Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 245: Chapter 236 Chongshan Town An Yuan City Garrison Yang Zhenshan!

Yang Zhenshan flipped onto his horse, raised the long spear in his hand, and stopped the soldiers who were coming up behind him.

The other party also mounted a warhorse.

The two exchanged glances.

”Which General of Da Rong might you be?” the other suddenly asked.

A slight change passed over Yang Zhenshan’s expression, ”Kolcha Banner Master Duobato!”

In the East Sea Hu Clan, martial artists of the Postnatal Eighth or Ninth Layer were already top experts; since the other had appeared here, he must be from Kolcha.

And Yang Zhenshan did have some understanding of Kolcha.

These days, they were not always killing; they also captured some to interrogate about the surrounding Hu Clan situation.

For instance, who the Banner Master of Kolcha was, which martial arts masters Kolcha had, how many cavalry and population Kolcha possessed, etc.

Though the people they captured did not have very deep knowledge about Kolcha, it was enough for Yang Zhenshan.

Hearing Yang Zhenshan reveal his identity, Duobato stopped hiding his own and directly admitted: ”Yes, indeed, I am the Banner Master!”

During the day, after ordering the gathering of the troops, Duobato thought about clarifying the enemy’s intelligence information. He didn’t believe those rumors, nor was he willing to believe what Zha Yan said, so he decided to come and see for himself.

However, he had not expected to encounter Yang Zhenshan just while trying to capture a prisoner.

It was an unexpected coincidence, but also made sense.

Because he was following closely behind the garrison, and since Yang Zhenshan had come to scout, he naturally needed to be in the most crucial position.

”Who might you be?” Duobato asked again.

”Chongshan Town, An Yuan City garrison officer Yang Zhenshan!” Yang Zhenshan replied.

However, upon hearing this, Duobato’s face turned extremely sour.

Garrison officer of An Yuan City?

Was this fellow deceiving me?

He knew quite a bit about Da Rong and Chongshan Town, knowing what rank a city’s garrison officer usually held.

A city’s garrison officer was generally filled by either a Commander or Deputy Magistrate, which meant they were usually of Secondary Third Rank or Standard Fourth Rank.

In Chongshan Town, a garrison officer was only a mid-level military officer, commanding at most a thousand camp soldiers.

A mere garrison officer, yet comparable to himself!

Duobato felt insulted!

But he quickly came to a realization.

Garrison officer, a thousand camp soldiers!

Zha Yan had said that the enemy only had around a thousand people!

Really only a thousand?

Duobato’s eyes sharply stared at Yang Zhenshan, and Yang Zhenshan likewise gazed back intently; their gazes collided under the dim moonlight, and intense killing intent spread around like a light breeze.

”Let’s go!”

However, Duobato eventually chose to leave.

As he sprinted toward the North, he kept turning his head to look at Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan did not stop him, only quietly watching as they ran off into the distance.

He wasn’t confident he could detain Duobato.

And Duobato’s choice to leave was also because he was not sure he could overpower Yang Zhenshan.

Watching Duobato recede into the distance, Yang Zhenshan looked up at the night sky, ”Wake everyone up, we travel through the night!”

Kolcha was just over fifty miles away, it would only take one or two hours for Duobato to gather troops and catch up.

Although Yang Zhenshan did not believe Duobato would pursue them, he dared not take the risk.

This place was not suitable for a long stay; it was better to leave quickly.

Soon, the quiet temporary camp became bustling; soldiers and civilians carrying war spoils were all awakened, setting off through the night.

However, Yang Zhenshan’s guess was not wrong, Duobato did not gather troops to pursue them.

By the time they had crossed the Songyuan River, there were no northern barbarians seen pursuing them from behind.

It was around noon when they returned to their previous camp.

The camp here should be safe, as there were no Northern barbarian tribes within a hundred miles, and it was unlikely that Kolcha would come anytime soon.

Of course, safety is only relative, as long as they were still in the North, Yang Zhenshan absolutely could not relax his vigilance.

After instructing Yang Mingzhen to set up guard posts, Yang Zhenshan and the various soldiers took an honest dip in the Songyuan River.

The ash, dirt, and blood that had accumulated over ten days could finally be washed away.

The dark red blood stains shed from their bodies and armor turned the originally clear river water into a murky dark red.

The upstream current of the Songyuan River was not strong, the deepest part barely measured a fathom, and the shallowest place was just knee-deep; horses could directly cross the river.

Beneath such slow water flow, one can imagine the result of hundreds of soldiers washing therein.

Wang Sheng and Yuan Wanli watched the relaxed soldiers in the river and looked at the murky water, exhibiting an indescribable expression.

After washing off the grime and fatigue, Yang Zhenshan felt light as he walked out of the river; Zhou Ren hurriedly handed him his clothes.

Of the entire garrison, the civil servants attached to the military were probably the most relaxed these past few days, though this relaxation was also relative.

Despite being civil servants not participating in combat, they had to move with the garrison, endure sleeping outdoors, and conduct night raids.

Moreover, they had to assist with the soldiers’ food and clothing, and help the military doctors treat the wounded, among others.

”You don’t need to worry about me, go and wash up!” Yang Zhenshan draped on his clothes and smiled at Zhou Ren.

Zhou Ren, although with some minor faults, was generally reliable.

At least ever since Yang Zhenshan took charge of the garrison office, he had never encountered any problem.

And this time accompanying the army, he had been thoroughly dedicated, toiling physically and mentally.

For those willing to work hard, Yang Zhenshan was never harsh.

”Then I shall make myself comfortable; I’ll go wash first. Ah, the smell on me is truly unbearable!” Zhou Ren’s noticeably emaciated face broke into a brilliant smile.

It was really brilliant, brighter than ever before.

Seeing his smile, Yang Zhenshan also started smiling.

One cannot predict how much potential a person has unless they are pushed to their limits.

Zhou Ren was merely a scholar with no knowledge of Martial Arts; logically, he should have found it more difficult to adapt to battlefield conditions than the soldiers, yet in reality, he adapted faster and better than most.

”Go ahead!”

Yang Zhenshan patted him on the shoulder and strode over to Wang Sheng and Yuan Wanli.

”My lord!” Both greeted him.

Yang Zhenshan was draped in a loose robe, which looked somewhat peculiar as it hung empty.

However, they were all men here; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

”Hmm, how has Chongshan Town been during this time?”

Yang Zhenshan inquired.

These days, he had devoted all his energy to the battle at hand, hardly paying any attention to Chongshan Town. Now that he could finally relax, he naturally wanted to ask.

Wang Sheng’s expression suddenly turned odd as he spoke, ”The situation is a bit, um, complex!”

”After the garrisons from various cities set out, the battle intensified. Some garrisons have achieved commendable war results, while others have been too cautious to advance!”

”After the Assistant Generals from various routes crossed the border, victory reports were frequently sent, with splendid war achievements!”

”Currently, the Marquis has already led the Camp to Fushan City, and if nothing unexpected happens, the decisive battle should occur there!”

Although he had been constantly following the garrison, he had not lost contact with Chongshan Town.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly; this was an anticipated situation.

Today’s Chongshan Town was not the same as it was three years ago. Although the conditions of the garrisons in various cities were not great, the Camp and Rescue Camp had been reorganized over three years, and their combat ability had greatly surpassed that from three years ago.

It was relatively easy for the Rescue Camp led by the Assistant Generals to eliminate Northern barbarian tribes.

Of course, this did not mean that the East Sea Hu Clan lacked resistance. The main strength of the East Sea Hu Clan was not those scattered tribes, but the larger tribes such as Kolcha, Emu Bu, and Chahar.

And the most powerful within the East Sea Hu Clan was their Royal Family, the Gorcin clan.

The current battle was just the beginning; the real fight was yet to come.

”Where is your father now?” Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Near Black Cloud Mountain!” Wang Sheng promptly replied.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment; Black Cloud Mountain wasn’t too far from here, approximately two to three hundred miles.

”You, forget it, I’ll send my men instead!”

He wanted to capture Kolcha, but the garrison’s military strength was insufficient.

Thus, he needed to ask for reinforcements.

The two Rescue Camps led by Wang Bin were his best reinforcements.

Originally, he planned to have Wang Sheng send the message, but this would require first sending it back to Jia City, then from Jia City to Wang Bin.

That would take more time than directly sending someone to Black Cloud Mountain for help.

At this moment, Yang Zhenshan noticed the odd expression on Wang Sheng’s face and asked doubtfully, ”What’s wrong?”

”Nothing,” Wang Sheng quickly shook his head.

His reaction made Yang Zhenshan even more puzzled, ”What happened?”

Wang Sheng hesitated, looked at Yang Zhenshan, then at Yuan Wanli beside him, before he finally said awkwardly, ”My lord, I’ve been sending battle reports back these days!”

”Hmm!”

Yang Zhenshan was somewhat baffled.

Wang Sheng’s task of writing battle reports was his directive, firstly because he had been busy attacking Northern barbarian tribes and lacked the energy and time to write any reports. Secondly, because Wang Sheng was transporting the spoils of war, it was convenient to send the battle reports back along the way.

This should be fine, right!

”My lord, we have already eradicated eight Northern barbarian tribes, with nearly twenty thousand heads taken!” Wang Sheng reminded again.

”What’s the problem with that?” asked Yang Zhenshan.

”Er, haha, no problem; it’s just that, some people don’t believe it!” Wang Sheng explained.

Yang Zhenshan frowned slightly and looked at Yuan Wanli.

Disbelief!

Indeed, that was a problem. Excelling too much naturally aroused others’ suspicion.

However, Yuan Wanli was the investigator of war achievements sent from the General Mansion.

Yuan Wanli, with a bitter expression, said, ”I have already reported to the General Mansion, and they should send someone else to verify the achievements!”

Wang Sheng got his information from Jia City, while his contact was Chongshan Pass.

Five days ago, he had sent back a verification result, yet two days ago, he received a reprimand from a superior officer.

The reprimand accused him of miscalculating the number of heads taken.

Eliminating one tribe a day, thousands of heads each day.

Such scenarios, not to mention the people at the General Mansion, even Yuan Wanli himself wouldn’t have accepted it if he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t too concerned, ”Then let’s verify it again when people arrive.”

It was normal for people to doubt; it was also normal for them to be envious.

But the truth is the truth.

No one in Chongshan Town could cover up or embezzle his war achievements, he was confident about that.

Not to mention the impending marriage alliance between the Yang family and the Marquis Mansion, but more importantly, Zhou Lan, a significant support.

Although Yang Zhenshan hadn’t seen Zhou Lan in recent years, only keeping in contact through letters, their relationship had not drifted apart.

Moreover, Yang Zhenshan carried a clear label, that of Zhou Lan, or perhaps, the backing of Duke Ning Mansion.

This was a political affiliation, a label stamped on Yang Zhenshan from the beginning when he arrived at Chongshan Town, undeniable even if he wanted to.

Speaking of personal relationships, Yang Zhenshan and Zhou Lan were both teacher and friend; from a bureaucratic standpoint, they were allies, and their involvement was well known.

This relationship was even more solid than the marriage ties between the Yang family and the Marquis Mansion.

Unless one day Yang Zhenshan betrayed Zhou Lan, or Zhou Lan abandoned Yang Zhenshan, this alliance was unbreakable.