Several key figures of the Lu Family gathered around him, including brothers Lu Dongsheng and Lu Dongyang, who were of the same generation as Lu Qingshan, as well as energetic middle-aged representatives like Lu Zhiyong, Lu Zhizhong, Lu Zhixian, Lu Shidao, and Lu Shiyu, all of whom had been summoned back from various government and technical departments in advance.

If they had waited until now, they would probably have already been thrown into the grand jail of the Security Bureau.

Once the war started, all sides would stop at nothing.

The victor lives, the vanquished dies.

Genteel grace was a posture reserved for the time of peace talks.

Lu Yu stood alone in the corner of the room, appearing both gloomy and aloof, misfitting with everyone in the family.

The Lu Family was already aware of his existence, and at this point, there was no point in hiding it.

Lu Yu's return was a good thing for most members of the Lu Family.

After all, Lu Yu's capabilities were recognized by all.

He was the man who could be called alongside Tang Li as the "Imperial Double Wall."

Of course, some harbored other schemes in their minds.

With Lu Yu returning at this time, who would inherit the position of the Family Head after Lu Qingshan ascended to heaven within a century?

"How is the situation?" Lu Qingshan exhaled a heavy breath before asking.

"Both sides are at a stalemate," answered Lu Dongyang.

Lu Dongyang, a man with a military background and a natural talent for military affairs, had made multiple commendable contributions while serving in the Flame-Bathed Legion.

However, being a member of the Lu Family, he was suppressed by the Royal Family and hindered by other families.

Enraged, Lu Dongyang simply retired and returned home to take charge of the Lu Family's private army.

He was now the commander of the Lu Family's defense war.

"How is the victory or loss shaping up?"

"The land forces are temporarily unable to cause us any substantial harm. The air forces have caused us some trouble, bombing the protective shield on our southwest side… But we've already had it repaired in time."

Lu Zhizhong sneered continuously and said, "Shen Wuxiang is truly arrogant to think that relying on three brigades, he could break through Lu Ban Mountain."

"One Lu Ban Mountain, a hundred thousand troops laid to waste. Does he think this slogan is a joke? If Shen Wuxiang wants to enter our Lu Ban Mountain, he should be prepared to sacrifice a hundred thousand men... not one fewer."

"Shen Wuxiang is not being arrogant but probing," Lu Dongsheng said with knitted brows. Being in a high position for a long time allowed him to see issues more sharply and comprehensively. "He wants to show the Royal Family and everyone in the Empire that Lu Ban Mountain is easy to defend but difficult to attack, unfathomably deep…"

"At that time, the Royal Family's guards against the Lu Family will intensify, and naturally, other forces will also covet us... He's just sounding out the path."

"Now, attacking the Lu Family is a move by Shen Wuxiang's family alone. Once he successfully guides it, and the situation is ripe, perhaps the Royal Family and other families will also be willing to get involved."

"At that point, it will really be the general trend. The Lu Family will have no chance for survival, without any means to live."

"Are you saying those three trump card brigades are all his chess pieces?" Lu Dongyang said angrily.

As a former soldier, he deeply detested such sacrifices.

A single sentence, a single thought, could send tens of thousands to their deaths.

How utterly cruel?

"No, they are expendable pieces."

"..."

"So what do we do now?" asked Lu Shiyu, a pure technician who spent her days working in the Heavenly Mechanism Laboratory beneath Lu Ban Mountain and found such problems vexing.

Fight with all our might? Exposing our strength would attract the jealousy and siege of various forces.

Feign compliance? Losing soldiers and generals, and being bullied for nothing.

This was the question in everyone's mind.

The choice would determine the survival or extinction of the Lu Family.

Lu Qingshan's gaze fell on the ever-silent Lu Yu in the corner, and he asked, "What do you think?"

Lu Yu's face revealed his signature mocking smile as he spoke with a heavy voice, "The enemy has come to our doorstep, defecating and urinating on your heads, yet you're worried that our resistance is too strong, that it might provoke the jealousy of others, make them scared…"

"Living in peace for too long has drained you of your spirit, softened your knees, making you unable to stand once you kneel... Have you forgotten that you are descendants of the Mechanical Ancestor? Have you forgotten the glory of the Lu Clan?"

"If the Lu Clan becomes like this, shrinking back when facing power, compromising, worrying, fearing, allowing others to slaughter us, then I would rather it die immediately... At least spare our ancestors some disgrace."

"Who said anything about backing down? Who mentioned compromise?"

"Exactly, what do you know? Aren't we just analyzing the situation?"

"So, you're the brave one? Was that why you ran away for so many years?"

------

Indeed, Lu Yu's barrage of words had successfully drawn the family's full fire.

And that was precisely the situation he wanted.

He sought to ignite the spirit and the sense of honor within his kinsmen, to unite their thoughts and concentrate their efforts.

Naturally, Lu Dongsheng understood Lu Yu's intent, and he exclaimed angrily, "Do you think you're the only descendant of the Mechanical Ancestor? That you're the only one with courage? That you're the only one who isn't afraid of death?"

"The same blood flows in our veins. You have courage, we have courage too. You're not afraid to die, and we're certainly not afraid to die..."

"To take even one step back, we would be unworthy of being descendants of the Mechanical Ancestor..."

Lu Yu shrugged nonchalantly, "If that's truly the case, then the Lu Family may yet be saved."

After perfectly coordinating with Lu Yu, Lu Dongsheng then asked, "So, we're asking for your thoughts... What's your brilliant idea?"

"Open the tunnels, let them into the mountain," Lu Yu said without hesitation.

"Let them into the mountain just like that?" Lu Dongsheng clearly understood Lu Yu's meaning.

But it was a major risk, and once taken, there would be no turning back.

"If they want to come in, then we'll let them in."

Lu Dongsheng pondered for a moment, then turned to face Lu Qingshan, asking, "Big brother, what do you think?"

"Hurlurulu..." After inhaling several breaths of the nutrient solution, Lu Qingshan spoke with an excited expression, "Lu Yu is right. We've lived in peace for too long and have forgotten that we are the descendants of the Mechanical Ancestor... How revered, how glorious has the Lu Family stood, unyielding for a thousand years?"

"If we cower and compromise in the face of three brigades, what then when Shen Wuxiang sends three divisions, or three armies? Do we have no other choice but to surrender and disarm?"

"To become slaves for the Shen Family, to become their Undying Army's munitions factory... Whatever they demand, we have to provide... Is that our fate?"

"If that is the case... as the head of this generation's Lu Family... I am guilty, and even in death, I'd have no face to meet our ancestors..."

Emotionally stirred, Lu Qingshan took several more pulls of the nutrient solution to calm himself, as the tank behind him bubbled continuously with small red bubbles.

"Hurlurulu... hurlurulu..."

With a decisive wave of his hand, he declared, "Keep fighting while we retreat, let them into the mountain."

"Yes," Lu Dongyang, stirred and with a fiery glow in his eyes, rose and replied.

He knew what he had to do.

He also knew the kind of infamy he would bear after this battle.

------

That night.

The Lu private soldiers, facing the relentless firepower of the Fire Fox Brigade, White Wolf Brigade, and 722nd Brigade, could not hold on and chose to retreat into the depths of Lu Ban Mountain after hundreds had fallen in battle.

The White Wolf Brigade seized the chance and bit down hard, following the private soldiers of the Lu into the heart of Lu Ban Mountain at the earliest opportunity.

The commander of the 722nd Brigade, Chen Peng, unwilling to let the White Wolf Brigade claim all the glory and military exploits, immediately led his troops in pursuit.

Although Zhao Wenxuan, the commander of the Fire Fox Brigade, sensed that something was amiss, seeing his fellow brigades all catching up, and that the Lu private soldiers indeed had to retreat after suffering heavy losses...

At Zhao Wenxuan's command, the whole army struck.

By the time over thirty thousand men had entered the mountain, the tunnel behind them silently sealed shut.

Once the Lu Ban Array activated, the mountain became a deadly meat grinder.

The 722nd Brigade annihilated!

The White Wolf Brigade annihilated!

The Fire Fox Brigade annihilated!

Not a single person surrendered!

No information leaked out!

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