The Zhang Clan Also Has a Grandmaster

Five days after Zhang Yu was imprisoned, in Lotus Peak City, Northern Frontier.

Marquis Yong'an, Zhang Jiuling, had been stationed here with his troops for years, defending against incursions from the Zhao Kingdom to the north.

Almost the entire Zhang Clan resided here, including the old Marquis, Zhang Yuanfeng, and some of the Zhang Clan's ten elders.

This was the true foundation of the Marquis Yong'an's Estate and the Zhang Clan. Qin Xuehua and the others were more like hostages left in the Capital City.

Over the years, the Imperial Family had grown wary of the Marquis Yong'an's Estate, which wielded significant military power. Furthermore, the Zhang Clan had indeed engaged in behaviors that encouraged the enemy for their own benefit.

Consequently, the Imperial Family began deliberately withholding military pay and suppressing them, leading to resource shortages in Lotus Peak City. It was only barely sustained by Zhang Yu's continuous, daily transport of supplies.

Marquis Yong'an, Zhang Jiuling, sat regally in the main seat, while the quartermaster below knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Why haven't this month's supplies and provisions arrived yet?

What is Zhang Yu doing?"

Zhang Jiuling's voice rumbled like muffled thunder, carrying undisguised anger and an air of entitled accusation.

Beside him, his younger brother, Zhang Jiuming, also wore a displeased expression and snorted coldly:

"Eldest Brother, I think that kid Zhang Yu is getting more and more out of hand.

He even dares to delay my Northern Frontier's supplies. Truly audacious.

He's not a true Zhang, so he's unreliable."

Hearing this, Zhang Jiuling's expression darkened further.

Zhang Jiuming felt he had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to backtrack, "Eldest Brother, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean it like that."

Zhang Jiuling picked up his teacup and slammed it heavily onto the table, splashing tea.

"Hmph, this bastard.

I said long ago that his intentions were impure, that he was subservient and wouldn't amount to much.

If it weren't for the fact that he's managed the Marquis Estate's miscellaneous affairs diligently all these years, and still sends money and supplies on time each month, I would have already..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the disdain and impatience in his eyes were evident.

In his heart, Zhang Yu, this bastard, was always an "unpresentable" figure.

A waste in Martial Arts, with a cowardly personality, only knowing how to curry favor with Qin Xuehua and his family.

In front of his father, he was also timid and hesitant, lacking the demeanor of a noble's son.

If Zhang Yu hadn't used some unknown means over the years to always secure funds to support the Northern Frontier's military needs, he would have long since marginalized this "waste."

"Marquis, Second Master, no... it's not like that..."

The quartermaster stammered a defense, "It's the Capital City... something big seems to have happened there, Eldest Young Master he..."

"What big thing could have happened?"

Zhang Jiuming interrupted impatiently, "He's probably just infatuated with that Jiang Luohan again, or perhaps bullied by Qin Xuehua and Zhang Heng and too afraid to speak up.

Can't even handle such a small matter properly. Truly a waste."

His prejudice against Zhang Yu was deeply ingrained. For any problem, his first reaction was that Zhang Yu was incompetent and cowardly.

Zhang Jiuling nodded in agreement, his tone filled with disappointment and disdain:

"Yes, that's all he's capable of. For a woman, for the sake of pleasing his Mother and brother, he can even neglect important matters."

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling that Zhang Yu had failed his "expectations."

His so-called expectations were merely that Zhang Yu would act like an ATM, continuously supplying the Northern Frontier without complaint or error.

At this moment, the quartermaster spoke with a tremor:

"It's the Capital City... news came from there, Eldest Young Master he... was sentenced to fifty years in the Ministry of Justice Heavenly Prison.

So the supplies... are completely cut off."

"What?"

Zhang Jiuling shot to his feet, taken aback.

"This waste, incapable of accomplishing anything, only good at ruining things."

He cursed loudly, his voice shaking dust from the tent ceiling.

He wasn't concerned about why Zhang Yu was imprisoned, nor what Zhang Yu would endure in prison, but rather—the severed supply line.

"He actually got himself thrown into the Heavenly Prison?

Does he know what he's doing?

This idiot, this waste."

Zhang Jiuming's expression also changed drastically, and he said gravely:

"Eldest Brother, this matter is strange.

Although Zhang Yu is useless, he wouldn't be so muddled."

The timing of his imprisonment was so coincidental, could it be... the Imperial Family had discovered something?

Was this the Imperial Family deliberately targeting us, using Zhang Yu's situation to cut off our supply lifeline?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiuling's heart tightened, his anger subsided slightly, replaced by a chill.

He had been building his own power for years, and indeed, there was suspicion of him harboring bandits to strengthen himself. The Imperial Family had long been displeased with this, repeatedly withholding military pay.

Zhang Yu's covert supply was his greatest reliance for maintaining his military strength.

Now that this reliance was broken...

"No..."

Zhang Jiuling forced himself to calm down, shaking his head. "This matter was handled secretly; the Imperial Family shouldn't be able to find anything on Zhang Yu. It must be this unfilial son who caused trouble himself, implicating the Northern Frontier."

He paced irritably in the tent, his dislike for Zhang Yu reaching its peak.

"No, the Northern Frontier's military affairs are urgent, and the Zhao Kingdom is watching covetously. Without supplies, the army won't last long."

Zhang Jiuling suddenly stopped, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.

"I must return to the capital myself. I want to see what exactly this unfilial son is up to.

If he dares to ruin the important affairs of my Marquis Estate, I will not spare him."

"Eldest Brother, you mustn't."

Zhang Jiuming was greatly alarmed and quickly tried to stop him.

"You are the commander-in-chief on the border. Returning to the capital without an imperial decree is a capital offense equivalent to treason.

What if this is a trap set by the Imperial Family, deliberately luring you back to the capital only to detain you?"