Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 109: Chapter 106 Meeting Liang Chu

After Zhou Lan left, Yang Zhenshan began distributing reward silver and consolation money.

Consolation money was straightforward since it was distributed per head count.

When reporting the numbers, Yang Zhenshan had made no false claims, and Zhou Lan gave him the full amount, which he naturally passed on in full.

As for the reward silver, there were more than eight hundred soldiers who had followed him into battle, each would receive reward silver for one decapitated enemy head, that is, five taels of silver per soldier. The other soldiers had not participated in the battle but had maintained their posts, so they should also receive a reward, giving them each one tael.

The officers, the small flags involved in the war received ten taels, the General Flag received twenty taels, and the Hundred Households received fifty taels; those not involved in the battle received one-tenth of that.

Yang Mingwu, as the Deputy Thousand Households, received one hundred taels, while Yang Zhenshan himself took two hundred taels.

The civil servants within the garrisons were also given some reward silver by Yang Zhenshan.

Finally, about a thousand taels were left, which Yang Zhenshan handed over to the government’s accounting office for his use.

Distributing reward silver was a joyful matter.

And distributing consolation relieved the families who had lost their loved ones.

Under Yang Zhenshan’s supervision, the reward silver and consolation money were quickly distributed to every soldier and military household.

The soldiers who received the reward silver were naturally grateful towards Yang Zhenshan, holding him in high esteem.

In fact, the reward silver was rightfully theirs, Yang Zhenshan merely facilitated its distribution, yet they held him in the highest regard.

That was because in the past, not to mention reward silver, they had not even received full rations.

Ever since Yang Zhenshan took office, their rations had never been embezzled, and now that they had received reward silver, it was no wonder they revered Yang Zhenshan.

The family members who received consolation also felt greatly comforted, and they too were extremely grateful to Yang Zhenshan.

Nearly fifty taels of silver, for these military households who had lost loved ones, were like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

With this sum of silver, they could live comfortably for at least a few years.

After handling the matters of reward silver and consolation money, Yang Zhenshan called Yang Mingzhi.

”Tomorrow you go to the stable and lead two young horses to give to General Zhou.”

”Alright!”

Yang Mingzhi agreed directly without hesitation.

It was a minor task, and Yang Zhenshan’s instructions were all that Yang Mingzhi needed to follow.

Then Yang Zhenshan called Yang Mingcheng.

”Take these silver notes!”

He took out most of his savings, approximately fifteen hundred taels.

”Dad, what is this for?”

Yang Mingcheng hesitated to take the silver notes.

Although he was now in charge of the Yang family’s assets, he had never seen this much silver at once.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at him sideways, this timid fellow, even afraid to take such an amount of silver.

”Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to the fortress city to buy some well-located shops.”

”Buying shops?” Yang Mingcheng was filled with confusion.

”That’s right, buying shops, as many as we can,” Yang Zhenshan asserted.

Since last year when the Hu Clan invaded, a large number of residents had fled from the fortress city, especially after the campaign against the Hu Clan had failed, the prices of houses and shops in the fortress city had nearly dropped to nothing.

Now that Liang Chu has won a complete victory, the fortress city was sure to see a new vitality, especially the shops which were bound to rise in value.

Because the fortress city was not an ordinary fortress; even if all the civilians had left, there would still be tens of thousands of soldiers inside.

The fortress city’s economy, primarily driven by military consumption, would inevitably recover as long as Chongshan Pass remained secure.

Yang Zhenshan was not looking to do any business; he wanted to wait for the shops to appreciate and make a profit.

”After purchasing the shops, hang them for rent at the market for one year, and then sell when the market is good,” Yang Zhenshan mentioned his simple plan.

If it weren’t for the fact that he had too little silver, he would have indeed liked to speculate on real estate in the fortress city.

”Oh, I understand!” Yang Mingcheng finally got it.

The next morning, Yang Zhenshan, together with Yang Mingcheng and Jiang He, arrived at the fortress city.

Yang Mingcheng and Jiang He went to purchase shops, while Yang Zhenshan went to the General Mansion.

The General Mansion was located in the North City area of the fortress city, a region with many government buildings of Chongshan Town, heavily guarded, and Yang Zhenshan could not have entered easily without the token from Zhou Lan given his position as a defense officer.

Upon reaching the General Mansion, Yang Zhenshan asked the constables on duty to announce his arrival. The constable, seeing the token in Yang Zhenshan’s hand, amiably invited him to sit inside the gatehouse.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, a young man dressed in black walked out from inside the mansion.

”Master Yang?” he inquired somewhat uncertainly.

”That’s me, may I know who this gentleman is?” Yang Zhenshan kept a very low profile.

No choice, as the defense officer of Yinghe Castle he might be influential, but here he really didn’t count for much.

Moreover, with the saying that even a minor official ranks higher if he’s at the Prime Minister’s doorstep, everyone inside the General Mansion had superiority; he thought it best to keep a low profile to avoid trouble.

”Not at all, I am Hu Wan, a follower of Marquis, the Marquis has been waiting for Master Yang in the hall. Please, Master Yang!” Hu Wan said politely.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and politely responded, ”Please lead the way, Brother Hu!”

Then, the two of them entered the General Mansion, passing through the front courtyard and into the middle one.

This General Mansion was much larger than the office Yang Zhenshan held at the defense castle; just the front courtyard had several sections, each section marked by a different board – the Weapons Division, Ceremonial Armory, Encampment Armory, Lu Bu Storehouse, Treasury, Horse Administration Office, etc.

As the General Mansion managed the entire military affairs of Chongshan Town, it naturally required a significant number of staff and respective divisions.

The middle courtyard served as the office for various high officials of the General Mansion, while the rear housed the rooms of General Liang Chu.

Entering the middle courtyard, Hu Wan led Yang Zhenshan to a hall called Tuisi Hall.

In the hall, Liang Chu was sitting by a tea table, sipping tea while reading a book.

”Greetings, Marquis, from Yang Zhenshan, the defense officer of Yinghe Castle!”

Yang Zhenshan clasped his fists and bowed.

Liang Chu lifted his head, and only then did Yang Zhenshan see that the book in his hand was the ”Thirty-Six Stratagems” he had written.

”Yang Zhenshan! So it’s you!” Liang Chu smiled.

Yang Zhenshan did not understand what ”So it’s you!” meant, but seeing Liang Chu’s gentle demeanor, he felt much more relaxed.

”Have a seat!”

”This subordinate can stand!” Yang Zhenshan dared not act presumptuously in front of Liang Chu.

He could be casual in front of Zhou Lan because he had saved Zhou Lan, and their relationship was not merely hierarchical but more like that of friends.

In a feudal society, class distinctions are clear, and some invisible and intangible rules must be obeyed; otherwise, one might be accused of insubordination.

Liang Chu was a superlative Marquis Changping, while he was just a mere Standard Fifth Rank of Thousand Households; he still did not have the qualification to act otherwise.

Don’t even mention equality for all; if you have the guts, try discussing equality with the old Emperor and see if he won’t have your head.

Liang Chu did not insist further and lifted the book in his hand, asking, ”Did you write this?”

”Indeed, this subordinate wrote it!” Yang Zhenshan admitted boldly, yet he did not belittle the ”Thirty-Six Stratagems” by calling it a clumsy work.

He certainly did not think he qualified to denigrate the ”Thirty-Six Stratagems.”

”Thirty-Six Stratagems, be it in military or worldly affairs, can all be applied. If one can thoroughly comprehend this book, perhaps one really can achieve an almost divine foresight!” Liang Chu’s eyes were intently fixed on Yang Zhenshan.

He left something unsaid.

If mastering the ”Thirty-Six Stratagems” could allow one to foresee events like a deity, as the author of the book, could Yang Zhenshan also achieve such foresight?

Naturally, Yang Zhenshan discerned the implication in his words, ”The Marquis has highly praised me. Whether in military or worldly matters, it depends on the person, not the book!”

Liang Chu looked deeply at Yang Zhenshan, ”You are absolutely right, blind faith in books is worse than having none!”

However, his tone changed as he continued, ”Are you interested in following me?”

Yang Zhenshan was a bit stunned.

Was this a recruitment?

Such blatant recruitment indeed caught him off-guard.

”General Zhou has shown great kindness to this subordinate, and this subordinate wishes to stay in Jianning Guard.” Yang Zhenshan declined after a brief silence.

”Zhou Lan!” Liang Chu mused, ”Well, since you are unwilling, let it be!”

He truly valued Yang Zhenshan and wanted to keep him by his side as a strategist, of course, he would not be stingy with the official position either.

But competing with Zhou Lan for people made him somewhat wary; the temper of this young lady from Duke Ning Mansion was not very amiable.

If Zhou Lan were provoked, he feared she might confront him.

As for whether others might recruit him, that was not his concern.

Thinking it over, Liang Chu walked into the inner chamber, and Yang Zhenshan had no idea what he was doing and had to wait obediently where he was.

Fortunately, Liang Chu did not leave for too long, only about half a quarter of an hour.

When Liang Chu returned, he was holding a large stack of books.

”Your ’Thirty-Six Stratagems’ has helped me a lot. Logically, I should offer you a gift in thanks.”

”I’m reluctant to give you other things, but these I can give you!”

Saying that, he placed the stack of books in front of Yang Zhenshan.

This action puzzled Yang Zhenshan somewhat.

Thank him?

Giving him a pile of books?

Could we not have something more tangible!

Gold, silver, jewels; I’m rather worldly and prefer these vulgar things.

He thought to himself, but his eyes fell on the top book of the stack.

In an instant, he realized his shallowness.

Could the gifts from a powerhouse be those pedantic scriptures?

”Eight Trigrams Wandering Dragon”!

This must be a martial arts manual!

Judging by the name, it likely involves movement technique.

Could all these be Martial Arts secrets?

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Though many Cultivation Techniques for the Body Refining Realm and Postnatal Realm are quite common and purchasable if one is willing to spend silver,

the Cultivation Techniques brought out by Liang Chu could hardly be compared to those common ones.

If this whole stack of about twenty-plus books were all Martial Arts manuals, it would indeed be a considerable fortune for Yang Zhenshan.

”This subordinate would accept with utmost respect!”

Yang Zhenshan kept his composure as he held a stack of books in his arms, though inwardly he was jubilant.

This trip had not been in vain.

Initially, he thought this visit might involve some troubles, but unexpectedly, there was a serendipitous gain.

Seeing Liang Chu slowly sipping tea, Yang Zhenshan knew it was time to take his leave.

”If the Marquis has no further commands, this subordinate will take his leave first!”

”Hmm.” Liang Chu looked up and smiled, ”Hu Wan, see Master Yang out!”

Hu Wan, who had been standing outside like a post, walked in, ”Master Yang, please!”

Yang Zhenshan once again clasped his fists and bowed to Liang Chu before exiting the hall.