Chapter 147: Population Is Wealth

Wang Zhen's decision regarding the 'Reproduction Plan' was forcibly passed in the council hall, but the fallout it caused has far from subsided.

That evening, several highly respected elders of the Wang family came together to Wang Zhen's study.

Leading them was precisely the fifth elder who had first spoken out against it that day, Wang Han. He was Wang Po's cousin and Wang Zhen's uncle, held in extremely high esteem in the family; he thought the plan was fine, but also felt it was too blunt to be so overt.

"Zhen'er, tell your granduncle the truth: that 'Reproduction Plan' you pushed today—are you… just acting on a sudden impulse?" Wang Han dismissed the attendants and got straight to the point.

Having been deeply educated in Confucian teachings, he still couldn't believe that his steady, well-behaved nephew, whom he had watched grow up, would do something so contrary to propriety and the Dao.

"Uncle, do you think I'm acting on impulse?" Wang Zhen personally brewed tea for the elders and replied calmly.

Wang Zonghan looked at his calm, water-like eyes and felt a jolt in his heart. He knew this child was serious.

"Zhen'er!" Wang Zonghan said with anguish, "Our Wang family, though founded by martial merit, also passes down literature and learning! What your father valued most were the two words 'benevolence and righteousness'! Internally, we established the Hall of Honorable Nurturing to treat meritorious officials kindly; externally, we marched north to resist the Khitan and defend our home and country. That's why talented people from all over are devoted to us, and that's how our Wang family has achieved today's prosperity!"

"But now you want to carry out such beastly conduct in Japan! It would make a nation lose all morality, reducing everyone to the level of beasts. This… this runs completely contrary to the words 'benevolence and righteousness'!"

"If this gets out, how will the world view our Wang family? They'll say we are a pack of tigers and wolves who will stop at nothing for profit! By then, popular support will scatter, and our forces will be hard to lead!"

The elder's words were heartfelt and sincere. The other elders nearby all nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Head of Family, Fifth Lord makes sense!"

"Our Wang family has stood in this region for a hundred years relying on the reputation of 'integrity' and 'benevolence and righteousness'; many friends come because of those two words—it's not easy!"

"For the sake of a mere Japan, to exterminate their people and erase their lineage—if this gets out, how will others see us? They'll say we stop at nothing for profit, ruining our Wang family's hundred-year reputation; that's truly a loss outweighing any gain!"

The elders, taking turns speaking, all urged Wang Zhen to reconsider, every sentence tied to the family's reputation and past dignity.

Wang Zhen sat quietly in the chief seat, fingertips lightly resting on the edge of the table, not interrupting anyone's words.

His calm gaze swept over each anxious face, as if he were listening earnestly to every piece of advice, yet also pondering something, until the hall's noise gradually faded and everyone turned to him, awaiting his decision.

Only then did Wang Zhen slowly lift the celadon tea cup before him, pinching the rim with his fingertips, gently blowing away the hot steam; a white mist rose, blurring the expression in his eyes.

After a moment, he set down the teacup and spoke calmly: "Uncles, elders, what you say makes sense; the family's reputation truly matters, and our century-old foundation cannot tolerate the slightest flaw."

When he said that, many in the hall relaxed, thinking he had taken the advice. But before everyone could recover, Wang Zhen shifted his tone, scanned the room, and asked word by word: "But have you ever considered a question—our so-called benevolence and righteousness, toward whom are they directed?"

Everyone stared, bewildered—does benevolence and righteousness need to be directed at specific people? Isn't it supposed to be for everyone?

"We show benevolence and righteousness to the people of South of the River because they are our subjects, the foundation of our power. By treating them well, they willingly farm for us, work for us, and go to battle for us."

"We marched north to resist the Khitan and defend our home and country. Whose home are we protecting? Whose country are we defending? It is the Han household's country! We funded and armed ourselves, drove out the Khitan, and all Han people under heaven remember our kindness. Our Wang family's goods can flow freely in the north because of that—and behind it, too, lies profit."

"Our benevolence and righteousness have never appeared out of thin air. They have a scope, they have targets! We speak of benevolence and righteousness only toward our kin, our subjects, and those who can bring us benefit!"

Wang Zhen's voice suddenly rose: "And what about the Wokou? What are they?"

He didn't wait for their reaction, but slammed his palm heavily on the table, each word ringing: "Are they our kin? No! We have Zhongyuan blood flowing in us, while they dwell in distant overseas islands, their language and customs worlds apart—how could they be considered kin?"

"Are they our subjects? Not yet!" He leaned forward, his tone edged with coldness, "Right now they are merely fish on a chopping block, a people we have yet to subdue, lacking even the qualification to submit to us—how can they be called subjects?"

Having said that, Wang Zhen paused, took a breath, and continued firmly: "Then what are they? I tell you, they are our enemies! They are our prey! More than that, they are the first overseas territory our Wang family can personally seize and colonize!"

"Toward enemies, toward prey, toward a land waiting for us to conquer, you talk to me about benevolence and righteousness? About morality? Do we have to wait until they bite us back before we realize to discard those unrealistic notions?"

Wang Zhen couldn't help but let out a cold laugh at this point: "You elders always insist on upholding benevolence and righteousness, but in chaotic times, showing benevolence and righteousness to the enemy is nothing but cruelty toward our own people."

"If one day the Wokou come brandishing knives to our very doorstep, would we still have to tell them we ought to live in harmony?" As he spoke, his cold smile deepened, "By then, forget our hundred‑year reputation—even the foundation of our Wang family could be drained dry by these notions of benevolence and righteousness."

"We are merchants, warlords, pioneers! Not monks lecturing from altars, nor bodhisattvas saving all beings!"

His words left several elders red‑eared and speechless.

They realized they could not refute him at all, because what Wang Zhen said were facts.

Wang Zhen exhaled, his tone easing a little.

"Granduncles, I know you're worried about the family's reputation. I've considered that as well."

He rose, walked to the window of the study, and pointed to the brightly lit fortress outside.

"Why should we expend so much effort to cultivate a good reputation? Is it merely so others will praise us as good people?"

"No!"

"It is to attract more talent to seek refuge with us! It is to make our rule more secure!"

"Reputation is merely a tool we use to achieve profit—not a shackle that binds our hands and feet!"

"As long as we continue benevolent governance at home, and as long as the people of South of the River remain safe and prosperous, our reputation for benevolence and righteousness will not fall. As for what we do overseas to those foreign peoples… who would care?"

"History is written by the victors. As long as our Wang family keeps winning, our actions will be interpreted by later generations as 'wise' and 'great'."

Wang Zhen turned, looking at the elders already somewhat shaken by his words, and threw out the final, most critical point.

"Let's retreat ten thousand steps: even if we didn't use this 'Reproduction Plan' and instead governed Japan in the most benevolent and righteous way possible, what would the outcome be?"

"We would end up with a Japan whose population is sparse yet still retains its complete culture and ethnic identity. They would mouth gratitude toward us, but deep down they would forever remember how we slaughtered their ancestors and seized their land."

"Given any chance, they would rebel! They would be like a wolf that can never be tamed, constantly thinking of biting us from behind."

"To suppress their rebellion, we would have to pour in massive manpower, material resources, and funds. That would be a bottomless pit!"

"The 'Reproduction Plan,' though, admittedly sounds… not very respectable." Wang Zhen weighed his words.

"But it can solve this problem at its root."

"A people where fathers don't know their sons and sons don't know their fathers—would they still have a sense of ethnic identity? A people who grow up eating Wang family grain, looking up to Wang family banners, speaking our Han language, learning our culture—would they still consider themselves Japanese?"

"No!"

"In just two or three generations, they will become, inside and out, our Wang family's most loyal subjects! They will willingly mine for us, fight for us, and even pioneer even more distant lands!"

"They will feel proud to possibly carry the blood of some Wang family sailor in their veins! They will revere the surname Wang as a deity!"

"Only then will what we gain truly be a new Japan that belongs to our Wang family in the fullest sense!"

Having finished speaking, Wang Zhen left the study sunk in a long silence.

Finally, Wang Han let out a long sigh, rose to his feet, and bowed deeply to Wang Zhen.

"Head of Family… I, old as I am, understand."

His voice carried a hint of weariness and relief.

Let's handle this matter according to the Head of Family's wishes. I only hope... that in the histories of later ages, they will not curse our Wang Family as demons who cut off descendants and exterminate the line.

Wang Zhen gazed at his uncle, whose back had aged greatly in that instant, feeling not the slightest ripple in his heart.

A history book?

He is this era's greatest historian.

He will write however he wishes.