Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 277: Chapter 268 General Yang is Selfless and Ruthless

Yang Zhenshan looked at Lan Buqi, who was kneeling down, with an unfazed gaze in his eyes.

His decision to take action against the Lan family was well-considered.

For the Tenglong Guard, the Lan family was like a malignant tumor that had to be eliminated. Although eliminating the Lan family could plunge the Tenglong Guard into further chaos, Yang Zhenshan had no time to engage in a power struggle with the Lan family.

Pulling and tugging for power and profit, waiting for the right moment to eliminate the Lan family could perhaps stabilize the Tenglong Guard and might even spare Yang Zhenshan from criticisms in the court.

But that could take a long time—three months, half a year, or even a year.

Yang Zhenshan couldn’t afford to waste that much time, nor was he skilled or patient in the struggle for power, so entangling himself with the Lan family was out of the question.

Since the Lan family had to be eliminated, sooner rather than later.

He would simply kill them with thunderous means!

After all, he was known as a slayer of gods, what does it matter if his methods are a bit brutal?

As for the rest, well, this kind of approach would definitely upset some senior officials in the court, potentially leading to impeachment by some officials.

But he had backers, and a banner to wave.

The old Emperor didn’t send him to the Tenglong Guard to get tangled up with the Lan family, but to train the Tenglong Guard into elite troops and then restrain Prince Qing.

In this situation, he didn’t need to worry too much.

Moreover, the Lan family deserved their fate.

Looking at the impoverished military households, looking at the rotten roots of the Tenglong Guard, then looking at the luxurious mansion of the Lan family, who would dare to plead for the Lan family?

“Take him!”

Yang Zhenshan said gravely.

The personal followers behind him immediately stepped forward. Lan Buqi struggled internally; he wanted to resist, but as soon as the idea formed, a blood-stained spear point was placed in front of him.

Resistance required capability.

Clearly, Yang Zhenshan was far stronger than him.

Lan Buqi closed his eyes slightly, his ears filled with the sounds of shouting and screams, and tears involuntarily welled up in his eyes.

To fight is to die, not to fight?

“Please, Master Yang, spare the Lan family!”

Lan Buqi knocked his head on the ground vehemently.

How to fight?

With the lives of his whole family?

The strength of the Lan family was not weak, but it depends on who they are compared to.

Compared to a group of god-slayers who emerged from the battlefield?

How to compare?

The Lan family dominated the Tenglong Guard, but after all, it was just petty squabbles within the Tenglong Guard.

Even if the Lan family could pull the Tenglong Advanced Guard to rebel together, they were probably no match for Yang Zhenshan.

Moreover, would the soldiers of the Tenglong Advanced Guard really rebel together with the Lan family?

Yang Zhenshan held an imperial decree and carried great righteousness; to strike against him was akin to rebellion.

Only those with a bit of sense would not follow the Lan family in a rebellion.

Similarly, Lan Buqi did not want to rebel.

Rebellion could lead to the execution of the entire extended family; begging for mercy might still offer a sliver of chance to preserve the Lan family’s bloodline, but resistance would mean a grave crime of rebellion.

In just a moment, Lan Buqi realized all these points, continually kowtowing on the ground, begging for mercy.

Seeing this, the surrounding officials’ hearts pounded, their bodies tense, as today’s events were too shocking for them.

When Yang Zhenshan came to take office, they went out of the city to welcome him, but they didn’t really take it seriously because they didn’t think Yang Zhenshan could control the Tenglong Guard and they thought he would end up just like them, becoming a puppet manipulated by the Lan family.

But what happened?

Yang Zhenshan showed a strong attitude as soon as he reached the city gates, and upon arriving at the Lan family’s residence, he immediately started a massacre without a word.

They watched in horror and looked at Yang Zhenshan with awe.

At the same time, they felt a sense of satisfaction deep inside, watching Lan Buqi kneeling and begging for mercy, and watching Lan Buqun and Lan Buzheng being captured, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.

Yang Zhenshan was unaware of their mentality, nor did he care about their psychology; in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes, these Tenglong Guard officials were all useless, utterly useless.

He signaled his personal followers with a glance, and the followers, no longer paying attention to Lan Buqi’s pleas, stepped forward, plunged a dagger through Lan Buqi’s clavicle bones, and tightly bound him.

Lan Buqi was no longer young, and although he possessed the cultivation of the Postnatal Eighth Layer, his strength had declined due to his age.

Even so, as a martial artist of the Postnatal Eighth Layer, certain precautions were necessary, and piercing the clavicle bones was the best method to shackle a martial artist.

Ignoring Lan Buqi’s wails for mercy, the followers dragged him away.

Yang Zhenshan, riding on Red Cloud, looked calmly at the magnificent mansion of the Lan family.

Such a mansion, the Lan family dared to inhabit, he really wondered what they were thinking.

High-profile in action, low-key in demeanor!

This saying is true not only for an individual but also for a family.

As time ticked by second by second, Yang Zhenshan suddenly remembered something, turned his head towards the people behind him, and his gaze quickly fell on Ning Dongsheng, who was shrinking in the back.

“Imperial Censor Ning!”

“Ah!” Ning Dongsheng shuddered all over, suddenly snapping back to reality, looking at Yang Zhenshan with a horrified gaze.

He was truly frightened, trembling with fear inside.

“Imperial Censor Ning, the Lan family has encroached on military farmlands, oppressed military households, and disregarded the court’s laws; their crimes deserve death! Do you agree?” Yang Zhenshan said in an even tone.

Ning Dongsheng stared blankly at him, “Yes, yes~~”

“Hmm, today it is by following Imperial Censor Ning’s advice that I, the general, have arrested the members of the Lan family and gathered evidence of their crimes. Yes, that’s right. Do you agree?”

Yang Zhenshan’s smile widened as he watched Ning Dongsheng.

Ning Dongsheng’s eyes lit up, his thoughts becoming agile.

“Yes, yes, it was this official who proposed to General Yang. General Yang is just and ruthless, enforcing the court’s laws with thunderous measures against the Lan family!”

Yang Zhenshan’s smile grew even wider; this fellow indeed knew how to play along.

Taking drastic measures just after assuming office might sound somewhat unpleasant to others.

Passed onto the court, it would inevitably attract criticism from certain individuals.

If the Lan family had other officials supporting them behind the scenes, they could possibly seize this issue to impeach him.

Although he had the old Emperor’s support at his back, it could still potentially lead to trouble.

If Ning Dongsheng were involved, it would be different.

Ning Dongsheng is an Imperial Censor from Liaodong, possessing the authority to make major declarations and immediate decisions on minor matters.

The Lan family is not considered major nor minor.

Ning Dongsheng could easily make an immediate decision, asking Yang Zhenshan, the newly appointed Commander, to take action.

Even if there were individuals dissatisfied or wishing to overturn the case for the Lan family, both Ning Dongsheng and Yang Zhenshan could withstand it together, significantly reducing troubles for Yang Zhenshan.

“Hmm, what about you?” Yang Zhenshan then turned to the other officials of the Tenglong Guard.

The officials looked at each other, but soon someone stepped forward and said, “Mr. Ning discerns the finest detail, and Commander sir is just and unbiased!”

The rest, upon hearing this, quickly echoed.

“Mr. Ning discerns the finest detail, Commander sir is just and unbiased!”

“Mr. Ning discerns the finest detail, Commander sir is just and unbiased!”

The Lan family was finished, from now on, no, it should be said that the Tenglong Guard was now under Yang Zhenshan’s control.

Anyone with a bit of sense knew how to choose.

“Very good!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded satisfactorily, “Then I’ll trouble Imperial Censor Ning to draft a memorial to submit, and the esteemed officials here can also help draft the case files!”

Since the Lan family were military households of the Tenglong Guard, Yang Zhenshan, as the Commander of the Tenglong Guard, had the authority to investigate the Lan family.

Of course, investigations must be based on evidence, procedures must be followed, and case files need to be produced; these must go through the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Ministry of Justice for review.

Previously, when Yang Zhenshan dealt with Xu Wanfu and others in An Yuan City, he simply captured them and handed them over to the Guardian Department. As for the final handling, he didn’t need to undertake it himself.

But now it was different, he had to handle these personally.

However, he was too lazy to deal with these trivial matters, and since there were many idlers here, he could make use of them.

“The subordinate obeys!” The officials of the Tenglong Guard took their orders.

“General Yang can rest assured, this official will explain this matter to the Imperial Examination Hall!” Ning Dongsheng also hurriedly said.

This was simply a great opportunity for him.

He had been worried that he might get implicated because of the Lan family affair, but Yang Zhenshan’s actions unintentionally gave him a lot of maneuverable space.

He could completely exonerate himself, and even earn some merits through this.

As for why Yang Zhenshan didn’t sweep him away too!

What a joke, as an Imperial Censor, even if Yang Zhenshan was powerful, he couldn’t reach him.

Unless he asked Liu Yuanfu to make a move, but was it worth it?

The Liu family and the Yang family had some friendship, but this friendship had its limits and couldn’t always be used.

About an hour later, Wu Chongzhe walked out of the Lan family covered in blood.

“Reporting to the general, all members of the Lan family have been captured!” He said somewhat excitedly.

Yes, it was excitement.

Such exhilarating battles were a first for him; he had always envied Han Cheng for being able to follow Yang Zhenshan into battle. Now, he finally had the chance to showcase his skills; how could he not be excited?

“Hmm!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded, “First find a place to detain them! You personally guard them, don’t let them escape!”

“Yes!” Wu Chongzhe saluted.

Yang Zhenshan turned around, “Let’s go, we’ll first head to the Guardian Department to take a look!”

Saying so, he rode directly towards the direction of the Guardian Department.

Compared to the Lan family, the Guardian Department seemed very rudimentary; the exterior didn’t even match up to the garrison office in An Yuan City.

And the backyard of the Guardian Department paled in comparison to the garrison office’s backyard in An Yuan City.

There were also many places that had long been in disrepair; after seeing the Guardian Department, Yang Zhenshan worried whether the buildings might collapse.

Looking at this Guardian Department and then at the Lan family’s mansion, wouldn’t you say this Lan family deserved to be killed!

Yang Zhenshan wandered around in the Guardian Department for a while, then instructed the officials following him: “You go ahead with your duties; for these two days, the Guardian Department will do as usual.”

With that, he sent them away and then returned to the Lan family’s mansion.

The Yang family had many people, and he had also brought many along; the Guardian Department’s backyard definitely couldn’t accommodate them all, so he had to temporarily occupy the nest, residing in the Lan family’s mansion.

However, before moving into the Lan family’s mansion, he needed to first understand this mansion of the Lan family.