Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 99: Chapter 96: The Beacon Fires Rekindle

Time slowly passed, and Zhou Lan’s military training was drawing to a close, with Yang Mingzhi and others returning to Yinghe Castle.

However, Yang Zhenshan knew that Zhou Lan’s training was only an interim conclusion and that she would definitely continue training in the future.

After all, she commands an army of eight thousand troops. To train such a large number of soldiers into elite forces demands substantial time and resources, which could not be completed anytime soon.

But later, when Zhou Lan continues training, Yang Mingzhi and the others might not need to assist anymore; they had already helped Zhou Lan train hundreds of elite soldiers during this period.

With these elite troops, there was no longer much point for Yang Mingzhi in going to Jianning Guard.

With the return of Yang Mingzhi and others, the organizational structure planned by Yang Zhenshan was now complete.

A Deputy Thousand Households, a governor, and ten officers of Hundred Households had all been adequately appointed.

A total of one thousand one hundred twenty soldiers and officials were fully enlisted.

The defense government administration, grounded by Old Li, Lu Wenchun, and Lu Wenhua, had also taken shape.

To this day, Yang Zhenshan could truly be considered an actual defense officer, even though not particularly powerful yet but sufficiently capable to confront enemies.

Yang Zhenshan was very satisfied with this achievement, yet his heart was still filled with concerns.

It was now February.

Would the Northern barbarian cavalry come again this year?

Based on last year’s situation beyond the border, there was a high likelihood they would invade and plunder.

Otherwise, they would face a challenging year.

Today, the outside of Yinghe Castle remained bustling as usual. Soldiers from other garrisons, Fire Road Piles, and signal towers had returned to their posts after basic training and were conducting field exercises.

However, three hundred cavalry remained outside Yinghe Castle continuing their training.

Other soldiers were responsible for guarding the garrison and Fire Road Piles, but these three hundred cavalry did not need to, so Yang Zhenshan kept them outside Yinghe Castle and planned to have them reside within.

However, this meant that Yinghe Castle needed to be expanded. Though it currently had ample space for two hundred military households, adding three hundred more cavalry households would certainly exceed its capacity.

The expansion of Yinghe Castle could not be completed quickly, especially now during winter with freezing conditions making building impossible. Therefore, he had to let these cavalry stay in tents outside the garrison.

The thick tents were warmed by charcoal stoves. Despite consuming more charcoal, it wasn’t too cold.

This morning, as Yang Zhenshan was inspecting the training of the cavalry outside the garrison, suddenly a series of urgent gong and drum sounds emanated from within.

The clangorous sounds instantly escalated the tension in the otherwise peaceful garrison.

The training cavalrymen halted their horses and looked towards the garrison in confusion.

Upon looking, everyone’s expressions changed.

They saw two streaks of signal smoke shooting straight into the sky from a western mountain!

The signal tower on the mountain was under the jurisdiction of Linguan Castle, manned by soldiers from a small flag unit, located less than five miles from Yinghe Castle.

”Sir, two signal fires, indicating over five hundred Northern barbarian cavalry!” shouted Yang Mingwu, who was training the cavalry, as he rode over.

”Abandon the tents, everyone inside the castle!”

Yang Zhenshan squinted his eyes and ordered.

Sure enough, the Northern barbarian had come, and this time was different from before—in the past, a large army would press on to Chongshan Pass, but this time they appeared directly near the border.

If there were a large force of Northern barbarian cavalry at Chongshan Pass, as a defense officer, he would have received notification.

Following Yang Zhenshan’s command, three hundred cavalry swiftly followed him into the garrison.

At this moment, two more signal fires rose from a tower behind the garrison.

Yang Zhenshan, together with several officials, quickly made their way to the tower.

”Where’s the enemy?” Yang Zhenshan asked the small flag officer responsible for guarding.

”Sir, over there!”

The small flag pointed towards the northwest, and Yang Zhenshan looked to see several hundred Northern barbarians charging towards them.

The Northern barbarian’s invasion caused panic, and at this moment, Yang Zhenshan was the pillar of Yinghe Castle—not just Yinghe Castle, but other garrisons too!

Yang Zhenshan’s main concern was not the Northern barbarian’s invasion, as he had anticipated that.

He worried whether his sons Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu, and Yang Chengche could withstand the pressure.

They were young garrison commanders, all not yet twenty years of age.

In such circumstances, it was most crucial to stabilize the people’s morale within the garrison and defend it.

”Sir, they intend to cross our border from here!” Yang Mingwu observed the ever-closer Northern barbarian cavalry with a grim expression.

Although Yinghe Castle was within the Qian Mountain, its surrounding terrain was relatively flat with tall mountains to the west and rolling hills to the east.

However, to enter from around Yinghe Castle, the enemies first had to cross the Ying River.

The river surface was now frozen solid, making it fully possible to ride across.

Yang Zhenshan looked over the approaching Northern barbarian cavalry, his eyes flickering with determination.

”How many Northern barbarian are there?”

”About six hundred! Looks like two Niu Lu!” Yang Mingwu responded.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, it was about what he anticipated.

”Six hundred Northern barbarian! We have two hundred infantry and three hundred cavalry inside the fortress!”

”We have a fighting chance,” he murmured.

”Sir, are you thinking of leaving the fortress for a field battle?” Yang Mingwu asked, somewhat anxious.

Their cavalry, despite lengthy training, was far from elite, unlike the highly-trained Northern barbarian cavalry.

”They need to cross the river!” said Yang Zhenshan.

”And I’m worried about Chengze and the others! We can’t leave the fortress and be in the dark about the outside situation unless we repel this Northern barbarian force.”

Sighing, under normal circumstances, they would be no match for six hundred Northern barbarian with their current force. But now, catching them mid-crossing would prevent them from crossing the river.

Letting them invade would mean they’d be trapped in the garrison.

After speaking, Yang Zhenshan swiftly commanded to gather(OpCodes

Yang Zhenshan said to him, ”Keep an eye on the home and be ready for battle at any moment!”

He did not say much, only leaving behind these words before leading the troops out of the garrison under the worried gaze of Yang Mingcheng and others.

At this time in the garrison, many military households silently watched them leave, including the Liu family members.

Liu Yuanfu, with droopy eyelids, held a tobacco pipe, puffing intermittently.

”Dad! Let’s go back!”

Liu Zhe said softly.

Their Liu family were scholars, and such matters of fighting with the enemy were something they could not assist with at all.

”Go ask if there are spare weapons, prepare a few knives and spears for the home!” Liu Yuanfu said.

Liu Zhe was startled, then understood his meaning, and turned to walk towards the government office.

Moments later, he returned with six or seven somewhat worn long knives.

Liu Yuanfu took a knife and weighed it, ”Haven’t used a knife in over a decade, my hand has lost its strength!”

He was a civil servant, but he had once been a governor and had managed military affairs in border towns.

Although he had never truly been on a battlefield, he was no stranger to warfare.

”Each of you brothers take one; if you cannot kill the enemy, you can still kill yourself!”

”Hmph, the Liu family has only warriors who die in battle, no cowards who surrender!”

Liu Yuanfu’s gaze sternly swept over his few sons.

”Dad, we understand!”

Liu Zhe knew his meaning, preferring death to disgrace.

...

Yang Zhenshan led his troops out of the garrison, and upon reaching the riverside, the opposing Northern barbarian cavalry had also arrived, the two armies facing each other across the river.

Tens of meters of river channel, the river surface completely frozen, though some spots might not be very stable.

If one wished to cross the river on the ice, they certainly could not ride recklessly, dismounting was necessary!

The two armies faced each other across the river, Yang Zhenshan’s gaze fixed on a man in Iron Armor on the opposite side.

That must be the chief of the Northern barbarian cavalry, seeming to be under forty and carrying the barbaric aura of the East Sea Hu Clan.

It was uncertain whether this man was a Niu Lu or a Jiala Ezheng.

The East Sea Hu Clan had about three hundred soldiers for a Niu Lu, and five Niu Lu made one Jiala, while presently there were only two Niu Lu’s forces.

Yang Zhenshan could see the enemy, and naturally, the enemy could also see Yang Zhenshan.

Next, the man suspected of being Jiala Ezheng even raised his bow and arrow pointing towards Yang Zhenshan.

”Sir!” Yang Mingwu and Song Dashan hurriedly stepped forward, shielding Yang Zhenshan.

”Move aside!” Yang Zhenshan said calmly.

Arrows!

He was a Postnatal Martial Artist; what harm could a three-stone bow pose?

The quality of the bow would limit the power of the arrow.

This was also why Yang Zhenshan had never practiced archery; because in the battles of martial artists, especially Postnatal Realm martial artists, the power of bows and arrows was greatly reduced.

The enemy was not ignorant of this fact, yet they still aimed an arrow at him, not to kill him but to humiliate him.

With a swoosh, the arrow shot towards him.

Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes, tightly focusing on the arrow.

The next moment, he slightly sidestepped and reached out to grab it.

Even a three-stone bow was no match, at most a twenty-bow.

Such a bow could not penetrate his Jinlai Mountain patterned armor.

It is a courtesy to return a gesture!

Yang Zhenshan slowly drew a Short Spear, his lips curling slightly.

What arrow could match the power of his Short Spear?

Iron Armor may stop arrows, but could it stop his Short Spear?

Sitting on horseback, Yang Zhenshan simply raised his hand, his gaze locked on the Jiala Ezheng opposite.

Seeing him like this, the opposite side began to panic.

Someone was persuading the Jiala Ezheng to retreat.

”All of you, shut up, it’s just a fragile glory dog, am I supposed to be afraid of him!”

An annoyed scolding came across the river, audible to Yang Zhenshan.

With a swoosh, a piercing sound tore through the air.

The snow-white spear gleam under the sunlight, shot out like a bolt of lightning, followed by a dull thunderous sound.

Propelled by Kui Niu Skill, the Short Spear!

This was a special skill Yang Zhenshan had practiced for a long time.

The speed of the Short Spear naturally couldn’t be compared to an arrow, and Yang Zhenshan’s strength was not comparable to a longbow.

Now, Yang Zhenshan’s strength had reached a terrifying level.

Lifting a thousand pounds easily, though not ten thousand was easy.

All that Spiritual Spring Water wasn’t drunk for nothing!

In the blink of an eye, the Short Spear had already flown in front of the Jiala Ezheng, and the Jiala Ezheng’s strength seemed not weak, as he managed to leap from the horseback amidst the sparks.

Yang Zhenshan watched as he leaped into the air, a sly look flashing in his eyes.

Who said I was shooting at you!

I’m aiming for your horse!

The next moment, the Short Spear stabbed into the back of the Jiala Ezheng’s warhorse, the spear piercing through its abdomen.

Following a loud bang, the powerful force even smashed the warhorse onto the ground.

Without knowing the opponent’s cultivation, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t be sure of hitting the opponent.

Since it couldn’t be guaranteed, there was no point in making useless efforts.

Shoot the horse first, then the rider.

As long as the horse was shot dead, he would be considered to have gained an advantage, and his soldiers would have increased morale.