Chapter 2106

Lu Qing'an firmly said: "The twenty-thousand-strong army of Ya State will not all be sent to Bailie, otherwise they would have done so long ago; the offensive of Beijia will certainly ease, and as long as we hold out until then, Mou State can free its hands to repel Ya State."

"Don't you understand yet?" Lu Zhensheng laughed without anger, "Now it's Mou State that doesn't want to fight! General Lu has already issued an ultimatum, asking us to align our demands on Ya State, otherwise the Mou army will withdraw half its forces within three days; after three days, if we still refuse to agree..."

He glanced at Lu Qing'an, sighed, and flicked his sleeve as he left.

"What do you mean?" His gaze made Lu Zhenxian's scalp tingle, and he hurriedly stepped in front of him, "Big brother, speak clearly—if we still don't agree after three days, what will happen?"

Lu Zhensheng only said: "You had better agree."

After saying that, he shoved Old Six aside with force and left the manor directly.

Lu Zhenxian's forehead was drenched in cold sweat, and for a moment his legs went weak.

Lu Qing'an hurried to support him: "Father..."

"Bailie is weak; you siblings staying here means little." Despite his reluctance, Lu Zhenxian prioritized his son's life, "I will arrange personnel—tonight you must leave!"

Lu Qing'an shook his head: "I won't go!"

"Don't you understand? Mou State no longer wants to fight. I estimate it regrets this deployment and wants to cut the knot quickly. Ya State presses step by step, and the clan chief dares not defy Mou State." Lu Zhenxian stated the gravity, "Ham'er, if you don't leave now, you're in danger!"

Since the negotiation troubles are all centered on Lu Qing'an...

"Your own people want to take my life to curry favor with the enemy? Utter nonsense!" Lu Qing'an laughed loudly to the heavens three times, "I won't go! I want to see who dares to take my head!"

Once his stubbornness flared, it surpassed even Lu Feiyan's ferocity.

Lu Zhenxian's legs gave way, and he collapsed into the chair.

Three days later, Mou State indeed withdrew half its troops. Ya State swiftly advanced, filling the void they left.

Lu Qing'an wanted to lead troops into battle, but the whole family stopped him, dead or alive, fearing he would be ambushed on the battlefield.

Enemy spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows from one's own side are hard to guard against.

No matter how willful Lu Qing'an was, the old man forced him with death threats, so he had to suppress his temper and stay. His maternal grandfather Miao An was also a gatekeeper of Bailie, originally intending to stay and guard this grandson, but Ya State's relentless slaughter, burning, looting, and plundering brought disaster to the people. After several considerations, and persuaded by Lu Qing'an's siblings, Miao An let out a long sigh and went to the front lines to lead troops and block the enemy.

Here at Lu Liu's, the whole family was shrouded in sorrowful clouds and mournful mist. Lu Zhenxian could not eat or sleep in peace, sighing all day. His originally plump figure shrank noticeably in just a few days, and several large fire blisters erupted in his mouth, painful to the touch.

The more he thought, the angrier he became, and he grabbed the teacup at hand and smashed it.

With a clatter, shards flew everywhere, splashing exactly onto the feet of the person who had just walked in.

This was Lu Zhenxian's advisor, Mo Shubai.

He had taken leave a month ago to return home for mourning, and only returned today.

"Sir, please take care of your health."

Lu Zhenxian hung his head, dejected: "I fear there may soon be no more sir."

He finally tasted the bitterness of being at the end of one's rope.

Mo Shubai saw him dressed properly and couldn't help but ask: "Sir, have you just returned?"

"No, I'm about to go to Lu Zhensheng's place." Lu Zhenxian said casually, "He wants to discuss matters with me—eighty percent he'll open with threats again."

But Mo Shubai said: "You had better not go."

"What do you mean?"

Mo Shubai first stepped outside to look left and right, then closed the door.

Seeing his actions, Lu Zhenxian grew tense.

"The negotiations between Mou State and Ya State have been stuck on the young master, with no progress. The clan chief must find a way to resolve it." Mo Shubai said, "There is only one way to get the young master to nod."

After saying that, he fixed his gaze steadily on Lu Zhenxian.

Lu Zhenxian felt uneasy under his stare and instinctively pointed at himself: "Me? Does Daru dare to deal with me?"

"Think carefully—could there be such a possibility?" Mo Shubai said softly, "If the soft approach fails, try the hard one; as long as you are controlled, the clan chief will also control the young master."

Lu Zhenxian gritted his teeth: "Darui wants to drive my son away, exchanging it for his family's safety!"

Indeed, if we go now, what could we possibly negotiate? Eighty percent it would be as Mo Shubai said—using him as leverage, exploiting Lu Qing'an's weakness to force him to leave the borders.

"Sir, sir, what are you doing?" Mo Shubai shook his head repeatedly, "The clan chief is not someone you think—you're oversimplifying things!"

"Ah?" Is that still simple?

"Thanks to Ham Shaozhi's frank refusal to yield, we've held out until my return." Mo Shubai's voice dropped lower, "Look at what the clan chief has proposed: let Ham Shaozhi flee secretly, he finds a substitute to be beheaded, and claims Ham Shaozhi willingly sacrificed himself to exchange for Bailie's peace—right?"

"Yes." To be honest, when Lu Zhenxian first heard it, he refused, but these past days the pressure has been overwhelming, he has turned it over repeatedly, and feels it might not be impossible.

At least his son can save his life.

Mo Shubai gave a hollow laugh: "If Ham Shaozhi publicly declares willingness to sacrifice himself, yet secretly slips away, what scruples would the clan chief have? If he can offer a true person's head to Ya State, why offer a fake one?"

"You-you, you mean..." Hearing the words "true person's head," Lu Zhenxian's blood surged, and he stammered, "You're saying Daru harbors murderous intent, long wanting Ham'er's life?!"

"I am eighty percent certain that once Ham Shaozhi flees, the clan chief will surely pursue him! At that time, Ham Shaozhi will have no troops or authority—how could he escape this deadly calamity?" Mo Shubai continued, "Even if Ham Shaozhi luckily survives, could he still appear openly in Bailie? Could he still blame the clan chief for wanting his life? Don't forget Ham Shaozhi has already declared he willingly sacrifices himself to exchange for Bailie's peace!"

Lu Zhenxian broke out in a cold sweat from fright.

"Fortunately, Ham'er's fiery nature helped him escape disaster!" He then gritted his teeth, "Darui has such a vicious heart! My son gave his all for Bailie, fighting the enemy, yet Darui schemes against my family—he wishes to cut off my lineage! Good, good!"

At this moment, all memories of how Lu Zhensheng had suppressed his own family surged into his mind, so angry he nearly couldn't catch his breath.

Mo Shubai hurried to support him: "Sir, suppress your anger. For Ham Shaozhi's sake, you must not fall ill now!"

A man must bear his responsibilities. The family needs his care—he spreading his hands and collapsing first, what good would that do?

Lu Zhenxian hurriedly took a few heart-protecting pills, then regulated his breath for half a day, and his heartbeat slowly returned to normal.

Mo Shubai suggested: "Why not politely refuse? Just say these days you've been upset by internal fire, anxious and unable to resolve it, suddenly fallen ill, unable to go."

Lu Zhenxian grunted, but the worry on his face did not ease.

After all, the obstacle before us remains insurmountable. Now the problem has returned to the starting point—Ya State will not let up, what should we do about my son? What should Bailie do?