Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 947: Chapter 672: Lu Wenquan and Lin Zhan

Anning County, Qinghe Town.

The Lu family’s grand residence.

Lu Wenyuan sat in the study, looking at the letters sent from Chongshan Town.

Lu Miaoshu stood quietly by his side.

Anning County has three major families: the Yang family, the Lu family, and the Lu family.

There’s no need to elaborate on the Yang family, as it’s now the Liaodong Yang family.

The Lu family inevitably declined, although they maintained a close relationship with the Yang family over the years. Despite the Yang family’s support, the Lu family has not seen any remarkable talents in two generations, remaining inferior to their past stature.

At present, the Lu family doesn’t even have a Jinshi, only a few Juren for appearances.

However, these Juren from the Lu family hold official positions and serve in Liaodong.

Even though these are minor positions like County Magistrate, Assistant Magistrate, and Registrar, they still qualify the Lu family as part of the bureaucratic elite.

In contrast, the Lu family stands out, having Lu Wenyuan. Although he has resigned and is now at home, his connections in the Liaodong political arena are unmatched.

Moreover, Lu Wenyuan is a former Tan Hua, who rose to the rank of Governor. Had he not resigned, he would at the very least be a Chief of Staff by now.

Currently, Lu Wenyuan is esteemed in reputation, fame, ability, and experience, considered the foremost civil official in Liaodong.

Yang Chengye intends to raise troops and naturally would not overlook this cousin.

At the first opportunity upon ordering preparations for the expedition, he sent a letter to Anning County, inviting Lu Wenyuan to Chongshan Pass to oversee operations.

Indeed, oversee operations.

Although Jiang Nanguo has already pledged allegiance to Yang Chengye, and Yang plans to entrust him with significant responsibility, Chongshan Pass is too crucial to leave to someone less trustworthy.

After reading the letter, Lu Wenyuan stroked his grizzled beard and pondered for a moment.

“Go to Yang Family Village and inform Yang Minghui that I will set out for Chongshan Pass in three days, and have my students join me on the journey!”

During these years at home, Lu Wenyuan did not idly sit by. He often visited the clan school in Yang Family Village to give lectures, where he took on over thirty students.

Yang Chengye’s ambitions to conquer the world require not only soldiers but a vast number of civil officials, for which his students are perfectly suited.

Being selected by him naturally indicates talent; perhaps not all could achieve official status in ordinary civil exams, but they would certainly perform their duties diligently as officials.

“Alright, I’ll head to Yang Family Village immediately!”

Lu Miaoshu responded promptly, then exited the study, arranging for the household steward to pack, preparing to depart for Chongshan Pass in three days. Following this, he took several attendants and rode to Yang Family Village.

In truth, Lu Miaoshu is highly capable as well. As Lu Wenyuan’s eldest son, he’s been at his father’s side, assisting in handling various official matters, gaining substantial experience.

With his abilities, he is capable of serving as a primary local official, with no issues in taking on roles like Magistrate or Prefect.

If given a few years in governance, he would be able to stand on his own.

Apart from Lu Miaoshu, Lu Wenyuan’s second son Lu Miaowen has also achieved the title of Juren, and if not for the turmoil, he would be headed to the capital for exams this year.

Yang Family Village is quite close to Qinghe Town. On foot, it takes no more than an hour, and riding is quicker. In less than two hours, Lu Miaoshu arrived at Yang Family Village.

Today’s Yang Family Village has transformed immensely, no longer the small settlement it once was.

Though known as Yang Family Village, it resembles a town, larger in scale than Qinghe Town, with numerous pavilions and towers constructed, albeit in a rugged style, lacking the refinement of big city structures.

The landmark structure of Yang Family Village is the Literary and Martial Arts Book Collection Building, with two towering pavilions standing six stories high, seven floors each, distinctive amidst the village scenery.

The Literary and Martial Arts Book Collection Building, as the name implies, is a repository for books and cultivation techniques.

Inside, there are numerous classical collections and martial arts techniques, unlike the Yang family’s Book Collection Pavilion which primarily stores martial arts techniques, yet has minimal Confucian texts.

In contrast, the Yang Family Village Book Collection Building houses comprehensive Confucian classics and many unique copies.

Of course, the martial arts techniques collected in Yang Family Village fall short compared to those in the Yang family, with only four innate cultivation techniques and lacking cultivation insights.

However, these are sufficient for the Yang family descendants to use, a deliberate decision by Yang Minghui.

Yang Minghui’s idea is simple: as the Yang family relocated overseas, the Yang clan and Yang family distanced significantly. Though relations are cordial now, over time, they may inevitably wane.

To maintain ties, Yang Minghui chose not to hoard too many innate techniques. Should a Yang clan member exhibit potential to become an Innate Martial Artist, they can be sent to the Yang family.

Doing so ensures constant connection between the Yang family and clan, fostering relations.

The Literary and Martial Arts Book Collection Building is situated within the Yang clan school, and currently, the Yang clan is no longer solely a martial arts family, but embodies both literary and martial pursuits—albeit its literary achievements are far fewer than its martial triumphs.

Presently, the Yang clan has merely produced a few Juren and over a dozen Scholars, yet not a single Jinshi.

This can’t be helped, as the foundation of the Yang clan is martial arts, and even if they wish to focus on literature, they cannot neglect martial pursuits.

Hence, any Yang clan member who achieves in literature would inherently be skilled in both arts.