Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather-Chapter 346 - 335, let me add some fun for you!

Yang Zhenshan had just returned to the courtyard when he saw Luo Shang standing there with an unpleasant expression on his face.

"What’s wrong?" Yang Zhenshan asked with a furrowed brow.

Luo Shang forced a bitter smile and said, "My lord, we’ve encountered a bit of trouble!"

"What trouble?" Yang Zhenshan walked into the hall, twirling a riding crop in his hand, and asked.

"The Liu family wants to lower the price~~"

Luo Shang relayed the negotiations with the Liu family that had occurred that day. After listening, Yang Zhenshan’s expression grew even uglier.

This is too much bullying!

Are they trying to squeeze me?

Damn, a mere merchant trying to squeeze me, as if I’m made of clay!

Uncle can endure, but aunt can’t!

Yang Zhenshan felt his anger surging. Although he had always treated merchants equally and never regarded them as inferior, in this world of distinct classes among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, the merchants, no matter how wealthy, were mostly just puppets for the officials.

Over the years in this world, Yang Zhenshan had gradually come to accept this notion.

He wouldn’t regard merchants as inferior, but he also wouldn’t allow them to trample over him.

Simply put, if you cooperate with me, I’ll treat you equally. If you try to get on top of me, then you are nothing but despicable lowlifes.

Yes, that’s the double standard.

"Damn it, what kind of bullshit is this!" Yang Zhenshan couldn’t help cursing.

"My lord!" Luo Shang was somewhat flustered and tried to say something.

Yang Zhenshan waved his hand, his face becoming more solemn.

"This grievance must be addressed. I am not one to swallow insults and humiliation!"

When had he ever tolerated such indignity?

It’s no wonder he was this angry; the events in the city had already irked him, and now a mere merchant from the Liu family wanted to squeeze him too. How could he not be angry?

Moreover, the outcome of this sea voyage was crucial to the development of the Tenglong Guard’s maritime trade and future financial avenues. If he didn’t resolve this hidden threat from the Liu family, it would disrupt all his plans.

Currently, the Tenglong Guard’s funds were already low, and they would need even more funds going forward.

Yang Zhenshan aimed to build an elite cavalry unit— a cavalry forged with silver.

Soldiers, warhorses, iron armor, weapons, and more— each required a substantial amount of silver.

Hundreds of thousands of taels might sound like a lot, but they are actually insufficient when you start spending.

Not to mention, a qualified warhorse alone costs tens of taels. A thousand would cost ten thousand taels, and five thousand would cost fifty thousand taels. Moreover, maintaining horses also costs a great deal.

Put simply, maintaining a warhorse costs three to five times more than maintaining a soldier.

It sounds incredible, but it’s true.

If the Tenglong Guard lacked a stable financial route, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t possibly sustain five thousand cavalry.

Maritime trade was the financial route Yang Zhenshan had found for the Tenglong Guard, yet now the Liu family aimed to squeeze this route.

How could Yang Zhenshan tolerate this?

"Did you say that behind the Liu family is the Jiangnan Governor, Gao Huai?" Yang Zhenshan asked coldly.

"Uh, yes!" Luo Shang said.

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes gleamed fiercely, "Then bring the brush!"

Luo Shang didn’t know what Yang Zhenshan intended to do, but still obediently prepared the writing brush and ink.

"I’ll dictate; you write!"

"Ah!" Luo Shang was taken aback.

"Write quickly!" Yang Zhenshan urged.

Having no other choice, Luo Shang took up the brush to write.

"Keep your dog in check, otherwise I’ll poke two holes in you!" Yang Zhenshan said.

Luo Shang was stunned, but upon Yang Zhenshan’s further urging, he wrote down the sentence.

"My lord, who is this letter for?"

"Who else but Gao Huai!"

"Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?" Luo Shang said uncertainly.

"What’s inappropriate? If a dog bites me, I can’t bite the dog back, but I can beat the dog’s owner. That’s legitimate self-defense!"

Yang Zhenshan said indifferently: "You personally deliver this letter!"

"This~~" Luo Shang grimaced, "My lord, I’m afraid Lord Gao might slaughter me!"

"He wouldn’t dare!" Yang Zhenshan’s eyes widened fiercely.

Luo Shang’s lips twitched slightly, then he asked, "Should I sign it then?"

"Are you stupid? Signing it would just give them evidence against us!" Yang Zhenshan said irritably.

Why leave a name? If Gao Huai sends the letter up, wouldn’t that just cause trouble?

Without a signature, it’s considered fake. As long as I deny it, it has nothing to do with me!

As for Luo Shang!

Cough cough, this guy is causing trouble outside using my name, what does it have to do with me!

Look, even the handwriting isn’t mine, obviously, this guy forged it.

Besides, I’ve always been in Liaodong, how could I appear in Jiangnan?

Honestly, if this really gets blown up, Yang Zhenshan would definitely deny any knowledge.

As for Luo Shang, he is also a man of principle and would definitely save him.

However, Yang Zhenshan didn’t think Gao Huai would dare to report it.

Because Gao Huai is a civil servant, and Yang Zhenshan, a military general.

Military generals, being a bit rough in their methods, is only to be expected.

"So, should I really go?" Luo Shang said uncertainly.

He felt the plan was unreliable, but he also believed Yang Zhenshan wouldn’t harm him.

Woohoo, what a dilemma!

"Yes, go ahead!" Yang Zhenshan slightly nodded.

Luo Shang looked at him, then at the letter in his hand, "My lord, I’m really going!"

"Uh!"

"Sir, if I don’t come back, you must take good care of our Luo family!" Luo Shang was still anxious.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him speechlessly, making Luo Shang feel a bit uneasy.

Luo Shang gave an awkward smile and ran out of the hall like a puff of smoke. Although this old boy had put on some weight over the years, his movements were still very swift.

After Luo Shang left, Yang Zhenshan sat in the hall and drank a pot of tea.

"Damn it, I’m pissed!"

Although he had already asked Luo Shang to reason with the dog owner, he still felt the urge to beat the dog.

"Luo Chen!"

"Sir!"

"Where is the Liu family?"

"In Qingpu County!"

"Let’s go, let’s go beat the dogs!"

...

Crescent Bay belonged to Qingpu County, so Qingpu County City was the closest city to Crescent Bay, only about forty miles away.

That night, Yang Zhenshan rode to the outskirts of Qingpu County City.

By then, the city gates were closed, but the small county city’s walls could not stop Yang Zhenshan. He had Luo Chen and his personal followers wait outside the city, and he jumped into the city by himself.

Qingpu County was a large county with many residents. However, the Liu family was a wealthy merchant of Qingpu County, so finding the Liu Mansion was quite easy.

Yang Zhenshan quickly sneaked into the Liu Mansion.

As a wealthy merchant, the defense in the Liu Mansion was strong, but for Yang Zhenshan, these guards were too weak.

Although the Light Body Skill was still not his forte, with his sharp hearing and sight, combined with his not-so-weak Light Body Skill, it was easy for him to bypass the guards and sneak into the Liu Mansion without making a sound.

The night was deep, and Yang Zhenshan’s figure moved back and forth within the Liu Mansion.

He was like a ghost, sometimes hiding in corners, sometimes leaping onto treetops, and sometimes pausing on the eaves.

He was here to beat the dogs, but there was a method to it.

It wasn’t just about beating the dogs, but about making them hurt. How to make them hurt?

Physical pain was not as intense as psychological trauma.

The Liu Mansion was vast, and it took Yang Zhenshan almost an hour to tour the entire mansion, and he also found Liu Fuzhang’s bedroom.

Outside the sleeping chamber, Yang Zhenshan kicked the three unconscious followers and revealed a mischievous smile.

Then, he entered the bedroom.

Tsk tsk~~

This Liu Fuzhang sure knows how to indulge; on the spacious bed, there were actually four smooth and tender girls.

Oh brother!

You’re really harming your health this way!

Yang Zhenshan peeked through the bed curtains, marveling at the disheveled scene inside.

It’s a pity he arrived a bit late, or he might have enjoyed a grand romantic drama.

"Here, let me spice things up for you!"

Yang Zhenshan looked at the candlestick beside him, feeling a thrill of mischief.

His hand reached into the bed, covering Liu Fuzhang’s mouth.

Mmm mmm~~

Liu Fuzhang woke up horrified, looking at the face so close to him.

Yang Zhenshan grinned, but his face was covered, and Liu Fuzhang couldn’t see his expression.

Then came the thorough tying up; of course, the delicate ladies on the bed were also knocked out by him.

No Peeking, No Touching!

Yang Zhenshan swore to Heaven, he definitely didn’t take advantage, definitely did nothing to betray his wife’s trust.

"Behave, or I’ll dig out your bean!"

The bean was so spooked it turned into a peanut.

"Mmm mmm mmm~~" Liu Fuzhang wanted to say something, but Yang Zhenshan didn’t give him the chance to speak.

After tying him up thoroughly, Yang Zhenshan fetched several candles and hung them from silk threads in the center of the bed.

The candles burned, dripping drops of red wax onto Liu Fuzhang’s chest and belly. Yang Zhenshan was still kind enough not to let the wax fall on Liu Fuzhang’s groin.

Mainly because it was too small to adjust easily.

"How does that feel? Enjoying it?"

"You take your time enjoying; I’m leaving!"

Yang Zhenshan chuckled and opened the window, flipping out and leaving the bedroom.

In the bedroom, besides the flickering candlelight, only the moans remained.

In the middle of the night, the guards outside and the servants in the outer chamber had already been knocked out by Yang Zhenshan, and it would definitely take some time before anyone noticed the abnormality of Liu Fuzhang.

Yang Zhenshan, after leaving Liu Fuzhang’s bedroom, did not leave the Liu Mansion but headed towards the Liu family’s warehouse.

No thief leaves empty-handed!

I’m not a thief, but I don’t mind being a gentleman of the night.

Since he was here, it naturally meant the more the merrier!

The warehouse inside the mansion was naturally a focus of security, and the Liu family’s strength was not weak either. Just the guards watching the warehouse included seven or eight Postnatal Martial Artists, including one of the Postnatal Fifth Layer.

But these people were like nothing in the eyes of Yang Zhenshan; a few chops and all of them fell into unconsciousness.

The silver vault!

Once Yang Zhenshan entered the warehouse, he felt instantly relieved.

"I deserve to get rich!"

In this world, there were no banks, only money houses. Silver stored in money houses not only didn’t earn interest but also incurred fees, so most people kept their silver at home.

Some wealthy merchants liked to cast their silver into large items, like silver melons.

This was to prevent theft, as stealing a few hundred pounds of silver melon was definitely not an easy task.

Of course, that’s what they said to others. For Yang Zhenshan, no matter how big or heavy, he could easily take it away.

Inside the silver vault, silver melons one by one were collected by Yang Zhenshan into the Spiritual Spring Space, along with many gold and silver ingots, which he unapologetically gathered into the space.