Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 804: Chapter 605: Taking the First Step Toward Rebellion (2)

These arrangements were not made by Yang Zhenshan, but were the natural outcome. The sons of the Yang Family naturally pushed Yang Chengye to become the leader of Chongshan Town, and he became the leader without needing to do anything.

Of course, some corrupt officials also emerged within the Yang family. Yang Chengye’s methods were severe, and any family member who dared to behave recklessly was mercilessly sent back to Yang Family Village. If they failed to repent, Yang Minghui would ensure that they were removed from the family register.

Regardless of whether in officialdom or within the family, Yang Chengye now had firm control over the Yang family.

Yang Zhenshan was very satisfied with this heir he had cultivated himself, considering him far superior to his foolish eldest son.

After leaving Chongshan Town, Yang Zhenshan wandered around Beiyuan Town for more than a month, mainly because he had more familiar friends in Beiyuan Town. He met with Zhou Lan, Song Dashan, Yang Mingzhen, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu, and others.

Meanwhile, as Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi were visiting friends and relatives, Yang Mingzhao finally took the first step in his grand rebellion.

In the thirteenth year of Xingyuan, which is the twentieth year of Yanping, on the afternoon of October 23rd.

Yang Mingzhao and Yang Ze each rode a horse, leisurely moving along the official road of Taiping County.

Horses in Bashu were generally small, with an average height below 1.2 meters, while the prairie horses in Chongshan Town usually had a shoulder height of around 1.5 meters.

The horses bred by the Yang family could reach a shoulder height of 1.7 meters, and the horses raised by Yang Zhenshan in the Spiritual Spring Space could exceed a shoulder height of two meters.

The significant difference in size was due to the variety differences and the fact that the horses in the Spiritual Spring Space had been bred over generations.

The horses in the space had some genetic mutations, making them quite different from ordinary horses, perhaps even deserving to be called demon beasts.

Yang Mingzhao did not bring his own horse, instead buying a few horses from Bashu to ride.

The two rode along the official road, looking at the farmland on either side and the farmers working in the fields.

Actually, Taiping County was not very poor. Although mountainous, it had numerous river valleys formed by river sediments, making the valley fields not only fertile but also adjacent to rivers, turning them into upper-class rice paddies.

Besides the farmland, Taiping County had vast tea gardens, and the tea produced here held considerable value.

Additionally, being close to Wanshan Ridge, Taiping County had many Medicine Gatherers and medicine farmers, making tea and medicinal materials the most valuable industries in Taiping County.

Unfortunately, whether it was the rice paddies, tea gardens, or medicinal fields, they were properties of the rural landlords, with the ordinary folks merely being tenants.

Yang Mingzhao sighed softly as he watched those working in the fields.

Their clothes tattered and patched, some even bare-chested, revealing scrawny chests.

Yang Mingzhao also saw children around seven or eight years old, helping in the fields with frail bodies and large heads, clearly showing signs of malnutrition.

Seeing these people, Yang Mingzhao’s determination grew stronger.

“Let’s go!”

He spurred his horse towards Taiping County town.

Taiping County town, a very ordinary town, pacing about eight to nine miles in circumference, roughly one kilometer in length and width.

The city walls stood four meters high, with a population around ten thousand.

The dilapidated city walls hadn’t been repaired for a long time, and upon arriving, Yang Mingzhao immediately noticed a large section of the eastern wall had collapsed.

With such a town, not to mention sneaking in for a surprise attack, even a frontal assault from outside wouldn’t be challenging.

As for the constables, Yang Mingzhao watched the few lazy government officials at the city gate and shook his head in resignation.

“What kind of people are these!”

They looked like human beings, but behaved like anything but human.

Five officers stood at the gate collecting city taxes, beating and scolding the arriving commoners.

“You son of a bitch, can’t even afford five coins for the city tax, what are you entering the city for? To beg?”

“Get lost, no beggars allowed in the city!”

A constable with two small moustaches cursed a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, and unsatisfied, he gave the boy a kick, causing him to stumble.

The boy, both angry and furious, clenched his fists and glared at the officer, “My home is in the city, let me in!”

“Think you, little beggar, live in the city? Get lost!”

The officer glared at the boy, placing his hand on the knife hanging by his waist, “If you don’t scram, I’ll cut you!”

The boy, seeing the constable’s long sword, seemed fearful and stepped back cautiously, but he still wouldn’t leave.

Seeing this, the officer’s expression turned fierce, brandishing his long sword with a chilling ring.

“You little beggar, think I’m afraid to cut you down?”

The boy, startled by the bright blade, retreated several steps until he fell to the ground.

Once down, his cloth bag dropped, spilling some rice bran on the ground.

“Get out of the way!”

Yang Mingzhao rode up, glancing at the boy and the rice bran scattered on the ground.

The boy was very thin, with sunken cheeks, sitting on the ground, seemingly too weak to rise.

The officer smiled obsequiously as soon as he spotted Yang Mingzhao.

“Young master wishes to enter the city? Please, please, young master, please come in!”

Exuding servility now, devoid of any ferocity or arrogance.

Displaying cowardice and bullying the weak aptly.

In the officer’s eyes, Yang Mingzhao naturally appeared as an affluent gentleman.

Riding a horse, followed by attendants, with fine clothing and a Jade Pendant, along with an unmistakable demeanor of distinction.

Yang Mingzhao glanced at the officer, then at the boy on the ground.

“Young master!” Yang Ze signaled towards the city.

Yang Mingzhao looked inside the city gate, where Zhao Kai and Chen Buyu were waiting.

Zhao Kai and Chen Buyu had entered the city with others three days ago.

They certainly didn’t infiltrate the city with seven hundred men, which would be too conspicuous. With Taiping County town being this small, so many strangers would quickly draw attention.

Only two hundred men had been sent inside, with another two hundred dispatched to the northern Inspection Bureau. Another three hundred were forming three teams bringing supplies in mule carts, expected to arrive in the afternoon.

Looking at the officer and the city walls, Yang Mingzhao doubted his previous caution.

For such a dilapidated town, they spent three to four days planning their uprising.

Was planning even necessary?

“Why are you bullying people?” Yang Mingzhao demanded angrily.

“Ah, young master, I… I… hahaha, this little beggar is too disrespectful, I just wanted to teach him a lesson!” the officer stammered.

Despite his earlier menacing demeanor, he was merely a petty character.

Bullying the weak and cowering from the strong.

Not to mention nobility, even a wealthy country bumpkin could easily destroy him.

Although not crucially concerned, Yang Mingzhao looked at the officer and then at the boy on the ground.

He felt it necessary to give these bullies a harsh lesson, as they were the real pests harming the people.

With that thought, he raised his long sword and rode into the city without caring for the officer’s fate.

Chen Buyu heard the commotion and came out with a sharp whistle.

Two hundred hearty souls armed with waist knives or clubs rushed the government office.

Behind Chen Buyu’s shout, “Attack the county office!” came a chorus of cries.

Twenty young men arrived at the city gate, unleashing a flurry of blows on the constables stationed there.

Frightened, the constables scrambled away amidst cries and yells.

A few townsfolk, who had been waiting to enter the city, cautiously started towards the entrance as the urchin cautiously followed.

Seeing the urchin, some of the men from Three Arrows Valley glanced at him before dismissing him.

“””