Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 225: Chapter 216: You Dare to Draw a Sword on This Official!

In the following days, Yang Zhenshan began to handle the affairs of the garrison office. Although there was still half a year before the campaign, preparations needed to be made.

The training of the garrison soldiers had to be intensified, and the soldiers from the outlying garrisons had to enter the city to familiarize themselves with the environment.

When the time came, Yang Zhenshan was certain to lead the garrison on the campaign, but the defense of An Yuan City could not be neglected, so it was necessary to call in the soldiers from the outlying garrisons to take over defense duties.

To avoid the soldiers being unfamiliar with the city’s defense, Yang Zhenshan had them train with the garrison soldiers for a while first.

At the same time, Xie Yuan also needed to become familiar with the affairs of the garrison office.

When Yang Zhenshan left for the campaign, Xie Yuan would need to take over the garrison office temporarily.

For over ten days straight, Yang Zhenshan was busy with this.

During this time, a group of fierce-looking Cavalry arrived outside the Chongshan Town post station.

The leader was a burly man dressed in black leather armor, named Yuan Qing, a trusted aide of Su Kun from the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Su Bai was also a personal follower of Su Kun, but Yuan Qing was different from Su Bai. Su Bai was a family servant raised by the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion since childhood.

Unlike a servant, Yuan Qing was originally a Jianghu Martial Artist who later came under Su Kun’s command, following him for over a decade, and was the highest in cultivation among those close to Su Kun.

The postal workers at the station, upon seeing the formidable Cavalry, could not help but feel a bit fearful.

However, before they could react, a few dozen Cavalry had already charged into the station.

”Mr. Yuan!”

A follower who had been with Su Shanyu previously saw Yuan Qing and hurriedly stepped forward to bow and salute.

Yuan Qing also held an official title, serving as Bazong in Fenwu Camp, which was essentially the personal guard commander for Su Kun.

Yuan Qing glanced at the follower, then looked towards the building in front of him, ”Was Second Young Master murdered here?”

Half a month had passed since Su Shanyu’s murder, and his body had long been transported back to the Capital City, but everything here was still intact. Even when officials from the Inspection Department of Chongshan Town came to investigate, they did not disrupt a single thing inside the building.

Yuan Qing asked, then pushed the door and entered the room.

He first examined the shattered carved wooden window, then looked at the body still lying on the ground.

He reached out to pull out the short sword at the throat of the body and looked at it closely.

The follower beside him detailed the events of that night, although he didn’t say much—it all happened in a few breaths of time, and even with detailed description, it wouldn’t take many words.

But Yuan Qing listened intently, ”Wait, you just said the murderer crushed Second Young Master’s neck in a flash! Did Second Young Master not fight back?”

The follower wryly said, ”It was sudden. Second Young Master had just awoken from his sleep and had no time to react.”

Yuan Qing frowned and gave him a look.

”Second Young Master had the Postnatal Fifth Layer cultivation. Even if it was sudden, he shouldn’t have had no reaction at all!”

”The murderer was too fast, even we could not react in time!” The follower looked even more dejected.

Yuan Qing nodded, then looked up at the shattered carved wooden window again.

Too fast!

Second Young Master had the Postnatal Fifth Layer cultivation, and the two followers beside him had the Postnatal Sixth Layer cultivation.

In just a moment, the murderer killed two people and retreated without injury.

His cultivation was far above theirs.

”Any suspects?”

”Da Rong garrison officer Yang Zhenshan!”

Yuan Qing pondered, then stood up and said, ”Let’s go to An Yuan City!”

There was no progress to be made here; the adversary had only appeared for a few breaths of time, leaving behind no trace whatsoever.

So solving the case was practically impossible.

The best he could do now was to meet Yang Zhenshan to confirm if the murderer was him.

...

A day later, inside the garrison office of An Yuan City.

”Master, a Mr. Yuan from outside requests to see you!”

In the study, Han Fei reported to Yang Zhenshan.

”Mr. Yuan! Did he state his identity?”

Yang Zhenshan, who was handling official business, looked up and asked confusedly.

”No, he came with more than forty Cavalry, and they seem to have malicious intent!” Han Fei recalled the scene when he had just met Yuan Qing, his brows slightly furrowed as he spoke.

Malicious intent!

A sharp light flashed in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

Then it could only be someone from the Capital City.

Besides people from Jingyuan Marquis Mansion, no one else should be harboring ill will towards him at this time.

”Let him in!”

He did not choose to avoid the meeting.

Shortly after, Han Fei brought Yuan Qing to the study, where Yuan Qing was still clad in black leather armor, exuding a fierce and solemn aura.

Someone timid would likely be too frightened to speak.

But for Yang Zhenshan, of course, this had no effect.

Seated behind the desk, Yang Zhenshan raised his head to size up Yuan Qing, ”May I know who you are?”

”Fenwu Camp Bazong Yuan Qing pays respect to Master Yang!” Yuan Qing bowed and saluted.

In terms of official position, Yang Zhenshan was much higher than him.

Fenwu Camp!

Indeed, it was someone from Jingyuan Marquis Mansion!

With a calm expression, Yang Zhenshan looked at him, ”A person from Fenwu Camp shows up in Chongshan Town, heh, Marquis Jingyuan sure has a long reach!”

”My Second Young Master is dead?” Yuan Qing looked up, his gaze sharp as he stared at Yang Zhenshan.

”Dead! That’s truly wonderful, one less scourge, not worthy of regret in death!” Yang Zhenshan indifferently remarked.

”Does Master Yang know my Second Young Master?” Yuan Qing asked.

”I do not, but does that matter? Aren’t all from the Marquis Jingyuan Mansion a scourge?” Yang Zhenshan did not restrain himself one bit.

Yuan Qing stared straight at him, seemingly trying to discern something from his expression.

Unfortunately, Yang Zhenshan’s demeanor remained indifferent, with a gaze deep and unfathomable like an ancient well, impenetrable.

After a long while, Yuan Qing spoke again: ”Isn’t Master Yang being too arrogant? The Marquis Mansion is not a place that Master Yang can insult at will!”

”Haha, it is Marquis Jingyuan who is truly arrogant, actually daring to move the soldiers from the Fenwu Camp away from the Capital City without authorization.”

”I will report this matter to the Imperial Censor!”

Yang Zhenshan responded without much salt or flavor.

The imperial guard is different from the border army; the border army, far away from the court, is more lax about many things since the Emperor is far from heaven, and in addition, they are responsible for border defense, with commanders sometimes inspecting the frontiers, so moving three to five hundred soldiers out is not a major event.

The imperial guard, on the other hand, is tasked with protecting the Capital City, how could they be moved at will?

Of course, just moving a few dozen Cavalry is not enough to bring down Marquis Jingyuan; at most, it would result in a reprimand or a fine of a few months’ salary.

Yuan Qing did not care about these details; what he cared about was Yang Zhenshan’s reaction and attitude.

Clearly, Yang Zhenshan’s stance was very tough, showing no signs of guilt, and in terms of attitude, he was unapologetic towards the Marquis Jingyuan Mansion, wholly unconcerned about whether the mansion would suspect him.

This made Yuan Qing feel somewhat troubled.

His purpose in coming here was to test Yang Zhenshan, but now, the result of the probe seemed to yield no gains.

”It is said that Master Yang is a battlefield slayer, having charged through the battleground thrice, but I wonder what his cultivation is like?”

While speaking, he suddenly drew his long blade and mercilessly chopped towards the top of Yang Zhenshan’s head.

However, Yang Zhenshan did not move, merely sitting there quietly, his deep eyes calmly looking at him.

The blade fell but stopped three inches above Yang Zhenshan’s head.

A trace of surprise flitted across Yuan Qing’s eyes — why didn’t he fight back?

Could it be he wasn’t afraid that I really intended to kill him!

”You also know that this official has charged through the battlefield thrice!” Yang Zhenshan pushed his long blade aside, slowly stood up, and looked at him impassively, ”This official has slain hundreds of enemies on the battlefield, defending the border for our Da Rong, fighting valiantly for His Majesty!”

”And you dare to draw your blade against this official!”

”On what basis?”

”Because you are Marquis Jingyuan’s dog?”

”Or because you rely on the lawless power of Marquis Jingyuan?”

His voice was strong and forceful, his words justified.

But these were not empty words; they reflected his true feelings.

To tell the truth, he did not feel much allegiance to the Da Rong Dynasty, as he was not truly a citizen of Da Rong.

He fought and bled on the battlefield for Da Rong, but it was all for his own sake.

Yet what he did truly helped guard Da Rong’s territory and fight for the old Emperor.

Regardless of what he thought in his heart, his actions were beneficial to Da Rong.

His merits could not be erased by anyone.

Saying he was a hero of Da Rong was no exaggeration.

But now!

A group of nobles from the Capital City kept causing trouble for him, and now someone even held a blade to his head.

This infuriated him.

”Dare to draw a blade against this official, where do you place the hundred thousand soldiers of Chongshan Town who guard our nation’s borders? Do you even care for the millions of border soldiers?”

”Or do you think that we, who dwell in the bitterly cold lands, are lesser than you, the lofty imperial guard?”

Yuan Qing’s face changed dramatically after hearing this.

In the officialdom, Capital City officials are superior, and in the military, the imperial guard similarly holds a higher status.

This is an unwritten rule, tacitly acknowledged by everyone.

But these matters cannot be discussed openly or promoted widely.

”I did not!” Yuan Qing denied without thinking.

But Yang Zhenshan did not care about his denial; his body suddenly leaped up, kicking up from behind the desk and landing a foot on Yuan Qing’s chest.

A loud bang sounded as Yuan Qing flew back like a cannonball.

Crash! Decorated wooden windows shattered as he was smashed, and then he slammed hard onto the blue stone pavement outside.

”Seize him!”

”Any who dare to resist, kill without mercy!”

Yang Zhenshan stepped out of the room, his gaze cold as he looked at Yuan Qing and those imperial guard soldiers now protecting Yuan Qing!

And Yuan Qing looked at Yang Zhenshan in disbelief.

What surprised him was not that Yang Zhenshan dared to strike him, but that he was actually overturned by Yang Zhenshan’s kick.

Although he was only a Bazong in the Fenwu Camp, he had the cultivation of the Postnatal Seventh Layer.

Even though Yang Zhenshan’s kick was sudden, he should not have been unable to resist.

Unless Yang Zhenshan’s cultivation was far above his.

The sound of hurried footsteps came; in the garrison office, personal followers immediately surrounded the imperial guard soldiers who brought Yuan Qing, and outside the office, over a hundred soldiers surged out, surrounding the other imperial guard soldiers!

Yang Zhenshan watched Yuan Qing with cold eyes, and as the saying goes, strike first to gain the upper hand.

Regardless of whether Marquis Jingyuan suspected him, or was convinced that he was the murderer of Su Shanyu, it was certainly correct to give Marquis Jingyuan some trouble first.