Chapter 170: Beating The Drum
After understanding the detailed process clearly, Lu Shang pondered for a moment before asking softly: “Besides implicating Lu Jian, did the White Ape Society drag anyone else into it?”
“No.” Lu Xiu and the other shook their heads.
“How is that possible…” Lu Shang frowned. Now Lu Yunfei was not only a core disciple of the Lu Clan, but had also become Lu Xian’s disciple under the witness of numerous higher-ups. Even if the White Ape Society had done it cleanly, the consequences of assassinating him were extremely serious. They would not only face severe retaliation from him as Clan Leader, but also Lu Xian’s thunderous fury. Lu Jian alone could never withstand it; he must have the Elder Council backing him to possibly cover up the matter.
Therefore, Lu Shang was going all out this time with the intention of pulling up a radish and bringing out the mud, wanting to implicate the Great Elder as well…
“We interrogated that Gu Qi on the boat, but he insisted that he only dealt with Lu Jian and knew nothing else.” Lu Xiu said helplessly: “We also didn’t dare to really push him too hard, in case he severed his own meridians and died, which would backfire.”
“Mm…” Lu Shang sighed in disappointment, then smiled mockingly: “I was too anxious.”
The carriage fell silent for a while. As they arrived in front of the Lu Ward gate, Lu Xin asked a key question: “Clan Leader, where is Lu Jian now?”
“I instructed Lu Chou to stick to him inseparably under the pretext of checking accounts.” Lu Shang said in a deep voice upon hearing this: “Now, we can arrest him!” As he spoke, he took out a pre-written order from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Xin: “You, Lu Xia, and Lu Wei go to the Finance Department. If he dares to resist, no need to be polite!”
“Yes!” Lu Xin took the order stamped with a bright red seal with both hands, acknowledged the command in a deep voice, got out of the carriage, called Lu Wei and Lu Xia, and the three rushed toward the Finance Department.
Lu Shang and the others took the carriage through the side door into Sanwei Hall. With Lu Xiu’s support, Lu Shang got out of the carriage and said to a guard: “Beat the drum and convene the hall!”
The guard acknowledged the command in a deep voice, passed through Sanwei Hall, arrived in front of the cowhide drum at the main entrance of the Ancestral Hall, picked up the drumstick, and struck it heavily again and again.
The rumbling drum sound instantly spread throughout the entire Lu Ward. In the Elder Council, the Great Elder was drinking tea when he heard the sudden drum sound. For no reason, his heart trembled, his hand shook, and the teacup shattered to pieces…
The servant hurriedly came forward to clean up. Seeing large patches of emerald green tea soup splashed on the Great Elder’s robe, he also asked the Great Elder to go to the back to change clothes.
The Great Elder paid no attention to that and said to several confidants sitting opposite: “What happened that they are beating the drum?” In the clan, the drum was only beaten for sudden major events when there was no time to notify everyone individually, to urgently summon all the Elders and Stewards to Sanwei Hall for discussion.
Several Elders shook their heads blankly. The Great Elder had some guesses in his mind and thought to himself: ‘Could it be that the White Ape Society succeeded?’ Although he had tacitly allowed Lu Jian to hire killers, for such a deadly matter, the Great Elder would not inquire too much.
“We’ll know when we go.” The Great Elder had the servant bring the robe over and changed into it in front of everyone.
At this time, an Elder hurried in from outside, leaned close to the Great Elder’s ear, and reported softly.
After hearing the report, the Great Elder’s outstretched hands actually trembled slightly. It took a good while for him to recover and say to the several Elders: “Lu Shang has made his move!”
“What is he up to?” The several Elders hurriedly asked.
“Someone saw Lu Xiu, Lu Xin, and others capturing a skinny middle-aged man, bringing back several corpses. They disembarked at the dock, and Lu Shang personally picked them up in a carriage. They have now entered Sanwei Hall.” Seeing the Great Elder nod, that Elder repeated it to everyone.
“Who did he capture?” The several Elders asked nervously.
“That’s unclear. Lu Shang ordered the dock sealed off, not allowing anyone to approach…” That Elder shook his head.
“Such a big matter, why report it only now?” The several Elders said angrily.
“This all just happened. The people below wanted to figure it out clearly before reporting.” That Elder said helplessly, thinking to himself: ‘I’m just passing on the message, why come at me?’
The several Elders all stood up and looked gravely at the Great Elder: “Lu Shang stayed silent for so long, and now suddenly makes such a big move. He must be coming for us.”
The Great Elder finished changing his robe, exhaled a deep breath of turbid air, and said: “Then let him come!”
After speaking, he left the room surrounded by the several Elders. Arriving in the courtyard, another seven or eight Elders were waiting there for the Great Elder to come out. The Lu Clan currently had twenty-one Elders, plus the Great Elder, making thirteen people present. Including the Second Elder, eight Elders had already gone ahead to Sanwei Hall.
In the Elder Council, the Great Elder and the Second Elder had long been at odds. In the seventh month, the Great Elder had used tactics to make the Elder Council collectively absent from Lu Xin’s celebration banquet without the Second Elder’s knowledge. Afterward, the Second Elder had a big argument with the Great Elder, thoroughly publicizing the conflict.
The twelve Elders present were all part of the Great Elder’s faction, while the seven Elders who went ahead with the Second Elder were naturally his group. The Great Elder’s faction held absolute dominance, which was why Lu Wen could call the shots in the Elder Council and even dare to openly challenge the Clan Leader.
The Great Elder stood on the steps surveying the courtyard and said to the twelve Elders supporting him: “Lu Shang has launched a sudden attack, the current situation is unclear, and there is no better countermeasure. We can only employ the tactic of ‘delay’, responding to changes with no change.”
“We understand.” The Elders present were already grasshoppers on the same rope, bound to advance and retreat together with no other choice.
“No matter what he wants to do later, we cannot agree. Drag it out, and we’ll discuss slowly after returning.” The Great Elder nodded and said in a deep voice: “Let’s go.”
The group of Elders then escorted the Great Elder out of the Elder Council. At the doorway, the Great Elder whispered to a confidant beside him: “Go to the Finance Department and ask what exactly happened to Lu Jian.” That confidant nodded and quickly ran toward the Finance Department.
.
The rumbling drum sound also alarmed many clan members. Although they had no qualification to enter for discussions, they still rushed toward Sanwei Hall one after another, wanting to see what earth-shattering event had occurred.
Among the Noble Clans, there were plenty of good-for-nothings who idled away their days. Watching spectacles and chatting nonsense was their daily routine. Lu Ren was the most famous representative among them. He roamed east and west all day, gambling inside and outside the Capital City, across all gates and clans, with nothing he didn’t know.
As soon as they saw him coming, the clan members hurriedly asked: “What’s going on? Old Thirteenth, quickly tell everyone.”
“Of course it’s a major event.” Lu Ren said, shaking his head.
“Nonsense, who can’t see that? What exactly is it?” The clan members burst into laughter.
“Then I don’t know,” Lu Ren said smugly: “I’m going to the Finance Department to take up my post now. Where do I have the kung fu to inquire about so much?”
“Oh, the Third Steward really agreed? Congratulations.” The clan members had long known that Lu Ren had been sticking to Lu Jian like taffy lately, and unexpectedly he really wore him down. On the surface they congratulated him, but in their hearts they cursed: ‘This Third Steward is getting more outrageous, letting a thing like Lu Ren into the Finance Department. Isn’t it just like putting a mouse into the flour jar!’
As they were talking, they saw a group of Elders from the Elder Council escorting Lu Wen to the front of Sanwei Hall. The crowd hurriedly fell silent and greeted them. Lu Wen and the others were full of doubts and paid no attention to pleasantries, heading straight into Sanwei Hall.
As soon as Lu Wen entered Sanwei Hall, he saw Lu Shang speaking softly with the Second Elder and others. Of the Eight Great Stewards, only Lu Xiu, Lu Yi, Lu Kan, and Lu He were present.
Seeing that Lu Shang had no intention of acknowledging him, the Great Elder did not go up to mingle. He sat down in his own seat and closed his eyes to rest.
