Chapter 192: Two Lu Jians
Jingxin Ward, in front of the altar, Lu Wen recited in a sorrowful tone the eulogy he had carefully prepared:
“Initial Tenth Year, ninth month, fifteenth day, on the seventh day after your passing, your Second Uncle Wen, filled with grief and sincerity, offers seasonal delicacies as sacrifice, addressing the spirit of your Fourth Son: Alas! Your father and I vowed to restore the Huaxia attire. When the Founding Emperor raised his army, we brothers joined the military together, fighting and facing death side by side in over ten battles. When we broke Qi Prefecture, your father saved my life and was struck by several arrows, dying young. Before his end, he held my hand and said to me: ‘I have no regrets in life, only that I cannot see Fourth Son grow to adulthood.’ At that time, you were eight years old, still with child’s hair tied in knobs. I immediately swore to treat you as my own son. Only then did your father close his eyes in the nine springs.”
“You lost your father young, orphaned and destitute, relying only on me. For the over twenty years after, I raised and taught you, devoting all my heart and effort, never separated for a single day. You often said: ‘Though Second Uncle, you are truly my father.’ Seeing you reach adulthood, marry, have children, excel in both civil and martial arts, hold office in the court, and serve as steward in the clan, my heart was greatly comforted. I often said to myself: ‘I have not failed your father.’
Lu Wen reminisced about his past with Lu Jian, unable to hold back tears streaming down his face. The clan members were also moved by this sincere uncle-nephew bond and couldn’t help shedding tears…
“I have heard that the Heavenly Dao is not benevolent, often letting the young die while the old survive, the strong perish while the sickly endure! Alas! Is it true? Or is it a dream? Heavens above, why leave my aged and sickly body while taking my healthy, robust Fourth Son in his prime?” Lu Wen pointed at the sky in grief and rage, roaring heart-wrenchingly: “My brother’s great virtue, yet his heir dies young! You, pure and upright, fit to inherit our ancestral legacy, will not receive its blessings! The so-called heavens are truly hard to fathom, and the divine truly hard to comprehend!”
The clan members were completely infected by the Great Elder, sharing his emotions and his grief and indignation.
After questioning the heavens, Lu Wen suddenly changed his tone, gnashing his teeth: “How is it that your reputation for orchid-like virtue turned into infamy in an instant? Over twenty years of diligent service, yet in one morning you become a criminal? The grand hall instantly becomes a den of snakes and rats, the garden of flowers turns to poisonous weeds in the blink of an eye? Why? What is it called? Is it solely Heaven’s Will? Or human malice?!”
“There definitely is!” The clan members were filled with righteous fury, unable to stop shouting loudly.
Amid the clan members’ shouts, Lu Wen’s tone reached the peak of grief and indignation, self-blame, and resolve: “My conduct offended the divine and the Lord, causing you to lose both reputation and life young; I am unfilial and unkind, ultimately failing my brother’s trust. After a hundred years, how can I face you father and son beneath the springs? I am truly to blame, what is there to resent! That vast sky is heaven, when will it ever end! From now on, I have no further intent for the mortal world! Only with this aged and crippled body will I seek justice for you, clear your name, and then follow your father and you! Alas, words are finite but feelings endless—do you know? Or not? Alas and woe! Enjoy…”
After finishing the eulogy, Lu Wen collapsed in front of the altar and burst into loud sobs.
The clan members were also infected by him and began sobbing together. No one knew who shouted first: “Seek justice, punish the wicked and eliminate evil!”
“Seek justice, punish the wicked and eliminate evil!” The clan members all shouted along. At first sparsely, then increasingly orderly, louder and louder, as if piercing the clouds.
.
On the Lu Ward dock, the shouts from Jingxin Ward could be clearly heard, but the gathered clan members here had no time to heed them. Their eyes blazed as they stared at Lu Xin, ready to devour him alive after hearing this fellow’s excuses.
“Everyone.” Lu Xin’s voice, infused with True Qi, clearly reached every ear. He said with utmost sincerity: “I, Lu Xin, also come from the collateral lineage, just like you all. I know clearly what this money and grain means to every household.”
“Since you know, why withhold our monthly allowance?!” The clan members angrily questioned.
“If there were any way, I absolutely would not do this.” Lu Xin let out a long sigh, his face full of helplessness: “But I have no choice! The Finance Department’s treasury has no money left!”
“How is that possible?!” The clan members refused to believe it and said loudly: “Don’t try to fool us. Our monthly allowance has always been specially allocated and never delayed come hell or high water!”
“The rules are like that, but my predecessor broke the rules—what can I do about it?!” Lu Xin said hatefully: “After I was ordered to temporarily take charge of the Finance Department, I immediately went to check the treasury. Not only was there not a single coin, but there were countless external debts! If you all don’t believe me, we can go look in the treasury right now. If I lie even half a word, may heaven strike me with lightning!”
“…” The clan members showed varied expressions—some indignant, some shocked, some panicked—but almost none disbelieved Lu Xin. Because they all knew that if Lu Xin dared lie about this, his whole family could forget standing in the clan.
Seeing the clan members’ anger subside a lot, Lu Xin raised his voice: “Further investigation revealed that when Lu Jian hired assassins to attempt murder, he had already prepared to flee. For this, he forged loan documents, emptied the treasury of six hundred thousand guàn of money, and not only that, borrowed four hundred thousand from the Storage Department. Then, in the Finance Department’s name, he promised high interest to the Xiahou Clan, Pei Clan, Cui Clan, Xie Clan, and Wei Clan, borrowing five hundred thousand guàn from each!”
“Ah!” The clan members gasped in shock. After a quick calculation, they couldn’t help exclaiming: “That’s three million five hundred thousand guàn!”
“Yes, so the Finance Department now has not a penny left and owes two million nine hundred thousand guàn in external debt. Even if the Storage Department’s four hundred thousand guàn can be delayed a bit, there’s still two million five hundred thousand guàn that must be repaid this month!” Lu Xin said with a bitter face: “This money must be repaid, or what reputation will our Lu Clan have left? How will our clan disciples have the face to stand in the Capital City?!”
“…” Though the clan members were lowly, they all had a sense of honor and responsibility toward the clan—indeed, the lower their status, the stronger this honor, as it was their only source of pride. So hearing Lu Xin’s words, they nearly hated the culprit behind all this to death.
“Originally, this department couldn’t even produce this bit of grain, but at the very least, we can’t let everyone go hungry. So I discussed with the Clan Leader and the Seventh Steward to at least use the reserves from Tongluo Granary to distribute grain to everyone first. As for the monthly allowance,” Lu Xin said in a deep voice to the clan members: “I believe you all understand the greater good and, after knowing the true situation, will give me some time to raise the funds.”
“…” The clan members whispered among themselves for a bit before someone said loudly: “We can understand the greater good; delaying a few days won’t kill us, but you have to give a deadline. We can’t have it dragged on indefinitely!”
“Before the end of the month, I will definitely pay everyone in full,” Lu Xin promised solemnly: “If I can’t fulfill it by month’s end, I will resign from this steward position and never hold any role in the clan for the rest of my life!”
“Is that possible?” The clan members were skeptical: “Don’t you have to repay the Various Clans’ debts by month’s end? Will you have time for us?”
“I appreciate everyone’s kindness.” Though the clan members weren’t exactly offering leniency, Lu Xin took it that way. He was instantly moved to tears: “But we can’t let everyone suffer because of the Finance Department’s issues. The Various Clans’ external debts must be repaid, and your monthly allowances can’t be delayed further.” Raising his voice again, he said: “I’ll say it once more: if I can’t pay everyone by month’s end, I’ll resign in disgrace!”
“…” The clan members looked at each other. With Lu Xin having spoken so plainly, and it not being his fault anyway, how could they bear to press him further? They chimed in: “Then let’s give the Third Steward face and wait until month’s end!”
“Thank you!” Lu Xin bowed deeply, then stood and said in a deep voice: “Distribute the grain!”
Several key members of the Finance Department hurriedly directed the servants to carry down the pre-packed bags of grain from the boat and distribute them to the clan members at the dock.
