Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 822: Chapter 614: Self-Preservation and Development (Part 2)

Both of them understood very well why Yang Zhenshan moved the Yang family to Star Moon Island.

Perhaps they didn’t quite understand at first, but after so many years, they’ve realized the reason.

Simply put, the Yang family’s power in Da Rong was too great, and if they didn’t distance themselves from Da Rong, the Emperor and the court would undoubtedly see them as a threat.

Even though the Yang family has already left Da Rong, their influence there remains significant.

There’s no need to mention Chongshan Town and the Tenglong Guard. Just in Beiyuan Town, Song Dashan is the Vice General, and Yang Mingzhen, Yang Chengze, and Yang Chengxu are Assistant Generals, while there are numerous members of the Yang family under their command.

Saying the Yang family controls half of Beiyuan Town is an understatement.

Yang Zhenshan virtually controls one and a half of the nine border towns of Da Rong, so it’s only natural for the Emperor and the court to be concerned.

“What should we do? We can’t just sit idly by!” Yang Mingcheng said.

Yang Mingzhi pondered briefly and said, “Send them a message. If they encounter danger, let them go to the Tenglong Guard and Chongshan Town, and then proceed from the Tenglong Guard and Chongshan Town to Star Moon Island!”

“Send Ding Qiu to keep an eye on the Capital City, Wu Zhan to the Tenglong Guard, and Wu Zheng to Chongshan Town!”

With three Innate Martial Artists overseeing, while it may not guarantee everyone’s safety, it at least ensures they have a retreat path.

“Wu Zheng went out with the fourth brother and hasn’t returned for several months!” Yang Mingcheng said.

“What has the fourth brother been up to these past two years? Why is he always away?” Yang Minghao asked.

Yang Mingcheng shook his head, “He said he was traveling, but he’s been gone for more than half a year!”

Yang Mingzhao naturally couldn’t leave out Star Moon Island, but he only returns twice a year, staying for about a month each time.

“Let’s have Chengche go to Chongshan Town. Ming Wu is still in Chongshan Town. With the two of them there, it should be sufficient!” Yang Mingzhi said.

Yang Mingwu is also an Innate Martial Artist and currently the Vice General of Chongshan Town.

“Why don’t I go there myself! Chengye is over there, and I’m worried!” Yang Mingcheng said with some concern.

Yang Mingzhi said, “Elder Brother, you shouldn’t go, and not only you can’t go, but all three of us brothers cannot go!”

“Why?”

“Our presence would represent different meanings. Once we appear in Chongshan Town, it could potentially attract more trouble!” Yang Mingzhi said.

Yang Minghao concurred, “Exactly, our presence would signify Dad’s stance.”

The statuses of the three brothers are different now; they must not make public appearances lightly.

Especially Yang Mingcheng, as the eldest son of the Yang family, his significance is even greater.

If they were to go to Chongshan Town, it would imply that the Yang family sees Chongshan Town as their private domain, and although that is indeed the case, it cannot be openly acknowledged.

Yang Mingcheng hesitated, saying, “Then I’ll have Chengye bring Sheng’er and Han’er over!”

Yang Chengye has three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, Yang Qinyuan, is already twenty years old and married, currently residing on Star Moon Island.

The eldest daughter, Yang Ruochen, is eighteen this year; she married Wu Zhan’s youngest son a year ago and also lives on the island now.

The second son, Yang Qinming, is fifteen this year, currently cultivating on the island, and Ms. Wang is helping him find a marriage candidate.

Yang Qisheng is twelve, Yang Ruohan is nine. According to tradition, when Yang Qisheng turns thirteen, he will be sent to Star Moon Island because starting cultivation at thirteen is just right; with serious cultivation for over a year, one can become a Martial Artist by fifteen.

This has become a standard practice in the Yang family.

Yang Mingcheng is concerned about his grandchildren suffering in Chongshan Town, so he plans to bring them over first.

Yang Mingzhi and Yang Minghao naturally had no objections to this.

The intention of the three brothers is very clear: self-preservation.

Chen Zhaoxuan’s death affects not only the court but also the worldly society and the common people, causing a significant impact.

If even a royal prince could be killed by bandits, it indicates that the foundation of Da Rong is no longer stable.

If the court cannot swiftly eliminate the numerous bandits in Longyuan and reestablish its majesty in a short period, more enemy troops will rise to challenge the Majesty of the royal family and the court.

…

Dai State City.

After the news of Chen Zhaoxuan’s death spread, the bandit leader King Da Liang quickly gained immense prestige, and in just a month, several groups of bandits came to join him.

King Da Liang’s enemy troops quickly expanded from 200,000 to 300,000. Regardless of their fighting strength, the sheer numbers were enough to give the court a massive headache.

Meanwhile, within Dai State City, King Da Liang was discussing the upcoming plans with his military advisors and brothers.

King Da Liang’s real name is Zhang Bei, and he has two old brothers, Wang Ershan and Li Gao. The two were formerly bandits on Da Liang Mountain and have followed him for over ten years, making them his most trusted men.

Additionally, he has three adopted sons, Zhang Zijing, Zhang Zihao, and Zhang Zishan, who are also among his most reliable people.

As for military advisors, there are two impoverished Scholars, Song Chenxing and Niu Sude, who have been instrumental in King Da Liang Zhang Bei’s growth to his current size.

It was upon their suggestion that Zhang Bei continually drilled his troops, transforming the originally disorganized bandits into tens of thousands of elite soldiers who were bold and daring.

However, they were now encountering a development bottleneck. As the number of troops under his command increased, their food supply became increasingly strained.

The siege on Dai State was out of desperation, as Dai State possessed a substantial amount of supplies.

Initially, after capturing Dai State, they could obtain at least three months’ worth of supplies, and with the supplies they already possessed, they wouldn’t lack food for at least half a year.

But the problem was that with many more bandits joining them, the plentiful supplies again became stretched thin.

“Everyone, let’s discuss what we should do next?” Zhang Bei said, looking at his military advisors and old brothers.

Wang Ershan, who had a blunt nature, said directly, “What else can we do? We continue to rob. If there’s none in Longnan, we’ll go to Shanhe. Shanhe must have enough supplies!”

Song Chenxing hurriedly opposed, “No, Shanhe is wealthy, but it is close to the Capital City, which is surrounded by tens of thousands of imperial guards and tens of thousands of the Emperor’s personal troops!”

“Are we afraid of them?” Wang Ershan replied, somewhat displeased, looking at Song Chenxing.

Military advisors were always troublesome; Wang Ershan often disagreed with Song Chenxing and Niu Sude.

Niu Sude also spoke, “Mr. Song is right. We should not go to Shanhe Province. If we go, it should be Han Zhong Prefecture!”

“Han Zhong Prefecture?” Zhang Bei looked on inquisitively.

Niu Sude nodded, “In Longnan, Han Zhong Prefecture has been the least affected by the drought. Especially this year, there were three heavy rainfalls before summer, completely alleviating the drought in Han Zhong Prefecture.”

“Moreover, Han Zhong Prefecture is abundant in rivers, and water is plentiful, which has minimized the drought’s impact on the residents!”

“As long as we can occupy Han Zhong Prefecture, the army can settle and cultivate the land. In two or three years, we won’t lack food!”

Niu Sude and Song Chenxing had reached a consensus; they believed they couldn’t continue as mere bandits. Being bandits would only leave them constantly on the run—they needed a base, a territory where the 300,000 troop army could lay low and recuperate.

Zhang Bei pondered, aware that continuing to roam wasn’t a viable solution. The larger his forces, the greater the burden; continuing in disarray would lead to their eventual disintegration.

“Can Han Zhong Prefecture support 300,000 soldiers?” Zhang Bei asked.

Song Chenxing replied, “Perhaps not in the past, but now it’s different. Under the great drought, countless residents have starved to death in Han Zhong Prefecture. Bringing our 300,000 soldiers can replenish their population!”

“Moreover, the Han Zhong Prefecture is filled with mountains and valleys. If we occupy Han Zhong Prefecture, we only need to fortify those critical passes and canyons to fend off the court’s army.”

“By taking advantage of the geography, we need only a few thousand soldiers to resist tens of thousands of the court’s army. This way, we can develop peacefully!”

Niu Sude slightly nodded in agreement and continued where Song Chenxing left off, “Han Zhong Prefecture has another advantage: it’s bordered by Bashu to the south, and right now Bashu is also in chaos, making it impossible for them to muster a large army against us, thus reducing our pressure!”

“And even if we can’t hold Han Zhong Prefecture against the court’s army, we can retreat to Bashu.”

Their analysis was well-supported, and Zhang Bei nodded repeatedly.

As things stood, Han Zhong Prefecture was undoubtedly their best choice.

“Indeed, both advisors are right. Let’s withdraw to Han Zhong Prefecture and then secure and develop Han Zhong Prefecture for three years before anything else!” Zhang Bei made the final decision regarding their development plan.