Chapter 65 - 64: Sitting at Home, an Official Post from the Heavens

Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Sitting at Home, an Official Post from the Heavens

Lu Jing’an had Chen Xuan take Black Bear back to his personal courtyard first.

He straightened his clothes and followed a servant who had been waiting for him for some time.

After passing through several moon gates and covered corridors, he arrived at his father Lu Huaiqian’s study.

Inside the study, his second and third uncles were both present.

It was only when something major was happening in the family that his second and third uncles would appear at the same time.

Lu Jing’an greeted them each in turn.

Only then did he state, "The Li Family has made their move."

Lu Huaiqian looked up at him with a complicated expression and nodded.

He picked up a document stamped with a vermilion seal from his desk and handed it over.

"News just arrived from the Provincial City. Take a look."

Lu Jing’an took the document from Lu Huaiqian.

He gave it a quick read.

The document detailed the resolution and preliminary personnel proposal for the establishment of the Three-County River Patrol Bureau.

The Canglan River, which flowed through three counties and connected to the Provincial City, was a vital shipping artery. In the past, each of the three counties had managed its own section.

Now, a movement to merge the three counties had begun.

This River Patrol Bureau, which would govern the security, taxation, and anti-smuggling operations for the entire waterway, had thus become a key strategic piece in the prelude to the merger.

Whoever could take charge of this bureau would seize a significant advantage in the future landscape of power.

And the Li Family, in the process of recommending a candidate for the bureau chief, had recommended the Lu Family.

"So this is the ’grand gift’ the Li Family has prepared for the Lu Family," Lu Jing’an said, putting down the document.

Lu Huaiqian nodded. "I imagine this is it."

"Secretary Hu just called. He said that regardless of how difficult this matter is, our Lu Family must take it on."

"Secretary Hu will do his best to maneuver and provide support for our Lu Family from within the Provincial Government."

Lu Jing’an nodded as well. "I also think we should accept this."

"Since we’ve decided to fight for it, we must fight to the end."

"This is our chance to get a seat at the table."

"If we can’t seize it,"

"then the Lu Family will end up on the menu instead."

Hearing this, Lu Huaichuan, who had been sitting to the side with a tense expression, relaxed slightly and said to Lu Huaiqian:

"Big Brother, you see? I told you Jing’an is not one to shrink from a challenge."

Lu Huaiqian looked at his son’s young, yet exceptionally calm, face.

Worry and relief warred within him. Finally, he said, "In that case, Jing’an, you should begin your preparations. You’ll be taking up the post shortly."

Lu Jing’an froze, looking up at his father. "Me? Take up the post?"

"The candidate the Li Family recommended in the document is you," Lu Huaiqian stated with certainty.

Lu Jing’an picked up the document again, this time reading it with extreme care.

Sure enough, in the column for the bureau chief candidate, written in black and white, was the name "Lu Jing’an."

He frowned slightly and raised a key point of doubt:

"The Li Family’s intention in recommending me is obvious."

"But I have no official achievements to my name, nor do I have a distinguished service record. How could this possibly pass through the proper channels?"

Lu Huaiqian said, "You’ve always held a position at the Public Security Bureau. According to the Bureau’s records,"

"you have already served as an inspector for two years and as the head of the investigation department for three."

"There’s no problem with your status or qualifications."

"Another reason the Li Family recommended you is for taking the lead in eliminating the Tiger Demon."

The matter of eliminating the Tiger Demon couldn’t be hidden from those who were determined to find out.

But to say he had been an inspector for two years and a department head for three...

That was just absurd.

He was only eighteen years old right now.

That would mean he had joined the Public Security Bureau at the age of thirteen.

However, when he remembered his father was the chief of the Public Security Bureau, none of it seemed strange anymore.

As for why such a record existed, Lu Jing’an could roughly guess.

’It’s just to pave the way for my future, to let me accumulate experience and build an impressive-looking file so that I can take over Father’s position one day. I’m sure it’s not just our Lu Family that engages in such practices; other families must do it as well. The Li Family has exploited this point brilliantly.’

Seeing Lu Jing’an’s silence, Lu Huaiqian said, "Jing’an, if you really don’t want to get involved in this..."

Lu Jing’an cut Lu Huaiqian off. "Father, I accept."

"It’s like I said, if you can’t get a seat at the table, you end up on the menu."

From the moment he chose not to study abroad, Lu Jing’an never intended to stay out of it.

Given his status, as long as he didn’t leave, it was impossible to remain uninvolved.

He thought for a moment, then spoke with clear logic:

"Regarding the matter of my appointment, I’ll have to trouble you to handle the arrangements, Father."

"Also, concerning the specific situation in the other two counties—especially the various influential families and key individuals related to river affairs—I’d like to ask you and Second Uncle to help me compile a detailed file."

Then, he turned to his third uncle, Lu Huaisan:

"Matters on the river are the most complex."

"Third Uncle, I’ll have to trouble you to gather all the hydrological details for the section of the Canglan River that flows through the three counties."

"The riverside docks, the gangs large and small, the areas where bandits frequently appear,"

"and those Demon Beasts in the water—"

"their habits, their areas of activity,"

"everything you know, no matter how small the detail, please compile it into a report for me."

"These are what I need most urgently right now."

Seeing his son instantly switch into work mode, a flash of admiration appeared in Lu Huaiqian’s eyes. He nodded and said:

"I’ll have someone deliver the files to your courtyard this afternoon."

Lu Huaisan also slapped his chest and said in his rough voice:

"No problem on my end. By this evening at the latest,"

"I’ll get you the hydrological charts and a rough map of the gang and dock distributions!"

"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Second Uncle, Third Uncle." Lu Jing’an said, cupping his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

Lu Huaiqian’s lips moved as if he wanted to add another word of caution, but in the end, it was only a soft sigh.

"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself."

Lu Huaichuan also said, "

"Jing’an, we three old fellows can still hold on for a few more years."

"Go and do what you must, but remember: plan before you act."

Lu Jing’an’s expression was respectful. "I understand. I will do my utmost and act with caution."

Leaving the study, the autumn sunlight spilled onto the covered corridor.

It carried a lazy warmth, yet it couldn’t dispel the heavy solemnity in Lu Jing’an’s heart.

He didn’t linger, heading straight back to his private courtyard.

In the courtyard, Chen Xuan and Black Bear were both present.

This was the team Lu Jing’an could currently trust completely.

When he had first brought Black Bear out of Jinshan Village,

Lu Jing’an had already intended to build up his own power base.

He just hadn’t expected this day to come so quickly.

Lu Jing’an didn’t hide anything, explaining the situation to Black Bear and Chen Xuan from beginning to end.

Black Bear, naturally, didn’t understand the convoluted details.

He only knew that whatever the Young Master told him to do, he would do.

After listening to Lu Jing’an, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking.

"This move by the Li Family—’killing with kindness’—is truly vicious."

"On the surface, it looks like they’ve given the Lu Family a head start."

"In reality, however, the shipping channels of the river are exceedingly complex."

"Officials, merchants, demons, and bandits are all mixed up in it together."

"Forget about governing it—just trying to sort out all those relationships is no easy task."

"And now it’s not just one county, but three."

"If you succeed, the Lu Family will definitely secure a leading position."

"But if you fail, I’m afraid the Lu Family stands to lose much more than just a leading position."

Lu Jing’an nodded. "Correct."

"But this is a move my Lu Family has no choice but to accept."

"Who can we blame? Our Lu Family’s foundation is shallow, and our margin for error is low."

"If we can’t seize this chance to get a seat at the table, I’m afraid there won’t be another opportunity for the Lu Family."

That’s right. This was the Li Family’s overt scheme—one that the Lu Family had no choice but to accept.