Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 117: Chapter 113 Force Expansion

Early in the morning, figures wielding long spears could be seen in the main courtyard and the east and west courtyards of the Yang family.

However, inside the inner house where the women practiced, Yang Zhenshan, Yang Mingcheng, and others would practice outside the castle because their cultivation was too advanced to be confined to the courtyard.

As for the servants, the women followed their masters to practice inside the inner house, while the men followed their masters to practice in front of the government office.

Practicing martial arts became not only a custom of the Yang family but also a habit for everyone in Yinghe Castle.

It goes without saying for the military households, and even the Liu family started practicing.

Yang Zhenshan was not a stingy person; he was willing to provide the basics of Martial Arts to anyone willing to learn.

The Yang family’s ancestral spear techniques could be shared with outsiders, as could other skills such as swordsmanship and saber skills he acquired.

Of course, if Yang Zhenshan had a divine cultivation technique manual, he probably wouldn’t be willing to share it with outsiders.

Time passed day by day, and before they knew it, the harvest season was approaching.

This year, Chongshan Town had favorable weather, and the crops in the fields were growing well.

Standing at the edge of the wheat fields outside the garrison, Yang Zhenshan watched the golden waves of wheat and smiled faintly.

”Sir, this year’s harvest will be very good! Look how full these grains are.”

Old Li grabbed a handful of wheat ears, rubbed out the grains, and presented them in front of Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at the grains and simply nodded.

Were these grains full?

In others’ eyes, they might be, but to Yang Zhenshan, they were not very good.

Yang Zhenshan, in his previous life, had also lived in the countryside and had harvested wheat with his grandparents, seeing truly full grains.

Compared to those, these grains naturally couldn’t be considered full.

Unfortunately, Yang Zhenshan wasn’t educated in agriculture, and he knew little about chemical fertilizers, unable to bring about agricultural change for the locals.

”How is the harvest arrangement going?” asked Yang Zhenshan.

”Everything is arranged. At the time, the government will cooperate with the military households to complete the harvest. Aside from necessary vigilance, everyone else will join the urgent harvest!” Yang Mingwu replied softly.

Yang Zhenshan looked up at the sky; the weather was favorable, with no rain expected in the upcoming half-month, meaning the harvest could proceed perfectly.

”How is the harvest at Linguan Castle?”

”Eh. The farmland at Linguan Castle is too barren, and even with favorable weather this year, not much grain can be harvested!” Yang Mingwu said, somewhat helplessly.

”Fortunately, this year’s earnings from the needlework workshop are quite good, so everyone can still get by!” added Yang Mingwu.

Yang Zhenshan nodded; the situation in Linguan Castle was as anticipated, and there was nothing to be upset about.

He turned and walked toward the direction of the garrison, saying, ”The day before yesterday, the Clan Leader sent a letter!”

”Ah, does the Clan Leader need something?” Yang Mingwu asked, puzzled.

He knew that Yang Zhenshan often communicated with Yang Zhengxiang, but normally, Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t mention the contents of the letters.

Although he was now a Postnatal Martial Artists, and except for Yang Zhenshan, he had the highest cultivation within the Yang family, he was of a lower generation. Added to this, because he remained close to Yang Zhenshan’s side, Yang Zhengxiang wouldn’t typically consult him.

”The number of martial artists in the clan is increasing, and the Clan Leader intends to let some more people join the military,” Yang Zhenshan said while walking.

Yang Mingwu thought for a moment and said, ”We should definitely help since they’re our relatives, but there are no vacant positions left in Yinghe Castle!”

Currently, under Yang Zhenshan, there were ten fully formed Hundred Households, and each Hundred Households, General Flag, and small flag position was filled.

Yang Zhenshan could not just dismiss someone without cause to make room.

And it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Yang family’s descendants to serve as mere privates.

The people Yang Zhengxiang sent were all martial artists; serving as ordinary soldiers would be a waste of their talents.

”I want you and Chengxu to leave Yinghe Castle!” Yang Zhenshan stopped walking and looked at Yang Mingwu.

Yang Mingwu was stunned, ”Why?”

”Zhao Yuan has been promoted. He was originally the garrison commander of Jianning Guard, but now he has risen to the rank of Thousand Households. He recently mentioned wanting me to find an assistant for him, and I think Chengxu would be suitable!” explained Yang Zhenshan.

Although Zhao Yuan was born in the Suiyang Marquis Mansion, he was just a concubine’s son, so the mansion wouldn’t invest many resources in him.

As such, Zhao Yuan only had Zhao Desheng whom he could fully trust.

Previously, when he was following Zhou Lan, he didn’t need many confidants, but now that he is a Thousand Households and needs to handle things independently, he naturally needs some close aides.

He could train his own confidants, but that would take some time.

Therefore, he wanted to ask Yang Zhenshan for one or two helpers. Zhao Yuan trusted Yang Zhenshan, and he could also trust people from Yang Zhenshan.

”As for you, I want you to go to Jianning Guard and be the garrison commander,” Yang Zhenshan said.

The position of garrison commander in the Guardian Department is equivalent to a Deputy Thousand Households, both are Secondary Fifth rank, so it would be a lateral move for Yang Mingwu.

The reason for Yang Mingwu being sent to serve as this garrison commander is that he now has the capability to operate independently, and it also serves to expand the range of our influence.

An official’s influence is territorially limited. Yang Zhenshan is the defense officer of Yinghe Castle, so his influence covers Yinghe Castle and all the garrison, Fire Road Pile, and signal towers within its jurisdiction.

If he was placed in Jianning Guard, others might respect him as an important figure, but if they didn’t, he wouldn’t have any jurisdiction.

Even though he has Zhou Lan’s support, he can’t always go to Zhou Lan for everything.

But if Yang Mingwu goes to Jianning Guard, it will be different.

Once in Jianning Guard, Yang Mingwu would become a bigwig in the Guard City, and Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t need to ask others for favors when trying to get things done.

Likewise, sending Chengxu to assist Zhao Yuan is based on the same consideration.

Now that Zhao Yuan is a Thousand Households under Mu Qiu, the garrison of Ningzhou City, he spends several months each year in Ningzhou City performing garrison duties. If Chengxu goes with Zhao Yuan, then Chengxu can also accomplish some tasks in Ningzhou City.

With Yang Mingwu in Guard City and Chengxu in Ningzhou City, it would expand Yang Zhenshan’s range of influence several times.

Of course, they are not the main officials, and their power is much less, but if something happens, they can also help.

At the same time, Yang Mingwu and Yang Chengxu left Yinghe Castle, Yang Zhenshan definitely could not let them leave on their own, he had to take a few trusted subordinates with them.

This way, some positions in Yinghe Castle would be freed up, which could be used to accommodate the Yang family members recommended by Yang Zhengxiang.

Yang Mingwu did not know that Yang Zhenshan had so many thoughts. In fact, he still wanted to stay by Yang Zhenshan’s side, but he would not refuse Yang Zhenshan’s arrangements.

”I will follow the senior’s orders!” Yang Mingwu thought for a moment and said.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and smiled, saying, ”That’s good, Chengxu will be here soon, I will talk to him, and if he agrees too, we will go to Guard City tomorrow!”

Yang Chengxu naturally had no objections, the group of Yang family descendants who followed Yang Zhenshan out, were naturally loyal to Yang Zhenshan.

The next morning, Yang Zhenshan went to Guard City.

Once in Guard City, he first took Yang Mingwu to meet Zhou Lan.

When Zhou Lan heard about Yang Zhenshan’s intentions, she couldn’t help but feel a little astonished.

”Are you willing to let him come to Guard City?”

She knew that Yang Mingwu was Yang Zhenshan’s right-hand man, sending Yang Mingwu away from Yinghe Castle was like cutting off one of his arms.

”There’s nothing I’m unwilling to part with, Mingwu is not a child anymore, he should also go his own way. Always following by my side is not good for him!”

Yang Zhenshan, relying on his older age, took on the role of a thoughtful elder.

It wasn’t really acting, he was indeed an elder to Yang Mingwu.

Zhou Lan glanced at Yang Mingwu who stood behind Yang Zhenshan, thought for a moment, shook her head, and said, ”I want Ming Zhi to take this garrison commander position!”

Now it was Yang Zhenshan’s turn to be stunned; he had thought Zhou Lan might refuse, and if Zhou Lan refused, he would not force the issue, but he had never imagined Zhou Lan would value Ming Zhi so much.

Well, not value in a romantic sense, but in terms of importance.

But Yang Zhenshan quickly understood Zhou Lan’s thinking.

The garrison commander in the garrison is responsible for managing military, judiciary, and official affairs, and Ming Zhi had previously served as garrison commander at Yinghe Castle, so he had experience managing a garrison commander’s responsibilities.

In comparison, Yang Mingwu lacked such experience.

Indeed, Ming Zhi was more suitable for the garrison commander position than Yang Mingwu.

But this was different from what Yang Zhenshan had planned!

Have Ming Zhi come to Guard City?

”And Ming Wu!”

”That’s simple, if you want to temper him, let him stand alone, Ruizhou City still lacks a defense officer, I can arrange for him to go there!” Zhou Lan said generously.

These few months, she had dealt with a bunch of officials and was indeed short on people.

Yang Zhenshan brought people over at this time, she naturally would not refuse.

In fact, she even wanted to poach a few more people from Yang Zhenshan’s side, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengche, etc., she had considered all of these.

If it weren’t for fear that Yang Zhenshan would be unwilling to let them go, she would have approached him earlier.

”Which garrison’s defense officer?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Tianhe Castle!” Zhou Lan said.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes brightened, Tianhe Castle was indeed a large fort, larger than the former Yinghe Castle.

Moreover, Tianhe Castle had jurisdiction over four garrisons as well as more than thirty Fire Road Piles and signal towers.

The most crucial point was that Ruizhou City was southwest of Ningzhou City, about eighty miles away, but Tianhe Castle was to the east of Ruizhou City, actually less than fifty miles from Ningzhou City.

That was a great location, far enough from the border, with mountains, water, and fertile fields, truly a geomantic treasure site.

”The defense officer of Tianhe Castle, needs to be appointed as a Thousand Households, right!” Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard, chuckling.

If Yang Mingwu as a Thousand Households rank took the position of defense officer of Tianhe Castle, it would be the same as Yang Zhenshan.

Moreover, Yang Mingwu would have jurisdiction over a larger area than Yang Zhenshan.

”Are you not dissatisfied?” Zhou Lan looked at Yang Zhenshan with a smiling face.

Most people might feel uncomfortable being surpassed by their juniors.

But would Yang Zhenshan be dissatisfied?

Of course not.

He trusted Yang Mingwu’s character.

And even if Yang Mingwu changed one day, he did not think Yang Mingwu would dare to do anything to him.

Yang Mingwu might surpass him in official rank, but in terms of capability, Yang Mingwu would never surpass him.

”General, I’m not young anymore.”

Yang Zhenshan naturally would not voice his thoughts.

Being old was the fact he least liked to admit, but sometimes being old was actually the best excuse.

He was getting older, so he wanted to support the younger generation.

Yang Mingwu was his junior, he naturally wanted Yang Mingwu to have a limitless future.

This excuse couldn’t be more reasonable.

Not only reasonable, but it also deeply moved Yang Mingwu.

Zhou Lan nodded and did not doubt Yang Zhenshan’s intentions.

Forty years old really wasn’t young anymore, even enough to start calling oneself old.

”That’s settled then!”