Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Chapter 110 Guan Yu: No wonder they all say they can learn real skills by following you, strategist.

Lu Ming hesitated for a moment.

He pondered to himself, "Lu Yong didn't bring more soldiers with him on this trip, which means he didn't come to demand an explanation."

His desire to meet with the head of the Lu family was most likely an attempt to ascertain the Lu family's strengths and weaknesses.

Let them touch it. In the current state of the Lu family, there's really nothing left to hide.

"General, please follow me." Lu Ming cupped his hands and led Lu Yong toward Wu County.

Lu Yong did not set off immediately, but said to Zhou Tai, "Youping, you lead the army to continue marching towards Qiantang. General Guan and I will go to Wu County to take a look."

"This subordinate obeys!" Zhou Tai was finally able to experience being a commander.

One day later, in the eastern part of Wu County, at the old Lu family residence.

Accompanied by Guan Yu, Lu Yong rode his horse to the front of the Lu family's old residence.

A plaque hangs above the door, bearing the four characters "Lu Family of Wu County".

The brushstrokes are still vigorous, but the characters are already somewhat faded.

Lu Yong stopped his horse in front of the gate and looked up at the plaque.

Lu Kang held out in Lujiang for two whole years, but in the end the city fell and he died.

He wasn't exactly a famous general, but he managed to defend the city until all supplies ran out and reinforcements were cut off, until the people in the city resorted to cannibalism, and he never surrendered.

This kind of backbone is still worthy of respect.

Lu Ming came out to greet them and led them into the courtyard.

Several clumps of green bamboo grow in the courtyard, and there is a stone table and benches under the bamboo, with tea set on the table.

Two teenagers walked out of the hall.

One was slightly older, with delicate features and a maturity beyond his years.

He was wearing a slightly worn dark robe with a plain belt around his waist, and no other accessories.

He walked into the courtyard, cupped his hands in greeting to Lu Yong and Guan Yu, and said, "Lu Xun of Wu Commandery greets General Lu and General Guan."

He is Lu Xun!

Historically, it was he who "burned Yiling," a single fire that consumed the last of Shu Han's vitality and caused Liu Bei to die with resentment!

Behind Lu Xun was a seven or eight-year-old child with a round face and big eyes, who was quite generous.

He was Lu Ji, the son of Lu Kang, the prefect of Lujiang, and the true head of the Lu family.

Interestingly, although Lu Ji was a few years younger than Lu Xun, he was Lu Xun's uncle.

There is another story about Lu Ji.

At the age of six, he visited Yuan Shu in Jiujiang.

Yuan Shu gave him oranges, but Lu Ji couldn't bear to eat them all and hid three in his pocket.

As he bowed to say goodbye, the orange suddenly fell to the ground.

Yuan Shu asked, "Young Master Lu, are you carrying oranges while serving as a guest?"

Lu Ji knelt down and replied, "I wish to return it to my mother so she can taste it."

Yuan Shu was astonished upon hearing this.

From then on, Lu Ji carrying oranges became a well-known story.

In this era where filial piety was highly valued, Lu Ji naturally received even more love and respect from his clansmen.

After Lu Xun bowed, Lu Ji also bowed.

Although his voice was still young, it was very steady: "Lu Ji greets General Lu."

Lu Yong nodded slightly, then looked Lu Xun up and down.

Lu Xun is still just a child, a child who has to step forward and take charge when his family is in turmoil.

In Lu Xun's heart, however, he was not as calm as he appeared.

He had already heard from Lu Ming about Lu Yong's impending arrival, as well as the results of the tests conducted by the Gu, Zhu, and Zhang families.

Paper costing two hundred coins a ream; Chongwen Academy, recruiting professors through examination —

These messages made him keenly aware that Lu Yong seemed to be about to take action against the aristocratic families.

"General Lu, General Guan, please sit down." Lu Xun invited Lu Yong and Guan Yu to sit down and poured them a bowl of tea.

Guan Yu remained silent, his curious gaze sweeping back and forth between Lu Yong, Lu Xun, and Lu Ji.

He was somewhat puzzled. Of the four great families of Wu County, Lu Yong showed little interest in the other three.

But he showed particular interest in the Lu family.

"Lu—they all share the surname Lu—" Guan Yu thought to himself, "Could it be that the strategist has some connection with the Lu family of Wu County?"

""

With a sense of morbid curiosity, Guan Yu continued to observe silently.

Lu Yong picked up the teacup and took a sip.

After a moment's hesitation, he suddenly asked Lu Xun, "What books do you usually read?"

Lu Xun was clearly taken aback.

He thought Lu Yong would ask how much land the Lu family owned, how many retainers they had, and how many people they were willing to provide to assist Liu Bei, etc.

He also prepared answers to at least a dozen questions to deal with Lu Yong.

But to my utter surprise, he would ask such a question.

"The Four Books and Five Classics, and also—the Art of War," he replied truthfully.

Which book is your favorite?

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

Lu Yong put down his teacup and asked again, "Your grandfather guarded Lujiang, but the city fell and you died."

The Lu family members also suffered heavy casualties.

Do you hate Sun Ce?

Upon hearing this question, Lu Xun subconsciously clenched his sleeves tightly.

Do you hate it?

Of course I hate it!

If it weren't for Sun Ce, the Lu family wouldn't have fallen to this state.

"Hate," Lu Xun said calmly, "but hatred cannot solve the problem. What the Lu family needs now is to recuperate."

Lu Xun was telling Lu Yong that his provocation was ineffective against him.

Lu Yong stared at him for a few moments.

This boy was more clear-headed than he had imagined.

Indeed, Lu Xun, who famously burned down a chain of camps in history, did not appear out of thin air.

"At thirteen years old, to be able to say such things." Lu Yong stood up.

Lu Ming thought Lu Yong was about to discuss serious matters, so she quickly took a step forward.

Lu Xun and Lu Ji also stood up, waiting for Lu Yong to continue.

However, Lu Yong patted his robes and said, "General Guan, let's go."

Guan Yu: "?"

Lu Ming and Lu Xun looked at each other in bewilderment.

Seeing that Lu Yong was almost at the gate steps, Lu Xun finally couldn't help but ask, "General Lu, you—you have nothing else to say?"

Lu Yong waved his hand without turning his head: "Study hard, I'll wait for you to come to Wanling to take the exam for Chongwen Academy."

Lu Yong and Guan Yu walked out of the Lu family's old house.

Lu Ming couldn't help but ask Lu Xun, "General Lu, what exactly are you up to?"

Lu Xun remained silent for a long time before saying, "His surname is Lu, and so are ours. His appearance in the Lu family is already a significant signal."

"you mean----"

"From now on, I'm afraid my Lu family will have no choice but to follow Lu Huai'an and Liu Yuzhou."

Lu Xun explained softly, "Whether we like it or not, Lu Huai'an's appearance at my Lu family today will definitely make outsiders think that we have already made contact with Lu Yong."

No matter how we explain, they will only think that we have sided with Wanling.

"What should we do?" Lu Ming asked anxiously.

Lu Xun paused, then looked towards the door and said, "In that case, I'll venture into Wanling and confront Chongwen Academy!"

Stepping out of the Lu family's old residence, Guan Yu finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him: "Huai'an, you abandoned your army and came all this way just to have a cup of tea?"

-

Lu Yong led the horse and walked slowly with Guan Yu through the street.

Lu Yong did not answer Guan Yu's question, but instead asked, "General Guan, which of the four great families of Wu Commandery do you think is the most difficult to deal with?"

Guan Yu thought for a moment and said, "The Gu family. Gu Yong is a man of few words, but he is also very well-known among scholars."

"The Gu family is indeed troublesome, but Gu Yong is a smart man. Smart men can see the big picture and know when to back down." Lu Yong shook his head and said, "The real trouble is those families that are stuck in the middle and unwilling to admit defeat."

Guan Yu turned his head to look at him, waiting for Lu Yong to continue.

"The Lu family has temporarily fallen from grace, but its foundation remains."

Lu Kang served as governor of Lujiang for two years, and the scholars respected his integrity.

Lu Ji gave oranges to his mother, and his reputation for filial piety spread throughout Jiangdong.

Lu Xun was mature beyond his years, possessing both wisdom and courage.

Such a family will rise again one day.

"So, you want to take advantage of the Lu family's current low point to win them over?" Guan Yu seemed to understand Lu Yong's intentions.

So you came all this way to see Lu Xun just to put on a show for the powerful families of Wu Commandery?

"As the art of war says: The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; next is to disrupt their alliances; and the worst is to besiege their cities."

Guan Yu tilted his ear, making a gesture as if he were all ears.

"The four families of Wu County seem to be of the same blood, but in reality, they each have their own agendas."

The Gu family seeks stability, the Zhu family seeks merit, the Zhang family seeks fame, and the Lu family—now only seeks to recuperate and rebuild.

Today, as I step into the Lu family's doorstep, I intend to create a rift between them.

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly: "The strategist is trying to sow discord among them?!"

Lu Yong looked at Guan Yu, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "If the four families are united as one, it will be difficult for us to make a move."

But if even one surname aligns itself with us, the other three will become suspicious and wary of each other.

"At that time, they will compete to send their children to Chongwen Academy and vie to let their children participate in the imperial examinations."

Because whoever doesn't go will be left behind by the other companies.

Once their children enter officialdom, study our books, and accept our ideas, these people will be unable to leave our system.

Within ten years, these top clans will be bound to their lord's fate, their fortunes intertwined, and they will be inseparable from him.

Lu Yong paused, his tone becoming more serious: "The power of aristocratic families lies in their ability to stick together and support each other."

What we need to do is break them apart, strip them of their privileges, and make them act according to the laws we have set.

At that time, the world will no longer be ruled by scholar-officials and imperial power, but by students cultivated in counties and schools, who will govern the new Han dynasty according to their own ideals!

After listening, Guan Yu remained silent for a long time.

He stroked his long beard, his phoenix eyes slightly closed, as if he were pondering Lu Yong's words.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "I used to think that most scholars and officials were just talkers and few were truly reliable."

Until he met his strategist—Guan—he was truly convinced of his abilities.

Guan Yu rarely showed a smile, and walked side by side with Lu Yong.

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