Chapter 129: Hall of Honor and Nurture

In the blink of an eye, another ten‑plus years have passed.

Japan, Kyushu Island.

With the Wang Family's unconditional support, Songpu Town and his even more ruthless son Songpu Longxin spent a full ten years to finally complete the conquest of the entire Kyushu.

The Ōtomo clan, the Shōni clan, the Shimazu clan… these once‑proud traditional powers of Kyushu were either utterly annihilated or bowed in submission, becoming vassals of the Songpu Family.

The Songpu Family, once an obscure minor clan, has become the strongest force in western Japan, revered as the "Kyushu King."

Of course, everyone knows that behind this "Kyushu King" stands an even more terrifying presence—Zhendong City's Wang Family.

Zhendong City has now grown into a massive metropolis of over one hundred thousand people. It is not only the largest trade hub in all of Japan and East Asia, but also a huge military fortress.

Gold, silver and copper ore flow in continuously, along with vast quantities of grain, timber and cheap labor from across Kyushu, gathered here, loaded onto the Wang Family's massive blessed ships, and shipped thousands of miles to Jiangnan.

What comes back from Jiangnan are even finer goods and more advanced, more lethal weapons.

The Wang Family Academy has also expanded severalfold.

Thousands of Japanese youths receive the purest Wang Family education here. They study mathematics, investigation of things, administration, but the most important subject is "Wang Family Thought."

They are told that the world is vast, and the Wang Family is the sole lighthouse guiding them toward the world and civilization. The Emperor is void, the shogunate is decayed; only loyalty to the Wang Family is the only way to realize their life's worth.

The first batch of outstanding graduates have been assigned across Kyushu to begin taking over the Songpu Family's local administrations.

Among them, the most outstanding were personally received by Wang Meng and bestowed the supreme honor—a Han surname.

A civilian boy named Teng Tian Xiao Silang, who raised a silver mine's output by thirty percent while managing it, was granted the name Tian Wenjing.

A ronin warrior named Ju Cilang, who fought bravely in quelling a rebellion, was granted the name Wang Tianhai.

These people bearing Han surnames have become a brand‑new aristocratic class in Japan. Their loyalty to the Wang Family even surpasses that to their own parents and clans, because everything they have comes from the Wang Family.

Wang Family Thought rule can hardly be called anything but terrifying.

……

Jiangnan, Yangzhou.

The Wang Family Fortress, compared with a decade ago, has expanded another ring. Tall concrete walls stretch outward for several miles, encompassing more fertile fields and villages.

In Wang Po's study, he is reading the latest report Wang Meng sent back from Zhendong City.

His hair has turned completely white. His face is covered with deep wrinkles. The once‑straight back now bends slightly.

Wang Xiu's consciousness, within this aged body, feels a trace of the weight of years.

He has handed most affairs to his son, the current Head of Family—Wang Zhen.

Wang Zhen has not disappointed him.

Although he lacks Wang Po's (Wang Xiu's) time‑spanning foresight, he is steady and meticulous, perfectly inheriting and executing everything Wang Po left behind.

Under his rule, the Wang Family's wealth and power have grown like a rolling snowball, ever larger. The spice trade route to the South Seas is fully opened, and even a Wang Family expedition fleet has bypassed Maliujia, reaching farther west to Tianzhu.

The Wang Family's sphere of influence has already exceeded everyone's imagination of this era.

"Well done," Wang Po said, setting the report down, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his clouded eyes.

Japan's reconstruction plan is proceeding more smoothly than he expected. A brand‑new princely upper‑class society is forming. In one or two more generations, this land will become the Wang Family's most secure overseas domain and source of troops.

He rose, and with the help of his personal guards, walked out of the study.

Afternoon sunlight bathed him warmly. He squinted, watching the people coming and going in the fortress, their faces beaming with happy smiles.

Now, in the final stretch of his life, he wishes to do something for this family, for those who have followed him all their lives.

He thought of Wang Er Gou.

The veteran who helped Songpu Town dominate Kyushu. A few years ago, he was gravely wounded on the battlefield, losing a leg, and Wang Meng sent him back to Yangzhou to retire.

The Wang Family did not shortchange him. They gave him a large sum of money and a big mansion.

But when Wang Po went to see him, he found the once‑unflinching battlefield veteran sitting alone in the courtyard, his gaze hollow.

He never married nor had children. All his relatives died in the wars decades ago.

Now he is a hero and a rich man, yet he is lonelier than before.

Wang Po knows there are many people like Wang Er Gou within the Wang Family.

Those veterans who fought for the Wang Family all their lives, those old stewards who labored for the Wang Family all their lives, those old craftsmen who devoted a lifetime of skill to the Wang Family…

Many among them, for various reasons, have no children and live alone.

When they were young, they treated the clan as their own home. But now, old and immobile, watching others' grandchildren gathered at their knees, enjoying familial bliss, they must feel an indescribable sorrow in their hearts.

The Wang Family gave them a prosperous material life, but could not provide spiritual comfort.

"No, this won't do," Wang Po (Wang Xiu) thought, a sudden strong impulse surging within him.

The Wang Family cannot let its meritorious officials grow old and die in such loneliness.

He turned and said to the guards behind him, "Go, summon the Head of Family and all the clan elders to the Council Hall. Tell them this old man has an urgent matter to discuss with them."

Soon, the Wang Family's core members gathered in the Council Hall.

Wang Zhen, seeing his father summon everyone so solemnly, felt a bit uneasy.

"Father, what major event has occurred?"

Wang Po waved his hand, signaling him to stay calm.

He surveyed the seated crowd, then slowly began, "Today I called you all not to discuss any grand military‑state matters, but to tell you about a small matter."

"What has the Wang Family relied on to reach today?" he asked.

"It relies on the Head of Family's wise leadership!" an elder replied immediately.

"No." Wang Po shook his head. "It doesn't depend on me alone. It depends on the countless brothers and sisters who have shed blood and labored for the Wang Family."

"Today I went to see Wang Er Gou."

Upon hearing the name, many present showed respectful expressions; he had returned from Japan, and many Wang Family members who had never set foot at sea went to him for stories, so everyone knows him and holds him in high esteem.

"He is old and frail. He lives alone in a big mansion, like a tiger locked in a cage. I asked him if he was doing well. He said yes, everything is fine. He has meat to eat every meal, wine to drink every day."

"But I can see the bitterness in his heart."

"Our Wang Family, how many people like him are still there? Those old brothers who followed us, crawling out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, those old fellows who devoted their whole lives to our Wang Family's workshops and fleets—they're old now, can't move, and have no children to support them; what are we to do?"

"We gave them money, we gave them houses. But can money buy liveliness? Can a house drive away loneliness?"

"Wang Po's voice grew more and more agitated."

"Our Wang Family cannot use them only when they are young and strong, then, when they grow old, give them a little money, toss them aside, and let them fend for themselves!"

"\"I've decided! \" Wang Po slammed his hand on the table and stood up."

"\"We will establish a Hall of Honor and Nurture! \""

"\"Hall of Honor and Nurture? \" Everyone was taken aback."

"\"Exactly! Hall of Honor and Nurture! \" Wang Po's voice echoed throughout the council hall."

"\"All elders who have made great contributions to our Wang Family, have no children, and have no one to support them, can move into the Hall of Honor and Nurture! \"

"\"In the Hall of Honor and Nurture, we will build them the finest houses, let them eat the finest meals! We will invite the best doctors to care for their health! We will find the most clever young people to keep them company and dispel their boredom! \"

"\"We want them to live out the final stretch of their lives with dignity and joy! Let them know that the Wang Family has not forgotten them! The Wang Family is their children, their eternal reliance! \"

"\"This money will not come from the clan's public funds! It will come from my own private treasury! \"

When Wang Po finished speaking, the council hall fell into dead silence, and everyone had not yet come to their senses.

Immediately afterward, Wang Zhen looked at her father, her eye sockets reddening.

He stood up, faced Wang Po, and gave a deep bow.

"\"Father, you are right. We have been negligent. \"

"\"This matter cannot be left to you alone to fund! This is something the entire Wang Family should undertake! I propose that, starting today, we allocate half of the clan's annual net profit to the Hall of Honor and Nurture as financial support! \"

"\"I second that! \"

"\"I second that as well! \"

The clan elders present all rose to their feet, showing their support.

They knew that once this Hall of Honor and Nurture was established, its effect on the cohesion of the entire Wang Family would be enormous!

It tells everyone a most simple truth:

"\"You devote your life to the Wang Family, and the Wang Family will provide for your old age and see you to your end. \""

This is more effective at winning people's hearts than any slogan or reward.

Wang Po looked at the excited crowd and smiled with relief.