Chapter 17: Foundations of the Clan: Establishing Rules and Acquiring Property

After the "Sandbox Policy Discussion" at Chongwen Pavilion, Wang Jin's position in the Eastern Palace underwent a complete transformation.

Crown Prince Li Chongjun almost made him his top confidant. Besides consulting a few senior ministers like Li Jiao on studies each day, he spent the rest of his time constantly bringing Wang Jin by his side, asking him for advice at all times.

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) perfectly played the role of a "virtuous minister".

On one hand, he continued to advise the crown prince to "conceal his talent," restrain his sharpness, and show filial piety before Emperor Li Xian.

On the other hand, he used the modern internet knowledge he had searched for, which was ahead of its time, to explain many novel things to the crown prince.

For example, he took later generations' Go patterns and layout theories, made slight modifications, and taught them to Li Chongjun. Li Chongjun was naturally intelligent, learned quickly, and his Go skill surged. Not long after, in a game against the emperor, he defeated Li Xian so badly that the emperor lost his helmet and armor, his face lit up with joy, and he directly praised the crown prince, saying he had made great progress in military strategy and tactics.

Another example, he wrapped simple geometry and physics principles into the study of "investigating things to extend knowledge," and explained levers, pulleys, hydraulics, etc., to the crown prince. Li Chongjun listened with great interest, even personally making some small models and presenting them like treasures to Li Xian. Although Li Xian didn't understand the principles, he also found them novel and fun, and his affection for this son grew a bit more.

These seemingly "non-essential" things subtly brought the crown prince and emperor closer in their father‑son relationship, with an effect far better than merely reading the classics.

Li Chongjun's trust and reliance on Wang Jin grew ever stronger.

Wang Jin's days had become stable, so Wang Xiu let him play freely.

Wang Xiu, meanwhile, devoted more energy to another, more important matter—laying an unshakable foundation for the Wang clan.

He now had money, status, and time. This was the perfect moment to begin the clan's original accumulation.

That day, Wang Xiu, controlling Wang Jin, had him return home from his shift. As soon as he entered the door, he saw his wife, Lady Li, directing several new servants to store the emperor's gifts of Shu brocade, gold, and silver, sorting them into the treasury.

Seeing her husband return, Lady Li hurried forward, her face flushed with happiness.

"My lord has returned. Quickly look, I have tidied up the house."

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) looked at the newly renewed residence, nodded, but his concern lay elsewhere.

"Lady, how did the inquiries you were tasked with these days turn out?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Li's expression turned serious; she invited her husband into the study and dismissed the attendants.

"My lord, I have ascertained everything." She took out a list from her sleeve and handed it over.

"Following your instructions, I had people inquire about all the estates and land for sale around Luoyang City. This is the best batch; please review it."

Wang Xiu took the list and examined it carefully.

This was the first development strategy he had set for the clan: to stockpile grain widely.

In any feudal era, land is the most core, most value‑preserving asset. Nothing provides a family with more stable security than millions of acres of fertile fields.

He intended to use this startup capital at his disposal to buy as much land as possible, especially irrigated fields near water sources with fertile soil.

The information on the list was very detailed—location, acreage, asking price, even the previous owners' circumstances—all clearly written.

Wang Xiu's gaze finally settled on an estate located in the southern suburbs of Luoyang.

"Yishui Manor covers three hundred mu, with two hundred mu of paddy fields and one hundred mu of dry land, and comes with a small waterwheel that can divert the Yishui River for irrigation. Its former owner was a distant relative of the Zhang brothers; implicated in a crime, his property was confiscated and is now being sold by the government for a price of three hundred taels of gold."

Three hundred mu of land, plus irrigation facilities, for only three hundred taels of gold.

This price is practically a giveaway!

Know that in the prosperous Tang era, the price of one mu of top‑grade paddy field was usually around ten strings of cash, i. e., ten taels of silver, equivalent to one tael of gold. Three hundred mu of land would thus cost at least three hundred taels of gold at market price. Moreover, this manor also includes houses, farm tools, and the waterwheel, making its value far greater.

This is obviously a fire‑sale price the government set because it was eager to unload the property.

"This is the one." Wang Xiu pointed at the manor without hesitation. "Lady, take the gold tomorrow to Jingzhao Prefecture and buy this estate. Remember, pay in full up front—no dilly‑dallying."

"Three hundred taels of gold?" Lady Li jumped. "My lord, we only received a hundred taels of gold as an award; the rest are gifts from the Prince of Liaoyang and others, totaling less than two hundred taels. This… would we be spending it all at once?"

To Lady Li, holding onto the gold felt safest; exchanging it for land left her uneasy.

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) patiently explained: "Lady, gold kept in the treasury does not breed more gold. But land yields grain each year. Grain is the lifeblood of our family. With land and grain, even if we someday face natural disasters or human calamities, the Wang clan will still have a foothold."

Hearing her husband say that, Lady Li still felt a pang of reluctance, but she also thought it made sense.

"Very well, I will follow your lead, my lord."

With the land purchase settled, Wang Xiu took out another sheet of paper.

The paper was densely filled with writing.

"These are the family rules I drafted; have a look first." Wang Jin handed the paper to his wife.

Lady Li took it and saw the following written:

"Wang Clan Family Rule, Article 1: All clan descendants, whether of the main line or cadet branches, must begin elementary study at age five and take up martial training at age ten. Those incapable of governing the state through literature or defending the nation through arms may not manage the clan's property."

"Article 2: Clan property must be clearly divided between public and private. Seventy percent of the income from clan fields and assets goes to the public fund, used for clan development, rituals, and relief; thirty percent goes to private accounts, distributed according to each branch's contribution."

"Article 3: Gambling, visiting prostitutes, and associating with bandits are strictly forbidden among clan members. Offenders receive light punishment such as flogging, or severe punishment such as expulsion from the clan and confiscation of all property."

"Article 4: Establish a 'Righteous Learning Hall' where any Wang clan member, male or female, may study free of charge. Children of other‑surname servants who excel in both conduct and learning may also enroll, with the clan providing support."

"Article 5: Establish a 'Charity Hall' to support the clan's widows and orphans and relieve needy clan members. If a clan member dies or is disabled in the line of duty, the Charity Hall shall provide lifelong support for their family."

……

Reading clause after clause, Lady Li's mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg.

She had never imagined that managing a household could involve so many intricacies.

These family rules cover education, property, morality, welfare, and every other aspect—indeed, they are even more thorough than the court's statutes!

Especially Articles 4 and 5, which actually spend money to support outsiders, even servants' children, seemed utterly unfathomable to her at the time.

"My lord… why is this so?"

In Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) eyes flashed a deep light.

"Lady, a clan that wishes to endure forever relies not on any one person's brilliance and martial prowess, but on a constant supply of talent and an unbreakable cohesion."

"We have our descendants study and practice martial arts to cultivate talent; we establish the Righteous Learning Hall and Charity Hall to win over people's hearts."

"Consider this: a servant whose child receives our Wang clan's aid to go to school and learn literacy—when he grows up, will he be grateful to the Wang clan, or will he betray it?"

"A guard who risks his life for the clan knows that even if he dies, his wife and children will have food and clothing. In the face of danger, will he charge forward or retreat?"

"People's hearts are the strongest wall; rules are the sharpest weapon."

"What I have established today is not merely a few family rules; it is the fundamental foundation whereby our Wang clan will stand firm and survive for a thousand years to come."

Wang Xiu's words rang out like a bronze bell; each character left a deep imprint on Lady Li's heart.

She looked at her husband, her eyes filled with unprecedented admiration and awe.

She felt that her husband seemed to have been transformed overnight; his gaze was no longer confined to a small family, but turned toward a distant future she could not imagine.

"I... understand." Li solemnly put away the family rules, as if holding a priceless treasure.

"From today on, I will strictly enforce these family rules; if anyone violates them, please punish them, husband."

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) nodded in relief.

He knew that a powerful clan needed a wise matriarch, and his great-grandmother clearly possessed that quality.

Just then, the steward's urgent report came from outside the door.

"Sir! Someone has come from the palace! They say... they say it's an urgent eight-hundred-li military report from Yaozhou!"

Wang Xiu's heart jumped.

Calculating the time, what was bound to come has finally come!