Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 953: Chapter 675: Four Armies March South

Emperor Tianwu pondered for a moment and asked, “Is the Yang family of Liaodong very strong?”

Zhang Luan and Jian Chengfeng exchanged glances and said, “Your Majesty, the Yang family of Liaodong is indeed very strong, and Yang Zhenshan is a formidable person as well!”

“Your Majesty should have heard of Yang Zhenshan, right?”

Emperor Tianwu shook his head, “No, I haven’t!”

Well, time can erase the traces of anyone, and Yang Zhenshan is no exception.

He hasn’t appeared before the people of Da Rong for so long that the young generation now has never heard of his name.

Zhang Luan thought for a moment and said, “Yang Zhenshan, who was the first Marquis Jing’an, was born to a farming family and became the General of Chongshan Town in just over a decade, and was conferred as Marquis Jing’an by Emperor Chongzong!”

Emperor Chongzong is Emperor Chengping; Yang Zhenshan was conferred Marquis Jing’an by Emperor Chengping.

“This person is skilled in training soldiers, adept in military tactics, strategic plots, and is decisive in killing, achieving victory in every battle!”

“Yang Zhenshan rendered meritorious service in the destruction of the East Sea Hu Clan, and it was he who quelled the rebellion of the former Prince Qing, even setting fire to burn a hundred thousand Northern barbarian of the Wuliang Hu Clan!”

“After that, Yang Zhenshan also led the navy to attack the Star Moon Sect, defeating it in one battle!”

“He led thirty thousand elite soldiers on a four-thousand-mile campaign, launching a surprise attack on the Wuliang Royal Court.”

“The current split in the Wuliang Royal Court was caused by that battle of his!”

After listening, Emperor Tianwu said, “I remember now, I heard of this person before, but didn’t he leave Da Rong?”

Zhang Luan said, “That’s right, he left Da Rong, but the Yang family didn’t completely leave Da Rong, Chongshan Town and the Tenglong Guard have always been in their hands!”

“Now with Chongshan Town’s army heading south, it must be under Yang Zhenshan’s orders!”

“Your Majesty, Chongshan Town not only has a strong army, but also several Innate Martial Artists, and it’s likely there are even more Innate Martial Artists in the Yang family!”

Emperor Tianwu frowned slightly and asked, “What do you mean?”

Zhang Luan took a deep breath, “The cultivation of Yang Zhenshan needs no further discussion; I’m certain his strength far surpasses mine. Moreover, apart from Yang Zhenshan, his three sons are all Innate Martial Artists, and his wife from the Yu family is also an Innate Martial Artist!”

“Additionally, there are at least five Innate Martial Artists in the Yang clan.”

“The reason why Da Rong Court doesn’t dare to move against the Yang family of Liaodong is because their strength is too formidable, and the reason Yang Zhenshan left Da Rong back then was because the Yang family had grown strong enough to make the court wary!”

Emperor Tianwu frowned, “So isn’t it possible then that the Yang family of Liaodong could be stronger than Da Rong Court?”

Zhang Luan gave a bitter smile, “Exactly! If the Yang family returns, their power would surpass that of the previous Da Rong Court!”

He was quite familiar with the Yang family due to his good rapport with Yang Zhenshan, hence he feared the Yang family the most.

Emperor Tianwu was somewhat displeased, thinking that while the Yang family might be very strong, Zhang Luan’s words seemed to undermine his own authority.

“Senior Wang He, do you know the Yang family?” Emperor Tianwu asked Wang He, who had just joined him.

He had great respect for Wang He, as he was a senior and had helped him conquer the Capital City.

Wang He stroked his beard and shook his head, “I don’t know much about Yang Zhenshan, but I do know he’s not an ordinary person!”

He hadn’t interacted with Yang Zhenshan, and there wasn’t much relationship between the Wang family and the Yang family, but he had heard plenty of Yang Zhenshan’s feats in the Capital City.

Emperor Tianwu considered it, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to pay more attention to the Yang family and the Yang clan, so he asked, “What do you all suggest then?”

“Raise troops and march north to intercept the army of Chongshan Town!” Zhang Luan said without hesitation.

“But our previous plan was to march south into Jiangnan!” Emperor Tianwu said, frowning.

Compared to the prosperous Jiangnan, he truly disliked the bitter cold of Liaodong.

Although Liaodong had prospered somewhat in recent years, it could never match Jiangnan’s wealth.

So their previous plan was to swiftly head south after capturing the Capital City.

Zhang Luan shook his head slightly, “That’s past, this is present. Since the Yang family has acted, we must proceed with full strength and never underestimate them.”

“Your Majesty, the threat from the Yang family in Liaodong is far greater than the threat from the Jiangnan Qing King!”

Emperor Tianwu frowned, looking at Zhang Luan and then at Jian Chengfeng, who was in full agreement.

“Then we raise troops and head north!”

Emperor Tianwu, having risen from being a mountain bandit to his current position, naturally had his strengths.

And his greatest asset was his willingness to listen to advice.

He was open to persuasion from capable and talented people.

Zhang Luan, Jian Chengfeng, and Wang He were undoubtedly the most capable and talented people under his command.

However, Emperor Tianwu also had his own ideas, he asked, “Can we ally with the Yang family?”

This question indeed stumped Zhang Luan and the others.

“This~~”

Zhang Luan hesitated for a while, “It will be very difficult, I suppose!”

“Why?” asked Emperor Tianwu.

Zhang Luan thought about it and said, “We can give it a try, but Your Majesty shouldn’t hold too much hope!”

Emperor Tianwu just wanted to give it a try, not truly believing he could bring the Yang family under his command.

“Very well, this matter will be entrusted to you, Senior Zhang.”

“As for the matter of marching north, there’s no rush; we’ve just experienced a great battle and need time to recuperate!”

“Let’s draft a plan first, and then proceed according to it!”

After some discussion, they decided to let the soldiers rest for ten days before heading north.

It’s not that they didn’t want to move quickly north, but they simply weren’t able to do so at present.

The soldiers needed rest, and supplies needed to be gathered.