Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 648 The Fourth Master Rebelled!
After Li Chang and his party arrived at Songhe Prefecture in the south of the Yangtze River by boat, they saw a prosperous scene. Merchant ships were intertwined between the river and sea docks, and there were dragons of carriages on the city streets. Although there were many people in shabby clothes on the roadsides of the countryside, the population was dense and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard.

But when they entered Yungui, they saw a completely different scene: bandits were rampant, bandits were arrogant, and in the rugged mountains and forests, many villages were empty. The better villages had to build strongholds to protect themselves.

They were originally going to travel by boat along the river, but now Chen Hengchang's rebels were gathering to attack Jiangnan, and the river had long been blocked by the rebels. It was difficult for ships from Jiangnan to enter Yungui, so they could only travel by land, crossing mountains and ridges, and traveling under the stars and the moon.

It was supposed to be a half-month journey, but it took them more than a month to reach Yangtian Sect.

The Yangtian Sect is located in Yunzhou, which is in the west of Yungui. Chen Hengchang did not expand to the west and south of Yungui, so the Yunzhou area is relatively peaceful at present.

Of course, the peace in Yunzhou is also due to the contribution of Yangtian Sect. A powerful sect has a strong deterrent effect in the local area. Although sometimes a strong sect will become a huge mountain weighing on the government and the people, a powerful sect can also deter the villains within a hundred miles around.

At the very least, bandits and thieves would not dare to cause trouble near Yangtian Sect.

With the visiting card from the Yang family and the letter from Yang Zhengshan, Li Chang easily met Du Qiandao, the current leader of the Yangtian Sect.

Du Qiandao is over sixty years old this year. He is the great-disciple of Li Shouning. Since the death of Li Shouning, the Yangtian Sect has inevitably declined.

However, the Yangtian Sect has been passed down for hundreds of years and has an extremely profound foundation. Although there are no innate warriors in the Yangtian Sect at present, the strength of the Yangtian Sect is still strong.

Now the Yangtian Sect has six masters at the half-step innate realm. Perhaps it won’t be long before another innate warrior will appear in the Yangtian Sect.

In front of the mountain gate of Yangtian Sect, Du Qiandao and several elders of Yangtian Sect came to greet them in person.

Before reaching the mountain gate, Du Qiandao saw Li Chang and others waiting outside the mountain gate.

Li Chang and his group of five looked very ordinary. When they were traveling, they kept things simple, so their clothing was no different from that of ordinary martial artists, just neat black outfits, with weapons either slung around their waists or carried on their backs.

Martial artists like them are very common, so he would not be surprised to meet them.

However, Du Qiandao could tell at a glance that Li Chang and his five companions were extraordinary. It was not because his eyesight was so sharp that he could see through the cultivation level of Li Chang and his five companions, but because the aura of Li Chang and his five companions made Du Qiandao feel uneasy.

Beside Yang Zhengshan, Li Chang and other close followers were like invisible people. Each of them looked extremely ordinary and casual, and seemed even worse than the guards of the Yang family.

But after leaving Yang Zhengshan, Li Chang and the others seemed like a different person, showing their talents and imposing manner.

"I'm sorry for not welcoming you, my distinguished guest!" Du Qiandao came over with a friendly smile and said with a fist clasped.

Li Chang clasped his fists and bowed, "Master Du, you are too polite. It is we who came here without permission and disturbed your clan!"

"I am Li Chang, and I am the old marquis's personal attendant!"

The old marquis naturally refers to Yang Zhengshan. Although Yang Mingcheng has also been the Marquis of Jing'an, unfortunately he is too low-key as the Marquis of Jing'an. Not many people have dealt with him, and he does not have much reputation outside.

"Haha, it turns out that you are the elite soldiers and generals surrounding the old marquis. Come in, come in!" Du Qiandao warmly welcomed Li Chang and the other four into the Yangtian Sect.

The Yang family has left Dayong for nearly twenty years. As time goes by, many people may have forgotten Yang Zhengshan’s achievements, but forces like the Yangtian Sect still know some details of the Yang family.

After all, they had dealt with Yang Zhengshan before, especially Du Qiandao, who had even met Yang Zhengshan.

It’s just that Yang Zhengshan was already famous at that time, while he was still a junior.

Soon, everyone arrived at the lobby of the Yangtian Sect. After some polite exchanges, Li Chang took out Yang Zhengshan's letter and handed it to Du Qiandao.

In the letter, Yang Zhengshan first expressed his admiration and remembrance for Li Shouning.

He had dealt with Li Shouning many times. Li Shouning was a man who was sincere in martial arts and always wanted to enter the Tao. Unfortunately, he was unlucky and he never reached the threshold of entering the Tao until his death.

Yang Zhengshan still respects senior colleagues like Li Shouning.

So Yang Zhengshan said these not out of politeness, but because he really felt sorry for Li Shouning.

If Li Shouning were still alive now, Yang Zhengshan might have led him into Taoism.

Not only Li Shouning, but also Zhangye and Meng Po Po, they were all blocked from the threshold of entering the Tao, and they are all regrettable martial arts predecessors.

Afterwards, Yang Zhengshan got down to business, which was to ask Yangtian Sect to help find Yang Mingzhao.

After reading the letter, Du Qiandao felt a little relieved, but also a little disappointed.

They just asked them to help find someone. It was a small matter and naturally, their Yangtian Sect would not refuse.

But this matter was too small, not enough for the Yang family to owe their Yangtian Sect a favor.

Du Qiandao still wanted to have more personal interactions with the Yang family.

Although the main force of the Yang family is in Chongshan Town, don't forget that the Xingguo Duke of Nanjiang Town is a relative of the Yang family. Their Yangtian Sect is less than 300 miles away from Nanjiang Town.

To the north of Yunzhou is Bozhou, which is the territory of the Black Tiger King. To the west is Wusa Prefecture and Zhenxiong Prefecture, which are the territories of the Nine Heavenly Kings. To the east is not far from Jiujiang Prefecture, only two prefectures away, and the straight-line distance is less than two hundred miles.

This means that there are rebels on three sides of the Yangtian Sect now.

Therefore, Du Qiandao is very upset about the rebels in Yungui and Bashu. In this chaotic situation, their Yangtian Sect is also at a loss as to what to do.

The Yangtian Sect urgently needs some allies to ensure the stability of Yunzhou, and Nanjiang Town is undoubtedly the most suitable ally of the Yangtian Sect at present.

In fact, Du Qiandao had sent people to contact Nanjiang Town a long time ago, and he even provided some food and fodder to the soldiers in Nanjiang Town’s camp on the Yunnan-Guizhou border.

Unfortunately, Qu Changkong was not enthusiastic about them and was unwilling to pay attention to them.

As for why Qu Changkong was unwilling to pay attention to them, the reason was very simple. Qu Changkong was the Duke of Xingguo of Dayong, and the Yangtian Sect was just a martial arts sect.

If Li Shouning were still alive, Qu Changkong would still look down upon the Yangtian Sect, but Li Shouning had been dead for more than ten years, so Qu Changkong naturally looked down upon the Yangtian Sect.

A martial arts sect is a martial arts sect. No matter how powerful they are, they are still inferior to the royal nobles.

"This matter is simple. I will arrange it right away and ask everyone to help find it!" Du Qiandao said.

Li Chang took out a portrait and said, "This is the portrait of the Fourth Master. I'm going to trouble Sect Leader Du for this matter!"

Du Qiandao took the portrait with a smile, glanced at it, and handed it to the disciple behind him, "It's just a small matter, Brother Li, don't worry, as long as the Fourth Master is around Yunzhou, my Yangtian Sect will definitely find him!"

He was not bragging. The Yangtian Sect was a real local tyrant, enjoying a very high reputation and power in the martial arts world of Yungui and Bashu. As long as the Yangtian Sect gave an order, martial artists in Yunzhou and several prefectures surrounding Yunzhou would be willing to help.

This is not a life-threatening matter, it's just helping to find someone. No one from the underworld forces around Yunzhou will offend the Yangtian Sect for this.

However, Du Qiandao did not expect that they would find Yang Mingzhao so quickly.

He was still chatting with Li Chang, while his disciple left with the portrait and came back not long after.

"I heard that the old marquis is on Xingyue Island now? I wonder what Xingyue Island is like?" Du Qiandao was very interested in the current situation of the Yang family, so he asked.

Li Chang smiled and said, "Fortunately, although Xingyue Island is not big, it is safe and stable."

At this moment, the disciple came back and whispered something in Du Qiandao's ear. However, his whisper was a bit unnecessary and could not be hidden from Li Chang at all.

"Master, do we know where this Fourth Master is? The leader of the Taiping Army, Yang Zhao, should be this Fourth Master!"

"What? Are you sure?" Du Qiandao said in disbelief.

"Yes, Xiao Wu and the others have seen Yang Zhao. He looks exactly like the portrait, and Yang Zhao's surname is also Yang. There are many experts around Yang Zhao. We have never found out Yang Zhao's origins before, probably because he was born in the Yang family of Jing'an Marquis Mansion!"

The Yangtian Sect was not far from Kuizhou Prefecture and Baoning Prefecture. Before Yang Mingzhao captured Baoning Prefecture, he had not attracted the attention of the Yangtian Sect. But after he captured Baoning Prefecture, the Yangtian Sect had to pay attention to him.

The Yangtian Sect naturally wanted to know about the four rebel forces in Bashu, so it sent people to Baoning Prefecture not long ago.

Although Yang Zhao changed his name, he did not change his appearance, and he did not hide from people all the time. He could still be seen in Baoning Prefecture.

It just so happened that the disciples sent by the Yangtian Sect to investigate the Taiping Army had seen Yang Zhao from afar. And not just one disciple, but six disciples had seen Yang Zhao's true face.

Du Qiandao looked a little strange, and Li Chang's expression also became strange.

Not only him, but also the friends who came with Li Chang looked at each other in bewilderment.

The Taiping Army, Yang Zhao and their Fourth Master!
How can this be linked together?

"Ahem, Brother Li should have heard it!" Du Qiandao said somewhat embarrassedly.

This is really embarrassing!
The fourth master of the Jing'an Marquis's Mansion has become the leader of the rebels. If this matter were to get out, who knows how much turmoil it would cause.

That’s right, the Yang family did move out of Darong, and Yang Zhengshan had left Darong for many years, but no one could ignore the status of the Yang family in Darong.

Chongshan Town, Tenglongwei, and even the entire Liaodong are almost all controlled by the Yang family.

If the Yang family became traitors, how would the Darong court react?
When Du Qiandao thought of this, he felt like he was not feeling well at all!

Damn it, what the hell is this!

The Yang family is going to rebel?

And let me know!

Not to mention Du Qiandao was embarrassed, Li Chang was also quite embarrassed.

The Fourth Master rebelled!
What is going on?

Li Chang felt that this mission seemed to be becoming very troublesome.

"Since we have news about the Fourth Master, we won't bother you anymore!" Li Chang stood up and said.

"This, maybe we made a mistake. Why don't you stay here for a few days, Brother Li? It won't be too late to look for the Fourth Master after we confirm the truth of the matter!" Du Qiandao thought it would be better to confirm it again, just in case it was a mistake.

Li Chang shook his head. "Please keep this confidential. We can confirm this matter ourselves!"

This is quite troublesome!

He thought it would be better for him to go there in person.

Moreover, he also had to send the message back to Yang Zhengshan as soon as possible.

However, no matter what the situation is, Yang Zhengshan must be informed of it first, so that Yang Zhengshan can prepare in advance to deal with the impact after the matter is exposed!

Du Qiandao thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll let my disciple accompany Brother Li on this trip. Our Yangtian Sect still has some reputation nearby, and can help Brother Li save a lot of trouble!"

"Thank you!" Li Chang did not refuse.

They really needed a guide, and the identity of the Yangtian Sect made it easier to act in Yungui and Bashu than the identity of the Yang Family.

Afterwards, Du Qiandao arranged for four disciples to follow Li Chang and leave Yangtian Sect.

After leaving Yangtian Sect, Li Chang first asked his two companions to go back and deliver the message, and then followed the disciples of Yangtian Sect to Baoning Prefecture.

The straight-line distance between Yunzhou and Baoning Prefecture is not far, about one thousand miles, but it is not easy to travel from Yunzhou to Baoning Prefecture. The mountains are steep and the roads are rugged, making it extremely difficult to travel.

Moreover, the journey has to pass through the territory of the Black Tiger King and the territory controlled by the Bashu government before finally reaching Baoning Prefecture controlled by Yang Mingzhao.

Although the three parties have stopped using troops, they have set up camps at important checkpoints and blocked official roads.

Fortunately, with the Yangtian Sect's face, all parties have to give the Yangtian Sect some face so as not to be blocked from moving forward.

But even so, it was twenty days later when Li Chang and his party arrived at Baoning Prefecture.

Li Chang stood outside the city, looking at the majestic walls of Baoning Prefecture with a complicated expression.

Did the Fourth Master really become a traitor?

How can I explain this to the old marquis?
When he left Yangtian Sect, he was still a little uncertain, but along the way, they got a lot of information about Yang Zhao.

This made him basically certain that the Taiping Army leader Yang Zhao was their Fourth Master.

At this moment, he was standing outside the city and suddenly felt a little afraid to enter the city.

Meow!

It’s better not to know this!
If you don't know, then it's all good for you, me and everyone else, but once you know, this matter will definitely cause quite a bit of turmoil.

The first family to be affected was the Yang family.

Li Chang had followed Yang Zhengshan for thirty years, so he naturally knew Yang Zhengshan's attitude towards Darong.

Yang Zhengshan's attitude is generally that he doesn't care. As long as the Yang family is not persecuted in Darong, Yang Zhengshan doesn't want to get involved in Darong's internal affairs.

But now that the Fourth Master has become the leader of the rebels, what choice will Yang Zhengshan make?

Take the Fourth Master back and then cover up the matter completely?
Or support the Fourth Master's rebellion, completely overthrow Darong, and establish a new imperial city?
Li Chang didn't know what choice Yang Zhengshan would make, but he knew that Yang Zhengshan would definitely be conflicted.

"Sir! Should we go into the city?" Xiao Wu, a disciple of Yangtian Sect, asked softly.

Along the way, the four disciples of Yangtian Sect already knew the strength of Li Chang and his two companions. There were five of them before, but Li Chang sent two of them back to report the news. Therefore, now there are only two companions around Li Chang, and the other four disciples of Yangtian Sect.

Xiao Wu is about forty years old and has the eighth level of acquired cultivation. He is responsible for gathering information in the Yangtian Sect. It was he who came to Baoning City to investigate Yang Zhao before, and it was he who recognized that Yang Mingzhao's portrait was Yang Zhao.

(End of this chapter)