Chapter 90: with translation of chapter title

Wang Jing did not know how his uncle had managed to make such a shocking judgment.

He only knew that when his uncle spoke those words in a hoarse yet calm voice beside his ear—"The world will fall into great chaos, nine out of ten homes empty, people eating each other"—he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He believed this old man would not joke about such a thing; his heart held only the family.

: none new.

: none.

Wang Jing, Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) (person), Wang Xiu (person). Also Wang Zong is a person.

The entire vast Wang Family, under Wang Zong's order, began to operate with a terrifying efficiency, frenziedly turning into motion.

Wang Family, Head of Family Wang Jing. So Head of Family is a rank.

North, industry generic.

good fields generic, shops generic, restaurant generic, workshop generic.

North's business circle generic.

Everyone wondered if the century-old Wang Family had run into some trouble—had its capital chain broken? Or had it offended some high-ranking official at court and needed to sell off its property and flee?

Countless merchants, like sharks smelling blood, swarmed forward, frenziedly snapping up these "high-quality assets" the Wang Family had thrown onto the market.

They did not realize that what they had bought with real gold and silver was merely a pile of worthless paper that would turn to ash in the flames of war within a few years.

The Wang Family, meanwhile, used this money to begin another, even more frenzied "purchasing spree."

Lu Ke (person), Wang Family Business Empire generic, Lu Wen (person).

Lu Ke (person), the whole country generic.

Heshuo, Jiannan, Huainan, Military Governor.

"General Zhang, we, the Wang Family, will take all three thousand sets of your retired iron armor, even though some are damaged—price, we can negotiate!"

"Commander Li, I hear you still have five thousand composite bows in storage? We'll take them all! And if you can rustle up another five hundred thousand feathered arrows, we'll add thirty percent to the price!"

"Commander Qian, your warhorses are famous across the realm! Name your price—we, the Wang Family, will first reserve five hundred of them!"

Lu Wen (person), Military Governor.

They did not know why the Wang Family was buying so much military equipment, but they didn't care.

In their eyes, turning this scrap iron and copper into hard cash to recruit more soldiers and forge better weapons—why not?

Thus, wagon after wagon of armor, crate after crate of arrows, batch after batch of warhorses, flowed incessantly and secretly along the Wang Family's far‑reaching trade routes to Jiangnan.

And in Jiangnan, another stockpiling effort was quietly underway.

The Wang Family's granaries were originally sufficient to feed tens of thousands for a year.

outside Yangzhou, Yangzhou given, Wang Family.

Jiangnan's rice, wheat, beans, Fujian's edible salt, Shu Region's medicinal materials. So we have Fujian, Shu Region given.

The Wang Family's wealth flowed out like water.

In just half a year, the Wang Family transformed from a business clan rich enough to rival a state into a near‑cashless "war fortress" that possessed enough weaponry and materiel piled high like mountains to equip an entire military garrison.

At the same time, the Wang Family's internal "reform" was being vigorously enforced under an iron fist.

outside Yangzhou, Wang Family Manor. Also training field generic.

three thousand generic, carefully selected generic, strong-bodied generic, refugees generic, veteran soldiers generic, twice the intensity of the Imperial Guards generic.

chief instructor generic, Divine Might Army named unit, nobles generic.

Tang military drill method generic.

formations, assassination, grappling, archery generic.

guards generic.

treatment generic, Imperial Guards given.

Wang Zong had only one demand: he wanted this unit to become a genuine tiger‑and‑wolf army within five years.

Wang Family descendants generic.

Those young masters who spent their days only composing poetry and couplets, unable to lift or carry anything, were all driven onto the drill ground.

Regardless of legitimacy, every day they had to follow the retainers, standing in horse stance and practicing punches and kicks together.

At first, naturally, complaints abounded and misery filled the air.

third branch legitimate grandson generic.

Thereafter, no one dared to voice dissent.

They might still not understand why this was being done, but they all realized that this time the family was dead serious.

Wang Zong (Wang Xiu) would occasionally lean on his cane, supported by Wang Jing, and come to the drill ground to watch his descendants, covered in mud and sweating profusely.

His face would sometimes show pity, but more often it bore a near‑cold, calm composure.

He knew that his present harshness toward them was meant to let them survive the coming chaotic age.

military tactics generic.

Wang Zong (person), family's library pavilion generic, The Art of War, Wuzi's Military Methods, Six Secret Teachings.

He also personally explained to them some classic battle cases.

Ganlu Incident, his father Wang Ce (person), his uncle Wang You (person).

He imparted his lifetime of experience and wisdom to these youngsters without reservation.

He wanted them to understand that in a tumultuous age, mere personal bravery is far from enough.

The Wang Family's frenzied moves naturally attracted outside attention.

Yangzhou Inspector.

But Wang Jing turned them all away with neither softness nor hardness, citing reasons such as "the old father is gravely ill and prefers quiet" and "the family has fallen on hard times, selling off assets to preserve itself."

Wang Family, in the court generic.

Even a local inspector dare not really do anything to the Wang Family.

Moreover, the Wang Family sends him a generous 'festival gift' every year that he cannot refuse.

Gradually, the authorities turned a blind eye.

And those who don't know the truth all think that the once-glorious Wang Family is gradually heading toward decline.

They don't realize that this sleeping giant lion is not declining, but honing its claws and fangs, preparing to meet the impending bloodbath that will sweep the world.

(PS: My ability is average, my level limited; as long as the elders of the land tolerate me, I will not make money by doing evil in the world. The melancholy guest here represents only myself, paying respects to my parents who provide my food and clothing. Thank you all readers for reading, listening, urging updates, commenting, liking……)