Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

This business has been running for many years now, and carpenters and merchants from all over the country are following suit and selling it.

The Lu Clan Chamber of Commerce's profits were thus significantly impacted.

But Lu Feng didn't care.

For him, changing the old habit of the Han people kneeling was more important.

"Lu San, prepare tea!"

After instructing Lu San, Lu Feng gestured to Xun You, who was seated at the head of the table, and introduced him to everyone: "This is the newly appointed Chief Secretary of the Prefectural Governor's Office, Mr. Xun You of the Xun family of Yingchuan. Many of you are familiar with him. We will be working together frequently in the future."

"Greetings, Chief Secretary Xun!"

Upon hearing that Xun You was from the Xun clan of Yingchuan, the officials all rose to pay their respects. Many had long heard of this renowned scholar, and seeing that Lu Feng had managed to recruit him, they were secretly amazed by the prefect's abilities.

Afterwards, Lu Feng and Xun You had a harmonious conversation with the officials of Nanyang. No one dared to disrupt the conversation, and everyone was outwardly respectful and sincere, making Lu Feng almost think he had encountered a group of true gentlemen.

He knew perfectly well that if his status hadn't intimidated these people, they would never have behaved this way.

After testing the waters, the officials took their leave one after another. Lu Feng did not rise to see them off, but Xun You politely escorted them to the door.

Back in the lobby, Lu Feng asked with a smile, "Gongda, what are your thoughts?"

Xun You calmly replied, "They revere your esteemed reputation and position, and are currently unable to discern the truth from the falsehood. They will likely not dare to act rashly in the short term. This is beneficial for our foothold in Nanyang."

Xun You then changed the subject: "But from their probing words to our lord, I sensed that he doesn't seem to intend to establish a long-term presence in Nanyang?"

This matter is of great importance.

Having already acknowledged Lu Feng as his master, Xun You should naturally make thorough plans for Lu Feng.

Furthermore, it is essential to understand the lord's future plans.

These are things that should have been discussed in detail on the day of confession.

However, it was interrupted by the interference of those officials.

Now is the perfect time to continue.

"Hehe, I knew you'd ask that."

Lu Feng smiled and poured tea for the two of them, gesturing for Xun You to have some tea.

After taking a small sip, he asked, "Gongda, how long do you think I can hold this position as Prefect of Nanyang?"

"Um?"

Xun You frowned slightly: "Is our lord in trouble? Could it be the Yuan family..."

He immediately thought of the situation in Luoyang.

Lu Feng nodded approvingly: "You're half right. Not just the Yuan family, but also He Jin."

"If they hadn't been watching me, why would I have been in such a hurry to leave Luoyang?"

Xun You's expression grew increasingly solemn.

Suddenly, he remembered Xun Shuang's earlier warning.

"Is it because you fear your lord will share power?"

He remained perplexed. The gap between the two sides was still vast; how could things have come to this?

"That's only one aspect."

Lu Feng explained the pros and cons in detail.

This was all because Xun You was inexperienced and failed to see through the intricacies of the court.

The tides of history surge forward, and five years is enough to change many things. If it were Xun Wenruo at that time, he would surely have been able to understand the mystery without Lu Feng's explanation.

"hiss--"

Xun You suddenly awoke with a start, his expression shaken: "Such a profound mystery was hidden within! I was so ignorant! My lord's insight is like a torch, his understanding is as clear as fire; I am utterly ashamed!"

(66)

Lu Feng lightly flicked his sleeve: "Gongda, you are too modest. With your talent, these are merely trivial skills. It's just that no one has pointed out the key to them before."

His interactions over the past few days had made it clear to him that this strategist was not only knowledgeable and insightful, but also remarkably perceptive. With just a little guidance, he could grasp concepts easily and, given time, would surely achieve great things.

"You flatter me, my lord," Xun You said with a wry smile, then suddenly changed the subject: "In that case, how could the General and the Yuan family allow you to remain in Nanyang for long?"

"Not only that, they might even secretly sabotage things and transfer our lord to the frontier."

"The Emperor, however, is quite shrewd and calculating."

"Our lord manages to remain calm and composed amidst the machinations of three forces; such composure is truly admirable." If it were him, he probably would have found it difficult to cope.

"It's manageable." Lu Feng smiled calmly. "Let him be strong, the bright moon shines on the great river. What do these conflicts have to do with me? I'm actually hoping they'll transfer me away from Luoyang soon."

"This place is not safe to stay for long."

"The emperor's high regard for me is merely a means to restrain the maternal relatives and the aristocratic clans. This power struggle..."

"My frail body can't handle that."

Xun You heard it clearly: Lu Feng showed no respect whatsoever for the several powerful figures in the imperial court.

I was immediately surprised.

The lord before me has such lofty ambitions!

Fortunately, he was not as loyal to the Han Dynasty as his uncle Xun Yu; otherwise, just hearing these words would probably have created a rift between him and Lu Feng.

Lu Feng took in Xun You's reaction and nodded in approval.

"It seems that Xun You is indeed different from Xun Yu; his loyalty to the Han Dynasty is not obstinate, which is for the best!"

He thought to himself.

The path to future dominance is inevitable, and the subsequent strategies will gradually become clear.

As his chief strategist and political official, Xun You would inevitably come into contact with these plans.

If he were a loyal subject of the Han dynasty, he would obviously not meet Lu Feng's expectations.

At that point, we'll probably have to find another way.

Fortunately, Xun You passed the initial test and can be entrusted with important responsibilities.

"Your Majesty is far-sighted!" Xun You suppressed his thoughts and said with a cupped hand. "So, Your Majesty does not intend to spend too much time in Nanyang, waiting for the General and the Yuan family to make their moves, so as to take advantage of the chaos in Luoyang?"

"Exactly!" Lu Feng nodded. "Right now, what we need is to recruit talented individuals, train and strengthen our troops, accumulate strength, and use stillness to counter movement!"

"As for the governance of Nanyang, Gongda, you may act freely without getting too entangled with the local gentry. Any unnecessary gains or losses can be discarded."

"Consider this place as your training ground, where you can fully display your talents, validate your ideas, and accumulate experience."

"Once we have real territory, we'll prepare our troops and wait for the right opportunity!"

In Lu Feng's eyes, Nanyang was nothing more than a testing ground, used to cultivate talent and recruit wise men.

"Wait for the right opportunity?"

Upon hearing this, Xun You's pupils trembled slightly, his heart stirred with turmoil, and he hesitated to speak.

This lord has truly uttered astonishing words!

Lu Feng waved his hand casually.

"Yes!" Xun You solemnly replied.

Xun You bowed respectfully, staring intently at Lu Feng, and said solemnly, "When you, my lord, spoke of 'awaiting the opportune moment,' do you perhaps mean that a great upheaval is about to occur in the Han Dynasty? That the world will be thrown into turmoil?"

Is this... really possible?

"The facts are clear."

Lu Feng smiled gently as he looked at Xun You. This strategist still needed guidance, and his horizons needed to be broadened.

We're still a long way off.

He then continued, "The contradictions between different social classes are becoming increasingly acute!"

"Which social class—the gentry, imperial relatives, eunuchs, the court, commoners, powerful families, merchants…—is not filled with resentment?"

"Powerful clans are wantonly seizing land, and the common people are almost unable to even keep their own place to stand."

Why did the Yellow Turban Rebellion begin? How was Zhang Jiao able to easily amass a million troops?

"It's simply that this pent-up resentment has reached a point where it can no longer be tolerated!"

"How similar is the current situation to that of the late Western Han Dynasty?"

Lu Feng, drawing on historical examples and contemporary insights, thoroughly analyzed the state of the world. Xun You listened, cold sweat beading on his forehead: "Could it be... that the Han dynasty has truly fallen to such a state? Does this mean that the time for a change of dynasty is approaching once again?"

Lu Feng nodded solemnly: "We'll see the results in less than six years!"

"Although the current emperor is indeed capable, the deep-seated problems have been accumulating for too long, and even with great talent, it is difficult to turn the tide."

"This world has reached a point where it can only be rebuilt through destruction!"

"Moreover, the current emperor indulges in pleasure, and his health has long been compromised."

"As long as he is alive, this world can still be maintained."

"Once the mountain collapses—"

"It would be a world-shaking upheaval!"

"No one will be able to remain uninvolved at that time."

At this point, Lu Feng looked intently at Xun You: "Gongda, time waits for no one, we must make plans as soon as possible!"

After a long silence, Xun You suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Feng: "I am willing to follow you to the death and assist you in achieving your great cause!"

Lu Feng dared to say these rebellious things to Xun You, which outsiders would consider outrageous, which shows how much he trusted him.

Xun You was moved and immediately reiterated his loyalty.

"it is good!"

Lu Feng laughed heartily as he stood up and helped Xun You to his feet, patting him on the shoulder and saying, "Of course I trust Gongda, otherwise I wouldn't be telling you all this!"

"I will need Gongda's continued assistance in the future."

Hearing Xun You's statement, Lu Feng felt reassured. He secretly checked the system and found that Xun You's loyalty level was over 95 points. This value meant that betrayal was virtually impossible.

That night, Lu Feng activated the system: "Use that special check-in!"

[Ding! Special sign-in for Xun You successful, obtained: Talents: Quick-witted and Photographic Memory]

"Two talents! No wonder he's Xun You!" Lu Feng's eyes lit up, and he immediately checked the attributes:

Quick-witted: Improves analytical thinking ability by 5 times

Photographic memory: Possesses an extraordinary memory, able to clearly recall even the scene of birth.

"Wonderful!"

Lu Feng was full of praise. His quick wit was a divine skill, and his photographic memory was equally extraordinary.

Claim your Fusion Talent!

Two streams of light entered his brow, and he instantly felt his mind clear and his thoughts flow like lightning. Vague memories from the past surfaced one after another, and even the ancient texts and techniques he had read in his previous life became clearly discernible.

"That's great! Even without additional technical rewards, the Lu Clan Chamber of Commerce can add a few more highly profitable products!"

After that heart-to-heart talk, Xun You completely let down his guard. With Lu Feng's support, he used Nanyang as a testing ground to boldly implement his previous governing philosophies, growing rapidly and hoping to become an even more capable assistant to Lu Feng in the future.

Lu Feng's daily routine consisted of two parts: either instructing Dian Wei, Zhou Cang, and Chen Dao in martial arts and military strategy, or training the three thousand newly recruited soldiers with Chen Dao. Occasionally, he would take the new recruits to nearby battlefields to let them see blood.

Of course, he didn't forget to write letters to his parents in Lujiang, his mentor Cai Yong, and his fiancée Cai Yan, and he also frequently sent letters home to Zhen Jiang in Jizhou. He lived a very comfortable life.

In this rhythm, the Lu Clan Chamber of Commerce and its secret guards quietly spread throughout the Han Dynasty. Considering the chaos and warlordism that would ensue in a few years, Lu Feng had long intended to move the Lu Clan Chamber of Commerce from the open to the covert. All newly established businesses concealed the Lu Clan name, appearing instead as partners or even competitors.

Since Lu Feng had no intention of vying for power in Nanyang, the local gentry and powerful families finally relaxed their tense nerves. Even the Yin and Xu families, who had previously been hostile to him, softened their attitudes and stopped opposing him. After all, where could they find such a sensible official who did not infringe upon their interests in the slightest? They even unusually hoped that Lu Feng could remain in his position as prefect.

Upon learning of Lu Feng's current situation and the attitude of the Nanyang gentry, Qin Jie, stationed near Gepo, felt extremely frustrated: "Lu Feng has already backed down? Gone?" "Damn it! Why doesn't he fight? Why doesn't he start a struggle?" "How am I supposed to find a chance to rise to power like this?"

He Jin and Yuan Wei, who were far away in Luoyang, had similar ideas.

"What's wrong with Lu Ziyi? Has he completely given up?" He Jin was completely baffled and couldn't understand Lu Feng's approach at all.

In this way, the Yin and Xu families will have no way to deal with Lu Feng!

Previously, these two companies were merely pawns used by He Jin Group to restrain Lu Feng.

Now that Lu Fengming is clearly holding back and not harming the interests of either family in the slightest, the Yin and Xu families naturally won't invite trouble.

Who would provoke Lu Feng for no reason, only to become a pawn for Yuan and He Jin?

Everyone present was a shrewd and calculating individual; they were not so easily manipulated.

"General, there is no need to worry."

Yuan Wei leisurely sipped his tea and said, "This situation is actually in our favor."

He Jin frowned slightly: "What do you mean by that, Grand Tutor? If we can't get Lu Feng, how can it become a good thing?"

"That's naturally a good thing."

Yuan Wei stroked his beard and laughed, "Lu Feng's actions are clearly a show of weakness, indicating both his lack of interest in vying for power and his absence of ambition for advancement. Doesn't the General think this is something to celebrate?"

"In that case, it will be difficult for him to get promoted."

"More importantly, this attitude will displease the emperor and gradually cause him to lose favor. At that point, Lu Feng will no longer be a threat, and might even be useful to me."

"Haven't we achieved all our goals?"