Yang Xiu's expression changed.
"Student... Student offended Director Lu during the sacrifice just now, but Director Lu wouldn't go so far as to make a big fuss over this matter? And... and even use me to threaten Father into resigning?"
As he spoke, Yang Xiu's tone turned incredibly cold, and he reverted to his arrogant, talented noble demeanor. "Director Lu is... is making things difficult for us scholars?"
This...
Making things difficult? How could it be making things difficult?
Lu Yu pondered, I am doing a good deed, I am saving your Yang family.
Indeed, in this world, being a good person is harder than being a bad person.
In that case... alright, I'll be the bad guy.
"Cough, cough..." With a light cough, Lu Yu's eyes fixed, he crossed his legs, and his tone lifted slightly. "Let me put it this way, this Director previously calculated a divination, and it happened to reveal the fate of your Hong Nong Yang clan! It revealed the fate of your father."
"If you weren't my student, I wouldn't tell you that your Hong Nong Yang clan and your father are about to face disaster!"
Speaking of which...
Lu Yu yawned. "Believe it or not, I'm putting my words here today: either you cooperate with me to find a way to remove your father from the position of Grand Commandant, thereby resolving this calamity for the Hong Nong Yang clan, or... within ten days, your Yang family will surely face a bloody disaster!"
This...
Yang Xiu was inwardly furious. While... he did admire Lu Yu now.
But admiration didn't mean blind agreement...
Moreover, Lu Yu's request was simply outrageous!
Was he Yang Xiu? And his father was his father.
Now, it was clearly because he, Yang Xiu, had offended Lu Yu, yet he was making his father... his father bear the responsibility, and even demanding the removal of his Grand Commandant title.
Yang Xiu's brows furrowed tightly.
What a hypocritical Grand Director of the Imperial Academy who puts on a facade, utterly hypocritical!
At this moment, Yang Xiu straightened his back, looking down at Lu Yu with immense disdain!
"Director Lu is looking down on our Hong Nong Yang clan too much, isn't he?"
If it can be tolerated, it cannot be tolerated. Yang Xiu had never endured such indignity since childhood... "My father is the Grand Commandant of the court, one of the Three Excellencies, how can he resign just because you say so!"
"Director Lu doesn't think too highly of himself, does he?"
Hmph... Lu Yu's eyes narrowed. This brat was actually yelling at him and confronting him head-on.
Lu Yu was quite disdainful. "If you intend to personally push your Hong Nong Yang clan into an abyss of eternal damnation, you can think so!"
"You..." Yang Xiu was furious...
In his rage, he immediately shed his scholar's robe, and said furiously, "I never thought Director Lu would be this kind of person. Hmph... what kind of director teaches what kind of disciples. This Imperial Academy will also become a place of filth sooner or later... I, Yang Xiu, will no longer study here!"
As he spoke, Yang Xiu forcefully threw down his black scholar's cap.
The cap made two crisp thuds as it hit the ground.
Hearing this, Lu Yu shook his head helplessly...
This brat... is still too arrogant, relying on his talent and family background to look down on everything!
It's no wonder such a person would eventually kill Lu Zhi.
Now, Lu Yu wanted to save the Hong Nong Yang clan, and ultimately... he would likely need to recruit Yang Xiu for his own use.
Then... the immediate priority was to discipline him, to severely curb his arrogance, and to let Yang Xiu open his eyes and see who was in charge of the Imperial Academy, Xu Du city, and the imperial court.
"Does Dezu mean? To drop out?" Lu Yu asked in return.
"My Hong Nong Yang clan cannot afford to attend this prestigious Imperial Academy! I am withdrawing!" Yang Xiu roared.
Completely unaware that he had stumbled into trouble, big trouble.
"What place do you think this Imperial Academy is?" Lu Yu's eyes narrowed. "You can come and go as you please? Fine, until you officially withdraw, you are still a disciple of my Imperial Academy, and this Director has always been ruthless with disciples!"
"As the saying goes, 'one cannot become accomplished without being beaten, one cannot become useful without being disciplined; if you don't beat them for three days, they'll tear down the roof!'"
Speaking of which...
Lu Yu shouted, "...Where are the Imperial Academy guards?"
"Director Lu!"
As they spoke...
Several guards entered Lingyan Pavilion.
To speak of it, these guards were all selected from the Dragon Soaring Camp, totaling over thirty people, to protect the safety of the Imperial Academy.
Of course, this was not the point. The point was that even if Lu Yu ordered them to kill or set fires, they would not bat an eye.
Hoo...
Exhaling lightly, Lu Yu ordered, "There is a student who was disobedient on his first day at the Imperial Academy and even threatened to withdraw. This is completely disregarding respect for teachers and elders. This Director intends to teach him a lesson!"
"Here..."
With a command from Lu Yu, the five or six guards knew his intentions.
Immediately, they seized Yang Xiu and dragged him out.
"Lu... Director Lu... you, you're going to beat me?" Yang Xiu exclaimed incredulously.
What a pity.
Lu Yu clapped his hands and muttered to himself.
When Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Yang Xiu was still young and did not witness... that so-called noble families, that so-called imperial officials, were nothing in the face of absolute power. Today... he had to let him understand this principle. Perhaps, in the future, he would even thank me!
"Cough, cough..."
With a light cough, Lu Yu ignored Yang Xiu and continued to command, "Beat him severely, drag him to the square and beat him, let every student of the Imperial Academy see the consequence of disrespecting teachers and elders and disobeying their superiors. The Imperial Academy is not a place of leisure now, but a training ground for students to become accomplished."
"You..." Yang Xiu was still shouting, "Lu... Lu Yu... you... my father will never resign, you... will never be punished!"
"Good, I'll make my words clear..." Lu Yu nodded. He walked up to Yang Xiu, crouched down, looked him directly in the eye, and his overbearing voice resounded again, "If your father does not resign, even if you withdraw, I will still send people to break your legs! This young master keeps his word!"
Hearing this, the guards rubbed their hands, their eyes suddenly lighting up.
Today... they were going to beat the son of the Grand Commandant Yang Biao. Thinking about it... it was quite exciting.
As everyone knew, the soldiers of the Dragon Soaring Camp were all very brave.
As for Yang Xiu, he had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth his entire life. He had never met such an unreasonable person.
He was clearly putting on a facade, and behind it was something else. "Lu Yu, you... you are fabricating lies to force my paternal grandfather to resign. What... what is your purpose? You... you are bullying others with your power."
Bullying with power? Am I?
Lu Yu spread his hands and asked the guards, "Am I bullying with power?"
"No, no!" The guards shook their heads repeatedly...
"Then what are you waiting for? Drag him out and beat him..." Lu Yu immediately commanded.
This time, even if Yang Xiu resisted with all his might, he was no match for the five soldiers of the Dragon Soaring Camp. He was practically dragged out. His voice was still full of righteous indignation, "Under the Son of Heaven, in broad daylight, where is the law... where is the law?"
"I... I don't believe that you, Lu Yu, can be... lawless, utterly lawless!"
Saying this, Yang Xiu was dragged away.
Lu Yu rolled his eyes and sighed helplessly. He muttered to himself, "You know nothing. If I don't beat you today, and don't force your father to resign, your father, your Yang family, will be completely finished!"
Just as he thought of this...
"Ah... ah..."
Screams, piercing screams, were incessant.
Before long, Cai Zhao Ji ran over quickly, her face as pale as paper...
In Cai Zhao Ji's mind, these students of the Imperial Academy were all the favored sons of heaven, the hope of the future empire. How could they... be beaten for no reason?
"Brother Yu? How... the Imperial Academy has just started, and you're already... beating students?"
Seeing Lu Yu, Cai Zhao Ji quickly asked.
"It's to establish authority, so to speak!" Lu Yu smiled slightly. "This Yang Xiu is disobedient and is clamoring to withdraw. If he isn't taught a severe lesson, wouldn't our Imperial Academy become a place where people can come and go as they please?"
Speaking of this, Lu Yu leaned his head towards Cai Zhao Ji, "Sister Zhao Ji, don't be so nervous. I know what I'm doing. He won't die."
"But..."
"Sister Zhao Ji, please don't concern yourself with this matter." Before Cai Zhao Ji could speak further, Lu Yu directly interrupted, "In ten days or so, you will all understand my good intentions."
With these words, Lu Yu quickly walked out of Lingyan Pavilion and went to the square...
At this time, the square was already surrounded by people. Two guards were hitting Yang Xiu's buttocks with wooden sticks.
Yang Xiu was naturally screaming, but in reality, the guards were not using even thirty percent of their strength. If they had used ten percent more, Yang Xiu would have been ruined.
At this moment, Yang Xiu could not have dreamed...
He had merely come to attend the Imperial Academy, yet... he had suffered such undeserved disaster.
The students of the Imperial Academy, who also could not have dreamed of this, were watching from nearby, not daring to step forward.
They were all discussing and speculating.
Some said that Yang Xiu had offended Director Lu during the sacrifice today, violated etiquette, and deserved to be beaten!
Others said that Director Lu had praised him during the sacrifice, so why would he be two-faced?
Dozens of students of the Imperial Academy were saying all sorts of things...
At this moment, the entire Imperial Academy was in an uproar, with discussions everywhere.
And Yang Xiu, feeling the pain, saw Lu Yu approaching and instinctively begged for mercy.
"Director Lu, don't... don't hit me anymore. Student and... and Director Lu have no enmity!"
"No enmity?"
Lu Yu crouched down, brought his head close to Yang Xiu, and said earnestly, "Alright, I'll tell you some good news now. After this beating, you have successfully withdrawn. From now on, you are no longer my student."
Speaking of this, Lu Yu paused.
"However... I'll tell you some bad news. Since you are no longer my student, this Director will not show mercy. I'll tell you, if your father does not resign, I will send the Dragon Soaring Camp to watch you, and I will break your legs at any opportunity!"
If it were someone else... making such a threat, Yang Xiu would surely think this person was crazy?
Dare to beat the son of the Grand Commandant?
But... now, his mouth was full of blood. He knew very well... if he continued to be beaten like this, he wouldn't need to wait for the next time, his legs might be broken this time.
"You... how dare you! You... you must resent Father, and are forcing my father to yield. You... you must covet the Grand Commandant's position! How vicious you are, how... how despicable!"
Begging for mercy was in vain...
Yang Xiu screamed and shouted.
Of course, his shouting confused Lu Yu.
What a peculiar thought process to connect to this level...
Rotten wood, rotten wood...
He didn't even open his eyes to look properly. How could the Commander Cao, who held military power, allow anyone to have a status equal to his? Not even the Son of Heaven. Let alone a Grand Commandant like Yang Biao.
Who would be Grand Commandant would die, unless Lu Yu was brain-dead would he covet it?
Alas... since Yang Xiu said so, Lu Yu might as well accept it!
Sighing helplessly, not to mention, looking at Yang Xiu being beaten, Lu Yu felt quite pleased.
Indeed, beating people is the source of happiness!
Of course, Lu Yu did not feel guilty...
After all, he was saving someone. He hoped that Yang Xiu's father, Yang Biao, would be sensible, and to avoid becoming his rival, Lu Yu, he could also calmly think about it, voluntarily resign, and let the Hong Nong Yang clan escape this disaster.
For Lu Yu, this was a great deed. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!
Of course, this process was a little violent and brutal, but it did not prevent Lu Yu from being an upright person, a noble person, a person who had transcended low-level interests.
With this thought...
Lu Yu patted the dust off his clothes and said smugly.
"You saw through me. This young master resents your father, resents your identity as the son of an official, no... resents your identity as the son of the Grand Commandant."
"Of course, as long as your father's position as Grand Commandant is not resigned, I will resent you more, and I will beat you more, day by day more painful, day by day more miserable, to make you properly remember!"
At this moment, Yang Xiu had become like a puddle of mud...
His back was covered in blood... bloodied.
Of course, these were all superficial wounds... they would not damage his bones. The soldiers of the Dragon Soaring Camp still had some restraint.
"My... my Yang family... will not... will not surrender to evil forces!"
"Your... your conspiracy will not succeed!" Yang Xiu suddenly became spirited. He spoke with great difficulty, but his voice was as faint as a thread.
Lu Yu narrowed his eyes...
He turned towards the students of the Imperial Academy and said loudly.
"The Imperial Academy is not a place where you can come and go as you please. Yang Xiu publicly proposed to withdraw, which is a disregard for the Son of Heaven, a disregard for the imperial court, and also a disregard for the rules of our Imperial Academy! Respect for teachers and elders is paramount. This Director, after deep reflection, has decided to give him a severe lesson as a warning!"
"Today's punishment is over. From now on, Yang Xiu has been expelled from my Imperial Academy. He is no longer a student of the Imperial Academy. Today... if any of you help him, you will all be severely punished and expelled!"
Thinking of this...
Lu Yu patted Yang Xiu's shoulder, his voice lowered considerably.
"Yang Xiu, you performed very well today. I hope... you can still perform like this next time I beat you! Don't forget, I am Lu Yu! Don't look for the wrong person for revenge."
Speaking of this...
Lu Yu was about to get up and leave.
Just then.
A cold voice came from the solitary bridge of the Imperial Academy, "Within Xu Du city, under the Son of Heaven, someone dares to inflict punishment privately. It seems that this is not putting this Prefect into consideration."
With these words...
A ferocious-looking strong man, accompanied by many yamen runners, strode quickly into the Imperial Academy.
Hmm... Prefect? Prefect Man?
Is this Man Chong? It seems... someone tipped him off! There are bad people in the ranks of the Imperial Academy! It's not pure!
Of course, this doesn't matter... it's not a big deal!
Lu Yu's eyes narrowed. To be honest, although he had recommended Man Chong, he had never formally met Man Chong.
He hadn't expected to meet him in such a situation, which was a bit awkward.
...
"Who dares to cause trouble, and who is it that is using private torture? Come, take them all away!"
Cold words...
Man Chong had received a report from a teacher who was a former subordinate of the Hong Nong Yang family. Therefore... even if Yang Xiu did not respect teachers and elders, he could not accept Director Lu privately ordering the corporal punishment of Yang Xiu.
As soon as Man Chong heard about private torture, he became enthusiastic.
He detested people who bullied the weak the most...
Moreover, this time it was in the Imperial Academy, a place that both the Son of Heaven and Commander Cao valued immensely. The impact was too negative.
At this moment, Man Chong was aggressive, tightly holding a ruler, his face extremely gloomy, looking like he was here to collect a debt.
Walking closer rapidly.
When Man Chong saw Yang Xiu lying on the ground like a puddle of mud, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
He recognized this person.
As the Magistrate of Xu Du, an important figure in Xu Du city, he even had portraits of the children of important figures. Wasn't the person lying on the ground the son of Grand Commandant Yang Biao, Yang Xiu?
Good heavens... he dared to beat the son of the Grand Commandant? What courage!
Man Chong found the person who beat him rather interesting.
But when he looked up and saw Lu Yu standing upright, his heart gave an even bigger "thump."
Isn't this Director Lu?
How could Man Chong not recognize Lu Yu?
If it weren't for Lu Yu, he would have just been an unappreciated yamen runner, with no power, and no one would have paid attention to him. How would he have become the current Magistrate of Xu Du, in charge of Xu Du's laws, feared by everyone? It could be said that it was Lu Yu's recommendation that changed his fate!
Indeed...
Man Chong had not formally met Lu Yu. Man Chong had visited his residence many times, but by chance... Director Lu was not at home.
But...
Man Chong had caught glimpses of his "benefactor" from the side a few times while performing his official duties.
Now...
It seemed that this "benefactor" was teaching someone to privately beat the son of the Grand Commandant?
Man Chong's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Before he could speak, Yang Xiu cried, "Prefect Man, I... I am the son of Grand Commandant Yang Biao. Prefect Man, Lu... Lu Yu is twisting black and white, plotting misconduct, please Prefect Man, do justice for me..."
As soon as he said this, Man Chong turned to Lu Yu, "He? You ordered this?"
Still with cold words, but the voice was lowered a bit.
...Lu Yu could sense that Man Chong had no ill intentions towards him.
"That's right," Lu Yu nodded, and then said, "Since ancient times, there has been respect for teachers and elders. This Yang Xiu has been in my Imperial Academy for one day, and he is a disciple of my Imperial Academy. But he spoke arrogantly and threatened to withdraw on the first day. This is equivalent to betraying his master and disrespecting his ancestors. As the Grand Director of the Imperial Academy, is it too much for me to discipline him?"
This...
As soon as these words were spoken, many teachers, including Cai Zhao Ji, were sweating for Lu Yu.
Who was Man Chong? Everyone in Xu Du city knew him well!
He could not tolerate any wrongdoing.
Even if Yang Xiu was wrong to propose withdrawing, as the Grand Director of the Imperial Academy, Lu Yu did not have the right to order people to beat Yang Xiu privately, did he? And to beat him so severely.
Strictly speaking, this was already private torture, which was a provocation to the law, a provocation to Prefect Man!
Even for this reason, Cai Zhao Ji bit her lip tightly, worried about Brother Yu.
Who would have thought...
Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds!
After a long silence, Man Chong spoke.
And the first sentence he spoke was—
"Director Lu is reasonable. He indeed deserves to be beaten!"
Speaking of this, Man Chong looked at Yang Xiu with extremely cold eyes.
"The seventy-two disciples of Confucius? Was there anyone who proposed to withdraw? If so, they would be forever despised by the people of the city! You dared to withdraw? Humph, betraying your master is considered disrespecting your ancestors. Even beating him to death would not be excessive!"
"Come... under the Son of Heaven, in broad daylight, a person like Yang Xiu who disrespects his elders should be severely punished. Escort him to the imperial prison and interrogate him strictly."
As soon as these words were spoken...
The entire audience was stunned. Not to mention all the students and teachers, even Lu Yu was startled.
This mutual protection between officials was a bit too obvious!
Moreover... is imprisoning him that serious?
Prefect Man, it's not necessary, really not necessary!
...
...