Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 111: Chapter 1067: Mixed Yuan Body Refinement Technique, Thousand Mechanism Hand_2

As the living conditions of the Yang family improved, everyone’s figures became fuller.

Adults were a bit better since Yang Zhenshan required everyone to practice martial arts. Everyone, except Ms. Wang, could only be considered sturdy, not fat.

It was different for the children; not only did they grow quickly in height, but their body sizes also expanded horizontally.

Especially Yang Chengmao and Yang Qingwan, these two little ones were as plump as the Fuwa dolls in new year paintings.

But no matter how chubby they were, Yang Zhenshan could still lift them.

With one in each hand, Yang Zhenshan picked them up from the ground and held them in his embrace.

”Have you both been obedient today?” Yang Zhenshan asked as he walked towards the main house.

”Grandpa, my brother and I have been very good!” Yang Chengye pouted as he spoke.

Yang Chengye and Yang Chengmao indeed were well-behaved. Despite their natural childish playfulness, they also loved practicing martial arts, almost practicing half an hour every day with Yang Yunxue and the others.

Although it looked quite comical with them waving little wooden spears, they practiced earnestly.

”Hehe, you both are good children!” Yang Zhenshan said with a laugh.

Entering the main house, Yang Zhenshan took off the bundle on his back. The martial arts techniques inside were temporarily placed in the bedroom, to be moved into the Spiritual Spring Space later that night.

Besides the techniques, he also brought back some snacks for the children.

Seeing the snacks, both little ones couldn’t take their eyes off them.

”Grandpa~~” Yang Chengmao looked eagerly at Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan lifted him into a seat, saying, ”Go ahead and eat!”

Watching the little ones eat joyfully, Yang Zhenshan didn’t forget about his oldest granddaughter and his young disciple; he went out and brought Yang Qingwan and Wang Mingzhe over as well, so the four little ones could eat snacks together at the dining table. He also prepared some Spiritual Spring Water for them to drink.

As for the little grandson, who was born three months ago, Yang Zhenshan named him Yang Chengxian. Being too young, he was always kept inside the house, and it wasn’t convenient for Yang Zhenshan to visit him daily in the west wing.

He also took some snacks for his grandson-in-law, letting Jiang He bring them back for little Jiang Ning.

By the way, Yang Yunyan was pregnant again!

While Yang Zhenshan was battling at Linguan Castle, Yang Yunyan was found to be two months pregnant.

Which means this year, Yang Zhenshan would have another grandson or granddaughter.

Fortunately, Yang Zhenshan had now grown accustomed to it; it wouldn’t be unusual for him even if there were ten or eight more.

The dinner was prepared by Li, Wu Hai’s wife, whose culinary skills were much better than Ms. Wang’s.

The meal included boiled fish, braised fish, soy sauce pork trotters, braised pork, scrambled eggs with black fungus, and a carp tofu soup.

There was so much fish because the soldiers in the garrison caught a lot yesterday in the Ying River, and Yang Zhenshan had decided to distribute them among everyone; their family received quite a bit as well.

The pork came from pigs raised within the garrison, slaughtered every ten days and sold at a reasonable price, and the same was done for chickens, eggs, and sheep.

Nowadays, though the military households in Yinghe Castle couldn’t have meat in every meal, having meat every few days was still no problem.

After dinner, everyone dispersed, but Yang Mingzhi stayed behind.

”Something on your mind?”

Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Dad, Brother Ming Wu said that the preparations for expanding Yinghe Castle are almost complete; can we start the construction now?” Yang Mingzhi spoke.

Originally, this matter should have been discussed within the government office, but this afternoon Yang Zhenshan went to the Guan City and only returned at dusk, hence Yang Mingwu could only ask Yang Mingzhi for help.

”Then let’s choose an auspicious day to start the construction!” Yang Zhenshan said casually.

The expansion of the garrison had been on Yang Zhenshan’s mind since before the New Year. Previously, Yinghe Castle had only about a hundred military households and was quite spacious. But now, there are over three hundred military households, along with a large number of stables, pigsties, chicken coops, and similar structures, making it very crowded.

Even outside the garrison, a camp was specifically built as a site for the cavalry.

Yang Zhenshan thought of expanding Yinghe Castle to at least accommodate five hundred households so that the cavalry outside could also reside within the fort. Even if their families are not brought over, their living conditions would be more comfortable.

”This...we might not have sufficient funds and provisions!” Yang Mingzhi said.

”Not enough!” Yang Zhenshan was slightly surprised, ”How can it be insufficient?”

The reward silver brought by Zhou Lan earlier, a thousand taels, was still retained by Yang Zhenshan, and a lot of the grain purchased last year is also remaining.

Additionally, selling charcoal this winter has also made a good amount of money.

In theory, Yinghe Castle should currently have sufficient funds and provisions.

”Dad, Ming Wu and I have calculated it. If the labor for the expansion of the garrison is all outsourced, it would cost about 1500 taels of silver, and feeding them would also consume a lot of grain.”

”Right now we have enough grain, but later we won’t have any grain to distribute as military pay!”

Yang Mingzhi explained.

Yang Zhenshan had never actually calculated how much money and provisions expanding the garrison would cost.

However, since Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingwu had already calculated it, there was no need for him to do it again.

Yang Mingzhi and Yang Mingwu’s arithmetic was taught by him, so he was very familiar with their capabilities.

”Then let’s sell some horses! And get rid of all those miscellaneous things as well!” Yang Zhenshan thought of the war spoils filling the storerooms.

From the battles at Yinghe and Linguan Castles, they had obtained many spoils of war.

There were over two hundred war horses alone, in addition to various kinds of weapons, armor, and some small items. Many items were useless just sitting there, better to dispose of them.

”Dad, sell the war horses as well?” Yang Mingzhi was reluctant about those war horses.

”Let’s sell them. General Zhou has promised to give us another three hundred war horses,” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile.

Before last year’s military training, Zhou Lan had mentioned that as long as he could train three hundred elite cavalry, he would give him another three hundred horses.

Now, although his cavalry suffered heavy losses, their performance on the battlefield was enough to be regarded as elite.

”That’s great!”

Upon hearing that Zhou Lan would give them another three hundred horses, Yang Mingzhi immediately cheered up.

”When the time comes, let your elder brother also pick some to keep in the stables, consider them temporarily borrowed from the government,” Yang Zhenshan said.

This was tantamount to using public resources for personal benefit, but he did not feel there was anything wrong with it.

In two battles, he had contributed significantly; taking more war spoils was justified.

Besides, he wasn’t thinking of simply taking for himself but just borrowing for a while. Once the horses are raised for a few months, they can be sold from the stable.

He only wanted to earn a price difference in the middle, and would later use silver to cover this hole.

If he had silver in his hands right now, he could completely turn all war horses into his own.

”Alright! I’ll go tell elder brother right now, and have him choose horses tomorrow,” Yang Mingzhi said.