Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Excluding Tenglong Advanced Guard, all other garrisons had vacancies. This time was a perfect opportunity to fill those vacancies with new recruits.

In the following few days, Star Moon Island and Zhao Wu Guard became extraordinarily bustling.

The soldiers of various garrisons were clearing out pirates, and one after another, warships laden with spoils of war arrived at Star Moon Island, and then merchant and cargo ships were sent back to Zhao Wu Guard.

Yang Zhenshan temporarily kept the gold and silver, prioritizing the transportation of food, medicine, and other supplies back to Zhao Wu Guard.

The port of Zhao Wu Guard was a place of happy concerns for Zhang Ruifu, Zheng Yang, and others.

Previously, they had been pushed to their limits by Yang Zhenshan, but now, they were overjoyed to the point of wanting to jump with happiness.

"Report, two sirs, the rearguard of Tenglong Advanced Guard has returned, escorting thirty ships of grain and fodder."

A soldier ran up to Zhang Ruifu and Zheng Yang, reporting.

"Thirty ships of grain? Where are they?" Zheng Yang stood on his tiptoes, looking excitedly around, and asked.

At this moment, the port was bustling with activity; numerous ships large and small formed a continuous line, and thousands of workers were busy unloading goods from the vessels.

"Over there!" the soldier pointed towards the south and said.

Zheng Yang looked over and indeed saw dozens of medium-sized merchant ships docking.

"Thirty medium-sized cargo ships, each carrying a thousand stones of grain, that's thirty thousand stones! Adding the previously transported fifty thousand stones, that makes eighty thousand stones!" Zheng Yang counted on his fingers and his chubby face beamed with a blooming smile.

"This time, the Ministry of Revenue should not incur any losses!"

"Hahaha, Mr. Zheng, this is just the beginning! The valuable items are yet to come!" Xue Ping came over laughing.

Upon seeing Xue Ping, Zheng Yang's eyes brightened, "Mr. Xue, what other valuable goods are there?"

"Hehe, I won't mention Silver Coin just yet, as Marquis will probably have it shipped directly back to the Capital City, but the other items should first come here, hehe. I heard that the Leizhou Guard seized a large ship of precious spices! And the Jiujiang Central Guard captured a large quantity of timber," Xue Ping revealed, smiling.

"Timber!" Zheng Yang was slightly surprised.

Spices were very valuable in Da Rong, especially those from the southern kingdoms, which were priceless in Da Rong.

However, timber was different, as not many types of wood were considered valuable.

"It's all red sandalwood, probably requiring more than a dozen large ships to transport it all!" Xue Ping said.

Zheng Yang and Zhang Ruifu both widened their eyes, "More than a dozen large ships!"

"Yes!" Xue Ping affirmed.

Pirates in the East South Sea Domain had hoarded quite a few treasures, mainly due to the peculiar geographical reasons.

The East South Sea Domain was the essential route for trade between Da Rong and the southern kingdoms, with countless merchant ships passing each year, and most of the goods they carried were valuable.

Those pirates could obtain cargo worth several hundred thousand taels of Silver in a single raid.

Wood, spices, silk, porcelain, tea leaves, and so forth, the pirates lacked none of these.

"By the way, Marquis has ordered that all these goods must be recorded. When he returns, an audit will be arranged. And if the accounts don't tally, hehe~~"

Xue Ping grinned, leaving his sentence unfinished, but Zheng Yang and Zhang Ruifu understood.

If the accounts didn't add up, they would definitely be the unlucky ones.

"Please rest assured, Marquis, we will safeguard all the goods. If anything goes missing, I will bring my own head to Marquis!" Zheng Yang promptly declared.

He truly didn't dare to play any tricks under Yang Zhenshan's command, because Yang really would sever his head.

...

On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, inside the Imperial City of the Capital City.

With only two days until the New Year festival, the Imperial City was adorned with festive lights and appeared exceedingly joyous.

Yang Zhenshan was definitely unable to return to the Capital City for the New Year this year. Although the battle was nearly over, the wrap-up work would continue for a considerable time.

Yang Zhenshan also planned to cleanse the pirates of the East South Sea Domain once more, aiming to eradicate all those pirates affiliated with the Star Moon Sect.

Then, after putting all the affairs on Star Moon Island in order, they will transport the captured treasures back.

It's estimated that it will take at least a month or two to complete the wrap-up.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, great joy, great joy!"

Inside the Taiji Palace, Zhang Mingzhong entered the Imperial Study Room with a face brimming with joy, shouting.

Emperor Yanping looked at him in surprise, "What joy is there to report?"

"Marquis Jing'an has sent people with a victory report!" Zhang Mingzhong hurriedly presented three memorials to Emperor Yanping.

Emperor Yanping's face brightened with happiness and he quickly took the memorials to read.

Of the three memorials, one reported victory, one requested rewards, and another was a proposal for arrangements concerning the Wang family, the Li family, and the Lv family.

After reading them, a delighted laughter escaped Emperor Yanping: "Marquis Jing'an truly did not let me down!"

Although he trusted Yang Zhenshan, and felt that the battle with the Star Moon Sect should have a great chance of victory, sea battles were different from land battles, and he always felt uncertain in his heart.

Now, seeing Yang Zhenshan's victorious report, the weight in his heart finally lifted.

"This triumph ensures that our southeastern sea domain will enjoy at least thirty years of peace. This is a blessing for the people and a fortune for Your Majesty as well!" Zhang Mingzhong praised.

Emperor Yanping nodded slightly and said, "Send this memorial requesting rewards to the Cabinet, and order the Cabinet and the Ministry of War to draft a proposal for the rewards as quickly as possible!"

"As you command!" Zhang Mingzhong responded, taking the memorial and slowly withdrawing from the study room.

After a moment of thought, Emperor Yanping then ordered the eunuch by his side, Li Shangxi, "Go tell the Empress that for the Lantern Festival, I wish to host a feast for the officials. Please ask the Empress to take care in making the arrangements!"

In fact, every year for the Lantern Festival, Emperor Yanping would host a feast for the officials, but for the past few years, the festival feast had been quite modest, mainly inviting high-ranking ministers and the royal family.

This year, Emperor Yanping made a special mention, evidently wanting to celebrate in a grand manner.

Yang Zhenshan's expedition against the Star Moon Sect was the first military victory since Emperor Yanping's ascension to the throne. Therefore, Emperor Yanping wanted to celebrate grandly and showcase his civil and martial achievements.

...

How Emperor Yanping celebrated was unknown to Yang Zhenshan, who was busy transporting the spoils left by the Star Moon Sect.

As pirate after pirate was wiped out, vast amounts of spoils were transported to Star Moon Island and then back to the Zhao Wu Guard. Thousands of ships went back and forth incessantly, like ants moving house.

The fifth year of Yanping passed in such busyness, and the sixth year of Yanping arrived.

Yang Zhenshan stayed on Star Moon Island until February, until the last group of pirates were eradicated, then returned to Da Rong by ship.

When leaving, he instructed Yu Tonghai to leave behind a thousand soldiers from the Tenglong Advanced Guard, and Luo Jingsong also stayed on Star Moon Island with over a hundred guards.

Luo Jingsong's stay on Star Moon Island was not only to garrison it but also to engage with the maritime powers of the East South Sea Domain.

In fact, during this time, various powers from the East South Sea Domain sent emissaries to meet Yang Zhenshan. Earth Fire Island, Divine Wood Island, Tianming Island, and several other forces all sent envoys, mainly to find out Da Rong's intentions regarding Star Moon Island.

They were mostly afraid that Da Rong would occupy Star Moon Island and not leave.

Yang Zhenshan's answer to them was that Da Rong would not expand in the East South Sea Domain but would occupy Star Moon Island as a base for Da Rong's interactions with maritime powers in the area.

In reality, he wanted to take over Star Moon Island for himself, just using Da Rong as a front.

He had previously submitted a request to Emperor Yanping about whether to keep Star Moon Island or to establish a garrison on it. However, Emperor Yanping obviously did not value Star Moon Island and directly vetoed his proposal. Thus, he could now rightfully claim Star Moon Island as his own.

Yang Zhenshan planned to develop Star Moon Island as the Yang family's overseas base and as a future retreat for the Yang family. However, at present, the Yang family's strength was still too weak, whether in terms of elite martial forces or ships and soldiers, far inferior to many powers in the East South Sea Domain. That's why he used Da Rong as a front.

After leaving Star Moon Island and returning to Zhao Wu Guard, Yang Zhenshan stayed for more than ten days to tally the captured materials.

By the end of February, Yang Zhenshan finally returned to Capital City with the captured gold, silver, and other goods' accounts.

On the third day of March, Yang Zhenshan disembarked from the port of Jin Hai Guard.

Returning with him to Capital City were also Deng Yuehe, Wang Mingjian, and Li Chengzhang.

They, as the surrendered warlords, would accompany Yang Zhenshan to the palace to be presented to the emperor.