Cui Shi brought Lu Binzhi to his mansion and immediately dismissed his attendants. He led him into the study and said nervously, "Xilian, why have you come to Chang 'an?"
Lu Binzhi sat down on the bed, lifted his robe and crossed his legs. He said, "What, Brother Chenglan, do you think I can't come to Chang 'an?"
Cui Shi said, "Not at all. Xilian, don't misunderstand me. The Lu family's three-year confinement period has passed. The children of the Lu family can naturally travel around the world. But this Chang 'an … Yang Fan is in Chang' an. If you two meet, I'm afraid it will be inappropriate. "
In fact, when Yang Fan threatened Old Grandfather Lu in Chang 'an, he forced him to swear that Lu Binzhi would forever be under house arrest in Fanyang and that the children of the Lu family would be grounded for three years. Now that Lu Binzhi had appeared here, it meant that the Lu family had violated the oath. Cui Shi could not say these things in front of Lu Binzhi, so he could only be tactful.
Lu Binzhi's expression slowly became sorrowful. He put down his legs and stood up. He lowered his head and said, "My ancestor … has passed away."
Cui Shi was shocked. He stood up and said hoarsely, "What? Old Grandfather Lu has passed away? When … when did this happen? Why didn't I hear anything about it? "
Lu Binzhi said, "This happened just last month. Old Grandfather Cui must have just received the news. You are in Chang 'an and naturally don't know."
Cui Shi sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Xilian, my condolences."
Lu Binzhi looked up to the sky and laughed. Although he was laughing, there was no joy in his laughter. "Brother Chenglan, Binzhi has been expelled from the Lu family. From now on, I am no longer a descendant of the Fanyang Lu family." At this point, two lines of tears rolled down his face and his voice also choked.
Cui Shi was shocked again. He said in shock, "How can this be? What great mistake did you make to be expelled from the family?"
It had to be known that Lu Bin Zhi was the eldest son of the Lu family. Ever since his elder brother passed away, he was the first in line to inherit the Lu family's patriarch's position. For the Lu family to expel the eldest son, the first in line to inherit the family, was truly difficult to imagine. Just how great of a crime would that be?
Lu Binzhi said lightly, "Binzhi did not make any mistakes. My name was removed because I asked to be expelled."
Lu Binzhi said lightly, "Binzhi did not make any mistakes. I was removed because I asked to be expelled."
Lu Binzhi slowly sat down and slightly raised his head. He had an expression of recollection as he said in a faint voice, "In these few years, my ancestor has never revealed a happy expression. He has always been thinking about my brother, and I've always remembered that my brother's great enmity has not been avenged …"
Binzhi sighed sofand looked at Cui. "Binzhi, my father died when I was. Binzhi was like a brother and a father to me. I think my ancestor's greatest regret before he died was that he could not avenge my brother's death. Bin Zhi should fulfill his last wish. "
Cui Shi didn't know what to say. If his brother had the same fate as Lu Binmi, he, as his brother, would also want to avenge him. However, if he had to pay the price of the position of the Family Head, would he be able to do it? Cui Shi suddenly felt ashamed.
Lu Binzhi said, "After my ancestor passed away, Binzhi, as the eldest son of the first branch, should have taken over the Lu family lord's position. However, my brother died a violent death and my ancestor died of depression. How could I calmly take over the position and be the head of the family with a clear conscience? Therefore, Binzhi asked to be expelled and removed from the family register. In this way, it would not be considered a violation of my ancestor's poison oath. "
Lu Binzhi's words were spoken lightly and without the slightest hint of resentment. But Cui Shi knew that his hatred had penetrated deep into his bones. That was why he spoke so calmly. Feeling Lu Binzhi's obsession, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
In a large family, the position of the family lord was the same as the position of the monarch of a nation. It was the highest goal that countless descendants of the family yearned for since they were young. However, this position was destined in most cases. The struggle for it was never as bloody and cruel as the struggle for the throne.
As a special existence, aristocratic families had all kinds of innate advantages for survival and continuity. Externally, this kind of advantage was mainly reflected in the process of the rise and fall of dynasties. Even if the royal banner changed from city to city, it would rarely have a fatal impact on the aristocratic families.
The ruler of the new dynasty would certainly use the cruelest and most cold-blooded methods to eliminate the ruler of the old dynasty and all those who had the right to rule. But for the aristocratic families that were deeply rooted in the area and did not pose a threat to their ruling position, they would adopt the method of roping them in to consolidate their rule.
And within the family, it was very difficult for the various branches and branches to compete as fiercely as the princes for the throne. This was because the aristocratic families were not the highest rulers in the world. Above them was the imperial court, and beside them were the other large families with complicated roots. The high and mighty royal law and the intricate checks and balances ensured that the competition within the aristocratic families had to be peaceful.
Therefore, the aristocratic families were rarely affected by the rise and fall of the country, and there were very few bloody struggles for the throne. All of these ensured that the vitality of the aristocratic families was far longer than that of those empires and dynasties. The process of their inheritance was relatively peaceful, and no matter how much they coveted it, there were very few aristocratic families who dared to challenge the position that did not belong to them.
Therefore, even though the Lu family branch was sparsely populated, as long as Lu Binzhi was not willing to give up, no one could snatch the position of clan lord from him, the first in line of succession. At most, they could rely on their large numbers and great influence to fight for the position of clan lord.
This was somewhat similar to Japan's political system. Even if the great power was in the hands of the shogunate, the throne still belonged to the Mikado of Wan Shi's lineage. It was very difficult to shake it. Therefore, Cui Shi believed that Lu Binzhi was definitely not chased off the throne of the clan lord. He had given up on his own accord. Then, would Lu Binzhi give up the position of clan lord without any conditions?
The Lu family was too large. There was definitely more than one branch that had the strength to take over the position of clan lord. The final choice would be up to Lu Binzhi to decide. Therefore, there would definitely be an exchange between them. What Lu Binzhi could exchange for could only be the power that would aid him in his revenge.
Cui Shi believed that this power would definitely not be small. Moreover, with such a huge amount of power and the removal of the clan records, there would be many fewer restrictions. Just the thought of how many things Lu Binzhi could use this power to do was enough to make one shudder.
Cui Shi coughed and persuaded, "Xilian, the two of us have a close personal relationship. It is rare that you still remember me and came to see me as soon as you came to Chang 'an. I have to give you a few words of advice. In the past, your brother could deal with Yang Fan, but today, you cannot because today's Yang Fan is not the Yang Fan of the past.
Yang Fan now firmly controls Xian Zong, and Shen Mu is in cahoots with him. Regardless of whether you win or lose, the result will be that both sides will suffer. Everything that Old Great Grandfather Cui and your brother are doing is for the benefit of the Lu Family, and what you are going to do will greatly damage the Lu Family. "
The corner of Lu Binzhi's mouth curled up and his smile was slightly evil. "Brother Chenglan, I will not act rashly. In these years of being grounded in the family, I have been thinking repeatedly. Why did I lose? Why did my brother lose? Why was my grandfather unable to do anything to Yang Fan at all?
I sat under the eaves and watched the flowers bloom and wilt, listened to the rain come and stop, watched the autumn fruits and winter snow. After thinking like this for a few years, I finally understood. Because Yang Fan knows how to borrow power. Even though he was very weak at the time, he knew how to borrow the power of the Guan Long Family, the power of the ambitious people in the Succession Hall, the power of the Emperor of the dynasty. His power was like the heavens. My Lu Family has always been going against the heavens, so how could we not lose? "
Lu Binzhi looked directly at Cui Shi and said in a deep voice, "Brother Chenglan, truthfully speaking, I have not come today to talk about old friends with you, but to borrow the power of your Cui Family."
Cui Shi furrowed his brow and said to Lu Binzhi, "Xilian, the Cui Family has the patriarch. Even if the patriarch is not here one day, there is still my father. Such an important matter, it is not up to me to make my own decisions."
Lu Binzhi smiled slightly and said, "After Yang Fan took control of the Xian Clan, what did he do? First, he uprooted my brother's many years of work from the Xian Clan. Second, he worked together with Shen Mu to create a trap that trapped all the seven sects and five families. Yang Fan has even flirted with the Guan Long Family. He has wild ambitions, but what is he planning?
Now that the Emperor has moved the capital to Chang 'an, he will have to borrow the Guan Long Family. The Guan Long Family has contributed greatly in the Shen Long coup d' état and will use this to expand their power. The world is only so big, and there are only so many benefits that can be enjoyed. When the Guan Long Family rises, my Shandong aristocratic families will suffer losses.
If this continues, will Brother Cui still dare to say that your Cui Family is still the top aristocratic family in the world? Maybe now, but what about three to five years later? Sailing against the current, if you do not advance, you will fall. Does Brother Cui want to lose your position as the leader of the seven sects and five families when your father hands the Cui Family to you?
What this little brother and Brother have discussed today is just to coordinate from afar. There is no need for Brother Chenglan to go into battle for this little brother. This is something that has many benefits and no harm to the Cui Family. Does Brother not want to hear what this little brother plans to do? "
Cui Shi's heart thumped. The court was not peaceful right now. There was no need to mention this party or that party. Only today did he know that the Meritorious Official Faction that was at its peak was not so reliable. Speaking of the Guan Long Family whose foundation was in Chang 'an, the two heads of the Guan Long Family were the Du Clan and the Wei Clan.
The Du Clan was very close to the Meritorious Official Faction, and the Wei Clan was said to be related to the Empress. As for the other large families in Guanzhong, some followed them, and some joined the Taiping Party or the Liang Wang Party. In the court, all the factions were restless. At the local level, the large aristocratic families were all seizing the opportunity.
Because the Shandong aristocratic families had lost their location, they had indirectly lost the right time and people. They were already behind everyone else. How could they not catch up at this time, wanting to quickly join in and get a share? Great Grandfather Cui had already sent a letter urging Cui Shi to observe the various factions in the court and choose the strongest to join.
It was for this reason that Cui Shi had decided to join the Meritorious Official Faction. In the end, Jing Hui's sending him to King Liang as a spy was like a bucket of cold water on his head. Cui Shi suddenly realized that the position of the Meritorious Official Faction was not stable. For a moment, he did not know what to do.
Now that Lu Binzhi had come to Chang 'an and said this to him, what was his plan? If it really was something that would benefit both sides, then what harm was there in cooperating with him? When he thought of this, Cui Shi's gaze suddenly sharpened. He stared at Lu Binzhi and asked in a low voice, "What does Worthy Brother Xilian plan to do?"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
