Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 344: Chapter 333: The Excitement Never Ends

”Who is this Assistant Imperial Censor?” Yang Zhenshan curiously asked.

”Lu Zhensu, a major corrupt official!” Luo Chen expressed a dark resentment.

”Corrupt official!” Yang Zhenshan was astonished, but soon he chuckled and did not ask further.

Corrupt official!

Isn’t that quite normal?

No merchant is without cunning, no official without greed; this is the norm.

Drag a hundred officials out, ninety should be beheaded, of the remaining ten, eight should have their families seized and be exiled, one is probably new to the post, the last might be clever at hiding his misdeeds, or he might be seeking a reputation, of course, he could also genuinely be an honest official.

Anyway, among the officials Yang Zhenshan met, the only one who could be called honest was Xu Jin.

Xu Jin was extremely rigid and serious about his duties, truly an oddity.

As for others, they seem not corrupt on the surface, but sometimes they do seek personal benefits, like Zhou Lan; naturally, she wouldn’t engage in embezzling salary funds, but she would still uphold the interests of Duke Ning Mansion, and as long as she’s looking out for the private benefits of Duke Ning Mansion, that’s seeking personal gain.

Yang Zhenshan wasn’t concerned about corrupt officials; he also counted as one, but he had his limits and wouldn’t oppress the commoners or military households under him.

Shifting his gaze back, Yang Zhenshan picked up his tea and took a light sip, but just as he was drinking, a clamor of shouting and killing suddenly rose from the streets.

”Kill the corrupt official, avenge the blood feud!”

A group of masked figures wielding weapons rushed into the ceremonial procession, and screams erupted as the surrounding commoners scattered in panic.

Yang Zhenshan watched the scene in amazement.

This Jiangnan is not as gentle as it appears on the surface!

There’s also blood and swords!

Lu Zhensu had quite a few guards around him, but there were even more masked people, at least forty or fifty, and they seemed strong.

”My lord!”

Hearing the commotion outside, two personal followers rushed in from outside the private room.

”It’s nothing!” Yang Zhenshan waved his hand and continued to drink his tea, watching the street fight with interest.

”My lord, those should be people from the Ming family!” Luo Chen said.

”The Ming family?” Yang Zhenshan was puzzled.

”Yes, the Ming family was originally a Martial Arts Family from Hai State, and two years ago they discovered an Evergreen Vine. Then, overnight, the Ming family was charged with the crime of treason for secretly hoarding military weapons!” Luo Chen explained.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

The County Magistrate destroys a family; the State Mansion wipes out a clan.

Even a Martial Arts Family is nothing but a victim trampled upon when facing officials.

A fabricated crime is enough to bring about the downfall of a Martial Arts Family.

If this matter was done by the Lu Zhensu before us, then he must have demanded the Evergreen Vine from the Ming family; unfortunately, they seemed a bit unaware and did not directly hand over the Evergreen Vine.

But thinking about it, it’s understandable, the Evergreen Vine is a type of Treasure Medicine, and its greatest effect is to help Postnatal Martial Artists condense Innate True Qi.

Although the chance is low, the Evergreen Vine indeed has such an effect.

Condensing Innate True Qi, needless to say, is a huge temptation for Postnatal Martial Artists, and for a Martial Arts Family, it’s a priceless treasure.

The Ming family was lucky to obtain such a Treasure Medicine, but the Ming family was unwise; without enough power, they should not dream of possessing such a treasure.

Presenting it in exchange for the greatest benefit would have been the smartest choice for the Ming family.

Thus, the Ming family could only be doomed!

The world is so cruel; too many cases of bearing the sin of possessing a jade.

Luo Chen didn’t elaborate further, but Yang Zhenshan could guess the rest.

”What a pity, they won’t be able to kill Lu Zhensu!” Yang Zhenshan said indifferently.

”Why not?” Luo Chen asked in confusion.

”Do you see the man standing in front of the palanquin? If I’m not mistaken, he should have the cultivation of Postnatal Eighth Layer!”

Luo Chen nodded in understanding, his expression not very good, obviously, he too wished for Lu Zhensu’s death.

”Do you have a grudge against this Lu Zhensu?”

Luo Chen shook his head slightly, ”No, I just can’t stand it!”

Yang Zhenshan laughed lightly, not expecting Luo Chen to actually have a sense of justice!

However, he was curious how Lu Zhensu had a protector with the cultivation of the Postnatal Eighth Layer by his side; a martial artist of such level was considered a master both in the military and worldly society.

Like in Chongshan Town, the cultivation of an Assistant General mostly just reaches the Postnatal Sixth or Seventh Layer, and although military prowess is not the sole criterion for a military officer’s rank, cultivation and strength are still important factors in promotion and appointment.

A General could disregard strength when it comes to commanding, after all, a General’s main duty is to direct, not to fight on the front lines.

But the strength of a commanding General matters since he needs to lead troops in battle and sometimes charge ahead.

A Postnatal Eighth Layer martial artist, just entering the army, would at least be given the position of a Deputy Commander or a Commander, definitely not fit to be a main officer, but being a deputy is entirely feasible.

If their capabilities stand out, they could quickly be promoted to Guerrilla General, Assistant General, and even Vice General.

As for Yang Zhenshan, if the old Emperor did not decree his transfer to Tenglong Guard, he would at least be an Assistant General by now, and that position would just be a transitional phase before quickly becoming a Vice General.

Yet Lu Zhensu, merely a fourth-rank Assistant Imperial Censor, has a Postnatal Eighth Layer protector by his side; this obviously seems somewhat incongruous.

But soon Yang Zhenshan thought of the Evergreen Vine; Lu Zhensu, as a civil servant, certainly had no use for the Evergreen Vine, so why did he go to such lengths to seize it?

To whom did he give the Evergreen Vine?

”Do you recognize that fellow?” Yang Zhenshan asked, pointing at the man in front of the palanquin.

Luo Chen shook his head, ”I don’t know him; he’s not from Songhe Prefecture!”

Postnatal Eighth Layer Martial Artists are extremely rare; in the Songhe Prefecture, there are only six, and the one before us is clearly not from Songhe Prefecture, otherwise he would undoubtedly be able to guess.

”Not from Songhe Prefecture, then he must be from another force; Lu Zhensu likely did not give him the Evergreen Vine, otherwise he would not act as Lu Zhensu’s guard!”

”That means there’s a significant force behind him, which very likely has Postnatal Ninth Layer Martial Artists, or perhaps now they possess a master who is already at Half-step Innate; after all, the Evergreen Vine incident happened two years ago!”

Yang Zhenshan analyzed unhurriedly.

The efficacy of the Evergreen Vine is to condense Innate True Qi, and to condense Innate True Qi is to be Half-step Innate.

”What forces do you think in Jiangnan have such strength?”

Luo Chen frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, ”Quite a few!”

”Quite a few?” Yang Zhenshan felt somewhat surprised.

There were really quite a few?

Is the martial strength of Jiangnan that formidable?

”Yes, my lord may not be aware, but many forces in Jiangnan have extensive connections, it wouldn’t be too much to say that dragons and tigers lie hidden there!”

”In the whole of Jiangnan, I know of eight Postnatal Ninth Layer masters, and in the shadows, the number of masters involved with Jiangnan forces is countless.”

”Moreover, many forces in Jiangnan have complicated relations with overseas forces!”

Luo Chen elaborated.

Yang Zhenshan nodded in realization; this was indeed true.

Jiangnan is not Liaodong; Jiangnan is a land of wealth for Da Rong, arguably one of the wealthiest regions in Da Rong.

Having wealth means having resources, and having resources can attract numerous Martial Artists, plus the entanglement of interests has brought together many Martial Arts Masters in Jiangnan.

As the two spoke, the battle on the streets had entered its fiercest phase.

As Yang Zhenshan expected, initially the guards around Lu Zhensu were killed in retreat, with heavy casualties. However, when the man in front of Lu Zhensu’s sedan chair made a move, the masked men suffered heavy losses, with almost none able to match him.

At the same time, a group of Government Officials appeared at another end of the street, making the situation of the masked men even more perilous.

Seeing the Government Officials, and then looking at the unstoppable man, the leading masked man’s eyes bulged as he roared, ”Retreat!”

Following that, the remaining dozen masked men scattered and fled.

”My lord, that man is coming our way!” Luo Chen said, watching the leading masked man.

Yang Zhenshan glanced over, ”Don’t worry about it; it has nothing to do with us!”

He has always been someone who does not like meddling in others’ business; whether good or evil, it had nothing to do with him, particularly since he was just a passerby in Jiangnan and would return to Liaodong in a couple of days and had no spare time for idle matters.

Just watch the excitement and don’t get involved in idle matters.

However, while he did not wish to interfere with idle matters, sometimes trouble would actively seek him out.

The leading masked man rushed directly into the Baiyun Tea House and then disappeared from view, Yang Zhenshan did not pay attention to these, but soon a group of Government Officials rushed into the Baiyun Tea House.

Subsequently, there was commotion inside the Baiyun Tea House, with a cacophony of cursing and scolding that spread from the first floor to the second and third floors.

With a bang, the door to the private room where Yang Zhenshan was located was kicked open, and four or five Government Officials stormed inside.

”Who are you and why are you here?” the leading Government Official rudely inquired.

Yang Zhenshan frowned slightly, Luo Chen stepped forward, ”I am Luo Chen of the Luo Family from Jingzhou State!”

”The Luo Family from Jingzhou State!” The Government Official sized up Luo Chen.

The name of the Luo Family from Jingzhou State indeed carried weight; under normal circumstances, these Government Officials would not dare to provoke someone from the Luo Family, but now that Lu Zhensu had been targeted for assassination, they had to conduct a thorough investigation.

”Are you all from the Luo Family from Jingzhou State?” The Government Official showed a vicious expression, ”Harboring an assassin is complicity with the crime!”

Yang Zhenshan sighed softly; this was indeed being caught in the crossfire.

He was just accidentally watching the incident unfold, and now trouble had come looking for him.

The weight of the Luo Family from Jingzhou State’s name wasn’t very useful!

As for Luo Shang, haha, Luo Shang is merely a rich merchant and his status wouldn’t be useful here either.

As for himself, his identity also did not seem easy to disclose.

This really was a nuisance!

”Get out!” Yang Zhenshan said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, the Government Officials’ expressions changed slightly, and they all drew their swords.

Yang Zhenshan was even more helpless; he glanced at his two Personal Followers, made a gesture, and without saying a word, the two followers stepped forward and kicked the five Government Officials out with one kick each!

Bang bang~~

The Government Officials were sent flying, causing who knows how much damage.

”Ah, what a buzzkill these idiots have caused, utterly dampening the spirits!”

Yang Zhenshan slowly stood up and leisurely walked out of the private room.

Outside the private room, more Government Officials had already crammed the third floor, each holding long sabers, warily watching Yang Zhenshan.

Hmm, not just Yang Zhenshan, but three other people not far from the private room also walked out, looking disdainfully at the group of guards.

Baiyun Tea House wasn’t a place just anyone could visit; those who came here to drink tea at least had to have some surplus wealth.

Especially on the third floor, where a single pot of tea is costly, ordinary people definitely couldn’t afford it, and ordinary merchants would likely be reluctant to indulge.

”A bunch of morons, do you know who this young master is? Daring to disturb my tea time?”

”That’s right, to upset Third Young Master, they deserve a beating!”

After exiting the private room, Yang Zhenshan hadn’t taken any action, but the three wealthy young masters nearby already lost their temper first.

Having just watched an exciting scene of the jianghu heroes assassinating a corrupt official, another drama unfolds—a scene of indulgent young nobles disciplining Government Officials.