Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Moreover, his Martial Arts aptitude is not bad; he became a Martial Artist at just sixteen years old. With proper cultivation, his future cultivation may not necessarily be lower than Yang Wanting.

After Yang Wanting met Wang Qianzhong, she shyly asked her grandfather to make the decision, and then Yang Zhenshan settled the children's marriage affairs with Wang Bin.

After the marriage of Yang Chengxian and Yang Wanting was settled, Yang Zhenshan also heaved a sigh of relief.

Marriage is a significant affair in a family, and not to be handled negligently; Yang Zhenshan also spent quite some efforts on this.

The key issue is the children of the Yang family are growing up one after another. After Yang Chengxian, Yang Wanting, and Jiang Miao are married, it would soon be Yang Mingzhao's turn.

Yang Mingzhao is already twelve this year, and in two or three years, it will be time to talk about marriage.

Following Yang Mingzhao are Yang Chengyou, Yang Chengzhang, Yang Wan Ning, and others.

Time flies quickly; the children grow up fast too. In the blink of an eye, a bunch of kids has turned into teenagers.

Wang Sheng arrived at the Capital City from the east of Shandong at the start of March, together with his wife and children as well as Yang Qinwu and Yang Chengche.

Back then, these two followed Wang Bin to Beiyuan Town. Previously when Wang Bin wanted his wife and children to escape from Beiyuan Town, he entrusted Yang Qinwu and Yang Chengche to escort them.

For several consecutive days, Yang Zhenshan first met with Wang Qianzhong, then he arranged the details of Wang Sheng's tasks, followed by settling the marriage between Wang Qianzhong and Yang Wanting, and finally, he had time to chat properly with these two Yang family descendants.

In the study, two rugged men stood before Yang Zhenshan.

After more than ten years of not seeing each other, Yang Chengche and Yang Qinwu had changed a lot.

Now Yang Chengche is over forty, while Yang Qinwu is thirty-three.

Back when Yang Zhenshan went to Chongshan Town, Yang Qinwu was only fourteen, the youngest and lowest in ranking among Yang Mingwu, Yang Chengze.

"Ai, these years have been tough on you two," Yang Zhenshan said with a sigh.

Fate is unforeseeable; initially, when Yang Zhenshan sent him to follow Wang Bin to Beiyuan Town, it was hoped that they could carve a future there.

Who would have thought that Wang Bin was severely suppressed in Beiyuan Town, and they also found themselves restricted.

Until now, people like Yang Mingwu, Yang Chengze in Chongshan Town have become Guerrilla Generals, while they ended up as households in Iron Origin Guard.

Not only is there a gap in official ranks, but even their cultivation has diverged.

Yang Mingwu, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu, Yang Mingzhen have now all reached Postnatal Ninth Layer of Martial Artists, while their cultivation is one at Postnatal Eighth Layer and the other at Postnatal Seventh Layer.

Yang Chengche shook his head slightly, "Grandfather Zhengshan, it's our fault; we failed to help General Wang make a breakthrough in Beiyuan Town!"

Yang Qinwu appeared somewhat disheartened, hanging his head and remaining silent.

Yang Zhenshan patted their shoulders, "Alright, you don't have to blame yourselves, it's not your fault!"

This really isn't their fault; in Beiyuan Town, even Wang Bin had no solutions, let alone them.

"Where are your wives and children?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

Yang Chengche replied bitterly, "Life in Iron Origin Guard was too harsh, so we sent our wives and children back to Yang Family Village!"

"Hmm! What are your plans for the future?" Yang Zhenshan inquired.

Yang Chengche shook his head, "I don't know, maybe going back to Yang Family Village."

"Not thinking of continuing as officers?"

"No longer! I've had enough!" Yang Chengche said with a defeated look.

Yang Zhenshan looked at them, feeling both heartache and self-blame.

Perhaps he should have transferred them away from Beiyuan Town earlier, but he didn't realize before how tough their days in Beiyuan Town had been.

Yang Chengche and Yang Qinwu had written letters to him which were always about good news, never mentioning how miserable their days in Iron Origin Guard were.

Wang Bin indeed mentioned being stuck in Iron Origin Guard, but Yang Zhenshan had always assumed that as a Vice General, even in Iron Origin Guard, Wang Bin wouldn't suffer.

"Why go back to Yang Family Village? Your cultivation has fallen behind over the years. Since you don't want to be officers anymore, stay at the Marquis Mansion with me as trusted aides, and first catch up on your cultivation!"

"Qinwu is still young, and with diligent cultivation, becoming an Innate Martial Artist shouldn't be a problem."

"Chengche, you are older, but it's not without a chance to become an Innate Martial Artist, cultivate diligently, as long as you reach the Postnatal Ninth Layer before the age of forty-five, then there is a chance to become an Innate Martial Artist!"

Yang Zhenshan said with an invigorating tone.

Yang Qinwu is only thirty-four this year, not even forty yet, and there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Although Yang Chengche is already forty-one, he possesses the cultivation of the Postnatal Eighth Layer. Just one more layer, and he too could have the opportunity to become an Innate Martial Artist.

At worst, just eat a few more Three Yellow Plums, Yang Zhenshan can supply them.

Hearing about the possibility of becoming an Innate Martial Artist, the disheartened Yang Qinwu suddenly lifted his head, "Really?"

"Since when have I ever lied to you!" Yang Zhenshan glared at him.

Yang Qinwu scratched his head, "I thought my life had already reached its limits!"

Yang Zhenshan slapped him hard on the back, "You youngster, how can you say it's the end? From today on, cultivate fiercely for me, and if you dare to be lazy, see if I don't whip you!"

"Uh, great uncle, I will try hard to cultivate!" Yang Qinwu said with a silly smile.

Yang Zhenshan put his arms around their shoulders, "That's right, cultivate diligently. We're not seeking wealth and honor, but to stand upright between heaven and earth as true men!"

"Come on, great uncle will treat you to a drink!"

Yang Chengche and Yang Qinwu grinned. They had some disappointments over the years, but they had never blamed Yang Zhenshan. Without Yang Zhenshan, they might have just been ordinary villagers of the Yang Family Village today.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan today, they once again felt his closeness and affection, warming their hearts.

For a moment, the world that had become dull was once again filled with color.

And Yang Zhenshan also wanted to compensate them. They were among the earliest followers of Yang Zhenshan, whom he had long considered as his own children or nephews.

While other younger members had achieved something, only these two were left behind, making Yang Zhenshan feel somewhat guilty.

...

On the northern official road of Chongshan Pass City.

The clattering sound of horse hooves echoed as a troop of cavalry clad in leather armor and cloaked in capes galloped from the North.

Leading them was none other than Zhou Lan, with the cavalry behind her being Wang Yunqiao and her Women's Army.

Not long after Zhou Lan took over as General of Chongshan Town, she appointed Wang Yunqiao to serve as her guard and Personal Followers.

Over the years, Wang Yunqiao trained several thousand of the Women's Army, but most only trained for a period before going back home to look after their families; only three hundred stayed with her.

Of course, these three hundred were also married women with husbands and children but could be relatively more relaxed on matters of children compared to other women, as they had people at home who could help look after the children.

Zhou Lan still carried that heroic and vigorous demeanor. Although the years had left many marks on her face, she was still the resourceful General Zhou.

As they were about two or three miles from Chongshan Pass, a troop of cavalry came galloping towards them.

"General!" The approaching cavalry, upon seeing Zhou Lan, hastily reined in their horses and shouted.

Zhou Lan also stopped her horse, looking at them and asked, "What happened?"

The soldiers quickly dismounted and came before Zhou Lan to salute, lead by a man in his forties.

"Reporting to General, we are from Governor's guard, just now the Governor was assassinated and killed!" The man said sorrowfully with a somber tone.

Zhou Lan was shocked, "What? Who is the assassin?"

The Town Governor of Chongshan Town was Pang Tang, who over the years had been diligently and laboriously working on governance in the Northern lands to fulfill the grand ambitions initially painted by Yang Zhenshan.

And over these years, Pang Tang indeed established great achievements in Chongshan Town, where the once million disaster victims now thrive and live comfortably in the restored Northern lands, what was once a barren land has now been turned into thousands of acres of fertile soil.

Not just in the Northern territories, but the military households and common people of the old Chongshan Town are also able to live and thrive, and commerce and the horse administration of the entire town have seen great advancement.

It could be said that Pang Tang was truly the major contributor to today's prosperity of Chongshan Town.

Yang Zhenshan merely laid the foundation and drew up the plans, even though Zhou Lan controlled Chongshan Town's military, her political management was far less capable than the experienced and prudent Pang Tang.

Now, Pang Tang was truly the backbone of Chongshan Town.