Chapter 2140

From now on, Bailie will have to prepare two tributes, and since Cangyan's military strength is so formidable, Bailie's offering to it cannot be any less than Mouguo's.

Mouguo's tribute burden already left Bailie gasping for breath, and now it actually has to double!

What should we do from now on? Lu Zhensheng only wanted to scratch his head.

But at least this is good news for now; in the future, Bailie will receive protection from both Mouguo and Cangyan, the two great powers—would Ya State still dare to come and plunder?

He thought for a moment and then asked: "By the way, what about those Dragon God Army troops stationed within our borders—have they withdrawn?"

Lu Qing'an shook his head.

The Great Emperor of Jiuxiao led his troops into Ya State's territory, but he also left a detachment of two thousand men in Bailie, claiming it was to assist in border defense, so that Ya State would not take out its anger on Bailie and send troops again to burn and kill.

The reasoning sounds sufficient, but the Dragon God Army holds all the important towns and junctions—is this protection or control? That depends on what Lu Zhensheng thinks.

"The Great Emperor of Jiuxiao has already withdrawn from Ya State, so why haven't the Dragon God Army troops in Bailie withdrawn yet?" He worried anxiously, "Qingan, you say he truly won't back Old Six's bid for power? When the Cangyan army drove out the Ya troops that day, Old Six Lu's several families all moved in together."

Lu Qingbin even sent his own troops to protect them. Alas, this Bailie capital is Lu Zhensheng's turf!

It is clear that Old Six Lu has other thoughts—he does not want to become Qingbin's weak point, to be manipulated by the clan chief.

"Father, we already discussed this matter two days ago!" Lu Qing'an had to repeat himself, sighing, "Father is also getting old, his courage growing ever smaller—don't look at Qingbin now holding military power, but you are still the head of the Bailie family; even if Sixth Uncle seizes the throne with the help of the Great Emperor of Jiuxiao, the Dragon God Army cannot possibly remain in Bailie forever! Once the Dragon God Army withdraws, Bailie will still have to uphold the principle of legitimate succession; otherwise, how would Mouguo agree?"

In families like theirs, passed down for thousands of years, "illegitimate succession" is the most condemned of all—"if Old Six Lu still had a shred of clarity, he could not possibly do such a thing."

Upon mentioning this, Lu Zhensheng actually felt full of resentment: "Mouguo... nowadays it can't even be bothered with us."

"That's only for now," Lu Qing'an said, seeing the situation clearly, "fighting against Beijia is no easy task; Mouguo is deeply mired in war and temporarily has no spare attention for Bailie. But war will always end, and Mouguo will surely find the leisure to punish the reckless. Look, isn't it already gone to attack Ya State?"

"Then why haven't the Dragon God Army withdrawn yet?"

Lu Qing'an thought to himself, How would I know? I'm not a worm in the Great Emperor of Jiuxiao's belly, but on the surface he still had to say: "Perhaps they still have some business? Father, what's wrong with you?"

He saw Lu Zhensheng constantly rubbing his eyelids.

"My right eye is twitching badly," Lu Zhensheng also said anxiously, "Right-eye twitching foretells disaster. By the way, you said—will the Great Emperor of Jiuxiao not come back for a revenge strike?"

"Come back where, to Bailie?" Lu Qing'an shook his head, "Come back for what? He and Bailie have no connection whatsoever."

How could there be no connection?

"We have offended him before, more than once," Lu Zhensheng voiced his fear, "Actually, if the Great Emperor of Jiuxiao wanted to support Old Six's ascension, there is still another way—"

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

Would Mouguo turn against Cangyan and settle accounts over Lu Zhensheng's death? Lu Zhensheng felt that, perhaps, his own prestige was not that great nowadays.

Thinking of this, the Lu father and son felt a chill run down their spines.

Lu Zhensheng looked around, feeling that the hall was growing colder and colder.

"Otherwise, why do you say the Dragon God Army still lingers in Bailie and refuses to leave? Is it to deal with me?" Lu Zhensheng became more and more convinced.

Lu Qing'an was about to say, "Don't scare yourself," when his personal guards suddenly rushed in, reporting urgently:

"The Young Master of Bin leads his troops back, already past Bu Town, heading straight here—and the Dragon God Army has also, also arrived together."

"What?" Without needing his son's support, Lu Zhensheng leapt up and stood straight, "When they entered the border, why didn't the front lines send any report!"

"It's too urgent." Bailie is not large—from the border to the capital, even if troops run fast, it wouldn't take long," besides, Lu Qingbin has been leading troops for a long time, and the front lines are all his men!"

"How many troops has the Dragon God Army brought?!"

"A black mass, cannot see the exact number, but estimated to be over one hundred thousand!"

The Dragon God Army had already seized control of Bailie's various key nodes beforehand; now the main force passes through, and no matter where they want to go, it poses no difficulty.

When the number "one hundred thousand" was spoken, the Lu father and son's hands and feet turned ice-cold.

Dispatching so many troops, the Dragon God Army must certainly be here to cause trouble.

"He truly intends to, intends to help Old Six seize power!" Lu Zhensheng gritted his teeth, "You hurry and request the Mouguo garrison to be transferred over!"

"All right." Lu Qing'an strode out in big steps, "Father, you quickly send word to Second Brother!"

Sending word to Second Brother means seeking aid from Mouguo.

Bailie has undergone this series of major events, and Lu Qinglin also sought aid from Moudu. After the Dragon God Army drove out the Ya troops, Mouguo also nearby dispatched a detachment of over three hundred guards to garrison Bailie's capital.

Because of Mouguo's temporary decision to deploy troops, the forces originally stationed nearby had already been urgently redirected to attack Ya State, including Lu Ci's several ten thousand troops.

Based on Lu Qinglin's repeated requests, Mouguo only then allocated this detachment to garrison Bailie, nominally to maintain public order, but actually to protect Lu Zhensheng and monitor movements in Bailie's capital.

Although the numbers are few, this is nevertheless Mouguo's garrison, and when it carries out its mission in Bailie, it represents the great power behind it. Who would dare to move it lightly?

If Cangyan dares to touch this garrison, it is nothing less than an unwarranted provocation against Mouguo.

Conversely, if Cangyan truly intends to act against Bailie, even if Mouguo dispatched three thousand troops, it could not be stopped—let alone three hundred.

With this garrison present now, plus Bailie's original guards, Lu Zhensheng feels much safer.

More than two moments later, everyone in the Lu mansion heard distant bells and drums shaking the heavens, the noise reaching an extreme.

Coming from the city gate direction—

Lu Qingbin returns victorious from the southern campaign, entering the city while beating gongs and drums, full of joy and pride.

The Lu family guards reported that Lu's army's triumphant return shook the entire capital, adults and children lining the streets to welcome them. Wherever the troops went, the people of Bailie gathered to follow, voices of joy and laughter, flowers scattered all along the way.

Because Lu Qingbin's herald was already ahead, beating the gong to clear the way, announcing to the populace:

We have won!

The Dragon God Army has occupied Ya State's holy land, Baiqiuyuan!

The wealth that Ya State had plundered from Bailie has been taken back by us!

When has Bailie ever been this stalwart? When have the people of Bailie ever held their heads high like this?

No one knows who started it, but many people cried out from sheer joy. Not only women, even grown men had red eyes.

Defeating Ya State—this is a victory the people of Bailie dare not even dream of!

Lu Qingbin, the Bailie army, and the Dragon God Army—these are today's brightest stars of Bailie!

Passing the main street, people went mad, hurling eggs, biscuits, flowers, sugar cubes, fruits at the troops—whatever was nearby, they threw whatever they had.