Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Exiting the Taiji Palace, Yang Zhenshan did not return directly to his residence but first went to the Secret Martial Guards to obtain a dossier on the Star Moon Sect.

As the saying goes, know thyself and thy enemy and you shall win every battle. He was acquainted with the Star Moon Sect, but certainly not as thorough as the Secret Martial Guards.

Back at his residence, Yang Zhenshan first went to the main courtyard to discuss this matter with Yu Qingyi.

After listening, Yu Qingyi expressed her concerns, "Is there any danger in suppressing the Star Moon Sect?"

"Danger? What danger?" Yang Zhenshan was taken aback.

"The Star Moon Sect might have more than one Innate Martial Artist!" Yu Qingyi said.

Yang Zhenshan chuckled, "Speaking of Innate Martial Artists, our Da Rong certainly has more than the Star Moon Sect! Don't worry, when have your husband ever been defeated?"

Yu Qingyi wasn't lacking in confidence towards Yang Zhenshan; it's just that the past few years he hadn't been on the battlefield, which made her worry more.

She used to worry before, but back then her worldly habits hadn't changed and she was comparatively indifferent to life and death. Now, having grown accustomed to life with the Yang family and the Capital City, facing life and death made her less decisive than before.

"How about I accompany you? I haven't yet been on the battlefield with my husband!" Yu Qingyi said, somewhat interested.

Yang Zhenshan slightly shook his head, "Let's not, things at sea are not as convenient as on land."

"Besides, you need to handle Wanqing's and Miao'er's marriage matters; better you stay at home."

Yu Qingyi thought about it and agreed; one of them must stay to handle these matters at home.

"Then for Wanqing's wedding, will my husband not be able to attend?"

"That's not necessarily true. The marriage negotiations will take a few months, and the wedding is likely after the New Year. Perhaps I will be back by then!"

If Duke Xing Mansion was in the Capital City, the wedding could definitely happen before the year, but since it's in Southern Border Town, discussing the marriage between the two families would take two to three months back and forth, without half a year such matters couldn't be settled.

After discussing for a while, Yang Zhenshan went to the study to examine the Star Moon Sect's dossier.

The Secret Martial Guards' knowledge about the Star Moon Sect wasn't very detailed, as most of the information remained superficial.

However, besides the Secret Martial Guards' files, Yang Zhenshan could also learn the inside story of the Star Moon Sect through Luo Jingsong.

Although Luo Jingsong was previously just the Hall Master of the Seven Stars Hall, he had lived on Star Moon Island as a child until he moved to Da Rong in his twenties.

In the study, Yang Zhenshan summoned Luo Jingsong, saying, "Tell me about the Star Moon Sect!"

"The Star Moon Sect?" Luo Jingsong asked in surprise, "Why is the Marquis suddenly interested in the Star Moon Sect?"

"The court is planning to attack the Star Moon Sect!" Yang Zhenshan did not hide anything and spoke the truth.

Luo Jingsong first showed surprise and then nodded, responding, "What aspect would the Marquis like to understand?"

"How did you join the Star Moon Sect?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

This question had never been asked before; he felt it unnecessary before, but now felt somewhat curious.

Luo Jingsong replied, "I was an orphan adopted by the Star Moon Sect, though 'adopted' might not be accurate—it's more like bought. My parents were originally islanders of Dagu Island, a small island in the East South Sea Domain, where previously thousands of islanders lived."

"About fifty years ago, when I was five, a group of pirates conquered Dagu Island. My parents were killed by the pirates, and I was turned into a child slave."

"Later, I was sold to Star Moon Island and became a disciple of the Star Moon Sect."

Yang Zhenshan raised an eyebrow, "So, it was the Star Moon Sect that raised you?"

"Raised?" Luo Jingsong's face showed a hint of bitterness, "Each year, the Star Moon Sect takes in thousands of child slaves, but less than twenty percent survive!"

"Among the slaves taken in with me, there were over a hundred, but only about a dozen survived!"

"To the Star Moon Sect, we were just tools."

Yang Zhenshan pondered, "Is everyone in the Star Moon Sect treated like this?"

Luo Jingsong slightly shook his head, "Not everyone, the Star Moon Sect has a heritage of hundreds of years and internally there are many families, divided into the Upper Three, Middle Four, and Lower Eight families. The Upper Three consist of the Yue family, the Nan family, and the Qu family; the current Sect Leader Yue Hongyi, Hall Master Nan Haiyan, and Hall Master Qu Fusheng belong to these families."

"The Middle Four are the leaders of the Four Flag Army, which include the Li family, the Wang family, the Han family, and the Cheng family. These four families have controlled the Four Flag Army for over a hundred years!"

"The Lower Eight include the Sun family, the Yan family, etc. Today, most of the residents on Star Moon Island belong to these fifteen families."

"Whereas people like me, although also people of the Star Moon Sect, were mostly just treated as tools, though we could also settle down on Star Moon Island."

Yang Zhenshan showed a look of realization.

Luo Jingsong also had family, but his family now lived on a manor owned by the Yang family; this was clearly something Luo Jingsong obtained after leaving Star Moon Island.

Initially, Luo Jingsong had been able to resolutely betray the Star Moon Sect because his family was not on Star Moon Island.

"You said the Four Flag Army is controlled by four families?"

"That's right."

"Do you think it's possible to persuade them to defect?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

Luo Jingsong frowned in thought for a moment, "It's difficult, but not impossible."

"Explain in detail!" Yang Zhenshan said.

"Although the Middle Four hold the Four Flag Army, their strength is not strong, at best they have numbers!"

"To make them betray the Upper Three, first we must ensure the safety of their families, but their families live on Star Moon Island. Once the Upper Three find out, it would inevitably lead to the annihilation of their clans!"