Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 112: Chapter 108: Expanding Yinghe Castle

The matter of selling warhorses isn’t urgent; after all, there are still silver coins in Yinghe Castle, and the initial investment for expansion is entirely without issue.

In the twenty-fifth year of Chengping, on the twenty-third of April, it is auspicious to break ground, pray for blessings, bury the dead, and offer sacrifices.

Under Yang Zhenshan’s command, Yinghe Castle began its groundbreaking expansion.

This expansion of Yinghe Castle isn’t simply about extending the perimeter; rather, the north wall is to be demolished, extending directly northward by a hundred and fifty Zhang, pretty much up to the riverbed of Ying River.

Along with the expansion, the garrison will also undergo a re-planning.

Signal towers need to be rebuilt, city walls heightened and thickened, and most of the new area is to be designated as residential. Pigsties, sheepfolds, and chicken coops in front of government offices are all to be converted into horse stables, while some of the original residential areas are to become chicken coops, pigsties, and sheepfolds.

At the same time, water from Ying River will be diverted into the moat, forming a two Zhang wide protective moat, with city gates to be constructed on the east and west sides.

According to Yang Zhenshan’s plan, the future Yinghe Castle, though not considered a city, will be larger than most towns, and only slightly smaller than Anning County City.

Anning County City is over three Li in length from east to west, and two Li in width from north to south, with a total distance of just over ten Li when circling the city.

Meanwhile, the future Yinghe Castle will stretch one kilometer from north to south and over six hundred meters from east to west, with an approximate perimeter of more than six Li.

In the future, Yinghe Castle will no longer be merely a garrison; it will also become the economic center within thirty Li.

Yang Zhenshan has specially planned a commercial street near the east gate, consisting of over twenty shops.

In the future, military households from nearby garrisons, Fire Road Piles, and signal towers won’t need to go to the city or to Changling County in the south. They can simply come to Yinghe Castle for their needs.

The shops will only be for lease and not for sale, which is also a way to increase the government’s income.

When the time comes, the shops can be sufficient for the military households in the garrison who are willing to do business. Doing business within the garrison certainly won’t be grand, it would at most sustain a household, so Yang Zhenshan sees no need to compete with them.

Of course, the main duty of military households is to till the land, so even if they engage in business, they must not neglect farming.

Expanding the garrison is no small matter, and Yang Zhenshan is required to notify the Guardian Department of Jianning Guard and gain approval before proceeding with the expansion.

With Zhou Lan present, approval is guaranteed to be no issue.

However, many officials in Jianning Guard are very surprised by Yang Zhenshan’s expansion of the garrison, and many show disdain for the decision.

In their view, Yang Zhenshan is merely fussing over nothing.

With so much silver, instead of thinking of ways to line his own pockets, he actually considers expanding the garrison.

We are military officials, not civil servants. We don’t need to achieve governance merits; as long as we can get by, why bother expending effort on these meaningless endeavors?

Indeed, in their eyes, what Yang Zhenshan is doing is meaningless.

Although Yang Zhenshan is not in Jianning Guard, some unpleasant words still reach his ears.

“Dad, the most despicable is Duan Heshun, the defense officer of Chang Lin Castle. He actually said you are seeking fame under false pretenses and feigning benevolence and righteousness!”

In the study, Yang Mingzhi stood before Yang Zhenshan, somewhat frustrated and agitated.

He had visited Jianning Guard again the day before and overheard many sarcastic remarks about his own father, which led him to confront that group of irresponsible nobodies.

“So what then?” Yang Zhenshan sipped his tea lightly, asking in a calmed voice.

“Dad, they need to be taught a lesson! While others just gossip behind your back, Duan Heshun openly says these things, even deliberately spreading rumors. This is an intentional targeting against you!” Yang Mingzhi wasn’t foolish and had long figured out Duan Heshun’s intentions.

The others would just spout a few sour words at most; even if they disagreed, they would not openly oppose Yang Zhenshan.

But Duan Heshun was different. He was openly spreading things far and wide, as if fearing that Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t know about it.

“What do you think his reason for targeting me could be?” Yang Zhenshan raised his eyes to ask.

Yang Mingzhi was slightly taken aback, then his forehead wrinkled.

Why would Duan Heshun target Yang Zhenshan?

They had never met before and had no conflicts.

Chang Lin Castle was situated eighty Li away from Yinghe Castle to the south; whatever happened at Yinghe Castle wouldn’t affect Chang Lin Castle.

Logically, with no grudge between them, why would Duan Heshun actively seek trouble?

Yang Mingzhi couldn’t figure it out, “Dad, why?”

Stroking his beard, Yang Zhenshan said indifferently, “The one they’re targeting isn’t your dad; it’s General Zhou!”

“General Zhou?” Yang Mingzhi became even more puzzled.

If they meant to target General Zhou, why deal with Yang Zhenshan?

Yang Zhenshan inwardly sighed, this young man was still too naive, too simple, looking at issues only on the surface.

Duan Heshun was but a mere defense officer, and one who was unrelated to Yang Zhenshan. How idle must he be to provoke Yang Zhenshan?

As for saying Duan Heshun was targeting Zhou Lan, it isn’t entirely accurate nor inaccurate.

It’s accurate to say his actions were testing Zhou Lan. Yang Zhenshan was known throughout Jianning Guard as one of Zhou Lan’s men.

Targeting Yang Zhenshan was the same as targeting Zhou Lan – a simple concept.

Simply put, Yang Zhenshan was clinging to Zhou Lan’s coattails, bound to the same ship.

If Zhou Lan was doing well, he had nothing to worry about. If Zhou Lan encountered problems, he too would be plagued with troubles.

And if he ran into trouble, Zhou Lan would have to help him deal with it.

Of course, this was definitely not Duan Heshun, the minor defense officer, testing Zhou Lan on his own—there were surely other backers behind the scenes.

The reason for such testing is quite simple.

Recently, Zhou Lan has been actively purging the corrupt officers within Jianning Guard. Since the end of the Hu Zei invasion this year, Zhou Lan has turned her blade inward.

In just a month’s time, over a dozen defense officers and garrison commanders have been dealt with by her.

Her next targets for handling are those high-ranking officials within the Guardian Department, as well as the various city garrisons and conduct officers.

Those people could tolerate Zhou Lan taking down a few garrison commanders and defense officers, but once her sword pointed at their own necks, they could no longer remain patient and had to jump out.

However, Zhou Lan indeed has a strong background; they dare not openly oppose Zhou Lan, so they instead focused on Zhou Lan’s trusted aides.

By troubling Zhou Lan and distracting her from other matters, they hoped to make her give up her efforts.

“General Zhou’s tactics are too fierce, making me restless!”

“Now they are just probing, but soon they might start getting serious!”

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard as he spoke.

Zhou Lan has always been known for her decisive and straightforward approach, never one for beating around the bush.

This is related to her background, coming from the Duke Ning Mansion gives her the confidence to face everything head-on and fostered her direct personality.

Previously, when she was in the Camp, this kind of personality didn’t cause her much trouble. However, now that she is the Jianning Guard General with many hidden dangers under her command, such straightforwardness could instead lead her into trouble.

“Who are they?” Yang Mingzhi somewhat understood what Yang Zhenshan meant, but he still couldn’t see the whole picture clearly.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes gradually deepened, “Within the jurisdiction of Jianning Guard, there are five garrison officers, and a Commander! Those daring to target General Zhou would be among these few.”

The garrison office has one Commander, two Deputy Commanders, plus the five garrison officers—meaning only these eight truly have the audacity to make a move.

As for others, they simply do not qualify.

“Jianning Guard Commander Zhong Luan, born in the Chengyi Mansion, he is a noble and should not dare to provoke the tiger’s whiskers of the Duke Ning Mansion!”

“Defense officer Mu Qiu of Ningzhou City, who was transferred to Ningzhou just three years ago, likely has little involvement with Jianning Guard.”

“Garrison officer Ji He of Pingzhou City, who took office last year, was promoted by Marquis Changping, and has even less reason to engage in such pointless matters.”

“Garrison officer Zhang Yan of Jinghu Fortress, he is the nephew of Zhang Shouwang and should be of one heart with General Zhou.”

“Only Jianning Guard Deputy Commander Liu Qiong, Ye Zhaoquan, Garrison Officer Qiu Zhen of Chishan Castle, and Garrison Officer Guan Shanhe of Ruizhou City are left.”

“Besides them—”

Yang Zhenshan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, thoughtfully spoke, “Behind this might also involve Xie Yunchuan from the Liaodong Military Equipment Department.”

He was quite familiar with Jianning Guard, but when it came to the Military Equipment Department and Inspector General’s Office, his knowledge was limited.

In fact, he didn’t need to articulate these thoughts aloud; it would be sufficient to ponder them silently.

He shared these thoughts with Yang Mingzhi to cultivate his son’s strategic thinking.

Yang Mingzhi was intelligent and perceptive, far surpassing Yang Mingcheng in scheming, but his humble origins and limited experience restricted his thought process.

Often, he could only see the surface and was unable to identify deeper contradictions and issues.

All along, Yang Zhenshan’s grooming of the three Yang brothers took different directions; with Yang Mingcheng being honest and reliable, he was put in charge of their family business. Although he couldn’t plan much for the Yang family, he listened and followed Yang Zhenshan’s instructions obediently.

Recognizing Yang Mingzhi’s intelligence and scheming abilities, Yang Zhenshan took him into the government service to seek a future prospect.

Yang Minghao, lively and sometimes thoughtless in his actions, had one advantage—his youth. Yang Zhenshan could cultivate him into a Martial Arts powerhouse.

Old habits die hard.

The brothers’ natures were already formed, and Yang Zhenshan couldn’t change them but could only guide each towards their distinct strengths.

In truth, the primary focus of Yang Zhenshan’s efforts was on the Yang family’s third generation, namely Yang Chengye and Yang Chengmao.

They were still young, and Yang Zhenshan had ample time to cultivate them.

After listening to Yang Zhenshan, Yang Mingzhi also began to consider his options.

“Dad, I think Xie Yunchuan and Guan Shanhe are more likely!”

“Why?” asked Yang Zhenshan.

“I heard that Xie Yunchuan and Guan Shanhe are related by marriage; Guan Shanhe’s youngest daughter is wed to Xie Yunchuan’s second son.”

“Moreover, I also heard that Xie Yunchuan has some connections with the Prince Qing Mansion!”

Yang Mingzhi spoke in a hushed voice with caution.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

These rumors were the kind Yang Mingzhi could find out about.

He hadn’t spent half a year in Jianning Guard last year for nothing; he knew more secret news than Yang Zhenshan did.

“Xie Yunchuan has connections with the Prince Qing Mansion? Is this true?”

“That—” Yang Mingzhi spoke with some uncertainty: “It should be true, it’s said that Xie Yunchuan sends gifts to the Prince Qing Mansion every festive season, and each time quite generously.”

He had also heard it through the grapevine, but he believed the information he received.

“Prince Qing Mansion!”

Yang Zhenshan fell into silence, looking down.

In the Da Rong Dynasty, the royal family members had venerable status, but most were only figureheads without real power.

Prince Qing is a Prince, whose status is undoubtedly esteemed, but the Da Rong system of Imperial Princes is to confer titles without granting land, induct nobilities without directly overseeing the populace, and provide stipends without governance responsibilities.

Since they do not handle affairs, there should not be much interaction with officials, and officials would not seek favors from them, so most officials’ approach to the royal family is to offer respect but keep a distance.

Logically, there is no reason for Xie Yunchuan to entangle himself with Prince Qing, being the Liaodong Military Equipment Department Head and Deputy Inspector General of Liaodong with a rank of Secondary Third Rank; his involvement with Prince Qing could be harmful rather than beneficial.

Yang Zhenshan felt there was an underlying story he didn’t understand and lacked information to see clearly for the moment.

“You—”

Yang Zhenshan opened his mouth, initially wanting to send Yang Mingzhi back to Jianning Guard to learn more about the relationship between Xie Yunchuan and Prince Qing, but he held back his words.

This matter involved Prince Qing, who, though powerless, is still a Prince and essentially beyond the means of a defense officer to investigate at will.

It would be Zhou Lan who needs to resolve this.

After considering, he went behind the desk and wrote a letter.

“Take this letter to General Zhou tomorrow!”

It wouldn’t matter so much if it didn’t involve Prince Qing, but if it did, that would be more than mere trouble.

He certainly couldn’t deal with it himself, and it might even be challenging for Zhou Lan.

The specifics would depend on what Zhou Lan thought.