Chapter 275: 266 You Are Very Useless

Chapter 275: Chapter 266 You Are Very Useless

Entering the night, Yan Shun came to the camp to seek an audience with Yang Zhenshan.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan again, his emotions were much more stable, although he was still not certain of Yang Zhenshan’s identity, the behavior of Yang Zhenshan’s soldiers had greatly reassured him.

Everything was so organised and orderly, no one disturbed the military households under his jurisdiction; simply based on this, Yan Shun felt that Yang Zhenshan must be an upright person.

A dim candlelight flickered inside the tent, while Yang Zhenshan sat behind a desk, writing and drawing.

Yan Shun entered, and Yang Zhenshan did not look up, merely saying, “You sit first, wait for me a moment!”

“Yes!”

Yan Shun sat somewhat stiffly on the stool next to him, while Yang Zhenshan wrote for a good while before putting down the pen and taking a sip from the already cool teacup.

“Ah, it seems like the situation here is not very good,” he sighed lightly.

With a hundred thoughts swirling in his mind, Yan Shun said, “It is the subordinate who has disappointed you, Master!”

Yang Zhenshan waved his hand, “No need for such formalities, first tell me about the situation at the thousand households.”

Yan Shun hesitated; the state of the thousand households was apparent at a glance, but talking about the poverty under his own leadership felt like he was slapping his own face.

Alright, it seems he had no face to speak of!

“Speak!” Yang Zhenshan frowned, looking dissatisfied.

Yan Shun shuddered, hastening to say, “Master, currently in our thousand households there are three hundred and twenty-four military households, and three hundred and eighteen soldiers!”

“How much farming land?”

“Five thousand and thirty-eight acres!”

Yang Zhenshan’s expression was inscrutable as he continued to inquire, “Why so?”

A thousand households only having a few hundred military households and just over five thousand acres of land, was this still a thousand households?

Yan Shun’s forehead was sweating, his voice trembling slightly, “The amount of land is too little; the military households have fled!”

“Why are there so few fields?”

Wiping his sweat, Yan Shun said, “Most of them were bought up by the Lan family!”

“Bought? Can garrison land be bought and sold? Even if it could, where’s the money from the sale?”

The frosty interrogation caused Yan Shun to tremble even more violently, and he suddenly knelt down, saying, “Master, the subordinate, this situation was like this before I took office, I really don’t know what’s going on!”

He truly didn’t know; although he had served as the households head here for over a decade, the place was already like this before he arrived.

Yang Zhenshan gave him a deep look and slightly shook his head.

“You are very incompetent!”

Indeed!

This Yan Shun was very incompetent; if only he had some courage or some thought, his jurisdiction would not have ended up like this.

It is said that poverty curtails ambition, but the thousand households were not so poor as to have no options at all; Yan Shun still had over two hundred military households and soldiers under him.

This was just like Xie Yuan at Shaling Castle previously, also suppressed to the point of being unable to lift his head, equally poor, yet Xie Yuan managed to keep Shaling Castle in orderly management, and the military households at Shaling Castle lived better than those at other garrisons. This was the capability of Xie Yuan.

Yan Shun’s forehead touched the ground, not daring to breathe heavily.

“Get up!” Yang Zhenshan couldn’t bother to argue with him, this man was almost sixty years old, no longer capable of much.

“Thank you, Master!” Yan Shun trembled as he got up.

Yang Zhenshan continued to ask, “Tell me about the situation of Tenglong Guard!”

“This—Master, which aspects do you wish to hear?” Yan Shun was trembling with fear, worried about saying the wrong thing.

Yang Zhenshan glanced at him, “Just talk about the Lan family and the Tenglong Guard!”

Yan Shun’s heart quivered, he wiped the dust on his forehead with his worn sleeve before speaking, “Tenglong Four Guards, aside from the Tenglong Advanced Guard, the other three are similar to us!”

“And the Tenglong Advanced Guard has been under the control of the Lan family…”

Yan Shun detailed his own situation; what he said was almost identical to Ding Qiu’s investigation.

To put it simply, the current situation of the Tenglong Guard is that the other three guards have been completely abandoned, only the Tenglong Advanced Guard still maintaining a complete organization.

And the Tenglong Advanced Guard still maintained its integrity because it was firmly controlled by the Lan family.

The entire Tenglong Guard had almost become a shell, with only the Lan family and Tenglong Advanced Guard remaining.

The rise of the Lan family had drained the blood of Tenglong Guard, and Tenglong Advanced Guard had almost become the private soldiers of the Lan family.

After Yan Shun finished speaking, but Yang Zhenshan fell into deep thought, the tent fell into a quiet atmosphere, Yan Shun stood nervously on the spot, not daring to interrupt Yang Zhenshan’s contemplation.

And what Yang Zhenshan thought about was how to get rid of the Lan family.

The Lan family was a cancer; if he wanted to control the Tenglong Guard, to revive the Tenglong Guard, he must cut out the cancer that is the Lan family.

But how to get rid of the Lan family?

Yang Zhenshan furrowed his brow.

He still didn’t know enough about the Lan family, nor was he clear about who was their backer!

However, no backer of the Lan family seemed bigger than his.

He was, after all, personally appointed by the old Emperor as the Commander of Tenglong Guard, and the old Emperor was now his backer.

Clinging to powerful coat-tails, pulling on a tiger’s skin as a banner, and flaunting big connections had always been what Yang Zhenshan did best.

And this time, he wasn’t pulling on a tiger’s skin, but a dragon’s.

“It seems not impossible!” Yang Zhenshan muttered softly.

Since my backer is powerful enough, then I need not be too cautious.

Even if the Lan family has the backing of Prince Qing Mansion, would Prince Qing dare to openly protect the Lan family?

Thinking this, Yang Zhenshan snapped back to reality and said to Yan Shun, “You can go back for now, maintain the status quo for the time being and help the military households prepare for the winter! Do you understand what I mean?”

“The subordinate understands!” Yan Shun affirmed hurriedly.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, waved his hand to indicate he could leave.

…

After entering the territory of the Tenglong Guard, Yang Zhenshan did not rush to Guard City, but observed several thousand households and military positions along the way, traveling at an unhurried pace.

By the time they arrived at Guard City, it was already October 29.

If it hadn’t snowed for the next two days, Yang Zhenshan would have wanted to look around and understand more about the situation.

Following the narrow official road, Yang Zhenshan finally saw the garrison of the Tenglong Guard.

The walls of the garrison were more than two zhang high and appeared somewhat dilapidated, with some parts even collapsed.

A long procession arrived at the gate of the garrison, where a crowd had already gathered to welcome Yang Zhenshan.

Dressed in official robes and riding a horse, Yang Zhenshan looked down at the Tenglong Guard officials.

He wore a crimson robe and rode a tall horse named Red Cloud, followed by hundreds of soldiers emanating an aura of solemn lethality; indeed, he presented an imposing and forceful figure.

Seeing this, several Tenglong Guard officials couldn’t help but tremble and immediately bowed, saying, “Welcome, Commander!”

Yang Zhenshan glanced at them; among them were two Deputy Magistrates and four associates, hmm, and also three gentlemen from the Lan family.

The three Lan brothers stood behind the crowd of officials, appearing very unassuming and humble, without any trace of arrogance.

However, Yang Zhenshan only gave them a glance; his gaze then fell on a carriage behind them.

A carriage!

They came to greet him in a carriage?

Even if they used a carriage, it shouldn’t have brazenly stopped here.

Isn’t this blocking the gate?

“Everyone, please rise!” said Yang Zhenshan, unfazed.

“Thank you, Mr. Xie!” The crowd bowed again.

Meanwhile, a follower next to the horse track pulled open the carriage’s curtain, revealing a figure dressed in a green robe.

A green robe!

A sneer flickered across Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.

It was evident that this was an Imperial Censor.

Officials from the fifth to seventh rank wore green robes, and no other officials had the privilege of sitting leisurely in a carriage in front of him, except for an Imperial Censor.

Ning Dongsheng alighted from the carriage, first glancing at Yang Zhenshan and then subtly surveying the five hundred cavalry behind him.

“General Yang seems to have quite the grand entourage! Bringing so many soldiers even when assuming office!”

From the start, Ning Dongsheng’s attitude was filled with hostility, making no effort to conceal it.

For an Imperial Censor, no officials in the provinces could intimidate them; from princes and commandery princes to lower-level officials, as long as they were appointed, the censors would not fear them.

Because they could criticize anyone and everyone.

They really could criticize anyone.

Liu Yuanfu had previously criticized Emperor Chengping, demonstrating that the Imperial Censors from the Imperial Examination Hall could indeed challenge anyone.

The main job of an Imperial Censor was to hold people accountable, and they preferred tackling higher-ranking officials because doing so would earn them a reputation for not fearing authority.

“Who are you?” Yang Zhenshan feigned ignorance.

“I am Ning Dongsheng, the Imperial Censor of Liaodong!” declared Ning Dongsheng as he stepped forward haughtily.

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, then said indifferently, “Mr. Ning, you are blocking my way into the city!”

Ning Dongsheng paused, stunned by Yang Zhenshan’s comment.

What does this mean?

Shouldn’t you dismount and exchange pleasantries with me?

Although I am here to support the Lan family today, and even though I was quite rude just now, I am an Imperial Censor, aren’t you supposed to treat me politely?

He quickly recovered, his expression darkening as he spoke, “Does Master Yang find this official a hindrance?”

“No, General Yang meant your carriage!” Yang Zhenshan pointed at the carriage behind him.

Other officials around them looked at each other in confusion, somewhat unclear about the situation.

What is going on?

It seems like Master Yang is being somewhat impolite to the Imperial Censor!

While standing behind the officials, Lan Buqi furrowed his brows; he too couldn’t understand why Yang Zhenshan was treating Ning Dongsheng so dismissively.

Indeed, it was dismissive!

Meeting Ning Dongsheng warranted at least maintaining appearances!

Yet Yang Zhenshan showed no regard for Ning Dongsheng’s dignity, bluntly saying he was in the way!

This was somewhat illogical!

Ning Dongsheng’s expression grew even uglier, “This official needs to leave the city, is Master Yang blocking my way, too?”

He didn’t erupt in anger but wanted to have a proper discussion with Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan, riding high on his horse, then pulled out a golden imperial edict from his bosom.

“Do you know what this is?”

“An imperial edict! What of it?” Ning Dongsheng was puzzled.

Yang Zhenshan scoffed disdainfully, “His Majesty has appointed this general to assume office, yet Mr. Ning you intend to block my way!”

“What, does Mr. Ning wish for His Majesty’s imperial edict to make way for you?”

I’m really good at waving the big banner!

“I can make way as a general, but do you dare to proceed, Mr. Ning?”

Yang Zhenshan smirked mockingly.

Ning Dongsheng’s face turned alternately green and white.

He truly dared not!

Yang Zhenshan had brought up the imperial edict; if Ning Dongsheng continued to obstruct Yang Zhenshan today, he would not escape the charge of gross disrespect.

“Make way!” he growled to his followers behind him.

Yang Zhenshan smiled, tucking the imperial edict back into his bosom.

This is a treasure!

With this in hand, I’m the undisputed boss in the Tenglong Guard, and no one can question it.