Chapter 9: Three Yang

Sunlight blazed, in front of the Zhang family estate

Zhang Jian sweated profusely, standing before a row of plum blossom stakes firmly planted in the earth, his body moving swiftly, steady and agile.

After breaking through the bottleneck of the Yang Yuan stage in the Tian Gang internal breath, Zhang Jian also followed Zhang Yi's advice and sought out Jian Yao for guidance on the body-tempering method of the Three Yang Stakes.

When the internal cultivation method progressed as expected, Zhang Jian naturally also became willing to engage in external cultivation body-tempering methods.

If he could possess such talent, he would naturally be willing to cultivate both internally and externally.

On the high platform, several burly estate hands stared in astonishment at this scene, all of them seeing that Zhang Jian's progress was rapid.

In just a few days, his Three Yang Stakes were already standing very steadily.

Such talent and aptitude among martial practitioners is also quite rare.

In fact, this is also the result of Zhang Jian deliberately concealing his abilities.

The fire apricot merged into his body, aiding in marrow washing and body tempering, his physique completely transformed.

As the Tian Gang Child's Skill circulated within his body, a surging, astonishing heat force rolled through his meridians, faintly accompanied by a thread of crimson lightning sparks, within which lay a volcanic-like majestic power, as the Three Yang Stakes trembled, affecting skin, membranes, tendons, and bones, dispersing into his limbs and hundreds of bones, rapidly tempering and stretching tendons and bones.

……

Soon after, the Zhang family gate became lively.

Fengxi County, at some unknown time, began spreading rumors that the Zhang family owned Mi Mountain, and that Mian Mountain was larger than the Shuangfeng Mountain behind Fengxi County.

Especially copper coins and silver, each time hauled away in cart after cart, enough to form a line stretching several li.

This made the Zhang family feel as if they were becoming the target of universal loss.

And this rumor caused many Zhang family disciples to feel greatly annoyed.

The emergence of such rumors at this time clearly indicates someone is targeting the Zhang family.

Outside Fengxi County, the refugee tide grows ever larger; if it triggers unrest, the Zhang family's enterprises would easily suffer impact.

After the rumors spread, several elders of the Zhang family could no longer sit still, all returning to the Zhang family, asking Zhang Yi to take charge and issue a code of conduct, so that the rumors would not continue to rage and disrupt the Zhang family's normal operations.

"Several venerable uncles need not be anxious; I know in my heart who is spreading these rumors, but my nephew has confidence in making him steal a chicken without gaining even a grain of rice!"

"Clansman, with your words, we are reassured!"

"Indeed, the person spreading these rumors has a heart deserving of punishment, utterly hateful, and must not be lightly spared!"

Zhang Jian stood at the gate, seeing several elders already advanced in years, supported by a few middle-aged men, walking out from the main hall.

"Third Great-Uncle, Fourth Great-Uncle, Qi Uncle, Yu Uncle!"

Seeing these few, Zhang Jian smiled and greeted them.

"So it's Elder Brother Jian!"

The several old men at this moment raised their heads, their faces involuntarily breaking into smiles.

However, Zhang Jian did not converse long with these elders before Zhang Yi summoned him over, yet it was to have him handle this matter.

When Zhang Jian entered the main hall, Zhang Yi was holding a teacup and drinking tea, his expression calm, appearing completely unconcerned about the outside rumors.

"Father!"

Zhang Jian spoke first, slightly taking the lead.

Zhang Yi gently set down his teacup, speaking in a relaxed tone.

"You already know about the outside rumors; I want to know, what do you think?"

This is a test, and possibly also a transmission.

The meaning implied within is self-evident.

Zhang Jian's heart stirred slightly, yet he merely smiled and said.

"Father, someone has taken notice of our Zhang family—this is not a bad thing, is it?"

Zhang Yi's expression paused, then he said: "What do you have in mind?"

Zhang Jian spoke calmly: "Father, these years you have always been strengthening our Zhang family's foundation; though our Zhang family's expansion has brought hidden influence not worth mentioning, openly we are already no inferior to the aristocratic clans of the prefectural city, especially after Sixth Uncle passed the imperial examination as a jinshi; in other words, we actually fear no small rumors!"

"But every great clan, who does not have some family background!"

"On the contrary, we can still use these rumors to let our Zhang family's influence rise even higher!"

"Oh, is that so? How come I, as father, have not noticed?" Zhang Yi said without changing expression.

"Father, this is you testing the child!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly.

"Now the refugee tide approaches; those spreading the rumors, nothing more than wanting to use this opportunity to strike the Zhang family, but the Zhang family can also use this opportunity to widely win hearts and stabilize our foundation!"

"We can likewise spread the news, saying our Zhang family wishes to establish water-lift workshops and water-mill workshops by the river, willing to take in some able-bodied refugees, using labor in lieu of relief!"

"The method is good, but how many refugees can it actually gather this way?"

Zhang Yi shook his head.

Zhang Jian gave a sly smile: "But we can also use this opportunity, under the banner of protecting and safeguarding merchant caravans and villagers, to spend money and effort establishing a guard unit—this is also to prevent bandits!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi instantly glared at Zhang Jian and rebuked him.

"Rebellious brat! Do you know that privately establishing such a military unit is punishable by death!"

Zhang Jian defended: "Father, we are not privately recruiting soldiers and buying horses; we are doing this to prevent refugee bandits from attacking our Zhang family's foundation. Hearing that recently many commoners have been disturbed by refugee bandits around here, establishing such a guard unit is also to help the court reduce its burden; afterward, we will completely 'disband' on our own!"

Zhang Jian's eyes flashed with an unusual hue; the Great Qian court actually does not allow local magnates to recruit private soldiers, for which there are specific statutes, but there are also loopholes to exploit.

Whenever local conditions become turbulent and banditry severe, local officials may temporarily conscript local populace into militia to suppress bandits, or grant certain clans limited authority to establish guard units.

Especially, the Zhang family still has a county magistrate holding military authority.

Adapting accordingly is not difficult.

Zhang Yi stroked his beard slightly, glanced at Zhang Jian and said: "Will you really 'disband' on your own?"

Zhang Jian laughed: "Absolutely true!"

Zhang Yi nodded: "Then it's good; although this matter will not harm us, you must also pay attention to safety, as recently some ill-intentioned individuals have appeared around the Zhang family, merely reckless and lawless, yet we still need to deal with them!"

Speaking of this, a chill flickered in Zhang Yi's eyes.

Zhang Jian was somewhat eager to try; his Heavenly Gang Boy's Skill had recently achieved some success, so he naturally wanted to test it in actual combat, but he soon suppressed this stray thought.

It wasn't about hiding; rather, having such skills to show off was less worthwhile than going to Zhang Yi's study to read a few good books.

Recently, he had been investigating the origin of the unknown runes in that painting scroll.

Now he had found a clue.

In Zhang Yi's collection, he found something similar, called ancient golden script, said to be characters created by ancient deities to expound the principles of heaven and earth, passed down from antiquity.

Fortunately, Zhang Yi's collection included some works related to ancient golden script, though fragmented; Zhang Jian could only perk up his spirits and piece them together himself.