Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 975: Chapter 688: Go Mad or Die

Ma Yan and Chen Buyu first went to the Ministry of War to report, and Chen Buyu’s position has already been decided, a Vice Governor in the Central Army Commander’s Mansion. Although it’s not an important position, the rank is still quite high.

Of course, this is also considering Chen Buyu’s abilities. Over the years, Chen Buyu has gotten a lot of training in the Taiping Army, but to be honest, his abilities are still limited. He cannot compare with many of the nobles from Da Rong in the past, nor with the military officers who came out of Chongshan Town.

His position was arranged by Yang Mingzhao, as a somewhat unimportant secondary role, considered to be a form of training for him.

Yet Chen Buyu is quite satisfied with it. Serving as a Vice Governor is a Standard Second Rank position, and in the new regime, the Governor’s Mansion holds real power; as a Vice Governor, he can still accomplish quite a bit.

Afterward, Ma Yan took him to the Imperial City to register, since Yang Chengye didn’t have time to see him immediately, and with it being late in the day, they returned to stay at the Marquis Jing’an Mansion.

With Ma Yan’s support, staying at the Marquis Jing’an Mansion poses no issue for Chen Buyu.

The next day, Ma Yan accompanied Chen Buyu to visit Yu Qingyi, who is, after all, his legitimate junior disciple, so Yu Qingyi naturally had to meet him.

Yu Qingyi also gave Chen Buyu a meeting gift, including elixirs, alcohol, and tea, and inquired about Chen Buyu’s situation.

Compared to Yang Zhenshan, Yu Qingyi was much more attentive, even sending someone to ask the Ministry of Rites about the location of the Lord Taiping Mansion. After learning of its location, he arranged for someone to help Chen Buyu tidy up the residence.

Chen Buyu soon moved into his own mansion, and Ma Yan also took him shopping for some servants.

And it wasn’t until the fifth day of Chen Buyu’s arrival in the Capital City that Yang Chengye found time to summon him.

Regarding Chen Buyu, Yang Chengye merely gave a few words of encouragement and did not say much more.

Thus, Chen Buyu managed to settle in the Capital City, thereby integrating into the circle of nobles of the new regime.

The new dynasty was established, and everything began anew.

Even though the new regime still faces many challenges, at this moment, Yang Chengye has already ascended the throne, the court is operating normally, and the previously chaotic situation is gradually stabilizing.

Especially the three provinces of Longyuan, this once-troubled land has finally seen new vitality.

Yet as the new regime recuperates, both internal and external situations are undergoing significant changes.

Firstly, Chen Hengchang in Jiangnan had finally acted against the gentry and aristocrats there to resist the Da’an New Dynasty.

There was no other way. He needed more funds and troops to combat the Da’an New Dynasty, but the Jiangnan gentry and aristocrats became a hindrance to acquiring money and provisions.

Initially, he peacefully took control of Jiangnan and to maintain stability and prosperity there, he not only refrained from targeting the gentry and aristocrats but continued to indulge their financial gains.

For the last two years, Jiangnan appeared flourishing on the surface, but in reality, the lives of ordinary people became increasingly difficult, with countless people trying to escape Jiangnan by any means.

Not only was Chen Hengchang unable to levy taxes from Jiangnan, but he also had to subsidize a considerable amount.

The result was that after occupying Jiangnan, Chen Hengchang became poorer instead of wealthier.

He repeatedly attempted to collect money from the gentry and aristocrats, but those miserly aristocrats were unwilling to part with even a penny, whether during Da Rong’s reign or now under Chen Hengchang.

Chen Hengchang was left with no options.

Externally, he had to face pressure from the Da’an New Dynasty, internally, battle wits with these gentry and aristocrats.

Even with the best temper and greatest endurance, Chen Hengchang had reached his limit.

“Have you investigated thoroughly?”

In the hall of the Prince Qing Mansion, Chen Hengchang looked at Lv Hua with a dark expression.

Lv Hua’s expression was indifferent as he said, “I have investigated thoroughly; in the past two years, thirteen families have had business dealings with the Yang family firms, all wealthy merchants and aristocrats from Jiangnan!”

Chen Hengchang’s face contorted with anger, “These betraying bastards, all deserve to die!”

Previously, Yang family firms had significant business in Jiangnan, and even though Chen Hengchang occupied Jiangnan these past two years, the trading with the Yang family firms in Jiangnan did not completely cease.

While Chen Hengchang prohibited Yang family firm-related vessels from docking, he couldn’t stop Jiangnan merchant ships from leaving port.

Since they couldn’t trade with the Yang family firms in Jiangnan, they conducted business outside Jiangnan.

Thus, many wealthy Jiangnan merchants transported goods out of Jiangnan, trading with the Yang family firms on nearby islands.

The goods they provided included not just silk, porcelain, medicinal herbs, tea, etc., but also grain.

Ship after ship of grain was sold to Yang family firms, which were then transported to Chongshan Town and Liaodong, and now directly to Jin Hai Guard.

Chen Hengchang himself was short of grain, yet these gentry and aristocrats sold grain to the Yang family firms—could Chen Hengchang not be angry?

Moreover, when Chen Hengchang tried to collect a Market Navigation Tax, he met obstruction from the gentry and aristocrats.

“Kill!” Chen Hengchang said with bloodshot eyes, “Master, please lead the people yourself!”

Lin Fuan’s expression shifted, looking up at him, “Are you truly going to start a massacre?”

Having him lead the people means not just killing; it indicates Chen Hengchang wants to use the methods of the Divine Sun Sect.

Spirit Continuation Blood Refining Skill!

“Yes, eliminate everyone in my way!” Chen Hengchang stated.

“What about the New River Prince?” Lin Fuan asked.

Chen Hengchang lowered his eyes, “They deserve to die the most!”

The New River Prince deserved to die most!

It’s now that Chen Hengchang realized this, and frankly, it was a bit late.

But for Chen Hengchang now, there was still time for everything.

To combat the Da’an New Dynasty, he had already abandoned his principles and become utterly unscrupulous.

Killing could gain more funds and provisions; killing could train more martial arts experts; killing could solve many problems.

Whether it was the New River Prince or the gentry and aristocrats, Chen Hengchang no longer cared.

He became crazed because not being crazy meant death.

Hearing this, a strange expression flashed in Lv Hua’s eyes.

But he said no more, as he always acted cautiously around Chen Hengchang, only speaking when asked.

“I understand!” Though Lin Fuan did not want to use Divine Sun Sect’s methods, he also understood that now was not the time to hesitate.

In the face of life and death, everything else becomes unimportant.

Chen Hengchang couldn’t afford failure; Lin Fuan couldn’t either.

Afterwards, everyone dispersed, and Lv Hua left the Prince Qing Mansion, returning to his own residence.

As Chen Hengchang’s intelligence head, Lv Hua held a significant position on Chen Hengchang’s side, although Chen Hengchang always maintained his guard against him, Lv Hua remained indispensable to him.

Whether it was the Secret Martial Guards or the Blood Clothes Guard, all belonged to intelligence organizations.

The Blood Clothes Guard was established with the support of the Divine Sun Sect, but Lv Hua managed to keep it firmly under his control, preventing Chen Hengchang from replacing him easily.

After that, Lv Hua left his manor to return to his residence, summoning a young servant.

The young servant had a full head of white hair, a stooped figure, and carried an air of decrepitude, resembling an ordinary old man.

“We cannot wait any longer; we need to quickly establish contact with the Yang family,” Lv Hua said gravely.

He was well aware of what the Yang family intended to do, having already deduced it when Yang Chengye aimed to train new troops in Fuzhou.

Let us not forget, he was the commander of the Secret Martial Guard North Station, and both Liaodong and Chongshan Town couldn’t easily escape his notice.

Lv Hua had long wanted to contact the Yang family, as he was an old associate of Yang Zhenshan, who shared close ties with him in the past.

The rapid developments caught him off guard; the swiftness with which the Yang family toppled Da Liang was surprising even to him.

Third, he wanted to deal a fatal blow to Chen Hengchang and the Divine Sun Sect at the critical moment.

Let’s not forget, he was an old friend of Yang Zhenshan, and had once maintained a very close relationship with the Yang family.

He would always weigh the pros and cons but also considered revenge.

That’s why he had been enduring, waiting for the right moment, evaluating the situation, weighing benefits, and thinking of revenge.

Wei Cen nodded, “We should no longer wait; we need to contact the Yang family as soon as possible,” Lu Hua said solemnly.

“Be careful and don’t let them discover,” said Lv Hua.