Chapter 954: Deer Family Children

Farming was a busy time. Tools such as sickles for harvesting palm, hoes for tilling, and iron plows for oxen and horses couldn't be forged by the Yangshan Archipelago itself; they had to be purchased. These were large orders, sometimes thousands of pieces at once, which ordinary merchants couldn't fulfill. As a result, Ding Zuodong's stewards had to search for merchant guilds to place orders and arrange transportation.

To their surprise, prices for these items had also risen. The wholesale price of a single palm-harvesting sickle could now reach one hundred wen!

It was merely two pieces of scrap wood holding a blade, normally not worth more than forty wen. Yet, when the Yangshan people tried to buy them, they couldn't negotiate the price down below eighty wen.

Incensed, Ding Zuodong ordered his men to go door-to-door in Knife Edge Port and the surrounding villages, collecting old sickles. They didn't need to be new, just functional.

Other farm tools were similarly exorbitant, no matter who they bought them from.

The issue was that every merchant group and guild, large or small, in Bailie and Knife Edge Port was selling at this inflated price. Sometimes, the Yangshan people would place orders with local blacksmiths, agreeing on a price one day, only for the blacksmiths to cancel the order the next, refusing to sell.

Secrets, however, seldom remain hidden. When Ding Zuodong discreetly inquired with a merchant, he was plainly told, "The higher-ups mandated raising the selling price."

Who these "higher-ups" were, he did not know.

Additionally, Qing Country and Bailie were transporting supplies to Mou Country, and oxen, horses, and mules were essential for transportation. Strong draft animals were already costly, but with official procurement skyrocketing, their prices naturally soared.

To this day, the Yangshan Archipelago still faces a shortage of transport capacity.

Ding Zuodong then reported, "As you requested, I secretly contacted Lu Zhenlian (Third Master Lu) to purchase livestock and boots, and Lu Zhenxian (Sixth Master Lu) for stone and grain. As expected, the prices were considerably lower."

These two men were Lu Zhensheng's cousins and, despite their relative youth, also clan elders.

The Lu family served as the lords of Bailie, and their privileges extended beyond just Lu Zhensheng and his son.

Any individual bearing the Lu surname typically managed some form of industry, though profitability varied.

When the lord demanded that the merchant guilds collectively raise prices, no ordinary merchant dared to disobey. Only those within the Lu family themselves possessed the influence to circumvent such policies.

At this juncture, Ding Zuodong excused himself, then returned with a brocade box.

"This is a gift from Third Master Lu for you."

Inside the box was a pair of dark brown fast boots. Their slanted edges were adorned with malachite inlaid with gilded thread, creating an understated yet luxurious aesthetic.

These boots were a magical artifact, impervious to both water and fire. They also possessed the "shadow-skimming" ability, allowing the wearer to move with the speed and agility of wind.

He Lingchuan slipped them on, and the boots automatically conformed to his feet. After taking a few steps, he found them remarkably comfortable.

"These are excellent," he remarked. "Not necessarily costly, but highly practical. Third Master Lu is truly thoughtful."

"We canceled orders with other merchant guilds and specifically purchased four hundred head of livestock and over a thousand pairs of combat boots from him," Ding Zuodong explained with a smile. "Third Master Lu probably wouldn't land a deal this large in half a year. He was ecstatic, grinning from ear to ear, and personally received me. If you ask me, Third Master Lu is more adept at interpersonal relations than Lu Zhensheng, but he's simply been suppressed within the family, never getting much of a chance."

He Lingchuan recalled Butler Feng's description of Third Master Lu's family's "old, dilapidated, yet sprawling" residence, and the weasels that would playfully jump over the well opening at night to startle people.

He also remembered the few complaints from Third Master Lu and his wife.

Although they likely knew the main branch of the family was working against the Yangshan Archipelago, no one could refuse such readily offered benefits or large sums of money, especially the Lu Zhenlian family, who were so financially strapped.

He chuckled, "It seems Tao Ran's intelligence is quite accurate. Lu Zhensheng and his son keep the most profitable industries for themselves, only distributing scraps to their uncles and cousins. For other clan members to prosper, they must depend entirely on Lu Zhensheng's goodwill."

Tao Ran, from Rongshan, was covertly gathering intelligence within Lu Zhensheng's household and frequently relayed messages to this location.

He Lingchuan was confident that the Lu family was doing the same to the Yangshan Archipelago, effectively making them even.

"It just so happens that Third Master Lu and Sixth Master Lu have their own ventures, which occasionally conflict with Lu Zhensheng's interests, leading to friction," He Lingchuan observed, his gaze shifting slightly. "If that's the case, I'll stoke the flames a bit more. Old Ding, please deliver two invitations for me. I'd like to invite these two 'old deers' to dine at the Qianbin Tower."

His reasons for approaching these two Lu family elders went beyond simply saving money on purchases. "It's also time to engage with other members of the Lu family. By the way, I hear Sixth Master Lu's children are quite accomplished?"

"Yes, that's right," Ding Zuodong confirmed. "However, they weren't trained by Sixth Master Lu himself, but personally by their maternal grandfather, Miao An. Both their cultivation and martial arts are reportedly excellent."

He Lingchuan nodded. To consolidate one's territory and influence, marriage alliances were one of the most effective methods. The Lu family, an ancient lineage with generations of history, understood this principle well.

"Miao An has long commanded troops guarding eastern Bailie. Last year, he sustained severe injuries fighting against Ya Country, and Bailie's defensive line was shattered, forcing them to seek peace through reparations. However, Sixth Master Lu's daughter, and Miao An's granddaughter, Lu Feiyan, went to battle and fought enemies at just fifteen years old, achieving commendable results in several engagements. Sixth Master Lu proudly told me that last year, Lu Feiyan served as the left vanguard in Miao An's army. After Miao An was wounded, she provided outstanding cover for the main force's retreat. Still, since the army didn't secure a victory, her achievements couldn't be widely celebrated."

"That indeed shows considerable skill," He Lingchuan commented. Having commanded troops himself, he understood that a retreat was far more difficult to manage than an advance. In such situations, with one's forces defeated and morale wavering, no one was inclined to fight, and a single mistake could quickly turn into a chaotic rout—the proverbial "defeat like a crumbling mountain."

Under such conditions, those tasked with covering the main force or staying behind as a rearguard must possess exceptional abilities.

"It's said that she even chose the name 'Feiyan' for herself," Ding Zuodong continued. "As for Sixth Master Lu's son, Lu Qingbang, he previously studied in Lingxu City and only returned to Bailie this year."

"I knew that name sounded familiar," He Lingchuan mused, stroking his chin. "It's as if I've encountered it before."

The mirror in his arms instantly prompted him, "Lingxu City! You saw him there!"

Where else would He Lingchuan have met Lu Qingbang? Lingxu City, of course.

During that period, he had, alongside students from various countries at the Lingxu Grand Academy, indulged in daytime drinking—or rather, engaged in profound discussions—and formed several friendships. Although Lu Qingbang was not among those he specifically befriended, He Lingchuan recalled the name and remembered Lu Qingbang toasting him along with other students. The moment Ding Zuodong mentioned him, it all fell into place.

He Lingchuan could even guess, with remarkable accuracy, the reason for Lu Qingbang ending his studies and returning to Bailie:

Like many other students, he was undoubtedly affected by the Lingxu incident instigated by Fang Canran.

Individual fates are often inconsequential in the face of epochal changes.

"This generation of the venerable Lu family still boasts several talented individuals; they are not as weak as I had imagined. Quite impressive."

"It's just a pity they are all overshadowed by Lu Qinglin's brilliance," Ding Zuodong chuckled. "Sixth Master Lu is proud of his children, yet deep down, he harbors a degree of resentment. While he doesn't openly express it, I can sense it."

His father-in-law defends the home and country in Bailie, and his two children face life and death on the battlefield. Yet, Lu Zhensheng is now the head of the main branch, and all the best resources and prestige of the entire clan have been bestowed upon Lu Zhensheng's second son, Lu Qinglin, who is currently in Mou Country.