Lu Jian
It was plum rain season, and the entire Yuhang area was drenched in torrential rain, a depressing atmosphere that made it hard to breathe. Banditry abounded, and there was no telling when the flames of war would reach their doorsteps. Even the aristocratic families began to grow restless, their former leisurely and elegant demeanor gone.
Early in the morning, Lu Jian, a rare occasion not working or meeting with guests, simply stood quietly in the corridor, watching the drizzle in the courtyard. His mood was as gloomy as the rainy day. The world was turning out as he had expected, which was really annoying.
Since the expedition began two years ago, the Red Flag Gang has been fighting on the other side of the strait for over a year. Regardless of the outcome, the large number of troops deployed across the ocean with no signs of returning has inevitably made some people restless.
Not to mention the increasingly rampant pirates in the East China Sea, even the aristocratic families of Jiangdong have begun to harbor resentment. Banks have grown rapidly over the past year, establishing close ties with Panyu, even allowing deposits and withdrawals to be made remotely. This has only made them more coveted. Rumor has it that the Gu family is planning to convert their money houses into banks, and several other families are also planning to establish trading venues.
All of this happened earlier than Lu Jian anticipated, but he was completely helpless. Who could have predicted that in such a time of great contention, Cheng Xi would abandon everything on shore and devote all his energy to opening up the waterway? He should have taken it slow, stabilizing the situation first. If anything were to happen in Yuhang, the detachment stationed in the mountains wouldn't be able to handle it.
There are also rumors that the Tianding Army intends to move eastward and get involved in Jiangdong. They probably heard that the war in the strait is tense and the Red Flag Gang has no time to take care of other things.
If Yuan Tianding leads a large army to attack and colludes with those aristocratic families, Yuhang will probably have to take action immediately.
Without sufficient troops, there was no way to truly break through. Lu Jian was quite aware of his status as a bully, but he absolutely refused to leave Yuhang and abandon the foundation he had worked so hard to build. Was he really going to take a risk and use some tricks?
Just as he was frowning in thought, a personal attendant suddenly came in to report that the master had delivered a letter from home.
The "master" these people were referring to was naturally the former Lu clan patriarch, Lord Lu Yun, who was now unemployed. Lu Jian took the letter expressionlessly, opened it, took a look, and sneered, "What a kind father! He has good intentions."
After all, he was a Jinshi and had served as an official for many years. This letter home was written in an eloquent and heartfelt manner, and it had only one meaning over and over again: he, Lu Jian, was no longer a child, and it was time for him to find a good family to marry into, get married, and have children.
The orders of parents and the words of matchmakers are natural and right. As elders, it is natural to care about the marriage of your children and grandchildren.
But since it came from his father's mouth, it is inevitable that it should be discounted.
In Lord Lu's eyes, he probably relied on his unclear relationship with Miss Qiu to rise to power, right? If he took advantage of the Red Flag Gang's war in the front and ran off to marry someone else, it would surely anger Miss Qiu and cause her to fall out of favor and power.
To put it another way, it can also be regarded as a test to see if it is possible to find another way out while the Red Flag Gang is not around. After all, the Red Flag Gang is just a pirate on the sea, how can they be as reliable as the local families?
That was true, but unfortunately, his father was wrong. He was never Gang Leader Cheng's lover, only a subordinate. If his lover turned away from him, he might just be beaten to a pulp. But if a subordinate turned against him, the whole clan would be implicated. Who gave him the confidence to sow discord at this moment?
It seemed that those beautiful concubines still couldn't make him quiet down. Lu Jian threw the letter aside and ordered, "I heard that my third brother is well now. Let father spend some time to find him a good marriage."
Ever since the stepmother was divorced, Lu Xiu, who stayed at home, has suffered a lot. There are many people in the clan who flatter the powerful and look down on the weak. Now that he holds the financial power, there are countless people who are counting on him for food.
What the superior likes, the subordinates will certainly like even more; what the superior dislikes, how can the subordinates use any means to be good at it? Moreover, when the father vents half of his resentment on his divorced wife, he will only hate the unfilial son even more.
But Lu Xiu wasn't like him back then. He didn't have the patience or forethought to act. If he was oppressed too much, he would rebel, and there was no way he would create a story of "fatherly love and filial piety." Since Lord Lu liked to be busy, he had to find something to do, so that he wouldn't become like a housewife, always stirring up trouble.
After dealing with these troublesome family matters, Lu Jian no longer lingered on the scenery outside the window and turned back to his study.
However, things turned out to be even worse than he had expected. After a few days, news came that the vanguard of the Tianding Army was moving down the river. It was not just a small fight, but a real siege and conquest of cities, with several victories.
For a time, the entire Yuhang area was in turmoil. Some were busy running around, while others were secretly plotting. Lu Jian had to negotiate with the wealthy families in the banks and trading markets, hoping to stabilize them and fight the enemy together. Unfortunately, this operation had little effect. The wealthy families never worked hard for others, and the merchants were even more greedy and disloyal. No one cared about the harm of the rebellious army, they only cared about the immediate gains and losses.
The Red Flag Army was thousands of miles away, while the Tianding Army was right before their eyes. Normal business was difficult in turbulent times, but how could one be ordinary when attached to a warlord? While both could become rich overnight, wouldn't it be safer to make a killing by following the salt smugglers than by traveling thousands of miles by sea? The aristocratic families were especially wary of the Red Flag Gang, who dominated the shipping lanes. They sailed the seas year-round, refusing even to pay taxes to the imperial court. How could they willingly obey the orders of a young woman?
It seemed like a decisive moment had come, but Lu Jian gritted his teeth and refused to leave Yuhang. It wasn't that he was too tough to risk the war, but rather that he believed Cheng Xi could achieve a resounding victory and refused to flee at this critical moment.
News of what was happening here had already reached Panyu, and the detachment on the mountain was ready to go, ready to fight the enemy at any moment. Lu Jian had even sent a letter to the Qingfeng Gang, saying that Shen Feng had undoubtedly contributed to the chaos in the East China Sea. Since they were also plotting against the East China Sea, they could certainly use some of their knowledge.
But when Wu Tianming came to him, Lu Jian was still a little surprised: "Uncle, do you think the Red Flag Gang will lose?"
"Of course not. Miss Qiu is brilliant and brave, and the Changjing Gang has been defeated. Reclaiming the strait and opening up the shipping route is only a matter of time." Wu Tianming spoke up first, then sighed, "But we're surrounded by wolves in front and tigers behind. The Gu family seems to be supporting the Tianding Army. We need to make plans early."
The Gu family originally relied on maritime trade, and now they were competing with the Qingfeng Gang for access to Japan's shipping routes. They were also wary of the "civil uprising" caused by Lu Jian, so they naturally preferred the salt smuggler, who was easier to control. Which noble family hadn't dealt with smugglers of salt? They were just greedy, lustful, and unscrupulous villains, much easier to figure out than a woman.
He spoke sincerely, and Lu Jian smiled calmly: "So what does your uncle plan to do?"
Wu Tianming immediately said, "Why not close down the bank and build a good relationship with the Gu family first? They're all famous families in Jiangdong, so how could they really fall out?"
"Arrange another marriage and marry a noble lady from the Gu family?" Lu Jian asked back.
Wu Tianming coughed dryly and said, "Of course, your elders will make the final decision on matters of marriage, but we are all of the same blood. Let's deal with Yuan Tianding first, and then things will be easier."
His intention was simple: surrender to the Gu family, and then all the families would come together to form a "gentleman's agreement" with Yuan Tianding to avoid a catastrophe. He could even maintain contact with the Red Flag Gang. After all, Panyu was thousands of miles away from Yuhang by sea, so they should have kept to themselves. Why ruin their relationship? As long as the Tianding Army and the Red Flag Gang could coexist peacefully, their sea route to Southeast Asia would remain intact, and they could also reap the benefits of land. That would be a win-win situation.
This was indeed an excellent choice, but Lu Jian would not choose it. He knew Cheng Xi valued Jiangdong, and even knew that after pacifying the strait, she would inevitably advance eastward and occupy this key route to the sea. If he hesitated now, he would probably have no money to spend in the future.
Lu Jian chuckled and said, "Uncle, this method is indeed reliable. However, I have never done any reliable business before. Fortune and wealth are achieved through risk. Uncle, you should also understand this principle."
If he relies on the Jiangdong aristocratic family, he is a member of countless aristocratic families; if he relies on the Red Flag Gang, he is a chess piece and mouthpiece of a tyrant in Jiangdong. He can still tell which is more important.
Wu Tianming frowned: "Mingde, you are still young, you shouldn't act on impulse because of sentimentality."
Unlike others, Wu Tianming knew some inside information. That Young Master Fang was probably Miss Qiu disguised as a man. He'd seen Fang Ling following Lu Jian that day before, and he wouldn't believe anything if they said there was nothing wrong.
But for this little personal affair, he lost his mind and wanted to help without hesitation. After all, Lu Jian was from an aristocratic family, how could he be so frivolous and unrestrained?
Faced with such advice, Lu Jian chuckled and said, "Uncle Shi, you're probably mistaken. Gang Leader Cheng and I don't have any romantic relationship. On the contrary, I'm her spy in Yuhang. If I harbor any other intentions, in a few days, this good head will be on someone else's desk."
His smile was endearing, but his words were shocking. Wu Tianming stared at the smile, momentarily unable to discern the truth. If it were true, it would be utterly degrading. Wouldn't that be working for a woman? But then again, if it were true, if his life was in danger, would his own be safe? After all, the Wu family had dealt with the Red Flag Gang before. If they angered that woman, wouldn't their lives be in danger too?
For a moment, there was no sound in the hall. Wu Tianming didn't know whether he should walk away or give some more advice.
Before he could think of a way to deal with the situation, someone suddenly rushed in, walked straight to Lu Jian, and whispered something in his ear.
Lu Jian's calm smile suddenly changed, becoming surprised, yet also lively, as if a layer of painted skin had been torn off alive. What happened?
Wu Tianming opened his mouth to ask, but Lu Jian had already turned his head and put on a brighter smile: "Uncle, news just came from Panyu that the Red Banner Army has returned victorious, and the fleet has now reached the South China Sea."
"What! They really won? They occupied the strait?" Wu Tianming exclaimed. This was too unexpected. Was it really such a coincidence?
"Of course it's true, and pepper will be listed in the Yuhang trading market soon. It will be a big business in the future." Lu Jian's eyes were shining, and his tone was firm and full of confidence.
At that moment, Wu Tianming truly felt that it was "fate." Otherwise, how could such a coincidence have chosen such a time to deliver the news? By the time word of this spread throughout Yuhang, who knew how many people would still be on the side of the Tianding Army?
The aristocratic families occupied the fleet and were unwilling to share profits, but countless merchants would scramble to pay the Red Flag Gang to protect the waterway. Miss Qiu's reputation was infinitely better than Yuan Tianding's. Who would the people of Jiangdong choose? Is there any need to guess?
After a long silence, Wu Tianming bowed and said, "That's really good news. Congratulations, Mingde."
Lu Jian, however, would not be defeated so easily. Instead, he asked, "So, Uncle, do you still plan to join forces with the Gu family and welcome the Tianding Army into the city?"
Wu Tianming's expression twisted for a moment, but he quickly laughed and said, "How can a businessman like me make decisions on behalf of our family regarding such a major matter? We should definitely listen to the elders."
His smile was unpleasant, just like Wu's current awkward position. However, there was no point in threatening her at this moment. Lu Jian naturally raised it high, then lowered it gently, chatting with her for a few more words without causing any harm, before sending her out.
However, after everyone left, Lu Jian's smile suddenly faded. He walked along the corridor for a while, then stopped and said to the people around him, "Let's go find out which ladies are waiting to be married in the families we are friendly with."
The confidant was startled and whispered, "Is the Patriarch going to get married?"
"That's right." Lu Jian just answered and then closed his mouth, unwilling to talk more.
Cheng Xi would no longer tolerate those rumors, nor could he use others to spread such confusing rumors. Since there was nothing wrong between them, the best way was to marry a wife and sever all ties.
That way, even if there were rumors in the future, they would only be a disparagement of him, not the leader of the Red Flag Gang. This was the duty of a subject and a subordinate.
Of course, there are some considerations when choosing a marriage partner. Cheng Xi cannot be made to feel that he is connecting with a powerful Jiangdong family through marriage, nor can he choose a small family that will be of no help to his family. It takes a lot of thought to strike the right balance.
Countless thoughts swirled through his mind, but as he reached the end of the long corridor, one idea suddenly struck him. He had never considered what his wife should look like. He couldn't imagine, nor did he care. As long as she was virtuous and could be a good wife of a noble family, that was all that mattered. Just like his father, he didn't care about the woman's appearance or temperament, as long as she was beneficial to his official career.
He still remained the same person, and could only remain the same person, because the one he admired would never show any favor to him in his entire life.
At this moment, Lu Jian felt pitiful, like a resentful woman abandoned by her husband. The next moment, he smiled again. Perhaps he really had become a "concubine," a character in countless poems about women's grievances. After all, all poems about women's grievances were written by men, and they all used husband and wife to metaphorically represent the relationship between the ruler and his subjects.
If his arrogant father could become a housewife due to being imprisoned in the mansion, why couldn't he, who had served the lord and willingly served as a concubine, become a resentful woman? Being in his position, it was natural to have such feelings, and this was far better than "not being able to ask for it".
His clenched fists loosened at some point, Lu Jian shook his sleeves, took steady steps again, and walked forward.
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