Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather

Seeing this, Ruan Hongyi's face changed drastically, "Retreat!"

Damn it, Li Xiangju, this idiot, didn't he investigate the opponent's strength before?

It's okay to have a half-step innate, but there is also an innate warrior.

If you want to die, don't drag me in!

At this time, Ruan Hongyi wanted to kill Li Xiangju, but unfortunately he didn't have the chance. Li Xiangju rushed to the front and was already cut by Yu Qingyi's sword.

At this time, Li Xiangju was lying on the ground, his consciousness was blurred, and his eyes were lifeless looking at the bright sky.

"Madam, leave a living person!" Yang Zhengshan shouted.

Yu Qingyi was a little excited to kill, one sword to kill a small minion, this abuse was so bad that even Yang Zhengshan couldn't bear it.

Ai Benhou finally reacted at this time, and hurriedly called to his followers around him: "Hurry up, take down these bandits."

The followers didn't care about any formation, and rushed forward to capture and kill the bandits.

The battle ended very quickly. From the time Yang Zhengshan asked the convoy to stop to the time Yu Qingyi put away her sword, it took less than a quarter of an hour.

"Huh~~" Yu Qingyi exhaled heavily and blinked at Yang Zhengshan, "I was reckless, please punish me, my Lord!"

Yang Zhengshan rolled his eyes, what punishment?

"Madam is so powerful, I am sweating, Madam, go to rest quickly!"

He said seriously.

Behind her, Yang Wanqing was sitting in the carriage, covering her mouth and laughing, Hongyun and Qingxia also smiled.

Yu Qingyi returned to the carriage with her skirt lifted, and handed the long sword to Qingxia, who quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the blood off the sword.

Yang Wanqing helped her into the carriage, uh, it seemed a bit redundant to help her into the carriage, but Yu Qingyi seemed to be used to being supported by someone.

Sitting in the carriage, Yu Qingyi straightened her clothes, and when she saw that there was no blood on her clothes, she relaxed.

"Grandma is so awesome!" Yang Wanqing looked at Yu Qingyi with stars in her eyes, and she looked like a little fan of Yu Qingyi.

Yu Qingyi said with a smile: "You will be as awesome as grandma in the future!"

Killing is a sin, but for Yu Qingyi, killing today is a kind of relaxation, or a kind of venting, a kind of emotional release.

After years of hard training, she was able to show her skills today, and her mood couldn't help but be a lot lighter.

Breaking through to the innate realm, she couldn't suppress the turmoil in her heart. Today, she vented it, and the turmoil in her heart dissipated, replaced by unprecedented peace.

Yang Mingcheng also felt very happy, but he still felt a little unsatisfied.

Yu Qingyi acted too quickly, and he didn't kill many bandits. Most of the bandits were killed by Yu Qingyi.

It was just a small episode. Soon, Ai Benhou's followers cleaned up the battlefield. They threw the bodies in an open space on the side of the road and burned them, and then set off again with a few survivors.

As the convoy moved forward, Ai Benhou hesitated to speak several times, but finally couldn't help asking: "Madam Hou is also a congenital warrior?"

"Well, she just broke through to the congenital realm not long ago!" Yang Zhengshan did not hide it and said it directly.

In fact, there was nothing to hide. It was not shameful for Yu Qingyi to break through to the congenital realm.

Ai Benhou sighed a little: "I didn't expect that Madam Hou was actually a heroine!"

Yang Zhengshan said with a smug look on his face: "That's right, my wife used to be the head of a sect."

"Head?" Ai Benhou was a little confused.

"Madam was the head of the Tianqing Sword Sect!" Yang Zhengshan explained simply.

Ai Benhou suddenly realized, "No wonder Madam Hou has such a cultivation!"

The convoy moved forward slowly, walked out of the misty mountains, and entered the flat plain area.

The official road was flat, and their speed of travel was much faster, but they would definitely not reach Nanhua City today.

They stayed in a garrison next to the official road for another night.

It's called a garrison, but it's actually a market town.

This was originally a hundred-household station of the Southern Frontier Guard, but because it was close to the official road and on the southern foot of the Yunwu Mountain, many passing caravans would choose to rest nearby. When caravans stopped, there would be business opportunities. At first, only military households set up stalls to sell mountain products nearby, but after a while, a market town was formed here.

There were dozens of shops in the market town, as well as teahouses, taverns and inns.

Everyone rested in the market town for a night, and arrived at Nanhua City before noon the next day.

Duke Xingguo Qu Changkong and a group of officials from Nanjiang Town went out of the city ten miles to greet them. Although Yang Zhengshan no longer served in Nanjiang Town, he was now a first-class marquis of Darong. Except for Duke Xingguo, the officials of the entire Nanjiang Town were not as good as Yang Zhengshan.

Qu Changkong came to greet them to welcome his relatives, while other officials came to greet them to show off in front of Yang Zhengshan.

Although Yang Zhengshan did not hold an important official position now, anyone who was well-informed knew that he was a close minister in the heart of Emperor Yanping.

Especially not long ago, Yang Zhengshan had just led the Sihai Navy to wipe out the Sihai Navy.

Seeing the convoy coming, without waiting for Yang Zhengshan to dismount, Qu Changkong immediately laughed and said: "Brother Yang, I have heard of your name for a long time!"

"Duke, I have also heard of your name for a long time. Today, I see that your demeanor is indeed extraordinary!" Yang Zhengshan flattered.

"What the hell, Duke? From now on, we are a family. I am honored to call you brother. Why are you being polite to me!" Qu Changkong was a little too enthusiastic.

His old face smiled like a chrysanthemum.

"Haha, then I won't be polite, Brother Qu!"

"That's right! Haha~~" Qu Changkong laughed.

"Hello, Lord!" The other officials finally found a chance to interrupt and hurried forward to greet him.

Yang Zhengshan also hurriedly returned the greeting, "Hello, Lords. Please come out of the city to greet me."

Qu Changkong smiled and said, "Let me introduce you to my brother. This is Lord Zhuang Yanzhuang, the governor of Nanjiang Town, and this is Lord Wang Fuan, the military supervisor of Nanjiang Town..."

Yang Zhengshan greeted the officials again.

In fact, he was not interested in the officials of Nanjiang Town, but since he was here, he had to get to know them. He couldn't ignore them.

After some politeness, Qu Changkong led the Yang family into Nanhua City.

Before getting married, the Yang family naturally couldn't live in the Xingguo Mansion, so Qu Changkong prepared a house for the Yang family in the city, which was a temporary residence for the Yang family and a home for Yang Wanqing to get married.

Yang Zhengshan rested for a day, and the next day Qu Changkong held a banquet in the Duke's Mansion to entertain the Yang family.

The Duke of Xingguo's Mansion had no female family members in charge, so they had to let Qu Shaoshang, a little girl, take charge and invite Yu Qingyi, Wang Shi and the official families of Nanhua City to a banquet in the backyard.

Yang Wanqing had to wait for the wedding, and she certainly could not go to the Duke's Mansion before the wedding.

The marriage between the two families was a happy event, and Yang Zhengshan also gave face to the officials of Nanjiang Town, and responded to the toasts of the officials with a smile.

The banquet lasted for more than two hours before it ended. After the guests left, Qu Changkong had time to chat with Yang Zhengshan alone.

The two sat in the pavilion in the Duke's Mansion garden, drinking tea and chatting.

The Duke of Xingguo's Mansion was very large, larger than Yang Zhengshan's Marquis Mansion, and the scenery in the mansion was also beautiful, but the Qu family was sparse, with only five masters in total and only more than a hundred servants. Many places in this huge Duke's Mansion had not been repaired for a long time, and it looked a bit bleak.

In fact, this also represents the decline of the Xingguo Mansion. Although Qu Changkong is now a congenital warrior and is feared by the southwestern countries, the rise and fall of the Xingguo Mansion is not on him alone.

The small population is the key to the rise and fall of the Xingguo Mansion.

Qu Changkong has two sons. The eldest son died early, the second son is weak, and the eldest daughter-in-law also died early. The second daughter-in-law is bedridden all year round. In addition, Qu Shaogong is young now, so the Xingguo Mansion has been broken.

If Qu Changkong dies in battle again, whether Qu Shaogong can keep the Xingguo Mansion is another matter.

The court may not take away the title, but it will definitely take back the military power of the Xingguo Mansion to guard the southern border.

Therefore, Qu Changkong is eager to get married for his grandson.

"The origins of those bandits have been found out a few days ago. As expected, they are from the Jinlong Dynasty!" Qu Changkong poured a bowl of tea for Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan took a sip of tea, "Well, it seems that the Jinlong Dynasty has a deep hatred for my brother!"

Qu Changkong shook his head slightly, "I have a deep hatred for them. Shao Gong's parents died in their assassination!"

Not only did the Jinlong Dynasty hate Qu Changkong, but Qu Changkong also hated the Jinlong Dynasty.

Yang Zhengshan frowned, "Doesn't that mean Shao Gong and Wanqing are not safe in Nanjiang Town?"

"No, brother, don't worry, I will protect them!" Qu Changkong repeatedly rejected.

Yang Zhengshan looked at him and nodded slightly.

Even Qu Changkong's son and daughter-in-law were killed by the Jinlong Dynasty, so Qu Shaogong and Yang Wanqing might not be very safe.

Nanjiang Town is different from Chongshan Town. Although Chongshan Town has been abandoned for a long time, it is difficult for the Hu people to sneak into Chongshan Town because the customs and habits between the two tribes are very different and can be easily distinguished.

The customs and habits of the Jinlong Dynasty and Darong are not very different. As long as they are slightly disguised, the spies of the Jinlong Dynasty can infiltrate Nanjiang Town.

Yang Zhengshan is a little worried about Yang Wanqing's safety in Nanjiang Town in the future, but he must not mention this matter.

If he mentions it, it means that he does not believe in Qu Changkong's ability, which makes the two of them feel alienated.

"Can't we send troops to destroy them?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Qu Changkong shook his head, "Nanjiang Town alone can't destroy the Jinlong Dynasty, unless the court can dispatch a large army to help, but will the court dispatch a large army?"

He looked at Yang Zhengshan, as if expecting Yang Zhengshan to give an answer different from what he had in mind.

However, he was disappointed. Yang Zhengshan's answer was the same as what he thought in his heart.

"No!"

Dispatching a large army to attack the Jinlong Dynasty?

This is obviously impossible.

Today, Darong does have a lot of elite soldiers. The nine border towns, the twelve battalions of the imperial army, and the sixteen guards of the personal army are all elite troops, but each unit cannot be easily mobilized.

Moreover, the official road leading to Nanjiang Town is too rugged and bumpy, and the mobilization of soldiers and the transportation of money and grain are all big problems.

Unless Emperor Yanping is willing to attack the Jinlong Dynasty with all his strength, will Emperor Yanping do so?

Obviously not, don’t forget that there is a Wulianghu tribe in the north of Darong, eyeing it covetously.

Compared with the Jinlong Dynasty, the Wulianghu tribe is Darong’s biggest worry.

After all, the Jinlong Dynasty only targets the Qu family of the Xingguo Mansion, which is not a big threat to Darong.

Qu Changkong was just a little disappointed for a while, and then changed the subject and said, "What changes have been made in the court recently?"

Yang Zhengshan said, "There are no big changes. Well, the Navy Commander's Office and three new navies have been added!"

Qu Changkong said, "Are the Song Party and the Zhou Party still fighting?"

Yang Zhengshan looked at him in surprise, "Even you know it?"

Qu Changkong smiled, "How could I not know? The governor Zhuang Yan is a member of the Song Party, and the governor You Yanzhi and Zhou Yunsong are from the same hometown!"

Yang Zhengshan frowned, "Have their fights affected Nanjiang Town?"

"Yeah." Qu Changkong looked at Yang Zhengshan strangely.

Yang Zhengshan was puzzled by his look, "What's wrong?"

Qu Changkong smiled and said, "I heard that there are several factions in the army, the Beiyuan Party led by the Rongguogong Mansion, the Xizhen Party led by the Shouguogong Mansion! The Chongshan Party led by the Jing'an Marquis!"

Yang Zhengshan was stunned.

What the hell?

He could understand the Beiyuan Party led by the Rongguogong, after all, the Rongguogong Mansion is now the leader of the noble group.

As for the Xizhen Party of the Shouguogong Mansion, this is not difficult to understand. Although the Shouguogong Mansion is very low-key on weekdays, the old guy Shouguogong has lived for a hundred years, and many generals in the three border towns in the west of Dayong were trained by him.

But what the hell is the Chongshan Party?

Yang Zhengshan pondered carefully, and this statement did not seem to be without reason.

Needless to say, Chongshan Town, the Yang family is now deeply rooted in Chongshan Town. Yang Mingzhi and Yang Minghao are in charge of the two routes, Yang Mingwu, Yang Mingzhen, Yang Chengze, Yang Chengxu and others are in charge of the town flag camp, and a large number of Yang family members serve as low-level military officers in Chongshan Town.

In addition, there are the four guards of Tenglong, as well as a group of Yang family relatives.

Liang Chu, Marquis of Changping, Xue Changan, Earl of Haichang, and now there is Qu Changkong, Duke of Xingguo.

"What party are you in?" Yang Zhengshan looked at him and said with some amusement.

Qu Changkong laughed and said, "I'll join the Yang party!"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and was speechless.

He really didn't think that he could become a member of the party struggle. He really didn't deliberately form a party, but he was a nostalgic person, and he would naturally take care of his old subordinates.

"Party disputes are the affairs of civil officials. What does it have to do with us nobles?"

"I'm afraid you will be helpless at that time!" Qu Changkong said with a hint of meaning.

Although he lives in the southern border, it does not mean that he does not know the changes in the court.

Especially recently, his Qu family is going to marry the Yang family, so he paid special attention to the situation of the Yang family.

That is to say, Yang Zhengshan is not in an important position now, otherwise he will definitely fall into the party's attack.

Yang Zhengshan was silent. Some things cannot be avoided just because he does not want to participate.

Now party disputes are still limited to civil officials, but what about in the future?

Given Emperor Yanping's temperament of playing the art of balance, he may inevitably support some forces in the army to suppress those old nobles in the future.

Yang Zhengshan took a sip of tea and put these troubles aside for the time being.

Let's talk about the future later. There is no need to worry about it now.