Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 204 Commander Lu: I haven't even done anything yet, how come you've already collapsed?
A petite girl was sitting next to Lu Yunchen.

It turned out to be Han Shushu, the "sea snatcher" who had been out of sight for almost half a year because Pu Shouying had instigated the Japanese pirates to cause trouble.

She is here today on behalf of her uncle, Han Zechang, the "River-Turning Rat".

"I saw Lao Lu yesterday, but I didn't see Han Shushu. It seemed like the two of them were quite familiar with each other."

I wonder if their friendship is purely platonic?

During Wang Cheng's absence, the exceptionally talented Lu Yunchen had completely mastered the foreign language books that taught warship command.

Not only has she become a qualified sailing warship commander, but she also has a penchant for teaching, and is currently pulling the confused Han Shushu into giving her a lesson.

"Shushu, let me tell you, the simplest way to measure the range of artillery firing data is..."

"Suppose you are standing next to a cannon, and you use instruments to measure the elevation angle of the cannon to the target as α, and the height of the cannon as h. Then the distance D = h / sinα."

Wang Cheng was amazed by Lu Yunchen's courage, who actually wanted to enlighten Han Shushu, a math idiot who couldn't even use a astrolabe and would get lost as soon as she went out.

After all, which girl from a scholarly family would choose a man of immense strength and unparalleled spirit as a spiritual response?

If you switch the roles of Han Shushu and Yu Ji, the style of the story would be completely different. She would be holding the fully armored Chu Xiangyu in one hand and carrying the black horse Wuzhui on her back in the other, riding the waves across the Wujiang River.

Well, these two are evenly matched, like two equally talented individuals facing off.

"This way, that way, and then this way again, understand?"

*Cough cough* Even the dumbest person couldn't learn trigonometric functions! *Cough cough* An illusion! I must be under an illusion!

Then, just as Wang Cheng had predicted, Lu Yunchen started spitting out large amounts of blood as he taught.

"Ugh. Ugh."

I don't know if it's because the jealousy of the gods and spirits has started acting up again, or because I'm angry with Han Shushu.

The little girl stuck out her pink tongue shyly.

Having been back for over two months, I often deal with Lu Yunchen, the head of the Baoshan Thousand-Household Office, and have gotten used to his frequent vomiting of blood.

It seems that he vomits a lot of blood when he's with me.

The main reason was that Lu Yunchen was kind-hearted and couldn't stand seeing fools. When his stubborn streak kicked in, he was determined to teach this stubborn rock a lesson.

Han Shushu was worried that if she stayed by his side, he might accidentally die here and be buried with Xing Baichuan. She quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe his mouth and then ran away as if fleeing.

"Um, Brother Lu, please vomit gently."

Shushu doesn't drink, so she went to the children's table to reserve a seat.

Wang Cheng then pulled Shen Yueye to sit down at Lu Yunchen's table, and exchanged a glance with this superior.

They met yesterday when I came back; they exchanged pleasantries and plotted amongst themselves.

Wang Cheng's statement that the 100 taels of betrothal money did not come from nowhere.

However, as the officers and generals of Zhenhaiwei slowly arrived, the banquet still did not begin. Apart from the female members of the Xing family who were unable to entertain guests, the only male member, Xing Yulang, did not show up at all.

"Why hasn't that Young Master Xing arrived yet?"

"How can you let the guests arrive first at a funeral? Why are they all waiting for this filial son?"

Some officers who had long disliked Xing Baichuan even gleefully asserted:

"I died on the river while enjoying a pleasure boat ride. Could it be that that courtesan also died in the belly of some courtesan?"

"It seems unlikely that the young master of the Xing family will be able to secure a substantive post."

They all knew the rules of hereditary official succession, and many people actually attended the banquet with a joking attitude.

Many of the middle and upper-ranking commanders and captains were interested in challenging for the position of the third-rank guard commander.

After a while, just as everyone was getting impatient, someone suddenly shouted:

"Look quickly at the Jiulong River."

Everyone looked up.

Outside the south water gate of the city, which is located by the river, a large group of beautiful maids, who were obviously recruited by the "officials and soldiers" from the legal system, escorted a sedan chair and came rushing over, scattering flowers on the ceiling and stepping on the river.

Some played the flute, others the zither; the procession was grand, even more impressive than that of high-ranking officials of the imperial court.

The key point is that the aura of these maids and soldiers is comparable to that of the temple soldiers trained by fifth-rank officials, proving that the newcomers have the strength of at least a fifth-rank official!

Whoosh!
The sedan chair curtain, painted with a picture of a beautiful woman emerging from a bath, flashed by.

A handsome young man, who had at least changed into a white robe, landed lightly in front of the crowd like a leaf and bowed to the officials.

This caused an uproar.

"Wasn't he supposed to be a playboy who's almost thirty and still hasn't accomplished anything?"

"Yes, how did your cultivation level improve so rapidly all of a sudden? Could it be that you became more diligent after your father passed away?"

Xing Yulang's move immediately stunned the entire audience.

No one could understand how a playboy who frequented brothels could suddenly become successful.

Many people looked bitter and silently abandoned their ambitions to seize the commander's throne.

If the other party becomes their superior in the future, they will probably have to give a hundred taels of silver as a gift, and even more during festivals.

Wang Cheng was also greatly surprised.

They immediately mobilized their resources to investigate, but found nothing unusual about him. They only sensed that something was shrouding Xing Yulang, using its imposing presence to obscure certain information that couldn't be seen by others.

He turned his head to signal to Lu Yunchen, who remained calm and composed, clearly not taking the prodigal son who had turned back to heart.

Xing Yulang surveyed the entire room with an air of arrogance.

Seeing a group of uncles from the past, including the famous Ghost God Jealousy and Ghost God Shock, as well as a group of representatives of forces within the Zhenhaiwei jurisdiction, filled me with excitement.

"I have a treasure bestowed upon me by my master to protect me, which will intimidate these arrogant and fierce soldiers. Passing the imperial examination will be a piece of cake."

On the surface, they continued to rely on the upright officials who were my father's backers, but in secret, they worked for their master.

Today is the day I pledge my loyalty to Qingliu, return to Guishan Academy, and make a name for myself among the Twenty-Four Guards.

By the way, once I've secured my position as commander, Peony will be nothing more than a minor courtesan, completely unworthy of me, a third-rank guard commander. At best, she'll be nothing more than a concubine to warm my feet.

"If she dares to displease me, I'll sell her off."

His gaze, concealing a sinister intent, swept across the faces of Shen Yueye, Han Shushu, and several powerful female representatives.

"These women are the perfect match for my career!"

In particular, the eldest daughter of the official family of the Shanhaihui Zhisui Hall has the highest status.

First, I'll try my two trump cards, "The Beauty Returns" and "Unexpected Arrival." If they still don't comply, I'll cut off their water transport routes and make that dying old official obediently offer up his daughter.

My master will definitely support me, hehehe.

Her gaze returned to Lu Yunchen.

The person who could pose the greatest threat to his position here is the eldest son of the Lu family, who has both power and connections.

But she really wanted him to come and provoke her.

Holding the Blood Soul Banner, Xing Yulang was confident he could defeat Lu Yunchen and deliver a great pledge of loyalty to Qingliu.

He even harbored ambitions that if he could use the Blood Soul Banner to devour this Ghost God Jealousy who cultivated three classes, he might become a genius like him!

After waiting for a while, they realized that no one dared to make a sound.

In a state of smug satisfaction, he fanned himself with the "Chong Er" fan, a symbol of "boundless romance," and proclaimed to the crowd:
"Gentlemen, today I, Xing Yulang, will inherit the title of Third-Rank Commander of Zhenhai Guard before my father's spirit. Who agrees? Who opposes?"

While speaking, he kept his eyes fixed on Lu Yunchen, ready at any moment to use the Blood Soul Banner to suppress him and destroy all his prestige.

Unexpectedly, the latter didn't even raise his head, but just sipped his fragrant tea with his trusted confidant, Ghost King Fugui.

Xing Yulang frowned, unhappy that he had lost the stage where he had risen to power by stepping on this genius.

But it's a good thing that no one objects.

Just as I was about to turn around to offer incense to my deceased father and determine the order of importance, a shrill voice suddenly shouted:
"slow!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that Eunuch Park, the military supervisor of Zhenhaiwei, suddenly stood up and took out a scroll of bright yellow imperial edict from his sleeve.

"His Majesty has issued a decree!"

Suddenly, everyone in the Xing family compound knelt down with a "whoosh".

Xing Yulang instinctively knelt down, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

Then the old eunuch read aloud:
"The Emperor, by the Will of Heaven, decrees:

I, the Emperor, have inherited the great legacy of my ancestors and govern both the Chinese and the barbarians. I am vigilant day and night and only appoint the virtuous and capable.

Lu Wenfu, the commander of the White Scale Guard, the left commander of the Rear Army Commandery, and the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, is loyal and steadfast, a trusted confidant, and has served three emperors with merit, which I deeply cherish.

Lu Yunchen is the eldest grandson of Wen Fu's eldest son. Born into a military family, he is exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted, possessing military prowess inherited from his family's traditions, and his conduct surpasses that of his peers. He is hereby appointed Commander of Zhenhai Guard and granted this imperial decree.”

The ornate language in the middle is omitted.

"By imperial decree, Lu Yunchen is to take command of the four thousand-household garrisons of Baoshan, Lu'ao, Tongshan and Xuanzhong in Zhenhai Guard of Xiangzhou Prefecture, to strengthen coastal defense and patrol and suppress traitors."

He then bestowed upon the emperor a flying fish robe and a jade belt.

You shall uphold your ancestors' merits and not tarnish the family's reputation; strictly command the navy to pacify the coastal regions. If any Japanese pirates harbor designs, act as you see fit to annihilate them. Respectfully yours!

After the imperial edict was read, the room fell silent. Half of the people were watching Lu Yunchen, who was the envy of the gods, while the other half were looking at Xing Yulang, the legitimate hereditary commander of Zhenhai Guard.

"I am the hereditary commander! I am the commander! The commander!"

Not only was the ambitious Xing Yulang instantly stunned, but even Huan Tongxian, who had orchestrated all of this behind the scenes, was also dumbfounded.

"How come this is different from what we agreed on?"

They had calculated everything, but they hadn't considered that there were actually two supplementary systems for the hereditary succession of official positions.

First, the imperial court sent "non-hereditary" military officers to serve in the garrisons, squeezing out positions that originally belonged to hereditary sons.

Second, nominal positions: Some children of candidates for vacancy may be given nominal positions without real power, such as receiving a salary but not doing any work.

In theory, one could inherit the position, but in reality, one could only wait for a vacancy to become available, until one died!

When the Immortal of Rejuvenation returned from the countryside overseas, he was dealt a heavy blow, experiencing for the first time what it meant to be a dimensional attack by imperial power!
Even in the worst-case scenario, Xing Yulang would still fight Lu Yunchen for three hundred rounds and barely manage to win.

Now, Lu Yunchen didn't even lift a little finger, and they've already fallen?
All the carefully laid plans have fallen through.

"Your subject, Lu Yunchen, upon receiving the imperial decree, will surely uphold the ancestral achievements and live up to the Emperor's grace!"

As Lu Yunchen received the imperial decree, the aura of a third-rank official above his head suddenly vanished.

At the same time, when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven!
(End of this chapter)