Chapter 2139: Triumphant Return

From now on, Bailei would have to prepare two sets of tributes. Given Cangyan’s formidable military might, Bailei’s tribute to them could not be significantly less than what it paid to Muguo. Muguo’s already heavy tribute had left Bailei gasping for air; now it would essentially double!

What would they do in the future? Lu Zhensheng just wanted to scratch his head in frustration.

However, for now, this was at least good news. With Bailei now protected by two powerful nations—Muguo and Cangyan—would Yaguo still dare to raid them?

He thought for a moment, then asked, "By the way, have those Dragon God troops who remained within our borders withdrawn?"

Lu Qingan shook his head.

Emperor Jiuyou had led his troops into Yaguo territory, but he had also left a two-thousand-strong contingent in Bailei. The stated reason was to assist in border defense, preventing Yaguo from retaliating against Bailei by sending troops to burn and plunder. The reason sounded plausible, but the Dragon God troops had taken control of crucial town strongholds. Was this protection or control? That depended on how Lu Zhensheng chose to interpret it.

"Emperor Jiuyou has already withdrawn from Yaguo, so why haven't the Dragon God troops in Bailei left?" he asked, full of worry. "Qingan, do you think he really won't support Old Lu Six's faction in seizing power? The day Cangyan's army drove out Yaguo's forces, Old Lu Six's family and his allies all moved in together."

Lu Qingbang had even sent his own troops to protect them. "Hmph," Lu Zhensheng thought, "Bailei's capital is my territory!"

Clearly, Old Lu Six had ulterior motives; he didn't want to become Lu Qingbang's weakness, exploited by the clan leader.

"Father, we discussed this two days ago!" Lu Qingan had to repeat, sighing that his father was getting old and increasingly timid. "Don't just look at Qingbang holding military power; you are the true head of the Bailei clan. Even if Uncle Six usurps power with Emperor Jiuyou's help, the Dragon God troops cannot stay in Bailei forever! Once the Dragon God troops withdraw, Bailei will have to revert to the principle of legitimate succession. Otherwise, how would Muguo ever agree?"

Public opinion was like a double-edged sword. In ancient families like theirs, which had existed for millennia, "illegitimate succession" was the most heavily criticized offense. "If Old Lu Six has even an ounce of sense left," Lu Qingan continued, "he wouldn't do such a thing."

At this, Lu Zhensheng was actually full of dissatisfaction. "Muguo… right now, they can't even spare a thought for us."

"That's only for now," Lu Qingan said, still clear-headed about the situation. "War with Beijia isn't easy. Muguo is deeply embroiled in conflict and temporarily has no time to attend to Bailei. But wars always end, and Muguo will eventually be able to spare a hand to teach arrogant people a lesson. Look, haven't they already gone to attack Yaguo?"

"Then why aren't the Dragon God troops withdrawing?"

"How would I know?" Lu Qingan thought to himself. "I'm not a worm in Jiuyou's stomach." Outwardly, he said, "Perhaps they have other matters to attend to? Father, what's wrong?" He saw Lu Zhensheng constantly rubbing his eyelids.

"My right eye is twitching badly," Lu Zhensheng said nervously. "A twitching right eye means misfortune. By the way, do you think Emperor Jiuyou might make a surprise return?"

"Return where? Bailei?" Lu Qingan shook his head. "Why would he come back? He has no ties to Bailei."

"Why not?"

"We've offended him before, and more than once," Lu Zhensheng confessed, voicing his fear. "Actually, if Jiuyou truly wants to put Lu Six on the throne, there's one more way—"

"Kill me." If the clan head were to die unfortunately, Bailei would have to elect another head.

Would Muguo turn against Cangyan and settle scores because of Lu Zhensheng's death? Lu Zhensheng felt that, at present, his own importance wasn't that great.

At this thought, the Lu family father and son felt a chill run down their spines. Lu Zhensheng looked around, feeling the hall grow increasingly cold.

"Otherwise, why are the Dragon God troops still lingering in Bailei and not leaving? Are they planning something against me?" The more Lu Zhensheng thought about it, the more convinced he became.

Just as Lu Qingan was about to tell his father not to scare himself, his personal guard suddenly rushed in, reporting urgently:

"Young Master Bang is returning with his army. They've already passed Buzhen and are heading straight here! The Dragon God troops are... also with them!"

"What?" Without needing his son's support, Lu Zhensheng shot upright. "Why didn't the front line report when they entered our territory?!"

"There wasn't enough time," the guard replied. Bailei wasn't large; it didn't take long for an army to travel from the border to the capital, even at a moderate pace. "Besides, Lu Qingbang has commanded the army for a long time; the front-line troops are all his men!"

"How many Dragon God troops have arrived?!"

"There's a vast, dark mass; we can't make out the exact number, but it's estimated to be over a hundred thousand!"

The mention of "a hundred thousand" sent a chill through the father and son's bodies, leaving their hands and feet icy cold. Deploying so many troops, the Dragon God army was certainly up to something.

"He really is... going to help Old Lu Six seize power!" Lu Zhensheng gnashed his teeth. "Go quickly and call in the Muguo Royal Guard!"

"Understood." Lu Qingan strode out. "Father, quickly send a message to second brother!"

Sending a message to his second brother meant requesting aid from Muguo. Following this series of major events in Bailei, Lu Qinglin had also requested aid from Mudu. After the Dragon God troops drove out Yaguo's army, Muguo had dispatched a nearby guard contingent of over three hundred men to garrison Bailei's capital. Due to Muguo's recent decision to deploy troops, the armies originally stationed nearby, including Lu Ci's tens of thousands of men, had been urgently transferred to attack Yaguo. It was based on Lu Qinglin's repeated requests that Muguo had managed to send this guard unit to Bailei. Ostensibly to maintain public order, their true purpose was to protect Lu Zhensheng and monitor the capital's movements. Although their numbers were small, this was Muguo's royal guard. Their presence and mission in Bailei represented the great power behind them. Who would dare to easily touch them? If Cangyan dared to harm this guard unit, it would be an unprovoked challenge to Muguo. Conversely, if Cangyan truly intended harm to Bailei, not to mention three hundred men, even an army of three thousand from Muguo wouldn't be able to stop them. For the moment, with this guard unit present, along with the Lu manor's original defenders, Lu Zhensheng felt considerably safer.

About half an hour later, everyone in the Lu manor heard bells and drums thundering in the distance, a tremendous clamor. It was coming from the city gate—Lu Qingbang was returning from his southern campaign, entering the city with gongs and drums resounding, filled with triumphant joy.

The Lu family's personal guards reported that the Lu family army's triumphant return had caused a sensation throughout the capital, with adults and children lining the streets to welcome them. Wherever the army marched, the people of Bailei flocked to them, cheering, laughing, and scattering flowers all along the way. This was because Lu Qingbang's herald was leading the way, sounding gongs and announcing to the populace:

"We won!"

"The Dragon God Army has captured Yaguo's sacred land, Baiqiuyuan!"

"The wealth stolen from Bailei by Yaguo has been reclaimed by us!"

When had Bailei ever been so resolute? When had the people of Bailei ever felt such pride and exhilaration? Someone started crying out, and soon many more were weeping tears of joy. Not just women and children, but grown men had tears in their eyes. Defeating Yaguo was a victory the people of Bailei had scarcely dared to dream of! Lu Qingbang, the Bailei army, and the Dragon God army were Bailei's brightest stars today. As they passed the main street, people frantically threw eggs, biscuits, flowers, sweets, fruits—anything they had nearby—to the troops.