Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather 75

Chapter 75: The Changes in the Yang Clan

Yang Zhengshan also mentioned a joyful event – three more warriors had emerged from the Yang Clan, all of whom were young men who had followed Yang Zhengshan’s training. These young men had all drunk the water from the Mystical Spring, although it was only a diluted version. Still, they had drunk it for over a month, and it was no surprise that some of them became warriors.

Yang Zhengshan calculated that among the ten young men who had followed him, six had already become warriors. Adding Yang Mingcheng, Yang Mingzhi, Yang Mingwu, and himself, there were now ten warriors in the Yang Clan.

In other words, the Yang Clan now had fourteen warriors. This was a remarkable change in just one year, and Yang Zhengshan was overjoyed. However, this also highlighted the importance of resources.

The Mystical Spring water was not a divine existence; its greatest effect was to enhance physical strength and boost potential. Compared to other precious medicines, the Mystical Spring water was not extraordinary. However, it did have a remarkable effect – long-term consumption could turn even a mediocre person into a talented warrior.

This was the most extraordinary aspect of the Mystical Spring water. With so many warriors in the Yang Clan, they were now considered a prominent family in Anning County, although not as powerful as the Lu Clan. Nevertheless, they were no longer negligible in Anning County.

The County Magistrate of Anning, Luo Jin, had already started to curry favor with the Yang Clan. According to Yang Zhengshan’s letter, Luo Jin intended to appoint Yang Mingcheng as the Prefectural Inspector.

Prefectural Inspector was a ninth-rank official position. Yang Zhengshan had once hoped to attain this position but was deterred by his lack of strength and foundation. Now, Luo Jin was offering it to Yang Mingcheng, which was a nod to Yang Zhengshan’s face and a recognition of the Yang Clan’s rising influence.

After reading the letter, Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment and wrote a response. He felt that it was better to decline the offer, as he had his own plans for Yang Mingcheng.

Yang Mingcheng was his eldest son, and in this feudal society, the eldest son had a natural advantage and significance. Although Yang Mingcheng was too honest, Yang Zhengshan still held him in high esteem.

He would not let Yang Mingcheng stay in Anning County forever; once he had developed his own foundation, he would summon Yang Mingcheng to join him.

As for the Prefectural Inspector position, since Luo Jin was willing to offer it, Yang Zhengshan would not refuse. He intended to recommend Yang Minghui, Yang Zhengshan’s eldest son, for the position.

Yang Minghui was already a warrior and qualified for the position. Moreover, Yang Zhengshan had already grown old, and the Yang Clan needed a young leader; Yang Minghui was the most suitable candidate.

Aside from these matters, Yang Zhengshan also mentioned the situation in Heavy Mountain Fortress and the drought outside the pass. Anning County was also affected by the drought, but the impact was not severe.

Yang Zhengshan’s main concern was to store the grain harvested this year, in preparation for future needs or to make a profit. Heavy Mountain Fortress was affected by the drought, and next year’s grain prices would definitely rise.

He was not trying to make a fortune but simply wanted to increase the Yang Clan’s income. If he wanted to make a profit, he could simply buy some grain.

This kind of vicious act was beyond him.

“You will deliver this letter to the Lu family’s merchant team and have them bring it back!”

After writing the letter, Yang Zhengshan sealed it and handed it to Yang Minghao.

After Yang Minghao left, Yang Zhengshan returned to his bedroom and immersed himself in the Spirit Spring space.

At this time, the vegetables in the Spirit Spring space had grown, and Yang Zhengshan was troubled about how to handle them.

Should he take them out? It didn’t seem right.

He couldn’t find a suitable reason.

Removing them all would be a waste; he had already prepared the seeds for medicinal herbs and needed to plant them. These vegetables couldn’t be kept.

He had prepared various types of medicinal herb seeds, each in limited quantities, but with many varieties. He had spent a lot of effort collecting these seeds and had also gathered some books on planting medicinal herbs.

His goal in planting medicinal herbs was not to make a profit but to preserve the seeds.

In the future, the Spirit Spring space would expand, and he would need more land to cultivate. He couldn’t keep collecting seeds from outside; it was better to be self-sufficient.

Looking at the lush vegetables, Yang Zhengshan hesitated for a moment before harvesting them.

It took half an hour to clear all the vegetables, and then he hitched a cow cart and drove it out of the Mountain Fortress.

The good vegetables couldn’t be wasted, especially since some were irrigated with Spirit Spring water; he couldn’t bear to waste them.

After driving the cart outside the Mountain Fortress for an hour, Yang Zhengshan took out all the vegetables and loaded them onto the cart, then brought them back to the Mountain Fortress.

These vegetables were like treasures.

“How did you buy so many vegetables?” Yang Mingzhi asked, puzzled, as Yang Zhengshan returned with a cartload of vegetables.

“I picked them up on the road!”

What did he need to explain to his son?

As for others, they might be curious, but who would dare ask him?

Yang Mingzhi glanced at Yang Zhengshan, sensing that his father had a secret, but he didn’t dare ask.

“Hand these vegetables over to the kitchen, and we’ll eat them slowly!”

Yang Zhengshan directly handed the cart to Yang Mingzhi and sauntered back to the study.

In the Yang household, he was the patriarch, and in the Mountain Fortress, he was the elder.

Why did he need to explain to anyone?

Besides, he would only do this once, and nobody would remember it after a few days.

The vegetables produced in the Spirit Spring space were exceptionally delicious, even if they weren’t irrigated with Spirit Spring water. They were better than ordinary vegetables.

At noon, Yang Mingwu and the others enjoyed an exceptionally fragrant meal, and they all had an extra bowl of rice.

…

Two days passed, and rumors spread throughout the city.

Just then, a group of officials from the capital arrived.

It wasn’t just a few people, nor was it dozens or hundreds of people; it was a contingent of five thousand elite cavalry, all wearing iron armor and surpassing the Left Vanguard of the Prefectural Banner in precision.

When the five thousand elite cavalry appeared outside the Heavy Mountain Fortress, the entire city fell silent.

Yang Zhengshan didn’t know who these people were, but judging by their appearance, a massive change was about to sweep through Heavy Mountain Fortress.

As expected, the official circle in the city was shaken in the following days.

First, the Governor, Sun Xincheng, was dismissed due to corruption.

To speak of it, Sun Xincheng, the Governor, was like a transparent person in Heavy Mountain Fortress, supposedly the highest-ranking official, but he was often overlooked.

However, this time, he was indeed the first high-ranking official to be dismissed, showing that he had done many things behind the scenes.

The second person to be handled was Zhang Shouwang, who was not dismissed but recalled to the capital.

The third person to be handled was Zhang Yude, also recalled to the capital; Yang Zhengshan didn’t know the details, and even if he wanted to, he had no way to find out.

(End of chapter)

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