Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 871: Chapter 638: The Old Master Only Wants to Drift on the Sea, He Has No Desire to Return!

The battle on the southern shore of Star Moon Island had reached its finale. By the time Xue Ping led the Tenglong Guard Navy to arrive, the demise of the Whale Navy was already sealed.

In the end, Wen Qing couldn’t escape. With Zhang Juhai watching him, there was simply no path for retreat.

Chang Lin also met his end at the hands of Yang Mingcheng and his two brothers. United in strength, the three brothers took less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn to bring down Chang Lin.

As the battle on the southern shore concluded, the fighting on the northern shore quickly came to an end as well.

The eight thousand navy troops of the Divine Wood Sect attempted a landing from the north but encountered resistance from the young fighters, with the Star Moon Navy following closely behind.

Although the Star Moon Navy had previously avoided confrontation, once the Divine Wood Sect’s navy approached the northern shore of Star Moon Island, they charged directly into battle.

This battle was a resounding victory for Star Moon Island, with the Divine Wood Island’s eight thousand navy troops completely wiped out, and nearly all of the twenty thousand Whale Navy troops from the Taro Dynasty also defeated, with only four ships escaping.

These four ships were already on guard at sea and fled the moment they saw the formidable approach of the Tenglong Guard Navy.

They were deserters, yet their swift escape spared them from complete annihilation.

After noon, the fighting finally ended, and the young fighters began clearing the battlefield and tallying the results.

Yang Zhenshan returned to the main hall of the government, with Yang Mingzhi and Yang Minghao directing the young fighters in clearing the battlefield. The Tenglong Guard Navy anchored outside the harbor, and Xue Ping arrived at the dock with a dozen trusted aides in a small boat.

"Second Young Master, haha, long time no see!"

Yang Mingzhi stepped forward and punched Xue Ping’s shoulder, "You came at just the right time, haha~~"

The two enthusiastically greeted each other, walking arm in arm toward the government.

There is not a big age difference between Yang Mingzhi and Xue Ping; Xue Ping is two years younger. Besides, Yang Mingzhi and Xue Ping are in-laws; Yang Chengmao’s wife, from the Xue family, is Xue Ping’s eldest niece, making them family through marriage.

"Is everything going well with the Tenglong Guard? Has the court been giving you any trouble?" Yang Mingzhi asked.

Xue Ping replied proudly, "Everything is great; the court wouldn’t dare trouble us now. Our Tenglong Guard annually contributes a million taels in Market Navigation Tax to the court!"

His words could be considered quite presumptuous, but they were indeed true.

Currently, both the Beihai Navy and the Tenglong Four Guards have troops and wealth. They don’t rely on the court for funds, but rather the court needs the tax income from the Tenglong Guard’s maritime trade.

"Haha, I think the court is about to collapse. Haven’t you thought about anything else?" Yang Mingzhi said with a wink.

Xue Ping was momentarily stunned, blinking, "What ideas does Second Young Master have?"

Yang Mingzhi pouted, "With the old man in charge, how dare I have any ideas?"

"The old man only wants to live on the sea and has no desire to return home!"

Xue Ping fell into contemplation. Speaking about the current situation of Da Rong, it’s chaotic.

The bandits in the three provinces of Longyuan are growing despite suppression efforts, the rebel forces in Yun Gui Mountain are getting stronger, Bashu territory has largely been taken over by rebels, and the provinces of Fuhai, Jiangnan, and Shanhe are increasingly unstable.

Aside from the nine major border towns and Liaodong, the whole of Da Rong is a tangled mess.

Even the nine major border towns are not stable. In these troubled times, the border town commanders inevitably harbor thoughts of wielding power independently, with plenty eager to support themselves with their troops.

The Beihai Navy is likewise a force of independence, having reached a point where it no longer listens to orders or declarations.

A letter from Yang Zhenshan could bring two thousand navy troops from Yu Tonghai and Xue Ping to support, yet the court finds it difficult to mobilize the Beihai Navy.

Previously, Xue Ping had not considered these matters, but now, prompted by Yang Mingzhi, he couldn’t help but entertain some different thoughts.

The court can no longer be relied upon. Anyone with foresight knows that the Da Rong Court is on the verge of a downfall; this is an overwhelming trend, beyond human intervention. Even the top Innate Martial Artists cannot alter this reality.

If Da Rong were to collapse, what path should the Xue family take? What should become of the Tenglong Four Guards?

As they conversed, they reached the government, where in the main hall, Yang Zhenshan was conversing with Zhang Juhai and Wen Qing.

Wen Qing had become a prisoner, now standing helplessly before two influential figures, like a meek wife with lowered eyes.

Xiang Anxu had died, the Whale Navy was completely destroyed, the Taro Dynasty greatly weakened, and next...

"Brother Yang, why don’t we take the troops to attack the Taro Dynasty now? Without the Whale Navy, the Taro Dynasty is like a vulnerable bride without protection, easily under our control!"

Zhang Juhai spoke excitedly.

Today he was incredibly pleased, for Xiang Anxu had died. Haha, he had rivaled Xiang Anxu for half his life, and now Xiang Anxu was finally gone. How could he not be overjoyed?

As for losing a rival, sentimental notions like sorrow for a fallen adversary were all nonsense. To him, the death of Xiang Anxu was undoubtedly a thousand times better than having Xiang Anxu as an overlord.

Moreover, with the Whale Navy obliterated, their Zhang Dynasty finally had the opportunity to annex the entire Taro Dynasty.

Yet, Yang Zhenshan had little interest in the Taro Dynasty, albeit not completely indifferent, as gaining more territory would be beneficial for the Yang family.

However, the Taro Dynasty was far from Star Moon Island and over a thousand miles from Divine Wood Island. If the Yang family were to occupy part of the Taro Dynasty’s land, governing it would be troublesome.

The roots of the Yang family are in Da Rong, and this has never changed. The Yang family’s future might shift its focus more towards the Ten Thousand Miles Sea Domain, but the family must not detach from Da Rong.