Chapter 213

Wang Che

Wang Che was on a huge sheet of paper, using a specially made charcoal pencil, quickly calculating something. Behind him on the bookshelf, there was not a single Four Books and Five Classics; all were various books and manuscripts on mathematics, investigation of things, and geography.

The study's door was pushed open, and Wang Hao walked in, his face bearing a fatigue and solemnity never before seen.

"Uncle Hao, you've come." Wang Che didn't lift his head, the pen in his hand still not stopping, "Is everything settled at the dock?"

Wang Zhen

Head of Family

Saint

Repentance Camp

"How do you feel?" Wang Hao gave a bitter laugh, "I feel like I've walked a circuit in the netherworld. Che'er, tell me, what exactly are those... things?"

"They are not things, Uncle Hao." Wang Che put down his pen, leaning against the chair back, "They are tools. They are the sharpest and most efficient tools our Wang Family has created so far."

"Tools?" Wang Hao's voice suddenly rose, "They are people! They are monsters whose souls you have sucked out, leaving them knowing only killing and death! Do you know what consequences will follow if this thing gets out of control? You're playing with fire!"

"I'm not playing with fire." Wang Che's expression remained calm, "I am merely choosing the means by which our Wang Family will pay the price to continue onward."

Weapon

Emperor

"Uncle Hao, you've been in the court for long; you should know this better than I. What kind of man is Zhao Kuangyin? Today he may retreat out of fear of our cannons. Tomorrow he may, out of greed for our technology, mobilize the whole nation to encircle and suppress us."

"He is now in Kaifeng, desperately studying and chasing after the toys we gave him. If he catches up to us, or if he feels he has the certainty to perish together with us, what do you think he will do?"

Storm Repeating Crossbow

Wang Che's voice turned low, "We must, in the shortest time, accumulate power that will make him and the whole world feel despair—a power that can crush all conspiracies and schemes, an absolute power."

Wang Family Fort

"It needs steel, it needs coal, it needs countless resources. These must be continuously shipped back from Dongying, from even farther seas. What Wang Heng is doing in Dongying is precisely for this."

"It also requires the most cutting-edge technology. Every experiment and breakthrough at the Science Academy burns through real gold and silver. The steam engine we displayed to the emperor is already outdated junk from five years ago. The core components of the latest No. 4 machine need ten times the strength of the No. 2 machine! To achieve that tenfold increase, our cost is a hundredfold!"

And these 'Repentance Camp' Saints," Wang Che turned his body, his gaze piercing as he looked at Wang Hao, "they exist precisely to bear these costs."

They feel no fear, need no military pay; their loyalty is etched into their souls. With them, we can seize the strategic points that artillery cannot cover with minimal casualties, and accomplish the dirty work we are unwilling and ought not to do.

Using a group of foreign peoples willing to die, to exchange for the lives of our Huaxia compatriots, to exchange for the future development of our Wang family. Uncle Hao, tell me, where is this deal not worthwhile?

Wang Hao was left speechless by Wang Che's series of cold, rational words.

He knew that, from the perspective of benefit and efficiency, what Wang Che did was completely correct.

But in his heart, there was always a hurdle he could not get over.

"But... Che'er, this is not the proper way!" he said, struggling, "When you proposed this plan, I didn't feel anything, but when I saw them, I truly felt fear; that our Wang family's reputation would really be ruined—how would those who look up to our Wang family view us?"

"Reputation?" Wang Che laughed, that smile carrying a hint of disdain and sorrow, "Uncle Hao, have you forgotten what Head of Family Wang Zhen said on his deathbed? The future of the Wang family does not lie in the Confucian way, nor on that cold dragon throne."

When our ironclad warships roam the four seas; when our cannons can protect the entire Huaxia coastline; when our investigation of things learning can let all the people of the world eat their fill and stay warm—who would still care what the first foundation stone beneath our feet is laid with?

History is forever written by the victors. And reputation is the cheapest spoil of victory for the victors.

Just then, the study's door was lightly knocked.

Head of Family, Seventh Great-Uncle requests an audience.

Wang Che and Wang Hao exchanged a glance, both frowning. So late at night, what could this elder, who represents the family's oldest tradition, possibly want?

Let him in.

Seventh Great-Uncle shuffled in, his complexion grim; his gaze upon Wang Che was filled with disappointment and fear.

"I... I heard everything..." he said, trembling lips, "Heretical ways... you... you have truly gone astray..."

He had evidently overheard part of the conversation between uncle and nephew just now, unintentionally.

Head of Family, if the ancestors of the Wang family knew you...

"Seventh Great-Uncle," Wang Che interrupted him, his voice without a ripple, "The times have changed. If the ancestors of the Wang family were alive today, they would either make the same choice as I have, or they would be ground to dust by this era."

This is no longer an age of chaos; in chaos one could overlook the Wang family, but now a situation of great unification is forming, and whatever emperor will eye the Wang family with tiger-like greed.

He walked to the desk, took something from a box, and handed it to Wang Hao.

It was a peculiarly shaped crossbow. Much smaller than an ordinary crossbow, its entire body forged from black refined steel, covered with precise gears and springs.

"What is this?" Wang Hao instinctively took it.

The latest achievement of the Science Academy, the Storm Repeating Crossbow." Wang Che calmly introduced, "It can be loaded with twenty bolts, and all can be fired within three seconds. Effective range is one hundred fifty paces; within that range it can pierce three layers of iron armor.

Wang Hao and Seventh Great-Uncle both sucked in a breath of cold air.

Three seconds, twenty bolts, piercing three layers of iron armor!

This is no longer merely a weapon; at times its effect surpasses that of a firearm!

Wang Che looked at the dumbfounded Wang Hao and slowly said:

To produce such a crossbow, the resources and time required would be enough for us to purify a hundred-man squad of patients in Dongying; you have also seen those living dead, whose usefulness surpasses that of this repeating crossbow!

Uncle Hao, now tell me again.

Is all this worth it?

Wang Hao's hand trembled slightly. He looked at the new weapon in his hand, recalled the hollow gazes in the ship's cabin, sighed, and said nothing more.