Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 5

The young couple quickly stepped forward.

"Improve Liu Xicheng to the seventh lord and He Zhiqiang to the eighth lord. From today onwards, obey my orders."

"Your subordinate is willing to serve the lord of the fortress."

Liu Xicheng and He Zhiqiang delivered a passionate oath.

“Cai Bo’an!”

Cai Bo'an hurriedly replied, "Your subordinate is here."

Lu Qingcheng commanded in an irresistible tone: "You will temporarily assume the position of the Third Lord, leading the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Lords. Obey my orders and do not disobey."

"Your subordinate obeys." Cai Bo'an's eyes flashed with surprise.

Liu Jianhua and Tong Sen were both stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Lu Qingcheng looked at Tong Sen and said, "From today onwards, martial law will be enforced inside and outside the castle. No one may act without my order. You are in charge of the security arrangements."

Tong Sen said with surprise and doubt, "Yes..."

Liu Jianhua smiled insincerely and said, "The lord of the fortress is wise, decisive, and calm in the face of danger. I admire you. However, how will you explain this to the lady?"

Lu Qingcheng stared at him with disdain and contempt. "Liu Jianhua, if I kill you, do you think my mother will kill me because of you?"

Liu Jianhua's expression changed drastically. His gaze shifted to the side, unconsciously falling on Qing Jianyue. Qing Jianyue stood with one hand on his sword, exuding a heroic air, looking at him with a mocking expression. The white fox at his feet seemed to be eyeing its prey, its golden eyes flashing coldly, ready to strike. Liu Jianhua glanced at the corpse on the ground, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

Lu Qingcheng laughed heartily, "You can decide for yourself how to report to Mother."

"Yes." Liu Jianhua reached out and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Lu Qingcheng, along with Qing Jianyue and her servants, strode away.

People say Lu Qingcheng is a lazy, good-for-nothing playboy who has been the lord of the fortress for nearly three years without ever interfering in any affairs, big or small. Who could have predicted that he would be a man of few words, but whose words would be astonishing?

The people in the council chamber had different expressions, but among their different expressions, they all shared the same one—shock!

Chapter Three: Recommending People

Lujiabao is nestled amidst mountains, with a large river winding past its gates. The surrounding fields are fertile and abundant. Legend has it that the Lu family's ancestor was a military officer who, while marching through the area, recognized its auspicious location. Later, due to the corruption of the court, he resigned his post and led his entire clan to settle here. Through generations of hard work, Lujiabao grew larger and larger, becoming what it is today—a town with over three thousand inhabitants. Adding the several villages scattered around the castle, the population approaches six thousand.

With such prosperity and wealth, how could it not become a coveted piece of meat in the eyes of others?

However, due to the departure of Lu Qingcheng's father, Lu Ji, the woman took over the household, not only favoring her own family members but also eliminating dissidents. She appointed the wrong people, creating a chaotic and disorganized atmosphere that caused the Lu Family Fortress to fall apart. Over the years, instead of the prosperous image it projected, the fortress gradually became empty and riddled with problems. Three years ago, Lu Qingcheng's uncle, Lu Yan, was killed for plotting to seize the position of fortress lord, and her only cousin, Lu Qingfeng, was expelled. Although Lu Qingcheng assumed the position of fortress lord three years ago, she has neglected all affairs of state for the past three years, indulging in a dissolute and pleasure-seeking lifestyle, with all power firmly held in her mother's hands.

The former glory of Lujiabao was long gone. The Sky Eagle Cult had accurately grasped this, and for the past two years had been relentlessly harassing Lujiabao's shops and businesses across the country. In recent years, they had become increasingly brazen, openly committing murder, looting, and plundering, reaching a point of utter intolerance. But Liu Jianhua, Tong Sen, Zhong Dakun, and the chief financial officer, Sun Yue, simply refused to intervene. For them, as long as the enemy's fire hadn't reached their doorstep, they had nothing to worry about. Most importantly, they were focused on intensifying extortion and embezzlement, filling their pockets to the brim. Even if Lujiabao were to perish, it wouldn't matter.

He left the council chamber and returned to the study.

“You did very well; I knew I hadn’t misjudged you. However, there’s one thing I didn’t expect: you were so ruthless and merciless. Three strikes, and you killed three lords.”

Lu Qingcheng sat on the couch, gazing at Qing Jianyue with unfathomable intent.

"I did as you instructed. If we don't kill them, how can the Lord establish his authority?" Qing Jianyue's eyes were as calm as a clear pool. "Besides, with my meager skills, I could only rely on luck, and without the Lord's support, how could I have killed three lords in three strikes?"

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Qingcheng's eyes, her expression a half-smile. "Although I bought you with a lot of money, I know nothing about your past. With your intelligence, you really shouldn't remain unknown."

"Didn't the Lord of the Fortress also lie low for three years before making a name for himself today?" Kiyomi Tsuki's smile was as refreshing and pleasant as a gentle breeze.

Lu Qingcheng's lips curved slightly, forming a very beautiful arc. Qing Jianyue was stunned. Lu Qingcheng picked up her teacup and took a sip. "You've worked hard today. Keep up the good work, I won't treat you unfairly."

"Your subordinate swears to serve the Lord of the Fortress to the death." Qing Jianyue thought to herself: As long as you give me enough gold.

Zhang Zhichun entered and reported: "Lord of the Fortress, Chief Enforcer, Lord Cai Si, Lord Li, Lord Liu, Lord He, and Lord Zhang pay their respects."

"Let them in." Lu Qingcheng's face quickly returned to its usual coldness. "Jianyue, bring the map over."

Cai Bo'an, Cai Zhonghe, Li Anguo, Liu Xicheng, He Zhiqiang, and the sixth leader, Zhang Xing, entered the main study one after the other. They looked at Lu Qingcheng with eyes full of light and hope, their expressions still very excited.

Lu Qingcheng summoned them to a table with a large map spread out on it. After some discussion, Lu Qingcheng said, "Grand Enforcer, you immediately issue orders to all regions, instructing each branch to break up into smaller units and conceal their forces, waiting for the enemy to attack. Xicheng and Zhiqiang, you two will each lead a team to scout out the enemy's strength. If we clash head-on with them, we must only lose, not win. I suspect that their blatant provocation is a test of our strength, and a major operation is imminent. Moreover, it will undoubtedly be aimed directly at our fortress. So, Anguo and Zhang Xing, go back and prepare your troops, awaiting my orders. A tough battle awaits us."

After hearing his deductions and orders, Cai Zhonghe, Li Anguo, Zhang Xing, Liu Xicheng, and He Zhiqiang had even greater confidence in him and said excitedly, "Your subordinates obey."

After they left, Cai Bo'an said with tears in his eyes, "Lord, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. I've finally waited for this day."

Lu Qingcheng couldn't help but feel moved. "I'm ashamed to have kept Brother Bo'an waiting for so long."

Cai Bo'an laughed and said, "It's alright, it's worth waiting for however long it takes. In any case, the Lord of the Fortress has finally risen like a dragon. The prosperity of our Lu Family Fortress is in sight!"

Lu Qingcheng nodded. "Next, I'll need to trouble you, Chief Enforcer, to keep an eye on those rats and weasels. If they start stirring things up against me, it'll be very troublesome."

Cai Bo'an assured him, "Lord, please rest assured, I will keep a close eye on them. You know, I've been waiting for this day for a long time. However, I would like to recommend someone to you."

Lu Qingcheng said happily, "No wonder my grandfather always praised the Grand Enforcer. The Grand Enforcer is not only the pillar of this fortress, but also a discerning judge of talent. Alright, tell me."

"Lei Yongxiang".

"Lei Yongxiang? Is he the younger brother of the late Lord Lei San?"

"That's right. Since Yongqing died three years ago, Yongxiang has moved his whole family to Tianyi Ranch. The ranch that Yongxiang now manages has been very profitable in recent years."

"But I've heard that Lei Yongxiang is still brooding over the death of his brother, Lei Yongqing. Would he be willing to lend me a hand?"

"As long as the Lord of the Fortress sincerely invites him, I believe Yongxiang will prioritize the overall situation. After all, the Lei family has received much care from the old Lord of the Fortress, and he won't stand idly by at this crucial moment. Moreover, inviting Yongxiang has three advantages. First, Yongxiang is both intelligent and brave, a rare talent. If he were to assume the position of the Third Lord, he would surely assist the Lord of the Fortress in defeating the Eagle Sect. Second, it can solve the problem of food and money. I think Sun Yue will definitely not allocate a single penny to you; he will certainly hinder you at every turn, making it difficult for you to move an inch. But with Lei Yongxiang, you will not only have talent but also money and food—killing two birds with one stone, so why not? Third, it can prevent Sun Yue from annexing Tianyi Ranch and making it his own. As far as I know, Sun Yue sent people to investigate this morning, citing discrepancies in the ranch's accounts. In fact, his investigation is a pretense; his real intention is to annex the ranch. If the Lord of the Fortress doesn't act, that piece of fat meat will surely be swallowed by Sun Yue."

Cai Bo'an's words ignited a fire in Lu Qingcheng's heart.