Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 119: In Chapter 115, the men by the Sui River often meet bloody blades; the Jianzhang Palace halls turn to ashes.

After arranging everything for the younger members of the clan, Yang Zhenshan took the opportunity to visit the Assistant General Mansion.

Zhao Yuan had already gone to serve as a household head at the garrison office, and now the one responsible for receiving Yang Zhenshan was Yang Mingzhi.

”How about it? Are you getting used to it here?”

Entering the Assistant General Mansion, Yang Zhenshan asked casually.

Used to it?

Actually, that was a redundant question.

Originally, Yang Mingzhi had spent some time in the Assistant General Mansion and had also trained some soldiers of the Jianning Guard.

He didn’t need time to adapt after arriving at the Assistant General Mansion.

”Dad, I am doing well here, just missing the kids a bit!” Yang Mingzhi said in a low voice, following behind Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at him, ”Missing the kids, or missing your wife?”

Would Yang Mingzhi miss the kids?

He might, but he was not the kind to indulge in deep affection for his offspring.

He loved his children too, but compared to Yang Mingcheng, he was lacking by a large margin.

This had to do with personality; Yang Mingcheng was sincere and wholehearted towards everyone, and he was especially loving towards his children, somewhat resembling a doting father.

Whereas Yang Mingzhi was more contemplative and enjoyed being an official, so naturally, he wouldn’t spend too much energy on his children.

”Heh, I miss them all!” Yang Mingzhi said with a wry smile.

Indeed, he did miss them, being alone outside without anyone by his side, he inevitably felt lonely and isolated.

”How is your living situation?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Not bad, General Zhou has arranged a small courtyard for me!” Yang Mingzhi replied.

”If you miss them, you could bring the Li family over to stay!” Yang Zhenshan said casually.

Long-term separation between husband and wife can affect the relationship, whether they could take good care of themselves was something that Yang Zhenshan did not need to worry about.

”Mhm, when I get a chance, I will bring them over to stay for a while!” said Yang Mingzhi.

As they were talking, they arrived at Zhou Lan’s study.

”Greetings, General!”

”There’s some newly arrived tea over there, help yourself!”

Inside the study, Zhou Lan, who was busy writing something, spoke without lifting her head.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t feel like an outsider, he directly took the tea leaves, prepared the tea for himself, and of course, he did not forget to pour a cup for Zhou Lan as well.

After about half a quarter of an hour, Zhou Lan finally stood up and took a seat opposite Yang Zhenshan.

”Is there something you need?”

Yang Zhenshan put down his teacup and said, ”Yes, there’s something.”

”What is it?” Zhou Lan asked, tidying the loose strand of hair on her forehead.

”How’s the situation with the East Sea Hu Clan this year?” Yang Zhenshan inquired.

Winter was almost upon them, so if the East Sea Hu Clan was going to raid the borders, they should be making preparations now.

Zhou Lan pondered for a moment and said, ”They shouldn’t take any action. After the battle at Chongshan Pass, they suffered heavy casualties. For the past few years, they have been incapable of confronting us. However, we still need to maintain our guard. Fushan City won’t act, but we can’t guarantee that some smaller tribes won’t raid the borders!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded; this was pretty much what he had expected.

However, since he didn’t have his own intelligence sources, he needed to verify with Zhou Lan first.

It looked like they could have a peaceful year this time.

”There’s also the matter of the salary,” Yang Zhenshan added.

”Just go to the treasury and collect it yourself!” Zhou Lan said promptly.

Yang Zhenshan smiled; he liked Zhou Lan’s straightforwardness.

Ever since she took office as the Jianning Guard General, the soldiers’ lives had been getting better and better.

Not to mention anything else, just the fact that the salary was distributed on time and in full meant the soldiers were not suffering too much.

But currently, it was only under Zhou Lan’s administration that the salary could be distributed on time and in full.

This was because Zhou Lan managed to get the full amount of salary from the Governor’s Office and also strictly prohibited officials from embezzling the salary.

”Anything else?”

Zhou Lan glanced at the wooden box by Yang Zhenshan’s side and inquired.

She had noticed the wooden box that Yang Zhenshan brought earlier, but since Yang Zhenshan didn’t mention it, she didn’t feel it was right to ask what it was.

Yang Zhenshan noticed her gaze and proceeded to open the wooden box, taking out three booklets.

”This is the military training records I’ve compiled recently!”

Since last year, he had been wanting to compile the military training records, and now, after almost a year, he finally completed them.

To say he authored them was less accurate than to say he organized them.

Writing the ”Military Training Records” was more difficult than he had imagined. Over the year, he spent a great deal of time and effort to finish these records.

The contents of the book were extensive. Part of it was organized based on the situation in Da Rong, covering aspects such as selection of personnel, troop formation, banners and drums, weaponry, military rites and regulations, and training and combat for infantry and cavalry.

Another part was based on modern military practices, involving some modern military training methods, and he also introduced a number of modern military theories.

For example, training methods for special forces, medical corps, and intelligence agents, as well as the necessity of their existence.

Moreover, he specifically emphasized the importance of literacy among soldiers.

The goal of educating soldiers to read and write wasn’t simply literacy or the ability to understand documents and military orders, but rather to improve soldiers’ learning capabilities and self-sufficiency.

Learning advances a person, a phrase that in his previous life sounded a bit like a platitude.

But speaking here, it is indeed an absolute truth.

Of course, the learning he refers to is not studying Confucian classics, but historical records, military tactics, geographical annals, and other types of knowledge.

Even reading a travelogue can expand one’s horizons, and it is very beneficial to ordinary soldiers.

The ”Real Record of Military Training” he compiled is divided into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower, with twelve volumes in the main collection and six volumes in the subsidiary collection.

Zhou Lan opened the book and started reading with a serious expression.

When reviewing the upper and middle volumes, she did not feel surprised.

Because she was almost familiar with the contents, it is just that there had never been a book that organized the information so thoroughly before.

But when she came to the lower volume, her expression turned grave, and her thoughts surged like raging waves.

The first volume of the lower book is about special forces, training Martial Artists to become special forces, performing tasks such as raids, destruction, assassination, kidnapping, reconnaissance behind enemy lines, and intelligence theft.

In fact, there are special forces here too, such as Scouts, assassins, and covert agents; they are all considered special forces.

For example, Da Rong’s Secret Martial Guards often perform tasks similar to those of special forces.

However, the special forces Yang Zhenshan discusses are systematic and organized special forces units.

Following the special forces are military medics; while military medics do exist here, the medical conditions in the army are not commendable.

Yang Zhenshan does not understand Medical Skill, and he is not talking about Medical Skill but rather battlefield first aid and the benefits of treating wounded soldiers.

After the military medics are spies and covert agents, covering some theories and training about espionage.

A multitude of espionage films from his previous life provided Yang Zhenshan with a wealth of theoretical knowledge about espionage.

Perhaps much of it is impractical, but some are very useful.

An hour passed, and Zhou Lan finally skimmed through the ”Real Record of Military Training” broadly. She looked up with shining eyes and gazed at Yang Zhenshan.

”Do you think these special forces can be trained?” Zhou Lan still preferred special forces, particularly the decapitation operations mentioned by Yang Zhenshan in the book, which very much appealed to her taste.

Yang Zhenshan nodded and said, ”Yes, but how effective the special forces can be depends on many factors.”

”Explain in detail!” demanded Zhou Lan.

Yang Zhenshan then shared his thoughts.

”I envision the special forces not as mere soldiers, but as a small team of Martial Artists, or even Postnatal Martial Artists.”

”We don’t need many, the team could be about ten people. Each of them would have their special skills, such as being good at poisoning, disguise, or having strong physical strength, and so on.”

”And the tasks they can perform are many, such as assassination, poisoning, kidnapping, infiltration, stealing important intelligence, etc.”

In this world, creating special forces cannot completely replicate the experiences from his previous life, since Martial Artists exist here.

The presence of Martial Artists makes many experiences from his previous life impractical, which is why Yang Zhenshan had to consider many factors while writing the ”Real Record of Military Training.”

Listening to Yang Zhenshan’s narration, Zhou Lan fell into contemplation.

”It’s quite similar to Secret Martial Guards’ Blood Blade!”

She suddenly spoke out.

”Blood Blade?” Yang Zhenshan looked surprised.

Zhou Lan rubbed the teacup in her hand and said with a focused gaze on Yang Zhenshan, ”The men of Sui Water wield many Blood Blades, leaving the halls of Jianzhang Palace in ashes.”

”What does that mean?” Yang Zhenshan didn’t understand.

”The Jianzhang Palace was a temporary palace of Emperor Ji from the previous dynasty, and our founding Emperor hailed from Sui Water County.”

Zhou Lan’s gaze condensed, and she whispered, ”The so-called Blood Blade was organized by the founding Emperor, but after he established the dynasty, the Blood Blade became the Secret Martial Guards.”

”However, as far as I know, the Blood Blade did not become the Secret Martial Guards, but was hidden within them.”

Yang Zhenshan’s expression changed slightly, somewhat understanding Zhou Lan’s meaning.

Blood Blade must have been a unit similar to special forces, carrying out unmentionable tasks for the Emperor.

After a moment of thought, Zhou Lan glanced again at the book in her hand and said with regret, ”What a pity!”

”What’s a pity?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

Zhou Lan said, ”Remove that volume.”

Yang Zhenshan felt a chill in his heart.

Naturally, Zhou Lan was referring to the volume about special forces.

As for why it had to be removed!

Blood Blade!

This Blood Blade seems to be extremely dangerous, so much so that even Zhou Lan avoids it.

”I understand!”

Without hesitation, Yang Zhenshan took the booklet, tore out the volume about the special forces unit on the spot, and burned it right in front of Zhou Lan.

Watching the burning flames, various emotions flickered through Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

It seems that he took some things for granted.

He thought that by writing these things, he could gain respect and benefits.

But some things are taboo.

Although there is no description of Blood Blade in the book, the existence of special forces has much in common with Blood Blade.

Blood Blade was established by the founding Emperor; although Zhou Lan did not say it explicitly, Yang Zhenshan guessed that Blood Blade must have been a sharp blade in the hands of the founding Emperor that contributed greatly to the establishment of the nation.

The founding Emperor established the nation with the help of Blood Blade, so what does writing such a volume by Yang Zhenshan imply?

Teaching the world to form a new Blood Blade like the founding Emperor did?

As the flames died down, Zhou Lan, looking at the remaining half volume, said, ”Actually, even without that volume, this book is very good.”

”I really like this book!”

”If the General likes it, then that’s good!” Yang Zhenshan stood up and replied.