Chapter 122

(ps: Are there any new readers out there? The author seems to have returned to the standalone era, guys, can you be more active? We're all young people, you can curse this book a couple of sentences, haha!)

When the messenger, whipping his horse to speed, delivered the family's reply to Zhen Dong City, Wang Meng stood before the newly planned stronghold's blueprint, lost in thought. Unfolding the letter and seeing its contents, his originally somewhat solemn face instantly lit up with joy, as if injected with a shot of adrenaline.

He slammed the letter onto the desk, then loudly ordered the nearby official: "Pass my command: the workshops must immediately speed up construction of the warehouses and defenses, completing the main structure within the Era Name Deadline; the fleet should prepare to resupply supplies, prioritizing the allocation of porcelain and tea for the next batch of trade goods!"

The order was like a stone tossed into a lake, quickly sending ripples across Zhen Dong City. The already bustling port instantly became even more frenetic; artisans hauled timber and stone back and forth, the sounds of hammering iron and sawing wood rising and falling without cease; the official in charge of material allocation, ledger in hand, checked each item in the warehouse one by one, ensuring everything could be loaded onto ships in time.

And in Matsura County, Matsura's days were undergoing unprecedented change, comfort and torment like two poisonous snakes repeatedly coiling around his heart.

The pleasure of comfort began with extreme material satisfaction. Previously, as a minor lord of Kyushu, Matsura's life was not particularly wealthy; fine silks were only brought out for important occasions, and on ordinary days he at most wore coarse hemp clothing.

But ever since he reached cooperation with the Wang Family, crate after crate of exquisite, luxurious Silk were sent to his stronghold—red passionate, blue deep, purple elegant—each color made him unable to put it down.

Nowadays, he not only sews his outer garments from Silk, but even his undergarments next to the skin are changed to the finest silk; stroking the smooth, soft fabric against his body, he often beams with pride at his reflection.

The change in diet made him ecstatic. Previously, Matsura could only imagine in his dreams eating white rice at every meal; on ordinary days he at most mixed in some coarse grains.

But whenever the Wang Family's fleet arrived, they brought large quantities of rice—snow‑white, crystal‑clear grains cooked into rice that gave off a tempting fragrance; Matsura now could eat a full bowl at every meal, and sometimes even bestowed the leftover rice upon his retainers, watching them tear up with gratitude, his sense of superiority welled up naturally.

At the same time, the Wang Family's artisans brought advanced tools and techniques to Matsura County, undertaking a complete overhaul of the stronghold. The original crude wooden palisade was replaced by tall, sturdy stone walls, and even his lord's manor gained flying eaves and upturned corners, exuding the refinement and grandeur of the "Celestial Dynasty."

What most excited Matsura was the rapid expansion of his power. Following Wang Po's instructions, Wang Meng again "sold" him twenty firearms and five hundred rounds of ammunition. Although these guns were not entirely new, with some parts slightly worn, compared to the initial three he had received, the numerical advantage left Matsura overjoyed.

He treasured these firearms like jewels, specially selecting a hundred elite warriors to form a dedicated gun squad; each time he watched them train, seeing the warriors hold their guns in neat ranks, he felt his standing in Kyushu grow a bit more secure.

Even more to his anticipation was the "military advisor" sent by the Wang Family, Wang Ergou. Wang Ergou was tall and sturdy, with dark skin and a faint scar on his face—clearly a hardened veteran who had spent years rolling around in army camps.

He lacked education, spoke bluntly, and his heavy Jiangnan accent often left Matsura's retainers baffled, yet the rich experience he had accumulated on the battlefield proved immensely beneficial to Matsura's warriors.

On the first day of training, Wang Ergou gave Matsura's lazy, accustomed warriors a wake‑up call. Before dawn, he grabbed a thick wooden staff, stood on the high platform of the drill ground, and shouted loudly: "Get up! What are you dawdling about? In our Wang Family's camp, training starts at this hour!"

The warriors were used to a lax lifestyle and had never faced such a rebuke, so they showed displeasure; but when they saw Wang Ergou's fierce gaze and the wooden staff in his hand that seemed ready to fall at any moment, they had no choice but to line up obediently.

The subsequent training made the warriors bitterly complain; Wang Ergou adopted the Wang Family camp's most brutal method—first weighted running, circling the drill ground dozens of times. Then came formation drill, demanding the warriors keep tight ranks; any deviation earned Wang Ergou's reprimand, or even a lash from the wooden staff.

When it came to firearms training, Wang Ergou was even stricter: from loading, aiming to firing, every motion had to be precise and flawless; whenever a warrior's movement was irregular, he would step forward personally to correct it, hands‑on teaching until it met his standard.

Matsura often stood at the corner of the drill ground, watching the warriors gradually become disciplined under Wang Ergou's training, feeling greatly excited. He could clearly sense his troops' combat power steadily rising; with this unit, he perhaps could make a bigger name for himself in Kyushu.

At first, these high‑and‑mighty "retainers" still wanted to resist. The result was that Wang Ergou, in front of everyone, single‑handedly knocked down their three best fighters with a bayonet, easy as pie. After that, nobody dared to wield a spear again.

But Matsura grew increasingly tormented, realizing his dependence on the Wang Family had seeped into his marrow, impossible to shake off.

His wealth came from trade with the Wang Family; his status came from the weapons the Wang Family sold him; even his troops, whose combat power had surged, were trained by the Wang Family's people.

Wang Meng, that perpetually smiling young man, though he addressed him politely with a constant "Lord Matsura," Matsura knew deep down that before this "General Wang," he didn't dare even to fart; if Wang Meng told him to go east, he would never dare go west.

"Lord Matsura, lately your neighbor, the head of the Arima family, seems to be getting restless."

That day, Wang Meng again invited Matsura to Zhen Dong City for tea. Zhen Dong City had now completely transformed—its streets were broad and level, lined with shops in blue‑brick tile houses, merchants of all complexions coming and going, bustling extraordinarily.

In the city center stood a tall bell tower that, on the hour, still rang out a clear, pleasant chime.

All of this made Matsura feel both envious and apprehensive.

"As the General says," Matsura replied respectfully, "that Arima scoundrel has indeed become increasingly arrogant lately. I heard he also sent people to Zhen Dong City, hoping to connect with you and buy your goods."

"Oh? Really?" Wang Meng feigned surprise, raising his eyebrows, "How would I not know?"

Matsura cursed inwardly, "You're pretending to be clueless," but he didn't dare say it out loud, only managing a dry laugh.

Wang Meng set down his teacup and said leisurely, "Anyway, in our Wang Family's business we value first‑come, first‑served and integrity as the foundation. Lord Matsura is our first friend, so we still have to give him this face."

Upon hearing this, Matsura's eyes lit up. He knew the crux was coming.

"But," Wang Meng continued, "the Arima family is always jumping around, also quite annoying.

Moreover, I've heard that the Arima territory apparently contains a small silver mountain? Our prospecting bureau is very interested in the stones there."

Matsura's heart leapt. He realized the Wang Family was about to move against the Arima family.

"What the General means…" he probed.

"My meaning is, when a friend is in trouble, we can't just stand by." Wang Meng patted Matsura's shoulder with a kind smile, "Your enemy is our Wang Family's enemy.

"How about this: I'll give you another fifty firearms and a thousand rounds of ammunition. Also, the squad that Wang Ergou belongs to can serve as a volunteer force to help you."

"Of course, these things aren't free. We want seventy percent of the silver mined from that silver mountain; the remaining thirty percent goes to you. The Arima family's land and population will also go to you. How does that sound?"

Matsura's breathing instantly grew ragged.

Annexing the Arima family! That was something he never dared dream of. The Arima family's strength far surpassed his previous capabilities, but now, with the Wang Family's backing, it seemed to become effortless.

As for that seventy percent of the silver, he didn't care at all. What he cared about was that land and its people! With those, his Matsura clan could leap to become the most powerful magnate in all of Hizen Province.

"Done!" Matsura's ambition was ignited. He sprang to his feet and bowed deeply to Wang Meng, "Everything as the General arranges!"

"Very good." Wang Meng nodded satisfied, "Lord Matsura, you're a smart fellow."

Though these words were spoken politely, they carried an air of condescension that made Matsura's face flush red then pale.

Such an attitude was always how he treated his lowly subordinates, but in the end he still lowered his head even further.

Half a month later, Matsura launched a war against the Arima family under the pretext that they had stolen his draft oxen.

The course of the war held no suspense.

When Matsura's hundred‑strong, firearms‑equipped, neatly ranked "new army" appeared before the Arima stronghold,

the Arima family's "retainers" still wore their ludicrous big armor, brandishing samurai swords and shouting for a "one‑on‑one duel" (single combat).

Their answer was Wang Ergou's coarse roar.

"Fire!"

"Bang bang bang!"

A volley of gunfire rang out; the dozens of Arima warriors at the front were instantly turned into sieves, screaming as they collapsed to the ground.

The Arima troops collapsed instantly; having heard of the firepower's might, they bawled for father and mother and fled back into the stronghold.

Meanwhile, Matsura's forces, under Wang Ergou's command, closely followed, carrying out a one‑sided massacre.

In the end, the Arima family's head committed seppuku inside the stronghold.

Matsura took over all of the Arima family's land and wealth without shedding a drop of blood.