Chapter 20

The emperor's decree, as if it had grown wings, spread to every corner of Luoyang within a single day.

Translation: "The emperor's decree, like having grown wings, spread to every corner of Luoyang City within a day."

Check: we must not add extra. Keep same meaning.

Hanlin attendant Wang Jin, debating the scholars, proposed a plan for Annan, and was extraordinarily promoted to Secretariat Secretary, receiving the title Envoy for Annan Strategy.

Translation: "Hanlin Academician-in-waiting Wang Jin, debating the scholars, with one plan for Annan, was extraordinarily promoted to Central Secretariat Secretary and granted the title Annan Strategy Envoy."

We need to decide whether to keep the quotation marks around "Annan Strategy Envoy"; we can translate it as Annan Strategy Envoy and omit the quotes, since English doesn't use them.

This news is even more explosive than the Yaozhou rebellion itself!

Translation: "This news is more explosive than the Yaozhou rebellion itself!"

A young man in his early twenties, with no connections, rose from an obscure low‑level arsenal clerk to a blazing new star in the imperial court in less than a month.

Translation: "A young man in his early twenties, with no connections, in less than a month's time, leapt from an obscure low-ranking arsenal clerk to a hot new star on the imperial political scene."

This can no longer be described as merely legendary.

Translation: "This can no longer be described as merely legendary."

This is practically a myth!

Translation: "This is practically a myth!"

For a time, the name Wang Jin became the most talked‑about topic in Luoyang, from nobles and officials down to common peddlers.

Translation: "For a time, the name 'Wang Jin' became the most talked-about topic in Luoyang City, from nobles and aristocrats down to peddlers and laborers."

In the teahouses and taverns, storytellers embellished the debate at Ganlu Hall, spinning it into a dazzling tale of heavenly flowers falling and golden lotuses springing from the earth. Wang Jin was portrayed as a celestial being who knows heaven and earth, leaves no strategy unconsidered, and possesses unmatched eloquence—a 'banished immortal'.

Translation: "In the teahouses and taverns, storytellers embellished the debate at Ganlu Hall, making it vivid and colorful, describing it as heavenly flowers falling and golden lotuses springing from the earth. Wang Jin was portrayed as a 'banished immortal' who knows heaven above and earth below, leaves no strategy unconsidered, and has unmatched eloquence."

In contrast, the Minister of War Zong Chuke and Prince Liang Wu Sansi became the story's foolish, arrogant, envious villains, turned into caricatures in all sorts of disparaging jokes.

Translation: "In contrast, the Minister of War Zhong Chuke and Prince Liang Wu Sansi became the foolish, arrogant, envious-of-talent villains in the story, being woven into various disgraceful skits."

Yongxing Ward, the new residence of the Wang family.

Translation: "Eternal Prosperity Ward, the Wang family's new residence."

Compared to the bustle outside, this place is tranquil.

Translation: "Compared to the clamor outside, this place is tranquil."

Wang Xiu controlled Wang Jin, refusing all congratulatory banquets and visits, shutting himself away in his study.

Translation: "Wang Xiu controlled Wang Jin, refusing all congratulatory banquets and visits, shutting himself away in the study."

He did not let this sudden fame and glory go to his head.

Translation: "He was not dazed by this sudden fame and honor."

On the contrary, he was calmer than ever.

Translation: "On the contrary, he is calmer than ever."

Because he knew well that the tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind.

Translation: "Because he clearly knows that the tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind."

The higher he stands now, the harder he will fall.

Translation: "The higher he stands now, the more miserable his fall will be."

Wu Sansi and Zong Chuke will not let this go; they are surely scheming in some dark corner how to bring about his downfall.

Translation: "Wu Sansi and Zhong Chuke will certainly not let this go; they are surely plotting in some dark corner how to bring about his demise."

He must quickly convert his newly gained fame into real power.

Translation: "He must quickly convert the fame he has gained into real strength."

On the study desk lay a huge map—not of the entire Tang empire, but an exquisitely detailed chart of Luoyang's wards, fields, and waterworks.

Translation: "On the study's desk lay a huge map. It was not a full map of the Tang Dynasty, but an extraordinarily detailed distribution map of Luoyang City's wards, fields, and waterworks in its vicinity."

He obtained it by using his new authority to pull it from the archives of the Zhongshu Province.

Translation: "This he obtained by using his newly acquired authority to retrieve it from the Central Secretariat's archives."

His wife, Lady Li, sat beside him, carefully grinding ink for him.

Translation: "His wife, Lady Li, sat beside him, carefully grinding ink for him."

Gazing at her husband's handsome, focused profile in the lamplight, Lady Li's eyes filled with admiration and devotion; she felt her husband was the most remarkable man in the world.

Translation: "Gazing at her husband's handsome, focused profile under the lamp, Lady Li's eyes filled with fascination and admiration; she felt her husband was the most remarkable man in the world."

"My lord, today many more people have sent congratulatory gifts; the storeroom is almost overflowing," Lady Li said softly, her tone tinged with sweet worry.

Translation: "\"Husband, today many more people have sent congratulatory gifts; the storeroom can barely hold them. \" Lady Li said softly, her voice tinged with sweet worry."

Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) gaze never left the map.

Translation: "Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) gaze did not leave the map."

"We have registered all the gifts. Anything worth more than ten strings of cash will be returned. Tell them we appreciate the sentiment, but state affairs come first—no extravagance," he said calmly.

Translation: "\"All gifts have been registered. Any worth more than ten strings of cash will be returned. Tell them their intentions are accepted, but state affairs come first; extravagance is not allowed. \" He said calmly."

"What? Return them all?" Lady Li said, somewhat reluctant, noting that many of the gifts were valuable treasures.

Translation: "\"What? Return them all? \" Lady Li felt reluctant. Among the gifts were many valuable treasures."

"Yes, return them all," Wang Jin said firmly. "Our Wang family seeks reputation, not profit. Now the whole court watches us; a single misstep could plunge us into an abyss. Integrity is our best shield."

Translation: "\"Yes, return them all. \" Wang Jin's tone left no room for doubt: \"The Wang family seeks reputation, not profit. Now the entire court watches us; a single misstep is an abyss. Integrity is our best safeguard. \""

Lady Li nodded, half‑understanding: "All right, I'll do as you say."

Translation: "Lady Li nodded, half-understanding: \"All right, I'll follow your lead, husband. \""

Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) pen circled several spots on the map.

Translation: "Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) pen circled several places on the map."

"The Yi River estate we bought earlier is not enough—far from enough."

Translation: "\"The Yi River Manor we bought earlier is not enough. Far from enough. \""

"Our Wang family's foundation lies in land, but for the future we cannot rely on land alone."

Translation: "\"The Wang family's foundation lies in the land, but the future cannot rely on land alone. \""

His finger pointed to a place on the map called "Tuoluo Lane".

Translation: "His finger pointed to a place on the map named Bronze Camel Lane."

"This is Luoyang's largest trading market, where merchants from south and north gather. I want you to take all the money we have left and buy several of the best‑located shops here."

Translation: "\"This is Luoyang City's largest trading market, where merchants from south and north gather. I want you to take all the money we have left and buy here several shops with the best locations. \""

"Open… a shop?" Lady Li said, even more puzzled.

Translation: "\"Open... open shops? \" Lady Li was even more puzzled."

"In the Tang dynasty, merchants held low status; in the scholar‑farmer‑artisan‑merchant hierarchy, commerce was the lowest. For an official family to go into trade would invite ridicule."

Translation: "In the Tang Dynasty, merchants held low status; in the scholar-farmer-artisan-merchant hierarchy, merchants were at the bottom. For an official family like ours to engage in trade would be laughed at if it became known."

"Exactly," Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) eyes flashed with the wisdom of a later age.

Translation: "\"Yes. \" Wang Jin's (Wang Xiu's) eyes flashed with the wisdom of a future era."

"Lady, remember: money only breeds more money when it circulates. Land can keep us from starving, but commerce is what will truly make us strong!"

Translation: "\"Lady, remember: money only generates more money when it circulates. Land can keep us from starving, but only commerce can make us truly strong. \""

"I don't want you to engage in petty huckstering; I want you to pursue the highest‑end business."

Translation: "\"I don't want you to engage in the petty trade of peddlers. I want you to handle the highest-end business. \""

He picked up his brush and wrote a few characters on the paper.

Translation: "He picked up his brush and wrote a few characters on the paper."

"Glazeware, spices, Shu brocade, tea."

Translation: "\"Glazed glass, spices, Shu brocade, tea leaves. \""

"These are the most sought‑after luxury goods of the age. We don't want quantity, we want excellence. We will make our shop the epitome of the highest luxury in the divine capital, Luoyang."

Translation: "\"These are the most sought-after luxury goods of the age. We seek not quantity, but excellence. We will make our shop the epitome of the highest luxury in the divine capital, Luoyang. \""

"Furthermore, go to the slave market and buy skilled artisans, especially those who make porcelain and glazeware. We will build our own kiln workshop on the estate. I want to produce the finest porcelain and the clearest glazeware of this era!"

Translation: "\"Furthermore, go to the human-market and buy some highly skilled artisans, especially those who fire porcelain and glazed glass. We will build our own kiln workshop in the manor. I will produce the era's finest porcelain and most transparent glazed glass. \""

Wang Xiu can, through modern‑internet searches, record countless business models and technologies that surpass the age. What he intends to do is a dimensional strike!

Translation: "Wang Xiu can, through modern internet searches, record countless business models and technologies that transcend the era. What he intends to do is a dimensional strike!"

He not only wants the Wang family to become a political clan, but also to turn it into a commercial empire rich enough to rival a nation!

Translation: "He not only wants the Wang family to become a political clan, but also to turn it into a commercial empire rich enough to rival a nation!"

Lady Li has been utterly stunned by her husband's string of grandiose, sky‑rocketing ideas; she feels she is taking part in something that could change the world.

Translation: "Lady Li has been utterly stunned by her husband's string of fantastical ideas; she feels she is participating in an undertaking capable of changing the world."

"But… my lord, where will we get all that money?" Lady Li asked anxiously. Buying land, shops, artisans, and building a kiln—each is a money‑devouring beast.

Translation: "\"But... husband, where will we get so much money? \" Lady Li asked anxiously. Buying land, buying shops, buying artisans, building a kiln—each is a money-devouring beast."

Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) gave a mysterious smile.

Translation: "Wang Jin (Wang Xiu) smiled mysteriously."

"Don't worry about the money."

Translation: "\"As for the money, you need not worry. \""

He opened the game interface, looked at the unused "ten bolts of Shu brocade" under Family Assets, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Translation: "He opened the game interface, gazing at the unused \"Ten Bolts of Shu Brocade\" under Family Assets, the corners of his mouth slightly rising."

The emperor's gift of Shu brocade is top‑tribute quality! In the Tang dynasty, a single bolt of fine Shu brocade was worth ten thousand cash, comparable to gold; ten bolts constitute a huge fortune.

Translation: "The emperor's gift of Shu brocade is top-tier tribute grade! In the Tang Dynasty, a single bolt of fine Shu brocade was worth ten thousand cash, comparable to gold! Ten bolts constitute a huge fortune."

This is his second pot of gold!

Translation: "This is his second pot of gold!"

Just as Wang Xiu was laying out grand plans for his family's future.

Translation: "Just as Wang Xiu was conducting a grand layout for the family's future."

Luoyang, the Liang Prince's mansion.

Translation: "Luoyang City, Prince Liang's Mansion."

Inside the study, the lights were bright, but the atmosphere was chilly as an ice cellar.

Translation: "Inside the study, the lights were bright, but the atmosphere was gloomy as an ice cellar."

Wu Sansi sat in the chief seat, his face so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

Translation: "Wu Sansi sat in the chief seat, his face so dark it seemed water could drip from it."

Before him knelt a man—none other than the Minister of War, Zong Chuke.

Translation: "Before him knelt a man, none other than the Minister of War, Zhong Chuke."

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" Wu Sansi shouted, hurling his teacup to the floor where shards flew everywhere.

Translation: "\"Trash! A bunch of trash! \" Wu Sansi slammed his teacup to the ground, shards flying in all directions."

"How could you let a mere brat, in front of the entire court of civil and military officials, slap our faces left and right! You have made the Wu family lose all face!"

Translation: "\"How could you let a mere brat, in the court before all civil and military officials, slap our faces left and right! The Wu family's face has been completely lost because of you! \""

Zong Chuke knelt on the ground, trembling, unable to even dare to breathe.

Translation: "Zhong Chuke knelt on the ground, his body trembling, not daring to breathe heavily."

My lord, please calm your anger... I am the subordinate... I am incompetent. No one would have thought that that little rascal Wang Jin would be... so cunning.

"Cunning?" Wu Sansi snorted coldly, "That's not cunning, that's ability! Someone who can foresee the Yaozhou rebellion and devise the 'Replace Native Rule with Direct Administration' strategy—you tell me he's merely cunning?"

A flicker of deep apprehension flashed in his eyes.

"This brat must not be allowed to live!"

If we let him develop further, he will gain the Crown Prince's trust and the Emperor's favor; in the future, he will surely become a grave threat to us!

Zong Chuke raised his head, a flash of venomous hatred appearing in his eyes.

"What the Prince says is true! I too wish to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin! But he is currently a favorite before the Emperor and also the Envoy for Pacification and Response of Annan; we… we can't just move against him."

"If we can't act openly, why not do it covertly?"

A flash of sinister killing intent appeared in Wu Sansi's eyes.

"Isn't he supposed to go pacify Yaozhou?"

"Hmph, in the southwest, the mountains are high and the roads far, miasma spreads, bandits run rampant. A scholar who can't even truss a chicken—if something happens to him on the road, isn't that quite normal?"

Zong Chuke's eyes lit up instantly.

"What the Prince means is……"

"Go." Wu Sansi squeezed out a word from between his teeth: "Find a few clean and capable people. Do it neatly, leave no trace."

"Don't let him ever reach Yaozhou!"

Zong Chuke's heart gave a violent jolt, then was instantly overtaken by a huge excitement.

"Yes! I understand, sir!"

He knocked his head heavily on the ground, then withdrew from the study with a ferocious grin.