Chapter 304: Chapter 176: King Yan Multiplication Factor: 8—Reward of 1 Luxurious Villa in Yandu and 20 Maidservants

The soldiers were shrewd men. They stood to the side, watching to see how things would unfold and whether they should really drag Gu Gaoxu out for his punishment.

Fifty heavy strikes from the rod would leave a man crippled, if not dead.

Lu Yuan, naturally aware of the severity, stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed. "King Yan, I implore you. For the sake of the Crown Prince destroying the Beastman Race’s main camp and blowing up their weapons and supplies, please spare him this once." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Lu Yuan felt he had to plead for him. Witnessing this "harmonious" scene between father and son, he couldn’t just play deaf and dumb.

Only then did King Yan, Gu Di, notice there were two other people in Gu Gaoxu’s tent.

It was Lu Yuan and Su Liyan.

King Yan, Gu Di, hadn’t expected Lu Yuan from Taiping City to be here as well.

King Yan, Gu Di, immediately shoved Gu Gaoxu aside and sat down in his seat.

He said to Lu Yuan with a cheerful smile, "Please, sit!"

Gu Gaoxu watched his old man take his seat but said nothing, simply stepping to the side.

He then waved a hand at the few soldiers inside the tent, signaling for them to leave.

The soldiers took the opportunity to make their exit, retreating from the tent.

This was their family’s private matter; the soldiers had no reason to get involved.

They slipped away as fast as they could.

King Yan, Gu Di, was still exceedingly polite toward Lu Yuan.

King Yan, Gu Di, would never look down on Lu Yuan just because he was a mere Seventh Grade county magistrate.

Through his son, Gu Gaoxu, King Yan, Gu Di, knew for a fact that Lu Yuan was a rare genius—someone he needed to win over.

"On account of Magistrate Lu, I will spare him for now."

When King Yan, Gu Di, said this, Gu Gaoxu’s mind buzzed. Since when was his father so courteous to a Seventh Grade official?

Lu Yuan, remaining neither servile nor overbearing, replied, "Your Highness’s words truly leave this subject in trepidation."

King Yan, Gu Di, and Lu Yuan spoke for a long time.

Standing off to the side, Gu Gaoxu watched them chat animatedly while he was completely ignored.

The scene made Gu Gaoxu’s mind start to churn. ’Dad, don’t tell me you’re going to become sworn brothers with Lu Yuan. Then I’d have to call him Uncle Lu.’

Gu Gaoxu’s head was now filled with visions of himself as Lu Yuan’s nephew.

’Uncle Lu, with his legs crossed, ordering me to serve tea, pour water, rub his shoulders, and give him massages.’ As Gu Gaoxu imagined this, he felt like grinding his back teeth to dust.

Gu Gaoxu, who had just been slapped by his father, truly never learned his lesson.

The fiery sting on his face from moments ago was already forgotten.

Through his detailed conversation with Lu Yuan, King Yan, Gu Di, finally learned what a massive role his son had played in this battle.

Lu Yuan had attributed all of his own accomplishments to Gu Gaoxu.

Listening to the conversation between Lu Yuan and his father, Gu Gaoxu couldn’t help but blossom with joy inside.

He never thought Brother Lu would be so reliable, giving him all the credit.

Gu Gaoxu chimed in, "Dad, that’s right! I charged into the Beastman Race’s main camp, going in and out seven times, and wiped them out completely!"

King Yan, Gu Di, turned to look at Gu Gaoxu coldly. "How many times have I told you? At Court or in the military camp, you are to address me by my title, not ’Dad’!"

"Okay, Dad, I’ll definitely change," Gu Gaoxu replied.

Gu Gaoxu had been getting into the swing of it, just short of performing a set of military drills for his father, but this bucket of cold water doused his enthusiasm.

Combining their two accounts, King Yan, Gu Di, could roughly deduce that Lu Yuan had also played a huge role.

Otherwise, his son alone wouldn’t have ended up besieged for four or five days.

Seizing the opportunity, King Yan, Gu Di, extended an olive branch to Lu Yuan.

In a calm tone, King Yan, Gu Di, said, "This victory was all thanks to your help. I wonder, Magistrate Lu, if you would be willing to become one of my mansion’s Guests."

King Yan, Gu Di, treated the Guests of his mansion with extreme respect. They could be said to live a life of luxury.

If Lu Yuan were to follow King Yan, making a name for himself in the future would be a piece of cake.

Gu Di was so similar to Zhu Di of the Great Ming Dynasty; it was highly likely he was the future Emperor Yongle.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be appointed as a Marquis or general in the future?

Seeing King Yan, Gu Di, extend an olive branch, Lu Yuan naturally intended to accept it.

The reason Lu Yuan hadn’t deliberately tried too hard to curry favor with King Yan during his last trip to Yandu...

...was because he was well aware of the subtleties of the "workplace."

When an employee proactively approaches their boss to ask for a promotion or raise, the boss is often unwilling, making it hard to negotiate.

In that situation, the employee is begging the company!

Conversely, when the company proactively approaches the employee, it shows that the company desperately needs them at that moment. The chances of negotiating a promotion or raise become much higher.

In that situation, the company is begging the employee!

Lu Yuan knew he would have more dealings with King Yan, especially with Gu Gaoxu acting as the middleman.

Gu Gaoxu was always eager to get some new "treasure" from Lu Yuan to show off to his father.

Therefore, Lu Yuan’s inventions and the abilities he displayed...

...would naturally not escape King Yan’s sharp eyes.

It was only a matter of time before King Yan extended an olive branch; it was something Lu Yuan had anticipated.

As for the Emperor, Lu Yuan wanted to play hard to get for a while longer.

After all, the Emperor was ruthless and decisive. If the Emperor obtained him too easily, he wouldn’t be cherished and could easily attract a fatal disaster.

Lu Yuan was aware of the Emperor’s methods; he would avoid and delay as much as he could.

But if the Emperor insisted on recruiting him, he couldn’t completely refuse him.

The Emperor and King Yan, Gu Di, were father and son, and there was no rift between them. Becoming a Guest at Yan Mansion wouldn’t interfere with serving as an official for the Emperor.

Thinking this, Lu Yuan cursed himself internally. ’What’s meant to be can’t be avoided. I used to think I’d rather be a dog than an official for the Emperor, but it seems the arm can’t twist the thigh!’

Lu Yuan rose, clasped his hands, and said respectfully to King Yan, "This subject is willing to become a Guest of the Yan Mansion and serve you. However, I have three requests."

He would be a fool not to negotiate some conditions at this moment.

"Speak freely." King Yan was magnanimous and not one to get caught up in such details.

If it were anyone else, it was uncertain whether they could have haggled with King Yan.

"The factory in Yandu is a joint effort between myself and Gu Gaoxu. All income should be divided according to our prior agreement," Lu Yuan said, addressing the matter of income.

King Yan, Gu Di, glanced at Gu Gaoxu, who nodded.

Lu Yuan was still Gu Gaoxu’s Brother Lu; that wouldn’t change because of this.

"That’s natural. That is a matter between the two of you. This King will not interfere," King Yan said amiably.

Seeing King Yan agree, Lu Yuan continued, "I do not require residence in Prince Yan’s Mansion, nor do I need support, protection, status, or reputation.

However, I will still provide various services, including participating in strategic planning and offering technical guidance on new product research, development, and production. I will not participate in defensive duties, such as protecting the security of the Yan Mansion."

After hearing this, King Yan said, "That is perfectly acceptable. As the parental official of Taiping City, Magistrate Lu naturally cannot reside in the Yan Mansion long-term. As for the mansion’s security, we have our own army and Mansion Guards to protect it. We will absolutely not trouble Magistrate Lu with this."

Seeing how readily King Yan agreed, Lu Yuan continued, "As a Guest of the Yan Mansion, I must be able to leave the Yan Mansion at any time, under any circumstances."

Lu Yuan’s meaning couldn’t be clearer: he was willing to be a Guest, but he must be guaranteed his freedom.

He wasn’t some ordinary worker. Even if he were, he would be one with a high degree of freedom.

To King Yan, the opportunity to become one of his Guests was something countless people dreamed of. Who would dare to negotiate terms with him?

This thought made King Yan a little uncomfortable.

But on second thought, these three requests didn’t seem excessive.

Besides, he wasn’t losing anything.

King Yan, Gu Di, said amicably, "No problem. I fully agree to the three points you’ve raised, Magistrate Lu. The Yan Mansion welcomes you."

Lu Yuan and King Yan, Gu Di, had reached an agreement!

A clear, cold voice rang out in Lu Yuan’s sea of consciousness.

[Congratulations, Host, for triggering an 8x passive reward. You have received one luxury villa with a private courtyard in Yandu and twenty maids.]