New plans

Xiaohua and her little friends had endless things to talk about. Wenlong took the opportunity to check on the progress of the perimeter wall.

He was quite satisfied to see that everything was being built according to his wishes. Once the population here grew, they could expand it further.

Grandpa Zhang had also selected more than twenty boys, all around thirteen years old. He placed them under Wen Tiancheng's command to help guard the settlement.

With these twenty-odd boys, the village protection squad had much less pressure on its shoulders. Everything else could wait until after the New Year. What mattered now was enjoying a peaceful holiday.

Another New Year arrived, and Wenlong turned ten. His thinking was considerably more levelheaded than that of many adults.

In the eyes of his clansmen, he wore many halos, and there was something unfathomably mysterious about him.

This year was much better than the last. The clan had abundant grain, and now even the backbreaking work was left to the slaves.

With their bellies full, the clansmen needed only to practice martial arts, so everyone's fighting strength kept rising by leaps and bounds.

They also had the Composite Bow Wenlong had designed, and their other weapons had undergone substantial improvements. After the New Year, he planned to make the Repeating Crossbow as well.

With a Repeating Crossbow that could fire twenty shots in succession, the Wen clan would be much safer. If he could also produce gunpowder, even an attack by the entire Kai clan would end in crushing defeat.

There was now plenty of grain, as well as meat. The clansmen had long since cured their game.

This Spring Festival, the entire clan brimmed with happiness. Apart from the squad assigned to guard the slaves, everyone celebrated the New Year in their warm little homes.

Wenlong walked around the settlement, his heart filled with satisfaction as he saw everyone's cheerful faces.

Suddenly, a boy hurried over and said breathlessly, "Brother Wen, something's wrong! There seems to be trouble among the slaves!"

Wenlong frowned and immediately followed the boy to the slaves' quarters. When he arrived, he saw several slaves gathered together, their eyes darting about as though they were plotting something.

"What are you trying to do?" Wenlong asked coldly. One slightly bolder slave worked up his courage and said, "We want to enjoy the New Year too. We don't want to be locked up all the time."

After a moment's thought, Wenlong said, "As long as you work hard, I'll consider improving your treatment after the New Year. But if you dare cause trouble, I won't let you off lightly."

The slaves all nodded at his words. Wenlong instructed the village protection squad to tighten their watch over the slaves. Only then did he feel reassured enough to return to the celebrations.

He knew that lasting peace and stability for the clan required not only greater fighting strength, but also proper management of the slaves. Once the New Year celebrations were over, he would have to draw up a thorough plan.

After the New Year, everyone gathered in the meeting hall. Since most of their ideas came from Wenlong, they all paid close attention to his opinions.

This time, Wenlong had written out his plans for everyone to review. Aside from farming, he had put all the other arrangements down on paper.

For the slaves, they would introduce a reward system. Those who performed well would receive extra food, while those who performed poorly would have their food reduced.

Those who refused to mend their ways despite repeated warnings would face severe punishment. Serious offenders would be executed.

The slaves would be divided into teams to build houses and perimeter walls. An indoor martial arts training hall would also be built, so bad weather would no longer interrupt their training.

At the Huaxia Sect, they would build a medical room, a classroom for general education, and a smithy.

They would build kilns for bricks, roof tiles, and lime. The necessary techniques would be provided when the time came.

They would also build a large pool, cut down bamboo, and put it into the water.

There was no paper in this era, and Wenlong planned to produce it. The facilities listed above would supply the materials needed for houses and perimeter walls at the Huaxia Sect and Wen Clan Village.

Besides using the paper themselves, they could sell it in other places, increasing the wealth of both the sect and the clansmen.

The clansmen wholeheartedly approved of these plans. No one raised any objections, so the arrangements were left to the clan chief.

"Dad, when you and my uncles have time, go to the Huaxia Sect and take those boys as disciples. Teach them martial arts. Seventh Uncle's Smithy should take apprentices too," Wenlong told his uncles.

Wenlong then turned to Linzi's mother. "Auntie, how are your medical studies going? From now on, the health of our clansmen and the people of the Huaxia Sect will all depend on you."

"Pretty well. I've finished reading all the medical books you gave me. I've even taught a few clansmen how to identify medicinal herbs," Linzi's mother said with a smile.

"Very good. Teach a few clansmen medicine, and take disciples at the Huaxia Sect too. The Huaxia Sect will have this field of study in the future." Wenlong was pleased as well. She had already begun teaching the clansmen medicine without needing a reminder from him.

Then Wenlong addressed the clansmen again. "Why do I want to establish the Huaxia Sect? Why do I want to teach our skills to others for free? I've never explained that."

Of course, he also knew that many people kept their techniques secret, and some traditions were passed down to sons but never daughters.

"Actually, founding a sect doesn't just give us more strength to protect our clansmen. It also gives our clan a power of its own, one that can keep us flourishing for generations." Wenlong knew it was important to help the clansmen understand his reasoning.

The clansmen began discussing it among themselves. Naturally, some could not understand. Wasn't this simply letting others take advantage of them?

Those people would have to be guided slowly over time. Most, however, would support Wenlong's decisions whether or not they thought his words were right.

After all, it was thanks to his plans that the clansmen now lived such happy lives, with ample food and clothing.

"There's one more thing: that stretch of land on the Huaxia Sect's mountain. Have the slaves clear it too, and let my aunts' relatives come farm it. As long as they're willing to come, we'll give them all the help they need." Wenlong's words delighted all his aunts.

Seeing that this was feasible, Wen Tiancheng immediately arranged for two maternal uncles to spread the word. Carriages would be sent to bring anyone willing to come and settle here.

"Have the slaves clear as much land as they can cultivate. The land will always belong to the Wen clan, and they won't have to pay taxes. Of course, we won't be paying taxes to the imperial court either. That's one advantage of having a sect." Wenlong smiled too.

Having said that, Wenlong took his mother by the hand and left, saying he had something to discuss with her once they got home.

"What else is there? Look at you, being so secretive," his mother said gently.

Only after they reached home did Wenlong say, "Mom, there's something I shouldn't be the one to bring up, but I can't leave it unsaid either."

Long'er's mother was left in a fog. Unable to guess what he meant, she could only urge him to tell her.

"Have you thought about all those young aunts who are widows? You could let my uncles take another wife, or ask my maternal uncles whether they're willing to marry them."

Naturally, Wenlong knew that men in this era could have multiple wives. It all depended on whether they had the means.

Long'er's mother thought it over and found that her son had a point. Another day, she would have to have a proper talk with her widowed sisters.

Seeing his mother remain silent, Wenlong could not tell what she was thinking. "Of course, my maternal uncles aren't getting any younger either. If they marry other women, we'll cover the betrothal gifts too."

"Such a little boy, yet so full of grown-up schemes! Leave these matters alone. I'll handle them," his mother scolded with a smile, tapping his forehead with a finger.

These really were matters Wenlong should not meddle in, being only a ten-year-old boy. Still, he could not help it. He only wanted the Lineage to flourish and grow.