Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 466: Chapter 434: The Emperor Dies, The Whole Realm Mourns_2

Even if they could only gain a small fraction of the benefits, it would still be enough to increase their net worth by several times, or even dozens of times.

Yang Zhenshan waved his hand and said, “All you need to tell me now is whether you’re willing to engage in this business!”

“We are willing!” the five of them quickly answered.

“Good, I have many official duties to attend to and no time for further discussion, the rest you can talk in detail with Lord Qian from the Commerce Department!”

Yang Zhenshan said with a light and carefree tone.

The Commerce Department, that is, a new division established by the General Mansion after the Engineering Department, is specifically in charge of the General Mansion’s trading affairs.

The so-called Lord Qian was actually a civil servant transferred from the Tenglong Guard, Qian Man, who was previously in charge of some commercial activities of the Tenglong Guard.

Wang Zhenze and others were also acquainted with Qian Man as they had often dealt with the Tenglong Guard in the past.

The nearby Qian Man quickly stepped forward and said, “Gentlemen, if you have any questions, you may ask me, and I will explain everything!”

These were arrangements that Yang Zhenshan had already made, and Qian Man had also been preparing for a long time.

Yang Zhenshan then briefly spoke a few more words with them and left the hall.

When he spoke of his busy official duties, it wasn’t just an excuse; it was genuinely because he was occupied with affairs.

There were a pile of official documents that needed his attention in his study, he had to keep an eye on the training conditions of the Camp, and even though Black Cloud City and the Ying River channel had already begun construction, and he didn’t need to do everything himself, he still needed to make inspections.

As for the glassware business, the preparations he needed to make had already been completed earlier. What followed would proceed according to normal protocols and did not require his further concern.

Up to this point, his plans for Chongshan Town have been smoothed out, and what remained was to gradually and sequentially realize the plans he had formulated.

Wang Zhenze and the other four spent three days at Chongshan Pass, then each left carrying two hundred pieces of glass ornaments.

Yet, in less than half a month, they returned each leading a massive caravan to Chongshan Pass, which demonstrated their enormous desire for glass products.

As June arrived, the weather in Chongshan Town also began to turn hot.

This was the time of the year when everything in Chongshan Town competed in lush greenery. The verdant green of the mountains layer upon layer, endless fields of green stretching to the horizon, so bright that they seemed to wash the eyes, as if even the sky was tinted with a shade of green.

This season was also the busiest for the citizens and military households of Chongshan Town. They had to store food for the long winter ahead, earn money, and purchase essentials such as oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, cloth, and clothes.

However, this year’s Chongshan Town was busier than ever; a large number of able-bodied men gathered by the Ying River bank, and many more were conscripted to the foot of Black Cloud Mountain. They carried soil and stone, dug rivers and built cities, contributing their sweat to the development of Chongshan Town.

But they had no complaints, for both the General Mansion and the Governor’s Office had given them generous remunerations.

Their payment was not much, but for them, it was already a considerable sum of wealth.

With this payment, they could eat well, wear warm clothing, build new houses, and spend a warm winter.

This was exactly what Yang Zhenshan wanted: whether it was building cities, dredging the Ying River channel, or constructing roads, the purpose was to give the citizens of Chongshan Town the opportunity to earn more silver.

All of this was just the beginning.

Just as Chongshan Town entered a phase of gradual progression, a huge change was brewing in the Capital City.

The third day of June in the thirty-fifth year of Emperor Chengping’s reign.

The Crown Prince, five Dukes, and six senior officials from the Three Divisions, all gathered in the Yangxin Palace.

Lying on the bed, Emperor Chengping looked at the people kneeling before him with bright eyes.

“Your Majesty!” Chen called out with a voice filled with sorrow.

Emperor Chengping’s eyes moved slightly, his gaze fell on Chen, and a smile appeared on his face.

“The decree…” he said faintly.

“Your Majesty, the will is already prepared!” Chen quickly took out the will and placed it before Emperor Chengping.

“Read!”

Chen immediately opened the will and read aloud, “During my thirty-five years on the throne, respecting the virtues of my forefathers, I have devoted myself to governance, toiling day and night, perpetually fearing to fall short of the duty entrusted to me by my predecessors. Now stricken with illness, my days are numbered, beyond possibility of recovery. Life inevitably leads to death; it is the way of humanity, unavoidable even for the wise and the sage. As long as the succession is ensured, and the people have a ruler, my passing is without regret!”

“The Crown Prince, insightful in benevolence and filial piety, naturally virtuous, should ascend to the imperial throne. All civil and military officials should support him in unity, to fulfill my aspirations. The mourning rites shall follow the tradition left by my father; changing from days into months, the mourning period shall last for twenty-seven days. Do not forbid music, weddings, the continuation of lineage takes precedence, marital rituals must not be delayed, requests beyond a hundred days shall be processed by the bureaus, any persistence in violation is not permitted.”

“Princes and Dukes should adhere to their duties and not leave their principalities rashly. The local military commanders, generals, and governors, as well as officials from the Three Divisions, must guard the borders firmly, comfort the military and the civilians, and may not abandon their posts. Upon hearing of my demise, they shall mourn twice daily for three days in their respective locations, and send envoys to offer incense in my place.”

“Your Majesty! It’s finished!”

Chen’s voice unconsciously took on a sobbing tone.

The Crown Prince and others on the ground, with their foreheads touching the floor, showed a hint of redness around their eyes, their faces expressing sorrow.

“Good, good, good…”

Emperor Chengping repeated the word thrice, each time weaker than the last.

“I have no regrets before my ancestors!”

His gaze turned towards the carved wooden window, looking at the sunlight filtering through, at the vibrant green outside, at the wind, the light, the vast territories, the wide heavens and earth.

And then, he slowly closed his eyes.

“Your Majesty!” Chen called out with a trembling voice, hesitantly placing his finger under Emperor Chengping’s nose.