Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 122: Chapter 119 Arrangements

”Sir!”

Just as Yang Zhenshan was preparing to head to the back courtyard for a meal, Yang Chengze followed behind him with a pitiable look.

”What’s wrong?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Sir, what should I do?” Yang Chengze’s thoughts were in such disarray that he simply could not calm down.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him and said with a chuckle, ”You’ve done very well in the past, and I believe you will continue to do well.”

Speaking of which, Yang Chengze is only seventeen this year!

A seventeen-year-old Deputy Thousand Households is considered quite accomplished and promising.

Among these descendants of the Yang Family, Yang Zhenshan had the most faith in Yang Chengze and Yang Mingwu.

Yang Mingwu is steadfast and reserved. Though sometimes he seems simple-minded, he is actually quite shrewd.

Yang Chengze has always been the chosen successor to the Clan Leader, groomed by Yang Zhengxiang, with a broader perspective than even Yang Mingwu.

Now, Yang Chengze’s greatest flaw is his youth. His youth is both his strength and his weakness.

”Too green to undertake great tasks” is an apt description.

In the past, with Yang Zhenshan at the forefront, no one would pay much attention to Yang Chengze.

Once Yang Zhenshan steps down, Yang Chengze will be thrust into the limelight.

Then, he may have to face the contempt of many.

”But I’m afraid I won’t do well!”

With Yang Zhenshan’s departure, Yang Chengze felt as if he had lost his mainstay.

”Come, let’s talk in the study!”

Yang Zhenshan was rather helpless as he once again assumed the role of the patiently guiding elder.

The two entered the study, lit the candles, and then Yang Zhenshan began to offer Yang Chengze some encouragement.

”Your Uncle Ming Wu has also become a defense officer. I believe he can do it well, and I also believe you can too!”

”I’ve once said that a soldier who doesn’t aspire to be a general is not a good soldier. Today, I want to pass this saying on to you.”

”If you want to become a General, you must be capable of standing on your own, have your own opinions, and be prepared to face all difficulties!”

”We come from humble beginnings, not from a family with a long-standing reputation, but now we too have official titles—”

”Your grandfather is the Clan Leader, your dad will be the next Clan Leader, and one day, you too will become the Clan Leader of our Yang Family—”

”Actually, you don’t need to worry too much. Even though I am leaving, General Zhou is still here. If you encounter trouble, you can seek help from General Zhou, and your Uncle Ming Zhi is also at Jianning Guard—”

Yang Zhenshan spoke at length, from the matters of Yinghe Castle to the Yang Family, from the present to the future, until he was parched and drank a belly full of tea.

Being such a guiding elder is no easy task!

However, fortunately, Yang Chengze calmed down, and not only that, he was filled with determination.

”Grandpa Zhengshan, rest assured, I will definitely do well!”

At this moment, he no longer called Yang Zhenshan ”Sir,” but ”Grandpa” instead.

Yang Zhenshan patted his shoulder, ”Grandpa believes in you!”

After finally soothing Yang Chengze, Yang Zhenshan returned to the family quarters and, before he could catch a breath, he faced a group of exuberant children and grandchildren.

However, dealing with the family here was much simpler. Yang Zhenshan’s face turned serious, and he reprimanded Yang Mingcheng, ”You’re not young anymore; can’t you be more steady in your actions?”

With just a reprimand, everyone fell silent, not daring to make any more noise, obediently sitting down to eat.

Yang Mingcheng was so cowed that he nearly shrank back into his chair; after the meal, he didn’t dare to raise his head.

As Yang Zhenshan’s official position grew, his authority at home rose accordingly. Moreover, with filial piety being of utmost importance, no one would dare to contradict him without appearing unfilial.

After a quiet meal, Yang Zhenshan returned to his bedroom, and everyone else finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But they didn’t say much and returned to their respective rooms.

”Dad is getting more and more intimidating!”

Yang Minghao had just entered his room when he couldn’t help but pat his chest somewhat fearfully.

Liang Family laughed softly and said, ”This is probably what it means to remain composed and unaffected through honor or disgrace.”

”You should learn properly from father!”

Now, Liang Family is an absolute loyal fan of Yang Zhenshan, believing that whatever he does is right.

”I can’t learn it, can’t learn it!” Yang Minghao shook his head like a bobblehead.

Liang Family suddenly asked, ”Dad is going to An Yuan State City, so what should we do? Stay in Yinghe Castle or go to the state city?”

She still wanted to follow Yang Zhenshan to the state city, but now Yang Minghao had an official title as Trial Hundred Households.

Yang Minghao tilted his head and thought, ”I’ll ask dad tomorrow.”

”If you go to An Yuan State City, won’t you be able to continue as a Hundred Households?” Liang Family asked worriedly.

She cared greatly about Yang Minghao’s title.

”A wife’s status follows her husband’s.”

With Yang Minghao holding an official title, she was the wife of an officer. Without it, she would just be the third wife in the Yang Family.

Perhaps because she came from a merchant family, she harbored an obsession with seeing her husband achieve greatness.

Yang Minghao, however, was indifferent, ”How could that be? In An Yuan State City, where my dad is the garrison commander, couldn’t he arrange another Hundred Households position for me?”

By now, Yang Minghao had adopted a bit of the official’s son’s demeanor, sensing the benefits of leveraging his father’s influence.

Liang Family thought about it and felt it made sense.

If in Yinghe Castle Yang Zhenshan could arrange a Hundred Households position for him, then even more so in An Yuan State City.

Not only did they think so, but Yang Zhenshan had the same plan.

He had already decided to take Yang Minghao with him to An Yuan State City.

Yang Minghao was different from Yang Chengze and the others. They all had established their foundations and proven their abilities in Yinghe Castle.

But Yang Minghao had just become a Trial Hundred Households for less than a month. Initially, Yang Zhenshan wanted to temper him, but unexpectedly, he became the defense officer of An Yuan State City, so Yang Zhenshan decided to wait until they reached An Yuan State City to continue training him.

Two days later, Yang Mingcheng, along with Ding Qiu, Yang Chengzhen, and others, set off for An Yuan State City in advance.

Meanwhile, Yang Zhenshan was arranging the matters for his departure.

First, he needed to hand over all matters concerning Yinghe Castle to Yang Chengze’s hands, then he needed to reassure every Yang Family member who followed him.

And finally, he had to consider taking those people to An Yuan State City.

It goes without saying that the Yang Family members would all be taken along, and Jiang He’s family would certainly be included as well.

Then there were Lu Wenchun and Lu Wenhua. Lu Wenhua he was definitely going to take, but for Lu Wenchun, he had some hesitation.

He had just secured a position as a defense officer for Lu Wenchun, and now he wasn’t sure if Lu Wenchun was willing to leave.

”Sir!”

Lu Wenchun entered the study and saluted Yang Zhenshan.

”I am going to An Yuan State City, what are your thoughts?” Yang Zhenshan asked directly without beating around the bush.

Lu Wenchun hardly hesitated and said: ”I will go with my uncle!”

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment and then said: ”I suggest you stay!”

This was a decision he had made after much consideration.

Lu Wenchun was different from other Yang Family’s younger members.

He was already thirty years old and had never practiced Martial Arts before, even if Yang Zhenshan used Spiritual Spring Water to enhance his potential, his future achievements in Martial Arts wouldn’t be too high.

Starting too late, no matter how hard one tries, it’s impossible to catch up with a ten-year gap.

And the military is a place where strength speaks volumes.

Without any cultivation, Lu Wenchun could only serve as a defense officer, but not as a head of thousand households.

Even serving as a defense officer was somewhat forced; after all, that position is a Military Officer role.

If he was taken to An Yuan State City, Yang Zhenshan could only let him serve as a defense officer, or a civil servant without a rank.

So, there was no significance in whether he went to An Yuan State City or not.

”This~~” Lu Wenchun, hearing Yang Zhenshan suggesting him to stay, couldn’t help but hesitate.

Yang Zhenshan continued: ”You are not a Martial Artist, your prospects in the military are limited, at most you can only be a defense officer!”

He bluntly stated the deficiency of Lu Wenchun.

Lu Wenchun was no longer a youth; there was no need to worry about whether it would be a blow to him.

”I am aware, being able to serve as a defense officer is already very special care from my uncle!” Lu Wenchun said somewhat despondently.

He was not unaware of his own shortcomings; in fact, he was already very satisfied to be able to serve as a defense officer.

The position of defense officer at the thousand households was a Secondary Sixth Rank, a proper official status, something he wouldn’t have dared dream of before.

If it weren’t for Yang Zhenshan’s care, he would have at most hoped to join the county government as a clerk.

”You stay and help Chengze. In the future, if there is any reassignment for Chengze, follow him!”

Yang Zhenshan expressed his thoughts.

Yang Chengze was still too young and Yang Zhenshan was not quite at ease with that.

As for the rest of the Yang Family’s young members, their ages were not much different, all around twenty or so.

In comparison, Lu Wenchun was already thirty, older, steady in character, reliable in tasks, and could help Yang Chengze with many things.

”I understand!” Lu Wenchun nodded and said: ”I will do my best to help Chengze in the future!”

”Good, with your help, I’ll feel more at ease!”

Yang Zhenshan patted his shoulder and smiled, ”Wenyuan has already passed the imperial examination; is he going to the Capital City next year?”

To the Lu Family, Lu Wenquan was the hope of the Lu Family members, comparatively, the future of Lu Wenchun, the eldest son, was not as important.

Originally, when Lu Songhe sent Lu Wenchun to Yinghe Castle, it wasn’t to seek a future for Lu Wenchun, but simply because he felt that letting Lu Wenchun and Lu Wenhua follow Yang Zhenshan would be for the better.

”No, the fourth brother is still young, grandfather and dad think he should wait another three years!” Lu Wenchun said.

Yang Zhenshan calculated, Lu Wenquan was only eighteen this year, indeed too young, waiting another three years wouldn’t be too late.

...

Right after Lu Wenchun left, Song Dashan came over.

”Your subordinate greets you, sir!”

”Yes, what is it?” Yang Zhenshan casually inquired.

”I wish to follow the sir to An Yuan State City!” Song Dashan stood in front of Yang Zhenshan, his honest face showing a bit of longing.

Yang Zhenshan was slightly taken aback, ”Why?”

Song Dashan looked a bit sheepish, somewhat embarrassed, and after quite a struggle, he said: ”I feel following sir holds a better future!”

After saying this, this honest man’s face actually turned red.

Future!

Yang Zhanshan nodded slightly, ”Was this your own idea?”

”No, it was my wife’s idea!” Song Dashan said in his good-natured way.

If Yang Mingcheng is naive and foolish, then Song Dashan is naïve and straightforward.

With this guy’s brain, he absolutely would not come up with such an idea by himself, let alone take the initiative to ask Yang Zhenshan.

Song Dashan’s wife!

Yang Zhenshan thought about it, remembered she was a very ordinary woman he had only seen but never really interacted with.

As for why she would have such an idea, it’s actually quite normal.

Given Song Dashan’s personality, if he stayed at Yinghe Castle, he could only ever be a Hundred Households in his life.

He’s not a Yang Family member, and people like Yang Chengze wouldn’t give him extra care, and Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t think of him either.

Previously, he often followed Yang Zhenshan, considered one of his confidants, but if Yang Zhenshan left, he’d just be a normal Hundred Households.

Compared to that, he’d be better off following Yang Zhenshan out of Yinghe Castle.

”Alright then, prepare yourself. You’ll come with me to An Yuan State City in a few days.” Yang Zhenshan agreed.

Honest people are very useful.

Sincere, obedient, without many devious thoughts, and comforting to have around.

Plus, Song Dashan had a good talent for Martial Arts, and there was still much potential for his future.

Therefore, Yang Zhenshan was more than willing to bring him along.