Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 425: Chapter 410 Drawing a Big Pie

In the study of the Governor’s Office.

Yang Zhenshan was discussing the planning for the Northern territory with Pang Tang.

“Based on your idea, we will need to build over a dozen towns in the Northern territory!” Pang Tang looked at the map of the Northern land, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Building towns is not an easy task. It requires a great amount of manpower and resources, and the results cannot be seen in a short time.

Yang Zhenshan slightly shook his head, “Not a dozen, but more than thirty!”

“Mr. Pang should not feel troubled, this matter cannot be accomplished overnight, it needs to be done step by step.”

“My idea is to build a city at the foot of Black Cloud Mountain next year, establish the Black Cloud Guard, and relocate military households there.”

Yang Zhenshan pointed to the location of Black Cloud Mountain, and continued, “Black Cloud Mountain has abundant forest resources, capable of producing a large amount of medicinal herbs, furs, and mountain goods!”

“And south of Black Cloud Mountain is the Songyuan River, and there is a vast expanse of fertile land, suitable for horse breeding and grazing.”

“After the city of Black Cloud City is established, we can build more villages and towns around Black Cloud City, which would accommodate a population of a hundred thousand!”

“Using three years’ time, we will develop Black Cloud City, and then from Black Cloud City to the east, from Fuzhou City to the west, develop this vast area from both ends!”

He drew a large circle between Black Cloud Mountain and Fuzhou City.

This circle is the most fertile part of the Northern lands, with not only fertile lands but also abundant water resources, making it very suitable for farming and grazing.

Most importantly, this area is far away from the territory of the Wuliang Hu Clan, and since the East Sea Hu Clan was annihilated, there are no threats nearby, allowing Chongshan Town to invest in development here with peace of mind.

Pang Tang looked at the map, his face solemn, “To achieve your plan, it won’t be complete without ten years of effort!”

Yang Zhenshan slightly nodded, “After ten years, Chongshan Town will have a million acres of fertile land, possess a large number of war horses, and countless cattle and sheep!”

He was painting a big picture for Pang Tang, yes, it’s a visible pie, but it’s not easy to make this pie a reality.

Pang Tang took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming, somewhat exhilarated.

He was stunned by Yang Zhenshan’s grand plan.

Developing a bustling and affluent territory is absolutely a grand endeavor.

Since the establishment of Da Rong, there have been many who expanded territories, but if you ask who transformed a barren land into fertile soil, that truly is unprecedented.

Not only in this dynasty but for thousands of years, no one has done such a thing.

If this plan could truly be completed, it would definitely be a great achievement that shines through the ages.

Pang Tang was moved.

Now, Pang Tang is fifty-seven years old, and serving as the Town Governor of Chongshan is probably his limit.

Advancing further is nearly impossible.

Reflecting on his over thirty years in office, Pang Tang felt the words “mediocre” best described it.

If, at life’s end, he could make a historic great achievement in Chongshan Town, it would not be in vain for his forty years of service.

His gaze fell again on the map, “What about the population? Chongshan Town doesn’t have that many people to relocate!”

Yang Zhenshan stroking his beard, smiled and said, “That’s simple, just request people from the court! As long as they can be sent to Chongshan Town, we will allocate them wasteland, provide them with farming tools and seeds, give them a year’s worth of food, and exempt them from land tax and labor for two years.”

The territories of Da Rong are vast, comprising one capital and thirteen provinces, along with nine border towns. The length from east to west spans ten thousand li, and if including the northern part around Chongshan Town, nearly nine thousand li from north to south.

With such a vast territory, naturally, not every place enjoys perfect weather; droughts, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters occur almost every year.

The refugees who moved to Tenglong Guard previously did so because of drought, and now the military households in Fuzhou City have mostly relocated due to disasters.

It might only be possible to relocate tens of thousands of residents in a year, but in three to five years, relocating hundreds of thousands should not be difficult.

Pang Tang also thought of the military households in Fuzhou City and slightly nodded, “Then leave this matter to me to handle!”

“Haha, then we will have to trouble Mr. Pang in the future!” Yang Zhenshan laughed.

Pang Tang waved his hand, “It is my duty!”

The two men looked at each other and smiled, agreeing on the plan.

After discussing with Pang Tang, Yang Zhenshan directly returned home from the Governor’s Office.

As the year-end approaches, Chongshan Pass was also bustling a bit, although not yet back to its former prosperity, there was some revival.

The streets had quite a few military households from outside the city and merchants from Liaodong.

As Chongshan Town gradually stabilized, merchant caravans from Liaodong surged back into Chongshan Town, even the cold winds and blizzards could not stop their determination to make money.

Seeing the bustling streets, Yang Zhenshan was in a good mood.

“Sir, there are visitors at the mansion, Housekeeper Wu has already led them to the front hall.”

Just as he returned to the Marquis Mansion, the gatekeeper reported to Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan casually asked, “Do you know who it might be?”

There are three halls in the front courtyard of the Marquis Mansion, catering to different guests in different halls.

The middle hall receives guests of good relations or higher status, much more formal.

The back hall offers more privacy, suitable for closer guests, mainly used for family tea-drinking and discussing household matters.

The front hall is for receiving ordinary guests.

Since Wu Hai led them to the front hall, the visitor surely wasn’t any important figure.

“It seems to be a group of Jianghu Martial Artists!” said the gatekeeper.

Yang Zhenshan’s expression paused, but he quickly headed to the front hall.

Jianghu Martial Artists?

This is the Marquis Mansion, and ordinary Jianghu Martial Artists don’t qualify to come knocking.

When he entered the front hall, he immediately understood why Wu Hai had welcomed the Jianghu Martial Artists inside.

The visitor was none other than Master Luo Jingsong from the Yuheng Star Hall.

“Commoner Luo Jingsong pays respects to the Marquis!” Seeing Yang Zhenshan arrive, Luo Jingsong hastily stood up and bowed.

Yang Zhenshan took the main seat, giving him a surprised look, “Why is Master Luo free to visit my mansion today?”

“I am here to seek refuge with the Marquis!” said Luo Jingsong in a solemn voice.

Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze becoming sharp.

“Seeking refuge?”

“It seems the Star Moon Sect can no longer accommodate you!”

At the Ru River docks, when Luo Jingsong killed Sun Chunsheng, Yang Zhenshan knew then that the Yuheng Star Hall had broken with the Star Moon Sect.

But he had not expected Luo Jingsong to come and seek refuge with him.

Luo Jingsong revealed a bitter smile, “I had no choice, had I followed the main hall’s order, I would have had to move against the Marquis, defying it would make me a traitor to the Star Moon Sect!”

“I know the Marquis is benevolent and I remember the debt I owe from before, so I could only choose to betray the Star Moon Sect!”

Hearing this, Yang Zhenshan could not help but chuckle, “It seems that I should thank you then!”

“I dare not!” Luo Jingsong said somewhat nervously.

He said all this in hopes of earning Yang Zhenshan’s goodwill, as for receiving thanks from Yang Zhenshan, he dared not accept it.

What a joke.

The battle at the Ru River docks had already demonstrated Yang Zhenshan’s strength; even if he and Sun Chunsheng had joined in then, they would merely have added two more souls under Yang Zhenshan’s spear, posing no threat to him.

Yang Zhenshan took a sip of the tea that Wu Hai had passed him and asked, “Is it you alone who wishes to seek refuge with me, or does the entire Yuheng Star Hall wish to as well?”

“As the Hall Master of the Yuheng Star Hall, naturally, all my brothers in the Hall wish to join the Marquis!” said Luo Jingsong.

“Hmm, so are you planning to enlist in the military or remain independent?” Yang Zhenshan continued to inquire.

Accepting Yuheng Star Hall’s allegiance would mean becoming mortal enemies with the Star Moon Sect.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t concerned about the threat of the Star Moon Sect; a mere Jianghu sect at most would engage in secret assassinations, daring not to boldly attack directly.

“I wish to serve under the Marquis, and the three hundred disciples of Yuheng Star Hall also wish to join the Marquis!” said Luo Jingsong.

Yang Zhenshan’s lips curled slightly; Luo Jingsong’s choice was indeed wise.

If Luo Jingsong had wanted to remain independent, Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t have bothered with him.

Because Yang Zhenshan had no reason to support a Jianghu sect, that would bring him no benefits.

But Luo Jingsong’s willingness to bring the three hundred disciples of the Yuheng Star Hall into the military was different; it meant that there would no longer be a Yuheng Star Hall, and these three hundred disciples would just be soldiers, no longer Jianghu Martial Artists.

Three hundred martial artists was not an insignificant force.

“Tell me about the strength of Yuheng Star Hall!” Yang Zhenshan said.

A glint of joy flashed in Luo Jingsong’s eyes, “Reporting to the Marquis, within my hall, we have one martial artist in the Postnatal Eighth Layer, two in the Postnatal Seventh Layer, twelve between the Postnatal Fourth and Sixth Layers, and thirty-six below the Fourth Layer! We have two hundred and thirty-eight in the Body Refining Realm.”

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly; the strength of the Yuheng Star Hall was indeed formidable.

Much stronger than the Sky Blue Sword Sect and not too far off from the Hengdao Sect.

“Who is the martial artist in the Postnatal Eighth Layer?”

“It is our senior, Li Chengguo, who is now close to venerable age,” Luo told him.

Yang Zhenshan felt a bit disappointed; venerable age meant that his strength had declined by at least fifty percent and he could no longer lead charges.

“The two in the Postnatal Seventh Layer are Qian Zhonghe and Ji Zhengfei, both are in their prime!” seeing a look of disappointment on Yang Zhenshan’s face, Luo Jingsong hurriedly added.

To be valued, one must demonstrate one’s strength.

What is meant by being in one’s prime is about forty years of age.

Yang Zhenshan took another sip of tea, thought for a moment, and said, “If you all wish to join the military, it’s possible; I can arrange suitable military ranks for you, but I have one condition.”

“Please speak, Marquis!” Luo Jingsong said solemnly.

“Once you enter the military, no more fellow sect members, only comrades!” Yang Zhenshan stated.

He meant that there would be no more Yuheng Star Hall afterward; these three hundred disciples would no longer be disciples of a sect but soldiers of Chushan Town.

Of course, a small circle centered around Luo Jingsong would still exist; that couldn’t be helped.

And Chushan Town was not without small teams; each assistant general had their own confidants, even Pang Tang had brought two valued subordinates; adding Luo Jingsong made no difference.

“I understand, once we enlist, there will no longer be a Yuheng Star Hall in this world.”

Luo Jingsong had already considered this.

Since he decided to enlist, there was no need to cling to past relationships; after enlisting, everyone would pursue their own future.

He had discussed this with the disciples of Yuheng Star Hall beforehand.

Those who were unwilling to join the military had already left; those remaining wanted a promising future in the military.

In fact, many Jianghu Martial Artists were eager to enlist because after doing so, they could gain official status; only that the sects restricted their disciples from enlisting.

If disciples ran off to the military, who would carry on the sect traditions?

Therefore, the majority of the disciples from Yuheng Star Hall were willing to follow Luo Jingsong and enlist.