Chapter 50: Rules, Changes
“Make way, make way!”
The shouting grew louder, and Yang Zhengshan hastily pulled Yang Mingzhi aside to avoid the commotion.
As he did so, he saw a group of soldiers rush over, dispersing the onlookers. In the midst of the crowd, he noticed a young man in a purple robe, wielding a whip and beating two people.
The two victims were a boy and a girl, the boy around sixteen or seventeen, and the girl only about ten years old. The boy was shielding the girl from the blows, allowing the young master, Zhang, to whip his back, eliciting painful wails.
Seven or eight guards in green attire were also glaring menacingly at the surrounding onlookers.
Yang Zhengshan shook his head, feeling that this was a perfect display of bullying.
Just as he turned away, he felt someone staring at him. Following the sensation, he revealed a shocked expression.
Zhou Lan!
Riding a horse, Zhou Lan appeared amidst a group of soldiers.
Yang Zhengshan had been waiting for three days without any result, and now, unexpectedly, they had crossed paths.
Zhou Lan nodded slightly at him, her face stern, before riding past.
“Make way!” the soldiers shouted.
“Where did this foolish guy come from? Daring to disturb my good deed?” Zhang sneered, his eyes blazing with anger.
However, as soon as he spoke, a whiplash sounded, and a black whip struck Zhang’s body.
His purple robe tore, revealing a bloody wound.
Zhang let out a painful cry, stumbling to the ground.
“My lord!” The guards, who had been ferocious just moments ago, changed their expressions, rushing to aid Zhang.
Zhang continued to wail for a while before finally standing up. He glared at Zhou Lan on horseback, his eyes blazing with hatred.
“You dare to hit me?”
The whiplash sounded again.
Zhang trembled, retreating in fright.
However, this time, the whip didn’t strike him, as one of his guards caught it.
Zhou Lan gazed coldly at the guard.
Yang Zhengshan, observing from a distance, realized that the guard must be a high-level martial artist to be able to catch Zhou Lan’s whip.
“Let go!” Zhou Lan said calmly.
The guard hastily released the whip, bowing his head to apologize.
But as soon as he spoke, the whiplash sounded again.
This time, the guard couldn’t block it, and the whip struck Zhang’s chest.
His clothes were torn, revealing a bloody wound.
Zhang wailed again.
“If you dare to speak nonsense again, I’ll whip you to death!”
“Get out of the way!” Zhou Lan coldly ordered.
The seven or eight guards hastily dragged Zhang aside, clearing the road.
Zhou Lan didn’t even glance at Zhang again, riding off with her soldiers.
Yang Zhengshan’s gaze wandered between Zhang and Zhou Lan, realizing that the waters in this Heavy Mountain Fortress were indeed deep.
As a small fish, he should avoid getting involved and causing trouble.
“Let’s go!” Yang Zhengshan whispered to Yang Mingzhi.
It was better to avoid getting entangled in such situations, lest they suffer undeserved consequences.
As they departed, Yang Zhengshan thought to himself, “It’s not wise to get involved in the conflicts of the powerful. Let’s just focus on our own matters.”
—
Later, when it was near dusk, Zhou Lan arrived as Yang Zhengshan had expected.
“Pay respects to General Zhou!” Yang Zhengshan and the others bowed in greeting.
“No need for such formalities!” Zhou Lan smiled, waving her hand.
Yang Zhengshan welcomed her into the main hall of his residence.
“I bought this residence four years ago, when I first arrived in this place. I needed a place to live, so I purchased this house,” Yang Zhengshan explained.
“However, I later bought an even larger residence, so I’m giving this one to you!” Zhou Lan said casually.
Yang Zhengshan’s expression faltered, saying, “Isn’t this too valuable?”
Zhou Lan waved her hand, saying, “It’s not a big deal, just accept it!”
As they entered the main hall, two soldiers carried in food and drinks, and soon, a lavish feast was laid before Yang Zhengshan.
“Let’s eat and chat!” Zhou Lan said, glancing at the surrounding young men.
“Yang, you should establish your own rules. You’re not like before, and you need to maintain your dignity as a battalion commander!”
Yang Zhengshan was taken aback, then realized what Zhou Lan meant.
“Please, go ahead and leave!” Yang Zhengshan said to the young men.
They hastily retreated, understanding the implied meaning behind Zhou Lan’s words.
“They’re all from our clan, and they’re a bit too familiar with me. Please forgive them, General Zhou!” Yang Zhengshan explained, smiling.
Rules.
For many aristocratic families, rules were an insurmountable barrier.
Although Zhou Lan had always been approachable, she was, after all, from the Ning Country Duke’s Manor.
Looking at the soldiers and attendants by her side, it was clear that her rules were still quite strict.
In comparison, the young men from the Yang clan seemed somewhat lacking.
Yang Zhengshan hadn’t paid attention to this before, but now, thanks to Zhou Lan’s reminder, he understood.
As a superior, one needed to maintain their dignity.
The so-called rules were established to maintain the dignity of those in power.
Zhou Lan wasn’t trying to criticize, but rather, she was just reminding Yang Zhengshan.
She raised her cup and toasted Yang Zhengshan, saying, “Tomorrow, let Zhao Yuan take you to the Metropolitan Prefecture Office to register, and we’ll transfer the deed for this residence.”
“When can I go to the Mountain Fortress?” Yang Zhengshan asked.
Zhou Lan thought for a moment before replying, “As soon as possible. Let Zhao Yuan take you there!”
“I told you before, training in the Mountain Fortress is a test for you. However, the situation has changed!”
Yang Zhengshan’s eyebrows furrowed, asking, “What changes?”
Zhou Lan lifted her cup and took a large gulp, her demeanor bold and unrestrained.
“The imperial court is planning to launch a campaign against the Hu Tribe in the east sea!”
Yang Zhengshan’s hand trembled, and he looked up in shock.
A campaign against the Hu Tribe?
This wasn’t hard to understand.
The Hu cavalry had invaded the borders, and naturally, the Great Rong wouldn’t just sit idly by.
“When will it happen?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Zhou Lan replied, shaking her head.
Yang Zhengshan’s gaze dropped, thinking to himself, “It’s already April, the time when everything in the north is reviving. If the war drags on until June or July, it will be even more challenging. The north’s winter is harsh and long, making large-scale warfare difficult. If the war starts in May or June, it will be even more arduous.”
“Will I need to join the army?” Yang Zhengshan asked.
“That’s undecided. We’ll have to see what the imperial court decides,” Zhou Lan replied, shaking her head.
Yang Zhengshan thought for a moment, feeling that this matter wasn’t worth worrying about.
He was just a minor battalion commander, and whatever he did, he had to follow Zhou Lan’s arrangement.
As for other matters, he couldn’t control them even if he wanted to.
Zhou Lan was his superior, and he had to obey her orders.
Yang Zhengshan thought about leaving or escaping from Zhou Lan, but he immediately dismissed the idea.
Unless he wanted to stay in Yang Family Village, he had to follow Zhou Lan.
If he wanted to rise to prominence, he couldn’t avoid taking risks.
Moreover, as a martial artist, going to war was an inevitable path.
One who achieves great things must climb over countless corpses.
The Yang family wanted to grow stronger, and they had to tread on the bodies of their enemies.
Those corpses included enemies, as well as some from the Yang clan, and maybe even Yang Zhengshan himself.
“Training is fine, but I have a request,” Yang Zhengshan said.
“What request?”
“Food, sufficient food! If the soldiers can’t even eat their fill, how can we talk about training?” Yang Zhengshan asked.
Zhou Lan didn’t hesitate, promising, “I’ll let Zhao Yuan transport a batch of food to you.”
(End of Chapter)
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