When did I find out?

Is it a bit impolite to say I know now?

"Like father, like son. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were extraordinary, with the bearing of an emperor."

"Then why didn't you stand up to support me earlier?"

"Tang and Lu are one entity, the Lu Clan is always a friend of the Tang Family."

"I admire your taste," Tang Fei said with a chuckle.

Lu Yu is always a friend of the Tang Family, but not necessarily the Lu Clan.

During the case against the Tang Family, the Lu Clan distanced itself from the Tang Family to avoid suspicion.

If it weren't for Lu Yu's persistent loyalty and deep ties with Tang Fei's father Tang Li, it's uncertain if the Lu Clan might have betrayed them.

Seeking fortune and avoiding disaster is human nature.

If such is the case for a city or country, how much more so for a family or clan.

Even knowing the Tang Family had no future, some chose to be involved, leading only to mutual destruction.

Lu Yu himself wasn't afraid of death, but the Family Head of the Lu Clan certainly wouldn't gamble the risk of total annihilation.

Even though the Lu Clan remained silent during the case against the Tang Family, they were still oppressed by the Zhong Royal Family and several others for decades, unable to act, with the highest position being a Mechanical Minister...

Holding very little power, just focusing on technology as An Xin did.

The military forces further prohibited them from having any interference, taking over the unwanted 'Barren Land' with a sense of stealth.

The name alone speaks to its impoverished condition.

Yet their technology was truly extraordinary, with irreplaceable importance.

If it were any other clan, they might have fallen into oblivion long ago.

What family can withstand the combined oppression of the Royal Family and countless sects?

Zhong Daolong also supported the Mo Family, trying to leverage their strength against Lu Clan's Tianji Institute...

Despite utilizing the Empire's resources for twenty years, couldn't gain any advantage over the Lu Clan.

In summary, the Lu Clan is very resilient.

The descendants of the Mechanical Ancestor are formidable.

Tang Fei and Lu Dongyang exchanged smiles.

Because the old man was out of danger, both of their moods lightened up.

"What about the thirty thousand Undying Army? Where did you arrange them?" Lu Dongyang asked.

"Mechanical City is a battleground, if we bring them over, they could be attacked on entry, suffering losses. Even if they force entry, they'd be surrounded, their effectiveness extremely limited."

Tang Fei looked at Lu Dongyang and explained seriously, "I placed them in Qingyang."

"Qingyang?"

Lu Dongyang, familiar with military affairs, quickly grasped Tang Fei's deeper intentions, and asked, "Are you planning to make a move on Brocade City?"

"Yes." Tang Fei nodded, "The Beihai Fleet at Liyu Port has finished its rest, and the Sea God Fleet of the Aus Empire is ready to go."

"Feng City and Red Moon City are already in our hands. If we seize Brocade City, we'll establish Dushan as a stronghold with the Red Desert as our backup, forming a strategic depth."

"During our assault on the Empire's heartland, we won't worry about Brocade City suddenly attacking us from behind."

Lu Dongyang, excited, said, "Thus, the Righteous Army is in full swing. Next is the real battle with Shen Wuxiang."

"Indeed." Tang Fei nodded, looking at Lu Dongyang, "If we can pressure them on the front lines, they'll have to send reinforcements, reducing pressure on both the Zhaoling Battlefield of the Qin Family and the Mechanical City where the Lu Clan is located. Then you can try to break through."

"This is pulling a single thread to affect the whole body. Multi-directional coordination for a thunderous strike against Shen Wuxiang." Lu Dongyang clenched his fist.

"Ideal is lush, reality is stark," Tang Fei spoke with caution. "We recognize Brocade City's significance; Shen Wuxiang does too, so they will definitely defend it fiercely."

"Originally, Brocade City was the hub between Red Moon City and Feng City, the main base shared by the three cities. When Wang Bota led a hundred thousand troops to aid it, leaving a forty-thousand elite force in Brocade City."

"As Feng City and Red Moon City fell, their fleeing soldiers also gathered in Brocade City, along with Shen Wuxiang's reinforcements over time... Brocade City's garrison has reached the astonishing number of two hundred thousand."

"Victory in this battle is uncertain."

"And not just a win, but a major victory, not a pyrrhic victory..."

Lu Dongyang nodded, understanding Tang Fei's implications.

Tang Fei's troops are limited, with the Qin and Lu Families trapped in Zhaoling and the Barren Land, their support is minimal.

The Dushan Army is perennially understaffed, and there are few Barbarians.

Even with thirty thousand Undying Army joining, compared to the two hundred thousand garrison in Brocade City, it's still lacking.

Moreover, Tang Fei's forces are finite, while Shen Wuxiang can continuously produce troops.

If necessary, they could even issue a nationwide draft order...

This is the advantage of holding righteousness.

The entire nation's resources and manpower at one's disposal, commanding them at will.

Zhong Tianque is useless, if he were just a bit tougher...

His body would be tougher.

Alright, forget him.

The Zhong Family only has a daughter worth mentioning; the two sons appear clever but are actually ignorant, not worthy even of serving Tang Fei.

"I know, you will definitely achieve ultimate victory," Lu Dongyang said seriously.

"How do you know?"

"Because you've never lost."

"..."

While the two were discussing future military and national affairs, they suddenly heard Lu Siyu shouting, "He's awake... the old man's awake..."

Everyone wanted to rush to the ward but were intercepted by the doctors and nurses on duty.

"The patient has just woken up, his body is still weak..."

"So many people going in would disturb his rest..."

"A slight lapse could cause irreversible harm to his body... he just had brain surgery..."

------

After some contention, the doctor only allowed two people to visit.

Lu Siyu, being the old man's daughter, naturally was the first choice.

Lu Dongsheng pushed Tang Fei forward, letting him accompany Lu Siyu inside.

The Lu Family didn't have any objections, because they all knew that in Lu Yu's heart, this young man was indeed more important than they were.

More important than all of them combined.

Tang Fei and Lu Siyu donned sterile suits and entered the intensive care unit, where they saw the old man lying on the mechanical sickbed. Lu Siyu held his large hand, her eyes reddening, and lowly called out, "Dad..."

As soon as she uttered that word, she broke down in tears.

He survived, finally survived.

Her mom passed away, her brother passed away; if the old man were gone too, she would have no relatives left in this world.

During this time, she has been on edge, guarding the old man day and night.

Even while resting beside the sickbed, she'd be awakened by nightmares over and over.

Afraid of waking up to find the old man without any sign of life.

The old man's fingers twitched on the back of Lu Siyu's hand, wanting to speak but unable to voice anything.

The stubborn old man's eyes also grew moist, looking at his daughter with deep affection on his face.

Having faced the Ghost Gate, is there a greater joy than this?

Tang Fei stood behind Lu Siyu, looking the old man up and down, and joked, "Hey, the old man's outfit is quite trendy... like a Mobile Suit Gundam..."

The old man's smile faded, tears froze, glaring with full anger at Tang Fei, his face flushing red, using all his strength to squeeze out a single word:

Scram.

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