Chapter Eighteen: Recruiting Mercenaries

  Wang Xu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, saying: "Father, do you still remember what Master said earlier? He said that the world is about to be in great chaos. Actually, I have the same idea too. In the process of discussing and calculating with Master, we have already confirmed that a chaotic era is coming! And it's an unprecedented one."

  Upon hearing Wang Xu say this, Wang Yan was startled. He looked around the main hall to see if anyone was outside before pulling Wang Xu back into the innermost part of the main hall.

  After kneeling on both sides of the desk, he asked in a low voice: "Is what Xu Er said true? Although eunuchs are now in power and the court is not prosperous, it should not have reached the point of great chaos in the world, right?"

  "Father, think about it, wasn't the Former Qin dynasty ruined because of eunuchs like Zhao Gao abusing their power and causing chaos throughout the land? And because of the eunuchs' rise to power, look at how corrupt officials are running rampant everywhere, with rebellions breaking out in various places. Although they've all been suppressed, it hasn't solved the problem from the root. One day, a rebellion unlike any before will erupt, especially after the Party Purge, when many talented individuals were wrongly accused and buried. How can we possibly bring peace to the land?" After finishing, seeing that Wang Yan still looked hesitant, he added: "Master also observed the celestial phenomena at night, which is why he said today that the world will be in chaos!"

  Xuān wēi dào zhǎng huì guān xīng zhī shù, Wáng Yàn shì zhī dào de, suǒ yǐ Wáng Xù tái chū tā lái, dùn shí jiù jiāng Wáng Yàn de zuì hòu yī diǎn huái yí yě mǒ qù le. Zài jiā shàng tā běn lái yě duì dāng jīn de cháo zhōng jú shì bǐ jiào liǎo jiě, zì rán zhī dào zhè yī qiè bú shì bù kě néng fā shēng de. Dāng jí rěn bù zhù xīn zhōng de fèn pǐ, bǎ yī tōng huàn guān mà le gǒu xiě pēng tóu.

  After he calmed down, he let out a sigh of helplessness. "Xu Er's high aspirations and broad vision are truly comforting to me, but the fact is that our royal family no longer has anyone who can influence the situation in the imperial court. What can we do even if we know about it? The eunuchs are in power, how many people don't know about this? But even if we submit a memorial, no one will listen. If we're not careful, we might even bring about our own downfall."

  Seeing his father misunderstand him, Wang Xu hastily explained. "Father, it's not that we can't eradicate the eunuchs now. What I mean is that we should think of a way to protect our own family in the chaos that is about to come. Only by protecting ourselves first will we have the opportunity to revive the country in the future!"

  Wang Xu now dare not say that he never wanted to assist that incompetent emperor, some things must come slowly.

  "Well, this is true. But what does Akira mean?"

  "To protect ourselves, we must have our own strength, at least to ensure our own safety." Seeing that his father had already been tricked by himself, Wang Xu smiled secretly in his heart.

  But as soon as Wang Xu said this, Wang Yan suddenly burst out laughing. "I thought Xiao Xu meant something else, but it turns out he was talking about this!"

  Speaking of which, Wang Yan lowered his voice and said: "Because Xu Er is still young, so as a father, I have never told you. In fact, which family among the scholars does not have a guardian? Although our Wang family no longer has anyone in office in the court, we still have influence among the scholars and are also a wealthy family. Since the middle of Guangwu, the scholar-officials not only own a large amount of land but also have many merchants. As the industry grows larger, safety naturally becomes a problem. Our Wang family has been an official for generations, and guardians like this are naturally indispensable."

  Upon hearing his father's words, Wang Xu suddenly remembered that after Emperor Wen of Han, the imperial court still encouraged commerce, and many aristocratic families also engaged in business during that time. The Silk Road wasn't established during the Han dynasty? He couldn't help but slap his own forehead. Alas! It was indeed his own foolishness, thinking about ancient times when agriculture was valued over commerce, forgetting that some dynasties had very open-minded policies. Since they were wealthy, in an era like the late Han when aristocratic families held strong views on social status, it would be natural for them to have private armies, also known as personal guards. He himself was momentarily foolish, just like when Cao Cao rose up in arms, didn't the Xiahou brothers bring a thousand or two men to join him?

  "How many guards does Father have at his command?"

  Wang Yan looked at his mature young son and couldn't help but smile. "I have over 500 elite guards, your uncle has more than 300 people, and your other uncle also has more than 200 people. As for the other distant relatives, I'm not sure, some have many, some have few, and some don't have any! But as a father, I have the most."

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Wang Yan said with a hint of pride: 'Because your grandfather did not allow your uncle and me to enter politics, and as a father he was born out of wedlock, when dividing the family property according to custom it should have been less. But Father has always been in business, after many years of hard work, our branch is actually the richest in the entire Wang family.'"

  "Hmm..." To be honest, Wang Xu didn't know what his father was busy with before, and no one had ever told him. In daily life, he wore fine clothes and ate good food, everyone called him Young Master, and he didn't have the mind to figure it out, he just did his own thing.

  Unexpectedly, it turned out to be like this. Just looking at my father's elegant appearance, I couldn't associate him with the image of an ancient merchant with a greasy face. However, having money is always a good thing, and the most important thing is that I have money myself.

  "Father, the elite you spoke of must be truly elite! With five hundred men, it's enough to protect our family and children. But I have another idea!"

  "Go ahead and say it!"

  Wang Xu didn't mince words and immediately said: "Although my son is young, he has a heart to serve the country. However, if you want to wait until the future to take the imperial examination, it must be after reaching adulthood at 20 years old. Even in special circumstances, it would have to be at least 17 or 18 years old. But time waits for no man, and great chaos is approaching. My son hopes that his father can provide for a branch of troops, so that he can assist the imperial court in pacifying the chaos in the future. As long as there is merit, my son can avoid taking the imperial examination and become an official ahead of schedule!"

  Wang Yan was taken aback, his eyes widening in incredulity as he stared at Wang Xu. "Xu'er, you're only 13 years old? You want to go into battle at such a young age?"

  Having said that, he immediately shook his head repeatedly and said: "No, no, how can your father joke about your life?"

  Wang Xu had known all along that he would definitely oppose it, so he slightly organized his words and began to wield his silver tongue.

  "Father, what is youth? In the Warring States period, Gan Luo of Qin was only twelve years old when he became a talented guest of Lü Buwei, and later even became an envoy to Zhao, earning him the title of Supreme Minister from the King of Qin! Moreover, Huo Qubing was already following the great general on campaigns beyond the borders at the age of ten or so, achieving great merit. There have been many young heroes throughout history, how can I not be one? Besides, Father knows my martial arts skills, if I possess such abilities and still fear, then I will never amount to anything."

  After saying these words, Wang Xu looked at his father who was gradually falling silent, and a song he used to like suddenly came to mind, and he couldn't help but hum it softly.

  "My husband is successful in his career, achieving great accomplishments; achieving great accomplishments brings comfort to our peaceful life. Comfort in our peaceful life makes me want to get drunk; wanting to get drunk makes me sing wildly..."