Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 167: Madam Chapter 163, we are the real family

”Sir, Liang Rong has been captured and brought back!” At this moment, Wang Sheng ran in to report.

”Did you encounter any danger?” Yang Zhenshan scrutinized him thoroughly.

Wang Sheng chuckled, ”The Liang family did have a number of martial artists, but with a few capable personal followers by my side, we didn’t run into any trouble.”

Yang Zhenshan gave a slight nod, that’s the reason he had sent Wang Sheng to the Liang family, rather than Song Dashan.

The Liang family were wealthy merchants, and with Liang Rong engaging in such dangerous activities, it was certain he was accompanied by many martial artists. If Song Dashan had gone, he might not have been able to capture Liang Rong.

But Wang Sheng was different. As the eldest son of Wang Bin, the personal followers around Wang Sheng were all masters.

Some were even stronger than those around Yang Zhenshan himself.

No one could do anything about it, given that the man’s father was an Assistant General.

And the foundation of the Wang family was also profound.

”Put them all under custody!” Yang Zhenshan ordered.

He didn’t want to see Liang Rong; it would be pointless.

The relationship between the Yang family and the Liang family was merely through marriage, and it was with a side branch of the family at that—Third Master Liang’s.

Now that Yang Zhenshan had obtained a pardon for Third Master Liang, the life or death of the Liang family no longer affected the Yang family.

”Sir, we’re running out of prison cells!” Wang Sheng said.

Yang Zhenshan was stunned, ”How can that be? The Prefectural Government should have hundreds of cells!”

”But some people were already imprisoned in those cells, and we’ve already captured over a thousand men!” Wang Sheng said helplessly.

Yang Zhenshan scratched his head, ”How come there are so many?”

”The Liang family has many servants, and also many shopkeepers and clerks. We’ve just captured shopkeepers and clerks, we haven’t captured their families!”

”There are also quite a few civil servants and constables from the Military Equipment Department, not to mention the family and servants of Hao Zhaoxian, they’re also numerous!” Wang Sheng explained.

Like the Yang family, besides the dozen or so masters, there were sixty or seventy servants.

If you add the civil servants and constables from the garrison office, there would be two or three hundred people.

And the servants of the Lin and Liang families were far more numerous than those of the Yang family.

The civil servants and constables of the Prefectural Government office were in no way inferior to those of the garrison office.

Could these servants, civil servants, and constables be left unarrested?

Of course not!

No one knew if these people had any of their cronies amongst them or if other important figures were hiding.

Before the inspection, none of these people could be released.

The key point was that Yang Zhenshan was not responsible for the inspection; he had to wait for the Secret Martial Guards to come and conduct the investigation.

”Check if there are any vacant rooms, those shopkeepers and clerks can temporarily be detained in the storerooms.”

”These few days you will have to work hard, being responsible for guarding these people.”

”Alright, I will have Song Dashan assist you!” Yang Zhenshan arranged.

Han Cheng would be responsible for patrolling the city gates and within the city, Xie Yuan would be in charge of the city wall defenses, leaving only Wang Sheng and Song Dashan to take charge here.

”Yes!”

Yang Zhenshan waited in the Prefectural Government for a while, and only when Mr. Song had brought all the people back, did he return home.

By this time, the sky had already completely darkened.

”Dad!”

As Yang Zhenshan crossed the moon gate in the backyard, Yang Mingcheng greeted him.

He had just returned from outside the city not long ago; if he were not Yang Zhenshan’s eldest son, he wouldn’t have been able to enter the city.

”Alright, have you seen Yunxue?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”I’ve seen her, the little sister is doing well,” Yang Mingcheng followed at his side and said.

”Mmh, these next few days you should stay in and not go out until this matter is resolved!” Originally, Yang Zhenshan planned to head straight back to the main courtyard, but after a moment’s thought, he changed direction and went to Yang Yunxue and Wang Yunqiao’s courtyard instead.

There were many people in their courtyard at that moment; both Ms. Wang and the Liang family were there.

”Dad!”

Seeing Yang Zhenshan had arrived, Yang Yunxue smiled brightly.

The young girl had changed into a new outfit and had been freshly made up, looking in good spirits.

”Hmm, let me check if you’re feeling unwell anywhere!” Yang Zhenshan examined the young girl again.

The young girl was probably the one with the best looks in the Yang family, but hers was not the kind of face that stunned onlookers but one with well-proportioned features and an endearing look.

Her face still held a hint of baby fat, making her look particularly adorable.

”Dad, I’m fine, you don’t need to worry!” Yang Yunxue said with a smile, her eyes curving happily.

Even though she had just experienced a scare, there wasn’t much fear in Yang Yunxue’s heart.

She was not the kind of frail little girl; she was inherently strong.

”Mmh!”

Yang Zhenshan patted her little head and turned to look at Ms. Wang and the Liang family, ”You all have a chat, and later come to the main courtyard for dinner!”

After the New Year, Yang Zhenshan had let the different courtyards cook for themselves.

It couldn’t be helped; with more people in the house, it was getting too crowded to eat together.

Moreover, in this cold weather, the children were young and it wasn’t suitable for them to run to the main courtyard for meals morning and night.

Most importantly, Yang Zhenshan also wanted to have some alone time with Yu Qingyi. With his busy schedule, aside from the night, it was only at meal times that he could sit with Yu Qingyi.

So after the new year, he had each room dine separately, with meals provided by the main kitchen, and delivered to each courtyard during meal times.

”Dad, I understand, I will go arrange it right away!” Ms. Wang responded.

Yang Zhenshan nodded and returned to the main courtyard.

Upon his return, Yu Qingyi came to greet him, personally helped him out of his sturdy martial attire, and found him a loose-fitting changpao to change into.

”Is Yunxue all right?” Yu Qingyi asked while assisting Yang Zhenshan with changing clothes.

Ever since Yang Zhenshan had expressed his feelings, their relationship had grown closer, although they still maintained propriety, but Yu Qingyi had grown accustomed to taking the initiative to serve Yang Zhenshan.

”No issues, I just checked on her, the little girl was not frightened!” Yang Zhenshan said casually.

”That’s good!” Yu Qingyi said.

”Why didn’t you go visit her yourself?” Yang Zhenshan asked after changing clothes.

Yu Qingyi raised her head in astonishment, ”Didn’t you forbid me from leaving the yard?”

”...”

Yang Zhenshan was at a loss for words.

He had indeed forgotten about that.

But this woman was truly too obedient.

”Now you may leave the yard, and, well, you should be able to return home in a few days!”

”Really!” Yu Qingyi was both surprised and delighted.

”Of course, it’s true. Would I lie to you?” Seeing her excited look, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek.

”Don’t do that!”

Touched by his gesture, Yu Qingyi couldn’t help but blush and lower her head.

”Ha ha ha~~” Yang Zhenshan seemed to enjoy seeing her blush, ”I’ll accompany you when you go back.”

”Ah! What are you going to do?” Yu Qingyi was somewhat nervous.

”Afraid you won’t come back!” Yang Zhenshan teased.

However, Yu Qingyi didn’t seem to be in the mood for jokes with Yang Zhenshan, and said: ”Are you really going?”

”Mhm!” Yang Zhenshan nodded earnestly.

He took Yu Qingyi’s hand and sat on the arhat bed, saying, ”I have two matters at the Sky Blue Sword Sect, one is to propose marriage, and the other is to recruit some martial artists.”

Yu Qingyi’s eyes shone as she looked at him.

A proposal!

Her heart was filled with joy.

But hearing about Yang Zhenshan’s intention to recruit martial artists, her clarity of mind returned.

”Why recruit martial artists?”

Yang Zhenshan explained, ”The family needs some guards, and those young men still need some time to grow.”

”Once we’re married, we’re family. If I were to borrow a few martial artists from you, you wouldn’t refuse, right?”

The matter with Yang Yunxue made Yang Zhenshan realize the lack of guards in the Yang family, but when it came to recruiting martial artists, it couldn’t be done randomly on the outside.

Whether they could be trusted was an issue.

In comparison, recruiting martial artists from the Sky Blue Sword Sect was much easier and more trustworthy.

Of course, all of this was predicated on his ability to marry Yu Qingyi.

Yu Qingyi became pensive. The Sky Blue Sword Sect indeed had many martial artists. The four elders were all Postnatal Fifth Layer or above, and there were seven or eight martial artists around the Postnatal Third Layer among her peers. There were also twenty or thirty younger disciples, most of whom were also martial artists.

Besides, the Sky Blue Sword Sect had many servants, numbering over two hundred. They were all private slaves of the Sky Blue Sword Sect, generationally loyal to the sect, and among them, many were martial artists.

Just like the two maids who followed her before, they were both Postnatal Second or Third Layer martial artists.

Although they were a bit older, they still had strength.

However, the Sky Blue Sword Sect wasn’t hers alone to decide, and although she was the Sect Leader, the four elders were her martial uncles, and she needed their consent to marry Yang Zhenshan, not to mention lending him people.

”It might be difficult to borrow people, unless you can convince my four martial uncles!” Yu Qingyi said.

”How can I convince your four martial uncles?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

Yu Qingyi blinked at him without speaking.

Yang Zhenshan also looked at her, ”Wife, we’re family, you can’t be helping outsiders instead!”

Yu Qingyi’s face turned very red, ”What nonsensical things are you saying!”

”Cough cough, I speak the truth!” Yang Zhenshan coughed lightly, ”Hurry and give me some information so I know how to convince your martial uncles.”

My beloved is already the sect leader of your family, I don’t believe these nothings won’t obediently work for me.

Although Yu Qingyi was somewhat annoyed, she still said, ”It’s not difficult to convince my four martial uncles, as long as you can bring benefits to my Sky Blue Sword Sect!”

”What benefits?” Yang Zhenshan became serious.

”For instance, recommending our disciples for official positions!” Yu Qingyi said.

It’s quite easy for martial artists to become military officers. Ordinary martial artists enlisting in the army could be promoted to small flag officers after a year in the military, and if their cultivation is higher, they could even become general flag officers.

But to go higher requires other conditions.

If a Postnatal Martial Artist enlists, they are generally appointed to a Trial Hundred Households position, and after serving well for a year or so, they could become Hundred Households.

Higher military ranks are also attainable if one has a recommendation and sufficient cultivation; one could take positions such as Deputy Thousand Households, Garrison Commander, or Commander.

For Jianghu Martial Artists, the position of Commander is about the highest one can attain. To seek higher ranks would require politicking, not just recommendations.

And ranks like General Flag and Hundred Households are different with or without recommendations.

With recommendations, one can save time without the need for a year’s assessment period and also have a more stable position, as those who can recommend martial artists to the military likely hold higher offices themselves.

Actually, when Yang Zhenshan arranged for Lu Wenchun and Yang Minghao’s positions, he did so by recommending them in his own name.