On the training ground, banners fluttered and heads swarmed.
Ning Yue followed behind Xue Ren, and the crowd parted like water, forming a clear path directly to the stage.
The high platform, built with bluestone bricks, had eighteen steps. At its center were two banners: one, bearing five dragons embracing the sun, was the banner of the Da Yuan Dynasty. The dark red banner danced in the wind, like a blazing fire, with five-clawed golden dragons vividly depicted, baring their fangs and claws, guarding the great sun!
The second was the Zhao Family banner. Gu City’s military and government were integrated; Zhao Nan Ting was both a fourth-rank Xuanwu General and the Lord of Gu City, in charge of all military affairs in Gu City and its surrounding villages and towns. Where his military banner reached, those who disobeyed could be executed first and reported later.
The Yongwang Garrison’s training ground, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people, was now a cacophony of noise, with black armor forming vast patches, shimmering with dazzling halos under the sunlight.
One man, draped in a large cloak and wearing a red robe, was over forty but showed no trace of white hair. Under the gaze of ten thousand people, his demeanor was composed, and his tiger-like eyes surveyed the crowd with an air of superiority, though a barely concealed joy flickered in his eyes. He was today’s protagonist—Han Yu.
The position of Qianhu was the threshold to the upper-middle class in Gu City. Granted a seventh-rank official title, he could advance to take over as head of the Han Family, eyeing the position of a garrison’s pacification commissioner; or retreat to safeguard his family’s property, ensuring the Han Family’s prosperity for twenty years.
As for the honor of future generations, that was secondary.
Several prominent families, having endured for generations, had their own methods of raising and educating their children. Unless a child was truly beyond hope, they could all be groomed into respectable individuals.
Han Yu had received the authority of Qianhu a month ago, but the seventh-rank official title required imperial appointment to signify the Emperor's grace.
Messengers traveled thousands of miles from north to south and back again, and with the lengthy imperial procedures, it took over a month to finalize everything, largely due to the Han Family’s extensive efforts in making arrangements.
Coupled with Xue Ren’s successful scheme to wipe out the He Family, which not only settled a personal vendetta but also exposed traitors within the military who leaked information and recovered lost military equipment, Zhao City Lord, with a wave of his hand, decided to promote them all at once!
Xue Ren stood with Ning Yue in the closest corner below the high platform; it wasn’t yet their turn to ascend.
Behind them were bustling armored soldiers, each with complex expressions as they witnessed the scene.
Xue Ren’s promotion was supported by his family, so no one dared to criticize it. But Ning Yue… it had only been a rumor before, but today it had become reality.
Countless people felt envy and jealousy, and innumerable others regretted and felt remorse; only a handful truly offered their blessings.
“Tell me, if I had followed Lieutenant Xue during the selection of generals in front of the platform back then, would it be me standing below the platform today?”
“Hard to say. Lieutenant Xue runs a strict army, fair in rewards and punishments, and doesn’t put on airs like a young master from a prominent family. He’s a good leader, and the chances of promotion following him aren’t small.”
“Sigh, associating with prominent families is just better than for us without connections. I never saw Ning Yue as particularly outstanding before; his martial arts were mediocre. I never expected him to simply gain the position of Zongqi today!”
Ning Yue listened to everyone’s words without comment.
Before long, all personnel on the training ground were present.
Zhao Xingwu looked at the neatly arrayed soldiers below the platform, raised his right hand like a waving banner, and commanded, “Beat the drums!”
“Boom, boom, boom!”
“Boom, boom, boom!”
Three thunderous drumbeats echoed from both the left and right sides.
Zhao Nan Ting, seated in the center of the high platform, slowly rose, faced the crowd, and strode towards Han Yu.
Zhao Xingwu stood beside the City Lord, holding the imperial decree. After Han Yu bowed and stood properly, he began, “By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Han Yu of the Han Clan, through diligent governance and meritorious service in suppressing bandits… is hereby granted the seventh-rank position of Qianhu, a hundred mu of land, a thousand taels of silver, one Blazing Sun Subduing Tiger Beast, and a hundred bolts of Suzhou-Hangzhou brocade. Strive diligently, and do not fail Our expectations!”
Han Yu knelt on one knee, holding his hands up, and loudly declared, “Your subject accepts the decree.”
Then, he respectfully received the imperial decree.
Everyone was solemn; only Han Yu’s voice echoed in the training ground.
“The Han Family truly spared no expense!” Mo Yingshuo exclaimed with emotion, “His Majesty has always governed with frugality, and the Blazing Sun Subduing Tiger Beast is rarely bestowed. I never expected the Han Family to acquire one.”
The third-tier demon beast, the Blazing Sun Subduing Tiger Beast, at its peak, was comparable to a human Forging Bone Realm expert. It resembled a swift horse but had the head of a wolf and the tail of a scorpion. It was named for its violent nature, fire affinity, and yellow and black stripes. This beast was difficult to tame, and even harder to breed. Currently, only the Imperial Horse Stables in the Great Yuan capital possessed such a beast.
Xue Ren glanced at his former colleague and future subordinate, then smiled and said, “It’s just a matter of give and take.”
Mo Yingshuo’s face turned ashen as he looked away.
On the high platform, after Han Yu rose, Zhao City Lord bestowed the new tiger tally, thus placing over a thousand men under Han Yu’s command!
Han Yu held the imperial decree in his left hand, while his right hand rested on the hilt of his saber. He remained with his back to the crowd, facing the higher part of the platform.
Several pacification commissioners and a dozen Qianhu watched him with solemn expressions.
“Fellow colleagues, is there anyone willing to spar with me in front of the formation?” Han Yu asked.
Upon hearing this, the pacification commissioners and Qianhu all chuckled.
Ning Yue, curious, asked Xue Youwei, “What’s this about?”
“Array-front combat, it’s an old tradition in our Gu City. Any general who has attained a rank, to prevent people from using connections and shortcuts, and then lacking the hard power to lead troops after promotion, must always be asked this question as a formality before each promotion.”
“If you win, naturally there’s nothing to say. If you lose, you’ll first serve as an acting general, and it’s unknown when you’ll be officially reinstated. Moreover, your military career will be ruined. Subordinates won’t be convinced, and superiors will also consider the impact and cannot easily promote you,” Xue Youwei explained in a low voice.
“However, Qianhu Han comes from a prominent family, and his own strength is undeniable. I hear he has already achieved great success in the Blood Exchange Realm, just one step away from reaching complete inner perfection. I doubt anyone here would dare to challenge him.”
“This is also an unwritten rule among prominent families. Just wait a bit; I expect Xue Ge will be the same.”
Ning Yue nodded.
Indeed, after Han Yu spoke, no one responded. Zhao Xingwu also smiled and urged Han Yu to take his seat quickly.
Ning Yue watched Qianhu Han release his saber hilt and sit down on the high platform with a smile, while his good elder brother, wearing a deep blue Baihu uniform, had already calmly ascended the stage.
He then asked, “If losing is so disadvantageous, isn’t there any reward for winning?”
“Of course,” Xue Youwei’s expression was solemn, “To prevent collusion, this combat usually involves challenging three people, commonly known as ‘passing three stages.’ And the official ranks are usually the same. If one withstands the first challenger, they can choose any profound-grade cultivation technique or ordinary body-refining spiritual medicine. This is a special military merit for array-front combat.”
“If one withstands the second, they won’t need to serve as an acting official, and the reward is tripled…”
“As for the third, that’s not easy. Usually, several pacification commissioners personally select the challenger to temper the new official’s sharp edge. You’ll have to pray for good fortune later,” Xue Youwei said with schadenfreude.
After speaking, he added with a mischievous smile, “Oh, and you’ve run out of spiritual medicine for your Yi Jin Realm cultivation, haven’t you? If you can win two matches, the spiritual medicine rewarded will be quite valuable, probably enough for you to cultivate to Yi Jin Realm perfection.”
Ning Yue thought to himself: I practice martial arts by spending money; why would I need spiritual medicine?
But he still honestly replied, “Xue Ge has already prepared it for me.”
Xue Youwei’s face flushed, as if shot in the knee, and he finally fell silent.
And Ning Yue also lowered his head silently, the three thousand taels of silver notes he had just borrowed quietly vanishing…