Chapter 100

Huang Chao's massive army ultimately failed to shake the Wang family's Jiangnan stronghold.

Entities: Huang Chao, Wang Family, Jiangnan.

After obtaining massive supplies from the Wang family's purported defeat, he bypassed Yangzhou and swept across western Jiangnan and the Fujian Circuit.

Entities: Wang Family, Yangzhou, Jiangnan, Fujian Circuit. Also "he" refers to Huang Chao.

He marched south all the way and eventually captured Guangzhou, then the world's largest port.

Entities: Guangzhou.

In Guangzhou, he carried out an inhumane massacre, killing hundreds of thousands of Tang people, foreign merchants, and religious followers at his blade.

Entities: Tang people maybe not needed; foreign merchants not needed; religious followers not needed.

When the news arrived, all of Jiangnan was shaken.

Entities: Jiangnan.

The great clans that had once resented the Wang family's extortion now felt a wave of fear.

Entities: Wang Family.

They finally understood that the Wang family's earlier seizure of half their property had saved their families' lives.

Entities: Wang Family.

For a time, countless Jiangnan scholars, wealthy merchants, and commoners regarded the Wang family's stronghold as the sole pure land and hope amid the chaos.

Entities: Jiangnan, Wang Family Fort.

They flocked there with their families to seek refuge.

No new.

The population of the Wang family stronghold surged from 100,000 to 300,000 in just one year!

Entities: Wang Family Fort.

The stronghold was expanded several times over, becoming a prosperous yet heavily fortified city.

Entities: Wang Family Fort.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) was not satisfied; he knew Huang Chao was only temporary.

Entities: Wang Zong (Wang Xiu), Huang Chao.

The true enemy was this impending collapse of the age.

No.

He employed the two hundred top artisans he had demanded from Huang Chao, together with Bi Sheng—the ancestor of movable-type printing—and sparked a small-scale "industrial revolution" within the Wang family stronghold.

Entities: Huang Chao, Bi Cheng, Wang Family Fort.

Under Wang Tian's leadership, the artisans of the Wang family workshops, guided by Bi Sheng, pooled their wisdom and after months of effort formally invented movable-type printing.

Entities: Wang Tian, Wang Family, Bi Cheng.

It wasn't that Wang Xiu didn't know the method of movable-type printing; he wanted to stimulate the era's artisans to innovate, otherwise relying on information he found online would leave gaps, and if the artisans simply followed his steps rigidly, their thinking would become stagnant.

Entities: Wang Xiu.

After movable-type printing was invented, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) ordered that all precious classics in the Wang family library, together with the basic scientific knowledge he had personally written out, be printed using movable type and mass-produced.

Entities: Wang Zong (Wang Xiu), Wang Family.

These books were used as textbooks in the newly established school within the stronghold, freely offered to all children of appropriate age.

Entities: Wang Family Fort.

His aim was to enlighten the populace and cultivate a cadre of talent with new ideas for the coming era.

No.

At the same time, steel-making technology achieved a breakthrough.

No.

The Wang family's workshops, using the new "stir-fried steel" method, could now produce high-quality steel far surpassing that of the era, albeit on a small scale.

Entities: Wang Family.

This high-grade steel was prioritized for forging a new type of plate armor.

No.

This plate armor offered extremely strong protection; ordinary swords and blades could not pierce it.

No.

The Wang family's army began to gradually reequip.

Entities: Wang Family.

A force fully equipped with plate armor, bed crossbows, and repeating crossbows—the "Iron Pagoda"—was quietly taking shape.

Entities: Iron Pagoda.

Meanwhile, research on gunpowder finally bore fruit.

No.

Wang Tian and his relatives successfully refined the black powder formula, greatly increasing its explosive power.

Entities: Wang Tian.

The first batch of primitive "fire guns" and hand grenades had been produced.

No.

Although still crude, with limited range and power, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) knew what this signified.

Entities: Wang Zong (Wang Xiu).

It signified that the age of cold weapons was about to pass.

No.

……

No.

The fourth year of Zhonghe, 884 CE.

No.

After ravaging the Central Plains for nearly a decade, Huang Chao's rebellion finally met its end under the joint suppression of Tang government forces and the Shatuo cavalry.

Entities: Zhongyuan (Central Plains), Huang Chao, Tang Dynasty, Shatuo cavalry (Shatuo).

Huang Chao was defeated at Langhu Valley and committed suicide.

Entities: Huang Chao, Langhu Valley.

This catastrophe that nearly destroyed the Tang dynasty has finally ended.

Entities: Tang Dynasty.

Yet the Tang dynasty existed only in name.

Entities: Tang Dynasty.

The court's prestige had vanished completely.

Entities: Court.

After this great reshuffle, the regional warlords across the realm became stronger and more domineering.

Entities: regional warlords? The term "regional warlords" is generic; not include.

Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Li Maozhen, …

Entities: Zhu Wen, Li Keyong, Li Maozhen.

One by one, new warlords rose onto the historical stage.

No.

Nominally, they were still Tang dynasty military governors.

Entities: Tang Dynasty, Jiedushi.

In reality, each had become an emperor over his own territory.

No.

A more chaotic and bloody era—the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms—was about to begin.

Entities: Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.

At this time, the Wang family could also be considered a regional power, living in Jiangnan a life that was nevertheless prosperous and thriving.

Entities: Wang Family, Jiedushi (maybe), Jiangnan.

They did not participate in any campaign to suppress Huang Chao, preserving the means to survive in this turbulent age.

Entities: Wang Family, Huang Chao.

Wang Family Stronghold, Hall of Deliberation.

Entities: Wang Family Fort, Council Hall.

The nearly eighty-year-old Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) had grown so old he could barely walk, plagued by various illnesses, leaving only his consciousness relatively clear.

Entities: Wang Zong (Wang Xiu).

He sat in his wheelchair, listening to the reports of his descendants below.

No.

"Great-uncle, within our stronghold we now have over 500,000 soldiers and civilians; the army has expanded to 50,000; grain and supplies are sufficient for ten years."

Entities: Wang Family Fort.

"The first batch of students trained in our academy can now skillfully apply the mathematics and investigation techniques you taught, and are beginning to assume key positions in the various workshops and departments."

Entities: Wang Family Fort (the fort's school) maybe not needed.

Hearing these reports, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu)'s cloudy eyes showed a relieved smile.

Entities: Wang Zong (Wang Xiu).

He knew he had more than fulfilled his duty in this life.

Entities: Wang Xiu.

For the Wang family, upon the ruins of the impending chaotic age, he laid a solid foundation capable of ushering in a new era.

Entities: Wang Family.

His mission was complete.

Entities: Wang Xiu.

"Jing'er." He called his nephew's name.

Entities: Wang Jing (nickname Jing'er).

The nearly sixty-year-old Wang Jing hurried forward and knelt beside his wheelchair.

Entities: Wang Jing.

"Uncle, I am here."

No.

"Remember, even if chaos comes, our Wang family shall neither claim imperial nor royal titles; we need only preserve our own stability."

Entities: Wang Family.

"Wait until the heroes of the world have shed all their blood. Wait until the people of the world grow weary of endless war."

No.

By then, it will be the time for my Wang Family to come out of the mountain.

"Child... I will faithfully follow Uncle's teachings!" Wang Jing tried to cry but could not sound, and bowed his head heavily.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) smiled.

He slowly closed his eyes.

……

【The fourth-generation only remaining ancestor, Wang Zong, has passed away. In his life, in times of peril, he turned the tide and founded the everlasting legacy of a 'nation within a nation' for the Wang clan.】

【Calculating his achievements…】

【Achievement 1: Ark of the End Times (During the Huang Chao Rebellion, protected and expanded the family, sheltering 500,000 soldiers and civilians)】

【Achievement 2: Chessmaster of Turbulent Times (Played against Huang Chao, without bloodshed, integrated Jiangnan, laying the foundation for hegemony)】

【Achievement 3: Fire of Civilization (Discovered and applied movable type printing, improved gunpowder and other technologies ahead of their time, preserving the flame of Chinese civilization)】

……

In reality, Wang Xiu removed the game headset, looked at the gorgeous settlement interface before them, and felt a calm in their heart.

A new prompt popped up again.

【The fourth-generation Head of Family Wang Zong has passed away. Please select the fifth-generation Head of Family to begin a new journey.】

On the interface, the fifth-generation descendants of the Wang Family, their avatars stood side by side.

Wang Xiu's gaze finally settled on the person they had long selected.

The young man standing atop the corner tower, watching the enemy troops, his eyes excited, eager to test himself.

The nephew‑grandson of Wang Zong who led two thousand cavalry and dared to take over the defense of Yangzhou.

【Name: Wang Po】

【Identity: Fifth-generation legitimate grandson of the Wang clan, son of Wang Jing】

【Era: Tang Dynasty, third year of Guanghua (AD 900)】

【Biography: Born in a fortified town, raised in a military camp. From childhood received the strictest military education, deeply inheriting the true teachings of his ancestor Wang Zong. He is decisive, ruthless, values martial strength, and aspires to expand territory.】

【Current status: Ambitious】

Wang Xiu looked at his data, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of their mouth.

In chaotic times, force naturally rules.

"You it is."

"Choose, Wang Po."

He did not choose the current Head of Family Wang Jing because Wang Jing had already done enough; even if he possessed Wang Jing, it would not be any better.

Moreover, Wang Zong had just passed away, and the various family plans he left behind were progressing steadily; Wang Jing would not arbitrarily change them, just as one follows the established rules.

But the next generation might not continue along his planned path, so he turned his gaze toward the younger generation.