Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 238: Chapter 229: Yang Zhenshan’s Greed

“Sir, we’ve found them!”

Late at night, Yang Mingzhen hurried into Yang Zhenshan’s tent with an excited expression.

Yang Zhenshan was writing the war report and responded casually.

Despite not having forced tasks, it’s required for the garrison to send a war report every five days to Jia City, outlining their location, actions taken, and achievements gained.

Even though there are no compulsory missions, the Assistant General Mansion still needs to be informed of their movements.

And if there are achievements, they need to be confirmed by the Assistant General Mansion.

You can’t just claim any number of beheadings you like.

Today, for the first time, An Yuan City’s garrison achieved significant results, claiming over eight hundred enemy casualties. This was a considerable achievement, and Yang Zhenshan naturally intended to report and claim his accolades.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan’s indifferent reaction, Yang Mingzhen couldn’t help but speak again: “Sir, we’ve located the Hu Zei’s tribe! Should we launch an attack now?”

Yang Zhenshan looked up at him angrily, “Can’t you be more steady!”

“Don’t you realize what time is it?”

“Eh!” Yang Mingzhen shivered from the glare and awkwardly smiled, “But what if they escape? We can perfectly launch a night raid!”

Yang Zhenshan was somewhat speechless. This kid seemed clever usually, how could he become so unreliable on the battlefield.

“Our soldiers just fought a battle; they need to rest now!”

“And that’s their tribe. Even if they want to run, it would take time for them to get ready!”

“You go back and rest, first. We will launch the attack early in the morning!”

The Hu Clan’s tribe don’t just move at a whim; the elderly, women, children, numerous livestock, and various supplies all need time to be organized and prepared.

And even if they did run, how could they outrun the cavalry?

At this moment, Yang Zhenshan was not worried about them escaping.

Of course, attacking their tribe sooner rather than later was preferable because delays could lead to unforeseen circumstances, so Yang Zhenshan decided to lead his team there first thing in the morning.

Hearing this, Yang Mingzhen also felt he had been too impulsive.

He chuckled sheepishly and said, “Sir is always thorough in his considerations, I shall take my leave now!”

Yang Zhenshan, uninterested, waved his hand signaling for him to leave quickly.

After Yang Mingzhen left, Yang Zhenshan continued writing the war report.

“Have someone send the report to Jia City immediately tomorrow!”

After finishing the war report, Yang Zhenshan gave instructions to his personal followers.

Lack of enthusiasm in reporting achievements is foolish.

Since they had gained achievements, they naturally needed to report them swiftly.

After dealing with the war report, Yang Zhenshan spent a long time contemplating in front of the map.

One who does not plan whole is not suited to plan a piece.

At this moment, he was thinking about the overall strategy for this expedition against the East Sea Hu Clan.

This was Liang Chu’s plan.

Now that the garrison has completely moved out, it’s time for different assistant generals to lead their troops out.

The assistant generals are the main force in eliminating the Hu Clan tribes, with the garrison merely spearheading.

As for Fushan City, that responsibility lays with Liang Chu and Camp.

Now, Yang Zhenshan considered the reactions of the East Sea Hu Clan once the assistant generals and Liang Chu moved out.

The East Sea Hu Clan would certainly not sit idly by; they would be looking for opportunities to strike back.

“If I were the East Sea Hu Clan, what would I do?”

Yang Zhenshan gazed at the map, lost in thought.

Considering Chongshan Town’s aggressive campaign, Liang Chu should be leveraging all possible forces.

But the East Sea Hu Clan wasn’t a simple opponent; the wars from three years ago showed that their leader had deep strategies.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a while and, although unable to predict the East Sea Hu Clan’s next move, he had some ideas in mind.

However, these ideas would still need time to be verified.

It was only the beginning, and everything was uncertain; everything needed verification.

…

Elsewhere, within the Tumoge Clan lands.

The tent of Zha Yan glowed brightly with firelight, a heavy atmosphere weighing on everyone’s hearts.

“Leader, we should move!”

“Yes, if we move now, it might still be time before those formidable people come, we definitely won’t stand a chance!”

Inside the tent, several subordinates suggested to Zha Yan.

They had been defeated too quickly in the day’s battle, so quickly that everyone was afraid to even think about it.

They had all thought it was a battle they were sure to win, but it ended in a thorough defeat.

Now, they were utterly terrified, with only one thought in their minds – to leave this place and go far from those terrifying people.

Zha Yan’s face was deeply gloomy, filled with fear.

The Tumoge Clan had, in total, less than two thousand able-bodied men, and they had lost eight hundred warriors in the day’s battle.

Although there were still many able-bodied men left, there was a significant difference in their quality.

The warriors who had followed him into battle that day were the bravest and most willing to fight in the tribe, while those remaining were mostly fill-ins.

If the enemy attacked, he had no confidence in defending the tribe.

“We can’t move, how could we outrun the horses?” Zha Yan said grimly.

Now moving would only put them in a more passive position, it’s better to stand firm and defend their tribe.

The subordinates within the felt tent turned silent, they understood this point, but fear lingered in their hearts, the fear of facing the daytime enemy again.

“We still have help!”

Zha Yan said in a deep voice, “We will ask the Zhaerzi for help!”

He despised his neighbor, the Zhaerzi Tribe, but at this moment he couldn’t care about his feelings. To save his life and for the survival of his tribe, he was willing to set aside his pride and seek help from his old adversary!

Zha Yan was very decisive, after figuring it out, he immediately arranged for people to head to the Zhaerzi Tribe over the night.

…

Dawn.

The eastern horizon had just been tinged with a faint trace of egg white, and the garrison camp became bustling.

After a night’s rest, the soldiers were spirited and started preparing.

Yesterday’s battle had greatly boosted their morale and confidence, no longer having the previous nervousness and unease.

The trial by blood was instantly effective.

Inside the tent, Yang Zhenshan was assigning tasks.

“Mr. Han, I only need three hundred cavalry and two hundred iron armored infantry, leave the rest to you! Guard the camp well, let there be no mistakes.”

Yang Zhenshan said to Han Cheng.

Han Cheng hesitated for a moment, then said, “Sir, take all the cavalry with you!”

Before yesterday’s battle, they only had three hundred and fifty cavalry, but now they nearly had seven hundred.

He was absolutely certain that the enemy had just been defeated and there should be no danger in the camp.

But Yang Zhenshan shook his head and said, “The soldiers still need to familiarize themselves with the newly acquired warhorses, let’s not send them into battle right away!”

The cavalry skills of the garrison soldiers were not a problem, but the relationship and coordination between man and horse needed to be nurtured.

They had just obtained warhorses; they needed at least a few days to understand each other.

Sending them into battle now could possibly lead to some unforeseeable situations.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan insist, Han Cheng didn’t say more.

“Let’s go!”

After arranging the matters of the camp, Yang Zhenshan turned around and left to meet the battle.

Moments later, three hundred cavalry and two hundred iron armored infantry surged out of the camp.

After leaving the camp, Yang Zhenshan first led Yang Mingzhen and personal followers towards the Tumoge Clan’s settlement at a gallop, while three hundred cavalry and two hundred infantry slowly followed.

“Sir, over there!”

In less than two hours, they arrived at a hill on the east side of the Tumoge.

Standing on the hill, surveying the clansese nestled in the valley, and then analyzing the surrounding environment, Yang Zhenshan nodded in understanding.

No wonder Yang Mingzhen hadn’t found the enemy in the past few days, they were hidden here.

This place backs the Songyuan River, with hills surrounding both the east and west sides. If one does not climb up the hill, it’s impossible to see that a settlement is hidden here.

“Sir, they have spotted us!”

Yang Mingzhen said while looking at the distant bustling settlement.

Yang Zhenshan was unconcerned; they hadn’t concealed their approach, being noticed was normal.

Moreover, at this juncture, it was impossible for the enemy to be unprepared; an ambush was practically unfeasible.

The clan’s settlement did not resemble the roughly built garrison camp. The settlement was encircled by built wooden and stone walls, although these walls were only just over a meter high, they still had some defensive effects.

Apart from the outer walls, the arrangement of felt tents inside the settlement was also well-planned; from the inside out, the setup was tight but seemed somewhat scattered, which could effectively block a cavalry’s charge.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment, then said, “Let’s wait.”

They needed to wait for the cavalry and infantry from behind to start the attack.

Meanwhile, the Tumoge clan settlement was in chaos, although Yang Zhenshan only brought twenty personal followers, they still incited fear among the Northern barbarians.

In just one night, the strength and horror of the garrison was widely spread throughout the entire Tumoge settlement.

Zha Yan stood before the felt tent, staring at the figures atop the hill, panic unmistakable in his eyes.

They are here!

They have come!

“Quick, go to the Zhaerzi for help!”

If last night Zha Yan was still able to steady his mind, today he was completely panicked.

Amidst his frantic urging, a dozen Northern barbarian cavalry charged out of the settlement heading westward.

From the hilltop, Yang Zhenshan, seeing this scene, narrowed his eyes.

Needless to guess, he knew they were going for help.

Help!

Are here other Hu Clans nearby?

A corner of his mouth slightly rose.

One Tumoge would not satiate his appetite.

“Have someone follow and see!”

He instructed Yang Mingzhen next to him.

Yang Mingzhen nodded, immediately took a few personal followers, and chased after those seeking help.

Below, the Tumoge clan settlement was anxiously preparing for battle, and Yang Zhenshan observed coldly from the side.

The Tumoge had a population of thousands; their settlement was almost like a small town, but in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes, it was merely a piece of fat meat within reach.

Zha Yan coveted the garrison’s armaments and resources, Yang Zhenshan equally coveted the Tumoge’s heads and livestock, heads meant military honors, livestock meant wealth.

Those thousands of cattle, sheep, and horses represented a huge fortune.