Chapter 197

Establishing Prosperity 4th year, autumn.

Yangzhou Wang Family fort, continuous drizzle for several days finally ceased. Sunshine pierced the clouds, giving the freshly cleaned blue stone slab road a thin gilded layer.

In the bedroom of Wang Family Head of Family Wang Zhen, there was not a hint of autumn's crispness; only a thick medicinal smell that could not be dispelled, and the heavy twilight aura of life nearing its end.

Wang Zhen lay on the bed, once that deep-eyed, steady-demeanored Wang Family helmsperson, now only a bundle of thin bones remained. His eye sockets sunk deep, his skin like a yellowed old paper, tightly clinging to his cheekbones.

Wang Hao held a bowl of ginseng soup, sat at the bedside, and carefully fed the broth to the old man's lips with a silver spoon.

Wang Zhen Shou with difficulty swallowed two sips, then weakly shook his head.

"No need." His voice extremely weak, "My own body, I know it best."

His cloudy gaze turned toward the boy standing at the foot of the bed.

Wang Che.

These past years, Wang Che's height had increased greatly, shedding the childishness of youth, his facial contours becoming sharp and defined. He wore a plain cyan long robe, standing ramrod straight.

He merely gazed silently, gazing at the family helmsperson who had given him boundless trust and support, the flame of life flickering out bit by bit.

"Che'er." Wang Zhen waved at him.

Wang Che stepped forward quickly, knelt beside the bed, and grasped the old man's icy, thin hand.

"Head of Family."

"Still call me Head of Family?" Wang Zhen Shou's face squeezed out a faint smile, that smile tugging at the wrinkles on his face like cracks in a dried riverbed. "Those things I saw in my dream, you have seen them too. Where do you think the future of the Wang Family lies?"

Wang Che hesitated not at all; his voice was not loud but extraordinarily firm: "On the path of investigating things you, Head of Family, have opened. In steam, steel, and beyond the oceans."

"Well said." Wang Zhen Shou nodded in approval, took a few breaths, and turned his gaze to Wang Hao.

"Hao'er, what about you? In the northern court you witnessed Guo Rong's heroic talent and also saw Zhao Kuangyin's methods. Where do you think the Wang Family's future lies?"

Wang Hao set down the ginseng soup, his expression solemn: "On the strategy of endurance you, Head of Family, have devised. In not contending with imperial power, accumulating strength, awaiting the opportune moment."

"One looks outward, one inward. One advocates advance, one advocates stability." Wang Zhen Shou laughed; this time his laughter carried a hint of relief and ease.

He laboriously lifted his hand, placing Wang Che's and Wang Hao's hands together, one atop the other.

"After I die, Wang Che shall succeed to the position of Head of Family of the Wang Family."

As these words left his mouth, even though Wang Hao had been mentally prepared, his heart jolted. Wang Che's body shuddered violently; he lifted his head, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Head of Family! I… I am merely a cadet branch, and moreover young, how could I…"

"Silence!" Wang Zhen Shou's voice suddenly grew stern: "What the Wang Family needs is not a conservative ruler who follows rules, but a heroic lord who can expand territory! In terms of bloodline and clan law, Hao'er is more qualified than you. But in terms of talent and understanding of the investigation of things, no one in the entire Wang Family can surpass you!"

"The Wang Family's future lies in the ocean, in the steel torrent! Not in the Confucian way, not upon that cold dragon throne! You must understand this principle!"

Having spoken those words in haste and urgency, Wang Zhen Shou began to cough violently, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Head of Family!" Wang Hao hurriedly patted his back to ease his breathing.

Wang Zhen waved his hand, indicating he was fine. He looked at Wang Hao, his eyes full of entrustment.

"Hao'er, you are steady-natured, possess a broad perspective, have trained in the court, understand the machinations of people's hearts. Che'er has heavenly talent, yet loses out through purity, not grasping the treachery of human sentiments."

"From today onward, you will assist from the side. Wang Che will oversee the investigation of things, you will manage affairs. The rudder of this great ship of the Wang Family shall be held by him, while you are the sail that escorts it. The two of you are indispensable."

Wang Hao looked at the old man before him who had devoted his life to the family, saw that last expectation in his eyes, and nodded heavily.

"Hao, obey the Head of Family's order."

He then looked toward Wang Che, his gaze calm and powerful: "Head of Family."

Wang Che's lips moved a few times; ultimately, all his panic, unease, and agitation condensed into two words.

He bowed deeply before Wang Zhen and also before Wang Hao.

"Wang Che, receive the command."

Having received this promise, Wang Zhen Shou seemed to set down the last great stone in his heart; his entire spirit relaxed.

"Good… good…"

He murmured to himself, gazing out the window at the sky dyed red by the sunset, his eyes gradually losing focus.

"I seem to… see that dream again. The iron control armor's colossal vessel, sailing upon the sea, its prow… bearing our Wang Family's flag…"

His voice grew ever lower, finally sinking into silence.

The hand holding his also lost its final warmth.

The Wang Family's generation's helmsperson, Wang Zhen, finally passed away.

Wang Hao silently watched, then slowly rose to his feet and helped Wang Che up from the ground.

"May you find peace." His voice was very calm.

Wang Che's eye sockets were red, but he did not cry. He simply turned his hand and tightly gripped Wang Hao's arm, as if to draw strength from it.

"Uncle Hao, I…"

"From now on, you are the Head of Family." Wang Hao interrupted him, "Grief solves nothing. The Wang Family needs you."

Wang Hao walked to the door and pulled it open.

Outside, dozens of the Wang Family's core elders and stewards had long been waiting there silently. Their expressions were solemn, not a sound.

Seeing Wang Hao emerge, everyone's gaze focused on him.

Wang Hao said nothing, merely stepped aside to make way.

Wang Che stepped out from behind him, step by step.

He walked toward everyone's gaze to the center of the courtyard; the lingering glow of the sunset stretched his youthful silhouette long and long.

He took from his bosom that seal of the Head of Family just handed to him by Wang Hao personally, still retaining the old man's warmth. It was a seal carved from a single piece of ink jade, cold and heavy to the touch.

He raised it high.

"The Head of Family has departed."

His voice carried the youth's inexperience, as well as grief for the Head of Family's passing.

"From this moment on, the family enters the Era Name Transition inheritance period. All departments shall act according to the established plan, without error."

"Transmit to the Science Academy: all projects must not cease."

"Transmit to Zhenbei City, report the bad news to Governor Wang Meng."

"Transmit the order…"

Orders after orders were clearly issued from his mouth.

In the courtyard, all the clan elders and stewards, after a brief silence, knelt on one knee and clasped their hands in unison.

"Obey the Head of Family's command!"

The voices, uniform and synchronized, echoed over the fortress.

Wang Hao stood in the corridor, watching the youth issuing commands under the setting sun, his heart filled with unending sorrow, as the Wang Family's age of oceanic voyages was about to officially begin.

At that moment, a swift horse galloped down the northern post road, its rider a dust‑covered messenger whose expression was frantic.

In his arms he carried an urgent sealed letter from Zhenbei City in Japan.