Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 569: Chapter 493 Martial Arts Temple, Martial Arts Pavilion_2

As the price of glassware continues to decrease, the two glasswork shops will soon introduce glass utensils.

Glass tea sets, wine sets, tableware, and more will enter the market.

Although this will lead to a reduction in the price of glass products, as they become commonplace in households, it will create a situation of small profits but quick turnover, resulting in an increase in revenue for the six major distributors and the Imperial Commerce Bureau instead of a decrease.

As for the rest, Yang Zhenshan could no longer manage it; he now only needed a thirty percent share of the Luo family’s glass business to subsidize his household expenses, he really did not want to be concerned with anything else.

With the establishment of the Imperial Commerce Bureau, the issue of controlling the worldly society has also been put on the agenda.

For several consecutive days, Yang Zhenshan was summoned by Emperor Yanping to the Imperial City to discuss government affairs.

Not only him but also Zhou Mao, Duan Rui, Liang Chu, among others, were summoned, and from time to time, a few senior officials from the Cabinet, Ministry of War, Ministry of Criminal Justice, and the Ministry of Justice were also called to join the discussions.

Regarding the control over the worldly society, a direction has already been determined, which is to create a new government office, specifically responsible for this matter.

Compared to the Imperial Commerce Bureau, this new government office has more power and a broader influence.

Therefore, Emperor Yanping gave it more attention.

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-May, and the various policies for controlling the worldly society have basically been set.

Generally speaking, they align with the proposals submitted by Yang Zhenshan; of course, this is not to say that all these were formulated based on his proposals. In fact, the suggestions from Yang Zhenshan, Zhou Mao, and Duan Rui were quite similar.

They all tended to establish a new government office and had the idea of winning over the Jianghu Sects.

The one thing that made Yang Zhenshan’s proposal unique was the Martial Arts Academy.

However, compared to the other two proposals, the Martial Arts Academy turned out to be the least important, at least for the current court.

On the fifteenth of May, after the morning court.

Emperor Yanping once again summoned everyone to the Imperial Study Room.

Joining them were a few senior officials from the Cabinet, as well as Wang Lu, Minister of War, Wei Rong, Minister of Ministry of Criminal Justice, and Yan Ruishu, Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

This was akin to a small court meeting.

Emperor Yanping looked at Song Yuange and said, ”Elder Song, please share the Cabinet’s opinion.”

Song Yuange cleared his throat and said, ”Based on our discussions over the past few days, the Cabinet has drawn up a charter.”

”Firstly, change the Martial Order to the higher Martial Order, categorizing the Jianghu forces into three levels. For the third-rank, issue the Sect Master’s order, confer an official title of seventh-rank, and limit the number of Sect Disciples to no more than three hundred.”

”For the second-rank, issue the Sect Master’s order, confer an official title of fifth-rank, and limit the number of Sect Disciples to no more than five hundred.”

”For the first-rank, issue the Sect Master’s order, confer an official title of third-rank, bestow the flying fish robe, and limit the number of Sect Disciples to no more than one thousand.”

”The specific details on the evaluation criteria for Sect ranking...”

”Secondly, establish the Martial Arts Temple, merge the Military Suppression Department of the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Martial Arts Department of the Ministry of Justice into the Martial Arts Temple, appoint a Minister for the Martial Arts Temple of Standard Third Rank, Deputy Ministers of Standard Fourth Rank on the left and right, and Deputy Chiefs of Staff of Standard Fifth Rank...”

”Subordinate to it are the Martial Arts Departments of thirteen provinces, each with one Commander, two Deputy Magistrates, and four Deputy Commanders...”

”Thirdly, establish the Martial Arts Pavilion, ranked equally with the Imperial College, appoint a Martial Arts Pavilion Commander of Secondary Fourth Rank, two Military Officers of Standard Fifth Rank, responsible for military training and guidance, divided into five disciplines: Martial Arts, Military Tactics, Troop Training, Weaponry, and Medicine.”

The first two points were largely similar to Yang Zhenshan’s proposals, but the third point was significantly different from what he had proposed.

Yang Zhenshan wanted to establish a comprehensive system of Martial Artist training from the bottom up, but in the end, it was decided to set up just one Martial Arts Pavilion.

The reason was a lack of funds!

Moreover, the Martial Arts Pavilion was not merely a Martial Arts Academy but more like a military academy, teaching courses in Martial Arts, Military Tactics, Troop Training, Weaponry, and Medicine.

Weaponry refers to the manufacturing of military equipment, such as crossbows and siege machinery, with the aim of cultivating craftsmen.

Medicine was designed to cultivate military medics.

These two areas are essential to a Martial Artist’s training and are indispensable in combat as well as any other Martial Arts-related activity, be it in the military or elsewhere.

As it was to be a Martial Arts and military academy, these two areas could not be omitted.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan strongly insisted that these two disciplines should also be included in the curriculum of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Other people had some objections to this, but they did not voice them much.

These were minor issues; there was no need to argue with Yang Zhenshan over this.

After Song Yuange finished speaking, Emperor Yanping opened his mouth to ask: ”Do any of my ministers have objections?”

Everyone shook their heads.

These matters have already been discussed and argued over for a long time.

Regarding the integration of the Military Suppression Department and Martial Arts Department into the Martial Arts Temple, the Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice Wei Rong and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice Yan Ruishu strongly opposed. However, unable to go against the greater force and faced with support from the Cabinet and the likes of Zhou Mao, they had no choice but to suppress their dissatisfaction.

The Martial Arts Temple has many unique aspects; it is a martial force government office. While it appears to be similar to the Ministry of Justice, Honglu Temple, and the like, in reality, it’s a government office for Military Officers. The Martial Arts Temple’s appointments and dismissals are overseen by the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, not managed by the Ministry of Personnel.

Similarly, the appointments and dismissals of officials of the Martial Arts Pavilion are also the responsibility of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War.

Seeing that the others had no objections, Emperor Yanping spoke again: ”Then let’s discuss the arrangement of official positions!”

”Marquis Jing’an, would you be willing to serve as the Minister of the Martial Arts Temple?”

Emperor Yanping, not waiting for others to speak, asked Yang Zhenshan directly.

Yang Zhenshan was taken aback and then stepped forward to say, ”Your Majesty, I wish to serve as the Head of the Martial Arts Pavilion!”

His statement took everyone by surprise.

The Head of the Martial Arts Pavilion was only a Secondary Fourth Rank, whereas the Minister of the Martial Arts Temple held a Standard Third Rank.

And in terms of power, the Martial Arts Pavilion paled significantly in comparison to the Martial Arts Temple.

There was no comparison between the two, yet Yang Zhenshan chose the position of the Head of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

”Why?” Emperor Yanping was also puzzled.

When he decided to establish the Martial Arts Temple, the first person he thought of for leadership was Yang Zhenshan.

He had assumed Yang Zhenshan would readily accept, but to his surprise, Yang Zhenshan actually refused.

”Your Majesty, I am not well-versed in the forces of the worldly society; how can I take charge of the Martial Arts Temple?” Yang Zhenshan’s reasoning was very sound.

To let him take charge of the Martial Arts Temple, he really did not know how to go about it.

How many Sect forces were there in the worldly society?

How strong was each Sect force?

What was the attitude of these worldly society forces towards the court?

Also, how to manage these forces and how to unite them?

Furthermore, it was clear that the Martial Arts Temple was a big headache.

It involved so many forces; the people and matters behind it were too numerous to count.

To clarify these relationships and integrate all forces required a great deal of effort and time.

And now, Yang Zhenshan’s focus had already shifted towards cultivation. Recently, his cultivation had significantly advanced, and he was thinking of making further progress, not wanting to waste energy and time on the Martial Arts Temple.

”Your Majesty also knows that I am skilled in training troops and teaching Disciples. The role of Head of the Martial Arts Pavilion could not be more perfect for me!” Yang Zhenshan added.

Herding one sheep is driving; herding a flock is also driving.

After all, he already had three disciples, and he did not care about having a few hundred or a few thousand more students.

Besides, the Martial Arts Pavilion appeared to be a government office with leisure work.

Later on, all Yang Zhenshan needed to do was to find a couple of reliable deputies, and he could be a hands-off Shopkeeper.

Thus, from the start, Yang Zhenshan had set his sights on the position of Head of the Pavilion.

As for the rank of official position, he was a Marquis beyond the ordinary ranks; the rank of official position held little significance to him.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yanping thought for a moment, then asked, ”Who should serve as the Minister of the Martial Arts Temple? Does any of my loving subjects have a suitable candidate?”

Everyone fell into deep thought.

This Minister’s position was not something just anyone could take up.

This person should not only understand the numerous forces within the worldly society, but also possess considerable strength, with at least Half-step Innate cultivation.

Apart from Yang Zhenshan, there really wasn’t a very suitable candidate in today’s court.

Zhou Mao thought for a while and then said, ”I believe Marquis Wuding is capable of taking up this important responsibility!”

”Marquis Wuding? Impractical. At present, Marquis Wuding is guarding Yunling Town and should not be motioned lightly!” Duan Rui countered.

There are two Boundary Towns on the Southern Border of Da Rong, which are Yunling Town and Southern Border Town, respectively. Southern Border Town is under the hereditary defense of the Duke Xing Mansion, while Yunling Town is guarded by Marquis Wuding as the General.

Compared to the Northern Border of Da Rong, the Southern Border involved more forces that are also more powerful. Though in terms of military strength, Yunling Town and Southern Border Town are far inferior to the four Boundary Towns of the North, in terms of Martial Arts Masters, the two great Boundary Towns of the South far surpass those of the North.

Marquis Wuding, Guo Ying, possesses Innate Cultivation, and the current Duke Xing is also an Innate expert. Two great Innate experts guard the Southern Border of Da Rong, naturally, they cannot be moved lightly.