Chapter 5

"Exactly!"

Su Xuan nodded affirmatively: "Therefore, I am not only preparing to open a medical academy but also want to form a private army, so that when the chaotic times arrive, I can achieve merit and establish a career, and at the same time, ensure our Su family can better survive in the chaotic times."

Su Lie frowned again: "Forming a private army is a major crime, and besides, since we know the Taiping Dao is going to rebel, we can just report this news to the imperial court!"

"With the strength of the Great Han, the mere Taiping Dao probably can't stir up any trouble, right?"

Su Xuan looked at his father speechlessly and asked: "Father, do you really think so?"

His father is a bit naive!

"Is there a problem?"

Su Lie looked puzzled.

"Sigh!"

Huang Shi, who was on the side, sighed, rolled her eyes at her husband, and said impatiently: "When will you ever change this naive habit of yours?"

"The Taiping Dao has been able to grow to over a million people in just a few years without being noticed or feared by the imperial court—is there really no problem here?"

"Is this really something a mere group of mud-legged peasants could do?"

Clearly, Su Xuan's mother, Huang Shi, saw things much more clearly than his father.

"Hiss!"

Su Lie gasped and said with uncertainty: "Could it be that court ministers and clans are involved?"

"More than that!"

Su Xuan couldn't help but roll his eyes: "In my opinion, many clans, powerful families, and eunuchs are likely involved."

"Although their goals are different, for their own interests, they are all pushing or supporting the Taiping Dao to rise up so they can profit from it."

"Father, if you really report the news to the imperial court, the Son of Heaven might not actually receive it."

"The most likely outcome is that it will be secretly suppressed by court officials or eunuchs."

"After that, our family will probably be the ones in trouble."

Being the first bird to stick its head out is not easy.

Ruining someone else's good deed and expecting to end up well?

Naive!

"This... Hiss!!"

Su Lie was dumbfounded, feeling his scalp tingle.

Fortunately, his son and wife were both clear-headed, otherwise...

Sure enough, there was a reason he could only be a county magistrate.

"Then what should we do?"

Su Lie recovered and asked with a furrowed brow.

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Huang Shi looked at Su Lie with amusement and said, "Hasn't Xuan'er already said it? Build up private troops in secret to await the changing times;"

"Once the Taiping Dao rebellion breaks out, the imperial court will inevitably call upon righteous men across the realm to form local militias to assist the court in suppressing the rebellion;"

"When that time comes, it will be the best opportunity for Xuan'er to build his merit and establish his career!"

"However,"

At this point, Huang Shi looked at Su Xuan, her face full of worry as she said, "Swords and spears on the battlefield have no eyes. Are you truly prepared to get involved, Xuan'er?"

"How will you ensure your own safety?"

As a mother, she was, after all, uneasy.

But since a chaotic era was approaching, simple avoidance would be useless. Therefore, Huang Shi did not directly stop him, but instead asked for Su Xuan's specific plans and thoughts.

"Naturally!"

Su Xuan nodded affirmatively: "Haven't I had an epiphany and seen my comprehension greatly increase? Next, I will train troops while practicing martial arts to strengthen my body;"

"With my divine art and my current level of comprehension, one year is enough for me to become a first-rate martial general or even something stronger."

"By then, surviving on the battlefield and even building a career will naturally no longer be a problem."

"Moreover, looking at the current situation of the Great Han, I feel that the chaos of the Great Han will not stop at the Taiping Dao rebellion;"

"Afterward, I fear there will be even greater chaos that will sweep across the world. For the safety of our family, we must further expand our power, especially our military authority."

"To support the cost of raising troops, I also plan to take over and adjust the Chamber of Commerce to further enhance its ability to generate wealth."

If one wants to raise troops, it is impossible without sufficient money and grain to support them.

"Hmm!"

Huang Shi nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this: "It seems that what you said, Xuan'er, is not just a hot-headed idea, but a result of careful consideration. Then, Mother is relieved;"

"Whatever ideas you have, go ahead and do them! Mother will support you with all her might!"

"As for military equipment, Mother will have the Huang clan support you. The family's armory also needs to be expanded; we cannot rely entirely on the Huang clan;"

"Additionally, for the matters of martial arts and troop training, let Mother recommend a talent of great general caliber to you!"

"Otherwise, relying solely on yourself, I fear you won't achieve much in the short term, after all, you have never trained or led troops."

Su Mu was born into the Nanyang Huang clan, the same Huang clan as Huang Huang Chengyan.

The clan possessed some Mohist heritage and had cultivated many craftsmen, long engaged in businesses such as military equipment, carpentry, and ironware.

Producing and providing military equipment was an easy task for them.

"Oh? A talent of great general caliber? Could it be Huang Zhong, Huang Huang Hansheng?"

Su Xuan asked, his eyes brightening.

"Eh?"

Su Mu looked at Su Xuan with some surprise and asked, "You know of him?"

"Yes! I have heard of him!"

Su Xuan nodded: "Rumor has it that Huang Huang Hansheng of Nanyang possesses the courage of ten thousand men and is especially skilled in archery. Since you are recommending him, Mother, does he come from your maternal clan?"

Historical records from his past life did suggest that Huang Zhong and Huang Huang Chengyan were of the same clan and lineage, though there were also claims that they were not.

"Correct!"

Su Mu nodded affirmatively: "Huang Hansheng is indeed of my clan, but his family is a branch line, already beyond the five degrees of mourning! It is just that his martial talent is too good;"

"Over these years, he has received support from the clan for his martial arts practice and for treating his son's serious illness. Since the divine physician Hua Tuo is with us, Xuan'er, you can take my letter and the divine physician Hua Tuo to visit him;"

"Once you cure his son, you will naturally gain his loyalty."

"By then, the matter of training troops can be handed over to him, and you, Xuan'er, can also learn troop training and martial arts from him."

Although Su Xuan already possessed a divine art and had heaven-defying comprehension;

Su Mu felt that it was better to have a teacher for learning martial arts.

She would feel more at ease.

"Your son understands! Thank you for your trouble, Mother."

Su Xuan nodded happily.

He had already been planning to find an opportunity to get to know and recruit Huang Zhong.

It was just that he didn't know where to find him.

Now that his mother had provided the convenience, it would be simple.

"Ahem!"

At this moment, Su Lie, who was to the side, cleared his throat, drawing the attention of both Su Xuan and Su Mu, and then couldn't help but speak up: "You two have already arranged everything? Is there nothing you need my help with?"

He felt he couldn't keep up with the pace of this mother and son, feeling as if he were being excluded.

"Hehe!"

Su Mu found it quite amusing.

Su Xuan, however, replied with a smile: "Naturally there is! For the private troops, manpower can be recruited from the family's tenant farmers, servants, and caravan guards. We can also recruit a batch from the refugees outside, but we must use the name of the county militia as a cover;"

"Of course, this is only if someone notices and asks. If we can avoid exposure, it's best not to!"

"I remember our family has an estate hidden in the mountains west of the city. I will set up the training base there;"

"Externally, we will temporarily use the name of caravan guards."

Su Lie nodded upon hearing this: "I understand! Leave it to me! I will arrange it properly!"

In any case, the Commandant of Dengxian was also his loyal follower.