In the Lu Residence of Wujun, Jiangdong, Lu Xun, Lu Ji, and Chen Gong sat opposite each other at a table.
"Now that Liu Bei has sent Zhuge Liang as an envoy to Jiangdong, I seek Mr. Chen's counsel. How should our Lu family proceed in this situation?" Lu Xun spoke first.
Chen Gong lightly waved his dark green feather fan. It was evident he was living well in Jiangdong; he had even put on some weight.
"What about Lu Ziyu? Has he sent any signals?" Chen Gong asked first.
This… Lu Xun took out a letter from his怀, slowly unfolding it. It was covered in dense script, but only through a special engraving could one see the content: four characters—Act according to circumstances.
This meant that Lu Yu's instructions were only four words: "Act according to circumstances." He was granting Lu Xun immense authority to handle matters here. However, this was a major affair, and Lu Xun was somewhat uncertain.
"Heh heh…" Chen Gong chuckled, a smile of deep melancholy on his face. "Lu Ziyu has found himself quite at leisure this time."
"Mr. Chen, please don't jest. Perhaps… Uncle is unaware of the situation here. If he were to give arbitrary orders, it would be like a headless fly," Lu Ji chimed in, explaining for Lu Yu. In terms of seniority, he was a generation below Lu Xun, so he naturally referred to Lu Yu as "Uncle."
"Indeed…" Lu Xun opened his mouth. "Recently, King Cao of Wei sent a letter, inviting Sun Yi and Sun Quan for a hunt in Wu. The entire Jiangdong is in an uproar. Besides us, members of the three great families of Wujun and the four great families of Kuaiji visit my residence daily, asking how I plan to proceed. How would I know?"
Hearing this, Chen Gong's eyes fixed. "Then what do they intend?"
"Mostly they are the surrender faction," Lu Xun said with a smile. "These families care not who their master is, be it King Cao of Wei or Sun Yi… as long as their businesses are protected, that is enough. They are not to be counted on for strategy."
"And what is your opinion?" Chen Gong continued to ask.
"Since Zhuge Liang has come to persuade the Sun family to unite against Cao, why don't we, along with the various great families, support a proactive surrender? Eight great families acting in concert? Do you think the Sun family would dare to defy us? Even if they did, would we fear them? Have they considered that those weapons, their grain, and supplies are provided by whom?" Lu Xun spoke with great confidence.
Of course, he had sufficient backing. The Lu family had already absorbed the former subordinates of Yan Baihu and Wang Lang, and later persuaded the Shanyue to surrender, forming a formidable army from them. Currently, Lu Xun alone commanded over fifty thousand troops. All the troops in Jiangdong gathered would amount to roughly over a hundred thousand. Furthermore, the four great families of Wujun and the four great families of Kuaiji also had some forces. It was no exaggeration to say that in terms of sheer numbers, the local aristocratic factions were not inferior to the Huai-Si expatriate faction supporting Sun Quan, nor to the former subordinates of Sun Jian and Sun Ce. Moreover, their supplies and grain were held by these eight families. Lu Xun was confident that by exerting pressure in the court, they could make the Sun family retreat and surrender readily.
However… While he was full of confidence, Chen Gong continuously shook his head. These two—one a mere youth of twenty, the other a seasoned veteran nearing fifty—naturally meant Chen Gong considered things more thoroughly and meticulously.
"Why is Mr. Chen shaking his head?"
"Naturally, you are mistaken!" Chen Gong's tone was extremely blunt. "You only see the rivalry between Sun Quan's faction and the Jiangdong clans. This is never the key to 'surrendering to Cao' or 'resisting Cao'."
Ah… Ah… Lu Xun was somewhat surprised and quickly pressed, "Please, Mr. Chen, enlighten me."
"Heh heh…" Chen Gong smiled, continuing his explanation. "'Surrender to Cao'? 'Resist Cao'? You think this is a choice. In reality, there is no choice to be made, because Sun Yi, whom you support… he is bound to support resisting Cao and would absolutely not surrender to Cao!"
"Why is that?" Lu Xun asked urgently.
"Do you know how I and Lü Bu were defeated by Cao Cao and Lu Ziyu?" Chen Gong countered.
"Disciple only knows that Cao's army besieged Xiapi City, and Lü Fengxian perished at White Gate Tower. As for the rest… I have not heard," Lu Xun replied truthfully. Lu Ji also shook his head, "Disciple does not know either."
Chen Gong stroked his beard. "Then I shall explain to you two young ones today…"
"In the past, Cao's army occupied half of Xuzhou, while Lü Bu and I occupied the other half. Liu Bei was also in between. I stationed him in Xiaopei! Thus, when Cao's army attacked in full force, Lü Bu and Liu Bei formed a mutual defensive posture. No matter how many troops Cao's army brought, they gained no advantage."
Hearing this, Lu Xun interjected, "This is what you mentioned before, that when facing a great enemy, two weaker parties will always unite. Lü Bu and Liu Bei were like this, as were Yuan Shao's two sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang. When Cao's army attacked, the brothers united to repel Cao Cao. But after Cao's army retreated, internal strife erupted, giving the other side an opportunity!"
Speaking of this… Wait… Lu Xun suddenly thought of something. He was an extremely intelligent person, and with Chen Gong's reminder, he suddenly understood.
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is… Now, with Cao's army advancing in full force, at such a time, brothers are bound to unite… Sun Quan and Sun Yi, they… they will make a decision beforehand, and the decision will likely be… to resist Cao!"
"That's correct," Chen Gong nodded. "Anyone in Jiangdong can surrender to Cao, but the Sun brothers cannot. On this point, there is no doubt. For this very reason… it is never a choice. Jiangdong has only one path, and that is to ally with Liu and resist Cao!"
"Then…" Lu Ji spoke, "In this case, won't our Lu family also be on the opposite side of Great Wei? Uncle's side…"
"Gong Ji, do not panic… Mr. Chen has not finished speaking!" Lu Xun reminded him.
Chen Gong then continued, "The opposition is not superficial, but actual. Your Lu family's current identity is extremely important. The urgent task is for you to unswervingly stand with the Sun family, gain their utmost trust, and then… silently help Great Wei defeat the Jiangdong navy on the battlefield!"
"This will not be easy, because while helping Great Wei, you must preserve your own troops. Only in this way… by using Great Wei's troops to wear down those Huai-Si people's troops, to wear down those former subordinates of the Sun family, when they are depleted, Jiangdong will be your Lu family's time to shine!"
"Heh heh, often, what is truly won by force is more solid than what is obtained by surrender!"
This… At these words, Lu Xun and Lu Ji were both stunned. This was… the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind? No… this was sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, with the Lu family ultimately benefiting.
"Mr. Chen, I understand. Indeed… Mr. Chen sees further…" Lu Xun spoke. "My elder brother is in the north of the river. Regardless of whether the Sun family allies with Liu Bei, they will not be Brother's opponent, nor King of Wei's opponent. What our Lu family must do is preserve ourselves. Only then… at the most critical moment, will our intervention deliver the most fatal blow to Jiangdong, and when merits are rewarded, the Lu family will also be the most prominent."
"It's not just that…" Chen Gong lowered his head slightly. "Boyan, you must think about the future. Cao Cao will be the ruler of Great Wei, this world will belong to him. But what about after Cao Cao? This world will belong to Lu Yu… You are related by marriage to the imperial family. Given Lu Ziyu's temperament, and his methods of suppressing clans and relatives by marriage, he will surely not allow you into the court. And… at that time, these troops in your hands will be your foundation. At worst, you can still be a king or marquis guarding the border. Do you understand these things?"
A parent who loves their child plans for the distant future. Chen Gong and Lu Xun and Lu Ji had known each other for a long time, referring to themselves as master and disciples. One had no children, the other had lost his father; naturally, a bond was more easily formed between them. For these two sons of the Lu family, Chen Gong had pondered this issue for a long time. Of course, he was inherently a very wise person. However… his strategies were phased; he could only have one brilliant plan at a time, commonly known as 'intellectual slowness'! Having lived comfortably in Jiangdong for so long, naturally… he had enough time to ruminate. When he spoke… the level of 'Old Six' emerged.
"Disciple accepts your teachings!" Lu Ji bowed first. Lu Xun also bowed slightly, but he seemed to sense something else in Chen Gong's words.
"Mr. Chen? You just said… said that Gong Ji and I would be relatives by marriage… and would be targets of Brother's suppression?"
Uh… As soon as Lu Xun's words left his mouth, Chen Gong nodded in agreement and then shook his head. "Listen to me, the Lu family should stay in Jiangdong. Do not enter that complicated court, whether it be Great Wei or Great Han!"
Clearly, Chen Gong's words were deeply meaningful… As people age, they become more perceptive and shrewd. From the perspective of Great Wei, the Lu family, Lu Ziyu's maternal clan, was in a rather awkward position. Entering the court, whether it was a blessing or a curse, was difficult to say! The best belonging would be Jiangdong, or perhaps… what Lu Ziyu had previously mentioned, the distant continent at the end of the sea!
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…
The sea breeze blew gently. Seagulls soared freely in the sky… Every day, as sunset approached, Huang Xu liked to stand alone on the cliff, watching the churning waves below, then gazing towards the distant sea horizon, and finally, a different kind of emotion and melancholy would appear in his heart.
After finishing his instruction to the newly selected soldiers in the Sharpshooter Battalion of the Dragon Falcon Camp, Huang Zhong also arrived at the cliff. He had specifically come to find his son. Every time he saw his son's current achievements, managing all the businesses of the Northern Alliance with such skill! Managing salt, yellow croaker, and refining workshops like a well-oiled machine… Huang Zhong's heart was filled with relief. His son had grown up, no longer the sickly child who had caused his old father so much worry!
With this thought, Huang Zhong smiled slightly. He then shouted, "My son, it's time to go back and eat!"
"Oh!" Huang Xu replied… He turned around and walked to his father Huang Zhong's side.
A father knows his son best. Huang Zhong could see his son was preoccupied and quickly asked, "My son, what are you thinking about?"
"I am thinking about how wondrous all things in this world are," Huang Xu sighed. "My son is thinking, if it weren't for Master, my son wouldn't know that yellow croaker could be caught by tapping with bamboo, wouldn't know that refined salt could be extracted this way, nor would he know that managing a merchant guild is so arduous yet challenging. It was Master who allowed my son to witness a broader world!"
Huang Zhong held the hilt of his sword, his tall frame casting a large shadow in the setting sun. He raised his head, looking at his son Huang Xu, then at the sunset, feeling the waves crashing against the cliff beneath his feet. He uttered only two words.
"Indeed!" He too felt a sense of melancholy. It was hard to imagine that if he hadn't followed his son to the Central Plains and to Yan Province back then… he would most likely still be a general in Jingnan now? A general who didn't understand human affairs and was arrogant about his merits! He didn't know who he was currently serving, nor where his final destination would be.
"My son misses his Master, doesn't he?"
"Sort of!" Huang Xu's scholar robe fluttered in the sea breeze. He smiled and glanced at his father, Huang Zhong. Huang Zhong smiled and said, "I sometimes wonder, what is Lu Ziyu doing now? He's almost conquered the entire Great Han world! Still not enough?"
Huang Xu raised his eyes, the sunlight dappling his narrowed gaze. That last ray of light fell on his father's face, and suddenly, Huang Xu could understand his father's loneliness.
"Dad, actually… you don't have to accompany me all the time. You should return to the Dragon Falcon Camp…"
"Mm?"
"To shake the world with your might, isn't that your lifelong dream? Before… my body was weak and it hindered your dream, but now, I can already stand on my own. You should also realize your ideals and aspirations. Dad, you are no longer young. If you don't go to 'shake the world' soon, will there still be a chance? I heard that Great Wei's army is about to march south, and the Dragon Falcon Camp is also heading south… Dad, do you want to…"
Hiss… Don't say it. If Huang Xu hadn't mentioned it, Huang Zhong would have felt something was missing in his life, but… at his son's suggestion, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He was still far from old! How could he let his son think he was… old and useless? That wouldn't do!
With this thought… Huang Zhong put his hands on his hips. "Does my son truly want his father to shake the world?"
"Naturally," Huang Xu smiled. "Then, I can boast to the merchants in the Northern Alliance that my father… routed the Jiangdong rats and made them scurry back with their tails between their legs, haha… At that time, they will all envy me!"
Heh… As these words left his mouth, Huang Zhong laughed. "Petty Wu rascals, mere rats. What skill is there in routing them and making them scurry back? I will go and earn the title of the First General of the Dragon Falcon Camp. At that time… I won't need to boast to those merchants; they will all be vying to curry favor with you! Hahahahaha…"
The long-lost fighting spirit suddenly surged in Huang Zhong's heart!
"Dad, are you really going?"
"Can it be fake? We leave tomorrow! It's a good opportunity to test the Divine Arrow Camp!" Huang Zhong patted his chest. "Let's go, tonight, I'll have a couple of drinks with your father."
"Good!" Huang Xu smiled… He turned around, wrapped his long robe, preventing it from being blown by the sea breeze, and walked slowly down the cliff with his father, Huang Zhong!
Suddenly… Huang Zhong's body trembled, and he exclaimed, "Ships? My son, look quickly! There are ships there, nearly a hundred of them… Aren't those the large warships of Yamatai Kingdom?"
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…
The zither and flute played in harmony, producing a gentle and elegant melody with a distinct Jiangnan rhythm. Sun Yi sat high in the main hall, with officials standing respectfully below. Sun Quan stood at the head, and Zhang Zhao at the second position. Some officials looked outwards with curiosity and hostility, gazing at the guest from the north of the river, the Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Liang. Lu Xun stood beside Sun Yi, a playful smile on his face. Finally… amidst much anticipation, Zhuge Liang gracefully walked onto the great hall. He was alone, and he bowed to those in the hall.
"Zhuge Liang, sent by my lord Liu Bei, offers greetings to General Sun Shubi, Lord of Jiangdong!"
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