Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 93: Chapter 91 This guy is so handsome!

”Settle the account!”

”Alright!”

The shopkeeper nearly broke into a grin at the books Yang Zhenshan had selected.

Be it cultivation techniques or military tactics, they were just dead stock in his store.

Such stock might not even sell one copy a year.

Unexpectedly, today he had encountered a fool who bought six copies all at once.

”Take care, customer!”

Leaving the bookstore, Yang Zhenshan then went to the Treasure Medicine Pavilion and bought a hundred-year-old ginseng.

It cost a full seven hundred taels of silver, almost breaking Yang Zhenshan’s heart.

After that, Yang Zhenshan bought some top-quality tea leaves, furs, and fabrics.

”Damn it, I need to save more in the future, otherwise I won’t even have the money to give New Year’s gifts!”

Yang Zhenshan thought to himself with a silent sneer.

That day, he had spent over a thousand taels of silver, if not for the two thousand taels of thank-you silver from Mr. Lu, he really couldn’t afford to give such gifts.

He didn’t care how well Yang Mingcheng had prepared, after staying another night in the small courtyard, he was ready to return to Yinghe Castle.

Now with half a month left until the New Year, which means he had half a month to write a book on military tactics.

Time was of the essence, so Yang Zhenshan hurriedly rushed back to Yinghe Castle and dived straight into his study.

Initially, he wanted to write a manual titled Training Soldiers in Reality, but after pondering for a long time, he realized it was not easy to write, as many aspects needed careful deliberation before he could pen them down.

Formations, battle arrays, these training exercises seemed simple but were difficult to describe in writing. Each exercise’s purpose and rationale required explanation.

If there was time, Yang Zhenshan could slowly refine his thoughts and eventually get it written.

But he was in a hurry to send Zhou Lan a New Year’s gift, and clearly, there wouldn’t be enough time.

With no choice left, Yang Zhenshan had to copy ”The Thirty-Six Stratagems.”

”The Thirty-Six Stratagems” refers to thirty-six military strategies, divided into six sets: the first set is ”Winning Battle Tactics,” the second is ”Enemy Battle Tactics,” the third is ”Offensive Battle Tactics,” the fourth is ”Chaotic Battle Tactics,” the fifth is ”Converging Battle Tactics,” and the sixth is ”Defeat Battle Tactics.”

The first three sets are strategies for when in an advantageous position, and the last three are for when in a disadvantage. Each set contains six strategies, totaling thirty-six.

Some things, if not considered, might feel difficult to remember completely, but when pondered daily, will be found to be entirely recallable.

Yang Zhenshan racked his brains for five days and finally managed to remember all thirty-six stratagems.

Then, as he wrote them down according to his memory, he also made modifications to the parts that didn’t quite fit.

The reason for ’writing’ rather than ’transcribing’ was because Yang Zhenshan couldn’t transcribe them word for word; he could only recompile them according to his own thoughts and language.

As for the unsuitable parts, such as ”Besiege Wei to Save Zhao,” there were no Wei or Zhao states in history here, so where did the idea of besieging Wei to save Zhao come from?

Yang Zhenshan thought about it and changed ”Besiege Wei to Save Zhao” to ”Encircle the City to Rescue Allies.”

The two shared some similarities, and even if there were differences, since it was his writing, his say was final; definitely, no one in this world would come to refute him.

”The Thirty-Six Stratagems” didn’t have many words overall; Yang Zhenshan only took two days to complete the first draft. After that, another three days were spent on careful consideration and revision before the final version was bound.

On the twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month.

Yang Zhenshan brought the ”The Thirty-Six Stratagems” he had written, as well as two large carts of gifts, to Jianning Guard.

At the year’s end, Zhou Lan was still very busy.

Busy with training troops, busy with handling military affairs, and also busy with sending out New Year’s gifts.

However, Zhou Lan didn’t need to do it personally for sending New Year gifts; she just needed to arrange for servants to run the errands.

After Yang Zhenshan arrived at Jianning Guard, he did not go to see Zhou Lan immediately but first visited Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan had a large courtyard in Jianning Guard where Yang Zhenshan could temporarily stay.

Having settled down, Yang Zhenshan then began his round of visits.

Jianning Guard had one Commander, two Deputy Commanders, three Assistant Commanders, and two Reinforcement Officials.

In addition to these, there were the garrison office and the Inspection Supervision Institute.

Yang Zhenshan gave New Year’s gifts to all the named officials.

None were particularly precious: a pound of tea leaves, a couple of nice-looking pelts, and some silk fabrics purchased from the Luo family’s fabric shop.

Depending on the hierarchy of the official roles, the gifts were adjusted accordingly.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t trying to curry favor with these officials; he just wanted to express his regards, letting them know he had not disregarded them.

Whether or not the officials were satisfied with the gifts was a matter of perspective.

If they were dissatisfied, there was nothing Yang Zhenshan could do – that was all he had, he surely couldn’t be expected to go broke.

More importantly, even if he did go broke, it’s not a given that they would appreciate it.

In fact, many officials didn’t care about his New Year’s gifts; some didn’t even meet him in person, merely sending their servants to send him off.

Those who were a little more courteous prepared a gift in return for Yang Zhenshan to take away, and those less so merely left him with a message that their lord had been informed.

The warmth and coldness of human relationships were vividly displayed at such times.

Over two days, Yang Zhenshan made a complete round of visits to all the officials in Jianning Guard, also meeting quite a few of them.

For instance, Jianning Guard’s Commander Zhong Luan, Ningzhou City’s garrison officer Mu Qiu.

These two probably knew that Yang Zhenshan was Zhou Lan’s man, so they treated Yang Zhenshan relatively well. Not only did they meet him in person, but they also gave him a return gift.

Once the rest were taken care of, Yang Zhenshan finally headed to the Assistant General Mansion to meet Zhou Lan.

Inside the mansion, Yang Zhenshan followed a servant into the main hall.

However, as he stepped through the doorway, he paused momentarily.

Because in the main hall there wasn’t just Zhou Lan, there was also a man in his thirties.

This man was dressed in a wide Confucian robe, with a handsome visage, exuding a gentle and refined air.

He was seated to the lower hand of Zhou Lan, with a smile like a gentle spring breeze on his face.

Upon seeing him, Yang Zhenshan suddenly felt an indescribable sensation.

Damn, he’s handsome!

That’s right, handsome!

Yang Zhenshan considered himself to also be a handsome middle-aged man, especially after his beard grew thicker and neater, giving off a bit of the ’clean and innocent appearance with lush, well-groomed beard, walking gracefully around the Duke Mansion, moving slowly within’ vibe.

But the man in front of him was different, with a complexion like jade, eyebrows like swords, pupils like ink, a slender figure, and an air of distinguished elegance.

Envious and jealous?

Yes, he was.

Astonished and curious?

That too.

But what was more prevalent was caution.

Indeed, caution.

With just one glance, Yang Zhenshan could tell this man was a master.

Even though the other party was just sitting there quietly, he gave off an extremely dangerous feeling.

Clearly carrying the appearance of warm and refined manners, yet he felt more like an unsheathed sword to Yang Zhenshan.

Concealed sharpness, hidden killing intent.

However, with Zhou Lan present, although Yang Zhenshan sensed this man’s danger, he simply paused briefly and then stepped into the main hall.

”Subordinate pays respects to General Zhou!”

He bowed with clasped hands.

”There’s no need for such formalities, Master Yang. This gentleman is my elder brother, who has made a special trip from the Capital City to see me,” Zhou Lan seemed a bit down, her eyes carrying a touch of discontent.

Of course, her discontent was certainly not aimed at Yang Zhenshan, who had done nothing to provoke her.

Elder brother?

Yang Zhenshan’s mind stirred, and he immediately understood the identity of this man.

Zhou Lan is the legitimate daughter of the Duke Ning Mansion, hence her brother would be one of the esteemed masters of the Duke Ning Mansion.

He had also inquired about the Duke Ning Mansion; after all, Zhou Lan was his strong support, and some things were necessary to understand.

The current Duke Ning, Zhou Lan’s father Zhou Mao, served as the Left Governor of the Central Army Commander’s Mansion, in charge of the capital’s garrison, and had been conferred the title of Great Tutor of the Crown Prince.

Zhou Mao had four sons, of which the legitimate eldest son died in battle in the northwest in his early years, the second and third sons were born of concubines and served in the military, leaving only the Princely Heir of the Duke Ning Mansion, Zhou Xu.

This man in front must be Zhou Xu!

”Subordinate, defense officer of Yinghe Castle Yang Zhenshan, pays respects to the Princely Heir!” Yang Zhenshan once again bowed with clasped hands towards Zhou Xu.

The title of Da Rong was honorary, meaning there was no fiefdom but only granted land.

”Spare the formalities!” Zhou Xu looked at Yang Zhenshan with a very gentle demeanor, gesturing with his hand.

Zhou Lan, regardless of his attitude, just asked Yang Zhenshan: ”Have you come for a specific matter?”

”With the year-end approaching, this subordinate has prepared a modest gift for the General!” Yang Zhenshan said straightforwardly.

”A gift!” Zhou Lan blinked, looking at him oddly, ”What have you brought that’s worthwhile?”

Giving gifts for the New Year was a common practice in the officialdom, and everyone was already accustomed to it.

Certainly, there would also be those who take the opportunity to amass a fortune or bribe their superiors.

Zhou Lan was not a greedy person, and she wouldn’t care about the gifts.

During this period, she received many seasonal gifts and sent many as well - they were merely exchanges of courtesies.

However, she was very curious about the modest gift from Yang Zhenshan, as she was quite aware of his family’s circumstances - she had visited Yang Family Village after all.

What kind of good thing could the Yang family afford to give her?

”Uh, it’s nothing special, just a token of this subordinate’s respect!”

What could Yang Zhenshan say? Although the gifts included military strategies he had meticulously prepared, he couldn’t boast about how extraordinary the strategies he copied were.

Saying this, Yang Zhenshan handed the gift list to Zhou Lan.

Zhou Lan scanned the list, skimming over the other items, not even paying extra attention to the hundred-year ginseng.

But she did notice the ”Thirty-Six Stratagems” on the gift list.

”The Thirty-Six Stratagems!”

”What is this?”

Yang Zhenshan signaled to Yang Minghao, who was outside, and Yang Minghao promptly scurried in, holding a wooden case.

He handed the wooden case to Zhou Lan, who, curious, opened it and took out a thin booklet.

She flipped through the booklet, starting with curiosity, then shock, and finally a face full of amazement.

As someone born into the Duke Ning family and raised as a military leader, Zhou Lan had been reading military texts since childhood. She didn’t know how many she had read, but she was certain she had never come across this ”Thirty-Six Stratagems.”

And the strategies recorded in the book astounded her.

”The Thirty-Six Stratagems” were derived using the principles of the changes between yin and yang from ”The Book of Changes”, as well as the ancient military principles around hardness and softness, odd and even, offense and defense, the enemy and us, illusion and reality, the host and the guest, labor and rest, compliance and defiance, high and low, life and death, and other interrelated transformations.

Each strategy reflected superior wisdom and tactical skill. It was formulated after a comprehensive consideration of the actual situation, the enemy’s situation, changes in circumstances, and other factors, with high practicality and operability.

”Where did this come from?”

But within just a quarter of an hour, Zhou Lan had read through the entire booklet; in reality, she only browsed it roughly without deep contemplation, but even so, she could still perceive the extraordinary nature of this military text.