Chapter 72 Determining the Patriarch

Chapter 72: Determining the Patriarch

"Great Uncle, I have managed the family for several decades now. I wish to go into seclusion to focus on advancing my cultivation," Wang Longyou said, his voice tinged with weariness. "Let Yanzhao take over as Patriarch."

Wang Longyou was now over one hundred and forty years old, yet he was only at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. If he continued to be entangled with mundane administrative affairs, he would have no hope of ever forming a Golden Core.

As cultivators, who didn't dream of the Golden Core?

Wang Yanzhao, on the other hand, was not yet sixty. He was in the prime of his life and strength, making him the most suitable candidate.

Wang Guang'an nodded slowly. "Then let Yanzhao succeed as Patriarch. Longyou will go to guard Ruojun Mountain from now on."

The Old Ancestor then turned his gaze to Wang Hao. "You don't want to be Patriarch, but you still need to handle affairs. Choose a position within the family."

Wang Hao didn't want a position at all. However, with Wang Guang'an pushing the issue to this point, refusing would be inappropriate—it would almost look as if he were trying to sever ties with the Wang Family.

"Personally, I am not competent in management matters," Wang Hao said, trying to deflect. "I have no time, and I am not Proficient at it, either. I can only offer some suggestions and guide reforms."

"For example?" Wang Guang'an asked.

"For example, the selection process for family management positions," Wang Hao began. "Whether in sects or families, cultivation strength always determines status. If your cultivation isn't high enough, you can't become an elder, and thus, you can't manage affairs. I believe this is flawed."

He looked around the room. "Many people have high cultivation but are neither Proficient at management nor willing to handle mundane tasks. Conversely, many are Proficient at management but lack sufficient cultivation."

"I think we should change this. Let suitable people do suitable tasks. This way, the family's industries can become increasingly prosperous."

Wang Hao continued, his tone becoming more professional. "Additionally, we can establish corresponding assessment systems. Take the manager of the Wonderful Pill Pavilion as an example. If the shop's profits match the previous year, they are considered qualified and can stay. If profits exceed a certain amount, they are excellent and can be promoted."

"However," Wang Hao added, "if profits are lower than the previous year, we investigate. If it's due to unavoidable disasters—like chaos caused by demon beasts—they get another chance. If it is due to personal incompetence, they should be dismissed."

Since he had started, Wang Hao intended to finish speaking his mind. He didn't want Wang Yanzhao to be bogged down by trivialities in the future.

"Currently, family management tasks are largely concentrated on the Patriarch. This is inefficient. The Patriarch is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and should prioritize cultivation advancement. How can they waste time on trivial matters?"

"I suggest dividing various family affairs into separate Halls, with elders serving as Hall Masters. Minor matters are decided by the Hall Master; only major matters require the Patriarch's presence or a meeting of all elders. Not everything needs a collective discussion."

Wang Hao gestured with his hands. "Using the Wonderful Pill Pavilion again: matters involving business and alchemy—what do elders from other areas know about that? What is the point of having them there? It is just a waste of time."

Everyone nodded repeatedly. Indeed, they often sat through discussions on topics they didn't understand, making participation impossible. Sometimes, their forced suggestions were even counterproductive.

"So how should we categorize them? Explain in detail," Wang Guang'an commanded.

Wang Hao explained, "We can first divide the administration into several major Halls."

He began listing them out clearly:

"The Transmission Hall: Responsible for teaching young disciples cultivation techniques and foundational knowledge."

"The General Affairs Hall: Responsible for daily logistics, distributing allowances, receiving guests, assigning tasks, and managing contribution exchanges."

"The Finance Hall: Responsible for managing family assets, summarizing accounts, and auditing the other halls."

"The Law Enforcement Hall: Responsible for judging family members who break rules. It can be divided into internal and external sub-halls."

"Additionally," Wang Hao continued, "Halls can be established based on specific professions: Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talisman Making, Beast Taming, and Spirit Plant Cultivation. We can also have divisions for Mining, Commerce, and Transportation. Each Hall will have specific duties so that elders aren't wasting time in endless meetings."

"Under each Hall Master, several managers can be appointed. Under the managers, specific family members execute the tasks. Daily affairs are decided by the Hall Master. Major affairs are decided through discussion between the Patriarch and the elders. If disagreements are significant, the Patriarch makes the final decision."

"This way, efficiency increases dramatically."

Wang Hao paused to let the structure sink in before adding the kicker. "Simultaneously, we must establish an assessment system. Take a five-year term: if an elder or manager is deemed unqualified, they must be replaced."

"Halls should also be compared against each other and ranked. The highest-scoring Hall receives collective rewards; the lowest may receive public criticism or have benefits revoked."

"Even within the Halls, there should be competition. For example, in the Spirit Plant Hall: whoever manages fields with higher yields ranks first and receives the highest rewards. Last place gets only the basic allowance."

"Every family member can have points established from birth. To exchange for rare resources like Foundation Establishment Pills, one would need not only contribution points but also a higher personal ranking than others."

Wang Hao smiled internally. It was all about competition—how else could they develop? These corporate systems from his previous life were cliché, but effective. He could apply them directly here.

"But won't family members have objections?" someone asked worriedly.

Wang Hao smiled. "Once this reform is implemented, every family member will have tasks. They will strive to excel. Family income will greatly increase, and the resources distributed to each person will naturally increase, too. Why would there be objections?"

"The more outstanding you are, the higher the benefits you receive. If you get less, you can only blame yourself. If later everyone feels something is wrong, we can make adjustments."

Another elder raised a different opinion. "I don't quite agree. With everyone competing to handle tasks, won't it affect cultivation? After all, cultivation level is fundamental."

"That is even easier to handle," Wang Hao replied smoothly. "We can encourage family members to improve their cultivation. Reward them with Spirit Stones and pills for each layer advanced."

"Of course, there must be time limits. For example, advancing one layer within three years or five years. Different standards can be set based on Spiritual Root quality and cultivation stages. As long as rewards for cultivation advancement are similar to rewards for handling tasks, why wouldn't people cultivate seriously?"

Wang Hao shrugged. "My current cultivation isn't low, right? Besides that, I also practice alchemy, talisman making, and I've managed the Green Bull Market shop for years. With effort, everything is achievable. Failing means you just aren't trying hard enough."

Wang Hao’s words were a thinly veiled boast that left the elders flushing with shame.

Their Spiritual Roots were better than Wang Hao's, and they had received more resources over the years, yet their cultivation achievements were far inferior. Little did they know Wang Hao relied almost entirely on pills. Without his mysterious farm, he would likely still be struggling at the late Qi Refining stage.

"Furthermore, our Wang Family cultivators are still too few," Wang Hao added, pivoting to the next issue. "We can encourage those with hopeless Dao paths to marry and take concubines early. We should reward them with Spirit Stones for each child born with a Spiritual Root, and have the family cover child-rearing expenses."

"This way, within a century, our Wang Family will become a great clan with thousands of cultivators!"

Population was fundamental for any clan or sect. Without sufficient population support, many things couldn't be done. Only with population expansion would talented clansmen appear and stability be achieved—unlike now, where it felt like drawing lottery tickets to produce one dual Spiritual Root every few decades.

Wang Yanfeng stood up. "Won't this significantly increase family expenditures?"

"What is the current family income and expenditure situation?" Wang Hao asked.

Wang Longyou answered, "Since you took over the Green Bull Market shop, family income has increased greatly. In the past few years, capturing Ruojun Mountain and opening many spirit fields also boosted our revenue."

"Currently, the annual total profit is around twenty thousand Spirit Stones," Longyou calculated. "Expenditures include clan member allowances and benefits, which are around ten thousand Spirit Stones. Receiving guests costs two thousand. Purchasing artifacts, talismans, and supplies requires three thousand. Miscellaneous items cost over a thousand."

"We have nearly four thousand Spirit Stones in surplus annually."

The Wang Family's current profits were quite good.

Wang Hao nodded, satisfied. "With these four thousand Spirit Stones, whether we are incentivizing cultivation or encouraging childbirth, the short-term cost isn't a problem, right? More clan members mean stronger power, which naturally allows for expanding territory and gaining more benefits. Isn't that more useful than Spirit Stones sitting in a treasury?"

"Correctly said," Wang Guang'an agreed.

The Old Ancestor thought about the Essence Condensing Fruit tree he had obtained. The Wang Family now had a stable source of Foundation Establishment Pills and no longer needed to deliberately save Spirit Stones to buy them externally.

"This matter is settled!" Wang Guang'an declared. "Regarding the establishment of the Halls, are there any other opinions? Yanzhao, as Patriarch, do you have anything to say?"

Wang Yanzhao shook his head respectfully. "Old Ancestor, Yanzhao has no objections."

Wang Guang'an looked at the others; they all expressed agreement. Wang Hao's plan actually divided the Patriarch's authority, giving the Hall-sitting elders their own spheres of power. Since it benefited them, why would they object?

"Good, then this matter is also settled. So, who should serve as managing elders for each Hall? The divisions of authority and specific reward determinations—let us resolve them one by one."

Wang Guang'an looked at the new Patriarch. "Yanzhao, you are familiar with the family members. You decide the first term of Hall-sitting elders."

He turned to the former manager. "Longyou, you are familiar with the family finances. You decide the reward amounts and specific materials."

Finally, he looked at Wang Hao. "You proposed these suggestions. The specific structure and authority divisions—you decide."

"You three determine the details first," the Old Ancestor concluded. "Then we will discuss any unsuitable points and propose modifications together."