Chapter 150

No named entities.

Wakoku, this land once ravaged by war and famine, now presents a strange yet vibrant scene.

Wang Zhen, Wo Country, Population Growth Plan

Most of them had no formal surname; their surnames were their mothers' vague memories of their birthplaces—'Jing Shang', 'Shan Xia', 'Du Bian', 'Lu Bian'.

Lu Bian Yi Tiao, now seven years old, is an ordinary member of this new generation.

He had no concept of the word 'father'. In his world, there was only 'mother'—the woman who gave him food—and the Wang Family, that distant and sacred existence which regularly distributed grain and cloth to his mother.

He was thin like the other children, but sturdy. Having grown up on the Wang Family's shipments of brown rice and dried fish, they possessed more strength than any generation during the war-torn era.

Education Official, Wang Family, Wo People

This academy, built entirely of blue bricks and cement, stood in stark contrast to Wakoku's traditional wooden structures, appearing immensely grand; above its gate hung a huge plaque bearing four vigorous Chinese characters—Zhendong Academy.

"From today on, you are the first batch of students at my Zhendong Academy!" the education officer pointed at the building, his voice filled with excitement and pride, "This is the utmost honor! Here you will study the Wang Family's script and speak the Wang Family's language! In the future, become talents useful to the Wang Family!"

The children looked at the imposing building with a half‑understood gaze, their eyes full of curiosity and a hint of fear.

Wang Meng, Western Regions

He stood before the wide pear‑wood desk, pinching letter after letter from education officers across the land, his fingertips lightly rubbing the rough edges of the hemp paper, his gaze sweeping over the neat regular script on the envelopes, pausing occasionally at key points, his brows furrowing then relaxing.

"Are you all ready?" he asked without looking up, his voice low yet carrying undeniable authority, his eyes still on the letter from a southern village in his hand, which said the local children had all enrolled, though a few still feared speaking Chinese, and the education officer was trying to lure them with children's songs.

Nine Provinces Financial Controller, Wang Family, Thousand Character Classic, Wang Family Law Outline, Education Officials

The education officers had also completed a half‑month of concentrated training to familiarize themselves with the teaching procedure. Moreover, the meal plan for the first batch of students at Zhendong Academy had been arranged: besides brown rice and dried fish, each day they would receive a bowl of millet porridge and a small dish of pickled vegetables, ensuring the children could study in peace.

"Good." Wang Meng nodded.

Wo People, Old Nobility

"My lord, the old nobility have been under covert surveillance, with no unusual movement so far. Only a few elderly ministers privately complain about losing their Wakoku roots, but they hold no military power, and most of their tenant farmers have sent their children to the academy, so they cannot stir up trouble." The attendant paused, then added, "Yesterday, a steward of an old noble household sent someone to ask whether his descendants could also enter the academy, saying he wanted them to learn the Wang Family's ways."

Upon hearing this, Wang Meng's lips finally curled into the faintest arc; he raised his hand, took up the wolf‑hair brush, and lightly dotted a blank sheet of paper, the ink spot blooming into a small stain:

"If they want to learn, let them learn, as long as they are willing to accept the Wang Family's rules and study the Wang Family's script—no matter whose child, all will be treated equally." He paused, his eyes turning sharp, "But if anyone dares to play tricks in the academy, or incites the children to resist the education…"

Before he finished speaking, he slammed the brush down, drawing a straight ink line across the paper with such force it nearly tore the sheet: "Deal with them according to the law—show no mercy."

The attendant hastily replied, "Yes, I understand; I will have the covert agents watch the academy's surroundings closely and never let anyone sabotage your plan."

Wang Meng slowly withdrew the brush, turned his gaze back to the pile of letters, and his fingertips lightly brushed the cover of the topmost envelope, which read "Preparations for Zhendong Academy's First Lesson."

He drew a deep breath, his voice gaining a steady anticipation: "Tomorrow is the day Zhendong Academy opens; go tell all the education officers that in the first lesson, the children must understand that once they enter this academy, they are no longer Wakoku people but subjects of the Wang Family—from script to speech, from rules to mindset, we must teach them bit by bit, change them bit by bit."

He wanted these children, under the Wang Family's will, to be trained by the Wang Family and grow into the shape the Wang Family needs.

"The Breeding Plan," though it solved the population problem, would not be what the Wang Family wants if it produced a herd of beasts that know only how to breed.

What the Wang Family desires is a new generation that can be put to use, that can contribute to the Wang Family, not a bunch of good‑for‑nothing layabouts.

The purpose of building the academy is to forge those "beasts" into the "tools" the Wang Family requires.

The opening ceremony was simple yet solemn, with no elaborate rites, no song and dance.

All the children had their hair cut short and were dressed in uniform blue coarse‑cloth uniforms. They were led into a spacious, bright classroom, each with a small wooden desk and a stool.

Their first lesson was not about learning Wakoku kana, nor about recounting Wakoku myths.

A stern‑looking Han instructor stepped onto the podium and spoke in stiff but clear Wakoku: "From today on, forget what you used to say. What you must learn is the world's most noble and powerful language—Chinese."

These Han people are descendants of the captives originally sent over; because they performed well, the Wang Family also entrusted them with important duties.

He wrote four huge Chinese characters on the blackboard.

"Wang," "Family," "rice," "Iron Control."

"Read after me, Wang—"

No new.

No new.

No new.

The children mimicked the instructor's pronunciation with their tender voices, each strangled by various odd accents. Lu Bian Yi Tiao studied the hardest, because the education officer had told him that those who learned well would receive an extra rice ball at noon.

The instructor pointed to the character "Wang" and said in an unquestionable tone, "This is Wang! The Wang of the Wang Family! The great being that bestows upon you food, clothing, and shelter! You must revere the Wang Family as you would a deity!"

He then pointed to the character "Jia" and said, "This is family! The Wang Family is your home! Your loyalty belongs solely to the Wang Family!"

"Mi" and "Tie" represent the foundation of survival and the source of strength.

In the days that followed, the children began their day‑by‑day study. They learned to speak Chinese and to write Chinese characters. Their teaching materials were specially compiled by the Wang Family Education Bureau.

Pangu, Nüwa

Huaxia

Wang Meng also issued a new decree.

The students in the academy were strictly divided into three grades.

The lowest‑grade "Bing" students may study only the most basic one‑thousand Chinese characters and arithmetic; after graduation they will be assigned to mines, farms, and workshops, becoming the lowest tier of labor.

The middle‑grade "Yi" students may study more complex characters and knowledge, and have the chance to become foremen, stewards, or low‑ranking officers in the military.

Yangzhou, Wang Family Academy, Central Plains

The sole criterion for judging the grades is loyalty to the Wang Family, together with performance in learning Chinese speech and characters.

In order to rise above others, to gain more food and better lodgings, the children began to study frantically and to frantically display their "loyalty" to the Wang Family. They would vie to report classmates who secretly spoke Wakoku, and they would feel immense pride at being able to recognize one more Chinese character.

A new set of values was quietly taking root on this land.

Wang Meng stood by the window, watching the students of the academy inside Zhendong City; outside on the open ground, under the instructor's lead, they sang loudly the song he himself had written, their Chinese halting but earnest:

"The eastern sea is vast, the Wang banner waves. It gave me life and nurtured me, the land of rice and iron. Learn Chinese well, write Chinese well. Devote my life to the Wang Family, to expand the territory and open the frontiers!"

At last, a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face.

Cultural Purification Team

A nation without history and writing is like a person whose spine has been pulled out, able only to be kneaded by others.