Out of respect for the old master, most of them might agree to it on the surface. However, it would be impossible for big uncle to drive this influence with the same level of ease the old master did.
This was the greatest problem in the inheritance of the Wang Clan!
This was also the greatest dilemma of the old master!
Boom!
Just as Wang Chong was contemplating over these matters, the doors of the Four Quarters Embassy abruptly opened. A large group of people excitedly entered the courtyard.
They didn’t squeeze or rush. Rather, they formed a queue naturally and moved orderly toward the Erudite Pavilion. Their faces were flushed, and they chatted with another as they proceeded in. The delight on their faces seemed as though the one celebrating his seventieth birthday wasn’t Wang Chong’s grandfather, but their own kin.
Upon seeing this sight, Wang Chong sighed deeply. His grandfather was probably the only one who was capable to winning their earnest respect.
Stepping down from the fake hill, Wang Chong watched as these people walked into the Erudite Pavilion to offer their blessings to the old master.
Without the old master’s agreement, the Wang Clan members weren’t allowed to approach these students and old acquaintances of the old master casually. This was a taboo. Thus, when these people stood forward to offer their blessings, regardless of whether it was Wang Chong, little uncle, or the others, they would walk around them.
Due to the old master’s rules, none of them brought any presents. They would enter row by row to offer their blessings, and after which, they would leave through the entrance row by row as well.
The entire process was orderly!
After a long period of time, everyone in the group finally managed to offer their blessings.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard turned tense. Everyone gazed expectantly in the direction of the Erudite Pavilion. At this moment, Wang Ru Shuang, Xing Chun Yuan, and Zhao Shu Hua seemed exceptionally nervous.
Wang Chong’s little uncle seemed to be the only one who was unconcerned. Smiling carefreely, he placed his hands behind his neck and leaned against a fake mountain casually.
“Brat, say, do you think that grandfather will call you in?”
Unknowingly, Cousin Wang Zhu Yan has skirted around the bamboo forest over to Wang Chong.
“Heh, Second Sister. Aren’t you worried that big aunt would tug on your ears if she were to find out that you are here?”
Wang Chong chuckled.
“Brat, is your skin itching for a beating?”
Cousin Wang Zhu Yan made use of the bamboo forest to hide from her mother’s sight to sneak here. At this moment, she was waving her fists menacingly at Wang Chong.
Wang Chong knew that big aunt has never liked cousin getting too close with Wang Chong’s family. However, her objection did little to change cousin’s personality.
Given Wang Zhu Yan’s age, it would be difficult for big aunt to keep her in check. Even so, she couldn’t avoid being ‘punished’ by big aunt.
“I really don’t understand why all of you are so obsessed with this matter. My big brother is like that, your big brother as well, and now, even you are the same!”
Wang Zhu Yan gently flicked a bamboo leaf, and it flew into the distance. Slight disdain and dissatisfaction reflected on her face.
Governance and military were male-dominant.
The ‘matter’ in the Erudite Pavilion has nothing to do with granddaughters and daughter-in-laws, and grandfather has never summoned for them either.
It has always been the sons and grandsons who would fight with one another over the matter, and this made her displeased and contemptuous.
Smiling, Wang Chong simply shook his head.
He had to vie for the matter in the ‘Erudite Pavilion’. He had to give it his all and use all means at his disposal for it. However, he wasn’t doing this for his own cause.
Wang Chong had compelling reasons for it!
To realize his dream and accomplish the mission he shouldered, Wang Chong had to gain the recognition of grandfather’s students and old acquaintances so that he could drive them.
However, there was no way Wang Chong could explain this to his cousin.
The members of the Wang Clan spread throughout the perimeter of the Erudite Pavilion waited patiently. Soon, powerful footsteps sounded, and an Imperial Army commander dressed in his battle suit appeared by the door of the Erudite Pavilion.
The Imperial Army commander glanced about before walking toward the crowd.
Unknowingly, everyone’s gazes were attracted onto this Imperial Army commander. At this moment, even Wang Chong subconsciously held his breath.
“Young Master Li, Duke Jiu orders you to enter the conference hall.”
Around eight to nine zhang away from Wang Chong, the Imperial Army commander footsteps came to an abrupt halt. He turned toward Wang Chong’s cousin, Wang Li, and spoke.
“Li-er, hurry over. Your grandfather is calling for you.”
Delighted, big aunt urged her son on.
Wang Chong’s heart sunk. He felt disappointed and empty.
“So I’m not the one…”
For an instant, Wang Chong thought that the Imperial Army commander was looking for him.
Cousin Wang Li swiftly entered the Erudite Pavilion.
It wasn’t his first time entering. Even so, Wang Chong could sense that he was anxious.
Then, the Imperial Army commander went back in as well. However, he soon came out once more, and this time, he headed straight for Wang Chong.
“Chong gongzi, Duke Jiu invites you over!”
The attitude of the Imperial Army commander was extremely polite.
For an instant, the air in the Four Quarters Embassy froze. Xing-shi stared at the fifteen-year-old Wang Chong in astonishment, and her complexion gradually darkened.
There has never been a fifteen-year-old who was summoned into the Erudite Pavilion for this matter. Wang Chong was still a child, and the old master’s action has broken all of her expectations.
“Damn it! The old master is being too biased!”
Within Xing-shi‘s sleeves, her fists were tightly clenched together.
Wang Chong disregarded Xing-shi‘s awful complexion. At this moment, all he knew was joy, and his stopped heart started beating once more.
“It’s finally my turn!”
Wang Chong was thrilled.
While the others were astonished by the old master’s decision, Wang Chong wasn’t surprised at all. For this, he did too many things so as to gain the old master’s acknowledgement.
Regardless of whether it was saving the family from a crisis at the Vast Crane Pavilion, scheming against Yao Guang Yi by the border, the Hyderabad ore plan, or the sword he prepared for the old master’s seventieth birthday…
Wang Chong has done everything to the best of his abilities, and it wasn’t easy for him to come to this step. Perhaps big aunt may think that the old master was being biased toward him, but Wang Chong knew that this wasn’t favoritism. This was something Wang Chong has achieved with his own diligence.
“Mother, I’ll be going in.”
Wang Chong walked over and grabbed her mother’s hands.
“Un.”
Madam Wang fondled Wang Chong’s head delightfully.
“Second Sister, I’ll be going!”
Wang Chong mischievously gestured secretly to the bamboo forest. Regardless of whether she saw it or not, Wang Chong started walking toward the Erudite Pavilion.
There weren’t anyone in the hall, but voices could be heard at the back of the hall. The old master and his subordinates never discussed matters in the hall, and they didn’t allow anyone to eavesdrop either.
Even the Imperial Army members guarding the perimeter weren’t allowed to enter.
“This will be the crucial step to earning the old master’s trust.”
Wang Chong took in a deep breath. Circling around th
e zhang tall ancient flora and bird drapery, Wang Chong stepped into the conference hall.
(3.33m)
The conference hall was packed with people.
Upon entering, Wang Chong immediately saw the old master seated at the top. In his surroundings were several white-haired old men whose every action displayed steadiness, calmness, and imposing authority.
Upon sensing Wang Chong’s entry, those powerful white-haired old men immediately turned their sights over.
Even though Wang Chong was mentally prepared for this, his heart still tightened upon seeing those white-haired old men in the conference hall.
Most of the students and old acquaintances have left, and those who remained were the powerful and influential old subordinates of the old master! Among those came to offer their blessings, they were the ones who possessed the greatest prestige, influence, and rallying ability.
To earn the recognition of those students and old acquaintances of the old master, the opinions of these white-haired old men carried significant weight.
Only after conquering them and earning their recognition could one proceed on to win the favor of the students and old acquaintances of the old master!
This was a test!
Even the old master couldn’t interfere in this matter. He could only nominate the candidates, but he couldn’t meddle in the process. The old master himself also had no idea whether those he nominated would be able to earn the recognition of the old subordinates here.
Chapter 94: Circumstances (1)
“Everyone, this is the third son of my third son, Wang Chong!”
At this moment, the old master seated at the top spoke as he gestured toward Wang Chong, who just entered the room.
“Oh!”
“Chong gongzi!”
“Chong gongzi, come in.”
…
The white-haired old men greeted Wang Chong, but they didn’t pay him much attention. They were only saying so out of respect for the old master. They have seen too many people in this hall already.
Be it Wang Li, Wang Fu, or Wang Bei, they’ve seen them all. This was already the fourth one, and they didn’t think that there was any need to pay much heed to Wang Chong.
“Wang Chong pays respect to the elders!”
Wang Chong respectfully bowed, paying no heed to their attitude.
Those who were seated here along with the old master were his ex-subordinates. These people have weathered the various political changes in the royal court, and followed the old master to support the current emperor to the throne under chaotic times. When they were younger, they had frequented the royal court and held powerful positions… Even though they’ve exceeded their sixties now, their rallying ability and influence were still spectacular.
Every single one of them were either a head of a powerful clan or a hero of a region. Most of them were over their sixties, but age did little to thin their influence.
Given their standing, there was no need for them to behave respectfully to a fifteen-year-old kid. In fact, if not for the old master’s halo, they probably wouldn’t be bothered to waste their breath on pleasantries.
“Sit down. Men, get him a chair!”
The old master ordered.
The men in the conference hall were all veterans. Wang Chong may be the old master’s grandson, but in terms of standing, he was only qualified to sit at the very end. In fact, he was only given a small chair by the corner of the room.
The main reason why old master sent him here was for him to listen to the affairs and gain some experience. This would prove to be useful to him in the future.
After Wang Chang was settled in, the group in the conference hall burst into discussion once more.
Seated by the corner, Wang Chong scanned the room. Other than the old master and his subordinates, Big Uncle Wang Gen was also present, seated beside the old master.
Big uncle was the eldest son of the clan, as well as an authoritative official in the royal court. Regardless of whether he was able to earn the recognition of these old subordinates, there would always be a seat for him beside the old master.
Other than big uncle, Cousin Wang Li was present as well. Initially, when he first arrived at the Four Quarters Embassy, he looked irritated and impatient. But at this moment, he seemed like a completely different person. He listened attentively to the conversation among the old master and his subordinates, and his face betrayed his strong desire to perform on this occasion.
This was different from the impression he gave Wang Chong in the past.
“Cousin Wang Li also intends to win the recognition of these old subordinates!”
A thought flashed through Wang Chong’s head.
Grandfather didn’t have a say in the judgement of these old subordinates; he could only nominate candidates. After all, it was impossible to force someone to ‘respect’ and ‘recognize’ you. These were only useful when it came from the depth of one’s heart.
Cousin Wang Li may have tried his best to perform every single time, but Wang Chong knew that it was impossible for him to win over the old master’s students and old acquaintances no matter how hard he tries.
It wasn’t because he was lacking. Rather, these old subordinates were experienced veterans, and they’ve weathered through many tribulations in their life. No matter what kind of ability one displays, they would only think of it as a ‘petty trick’.
‘Conquering’ them was a nigh impossible task. Otherwise, big uncle, father, uncle, little uncle, big brother, second brother, and cousin wouldn’t have all failed.
At the very most, they’ve only earned the recognition of one or two of these ‘old subordinates’. To date, not a single one of them had been able to win the recognition of all those in this room yet.
Glancing around the conference hall, Wang Chong’s eyes soon fell on the old master. A sliver of sorrow flashed across his eyes.
“The old master won’t survive till the calamity!”
A memory resurfaced in Wang Chong’s mind. Four years later, grandfather would meet his demise. The hidden trauma he sustained in his earlier years, the heavy wound inflicted on him on the battlefield, and the heavy workload he had to shoulder even after his retirement took a toll on his body. Despite already reaching his seventies, he still worked himself to the bones for the emperor, presenting strategies and ploys to him. This caused grandfather to be under great stress at all times.
In a few years’ time, the old master would finally cave in and return to the earth.
But no one in the Wang Clan seemed to have realized this matter, be it big uncle or father.
Grandfather hid his frailty well, to the point that everyone thought of him as an immortal, a being who would never collapse.
But no one could survive for an eternity in this world, and grandfather was no exception.
Thus, grandfather’s fall came as a severe blow. The entire Wang Clan panicked, and even the calm and dependable big uncle was flustered.
Wang Chong would always remember the terrified expression on his face that day.
Wang Chong knew that the Wang Clan didn’t have many opportunities left to inherit grandfather’s mantle. Since he had four years remaining, this meant that they only had four tries left.
Without a core figure to unite everyone, the students and old acquaintances of the old master would disperse swiftly.
In an instant, the influence and standing which the old master has spent his entire life to build up would crumble in an instant. Even if some remained loyal to the Wang Clan, the Wang Clan’s influence would still be a far match from how it was.
The inheritance within prestigious clans has never been easy, and this has always been grandfather’s greatest worry!
“No matter what, I have to find a way to earn the recognition of these old subordinates!”
Seated by the corner, Wang Chong clenched his fists tightly.
In the room, other than the members of the Wang Clan and grandfather’s old subo
rdinates, there was also a group of youngsters. While grandfather was using his birthday as a platform to nominate his successor to his old subordinates, the others were also bringing the youngsters in their clan in for the very same purpose.
The discussions in the conference hall soon touched on the present circumstances of the empire.
“… The Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganate of the northern grasslands have been growing more and more powerful, and there are signs of them merging together. I’ve heard that the Khans of the two tribes are already in negotiations. We should put up our guards against them!”
A powerful-looking white-haired old man who exuded a powerful militaristic aura spoke. Wang Chong recognized him. He was known as ‘Duke of Ye’, and he was an old subordinate of grandfather. He once participated in that treacherous political change in the royal court along with grandfather, and the both of them worked together to support the current emperor to the throne.
Everyone knew that the surname of the Duke of Ye was Ye, but there didn’t seem to be anyone who recalled his name, and none of the younger generation dared to ask about it either. Wang Chong only knew that he was one of grandfather’s most loyal subordinate, and he has a sharp eye in military affairs.
When everyone was still bothered with those internal factional wars within the empire, the old subordinates of grandfather were already setting their sights onto the faraway northern grasslands.
“These days, the world has been peaceful. Following by the Sage Emperor’s imperial edict, we have been doing business with everyone in the world. The Eastern and Western Turks of the north weren’t adept in steel craft, but with the easing of trade, they have bought many steel alloys from our Great Tang. Now, even the tip of their arrows are crafted with steel alloy!”
“Those Eastern and Western Turks already possessed strong cavalries and archers from the very start. If they were to grow stronger after obtaining our metal alloys, that could potentially lead to a disaster for the empire!”
Despite his silver hair and beard, the eyes of Duke of Ye were brimming with spirit unlike those of his age. Upon speaking of the Eastern and Western Turkic Khaganate, worry plagued his face.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 114