Chapter 113 Power Expansion
Early in the morning, figures waving spears were seen in the main courtyard of the Yang family and the east and west courtyards.

However, the inner house is where women practice. Yang Zhengshan, Yang Mingcheng and others would go out of the castle to practice. Their cultivation was so high that they could no longer display it in the courtyard.

As for the servants, the female ones followed their masters to practice in the inner house, while the male ones followed their masters to train and practice in front of the government office.

Practicing martial arts is not only a habit of the Yang family, but also a habit of everyone in Yinghe Fort.

There is no need to say much about the military households, even the Liu family started practicing.

Yang Zhengshan is not a stingy person. As long as they are willing to learn martial arts, Yang Zhengshan is willing to teach them the basic martial arts skills.

The Yang family's ancestral spear skills can be passed on to outsiders, and the sword skills, knife skills and the like that he has acquired can also be passed on to outsiders.

Of course, if Yang Zhengshan had a secret manual of magical skills in his hands, he probably wouldn't be willing to pass it on to outsiders.

Time goes by day by day, and before we know it, it is almost time for the autumn harvest.

This year, Chongshan Town has had good weather and the crops in the fields are growing very well.

Yang Zhengshan stood by the wheat field outside the garrison, looking at the golden waves of wheat with a faint smile on his lips.

"Sir, this year's harvest will be very good! Look at the wheat grains, they are very full."

Old Li grabbed a handful of wheat ears, rubbed out the grains and placed them in front of Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan glanced at the wheat grains and just nodded.

Is the wheat full?

It is full in the eyes of others, but not very good in the eyes of Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan had also lived in the countryside in his previous life, and had harvested wheat with his grandparents, and had seen truly plump wheat grains.

Compared with those wheat grains, these wheat grains are naturally not full.

Unfortunately, Yang Zhengshan did not study agriculture and did not know much about chemical fertilizers, so he was unable to bring about agricultural changes for the people here.

"How are the arrangements for the autumn harvest going?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Everything has been arranged. The government will cooperate with the military households to complete the autumn harvest. Except for the necessary guards, everyone else will go in to harvest!" Yang Mingwu replied softly.

Yang Zhengshan looked up at the sky. Fortunately, there would be no rain in the next half month, so the autumn harvest could proceed perfectly.

"How's the harvest at Linguanbao?"

"Uh. The military farms in Linguanbao are too barren. Even if the weather is good this year, we won't be able to harvest much grain!" Yang Mingwu said helplessly.

"Fortunately, the needlework workshop has made good profits this year, and everyone can still make ends meet!" Yang Mingwu added.

Yang Zhengshan nodded. The situation in Linguan Fort was as expected and there was nothing to be upset about.

He turned and walked towards the direction of Tunbao, saying, "The tribe leader sent a letter the day before yesterday!"

"Ah, is there anything wrong, clan leader?" Yang Mingwu asked puzzledly.

He knew that Yang Zhengshan often corresponded with Yang Zhengxiang, but under normal circumstances, Yang Zhengshan would not tell him about the letters.

Although he is now also a post-natal warrior, and logically speaking he has the highest cultivation level among the Yang family except Yang Zhengshan, his seniority is low, and he always follows Yang Zhengshan, so Yang Zhengxiang will never discuss anything with him.

"There are more and more warriors in the clan, and the clan leader intends to invite more people to join the army." Yang Zhengshan said as he walked.

Yang Mingwu thought for a moment and said, "As a matter of fact, we are all relatives, so we should definitely help if we can, but there are no vacancies in Yinghe Fort!"

Now Yang Zhengshan has ten centurions under his command, and each centurion, general flag and small flag has his own position.

Yang Zhengshan can't just dismiss someone from his official position for no reason just to make room for another position.

As for letting Yang's descendants serve as soldiers, that is not possible either.

The people sent by Yang Zhengxiang were all warriors, and it would be a waste of their talents to serve as ordinary soldiers.

"I want you and Chengxu to leave Yinghe Fort!" Yang Zhengshan stopped and looked at Yang Mingwu.

Yang Mingwu was stunned, "Why?"

"Zhao Yuan has been promoted. He was originally the pacification envoy of Jianning Guard, and now he has been promoted to a captain. Some time ago, he wanted me to find an assistant for him. I think Chengxu is suitable!" Yang Zhengshan said.

Although Zhao Yuan was born in the Suiyang Marquis's Mansion, he was only a bastard's son, and the Suiyang Marquis's Mansion would not invest too many resources in him.

Therefore, Zhao Desheng was the only person Zhao Yuan could fully trust.

In the past, he followed Zhou Lan, so naturally he didn't need too many confidants. But now he is a thousand households and needs to be independent, so naturally he needs some confidants.

He can also cultivate his own confidants, but it will take some time.

So he wanted to ask Yang Zhengshan for one or two helpers. He trusted Yang Zhengshan very much, and he could also trust Yang Zhengshan's people.

"As for you, I want you to go to Jianning Guard to serve as the pacification envoy!" Yang Zhengshan said.

The pacification envoy of the Weisi Yamen and the deputy captain were both of the fifth rank, so Yang Mingwu's transfer there was considered a lateral transfer.

The reason why Yang Mingwu was appointed as the pacification envoy was, firstly, that Yang Mingwu was now capable of taking charge of things on his own, and secondly, to expand the scope of power.

The power of officials is limited to certain regions. Yang Zhengshan is the defense officer of Yinghe Fort, so his power covers Yinghe Fort and all the garrisons, fire road towers and beacon towers within its jurisdiction.

If he were placed in Jianning Guard, he would be a figure if others gave him face, but if others did not give him face, he would not be able to take care of anything.

Although he has Zhou Lan as his strong supporter, he can't go to Zhou Lan for everything.

But if Yang Mingwu went to Jianning Guard, it would be different.

After entering Jianning Wei, Yang Mingwu became the local boss of Weicheng. If Yang Zhengshan wanted to get something done, he no longer had to ask others for help.

Similarly, the reason why Yang Chengxu was asked to help Zhao Yuan was also based on this consideration.

Now Zhao Yuan is a captain under Mu Qiu, the garrison commander of Ningzhou City. He will be in Ningzhou City for several months every year to perform garrison duties. If Yang Chengxu goes to Zhao Yuan, then Yang Chengxu can also do something in Ningzhou City.

With Yang Mingwu in Weicheng and Yang Chengxu in Ningzhou City, their sphere of influence has expanded several times compared to Yang Zhengshan's.

Of course, they are not the chief officers and have much less power, but if something happens, they can still help.

At the same time, when Yang Mingwu and Yang Chengxu left Yinghebao, Yang Zhengshan would definitely not let them leave alone, and he would take a few trusted subordinates with them. In this way, some positions would be vacated in Yinghebao, and the children of the Yang family recommended by Yang Zhengxiang could be accommodated.

Yang Mingwu didn’t know that Yang Zhengshan had so many ideas. In fact, he still wanted to stay with Yang Zhengshan, but he would not refuse Yang Zhengshan’s arrangement.

"I will listen to you, adults!" Yang Mingwu thought for a moment and said.

Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "That's good. Chengxu will be here soon. I'll talk to him. If he agrees, we'll go to the Acropolis tomorrow!"

Yang Chengxu naturally would not have any objection. As a group of Yang family members who followed Yang Zhengshan, they were naturally loyal to Yang Zhengshan.

The next morning, Yang Zhengshan went to the Acropolis.

When they arrived at the Acropolis, he first took Yang Mingwu to meet Zhou Lan.

When Zhou Lan heard the purpose of Yang Zhengshan's visit, she couldn't help feeling a little surprised.

"Are you willing to let him come to the Acropolis?"

She knew that Yang Mingwu was Yang Zhengshan's right-hand man. Letting Yang Mingwu leave Yinghe Fort would be like cutting off one of her own arms, wouldn't it?

"Why are you reluctant? Mingwu is not a child anymore. It's time for him to go his own way. It's not good for him to always follow me around!"

Yang Zhengshan relied on his age to act as a good elder who cared about the younger generations.

In fact, it is not really a role, as he is Yang Mingwu's elder.

Zhou Lan glanced at Yang Mingwu standing behind Yang Zhengshan, thought for a moment, shook her head, and said, "I want Mingzhi to do this!"

Now it was Yang Zhengshan's turn to be stunned. He had thought that Zhou Lan would refuse. If she did, he would not force her. But he never expected that Zhou Lan would actually fall in love with Yang Mingzhi.

Bah, bah, it’s not that I like you, it’s that I value you.

However, Yang Zhengshan quickly understood Zhou Lan's thoughts.

The Zhenfu in the garrison was in charge of military affairs and criminal law, and Yang Mingzhi had previously served as Zhenfu in Yinghe Fort, so he had some experience in managing the Zhenfu Division.

In contrast, Yang Mingwu has no experience in this area.

Yang Mingzhi is indeed more suitable for the position of pacification than Yang Mingwu.

But this is different from Yang Zhengshan’s idea!

Let Yang Mingzhi come to Acropolis?
"That Mingwu!"

"That's easy. If you want to train him, let him go on his own. Ruizhou City is still short of a defense officer. I can arrange for him to go!" Zhou Lan said generously.

She has dealt with a large number of officials in the past few months and is currently short of staff.

Since Yang Zhengshan brought people here at this time, she naturally would not refuse.

She even wanted to poach a few more people from Yang Zhengshan's subordinates. She had considered Yang Chengze, Yang Chengche, etc.

If she hadn't been afraid that Yang Zhengshan would be unwilling to put it in, she would have gone to find Yang Zhengshan long ago.

"Which garrison's defense officer?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"Tianhe Castle!" Zhou Lan said.

Yang Zhengshan's eyes lit up. Tianhe Fort was a big fort, even bigger than the previous Yinghe Fort.

Moreover, Tianhebao governs four garrisons and more than thirty fire towers and beacon towers.

The most crucial thing is that Ruizhou City is located in the southwest of Ningzhou City, more than eighty miles away from Ningzhou City, while Tianhe Fort is located in the east of Ruizhou City, less than fifty miles away from Ningzhou City.

That's a good place, far enough from the border, with mountains, water and fertile fields, it's a Feng Shui treasure land.

"The defense officer of Tianhe Fort must be actually granted the rank of a thousand households to take the position!" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile, stroking his beard.

If Yang Mingwu served as the defense officer of Tianhe Fort with the rank of a thousand households, he would be the same as Yang Zhengshan.

Moreover, Yang Mingwu's jurisdiction is even larger than Yang Zhengshan's.

"Are you not dissatisfied?" Zhou Lan looked at Yang Zhengshan with a smile.

Most people would probably feel uncomfortable if they were surpassed by their juniors.

But will Yang Zhengshan be dissatisfied?

of course not.

He believed in Yang Mingwu's character.

And even if Yang Mingwu changed in the future, he didn't think Yang Mingwu would dare to do anything to him.

Yang Mingwu might surpass him in official rank, but he would never be able to surpass him in strength.

"General, I am not young anymore."

Yang Zhengshan naturally would not express his thoughts.

Being old is the fact he is most reluctant to admit, but sometimes being old is the best excuse.

He is old, so he wants to support the younger generation.

Yang Mingwu is his junior, so he naturally wishes Yang Mingwu a bright future.

This excuse couldn't be more reasonable.

Not only was it reasonable, it also deeply moved Yang Mingwu.

Zhou Lan nodded, not doubting Yang Zhengshan's thoughts.

Forty years old is indeed not young, you can even call yourself an old man.

"Then it's settled!"

(End of this chapter)