"Father, I believe that in our Lu family, and even in the entire Lu Clan, it’s better to forgo the fa of having just one person, you, be recorded in history as a loyal minister solely devoted to the emperor. Instead, it’s more worthwhile to pave the way for the future of all our family’s descendants. Only when our Lu Clan flourishes in the royal court, bound to the fate of the entire Zhou dynasty, will our family’s honor be eternal and the family’s glory unextinguished as long as the Zhou dynasty stands!"
Lu Jinxian, the eldest legitimate son of the Lu family, had known since childhood that he bore the heavy responsibility of his clan’s rise and fall, and he always regarded the prosperity of the Lu clan as his duty.
Lu Jinxian aspired to ascend to the position of Commandant, but even if he didn’t achieve it, he wouldn’t be envious. What he desired was not individual power, but enduring family honor and prosperity.
Commandant Lu listened to his son, who finally expressed his true thoughts. His gaze was not revealing, nor did he feel disappointed. As the future leader of the Lu Clan, his son’s perspective was understandable, but... his vision was ultimately limited.
"Do you think, my son, that I disregard our family for the sake of my reputation and the emperor’s unwavering trust in ?" Commandant Lu sighed. "As you said... in my current position, I should indeed do more for the benefit of our descendants!"
"But my child..." Commandant Lu bent down to help his son up, his eyes sharp and intense. "Everyone should hold a sense of reverence in their heart. The emperor carries the burden of all his people and thus is in awe of life. As the emperor’s ally, our Lu family must have reverence for the royal authority. Even though the emperor trusts our Lu family, this cannot be the foundation for us to expand our power recklessly. Under the royal authority... the fate of a family lies in the emperor’s words! Using marriage alliances to maneuver Lu family relations would only incite the emperor’s concern!"
Lu Jinxian pursed his lips, acknowledging his father’s correctness. Yet, he was still unwilling to give in, especially regarding Lu Yuanpeng’s marriage: "But this ti, it’s possible that Yuanpeng and Gaoyi reciprocate feelings mutually, not a preditated sche by the Lu family. Why does father impede it? Gaoyi is not one to be wronged. If Gaoyi agrees, does the emperor think we’re scheming to attach ourselves to power?"
Lu Jinxian still felt unsatisfied in his heart.
"It’s not that Yuanpeng and Gaoyi cannot be, but they must not be!" Commandant Lu’s gaze deepened. "Many in the Lu Clan hope to use the Commandant’s mansion to seek positions and good marriages. Because neither you brothers nor our grandchildren have I ever relied on my official position to secure your futures. Even the least promising, like Six, earned his honor fighting on the battlefield on his own. Even if we secretly protected him, outwardly... outsiders saw the Lu family as honorable. That’s why those clan mbers haven’t forced their way in! If Yuanpeng marries Gaoyi, the clan will imdiately push their offspring on us, pressuring us to find them good matches using his marriage as leverage!"
"Now, how is our current Lu Clan different from the Shuoyang Clan of the emperor’s family back then? The core is rotten..." Commandant Lu spoke with deep sorrow.
These words from Commandant Lu left Lu Jinxian unable to refute.
"If we ourselves are decayed and ruined, and we still try to extend our roots in the court, both the good and the bad will cling to the Lu family’s great tree. If Lu family’s foundations are unstable and mistakes are made... under royal authority, not only the Lu Clan but our Lu family will have no hope for recovery!"
Lu Jinxian was startled by Commandant Lu’s words, breaking out in a cold sweat. Upon reflection, his father was indeed correct. He murmured as he lowered his head, pondering his father’s words.
"In that case, we must find a way to remove the decayed and rotten parts cleanly, then take root in the court without being too obvious..." Commandant Lu was teaching his son.
Lu Jinxian took a step back and bowed deeply to Commandant Lu: "Please instruct , Father!"
"All descendants of the Lu family should marry below their station, choosing those seemingly unnoticed for now but promising a bright future as sons-in-law or in-laws! This will show the emperor that our Lu family is not desirous of power! Later... once I retire from the position of Commandant, I will return to our ancestral ho to establish an academy, bringing in children from the clan to study. The imperial examinations can serve as a ans to select talent for the Lu Clan! Given our family’s precedent of not relying on the Commandant’s mansion, no clan mber can speak toward . That ti, whoever has the skill will receive the full support of the Lu Clan, and then... in the court, this generation of the Lu family has you, and in the next, Yuanqing, and also Yuanpeng in the Bai family army!" Commandant Lu’s vision was far-reaching. "At that ti, truly capable young n of the Lu family will continuously be nurtured in our academy and dispatched to the royal court, moreover... at that ti, with the academy’s sponsorship, the academy doors will be wide open, welcoming talented students. Those who succeed and enter the court will naturally benefit the Lu family."
"And the most important thing!" Commandant Lu extended a gnarled hand from his wide sleeve, pointing to the sky, "It is crucial that the emperor sees that both I... and our entire Commandant’s mansion, desire not to seize power within the court. Thus... in establishing the academy, with overseeing it, whether a Lu son rises or an academy student erges, the emperor will not think... that our Lu family is cultivating its own faction, but rather nurturing talent for the court! With the emperor’s favor, the path for the Lu Clan will be all the more stable in the future!"
"At that ti, not only will the court have unending mbers of the Lu Clan, but also our Lu Academy’s students sent continuously into the court, though used for personal gain through righteous ans, it is for the flourishing of our family and loyalty to the court. Thus... will the emperor be wary of the Lu family? This... is the true path to perpetual vitality!" Commandant Lu stared at his son, asking word by word, "Now tell , what is it that the Lu family wants to cultivate in this mont?"
Human nature is inherently selfish; if one does not look out for oneself, the heavens will punish. But Commandant Lu’s planning for the Lu Clan is not for seizing power, but rather... to ensure the Lu Clan’s glory continues, to maintain the family’s honor within the royal court forever.
No matter the ti, the Lu Clan will always hold reverence toward the emperor. The Lu family will not beco power-hungry ministers but must maintain the family’s honor for future generations.
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