12dz Chapter 822 Reencounter with a Powerful Man
Chapter 822 Reencounter with a Powerful Man
Moreover, the people of Youzhou not only had to support these 100,000 Heavenly Dragons of the Lu family, but also had to bear the court's taxes, corvée labor, and so on...
The Xia Kingdom's productivity was already low, and the people were already struggling to feed themselves. Yet, in addition to bearing the taxes levied by the imperial court, they also had to support more than 100,000 members of the Lu clan. One can only imagine how miserable the people of Youzhou were.
"This is just the number of the Lu family members. If we include the retainers and serfs living in the Lu family manor, the population is probably no less than 50!"
"..."
Chen Dao fell silent.
With 100,000 members of the Lu family, plus 400,000 retainers and serfs, it's no wonder that the people of Youzhou could not resist the Lu family. The power within the Lu family manor alone was enough to suppress any peasant uprising. The peasants of Youzhou who rebelled had no chance to grow any bigger.
…………
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As they spoke, the four of them approached the gate of the Lu Family Manor.
But outside the door stood dozens of burly soldiers, clad in armor and armed with weapons; these must have been the Lu family troops that Yang Zheng had mentioned.
Judging from the aura emanating from these soldiers, even the weakest of them are probably at least at the sixth rank!
The fact that dozens of mid-level martial artists were used to guard the gate shows how profound the Lu family's foundation is!
In front of these soldiers stood an elderly man with gray hair and impeccable attire.
The old man was probably the Lu family's steward. When he saw Chen Dao and his group of four approaching, he stepped forward and said, "Distinguished guests, may I ask what brings you here?"
In the past, the old man who was the steward would never have been so polite to the guests who came to visit, after all, what kind of family was the Lu family?
The true "emperor" of Youzhou.
As the saying goes, "Even a seventh-rank official is equivalent to a gatekeeper at the prime minister's gate." As the steward of the Lu family, the old man's status was naturally not low either.
It is no exaggeration to say that even if an official from the prefectural city came to his door, he, as an elderly man, could have an equal conversation with him.
However, the situation has been somewhat different recently!
As news of the Lu family's invitation to powerful figures from all over the land spread throughout the Nine Provinces, a large number of top-rank martial artists flocked to the family. Recently, most of those who visited the Lu family were also top-rank martial artists.
Faced with such a powerful figure, the old man naturally had to be polite and courteous.
after all……
Warriors are different from scholars who regard the Lu family as a family of saints. Scholars visit the Lu family with the mindset of pilgrimage, and they will not say anything even if the Lu family treats them with disrespect.
But martial artists...
As everyone knows, martial artists are a bunch of "brutes" who are quick to fight and kill entire families. Although the Lu family is not afraid of these martial artists, there is no need to make enemies with them.
Not to mention, the Lu family now needs the help of these martial artists!
Therefore, when facing Chen Dao and his group, the old man put away his usual haughty demeanor and was so polite that he didn't seem like the high-ranking steward of the Lu family.
"I came at the invitation of the Lu family!"
Yang Zheng glanced at the soldiers standing like statues in front of the gate, then replied, "I heard that the Lu family will be hosting a banquet today to entertain the invited martial artists, and that precious medicinal herbs such as dragon's beard grass will be served at the banquet. Is this true?"
"It's true!"
The old man nodded. Using herbs like dragon's beard grass to attract martial artists was the Lu family's original intention, so he naturally had no need to deny it!
"but……"
The old man's eyes darted around, and he continued, "Today's banquet at my home is only for martial artists of the third rank. May I ask how many of you are there..."
Although the old man could sense the unique aura of martial artists emanating from Yang Zheng and his group, he could not determine their cultivation levels.
The Lu family's banquet only invites martial artists of the third rank, therefore... he needs Yang Zheng and the other three to prove themselves!
"A rank-three martial artist? Very well!"
Yang Zheng turned his gaze to the side, and just then a fallen leaf was blown by the wind. Yang Zheng flicked his finger, and a burst of true energy instantly shattered the leaf!
Upon seeing this, the old man's pupils shrank instantly, and he released his true energy, a signature move of a third-grade martial artist!
"I wonder what your name is?"
After confirming Yang Zheng's cultivation level, a smile appeared on the old man's face.
"Yang Tian!"
Yang Tian?
The old man repeated the name in his mind, but found that he didn't recognize it.
However, the Nine Provinces are vast, and there are many powerful individuals who prefer to remain anonymous, so the old man didn't find anything wrong with it.
"Lord Yang Tian is highly skilled; you may enter! However..."
The old man looked at Chen Dao and the others, clearly indicating that he needed them to demonstrate their cultivation level.
Chen Dao, Li Qiao, and Chen Cheng all displayed their skills in projecting their true qi.
Seeing this, the old man's smile deepened, and his tone became even more respectful: "May I ask the names of you distinguished guests?"
"Chen Tian."
"Chen Di".
"Li Yuan."
Without exception, all four of them, including Chen Dao, gave their pseudonyms.
"I am Lu Changjiang, the steward of the Lu family. Distinguished guests, please follow me!"
After confirming the four people's cultivation levels, the old man no longer hesitated and turned to lead them into the Lu family manor.
It must be said that the Lu family manor is very large. Led by Lu Changjiang, Chen Dao and his three companions walked for a full quarter of an hour before arriving at the hall where the Lu family entertained guests!
At this moment, many martial artists were already seated in the hall. Each of them exuded a powerful aura and was a strong person with a cultivation level of no less than the third rank!
"Distinguished guests, please wait here for a moment. The head of the family will personally entertain you shortly!"
After arranging for Chen Dao and the other three to be seated, Lu Changjiang turned and left, returning to the manor entrance to greet the guests.
The four people, including Chen Dao, who had taken their seats, also attracted the attention of many martial artists in the hall!
"It's him!"
A burly martial artist stared intently at Chen Dao, his eyes filled with surprise.
The martial artist was none other than Butcher Zhu, who had met Chen Dao once before in Qingzhou Prefecture!
Having witnessed Chen Dao massacre the entire Qingwang Mansion, Butcher Zhu naturally had a very deep impression of Chen Dao. In addition, Chen Dao did not disguise himself, so Butcher Zhu recognized this fierce man who had once slaughtered the entire Qingwang Mansion at a glance!
"He's actually here too!"
Not only Zhu the Butcher, but also Qianli'er beside him was filled with shock!
He never expected that he would encounter that young man who once shocked the entire Nine Provinces when he came to the Lu family!
"Ok?"
Noticing the gazes of Zhu the Butcher and Qianli'er, Chen Dao turned his head and looked at them. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes as well. Martial artists have excellent memories, so even though they had only met once, Chen Dao still remembered Zhu the Butcher and Qianli'er. However, Chen Dao did not expect to meet the two of them here!
When they first met, Butcher Zhu and Qianli'er were both peak fourth-rank martial artists. Now they are both at the Lu family's banquet, which means they have both successfully advanced to the third rank.
Chen Dao was not surprised by this. Zhu Tu Fu and Qian Li Er were already at the peak of the fourth rank. After Qing Wang obtained the Python Blood Grass, their advancement to the third rank was a natural progression.
What really worried Chen Dao was whether these two people, knowing him, would expose his identity.