Chapter 120: Planting a Dragon Tooth

(ps: brothers, the National Day holiday is over, the ox and horse are about to return to their places... after calculating, the eight days of National Day minus the makeup days, we only got three days off, sigh~ but this book has shown some improvement, not sure if it's because my book test ended and I need to stream for a few days, or it really got better; whatever the reason, the struggling author thanks all readers here, wishes everyone a pleasant life after the holiday!!)

The sea breeze still howls at the harbor, but the tense atmosphere quietly collapses amid Matsura Town's hesitation.

Matsura Town's fingers gripping the Thousand‑mile Mirror turn slightly pale; his gaze wanders between his own conflicted reflection in the mirror and Wang Meng's composed demeanor—on one side the lord's dignity and the foundation of his domain, on the other a rare treasure that could make him stand out in Jiuzhou. The two clash fiercely in his heart, and greed ultimately gains the upper hand.

Matsura Town inhales deeply, slowly releases his hand from the sword hilt, and replaces his vigilance with a deliberately piled sycophantic smile. He steps forward, bows slightly, and says in a flattering tone, "You are absolutely right; I was too nervous. The Wang Family has traveled far to bring such a precious treasure to us Matsura, and I shall show my sincerity."

As soon as the words finish, he turns to the retainers behind him and orders, "Mark out the coastal land by the Matsura County shoreline and the adjoining deep‑water harbor, and grant them to the Wang Family as a trade outpost. It is an honor for us Matsura to host the esteemed guests of the Imperial Court."

The retainers gasp in shock, trying to object, but Matsura Town stops them with a stern look. To him, this seemingly important land has become a bargaining chip for the Wang Family's treasure.

As long as we can obtain the sword that can cut iron like mud and exquisite porcelain, what does sacrificing a strip of coastline matter? Moreover, he can use this to curry favor with the Wang Family and pave the way for future trade.

"A wise lord!" Wang Meng's eyes flash a barely perceptible smile, his tone carrying a hint of admiration, "The Matsura lord understands the big picture; surely our future cooperation will be most pleasant."

Hearing this, Matsura Town's sycophantic smile deepens, and he proactively proposes, "To settle your honored guests quickly, I am willing to provide a thousand laborers to help you build warehouses and outposts. I will also arrange the needed timber and stone, so your guests need not trouble themselves."

Wang Meng is very pleased with Matsura Town's "proper conduct." He raises his hand, signals his followers, and lifts a wooden crate from the lucky ship. Inside are three black‑painted fire‑arms, their barrels worn and even rusted at the edges. A cloth sack beside them holds a hundred rounds of ammunition; the sack's mouth is open, revealing some powder that has dampened and blackened.

"Matsura lord, your enthusiasm cannot go unanswered." Wang Meng takes a fire‑arm and hands it to Matsura Town, "These three fire‑arms with a hundred rounds of ammo will be sold to you today. With them, your influence in Jiuzhou will surely rise another level."

"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Prince Wu!" Matsura Town's voice trembles with excitement as he hurriedly orders his retainers to store the fire‑arms and ammunition.

At this moment, Wang Meng leisurely announces the price, "The three fire‑arms and a hundred rounds total five hundred taels of gold."

Five hundred taels of gold? Matsura Town's smile freezes instantly; he looks at Wang Meng in disbelief, "W‑What did you say? Five hundred taels of gold? That… that's far too much!" He quickly calculates: Matsura County's annual revenue is only fifty taels of gold, so five hundred taels equals ten years' total income!

"Does the Matsura lord find it expensive?" Wang Meng's tone turns cold. He picks up a fire‑arm and gently runs his fingers along the barrel, "You can imagine the power of this weapon. With it you can easily defeat other lords, seize more land and wealth. Five hundred taels for a future of ten years—or even longer—of prosperity; isn't that worth it?"

Matsura Town looks at the fire‑arm in his hand, imagines himself wielding it to command the winds of Jiuzhou, and his hesitation is again devoured by greed. He grits his teeth and nods vigorously, "Worth it! Of course it's worth it! Five hundred taels, I'll have it prepared and sent to you at once!"

Wang Meng nods approvingly; both parties draft the agreement on the spot, sign and seal it. Matsura Town carefully folds the contract as if holding the key to the pinnacle of power; Wang Meng hands the contract to his follower, eyes full of confidence, knowing the Wang Family has not only easily obtained a prime stretch of coastline and deep‑water harbor, but also extracted massive wealth from the Matsura through an unequal deal.

As the sun sets, golden afterglow bathes the harbor. Matsura Town warmly sees off Wang Meng, watching the Wang Family's lucky ship drift slowly away; Wang Meng stands at the prow, gazing at the receding Matsura lands, a faint, meaningful smile curling his lips.

This is only the first step of the Wang Family's overseas expansion; in the future, the lands and wealth of Wa will inevitably become part of the Wang Family's legacy.

Matsura Town, after paying a price that nearly emptied his entire household, clutches the three fire‑arms— which he regards as "divine artifacts"—and his trembling "servants," back to his stronghold.

Meanwhile, the Wang Family's fleet begins to truly lay out its plans on this land; gold and silver? Those are merely basic goals; they have deeper schemes.

The terrifying organization and construction capability displayed by the Wang Family once again leaves the observing Wa people across the sea in deep despair.

Only a month's time.

On the once‑barren beach.

The prototype of a brand‑new small city rises from the ground.

This city is built entirely to the Wang Family Fort standard, though its scale is far smaller than a typical Wang Family Fort.

Walls of cut stone and cement, with a moat fit for horse‑riding.

On the walls, black‑hole‑like gun emplacements are left vacant.

As news of the smooth progress reaches the Wang Family, the captured Liang soldiers are sent over in batches.

Of course, before departing, Wang Po (Wang Xiu) did not forget to paint the picture: "If you do well, the large tracts of land we will re‑divide there will be given to families of the Wang Family, and we will reunite you with them."

"If you have no family, there are plenty of women there; how many you can take depends on your skill!"

When those freshly‑blooded conscripts and the Wa laborers sponsored by Matsura Town gather together, they begin working day and night under the command of Wang Family engineers.

Hence, their efficiency is astonishingly high.

Wang Meng names this first permanent overseas outpost of the Wang Family—Zhendong City.

Its meaning, "Terrifying the East," needs no explanation.

For the Wang Family, Zhendong City is not merely a military fortress.

It is also a radiating center of civilization.

When the first batches of snow‑white salt, exquisite iron pots, sharp kitchen knives, and sturdy cotton cloth produced by the Wang Family workshops appear in Zhendong City's market at extremely low prices,

the surrounding Wa populace goes mad.

They have never used such functional and beautiful daily goods, which were once only for the aristocracy.

They swarm in, trading their meager farm and sea products, and some silver ornaments, for these fine items.

Soon, Zhendong City becomes the most prosperous trade hub within a hundred‑mile radius.

Matsura Town, as the first "partner," naturally reaps the greatest profit.

He levies heavy taxes on his subjects, then flips the goods to the Wang Family for a huge margin.

His wealth swells dramatically in a short time.

With that wealth, he purchases many weapons from the Wang Family.

When he uses those few fire‑arms to easily crush the neighboring Ma family's hundreds of "servants," he only fires a few shots, inflicting merely scratches before they flee in panic.

Now his reverence and dependence on the Wang Family have reached a peak.

He has become the Wang Family's most loyal dog in Wa, though whether this dog will bite its master remains a separate question.

After the Wang Family secures its foothold in Zhendong City, it begins its next move.

They open within the city a school called "Wang Family Academy."

The school enrolls the smartest children from the Matsura domain.

They do not study the Confucian classics of "zhi‑hu‑zhe‑ye."

Instead they learn the most practical subjects: arithmetic, natural philosophy, accounting, and management.

Wang Xiu also incorporates some later‑era psychology methods, brainwashing them from childhood; they have no loyalty to a sovereign, only the Wang Family, willing to sacrifice everything for it.

These Wa children will become the first batch of local talent to manage this land for the Wang Family.

At the same time, Wang Meng also uses Zhendong City as a platform to recruit the ronin—wandering samurai who lost in lordly battles.

He offers generous terms, integrating these unruly outlaws into a fully Wang‑controlled "Zhendong City Guard."

This force, composed of Wa men but equipped with Wang Family weapons, trained by the Wang Family and paid by them, becomes the sharpest blade on this land, able to fight without sacrificing its own men!

The rise of Zhendong City and the Matsura family's sudden wealth quickly draw the attention of the entire Jiuzhou, even the Fujiwara Clan in the Capital.

Numerous local magnates with ulterior motives all dispatched envoys, coming to Guard East City, hoping to establish contact with these mysterious 'Heavenly Dynasty guests'.

The Fujiwara Court also dispatched an arrogant senior minister, coming to 'summon' and 'admonish'.

However, this minister couldn't even enter the gate of Guard East City.

He was then, by a squad of expressionless 'Guard East City Guard' soldiers armed with bayonet-equipped rifles, 'politely' 'asked' to leave.

The news returned to the Capital, the entire officialdom was in an uproar, yet they were helpless; they dared not send troops to provoke, the news brought back by the Tang envoys about that powerful country still remained, even if they fell into civil war, they still dared not act rashly.

But they couldn't swallow this anger; they now had no idea how to respond to this suddenly emerged lawless colossus.