Chapter Summaries

Yang Zhengshan reorganized the Tenglong Guard and received the Lan Family’s confiscated wealth to fund its operations. Liu Zhe arrived in Liaodong after misunderstanding Yang Zhengshan’s letter, and the chapter ended with Yang Zhengshan realizing Liu Zhe had come to teach Lin Zhan in person.

• Xie Yuan and Yang Zhengshan transferred, dismissed, and replaced Tenglong Guard officials, then reassigned Military Households and distributed grain to their families.
• Yang Zhengshan learned that the Central Military Governor’s Office had granted the Tenglong Guard the Lan Family’s confiscated money and grain to cover three years of pay and rations.
• Yang Zhengshan read the Lan Family’s sentence and instructed Han Fei to hand the family members and case files over to the proper authorities.
• Yang Zhengshan welcomed Liu Zhe, who had traveled to Liaodong after taking Yang Zhengshan’s letter as an invitation to teach Lin Zhan there.
• Yang Zhengshan clarified that he had meant to send Lin Zhan to the Capital, but realized Lin Zhan’s upcoming provincial examination made Liu Zhe’s visit more practical.

After a heavy snowfall exposed how desperately Tenglong Guard’s military households lacked warm clothing and bedding, Yang Zhengshan ordered more cotton cloth from the Luo family. Wu Zhan reached Jing'an Prefecture, but Luo An said the family had exhausted its stock.

• Liu Zhe arrived in Liaodong, agreed to stay for about a year, and began teaching Lin Zhan.
• As snow fell over Tenglong Guard, Yang Zhengshan ordered Xie Yuan to inspect vulnerable houses and prevent collapses.
• Lu Wenhua told Yang Zhengshan that military households lacked enough cotton cloth for clothes and quilts, so Yang ordered another shipment from the Luo family.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Wu Zhan to Jing'an Prefecture to obtain as much cotton cloth as possible and asked Luo Shang to visit and discuss business.
• Wu Zhan found Luo An at the Luo Family Cloth Shop, but Luo An said the shops had no cotton cloth left.

Wu Zhan sought cotton cloth for Yang Zhengshan’s military households and used Shang Mingde’s help to arrange a large purchase from Jing'an City merchants. As the snow stopped, Yang Zhengshan faced the damage the storm had caused to impoverished military households’ homes.

• Luo An told Wu Zhan that the Luo Family could not provide the large quantity of cotton cloth without help from major merchants, so Wu Zhan decided to seek contacts in Jing'an Prefecture.
• Wu Zhan visited Shang Mingde and explained that Yang Zhengshan needed cotton cloth for the Tenglong Guard’s military households.
• Shang Mingde agreed to help and introduced Wu Zhan to major cloth merchants in Jing'an City.
• Wu Zhan negotiated at the Luo Family’s supply price, and the merchants gathered ten thousand bolts of cotton cloth and sent them toward the Tenglong Guard within two days.
• After three days of heavy snow, the storm stopped, but many military households’ homes had collapsed despite Yang Zhengshan’s repair orders and inspections.

Yang Zhengshan inspected the snow damage at Nanling Tun and found four households homeless, then proposed building ice houses to shelter them. After Zhang Hu suggested using ice blocks to reinforce other houses, Yang Zhengshan returned to the Guard City and sent instructions to the various Thousand-Man Battalion Offices.

• Yang Zhengshan visited Nanling Tun and learned that four households’ houses had collapsed, though everyone had been rescued.
• Yang Zhengshan saw the military households’ fear and decided they needed separate shelter rather than being crowded into other homes.
• Yang Zhengshan explained how to build ice houses, and Zhang Hu realized ice blocks could also reinforce houses.
• Yang Zhengshan returned to the Guard City, wrote down both methods, and sent copies to the Thousand-Man Battalion Offices.

Yang Zhengshan helped Military Households find emergency shelter and welcomed Wu Zhan back with cotton cloth from Jing'an Prefecture. He agreed to help Wu Zhan pursue Yulu, then ended the chapter teasing Yu Qingyi while she fed their infant son, Xiao Mingzhao.

• Yang Zhengshan saw the ice houses built in Nanling Tun, discovered that others had devised snow houses, and promoted the faster shelters for Military Households.
• Wu Zhan returned from Jing'an Prefecture with the first three thousand bolts of cotton cloth and arranged payment for the suppliers.
• Yang Zhengshan rewarded Wu Zhan with Hundred Herb Brew and silver, urged him to marry, and learned he wanted to marry Yulu.
• Yang Zhengshan promised to discuss Wu Zhan's proposal with Yu Qingyi and said Yulu would have to agree freely.
• Yang Zhengshan and Yu Qingyi talked about Xiao Mingzhao's future marriage as she fed him, and Yang Zhengshan playfully teased her.

Yulu agreed to marry Wu Zhan, and Yu Qingyi arranged to free her from her indenture and make her his principal wife. As Yang Zhengshan planned reforms for Tenglong Guard, Wu Zhan reported that the third shipment of cotton cloth had been robbed by Huang Yifu of the Star Moon Sect.

• Yulu thanked Yu Qingyi, who freed her from her indenture and agreed to arrange her marriage to Wu Zhan.
• Yu Qingyi began arranging Yulu and Wu Zhan's marriage and planned to put Song Hao and Wang Yunqiao's wedding on the schedule.
• The second shipment of cotton cloth reached Tenglong Guard, and Yang Zhengshan's aid increased the military households' gratitude toward him.
• Yang Zhengshan planned post-New Year reforms involving paid construction work, farm tools, draft oxen, composting, and troop training.
• Wu Zhan told Yang Zhengshan that Huang Yifu, the Yuheng Swordsman, had robbed the third shipment of cotton cloth.

After learning that Huang Yifu’s mountain bandits had stolen cotton cloth meant for Tenglong Guard and killed several escorts, Yang Zhengshan set out with cavalry to recover it. Meanwhile, Wang Zhenze failed to get help from Shang Mingde, and Huang Yifu’s stronghold celebrated its winter supplies without knowing Yang Zhengshan was coming.

• Wu Zhan told Yang Zhengshan that Huang Yifu, the Jade Balance Swordsman of Yuheng Hall, had robbed the cotton cloth and killed several escorts.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered Song Dashan to assemble one hundred cavalry and rode south toward Qingfu Mountain with his guards.
• Wang Zhenze pleaded with Shang Mingde for help, but Shang Mingde said the Shang Family could not provoke Huang Yifu or make Yang Zhengshan pay for undelivered goods.
• Huang Yifu celebrated the stolen cotton cloth with his bandits, unaware that Yang Zhengshan had set out against them.

Yang Zhengshan led his soldiers into Huang Yifu’s stronghold and overwhelmed the unprepared mountain bandits. After knocking Huang Yifu down, he rescued Lin Xiaoyun and turned to confront the bandit chief.

• Yang Zhengshan brought his soldiers up Qingfu Mountain and found Huang Yifu’s stronghold with no guards posted at its gate.
• Yang Zhengshan opened the gate, led his men into the stronghold, and kicked open the main hall doors while Huang Yifu was drinking with his bandits.
• Yang Zhengshan identified himself as Commander of the Tenglong Guard, and his personal guards surrounded the mountain bandits as fighting erupted outside.
• Yang Zhengshan’s killing intent frightened Huang Yifu and the bandits, and he sent Huang Yifu flying with a spear strike.
• Yang Zhengshan helped Lin Xiaoyun to her feet, reassured her, and asked about her name and home.
• Yang Zhengshan faced Huang Yifu again and asked whether he had anything left to say.

Yang Zhengshan’s troops wiped out the Qingfu Mountain bandits and rescued more than thirty abducted women, whom he brought to Tenglong Guard and arranged work and shelter for. He then chose to repay the Wang Family for its recovered cotton cloth to build goodwill with local merchants, and planned support for Lu Wenyuan’s journey to the capital for the Spring Imperial Examination.

• Yang Zhengshan rejected Huang Yifu’s plea for mercy, and Song Dashan reported that the bandits had been killed and the stolen cotton cloth, carts, and horses recovered.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered the remaining bandits killed and chose to take more than thirty rescued women back to Tenglong Guard after learning they feared returning home.
• Lin Xiaoyun thanked Yang Zhengshan for taking them in, and he instructed the soldiers to keep quiet about the women’s circumstances and arranged lodging for them.
• Yang Zhengshan sent Wu Zhan to Jing'an City to repay the Wang Family for its cotton cloth, explaining that he wanted to build merchants’ goodwill for Tenglong Guard’s future development.
• Yang Zhengshan told Lu Wenhua to arrange needlework for the women and encouraged him to return home with Mingcheng to consult the family about Wenyuan’s upcoming imperial examination.
• Yang Zhengshan said he had bought a residence in the capital and offered to help Wenyuan and Mingcheng with lodging, an escort, and useful connections during their journey.

Yang Zhengshan enjoyed a quiet stretch at home while preparing Tenglong Guard for the coming year, as Yuheng Star Hall learned that he had destroyed Huang Yifu and feared losing Qingfu Mountain’s toll income. Facing a higher payment demand from Star Moon Sect, Luo Jinsong agreed to meet Yang Zhengshan and seek permission to reclaim the mountain’s lucrative route.

• Yang Zhengshan told Lu Wenhua to prepare for a trip to Anning County with his family and planned to send Yang Mingcheng, Yang Mingzhi, and Jiang He back while he stayed behind.
• Ji Zhengfei reported to Luo Jinsong, Li Chengguo, and Qian Zhonghe that Yang Zhengshan had killed Huang Yifu and had a formidable military record and likely Ninth Layer of Postnatal Realm cultivation.
• Li Chengguo and the others worried that Yang Zhengshan’s destruction of Huang Yifu had cost Yuheng Star Hall its profitable Qingfu Mountain toll route, and they hesitated to send anyone to take it over.
• Luo Jinsong revealed that Star Moon Sect had raised Yuheng Star Hall’s required payment to one hundred thousand taels of silver for next year, possibly because of its involvement with the Lvsheng Dynasty.
• Li Chengguo proposed negotiating with Yang Zhengshan, and Luo Jinsong reluctantly volunteered to visit him on behalf of Yuheng Star Hall.

Yang Zhengshan received Wang Zhenze and Shang Mingde, who thanked him for recovering the Wang Family’s cotton cloth and left with a greatly improved impression of him. Luo Shang then arrived with a large caravan and many former soldiers, including maimed veterans he had hired, and told Yang Zhengshan about expanding his business into tea.

• Wang Zhenze thanked Yang Zhengshan for recovering the cotton cloth and presented him with a gift, which Yang accepted.
• Yang Zhengshan hosted Wang Zhenze and Shang Mingde and saw them out of Guard City the next morning.
• Luo Shang arrived with a large caravan and more than a hundred escort masters, many of them former soldiers from Yinghe Fortress and Anyuan City.
• Yang Zhengshan recognized several maimed veterans who had served under him, praised their efforts, and asked Luo Shang to care for them.
• Luo Shang told Yang Zhengshan that he had bought a tea estate in Jiangnan and planned to expand into the tea trade.

Yang Zhengshan questioned Luo Shang about sea merchants and considered whether Tenglong Guard could enter maritime trade, then received a powerful spear as a gift. He asked Luo Shang to investigate the salt trade, leaving plans for both ventures under consideration.

• Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang about the costs, dangers, and taxes involved in maritime trade, then weighed whether he could establish a shipping business.
• Luo Shang presented Yang Zhengshan with a 138-jin spear forged from Hundred-Refined Mysterious Iron, and Yang Zhengshan tested it before naming it the Mysterious Iron Spear.
• Yang Zhengshan told Luo Shang that he might need his cooperation on several matters the following year.
• Yang Zhengshan asked Luo Shang to investigate salt merchants and explained that he intended to pursue the official salt trade despite the powerful merchants who controlled it.

Yang Zhengshan discussed plans for the salt and maritime trade with Luo Shang and prepared the Yang Family’s New Year gifts for Yunxue’s household in the Capital. As Luo Jinsong, the Hall Master of Yuheng Star Hall, arrived to visit, Yang Zhengshan wondered what had brought him there.

• Luo Shang stayed in Guard City for three days, exchanging business advice with Yang Zhengshan before leaving.
• Yang Mingcheng, Yang Mingzhi, and Lu Wenhua set out for Anning County with the Yang Family’s annual gifts.
• Yang Zhengshan and Wang added gifts for the Marquis Changping Mansion, including horses and liquor, while Yu Qingyi reminded him that Little Red Colt belonged to Cheng Ye.
• Yang Zhengshan told Wang to prepare for Minghao to leave for the Capital the next day.
• Wu Hai announced Luo Jinsong’s visit, and Yang Zhengshan received the Hall Master of Yuheng Star Hall in the front courtyard.

Yang Zhengshan secured a favor from Luo Jinsong of Yuheng Star Hall, learned that Yang Yunxue faced snobbery among the capital's nobles, and expanded his plans for the Yang Family's influence there. After the New Year, he set out an ambitious program for Tenglong Guard to improve housing and food for military households and train an elite force, leaving its officials to begin the work.

• Yang Zhengshan accepted Luo Jinsong's apology gifts and granted Yuheng Star Hall permission to continue collecting tolls at Qingfu Mountain in exchange for a favor, while warning that he knew the hall's base on Great Green Mountain.
• Yang Zhengshan read letters from Yang Yunxue and Wu Zheng, learning that nobles in the capital looked down on Yunxue despite the Marquis Changping Mansion treating her well.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered more than ten trained guards to go to the capital after the New Year and sent Wu Zheng ten thousand taels of silver to recruit manpower.
• On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Yang Zhengshan summoned Tenglong Guard officials and set three priorities: build new housing, ensure military households had enough to eat, and train three thousand elite soldiers.
• Yang Zhengshan directed officials to renovate military offices and the guard city, complete a Fish Scale Register and distribute incoming oxen, and prepare to build a barracks outside the city after spring plowing.

Yang Zhengshan organized the newly rebuilt Tenglong Guard, securing craftsmen, plow oxen, and permission and iron ore to produce weapons and armor. He then inspected Nanling Tun and nearby settlements, where construction and preparations for spring farming were underway.

• Yang Zhengshan assigned Zhou Ren to settle craftsmen, Han Fei to coordinate for iron ore, Xie Yuan to oversee farmland and housing, and Song Dashan to manage defenses and troop training.
• Yang Zhengshan sent an iron ore application to the Central Military Governor's Office, while more than a hundred craftsmen arrived from Anyuan City and Zhou Ren arranged their work and living needs.
• Luo Zhen sent the first two hundred of eight hundred ordered plow oxen from Chongshan Pass, and the animals were distributed among Tenglong Guard's military settlements.
• The Central Military Governor's Office approved Tenglong Guard's arms and armor production and allocated iron ore, which began arriving from Chongshan Town on the eighth day of the second lunar month.
• Yang Zhengshan inspected Nanling Tun's housing plans and spring farming preparations, found the military households in better spirits, and visited other settlements around Guard City.

Yang Zhengshan prepared Yang Mingcheng for a trip to the Capital, then surveyed the coast near Tenglong Guard for a pier and salt fields. He consulted Liu Zhe about the plan and left him impressed by tea Yang Zhengshan had grown in the Spirit Spring Space.

• Yang Zhengshan told Yang Mingcheng to visit Yang Yunxue, attend General Zhou’s wedding, and maintain the family’s connections in the Capital.
• Yang Mingcheng left Guard City with guards to meet Lu Wenyuan and travel with him to the Capital.
• In mid-March, Yang Zhengshan rode east with Jiang He to inspect the coastline and found a suitable former pier site.
• Yang Zhengshan considered building a pier and salt fields to bring wealth to Tenglong Guard, then invited Liu Zhe to discuss his plans.
• Yang Zhengshan served Liu Zhe Dongling Spring Tea from the Spirit Spring Space and offered to send him some, claiming it was wild mountain tea from Changqing Mountain.

Yang Zhengshan planned to build a salt field in Tenglong Guard and sought advice on gaining official approval and connections. Meanwhile, Lu Wenyuan entered the Capital’s Spring Imperial Examination, leaving Yang Mingcheng waiting for the three-session exam to end.

• Liu Zhe explained that Yang Zhengshan needed approval from the Central Military Governor’s Office and connections with the Liaodong Salt Transport Commission, then revealed that Zheng Xiao, Liu Yuanfu’s student, had become Liaodong’s Salt Inspection Censor.
• Yang Zhengshan sent an official request to the Central Military Governor’s Office and asked Luo Shang to deliver a congratulatory gift to Zheng Xiao and learn about the Salt Transport Commission.
• Yang Mingcheng accompanied Lu Wenyuan through the crowded streets to the examination venue, carrying his examination basket and reminding him to protect his health.
• Lu Wenyuan joined the queue for inspection and entered the examination venue, while Yang Mingcheng watched him go inside before returning to the Yang Family’s Capital residence.

After the Central Military Governor's Office rejected Yang Zhengshan's salt-field proposal, he planned to appeal to the Old Emperor for support. Then he learned that Earl of Huaijiang, Sui Yi'an, had died, leaving Zhou Lan's marriage prospects in doubt.

• Lu Wenyuan finished the Spring Imperial Examination and told Yang Mingcheng he had done his best, though the results were uncertain.
• Zhou Mao rejected Yang Zhengshan's salt-field proposal because it could provoke the Salt Transport Commission.
• Yang Zhengshan decided to appeal to the Old Emperor and wrote a memorial describing his work and the salt-field issue.
• Wu Hai delivered an urgent letter from Wu Zheng stating that Earl of Huaijiang had died of illness.
• Liu Zhe reminded Yang Zhengshan that Earl of Huaijiang had been arranged to marry Zhou Lan, and Yang Zhengshan asked Wu Zheng to look after her.

Zhou Lan drove off Lady Zhang when she demanded a ghost marriage, while Lu Wenyuan placed second in the Spring Imperial Examination. Emperor Chengping approved Yang Zhengshan’s proposal to build a salt field, leaving the plan authorized.

• Lady Zhang demanded that Zhou Lan be buried with Sui Yi'an, and Zhou Lan drew her sword and frightened Lady Zhang into fleeing.
• Zhou Lan reassured Madam Yang, who continued to worry about her daughter’s marriage.
• Yang Mingcheng anxiously waited for the examination results, and a guard announced that Lu Wenyuan had placed second.
• Yang Mingcheng celebrated Lu Wenyuan’s success and sent word to the family.
• Emperor Chengping read Yang Zhengshan’s memorial proposing a salt field and approved it.

Yang Zhengshan celebrated Lu Wenyuan’s success in the imperial examinations and argued with Liu Zhe over balancing Lin Zhan’s studies with martial training. As the Tenglong Guard expanded its construction and military preparations, Yang Zhengshan also began organizing a salt field and sought more personnel for the growing settlement.

• Yang Zhengshan received news that Lu Wenyuan had placed on the examination list and sent the good news to the Lu Family.
• Yang Zhengshan and Liu Zhe argued over whether Lin Zhan should reduce his martial training to focus on studying, and Yang Zhengshan refused to let him abandon cultivation.
• After spring plowing ended, Song Dashan reported that training preparations were nearly complete, while Zhou Ren said the Guard had too few sets of iron armor.
• Yang Zhengshan ordered master craftsmen to prioritize weapons and requested more personnel from the Central Military Governor’s Office.
• Yang Zhengshan received approval from Emperor Chengping to establish a salt field and assigned Jiang He to organize its construction and hire salt-producing households.
• As construction, training, and preparations for the salt field continued, the Tenglong Guard’s households received pay and the settlement grew more orderly and prosperous.