Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 602: Chapter 508 The Method of Entering Tao_2

Before, the Jianghu forces had intricate connections with the official circles, and the court turned a blind eye to many Jianghu forces,

but from now on, all Innate Martial Artists within Da Rong will become subjects of the court, and all Jianghu forces will need to be appraised by the court.

Right and wrong, gain and loss, all controlled by the court.

Merit and fault, life and death, all determined by the court.

Yang Zhenshan personally saw off one senior after another from the camp.

Until night was about to fall, those who were supposed to leave had left, those remaining were the ones who wouldn’t be departing for the time being.

None of the five seniors from Sanshan Valley left; they still needed to transport the Star Origin Fruits back to the Capital City and also leave behind a few people to hold down Cui Xia Valley.

As for the four determined to hold down Cui Xia Valley, they had to go back to make preparations.

After sending everyone off, Yang Zhenshan returned to his own tent.

Inside the tent, Zhang Luan and Li Zhen were already waiting for him.

”Brother Yang, are you certain to target Lingxiu Villa?” Zhang Luan asked.

Yang Zhenshan picked up the tea on the table and gulped it down, smiling and saying, ”What comes next is the matter of the Martial Arts Department. Whether or not to target Lingxiu Villa is also your affair at the Martial Arts Department!”

Zhang Luan, hearing this, was somewhat displeased and said, ”Brother Yang, let’s not beat around the bush.

Killing the chicken to warn the monkey requires strategy as well; if the entire court takes action against a single Jianghu force, it would be an overkill.

Martial Arts Department, as the government office that will control the Jianghu in the future, needs to establish its authority at this time, so it is most appropriate for the Martial Arts Department to handle this matter.”

Zhang Luan was worried he couldn’t deal with Jing Mingzhou alone, hence he specifically brought Li Zhen along.

Yang Zhenshan’s expression became serious, and he said, ”Lingxiu Villa must be eradicated, not just eradicated, but struck by a thunderous blow. In one night, annihilate its lineage, slaughter its descendants, leave no one behind, absolutely not dragging it out!”

His words were very resolute and cold.

Since authority needs to be established, it naturally should be the might of thunder. If it takes ten days or half a month to destroy Lingxiu Villa, it would be too weak.

Zhang Luan nodded in agreement, ”I will arrange this. His Majesty has already allowed me to mobilize troops from the Yun Gui and Jiujiang regions. I guarantee that Lingxiu Villa will have no chance to resist!”

”Hmm, but it must be quick. Jing Mingzhou has already sensed something wrong; he must be on guard. You need to act swiftly!” Yang Zhenshan reminded.

”Then we’ll rush to Jiujiang Prefecture tonight!” Zhang Luan looked at Li Zhen, who nodded.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and added, ”Besides Lingxiu Villa, there is another force that must be destroyed!”

”Which one?” Zhang Luan asked.

”Star Moon Sect!” A cold light flashed in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

If targeting Lingxiu Villa was for the consideration of the court and the Martial Arts Department, then targeting Star Moon Sect involved some personal emotions.

Star Moon Sect had troubled him many times, but he never had the opportunity to deal with them.

Now, when the Martial Arts Department needs to establish authority, taking down Lingxiu Villa and then targeting Star Moon Sect is not an impossibility.

”Star Moon Sect!” Zhang Luan pondered, ”It won’t be easy to deal with them!”

Yang Zhenshan gave a slight nod, ”Dealing with Star Moon Sect can’t be rushed; we take it slowly, first take out Seven Stars Hall, then cut off all of Star Moon Sect’s tentacles within Da Rong, and finally mobilize the Navy to besiege Star Moon Island.”

”This can be a long-term plan, and you in the Martial Arts Department can use Star Moon Sect as a whetstone!”

The newly established Martial Arts Department, although possessing formidable martial power, how much fighting capacity it truly has is still debatable.

The officials and soldiers of the Martial Arts Department come from a complex background, including soldiers from the border army, ruffians from the garrison, and Martial Artists from the Jianghu forces.

It will take considerable time for these people to merge into a formidable force; they also need a whetstone for this purpose.

And Star Moon Sect is suitable to play the role of this whetstone.

Zhang Luan thought for a moment, ”Star Moon Sect has indeed gone too far these years, and they even dared to attack the Secret Martial Guards this time, attempting to snatch the Star Origin Fruit Tree, indeed, they can’t be allowed to act recklessly any longer!”

Yang Zhenshan smiled, ”Of course, these are just some of my suggestions. How the Martial Arts Department acts depends on Marquis Zhang’s plan!”

”You, you... I heard that before I came back, His Majesty intended for you to serve as the Minister of the Martial Arts Temple!” Zhang Luan laughed.

Yang Zhenshan shrugged, ”I have just broken through to the Innate Realm, and I need time to consolidate. I really can’t shoulder such a great responsibility!”

”Marquis Zhang is wise and martial, truly a role model for our generation. With Marquis Zhang at the helm of the Martial Arts Department, who else could be more suitable? I wouldn’t presume to show off in front of Marquis Zhang.”

He just wanted to avoid the hassle. Starting from scratch to establish the Martial Arts Department was simply too troublesome.

Moreover, integrating so many Jianghu forces required a lot of energy and time.

He really didn’t want to waste any more time on these things.

”Ha ha~~” Zhang Luan burst into laughter, greatly pleased by the flattery from Yang Zhenshan.

Although he knew Yang Zhenshan was jesting, he still enjoyed it.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Zhang Luan and Li Zhen hurried to Jiujiang Prefecture overnight.

The next morning, Granny Meng and Princess Ming Xi escorted the Star Origin Fruit back to the Capital City, while Zhang Ye, An Yuxing, and Jian Chengfeng stayed to guard Cui Xia Valley, waiting for Li Shouning, Yang Jiushi and the others to come and take over.

Yang Zhenshan stayed in Cui Xia Valley for another seven or eight days before he set off to return to the Capital.

There was nothing left here for him to do.

Next, the Ministry of Industry would send craftsmen and laborers to construct courtyards, pavilions, and barracks, and Your Majesty’s personal Twelve Guards would dispatch some soldiers to replace Yao Wu Camp and the training camps.

The Spirit Plant must be controlled by the Emperor, guarded by Innate Martial Artists and the Emperor’s personal military guards, which is in line with Da Rong’s usual practice.

However, it would probably take a while for the Emperor’s personal army to arrive and garrison Cui Xia Valley.

Because none of the existing Twelve Guards of the Emperor’s personal army are available to be mobilized.

The Four Guards of the Feather Forest, the Four Guards of Jinwu, the Four Guards of Wuxiang, are responsible not only for guarding the Imperial City but also for guarding Sanshan Valley and thus have no spare forces to garrison Cui Xia Valley.

Therefore, Emperor Yanping intended to increase four more guards to Your Majesty’s personal army, namely the Yunlong Four Guards.

In fact, Emperor Yanping was more inclined to have the Tenglong Four Guards, but currently, the Tenglong Four Guards are playing vital roles in Liaodong and Chongshan Town.

The trade between Liaodong and Chongshan Town relies on the escort of the Tenglong Guard Navy and the dispatching of the Tenglong Guard Pier.

Although the Tenglong Four Guards are not responsible for the public security in Liaodong, as long as the Tenglong Four Guards are present, Liaodong will not fall into chaos.

If the Tenglong Four Guards were to be incorporated into the Emperor’s personal army and dispatched away from Liaodong, it would be akin to removing a pivotal pillar of support from Liaodong and Chongshan Town.

Therefore, Emperor Yanping had no choice but to settle for the second-best option, the Yunlong Guard.

Nevertheless, this matter was of no concern to Yang Zhenshan; the Yunlong Guard was led by Liang Chu, and any issues would be deferred to him instead of Yang.

When Yang Zhenshan arrived, he led a mighty force of twenty thousand, but when he left, he only had two hundred trusted aides by his side.

He wasn’t in a hurry either, slowly making his way towards the Capital City.

However, on the second day after he left Cui Xia Valley, a piece of news swept through the whole of Da Rong like a whirlwind.

Lingxiu Villa had been destroyed!

From Jing Mingzhou at the top to the ordinary disciples, more than three hundred people were executed without a single survivor; even the servants of Lingxiu Villa were mostly killed, leaving only a group of ordinary servants with no cultivation to survive.

Zhang Luan acted with thunderous might and authority.

This time, he not only shook the Jianghu of Da Rong but also stirred things up in the official circles of Yun Gui Province.

Yun Gui Province is not a border town and does not have a border army to use; the only forces available were the Military Officers and soldiers of the garrison.

One could imagine what sort of people those garrison soldiers were, hence Zhang Luan didn’t mobilize them from the beginning. He only called upon Military Officers from the governor’s offices and various garrisons.

From the Capital Commander to the households, within three days Zhang Luan gathered sixty-eight Military Officers of rank households and above. Along with the recently formed Yun Gui Martial Arts Department, less than two months old, they took down Lingxiu Villa.

In the chaotic battle, sixteen Military Officers died, including a Deputy Magistrate of the Capital Commander. Well, two of the households were personally beheaded by Zhang Luan, accused of cowardice.

Through this battle, the Martial Arts Temple established its formidable reputation, while the Military Officers of Yun Gui became synonymous with incompetence.

Sending out sixty-eight Military Officers of household rank and above to destroy a Jianghu sect was one thing, but losing fourteen men in the process was utterly disgraceful.

This also proved how decayed the garrisons of Da Rong had become.

Compared to the border army and garrisons of the border towns, the garrisons across the central provinces of Da Rong had practically been rendered useless.

Yang Zhenshan received these reports on the way back to the Capital, and after reading the battle report sent from the Martial Arts Department, he shook his head helplessly.

”Let’s go, to the Capital!”

Yang Zhenshan tucked away the documents sent by the Martial Arts Order and sped towards the Capital City on horseback.