Pang Hu was neither a mere opportunist nor a tyrant; outwardly, he was simply an old man well past his sixtieth year, though he possessed a certain air of martial grandeur that set him apart from his peers. Given the lifespan of the people of the Twin Cities Nation, this should have been the time he accepted his fate, yet inexplicably, in recent years, he had grown more vigorous, more spirited, and his family enterprise had expanded exponentially.

To Pang Hu’s mind, this was heavenly favor, a mandate he dared not squander. He must live well to repay the heavens, and the first step to living better was wielding greater power. Through decades of relentless effort, he achieved this. In his capacity as Grand Tutor, he gradually cultivated alliances with numerous ministers. As these officials drew closer, more pragmatic courtiers willingly flocked to his banner. Today, few in the court were not members of his Pang Faction. He stood now as truly second only to the Sovereign, commanding authority second only to the throne. More crucially, Grand Tutor Pang also held the title of State Supervisor of the Military—a post that never existed in the Twin Cities Nation until he strenuously persuaded the Emperor to create it, securing control over the army for himself. With that, the military and political reins of the entire nation fell into his hands. Furthermore, through his widespread adoption of sworn sons, his vast network of influence now permeated the regional prefectures. By this day, Pang Hu’s power had reached an unassailable peak.

Pang Hu’s second priority was to enhance the comfort of his life. To this end, he acquired massive tracts of land within the Central City; it was said that one-fifth of the city now belonged to him. The outer districts were even larger, and he controlled more than half of the arable land surrounding the city. This yielded him boundless streams of iron coin revenue; his household’s savings were enough to sustain the imperial court for several years.

Through Pang Hu’s meticulous management over the years, the Pang Mansion had become the largest and most secure residence in the Central City. The entire compound twisted through intricate layouts, boasting countless corridors, gardens, rooms, and courtyards. An unfamiliar visitor would surely become hopelessly lost. Within the grounds, soldiers patrolled ceaselessly; even an assassin would find it nearly impossible to evade the guards’ sharp eyes, even if they managed not to lose their way.

At this moment, Pang Hu was closeted in the main hall, engaged in a hushed discussion with Wan Lichai, the Minister of Revenue. Wan Lichai was fat and bullish, barely in his forties, yet he addressed Pang Hu as "Father" the moment he spoke. "Godfather, why did you agree today to the Emperor’s request to establish the Horse Guard? This violates our core tenet. That force will clearly not fall under our control—it’s ill-advised."

Pang Hu chuckled. "Lichai, to the Emperor, he remains the ruler of a nation. Pushing too hard invites trouble. If the Emperor wishes to form a Horse Guard, let him build it. The most critical point is that he finally agreed to move the Imperial Stables out of the Central City. I have suggested this to him several times. Not only did the Imperial Stables occupy several acres of prime land I intended for my estate, but the stench of their refuse ruined the patronage of my nearby shops. This relocation suits my plans perfectly."

Wan Lichai fretted, "But as I just said, this leaves a new unit outside our control. This—this doesn't seem like a good omen. Is the Emperor perhaps planning a major maneuver using the Horse Guard?"

"Hahahaha…" Grand Tutor Pang burst into loud laughter. "Lichai, tell me, has the national treasury allocated a single iron coin to the Horse Guard?"

Wan Lichai shook his head. "As per your wishes, Godfather, I informed the Emperor in court that the treasury is penniless."

"And has the Armaments Bureau of the Ministry of War allocated a single sword to the Horse Guard?"

Wan Lichai replied, "Though the head of the Armaments Bureau is not aligned with our faction, from what I know, he couldn't help the Emperor even if he wanted to, because the Bureau has no weaponry to spare."

"Then what are you afraid of?" Pang Taishi pressed. "A unit without provisions or weapons—is that something we need to worry about, something worth incurring the Emperor's displeasure over?"

Wan Lichai understood and chuckled sheepishly. "Godfather’s insight is unmatched; your son worried unnecessarily."

Grand Tutor Pang’s expression suddenly turned severe. "However, the unit we must watch is not that worthless Horse Guard. We must pay close attention to that scholar, Zhao Zhanshi. Rumors about him have been too numerous lately. This man is not simple. I have already dispatched agents to investigate his background. Notify all our personnel; pay closer attention to his every move from now on, especially concerning his true relationship with the Emperor and the Crown Prince. That detail is paramount!"

Wan Lichai’s face tightened. "Godfather suspects this man is a pawn placed by the Emperor?"

"I once suspected that," Pang Taishi admitted, "but several attempts to test the Emperor have led me to dismiss that notion. The Emperor currently trusts me implicitly, and with the military and political structure under my control, he has no leverage if he wishes to turn hostile. What good would sending only this young whelp be to oppose me?"

Wan Lichai worried, "I fear letting a tiger grow in the house. Perhaps Godfather should..."

Pang Taishi waved a hand dismissively. "No, not for now, lest we arouse the Emperor's suspicion. Though he holds many titles, none of them carry practical weight. I sent men to inquire about the Iron Smelting Plant; he visited only once and was so angered he refused to deal with it again. Without iron ore, even an immortal cannot forge metal. While he enjoys temporary prestige in the Zhanshi Residence and even speaks of some 'Thirty-Six Stratagems,' without generals or soldiers, what use are his schemes? As for the Imperial Medical Academy, matters of healing do not concern us. If he truly is a miracle doctor, we might seek to co-opt him—after all, everyone eats grains and drinks water and eventually falls ill. As for that Escape Pod Captain role, it was just a passing jest from the Emperor; the position is utterly useless—just a fascinating toy."

Wan Lichai looked confused. "If that young man holds no real power, what is Godfather’s decision?"

Grand Tutor Pang stated firmly, "For that boy, we will first try to win him over, then crush him if necessary. If he is willing to submit to my banner, then so be it. Otherwise, we will suppress him from multiple angles. Of course, this must not alert the Emperor; it is not worth antagonizing the Emperor over a mere child. Do you understand?"

"Understood, understood, your son understands."

"Very well, you may leave now," Pang Taishi concluded. "Relay my intentions to the others, and then find an opportunity to make things clear to him. If he submits, fine; if not... hehe... we’ll settle the account for the murder of the Cai family retainers as well..."

In the courtyard of the Zhao Residence at dawn.

"Master, you’ve been in a foul mood lately." I stood staring into the yard, not noticing Linglong approach from behind.

How could my mood improve when Xu Chen hadn't returned to my side for a single day? I couldn't casually enter the Inner City without an imperial summons, and even if I snuck in, those patrolling guards weren't blind. They weren't my men. And Zhang Guan was stationed there day and night; he was probably using his position to harass Xu Chen frequently. I was consumed by anxiety; how could I possibly be cheerful?

I didn't discuss this with Linglong. I turned and said, "Are you packed? We are relocating the Imperial Stables today; let’s leave early."

Linglong nodded. "Yes, everyone is waiting for you outside the gate."

The relocation of the Imperial Stables had finally been formally approved by the court, but as anticipated, it came with no funds, no provisions, and no weaponry. We had to solve all those problems ourselves. Ma Xiaoda was immensely hopeful. He scraped together his personal savings and then went to Sisters Fifteen and Sixteen to extort a significant sum, finally managing to gather three thousand iron coins. This might cover the construction of the new Imperial Stables, but building a fighting force? That would barely be a start. The biggest issue, however, remained the lack of arms.

Riding horses or pigs was forbidden in the Central City, so we mounted up only after reaching the Outer City and galloped toward the outskirts. The sound of hooves startled the common folk, who stopped to watch the spectacle. The riders—the women beautiful and charming, the men handsome and dashing—drew cheers and applause.

Ah Mao had selected a site for the new Imperial Stables: a large basin located ten li outside the city walls. The basin was vast, bordered by steep, mountainous terrain on three sides, with only a river valley offering the sole entry and exit point.

In the center of the basin lay several hundred acres of prime grazing land. Because the basin had abundant water and the climate of the Twin Stars was favorable, this pasture could support grazing year-round, easily accommodating ten thousand warhorses if needed.

Ma Xiaoda, who had followed us out of the Twin Cities, rode into the basin with the rest of the group. On one side of the basin was a natural stone platform. Since we had just arrived, essential infrastructure was lacking, so a few tents had been erected on that platform. Once housing and stables were built, we could move in officially.

"What a magnificent location, Officer Zhao!" Ma Xiaoda declared with the affected tone of an official. "I trust your handling of this matter. The grass is lush, the water is clear, and the terrain is defensible—perfect for our new base. Moreover, it’s close enough to the Twin Cities that we can race back in moments if an urgent matter arises. Reward! This Crown Prince intends to richly reward you."

I performed the formal court bow. "Thank you for the praise, Your Highness. This success is entirely due to Ah Mao’s efforts. If you wish to bestow rewards, please give them to him."

Ah Mao was overwhelmed with flattery. He quickly bowed to both of them. "I dare not claim credit, my lord. All merit belongs to Lord Zhao; we merely followed his lead and did our best."

Ma Xiaoda’s enthusiasm deflated like a punctured bladder. "If you wish me to reward you, I have nothing left to give. I had Bai Shi sell off every valuable possession I owned. I even owe Xiao Rui and Xiao Wei a mountain of debt for this venture. This time, we are staking everything—succeed or perish. Once I ascend the throne, I will properly recognize everyone's contributions."

Linglong scoffed from behind him, "Hmph, yet you were just putting on airs a moment ago, pretending you were so capable."

Ma Xiaoda shamelessly tried to charm Linglong. "My dear Fourth Sister, if your Master is capable, then I am capable. If I am capable, then your Master is capable! Just watch closely, and you’ll see we’ll accomplish great things yet."

Soon after, Ah San and Ah Si, along with ten corporals, arrived, escorting over seventy horses and bringing their necessary supplies. Horses were not an immediate problem; we simply cordoned off a section of pasture and let them graze freely. The crucial tasks were setting up subsequent facilities and constructing two fortified gates in the valley entrance to secure the stables.

One tall barricade gate was completed yesterday; otherwise, we wouldn't have moved, as security was paramount. If the horses were lost, the Imperial Stables would be ruined, let alone the creation of the Horse Guard. The first gate, situated at the valley mouth, was built using stones cemented with lime slurry. Since we had sufficient funds now, we used only the largest, thickest stones for maximum safety, effectively building a wall across the valley. It even included battlements and a walkway, ready to defend with rolling logs and stones. We couldn't construct iron gates, but we spent a great deal of money hiring carpenters to build two massive, thick wooden doors. With the siege equipment they possessed, breaching it would take time.

Since the Imperial Stables possessed no weapons whatsoever, and Ah San, Ah Si, Ah Mao, and Ah Gou were utterly trustworthy, I distributed the remaining five laser guns, giving one to each of them. With Linglong and Dali Wan protecting me, these four would be responsible for security until the Horse Guard unit was established.

With these four weapons capable of striking at both short and long range, even an attacking force of a thousand men should not be able to take the position, especially since it was so close to the Twin Cities, allowing for quick signal fires for reinforcement.

Watching everyone bustle about, Ma Xiaoda asked me seriously, "Zhao Qian, what should we do next? We can't scrape up any more money, and as for weapons, there is simply no other way. I know the road ahead is fraught with difficulty, but I am unwilling to give up now."

I replied, "If the court cannot supply us with weapons, we will build them ourselves."

Ma Xiaoda questioned, "Build them ourselves? Didn't you visit the Royal Iron Smelting Plant? You came back furious. Without iron ore, even with our technology, it’s impossible—and we don't even have the technology."

"Who says we lack technology? I understand iron and steel smelting. If we lack iron ore, we’ll find a way to smelt something else. As for money, help me contact several wealthy families. I doubt they all remain disease-free. I will cure them for a price—a consultation fee of ten thousand or so in exchange for their lives. I wonder if they’d agree?"

Ma Xiaoda beamed. "I knew there wasn't anything you, Zhao Qian, couldn't handle! Excellent, it’s settled then. You mentioned you were going to recruit soldiers this afternoon; I’ll go with you. This is critically important; we must personally oversee the selection."

Although the construction of the Imperial Stables consumed most of our funds, recruitment had to begin immediately. Otherwise, we would have no one to care for the horses, and more importantly, we couldn't establish any power base. Since I had promised Ma Xiaoda to help him deal with the villain Pang, I couldn't go back on my word. As for whether this Pang was truly good or bad, I wasn't entirely clear—my intelligence work on this matter was lacking; my staff was too small, and I simply didn't have the energy to attend to everything.

There was a large market in the Outer City, a place where every kind of person could be found. The Twin Cities Nation employed a conscription system, where the state offered pay to recruit soldiers; many people who couldn't make a living or were too lazy to farm would enlist. I was confident that if we offered higher wages, recruiting five hundred men wouldn't be difficult.

Since we were acting under imperial decree, we didn't fear anyone interfering. After lunch, we set up two large tables at the busiest spot near the market entrance. As I was not very literate, I couldn't take the main responsibility; thus, Ma Xiaoda and I sat behind the second table, observing. Linglong, disguised as a young clerk, acted as the scribe, with Yun Yao assisting her. Ah San and Ah Si were responsible for maintaining order.

As soon as the recruitment board went up, it immediately caused a stir, because the pay we offered was double that of the government: two iron coins per month. Enlisting in the Twin Cities should be considered a lucrative post. Even without fighting, an ordinary soldier received one iron coin monthly. However, the cost of living in the Twin Cities was naturally higher than in the border towns, but since the barracks covered food and lodging, that one coin was pure profit. Therefore, recruitment had never been difficult.

"Hey, do you cover food and lodging here?" A man so obese he looked like a walking mound suddenly pushed through the crowd to Linglong’s table. Compared to the petite Linglong, this fellow was a mountain of flesh; one might be able to carve seven or eight Linglongs out of him.

The fat man’s voice was rough and vibrated unpleasantly in Linglong’s ear. She replied brusquely, "Yes, we do. Are you planning to join the army just to eat and sleep, you fatty?"

The obese man pointed at the sign. "Didn't you say qualifications are open, with preference given to special skills? I don't care what 'horse guarding' means; as long as there’s food and shelter, I’ll do anything." Linglong asked, "And what is your special skill?"

The fat man puffed out his chest. "Strength, of course! A man your little brother’s size? I could lift a hundred of you at once."

The other potential recruits were all men, and Linglong and Yun Yao behind her looked decidedly effeminate. The fat man’s boast drew a burst of laughter from the onlookers.

"Hmph, bragging," Linglong retorted. "There's a pair of stone guardian beasts by the archway a hundred meters ahead. Go move one over here if you can."

The obese man didn't speak. He pushed through the crowd and walked out. Just then, another man stepped forward. "I want to enlist. Are you an officially sanctioned government unit? What if you don't pay the wages at the end of the month?"

Linglong looked up and laughed. This fellow was as thin and pointy as a dry stick. Seeing him alone might have been acceptable, but after the giant fat man, this sudden appearance of a walking spike was almost too much contrast to process.

Linglong tapped the table with a piece of charcoal. "We are the Imperial Stables. Is the Imperial Stables not an official government establishment? To tell you the truth, the Imperial Stables hold immense authority—we answer directly to the Emperor, ranking above the Five Ministries, parallel to the Imperial Guard."

The thin man hadn't voiced an opinion yet when a sharp-featured man next to him interjected, "I’m signing up. My name is Kong Wu, twenty-eight years old this year."

The thin man shoved Kong Wu aside. "I was here first! I'm signing up too! My name is Sun Chang, twenty-six years old this year..."

Sun Chang hadn't finished his words when a loud clamor erupted behind them. The crowd automatically parted, creating a lane, and heavy, thudding footsteps approached. The obese man who had left earlier was returning, carrying one stone guardian beast in each hand!

Thud! The stone beasts were placed before the table, kicking up a cloud of dust. Linglong and Yun Yao covered their faces and ran behind me. I told Linglong, "Linglong, take him. It looks like his strength exceeds even Dali Wan’s."

Dali Wan, standing behind me, was not pleased. "Brother Zhao Qian, let me challenge him!"

I said, "Forget it, this isn't a martial arts arena." Seeing Dali Wan still looked eager to compete, I added, "We’ll have plenty of time later. He just moved a pair of guardian beasts. If you go up now, people will say you're taking advantage of the situation."

Dali Wan scratched his head. "Brother Zhao Qian is right. If we compete, it must be fair. Fine, later."

The obese man asked, "Hey, am I qualified or not?"

Someone nearby laughed. "Gu Fei, didn't the Imperial Guard kick you out again? Now you’re trying to freeload at the Imperial Stables. You eat several barrels of rice a day—who can afford to feed you?"

Linglong hesitated upon hearing this and looked back at me. "Master..."

I nodded. Ma Xiaoda immediately chimed in, "Hire him! Hire him! What kind of organization are we if we can’t afford to feed one man? If he has a special skill, it doesn't matter if he eats several barrels!"

The obese man named Gu Fei nearly knelt to the two people behind the secondary table. Due to his enormous size and prodigious appetite, his family could no longer support him, so he tried to join the army. But after several attempts, he was dismissed within days because the military had no need for strongmen who consumed the rations of several men—saving those rations meant saving money.

Gu Fei had been drifting for over a month. Without a steady place, he would starve. Today, forget being paid; if someone offered him food, he would kill for it. Lacking money was a nuisance, but lacking food meant death!

Gu Fei signed his name, then bent over to plead with Linglong. "Little Brother, could you advance me half a month's wages? Please, be kind?"

Linglong shot him a look. "You haven't even entered the barracks yet. There’s no reason to advance wages."

Gu Fei blushed with embarrassment and resignation. "Truthfully, Little Brother, I haven’t eaten in five days. Do a good deed; I, Gu Fei, will be grateful for my entire life."

Ma Xiaoda was busy observing the surroundings, but I had been focused on the scene unfolding at the front. Hearing that Gu Fei hadn't eaten for five days yet still managed to lift two thousand-pound stone beasts with one hand, I realized his divine strength likely surpassed even three Dali Wans combined.

"Linglong, advance him the money," I said before Linglong could object.

Dali Wan, hearing that the man hadn't eaten for five days and could still lift the two thousand-pound beasts, immediately abandoned the idea of a physical contest. He was confident he could lift those two beasts himself, which is why he wanted to compete. But to go five days without food? He knew he wouldn't have the strength to lift anything afterward.

Linglong hadn't held a particularly good impression of the fat man, but seeing his soft plea and realizing he had starved for five days, the inherent kindness of a young girl surfaced. She pulled two iron coins from her pocket. "This is a gift from me. Your wages at the end of the month will still be two coins. Eat your fill and return quickly; don't be late for the Imperial Stables."

Gu Fei had recently been surviving by doing odd jobs for meals, but this was the slack season for farming, and there was little work in the city. He had survived on nothing but water for five days straight; otherwise, a man his size wouldn't beg so humbly. Clutching the two iron coins, tears began to splash from his eyes. He said nothing, however. He wiped his eyes, took a close look at the soft-skinned young man before him, memorized his appearance, and pushed through the crowd to find a place to eat.

The first day yielded a great victory in recruitment; by the time night fell, over a hundred soldiers had been gathered. Of course, the quality of these recruits was abysmal, but a good horse needs only exercise to transform; as long as the training was rigorous, there was no doubt they could become elite troops.

Ah San and Ah Si took these men back to the Imperial Stables first. Food wouldn't be an immediate issue. As for the month-end payroll, that was something to address later. Coupled with the barracks currently under construction, these were all penniless men who wouldn't survive long elsewhere. Even letting them sleep outdoors for a few days wouldn't elicit a single complaint.

Shuangcheng was a massive city boasting nearly two million inhabitants, so a shortage of manpower was not a concern. Consequently, over the next five days, we successfully gathered the planned five hundred soldiers in stages. Based on my research with Ma Xiaoda, we decided to divide the five hundred into one hundred spearmen and four hundred crossbowmen. This arrangement accounted for our current practical limitations: we possessed not a single piece of quality weaponry. A frantic search through the outer city by Ah Mao and Ah Gou yielded only fifty or so blades—and those were just chopping knives.

The weapons for the spearmen would be simple clubs. On Shuangxing, there grew a type of sturdy wood whose material was no weaker than the dog-shit iron they had here. If one possessed sufficient strength, killing with a club was no less effective than with a blade.

The crossbows for the crossbowmen were modeled after the one Chang Feng fashioned for Linglong. However, the artisans we hired were too slow in production, so we could only manage to forge a few initial prototypes to show everyone the design. As for the bolts, sturdy wood could substitute for metal. Linglong had verified that the resulting impact was in no way inferior to iron bolts, though the effective range was slightly less. Still, this was perfectly adequate for defending the Imperial Stables.

The crossbowmen’s other weapon was the wooden javelin—a spear made from that same sturdy wood. Its weight alone was comparable to iron javelins, the construction was simple, and the cost low, yet its destructive power upon being thrown was astonishing. Even the shield-bearers of the Imperial Guard’s rattan shields could not withstand it. The battlefield utility of thrown spears had been proven centuries ago by the ancients of the Da Long Kingdom; this method was undoubtedly the best immediate solution to our weapon shortage.

The five hundred soldiers were organized into five companies of one hundred men each. We currently suffered from a severe shortage of officers. Thus, Da Li Wan was appointed the Baihu (Company Commander) for the spearmen, while Ah San, Ah Si, Ah Mao, and Ah Gou became the Baihu commanders for the four crossbow companies. Ma Xiaoda personally took the rank of Qianhu (Battalion Commander), though his rank was secret. The publicly declared Qianhu was me, the Supervisor. The remaining five hundred soldiers would be recruited once we had secured sufficient funds.

Regarding the training regimen, I spent several nights collaborating with Linglong, working through the night to compile a comprehensive curriculum. This program primarily referenced the training exercises I underwent during my own military service. Any soldier who could pass the standards set in my training manual would be retained; those who couldn't master even the basic skills would simply be given a small ration of rice and sent home. We had no room for dead weight here; we couldn't afford to support them.

Indeed, we were down to our last resources. After all these machinations, Yun Yao, who was temporarily serving as the accountant for the Imperial Stables, reported the accounts to me that night while resting in my arms. "Brother Zhao, if we receive no more funding tomorrow, the soldiers will go hungry the day after. You can't very well expect them to graze on grass like horses, can you? Honestly, I think we don't need to put on such a grand show. Since Grand Tutor Pang isn't pursuing the Cai residence case against us now, perhaps we shouldn't alienate either side. We can just leave when the other four sisters find us."

I kissed her breast. "No, wife, I gave my word to Ma Xiaoda; I cannot go back on it. Furthermore, I’m not confident I can forcefully escort Xu Chen out of the palace right now. I fear we’d be discovered before we even cleared the inner city. And as for finding the other four, I have no leads whatsoever right now. It’s better to build up our strength. Even if the four of them end up in a situation worse than Xu Chen’s, we won’t have to worry then."

Yun Yao allowed me to fondle the fullness of her chest, her voice laced with anxiety. "Then how do we solve the current dilemma?"

I buried my face deep into the valley between her breasts, refusing to think about it. "We’ll worry about that tomorrow. At least we have one more day to figure things out. Why don't we indulge ourselves a little now instead?"

"Mmm... Husband, your skills have gotten so much better lately. I think we should invite Sister Zhou Ni to join us, or else I won't be able to take it... Mmm, that feels wonderful, come up here, Husband..."