Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 941: Chapter 669: Choices of Innate Martial Artists

Other nobles could flee the Capital City, but the Li family could not, because the Li family had just risen to prominence for over a decade, and this was their peak period. If they fled the Capital City, the momentum of their rise would be completely suppressed, leading to their decline.

Of course, the Li family had its own thoughts. They would not submit to Da Liang, but they could submit to Chen Hengchang.

In their view, Chen Hengchang was also part of the Da Rong royal family. If Chen Hengchang were to seize the throne, then the Li family would still be the Marquis Hai Ning of Da Rong, and might even advance further.

As long as they could defend the Capital City, and in the future present the Capital City to Chen Hengchang, with the merit of offering the city, the Li family’s request for the title of Duke should not be a big problem.

However, at this moment, as Li Feihe gazed at the enemy troops outside the city, he suddenly felt that their idea seemed somewhat naive.

Before seeing the Da Liang army, they thought of them as nothing more than bandits, a disorganized group. They believed defending the Capital City wouldn’t be too difficult.

But now facing the military might of the Da Liang army, Li Feihe suddenly felt less confident.

Can they really defend the Capital City?

…

Upon arriving at the Capital City, the Da Liang army did not immediately attack but first set up camp and then began constructing siege equipment.

The Capital City, with its high walls and deep moats, would not be easy to capture, even with internal spies within the city; it required a slow, strategic approach.

Emperor Tianwu rode with his generals to the foot of the city walls, gazing at the majestic Capital City, his eyes glowing with excitement.

Oh, Capital City!

Only by capturing the Capital City would he be a true emperor.

Without capturing the Capital City, he was just a local king; by capturing it, he could fulfill the mandate of heaven and sit proudly on the Jinluan Palace throne.

The generals and commanders following behind Emperor Tianwu were also quite interesting and, of course, unexpected.

Most of the other generals were not worth mentioning, as they were the old brothers who had risen up with Emperor Tianwu.

Although these old brothers had average abilities and strength, they were the most loyal to Emperor Tianwu.

Emperor Tianwu understood that compared to others, these old brothers were the most reliable.

Aside from these old brothers, he also had many who joined him midway and various factions as well.

When saying Da Liang had become a force to reckon with, it didn’t refer to the numbers, but to the fact that King Da Liang, also known as Emperor Tianwu, had gained the recognition of many Martial Arts experts and local powers.

For instance, Jian Chengfeng, who now stood behind Emperor Tianwu, his white beard fluttering in the wind, his ruddy face tinged with a complex expression.

He was an Innate Martial Artist who had defected from the Da Rong Court, and the spark that led to the breakup of Sanshan Valley and Cui Xia Valley.

Returning now to the Capital City and gazing once more at those three mountains, Jian Chengfeng’s feelings were exceedingly complicated.

There was resentment, anger, unease, guilt, but above all, determination.

He had never regretted his decision.

The Da Rong royal family had lost the people’s hearts, and it was time for the world to change its master.

Besides Jian Chengfeng, there was also Yang Jiushi from the Yang family of Longping and Li Zhen from the Tiger Sect, as well as Zhang Luan, the Marquis Jianchang.

Yes, Zhang Luan had also joined Da Liang, and he was Emperor Tianwu’s greatest support.

It wasn’t surprising that Yang Jiushi from the Yang family of Longping and Li Zhen from the Tiger Sect joined Da Liang, as both were already within the three provinces of Longyuan, especially the Tiger Sect in Shunnan Prefecture, which was just west of Han Zhong Prefecture.

The first martial force to join King Da Liang was the Tiger Sect.

The relationship between Li Zhen and Zhang Luan doesn’t need much explanation; the two were old brothers who had faced life and death together. Li Zhen’s decision inevitably dragged Zhang Luan into it.

With Zhang Luan’s support, Emperor Tianwu’s strength was undoubtedly enhanced significantly.

Zhang Luan was not just any Innate Martial Artist; he was also once the Abbot of the Martial Arts Temple, which he had established and led for over a decade.

Although he later resigned from the position of Abbot, he had left numerous connections within the Martial Arts Temple.

With Zhang Luan’s support, Emperor Tianwu easily gained the backing of martial forces within the three provinces of Longyuan.

As for why Zhang Luan joined Da Liang, part of it was due to his relationship with Li Zhen, and another part was his dissatisfaction with the Court.

Back when Zhang Luan resigned from the position of Abbot of the Martial Arts Temple, it wasn’t voluntary; he was forced out.

Emperor Yanping liked to play balance politics, even wanting to balance forces within the Martial Arts Temple, meddling in its affairs.

If Emperor Yanping had appointed competent individuals to the Martial Arts Temple, Zhang Luan wouldn’t have had any objections.

But the problem was Emperor Yanping placed a group of noble offspring in the Martial Arts Temple, who were nothing but nuisances, turning the place into a mess.

With Emperor Yanping above and the nobles below, Zhang Luan found himself caught in the middle, unable to be at ease, which eventually led him to let go of everything.

After leaving the Martial Arts Temple, he went off to spend time with Li Zhen.

He lived in the Tiger Sect, often joining Li Zhen in exploring Wanshan Ridge, leading a carefree and free-spirited life.

Then came the severe drought across the three provinces of Longyuan, leading to a rise in banditry.

Li Zhen decided to support King Da Liang, and when Zhang Luan returned to the Capital City and saw the chaotic state of the Court, he decided to leave it altogether, bringing his descendants with him.

Initially, they didn’t intend to join King Da Liang; they just wanted to find a secluded spot in Wanshan Ridge to live as mountain lords, isolated from the world.

However, with King Da Liang’s sincere visits and Li Zhen’s persuasion, Zhang Luan finally decided to support King Da Liang.

King Da Liang’s rapid development in Han Zhong owed much to the support of Zhang Luan and Li Zhen.