tan Jingtai get promoted to be the Commander of Songzhou Guard.

Now that Liang Chu mentioned Tan Jingtai, he couldn’t help but overthink.

Could it be that Liang Chu had discovered something?

Or had Liang Chu known his identity all along?

Liang Chu didn’t notice Lu Shou’s anomalies, just looked at the documents in his hand and said with a slight frown, "Wang Bin recommended Tan Jingtai for the Commander of Songzhou Guard!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shou’s heart felt relieved, and his thoughts swiftly turned.

Opportunity, what a great opportunity!

He had been troubled about how to bring up this topic, and he hadn’t expected Wang Bin would recommend Tan Jingtai.

"Marquis, Tan Jingtai originally comes from the Left Thousand Households of Qi State Guard, was transferred to Songzhou Guard as Deputy Commander in the ninth year of Chengping and was promoted to Acting Commander in the sixteenth year. He has been in Songzhou Guard for seventeen years!"

"During these seventeen years, although he hasn’t achieved any significant feats, he has been diligent. However, in the past controversy involving Sha Pingchuan involving Songzhou Guard, Tan Jingtai refused to collude with Sha Pingchuan and has always been laying low."

Lu Shou slowly narrated Tan Jingtai’s record.

As Liang Chu’s civil servant, he had a detailed understanding of all the officials in Chongshan Town, big and small. Even though he hadn’t specifically paid attention to Tan Jingtai before, he could generally remember Tan Jingtai’s career record.

But evidently, he was putting a positive spin on Tan Jingtai’s background.

"Diligence," was just mediocre performance.

"Laying low" was just because Sha Pingchuan didn’t regard Tan Jingtai highly.

To be honest, in Songzhou Guard, Tan Jingtai was just a figurehead, ignored not just by outsiders but even by the soldiers of Songzhou Guard.

But after listening to Lu Shou, Liang Chu suddenly felt that Tan Jingtai was very fit for the position of Commander of Songzhou Guard.

The entire Songzhou Guard was in a state of unease due to the controversy involving Sha Pingchuan pulling several officials into the issue.

Although Jia City still has Assistant General Wang Bin stationed there, Wang Bin cannot always be present in Songzhou Guard. Hence, at this time, Songzhou Guard urgently needs a mature and steady person to take charge.

If an outsider is transferred to Songzhou, it will take them a month or two to grasp the situation. Conversely, Tan Jingtai would be able to control the situation in Songzhou Guard upon his promotion.

Thinking carefully, Liang Chu increasingly felt that Tan Jingtai was suitable for the position of Commander of Songzhou Guard.

However~

Immediately afterward, he frowned and took out a letter from under his desk.

Looking at the content of the letter, his eyes narrowed slightly.

This letter came from the Capital City, recommending someone to him.

Lu Shou doesn’t know what the letter says, but he can discern the change in Liang Chu’s mood.

It was fine just a moment ago, but now his brows are furrowed, which is obviously troubling.

"Does the Marquis have any difficulties?"

Liang Chu sighed softly and handed the letter to Lu Shou, "This is a letter from the young master of Duke Chang’s Mansion, recommending Duke Shou’s grandson, Wang Zheng, as the Commander of Songzhou Guard!"

"The son of Duke Shou!" Lu Shou took the letter and read through it.

There are currently six duke mansions in Da Rong: Duke Ning, Duke Rong, Duke Chang, Duke An, Duke Xing, and Duke Shou.

Among them, Duke Ning and Duke Rong are hereditary first-class dukes, while Duke Chang, Duke An, and Duke Xing are third-class hereditary dukes.

Duke Shou is somewhat special; the current Duke Shou is the maternal grandfather of Emperor Chengping. Ten years ago, when the Empress Dowager passed away, Emperor Chengping, in memory of the Empress Dowager’s kindness, made Marquis Shouning the Duke Shou, a class by itself among the third-class dukes!

Simply put, the Duke Shou Mansion is a relative of the imperial family.

As for Duke Chang, although his influence cannot compare with Duke Ning’s Mansion, it is also significant.

The position of Commander of Songzhou Guard unexpectedly involves two duke mansions; it’s no wonder Liang Chu is having headaches.

After reading the letter, the thoughts in Lu Shou’s mind spun rapidly.

He was contemplating Wei Cen’s mission, as well as guessing Liang Chu’s thoughts.

Would Liang Chu fear Duke Chang and Duke Shou?

No, because Liang Chu is a very proud man since Changping Marquis Mansion is a founding marquis mansion.

Although in terms of rank, Changping Marquis Mansion is only a second-rank marquis house, it has been passed on for more than 300 years.

What Duke Ning, Duke Chang, are just hundred-year nobles; in terms of heritage and depth, the Changping Marquis Mansion is unmatched among all the nobles of Da Rong.

Liang Chu has the pride and confidence, it’s just that he also cannot outright ignore the two duke mansions.

Lu Shou pondered for a while, then said, "My lord, I think the Marquis should prioritize the overall situation!"

"You must have heard about the situation of Duke Shou Mansion; if someone from Duke Shou Mansion goes to Songzhou Guard, I’m afraid that Songzhou Guard will never find peace again!"

Prioritizing the overall situation.

What is the current overarching situation of Chongshan Town?

Revitalizing Chongshan Town and annihilating the East Sea Hu Clan is the overall situation.

Liang Chu and Lu Chongde have been striving for this for the past two years.

And the reputation of Duke Shou Mansion in the Capital City is not good.

The acts are outrageous, lawless, wanton and reckless—these are the impressions that the nobles of Duke Shou Mansion have created.

If you let people from Duke Shou Mansion go to Songzhou Guard, let alone Songzhou Guard, even Jia City might suffer.

Lu Shou thought this was not enough, and added more fuel, "My lord, Wang Bin might not be able to suppress Duke Shou Mansion; after all, Duke Shou Mansion is not Duke Ning Mansion, and the nobles of Duke Shou Mansion are not as reasonable as General Zhou Lan!"

At this time, he did not forget to make a comparison with Zhou Lan.

Because of Liang Chu’s past favor from Zhou Lan, when Zhou Lan left the Camp, it was to give Liang Chu face; if Zhou Lan was unwilling, Liang Chu wouldn’t have had any way with Zhou Lan.

Don’t forget that the current Left Governor of the Central Army Commander’s Mansion is Ning Duke, Zhou Lan’s own father.

Liang Chu sighed softly, "You’re right! Duke Shou Mansion is not Duke Ning Mansion!"

After pondering for a while, Liang Chu approved the document that Wang Bin submitted, "Please make a copy of this document and send it to the Governor’s Office, ask them to arrange Tan Jingtai’s promotion immediately."

For the position of Commander of Songzhou Guard, he can decide on his own, but of course, he still needs to report to the Central Army Commander’s Mansion.

Seeing that things were settling down, Lu Shou also breathed a sigh of relief.

He promptly responded, took the document, and quickly walked out of the study to arrange for the delivery of the document to the Governor’s Office.

Elsewhere in Jia City, within a three-section courtyard, Tan Jingtai was playing chess with his grandson.

Tan Jingtai, already fifty-six years old, has his temples graced with unmistakable white hair.

At his position, at his age, there really isn’t much of a career path to speak of.

Originally, he was a man of no great ambition; now that he is older, his strength is far from what it once was, so he has given up the idea of power and profit, only planning to retire when he reaches the age to enjoy his remaining years in his homeland, delighting in spending time with his grandchildren.

"Master, someone has sent a letter from outside!"

At this moment, an old servant brought a letter to Tan Jingtai.

Tan Jingtai looked up in surprise, "Who sent it?"

He didn’t have many interactions on an ordinary day; apart from a few fellow townsmen, he rarely received letters.

If it were a letter from a townsman, the old servant would not bring it over but would directly send it to the study to be read when he was free.

"The person did not reveal his identity; he said that Master would know after reading the letter," the old servant said.

Tan Jingtai puzzledly opened the letter and read it.

However, after reading the letter, his mind was completely boggled, his brows furrowed tightly, eyes narrowed, a look of utter bafflement mixed with confusion and a bit of shock.

The complexity of emotions on his face was indeed difficult to describe.