Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 391: Chapter 376 Thousand Layer Mountain, Ying River

Yang Zhenshan spoke thoughtfully, ”Is His Majesty truly gravely ill?”

Lv Hua was taken aback and looked up at him, ”General Yang, why would you say such a thing?”

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, and seeing that his astonishment was genuine, shook his head slightly, ”No, it’s just my wild guess!”

He always felt that the old Emperor’s illness seemed a bit suspicious!

If the old Emperor really was critically ill, then Prince Cheng and Prince Gong should not have been allowed to oversee the court affairs.

It was for this reason that he had been suspecting whether the old Emperor was feigning illness.

However, considering the struggles on the court, the old Emperor did not seem to be pretending.

The civil and military officials in the court were closer to the old Emperor than Yang Zhenshan, and if the old Emperor were feigning illness, it would be impossible to deceive everyone.

Moreover, now that the Wuliang army was about to attack Jizhou, could the old Emperor truly not fear the Wuliang army reaching the Capital City?

Lv Hua’s reaction also seemed to confirm that the old Emperor was not pretending to be sick.

There was also a slight possibility that the old Emperor had kept even the Secret Martial Guards in the dark.

”What should I do next?” Yang Zhenshan changed the subject.

Lv Hua said indifferently, ”This is something General Yang should consider. My only responsibility is to provide you with intelligence!”

Lv Hua was very self-aware, knowing he was not skilled in military affairs, thus he would not offer imprudent commands, willing to let Yang Zhenshan make all the decisions.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, not surprised since Wei Cen had shown the same attitude before.

”I will set out as soon as possible.”

He did not go into details, only stating he would deploy soon, because he had not yet thought about how to confront the Wuliang army.

Fighting the Wuliang army was completely different from battling against Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu.

The soldiers under Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu were from the Da Rong Dynasty; Yang Zhenshan could use persuasion or psychological tactics to make these soldiers turn sides.

But the Wuliang army was different; the strategies that worked on Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu had no effect on the Wuliang army.

How to face the Wuliang army was something he needed to carefully consider!

...

July 18th.

On the fifth day after Yang Zhenshan’s entry into Chongshan Pass, he received a deployment order from the Ministry of War.

The Ministry of War requested that he lead the Chongshan Town army into Liaoxi as soon as possible to block the Wuliang army advance.

This order was certainly not issued by the Ministry of War, but probably came from the court.

Yang Zhenshan was unclear why the court would issue such an order, but it was evident that the court was truly in a hurry.

...

July 19th.

Four thousand cavalry and eight thousand infantry from Dingliao Guard arrived at Chongshan Pass.

Although Ji He had been deposed, he was still the Assistant General of Dingliao Guard and could still mobilize its soldiers.

Moreover, since Yang Zhenshan had already taken Chongshan Town, Ji He’s mobilization of the Dingliao Guard went smoothly.

The person leading the Dingliao Guard reinforcement camp to Chongshan Tempest was Qin He, the officer in charge of the Southern reinforcement camp’s middle encampment and a Commander in Dingliao Guard.

Qin He, in his thirties, was tall and lean, with a dignified face and a cultivation at the Postnatal Sixth Layer.

Ji He’s decision to send Qin He with the Dingliao Guard reinforcement camp to Chongshan Town meant that Qin He was a capable person and also an intimate confidant of Ji He.

With Ji He deposed, his career was likely to end after this battle.

Who he chose to lead the reinforcement camp to Chongshan Pass was his last vestige of influence in his official career.

He gave this vestige to Qin He, probably also trying to provide a favor to Qin He.

For this, Yang Zhenshan didn’t mind, in fact, he had no hard feelings towards Ji He.

Although Ji He fell for Ji Feiyu’s schemes, he had not defected to Ji Feiyu over such a long time, indicating that Ji He was a man of principles.

Thus, he was willing to give Ji He this opportunity.

After the Dingliao Guard reinforcements arrived at Chongshan Pass, Yang Zhenshan gave them a day to rest and reorganize.

On the third day, which was July 21st, Yang Zhenshan led the army toward the West Road of Chongshan Town.

At this point, Yang Zhenshan’s forces comprised over seventeen thousand cavalry and eighteen thousand infantry, totaling a force of thirty-five thousand.

While the Wuliang army in Liaoxi had as many as eighty thousand!

Eighty thousand elite Northern barbarian cavalry!

The disparity between the enemy and us could not be greater!

Moreover, Cui Liang, Assistant General of Daning Guard at West Road of Chongshan Town, was Ji Feiyu’s man. With Ji Feiyu defeated and fleeing, it was uncertain what Cui Liang would choose.

Cui Liang would definitely not surrender; he was a trusted confidant of Ji Feiyu, otherwise Ji Feiyu wouldn’t have entrusted the West Road to him.

And since he personally let the Wuliang army into Liaoxi, even if he wanted to surrender, the court would not spare him.

Cui Liang had only two paths before him: one was to flee Daning Guard to find Ji Feiyu, and the other was to defect to the Wuliang Hu Clan.

If Cui Liang chose to flee Daning Guard, it would undoubtedly be the most favorable outcome for Yang Zhenshan, sparing him a lot of trouble.

But if Cui Liang decided to defect to the Wuliang Hu Clan, it would be extremely unfavorable for Yang Zhenshan.

Ji Feiyu had been operating in the western route of Chongshan Town for over a decade, and after taking over the foundation left by Ji Feiyu, Cui Liang had managed it for more than five years.

It can be said that Cui Liang had complete control of the western route of Chongshan Town.

Based on the western route of Chongshan Town, Cui Liang could easily summon tens of thousands of troops.

If Cui Liang brought these tens of thousands of troops to join the Wuliang Hu Clan, he would undoubtedly become a significant aid to the Wuliang Hu Clan.

Indeed, as Yang Zhenshan had guessed, Cui Liang ultimately chose to ally with the Wuliang Hu Clan.

Because at this time, Cui Liang could not find Ji Feiyu nor Prince Qing, and he was also unwilling to give up the power in his hands.

Since Ji Feiyu was promoted to General, Cui Liang had become the uncontested ruler of the western route of Chongshan Town, almost having a final say in everything with the support of Ji Feiyu.

Now, asking him to give up his power in Chongshan Town’s western route was simply impossible, even if Ji Feiyu himself tried to persuade him, it’s likely he would not listen.

Daning Guard, Assistant General Mansion.

Cui Liang was sitting in his study, looking at the letter sent by Prince Wu Tuo.

In fact, as soon as he learned of Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu’s defeat and escape, he chose to ally with Prince Wu Tuo, and now he received a reply from Prince Wu Tuo.

Prince Wu Tuo was the youngest son of King Wuliang, just turning twenty this year, yet he had already demonstrated remarkable abilities.

The fact that King Wuliang entrusted him with the invasion of Da Rong’s Liaoxi was also a sign of King Wuliang’s high regard for him.

Naturally, Prince Wu Tuo would not refuse Cui Liang’s allegiance, even promising him the title of a Vassal King.

The Wuliang Hu Clan, also known as the Wuliang Dynasty, had a different system than the Da Rong Dynasty.

Since the Wuliang Dynasty was formed by many nomadic tribes, it adopted a Vassal King system where each tribe had a king, and the King Wuliang was the supreme ruler over these kings.

The so-called Vassal King system was similar to the feudal system; each Vassal King controlled the military, civilian, and political affairs of their own tribe and had their own small court and army.

This was actually similar to the system of the East Sea Hu Clan previously, but since Meng Temu’s rule as a king was too short, he was unable to control all the tribes, so the reign of the East Sea Hu Clan was somewhat improvised.

The Wuliang Dynasty, on the other hand, had been passed down through more than ten generations, and the rule of King Wuliang had long been deeply entrenched in people’s hearts, with the Wuliang Dynasty always moving towards centralization.

The Wuliang Royal Court had strong control over the various tribes, which was why the Wuliang Dynasty was a complete and unified Dynasty.

If Cui Liang became a Vassal King of the Wuliang Dynasty, it would not only be an advantage but rather an excellent opportunity for him.

However, Cui Liang also understood that whether he could become a Vassal King of the Wuliang Dynasty depended on his performance.

If he performed well, then Prince Wu Tuo’s promise would be valid.

If he performed poorly, even if Prince Wu Tuo granted him the position of a Vassal King, he would not be fortunate enough to enjoy it.

Because to become a Vassal King of the Wuliang Dynasty, he must fend off Yang Zhenshan’s attack.

Failing to hold off would render everything futile, but succeeding would secure his future.

After reading Prince Wu Tuo’s letter, Cui Liang paced back and forth in his study with a grave expression on his face.

Hold off Yang Zhenshan?

That seemed like an impossible task!

Even Prince Qing and Ji Feiyu were defeated by Yang Zhenshan, so what made him think he could defeat Yang Zhenshan?

Fortunately, Prince Wu Tuo wasn’t asking him to defeat Yang Zhenshan but merely to hold him off, preventing Yang Zhenshan from entering the western route of Chongshan Town.

”Defend? The western route of Chongshan Town has no Chongshan Pass! And Yang Zhenshan has captured Chongshan Pass, so the few cities in the western route of Chongshan Town can’t stop him!”

”Attack in place of defense? At this time, Yang Zhenshan’s troops outnumber mine, there’s no chance I can win!”

”How difficult, difficult, difficult!”

Cui Liang’s brows were tightly knotted.

He had never met Yang Zhenshan, but he had heard much about him, and Yang Zhenshan’s recent conquests, first capturing Qinghua Prefecture City, then Songzhou City, and finally Chongshan Pass, were proof enough of Yang Zhenshan’s strength.

Facing such an opponent, Cui Liang saw no hope of victory.

”And even if I could defeat Yang Zhenshan, the loss to my own forces would be severe, a pyrrhic victory!”

Cui Liang pondered thoroughly.

If he wanted to have power and status in the Wuliang Dynasty, he needed to possess his own force.

Military power was of utmost importance.

If he had not a single soldier under his command, then he could only be a general under Prince Wu Tuo, and the position of Vassal King was nothing but an empty talk.

Therefore, not only did he have to stop Yang Zhenshan, but he also needed to preserve his own strength.

It was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Cui Liang approached the map and studied it carefully, hoping to find a way to resist Yang Zhenshan.

While he racked his brain, his gaze suddenly fell upon the Ying River.

The Ying River was a major river traversing Chongshan Town, originating from the westernmost ranges of Chongshan Town, converging with many tributaries along the way, passing through Yinghe Castle, the north of Chongshan Pass, and the north of An Yuan City, finally flowing into the sea from the eastern route of Chongshan Town.

Chongshan Town got its name from the Qianzhong Mountain, which stretched from east to west with higher elevations in the west and lower towards the east, with ever steeper mountains and more ranges to the west.

The Ying River crisscrossed multiple times with Qianzhong Mountain, as if it had been embedded within the mountain range.

Such terrain held many unexpected opportunities.

Cui Liang seemed to have spotted a very clever opportunity.

Gui Ning City, to the west were overlapping peaks, and to the south flowed the Ying River.

Cui Liang remembered that there was a large canyon west of Gui Ning City, and the Ying River flowed through this canyon.

And taking the route through Gui Ning City to enter the western route of Chongshan Town was undoubtedly the best path.