Chapter 74: Minor characters can also accomplish great things in Chapter 73. Chapter 74: Minor characters can also accomplish great things in Chapter 73. “I just beg Master Yang to let my family out of the city!” Luo Shang added.
Yang Zhenshan’s eyes narrowed slightly; Shopkeeper Luo seemed to have encountered a considerable amount of trouble, with even his family being held hostage.
“Shopkeeper Luo, explain the situation in detail!” Yang Zhenshan did not immediately refuse.
With a face full of misery, Luo Shang said, “My unfilial son caused trouble, offending the fourth young master of the Zhang family and has been imprisoned!”
“I don’t even seek Master Yang’s help to save my unfilial son; I only ask Master Yang to help my wife, child, and elderly mother leave the city!”
The fourth young master of the Zhang family is none other than the wastrel, Zhang Chen, the cheap grandson of Zhang Yude, who was whipped by Zhou Lan in the street that one time.
Given Zhang Chen’s temper, offending him is tantamount to courting disaster, and it’s no wonder Luo Shang is frantic.
Luo Shang has already given up hope of rescuing his eldest son and only wishes to leave Chongshan Pass City with his family.
Compared to his whole family, he would rather sacrifice his eldest son.
Even though this decision would cause him unbearable pain, it is nonetheless the wisest choice he can make at the moment.
“Is someone keeping watch over you?” asked Yang Zhenshan.
Luo Shang nodded his head bitterly.
Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment. “If it was just an altercation with Zhang Chen, he shouldn’t be holding a grudge against your whole family!”
Zhang Chen is notoriously ruthless—there is no doubt about that.
But what status does Zhang Chen hold? At most, if it were his son, Zhang Chen would have killed him, but it wouldn’t be enough for him to relentlessly pursue the Luo family.
Frankly speaking, the Luo family isn’t worth Zhang Chen’s attention.
“My son broke one of Zhang Chen’s arms!” Luo Shang said, his head bowed low.
Truth be told, one couldn’t say that Luo Shang’s son was in the wrong—it was merely that he was too impulsive.
Who is Zhang Chen? He bullies men and women alike, committing all sorts of evil deeds.
Luo Shang’s young son, hot-blooded and impetuous, couldn’t tolerate being humiliated.
In a fury, he resisted a few lashes from Zhang Chen, then charged at him.
This charge took Zhang Chen’s guard and entourage by surprise, and as a result, Zhang Chen’s arm was broken.
If Luo Shang’s son had restrained himself, at worst he would’ve been beaten and suffered some indignity. But he fought back and even managed to break Zhang Chen’s arm.
This was akin to stirring up a hornet’s nest; the Zhang family was sure to retaliate.
The Zhang family would not only refuse to forgive his son, but they would also implicate his entire family.
In desperation, Luo Shang sought out Yang Zhenshan.
But could Yang Zhenshan help?
That was the Zhang family, and with Yang Zhenshan’s position, how could he possibly confront the Zhang family.
It’s not just about confrontation; even if Yang Zhenshan wanted to cause some trouble for the Zhang family, he couldn’t do it.
He is the Bazong of the Left Camp and also in charge of Linguan Castle, so his authority is restricted to Linguan Castle and the Left Camp.
Within Chongshan Pass City, he has absolutely no power.
Of course, the Zhang family also couldn’t touch him because he belonged to General Zhou.
He could borrow General Zhou’s influence, but first, he would need the consent of General Zhou.
With Zhou Lan’s background and status, she naturally didn’t fear the Zhang family. Previously, Zhou Lan had whipped Zhang Chen in broad daylight, and the Zhang family didn’t even dare to utter a word, illustrating the power and influence of General Zhou.
But would Zhou Lan help the Luo family?
Was the Luo family worth Zhou Lan’s intervention?
Yang Zhenshan inwardly shook his head. To Zhou Lan, the Luo family’s small cloth shop was simply beneath notice.
Moreover, at this time, Zhou Lan probably had no intention of dealing with such insignificant matters.
“I’m afraid I can’t help with this matter!” Yang Zhenshan refused.
Upon hearing these words, Luo Shang’s face involuntarily showed a look of despair.
“Master Yang, Master Yang! Please, I implore you to help me!” he begged.
“I’m willing to offer all my family wealth, as long as Master Yang can help get my family out of the city!” Luo Shang knelt down, pleading.
He truly had no other options left; although the Zhang family hadn’t laid hands on him yet, he was well aware that they would never let him and his family off the hook.
Before coming to Linguan Castle, he had sought help from many people, but all of them refused, and some even kicked him out the door upon hearing hi
Yang Minghao, who had been silently posing as part of the background, couldn’t help but speak up when he saw his brother’s exaggerated antics: “Second Brother, what’s wrong with your eye? Got sand in it?”
This blockhead!
Yang Zhenshan was somewhat speechless; he knew his second brother was scheming something, trying to convey a covert message.
But the younger third brother clearly didn’t grasp the second brother’s intention, even asking if there was sand in his eyes.
“Dad, General Zhou sent someone over!” Yang Mingzhi had no choice but to concoct an excuse to get Yang Zhenshan out.
Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, “Shopkeeper Luo, please rest here for a moment, I have some official business to attend to!”
Luo Shang did not persist in his pleas, perhaps he also guessed that Yang Zhenshan and Yang Mingzhi had matters to discuss.
After Yang Zhenshan left the study, Yang Mingzhi whispered, “Dad, if we can’t openly take them out of the city, we can sneak people out in the dark!”
“How?” Yang Zhenshan frowned.
His familiarity with the city was not as good as Yang Mingzhi’s.
Yang Mingzhi often went to the city to purchase various items and, coupled with his affable nature, he made many friends within the city.
Although they were all friends of little significance, it couldn’t be denied that Yang Mingzhi had a gift for socializing.
“Heh, Shopkeeper Luo’s family still has four people. As long as we control those watching them, getting them out would be easy!” Yang Mingzhi said with a chuckle.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Zhenshan shook his head, “The risk is too great, it’s not worth it!”
“A store is not worth it?” Yang Mingzhi obviously had his eyes on the Luo family’s fabric shop.
Indeed, that was a shop worth several hundred Silver, and if you count the fabric in the shop, it might exceed a thousand taels.
“Idiot, do you think the Zhang family wouldn’t know if we took the shop?”
Yang Zhenshan looked at Yang Mingzhi as if he were looking at a foolish son.
Yang Mingzhi was still too young. Although he had some cleverness, his considerations were not thorough enough.
If the Luo family managed to escape, whoever took over the Luo family’s shop would definitely be suspected of aiding them.
Additionally, with people watching Luo Shang, it’d likely be impossible to conceal his arrival at Linguan Castle from the Chen family.
Stealthily smuggling the Luo family out of Chongshan Pass City was no easy feat.
Yang Mingzhi was baffled, “Then we should take Silver!”
“Sigh…” Yang Zhenshan sighed, feeling his son was nearly comparable to an imbecile.
“This was supposed to be an act of grace, how could we extort them for Silver in their time of need?”
“Not only would this risk offending the Zhang family, but we would also incur the enmity of the Luo family!”
“Is it worth provoking both sides just for a few hundred Silver?”
How much cash could the Luo family have?
At most several hundred taels.
Once they leave the city, the Luo family would embark on a fugitive journey. If Yang Zhenshan took all their Silver at this juncture, it would be no surprise if Luo Shang hated him to death.
This matter should either not be done at all, or if done, should be executed in a way that would leave the Luo family grateful and indebted.
Otherwise, once exposed, the Luo family would certainly betray him.
“What should we do then?” Yang Mingzhi had completely run out of ideas.
Yang Zhenshan patted his shoulder and said, “In the future, act with more caution and thorough consideration.”
Yang Mingzhi also realized that he had not been thorough enough and felt somewhat embarrassed.
“Dad, I was too greedy!”
Actually, Yang Zhenshan was quite satisfied with Yang Mingzhi.
Yang Mingzhi was intelligent, sociable, courageous and daring in battle, fearless of life and death, and most importantly, he was dutiful and obedient.
Among the three adopted sons, Yang Mingzhi was undoubtedly the most promising one.
Of course, Yang Mingzhi also had his shortcomings — born of a peasant family, with insufficient experience, even after nearly a year of Yang Zhenshan’s tutoring, his knowledge still did not match those from the large family clans.
Yang Zhenshan reflected a bit. Although Yang Mingzhi’s methods were unreliable, they did give him an idea.
If not overtly, then covertly it must be.
Of course, his idea of a covert operation was not about smuggling the Luo family out of the city.
Even a small character can have a significant impact.
Under normal circumstances, the Luo family could not cause the slightest obstruction to the Zhang family.
But now was different.
At this moment, Chongshan Town was undergoing a tumultuous phase, and the garrison eunuch, Zhang Yude, was also mired in trouble.
If judged by the facts, Zhang Yude would bear the primary responsibility for the defeat.
At this juncture, even a tiny spark could burn Zhang Yude to death without a complete corpse.
With this in mind, Yang Zhenshan turned and walked back into the study.
