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Seeing Lu Xin sitting down, Lu Jian smiled and said, "My fourth uncle is most worried about not being able to explain to his family. After all, the situation is different now, and even a few tens of thousands of taels of silver can cause big trouble."
Are tens of thousands of taels too much for a family as aristocratic as the Lu family? It's certainly a drop in the bucket, not worth mentioning, but the current situation is dire. With no food or ships, and the need to shelter refugees and train a family army, the Lu family, with so many members, will have to spend money. Furthermore, Chunsi is losing money, and it has also attracted criticism from the officialdom. Who can bear such a heavy responsibility?
Lu Xin's face was gloomy and he stared at Lu Jian. Since this man dared to call him, he must have made some arrangements.
As expected, Lu Jian continued, "Now that things have come to this, why don't you just say that the warehouse burned down because that brat Lu Xiu got into a fight with someone and caused the trouble? Even if family disgrace shouldn't be aired publicly, there are times when it has to be told."
Lu Xin naturally understood what this meant. His brows knitted together: "You want to put the blame on Mingli?"
"If it's not Lu Xiu, who else could it be?" Lu Jian asked with a smile. "Besides, the Lu family's fleet never returned because of Madam Chen. Like mother, like son."
Even the stepmother wants to arrange it? Lu Xin almost slammed the table and stood up, but managed to hold it back, gritting her teeth and saying, "It's already this time, and you're still thinking about competing with them mother and son. Aren't you afraid of your father's anger?"
"Now that my father has returned home in glory, he naturally has to go back to his hometown to spend his remaining years. Now the Chen family in Nanyang has fallen on hard times. If there is chaos in the future, it might even drag down our family. It's better for me to retire early to avoid trouble." Lu Jian had a smile on his face, but his words were as cold as frost, which made people feel cold in their hearts.
Lu Xin's face turned pale with anger: "Are you saying this to seize the family property? After all, your father is the head of the clan, how could he allow you to..."
Before he could finish his words, Lu Jian interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "As the Minister of Personnel, you are expected to become a prime minister. You are the patriarch of the Lu family. Now that you have lost your position, it is natural for you to give way to someone more capable. Fourth Uncle, do you think this is still a peaceful and prosperous time? In troubled times, only money, food, and soldiers are the foundation of survival."
He was too straightforward and frank, yet Lu Xin couldn't refute him. The Lu family's plan had been completely scrapped, and it wouldn't be easy for his brother to return and regain power, let alone cause such a disaster.
But without his brother's protection, how could he survive in the family? Lu Xin's lips moved, but he finally said, "This will only make others laugh at it, and it won't help."
"Others will naturally laugh at the internal strife in the family, but they will also get rid of the bad reputation of deception. As long as the person who cleans up the mess is strong enough, others will adjust their attitude. It's time to change the helmsman of the first house. The position of the clan leader is no longer important. Holding on to money and food is the key. As long as Fourth Uncle is willing to lend me a hand, everything else will be easy to talk about." Lu Jian replied.
This was the proper calculation in a world of great conflict. Commanding clansmen, presiding over the overall situation, were not as important as managing money and food. And Lu Jian, who had stirred up such a storm and left them in disgrace, with this great pirate standing behind him, was clearly a good choice. In just a few words, Lu Xin understood what this good nephew wanted. He also knew he wanted him to change his ways and abandon his brother. But could this naive brat's words have any effect?
Seeing Lu Xin's hesitation, Lu Jian smiled and said, "Fourth Uncle, are you worried that I won't be able to gain a foothold in the family? There's really no need to worry about that. Brother Zhou and Brother Gu are both my close friends, and Uncle Wu is willing to act as a guarantor. As long as the four families are united and open a bank, we will have the final say in Yuhang. The Lu family can't rely solely on raw silk; we also need to rely on sea routes and trading markets."
Are you serious? Lu Xin couldn't help but turn around and look at the people present.
Zhou Zhenglun nodded and said, "Mingde is the eldest son of the family after all, so it is only natural for him to inherit the family business."
This is about legal principles and rules, and the differences between the old and the young.
Gu Sanlang smiled playfully, "Brother Lu is right. We don't know what the silk and satin market will be like in the future. We need to make plans early."
Raw silk and satin are not a business that can be traded in troubled times. The more turbulent the situation is, the more you have to find other ways to make money and do business that others cannot do.
Wu Changming laughed heartily and said, "Mingde's skills are self-evident. Brother Lu, haven't you suffered enough?"
Lu Xin's breath caught in his throat at these words, but he couldn't get angry at the moment. Some of the three people before him were young, some were old, but without exception, they were all shrewd individuals and would definitely become pillars of their families. If these people wanted to stand out and gain a foothold, they needed some foundation to demonstrate their abilities. Whether it was shipping or banking, they were in urgent need, so they would naturally fully support Lu Jian and make this happen.
This was indeed not good for the Lu family, but it had to be said that no one in the Lu family today could be as successful in the business world as Lu Jian. After all, he had been away from Yuhang for several years and needed help to regain his footing. That was why he chose to negotiate with me.
Unknowingly, Lu Xin's mind had already wavered. After all, his brother treated him well...
Seeing his expression, Lu Jian smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Fourth Uncle. You can go back and think about it carefully and inform the clan. But if you delay for too long, I'm afraid it will be detrimental to your future."
This confident look made Lu Xin irritated. However, even he had to admit that simply offering the position of "Clan Leader" would likely spark a long-running fight within the clan. Furthermore, the four families joining forces to open a bank was a complex undertaking, requiring significant responsibility. Perhaps the clan would actually let Lu Jian take the plunge. After all, he had the Red Flag Gang behind him, a powerful force capable of sweeping across the South China Sea.
After a long silence, Lu Xin stood up and said, "Then I'll come visit you another day."
These words seem to be spoken to the master, but in fact, he is already a head shorter than him. It seems that there is no need to say more about what choice he will make.
After everyone left, Gu Yunkai chuckled, "Now Mingde will finally get what he wanted."
He had originally thought Lu Jian only wanted power, but he'd never imagined he'd force his own father to divorce his wife and frame his half-brother. Tsk, tsk, tsk, how long had it been since a noble family had produced such a ruthless individual? He didn't dislike such tactics; after all, extraordinary circumstances called for extraordinary measures. And the more the Lu family raged, the more they'd profit.
Zhou Zhenglun advised, "When Uncle Lu comes back, Mingde should still be filial to him."
After all, the reputation of the aristocratic family cannot be lost. If they disregard the moral principles, it will not look good if it is made public.
Wu Changming smiled and twirled his beard, but said nothing. After all, his family had already taken advantage of him quite a bit this time, and who knew they'd have to threaten the Lu family again. If they could fill their stomachs then, it would be a worthwhile deal.
Lu Jian simply smiled in response to their advice, a gesture of grace. Yet, unknown to everyone, a fire was already blazing within him, a mixture of rage and ecstasy. If he could truly achieve his wish, what would his father's expression be upon his return, deserted by his family? And would his loving stepmother, divorced and her son humiliated, also weep and go mad? As for Lu Xiu, he didn't need to bother with such a fool; others would take care of him. The grudge, suppressed for over a decade, was finally avenged.
However, at this moment, he missed Cheng Xi more than ever. If she heard all this, would she also smile sweetly and congratulate him?
As if sensing something, his fingers couldn't help but move, and were immediately pinched in the palm of his hand and held tightly.
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