Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 485: Chapter 448: If we’re in contact with Marquis Jing’an, where would we get the chance to take action?

Jizhou’s Luo Family.

The rich and magnificent hall was filled with the Luo Family elders of Jizhou gathered together.

Luo Changsheng’s gaze was dull as he stared at a piece of paper on the table before him, the very calligraphy Yang Zhenshan had Luo Shang deliver to him.

When he received the calligraphy from Luo Shang, he felt a trembling in his soul, and after that, he was in a daze as he held the paper and returned to Jizhou City from Chongshan Pass.

After several days of travel, he could hardly taste his food, and sleep eluded him at night, leaving him in a confused and disoriented state.

His face now ashen, his eyes hollow, he seemed utterly forlorn and dispirited.

”Changsheng, Changsheng~~”

The aged voice rang out, as Luo Jiangqiu, an elder of the Luo Family of Jizhou, called out in a deep tone.

Seeing that Luo Changsheng remained in a state of stupor, Luo Jiangqiu furrowed his brows and gave him a pat.

”Ah!” Luo Changsheng cried out sharply.

”Third Uncle!”

Luo Jiangqiu spoke with displeasure, ”Changsheng, you are now the Clan Leader, you should at least look the part.”

Luo Changsheng’s eyes were lifeless, seemingly not hearing his words, only muttering, ”Third Uncle, what should I do?”

Compared to his previous arrogance at Luo Shang’s home, he now seemed more like a young animal startled, as though he was being targeted by a ferocious beast, at any moment ready to be devoured.

No wonder he was so frightened; Yang Zhenshan’s calligraphy was truly extraordinary.

The piece was written when Yang Zhenshan was in a murderous fervor. At a casual glance, one might think it ordinary, but upon closer examination, one could sense the killing intent in each word and phrase.

Especially those seven ’kill’ characters, they were as imminent as a blade at one’s throat.

When Luo Shang saw the calligraphy, he too felt chilled to the core, let alone Luo Changsheng, who had been staring at it for so long, his mind already pierced by those ’kill’ characters.

Luo Jiangqiu could not comprehend Luo Changsheng’s feelings; he did not take the calligraphy seriously.

It was just a piece of writing, and he did not consider it as good as his own.

Although the meaning of the words was somewhat unsettling, Luo Jiangqiu merely saw them as threatening words.

”Changsheng, although Marquis Jing’an is formidable, this is Jizhou, not Chongshan Pass, and we need not be so frightened!”

Luo Jiangqiu said softly.

”But—” Luo Changsheng wanted to say more.

Luo Jiangqiu interrupted, ”This time, our alliance with numerous officials and merchants has only one goal, and that is to drive Marquis Jing’an’s force out of Ping Yuan!”

”Now, we have no way back!”

Does Yang Zhenshan hold power in Ping Yuan?

It could be said yes, and it could be no!

Yang Zhenshan never placed his own people in Ping Yuan Province, but due to the relationship with the Tenglong Guard, many forces in Ping Yuan Province were tied to him in a myriad of ways.

Such as the Zhen family of Yan State, the Qi family of Huai’an, and the numerous merchants and families with interests linked to the Tenglong Guard.

Including the Zhang family of Liao’an, Luo Shang — though not from Ping Yuan, their commercial empire encompasses Ping Yuan Province.

The scope of a force is not necessarily the territory held in one’s hands; it includes the areas you can influence.

As it stands now, Yang Zhenshan’s influence touches the entire Liaodong.

From Chongshan Town to Liao Yuan Province, and onto Ping Yuan Province, he could effortlessly turn situations to his favor.

Of course, compared to Liao Yuan Province, Yang Zhenshan’s influence in Ping Yuan Province is decidedly weaker.

This is why no one in Liao Yuan Province dares to provoke Yang Zhenshan, whereas there are many in Ping Yuan Province who dare to oppose him.

And Luo Jiangqiu’s concerns were justified; the Luo family of Jizhou, now involved, could not possibly withdraw.

Yang Zhenshan’s threat was still in Chongshan Town, while the imminent threat of collusion between officials and merchants of Liao Yuan was right before their eyes.

If today they were to lean towards Yang Zhenshan, perhaps tomorrow Jizhou would have no place for the Luo Family.

”Third Uncle, can’t we back out?” Luo Changsheng still harbored a glimmer of hope.

”We cannot!” Luo Jiangqiu shook his head slightly, ”The only path before us is to sever Tenglong Guard’s influence over Jizhou!”

Indeed, the greatest aim of the Jizhou Luo Family was to sever the Tenglong Guard Navy’s influence on Jizhou’s maritime trade.

Nowadays, the Tenglong Guard Navy is the overlord of the Liao Sea. Any family’s ships wishing to sail in the Liao Sea must obtain the Tenglong Guard Navy’s protection.

Even the Market Shipping Department of Jizhou and the Liaodong Maritime Trade Office could not stand against the Tenglong Guard.

Upon hearing this, Luo Changsheng slumped in his chair like a deflated ball.

Luo Jiangqiu saw his state and shook his head slightly, ”Since Marquis Jing’an does not wish to give us face, we have no room for turning back!”

”Gentlemen, go and make the preparations, we shall proceed according to plan!”

Within the hall, the other elders exchanged glances and eventually nodded in agreement.

Although Luo Changsheng was the Clan Leader of the Jizhou Luo Family, the true master was Luo Jiangqiu.

The elders all followed Luo Jiangqiu’s orders.

Not long after the Luo family’s meeting concluded, within the austere decorated room of the Hengdao Sect, Ji Zhen, a man of a saintly appearance, was leisurely savoring tea by the window.

Outside the window, willows swayed as if shrouded in mist, curtains layered upon each other, the slightly arid wind passed through the swaying branches and entered the room, stirring Ji Zhen’s snowy white temples.

”Master!” Ji Hai entered the room.

”Mm!” Ji Zhen responded casually, his murky eyes resting on the willows outside the window.

”The Luo family does not plan to back down!” Ji Hai did not care about Ji Zhen’s response and directly got to the point.