Madam Xing nodded and quickly left. She could feel Lu Ming's semen flowing out, and the sticky feeling between her legs was quite uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, Jia She slowly awoke, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth. He was still unaware that his wife had been raped by Lu Ming.
Seeing his son Jia Lian and daughter-in-law Wang Xifeng come to inquire after him, he was in a bad mood. If he weren't unable to move, he probably would have given Jia Lian a beating!
"Father, Yingchun has been sent to Governor Lu's camp," Jia Lian said after reporting his sister's whereabouts. He continued, "Father, are you feeling better now?"
"Hmm, good, I'm fine here. You can go out now. Ouch, it hurts so much!" Jia She tried to move but felt a sharp pain. He felt weak all over.
Meanwhile, Jia Zheng was hosting a dinner for Lu Ming in the main hall.
At this time, men and women ate at separate tables; otherwise, it could be considered adultery!
Therefore, Jia Zheng and his son sat at one table with Lu Ming, while his wife, Lady Wang, his concubines, and Grandmother Jia sat at another.
"Thank you so much for your help, sir! I am deeply grateful!" Jia Zheng raised his wine cup to Lu Ming, "I toast to the Prefect!"
Lu Ming was somewhat interested in Lady Wang. This middle-aged woman possessed a refined and virtuous air; while not exceptionally beautiful, she was the kind of woman whose beauty grew on you.
Wearing a yellow brocade robe, a jade thumb ring on her finger, and a calm and composed expression, she was neither servile nor arrogant—clearly a woman who could grace any occasion.
A noblewoman with an elegant demeanor; this kind of mature woman possessed an indescribable charm, always Lu Ming's favorite type of prey!
"You're too kind, Magistrate Jia, please speak frankly," Lu Ming said, quickly picking at his food and eating heartily, even as the food on the table was visibly devoured.
He didn't seem like a rude person at all; on the contrary, he had a rather pleasing demeanor.
The third generation of the Jia family stared in disbelief. Wasn't this kind of eating style rather unrefined?
Refined? Refinement can't feed you, nor can it repel invaders. Only fists and strength are truly reliable. A hothouse flower that hasn't experienced hardship is just delicate.
Jia Zheng was somewhat stunned, while Grandmother Jia stopped eating after a few bites. "This old woman thanks the Governor for healing my good-for-nothing son."
"You're too kind, Madam. This was merely a transaction. The Jia family can discuss anything with me, as long as the benefits are sufficient," Lu Ming said, having already finished the entire table of dishes. He picked up the wine jug, opened the lid, and gulped it down in one go.
"Liangzhou is not peaceful, and Beidi County is being plundered. Bandits are rampant everywhere, and the court is powerless to provide support, relying solely on local governors. Chang'an, though seemingly a fortified city, is not immune to misfortune. You all must be careful. I've finished eating; farewell. No need to see me off!"
He didn't give them a chance to curry favor, nor would he get too entangled with the four great families.
Sometimes, to control them, one needs power.
Currently, as the Governor of Liangzhou, he doesn't yet have complete control of the province and needs to continue strengthening his power.
Straightforward and swift, Lu Ming's actions completely bewildered the Jia family. Even the seasoned and experienced Grandmother Jia was somewhat confused about Lu Ming's intentions.
After leaving the Jia residence, Lu Ming went to the Prefect's mansion to treat other nobles. Yang Cong was happy to provide the venue; their presence would foster deeper connections with him, which would be beneficial.
"Ding, quest triggered, 'Disloyal Heart'."
"Disloyal Heart: You are inherently unwilling to be subservient to others. A true man born between heaven and earth, how can he remain subservient for long? Quest objective: Heal the deposed Empress Song and Consort Wang, and rape them. Quest reward: Concubine skill activated."
Lu Ming was taking the pulse of the Prince of Bei Jing when this message suddenly popped up, surprising him.
He then remembered that he had been entrusted by Marquis Zhao to escort Empress Song away.
Empress Song had been deposed for eight years and had lived in Chang'an ever since. This wouldn't have been possible without Marquis Zhao's extensive network of connections.
That's how society works—a network of relationships built on personal connections can be incredibly strong, yet incredibly fragile.
One must accomplish something to prove their worth, otherwise the network will crumble.
It's different from a network built on strength; it lacks that stability and reliability.
Lu Ming wasn't particularly worried about rivals of the caliber of the four great families.
His rivals were always figures like Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei—all powerful figures with their own armies.
They either possessed the ability to gather a large number of strategists and generals, or they had exceptional luck and excellent interpersonal skills.
The most competitive areas were always the Central Plains, Hebei, and Huainan. These wealthy regions either had fortified cities, controlled key transportation routes, and were culturally rich, capable of cultivating many talented individuals.
Occupying this place means occupying the potential for future dominance.
From the very beginning, Lu Ming avoided these fiercely competitive areas, focusing instead on gathering talent from ordinary backgrounds.
He started in Liangzhou, where competition was minimal and no one wanted to go.
To the west, he could conquer the Western Regions and reopen the Silk Road; to the north, he could seize the Xiongnu pastures; and further west, he could advance into Bingzhou and the Luoyang-Sili region.
To the south, he could conquer Hanzhong.
Furthermore, he could conquer Yizhou, taking over this land of abundance.
In this way, he would seize the initiative.
Starting from Jiangyou in Yizhou, he could attack Jingzhou; starting from Hangu Pass, he could attack Luoyang; starting from Beidi Commandery, he could enter Xiongnu territory, then advance into Bingzhou, threatening Youzhou. Every move seemed like a brilliant strategy!
"That concludes today's consultation. Remember to abstain from sex after taking your medication, and absolutely refrain from engaging in sexual activity with women. If you absolutely cannot endure it, then you may engage in homosexual relations. If you have any further questions, please come and find me. Farewell!" Lu Ming intentionally steered them towards homosexuality. After all, they were all of a certain age, and had already had enough children, so let them engage in homosexuality, leaving their wives alone at home for him to take advantage of.