Chapter 45

Seeing off Li Bai, the Wang Family's prestige reached its peak.

He did not indulge in the satisfaction brought by this empty fame; instead, he became more low-key and cautious. Deep in Wang Xiu's soul, the string named 'An-Shi Rebellion' remained taut.

He understood better than anyone that the present Kaiyuan golden age was merely the last glow before sunset. Once the beacon fires of the Tianbao years ignited, the entire northern Tang Dynasty would turn into a hell on earth.

By then, vast fortunes and glorious fame would be like sandcastles on the beach, easily swept away by the tumultuous waves of chaos.

He must prepare in advance.

That night, Wang Hui shut himself in the study and summoned the three most important people of the Wang Family at present.

One was over fifty, the old steward who had served the Wang Family since Wang Jin's time, Fu Bo. He managed all internal affairs and estate operations, loyal and steadfast, steady and reliable.

The other was the head manager of the Wang Family's merchant house, Qian Botong. A shrewd and capable middle-aged man, he had originally been an insignificant small merchant on Copper Camel Lane, but Wang Jin noticed his business talent and promoted him; he felt deep gratitude to the Wang Family and remained unswervingly loyal. Under his management, the Wang Family merchant house's business flourished day by day.

The last was the chief instructor of the Wang Family's guard, Zhou Tong. This man was a capable recruit Wang Jin had enlisted from the army in his early years, highly skilled in martial arts, taciturn and reserved, responsible for the security of the entire Wang Family.

These three people could be said to be the three main pillars supporting the Wang Family's mansion.

The study was brightly lit, yet the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

Fu Bo and the two others looked at the stern-faced Head of Family seated in the place of honor, feeling somewhat uneasy in their hearts. They did not know why the Head of Family had summoned them late at night.

"Please be seated." Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) pointed to the chairs below and spoke directly: "Tonight I summoned you three because there is a major matter concerning the Wang Family's fate for the next hundred years that I wish to discuss with you."

"Concerning a hundred years of fate!"

All three felt a jolt in their hearts, their expressions turning extremely solemn.

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) did not directly voice his worries, for 'foreknowing the future' would be too shocking and unconventional. He needed to find a reasonable justification that could convince everyone.

He rose, walked to the huge map of territories, and pointed to Luoyang and Chang'an in the north.

"The foundation of our Wang Family now lies entirely here." He said in a deep voice, "The Yi Shui manor, the shops on Copper Camel Lane, and all our connections are concentrated in the two capitals. Fu Bo, Manager Qian, do you say this is good or bad?"

Fu Bo and Qian Botong exchanged a glance, and Qian Botong spoke first: "Replying to the Head of Family, this is naturally good. The two capitals are the center of the world, most prosperous, with the most timely information. Our enterprises here can reap the greatest profit, and our fame here can make the world know us."

"Manager Qian is correct." Wang Hui nodded, then shifted his tone, his voice turning sharp: "But have you considered that where there is benefit there is also drawback? Precisely because this is the world's center, it is also the center of the storm!"

He extended his finger and pressed heavily on the map.

"Our Wang Family now is rich beyond compare, famed abroad, appearing limitlessly prosperous. But in fact, we have placed all our eggs in one basket. That basket is the imperial court, the emperor's favor!"

"Now the emperor is in his prime, the court is stable, so we can naturally rest easy. But what about the future? In ten years, twenty years, how will the court situation change? No one can say. Once the winds shift, or some natural or man-made calamity occurs, our Wang Family's little foundation will instantly turn to nothing!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the heads of the three, who were still immersed in the joy of the family's prosperity.

They were all people who had weathered storms, and naturally understood the reasoning in Wang Hui's words. The Shenlong coup, the Jinglong coup, the Tanglong coup… In these short twenty years, the bloody winds and rains of the capital still lay vivid before their eyes. Countless once-powerful families vanished overnight.

The Wang Family's present status is due partly to the talent of the founding patriarch Wang Jin, but more so to having stepped correctly each time, i. e., pure luck.

"What the Head of Family said is, it's us old servants… we thought too simply." Fu Bo said with a face full of shame.

"What does the Head of Family mean, then?" Zhou Tong asked concisely.

Wang Hui's (Wang Xiu's) gaze shifted to the southeast corner of the map.

"Disperse risk, open another path."

He pointed to the Yangzhou and Suzhou area and said in a deep voice: "Jiangnan, the land of fish and rice, has been prosperous since ancient times. Moreover, it is far from the political center, with a relaxed populace. My intention is, starting today, we shall begin to gradually shift part of the Family's focus southward to Jiangnan."

"Shifting the focus?" Qian Botong exclaimed in shock, "Head of Family, this is no small matter. Our enterprises in the north are deeply entrenched; moving to unfamiliar Jiangnan would be almost like starting from scratch!"

"I am not saying to abandon the north, but to open a second front." Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) explained, "The northern enterprises must continue, but not expand further; they must be steady. What we must do is, starting now, each year draw three tenths of the merchant house's profits and secretly invest them in Jiangnan."

"We will purchase land in Yangzhou and Suzhou, set up new kiln factories, silk manors, and tea shops. We will use a completely new name, unrelated to the Wang Family Merchant House, to establish our own commercial network there. This network will be the Wang Family's future retreat, the part of our foundation hidden beneath the water!"

This plan was grand and meticulous, causing all three present to feel their hearts startled.

"The Head of Family is doing a 'secret passage through Chen Cang'!"

"The Head of Family's foresight is impressive, old servant admires!" Fu Bo was the first to stand and voice support, "However, this matter is of great importance; who should we send to oversee it? In Jiangnan we have no foundation; if we entrust the wrong person, that yearly thirty percent of profits may well come to nothing."

"This is exactly the problem Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) has been pondering."

He needs someone absolutely loyal, capable, and young enough to shoulder this ten- or even twenty-year undertaking.

Fu Bo is old, Zhou Tong only knows martial arts, Qian Botong must hold down the Luoyang headquarters. Among his subordinates, for a moment he could find no suitable candidate.

The study fell into silence.

Just then, an image of a person suddenly appeared in Wang Hui's (Wang Xiu's) mind.

That young man from a merchant family, well-read in poetry and possessed of insight—Lu Wen, who is deeply in love with his own sister.

Wang Xiu's heart stirred; a bolder, more perfect plan gradually took shape.

He originally only thought to gain a commercial ally for the Wang Family through marriage. But now it seems this ally could perhaps become one of his own, turning into the most important pawn in his layout of Jiangnan.

"The candidate, I already have in mind." Wang Hui's (Wang Xiu's) face showed a hint of a mysterious smile.

He did not directly speak Lu Wen's name, because the timing was not yet ripe.

"This matter must proceed step by step. Manager Qian."

"Here I am."

"Starting next month, you will, in the name of the Wang Family Merchant House, establish a branch in Yangzhou, first sending a few capable assistants to scout the road and get a feel for the market. Remember, keep a low profile, start with what we do best—the glazed ware business."

"Yes, Head of Family."

"Instructor Zhou."

"Here."

"From the guard, select twenty brothers with the best skills and most reliability, have them take off their guard uniforms, pose as caravan guards, and go south together with Manager Qian's people. Their task is not to guard the home, but to familiarize themselves with the southern geography, befriend local martial artists, and draw a detailed map. I need a detailed map of all passes, stations, and strongmen distribution along both water and land routes from Luoyang to Jiangnan."

"Although Zhou Tong did not understand why the Head of Family wanted this, he nevertheless clenched his fists and accepted the order without hesitation: 'Yes, Head of Family!'"

"As for Fu Bo," Wang Hui looked at the old steward, "your task is to help me keep an eye on the youngsters in the clan, select some who are clever, quick-witted, and willing to endure hardship, and send them to the manor's school. Besides the classics, we should add courses in mathematics and natural studies. The Wang Family's future foundation needs more talent."

"Old servant understands!"

"After these arrangements, everything was clear and duties well-defined."

"The three looked at the young Head of Family before them, not yet thirty, and felt a surge of indescribable reverence."

"This depth of foresight, this composure in the face of change, is remarkably similar to that of the former master Wang Jin of years past! No, it even surpasses the old master, thinking farther and deeper!"

The Wang family will only grow more prosperous within three generations; it will not decline.

After the three withdrew, Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) stood alone before the map, remaining silent for a long time.

The ship heading south has already set sail.

Next, it's a matter of how to make Lu Wen's ship willingly sail onto the route I have planned for him.