Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

He was very clear-headed at the moment; after all, that Banner Master did not immediately promise to recruit him, and everything was still uncertain.

Instead of overthinking, it would be better to go back and prepare his strategies properly.

Declining the invitations of those students to eat and drink, Yu Chen went to a small courtyard at the private school and found the old gentleman, explaining what had happened yesterday.

"It’s a good thing. If you can join the Military Department, even if you don’t become a strategist, being a clerk would also be very promising." The old man, seeing the still modest student before him, stroked his beard and nodded.

"Yu Chen, you are the most talented among this batch of students, and you grasp things easily. You have the ability to enter officialdom; just maintain your current humility and courtesy, and you’ll surely achieve something in the future."

"You don’t need to come to the academy for the next three days; I’ll just wait for your good news."

"Yes!" Yu Chen bowed deeply and then left.

After leaving the old gentleman’s private school, the young man turned left and right, entered a small alley, and returned home.

A rundown small courtyard, with two low mud-brick houses.

In the courtyard, roosters crowed and ducks quacked, and from inside came the slightly painful sound of a woman’s cough.

Hearing the short coughs, Yu Chen quickened his pace and went inside.

"Big brother is back." Inside, a girl about twelve or thirteen, with her sleeves rolled up, was laboriously carrying a large basin of water out.

Seeing this, Yu Chen immediately took the basin and asked, "How long has mother been coughing?"

"Big brother, it’s been a little over half a day," the girl said.

Upon hearing this, Yu Chen knew his mother’s chronic illness had returned. He instantly took out his only few pieces of money from his pocket and handed them to the girl.

"Go to Uncle Zhang’s, and get some medicine packs just like last time."

"But big brother, this is your tuition and ink and paper money..." the girl couldn’t help but say.

"Treating the illness is the priority." Yu Chen said without argument.

"Do you remember the prescription?"

"Yes."

"Recite it."

"One liang of horseshoe crab, two liang of Qing Ming grass, five autumn frost leaves..." The girl recited fluently, clearly having memorized it well.

"Go ahead." Yu Chen nodded.

His little sister had always been smart since she was young, and he didn’t need to worry about her.

"No, I’m fine. Yu Chen, keep this money safe!" On the bed, the pale-faced woman seemed to have just understood the conversation at the door and immediately sat up and shouted.

"Mother, this cough must be treated; it can’t be delayed," Yu Chen anxiously said.

"It’s just a little throat itch, not a relapse of the old illness," the woman shook her head.

"But this..." Yu Chen wanted to say more but was interrupted by the woman.

"No more talking, whatever happens, you can’t delay your studies."

The woman, though looking frail, spoke firmly and decisively, not allowing her children to go against her wishes.

Yu Chen felt troubled, but an idea came to him, and he said, "Mother, from today onwards, I don’t need to go to the private school anymore."

"What are you saying!" The woman seemed a little angry.

"Mother, please listen to my explanation." Yu Chen explained the matter of meeting the Banner Master from the Military Department yesterday, with some embellishments, claiming that he had already gained the adult’s favor and would soon go to the Military Department to work as an official.

"Is this true?" The woman panted with excitement.

"How dare I lie to you," Yu Chen replied.

"Good, good, my child has finally succeeded!" The woman clasped Yu Chen’s hand, her voice shaking with joy as she wept tears of happiness.

"So, Mother, you must take care of your health; in the future, I will treat you well. You and my sister won’t have to suffer anymore!" Yu Chen nodded.

"Good! Good!" The woman responded repeatedly.

Yu Chen took the opportunity to turn his head towards his little sister, "Go get the medicine quickly."

The girl nodded and quickly left, not giving her mother a chance to call her back.

That night, Yu Chen sat in a small room of four or five square meters, lit a candle, and began writing his strategy paper, his expression extremely focused.

After the events of the day, he knew that he had no way out.

This time, he must win the Banner Master’s favor and secure a future for himself, or he wouldn’t be able to face his mother.

He was genuinely unwilling to let his mother be happy for nothing.

Three days later, at the main site of the Military Department, a heavily guarded large pavilion was established there.

Outside the building, there were giant stone lion and tiger statues, along with a python-patterned white jade pillar, with swords and chains hanging and entwined around it.

Anyone who came here could feel the solemnity and prestige of this place.

Above the main gate, the word ’Marshal’ was inscribed, indicating what this place was.

Inside the pavilion, Song Changming sat at the high seat, looking at some strategy papers in his hand.

Beside him, Yang Zhen was meticulously explaining who had written these strategy papers.

In fact, there weren’t many papers that could reach his hands; they were all meticulously screened by Yang Zhen.

"Indeed, they are not badly written." Song Changming quickly scanned through them, fairly satisfied with the content.

"I’ve checked their backgrounds, and they’re all loyal and filial individuals. Some may need more experience to develop their talents, but overall, they are promising candidates..." Yang Zhen said with a smile.

It was clear that he admired those selected very much.

"Hmm, bring them over tomorrow. Also, arrange for the selected officials to be by my side as soon as possible. I still have piles of memorials waiting for them to help process," Song Changming pointed helplessly at the pile of memorials stacked up on a shelf beside him.

As the Grand Marshal overseeing the troops of the entire Cui Bai Dao, he managed more than just the main city area.

There were reports of battles from 28 cities across Cui Bai Dao, and the deployment of various military tasks, with almost daily memorials being presented.

If he did not process them in time, there would be a buildup like this, which was headache-inducing.

"Alright." Yang Zhen agreed with a smile.

Since Song Changming became the Grand Marshal, Yang Zhen was more restrained and principled in his interactions with him, even in private speech and actions.

Although Song Changming didn’t hold a grand demeanor and personally didn’t mind much, he had to consider these aspects.

"Oh, this strategy paper is quite forward-looking; it even mentions some innovations in the Military Department..." Song Changming suddenly focused on one of the strategy papers and spoke.

Yang Zhen’s smile deepened, and he said, "This is the young scholar I mentioned several times before. I met him a few days ago and he left quite an impression on me."

"Indeed, it is good, and clearly well-thought-out. What is the name again?" Song Changming put down the paper and asked.

"The scholar from the Lv Family in the Fourth District, Lv Yuchen."

...

On the other side, after submitting his strategy paper, Yu Chen was walking on the street, from the bustling Second District with no pause, through the lively Third District, and finally back to the most familiar Fourth District.

Along the way, Yu Chen’s mood shifted distinctly, from the confidence after writing his strategy to the current anxiety and worry.

He thought he could approach this opportunity calmly, remaining composed even if the worst happened, but reality was different.

His old mother’s hopeful gaze day by day had added a solid weight to his heart.

This time, he didn’t even see the Banner Master; a Personal Guard simply took his strategy lightly and told him to go back and wait for a notification.

In such circumstances, he was uncertain of the Banner Master’s intentions.

Though he was confident in his strategy, if the other party did not value him, his well-written strategy would be nothing more than wasted paper.

"If only I could see him again..." Yu Chen sighed worriedly as he returned home.

Early the next morning, a troop of armored cavalry quickly passed through the streets and lanes, arriving outside the dilapidated Lv family courtyard in the small alley.

"Where is Lv Yuchen?" The squad leader at the head shouted loudly.

Yu Chen immediately opened the door and came out, with his little sister supporting the old woman following behind.

The old woman, seeing these soldiers, instinctively panicked, fearing her child had done something wrong and they had come to arrest him.

But when Yu Chen saw these Cavalry Armor Warriors, he felt assured, clearly realizing they must have been sent by the Banner Master.

"I am Lv Yuchen, greetings to the Generals." Yu Chen cupped his hands politely.

"Young Master Lv, the Marshal invites you to come to the Military Department with us," the Squad Leader said loudly, holding the reins.

"Marshal?!" Yu Chen’s heart shook with confusion.

What was going on?

...