Raising an army is difficult, especially maintaining an elite iron cavalry numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The resources required are enormous. This can be seen from the fact that even though Wei Jinfeng controls a state, he can only maintain 300,000 Northern Liang troops.

It's practically a gold-devouring beast.

However, soldiers and troops must be recruited.

Whether it's conquering the land or ruling it, Chen Yuan needs a large army.

He alone can suppress a prefecture or even a state, but what about the whole world? Personal prestige alone cannot secure the throne. Therefore, he must start from weakness and train an iron cavalry loyal to him.

As for the expenses, Chen Yuan had long targeted those southern aristocratic families and various sect forces with centuries of inheritance. They are the best granaries.

Having inherited for hundreds of years, they are perfect for him to reap the benefits.

Chen Yuan gained a lot from his trip to Nanzhou in the Su family, which further strengthened his resolve.

Su Ziyue looked up at Chen Yuan and nodded slightly:

"That's not a bad idea, but... if you target these aristocratic families, they won't sit idly by.

Once they join forces, their strength should not be underestimated."

"Of course, it can't be as simple as killing them all. Division and co-option are the right ways. The Shangguan clan is a good example. Shangguan Tiehong came to see me before, and I had already instructed him on this matter.

Now, it seems they have already begun to prepare."

"You've prepared so thoroughly, it seems I can't help you much."

Chen Yuan shook his head, gazing into her bright eyes, and said:

"I can't stay in one place forever, you need to manage all the logistics for me."

"Will that Madam Xu be willing to do so?"

Su Ziyue knows Madam Xu's current status and role. Refusal is naturally impossible; Chen Yuan can decide with a word, but she probably won't feel good about it.

Men like power, and similarly, women actually like it too.

"Don't worry, Madam's heart is like a mirror."

Chen Yuan chuckled.

Last time, Madam Xu had already expressed her thoughts. She naturally wouldn't fight for the position of principal wife, nor did she have the qualifications.

All she wants is to be the second wife.

Su Ziyue is stronger than Madam Xu in terms of cultivation, age, means, and appearance. If she has any brains at all, she will definitely be very obedient.

"Let's go, let's meet your imperial harem."

Su Ziyue said with a cold temperament.

"See them, why be afraid?"

Within the rear residence of the Sky Patrol Division in Tangshan Prefecture City, Madam Xu said this with a calm gaze. Beside her sat Shen Yanshu, Shangguan Hong, and Yu Qingyan.

As early as a few days ago, when Chen Yuan was still in the Qiyue Mountain of Nanzhou, he had Jiang He convey a message on his behalf, telling the intelligence organizations under him to prepare Xu and Shen's daughters.

Now, the information has reached Tangshan Prefecture City after several days.

Madam Xu, who received Chen Yuan's handwritten letter, asked Shangguan Hong and several daughters to come, after all, they are related to Chen Yuan in name or in fact.

As for Yu Qingyan, although the other party tried to refute it, she estimated that it was a matter of time.

Shangguan Hong's face was inexplicably flustered, like a concubine seeing the official wife, completely without the heroic spirit she had when Chen Yuan first saw her. Her beautiful eyes swept over the sisters beside her one by one, and she broke the silence softly:

"This...Sister Su, has anyone seen her?"

Yu Qingyan remained silent, like a transparent person.

Madam Xu also shook her head. She had never even heard of this so-called Miss Su, let alone seen her, but Chen Yuan's letter was so solemn that she thought she was not a simple woman.

Although she had been prepared for this, when it really came, although she was still unwilling to admit defeat on the surface, she was actually a little uneasy in her heart.

At the same time, there was some loss.

She considered her appearance to be no less than anyone else, but she had no family background to help Chen Yuan, and she also had a very important weakness, that is, she had been married.

Although Chen Yuan knew that she was still a virgin, others did not know.

Also, she was a full double the age of Chen Yuan.

Sometimes she also sighed in her heart, I was born before you, and you were born when I was old.

"What about Sister Shen?"

Seeing that Madam Xu and Yu Qingyan were silent, only Shen Yanshu showed a strange look after hearing the news. Shangguan Hong instinctively felt that she knew something, and immediately asked.

Hearing this, Yu Qingyan, who had originally been calm, subconsciously looked over.

Madam Xu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she raised her head:

"Yanshu, have you seen this Miss Su?"

Shen Yanshu hesitated for a moment and nodded slightly:

"I have indeed seen a Miss Su, but I don't know if it is the one Yuan Lang mentioned in the letter."

She had only been in contact with Su Ziyue for a few days. After Li Suqing took her into the sect, she had never seen her again, and had not even heard any news.

She had asked Chen Yuan before, but the answer she got was that he was not very clear.

"What does she look like?"

"What is her temperament like?"

"What is her cultivation level like?"

Madam Xu, Shangguan Hong, and Yu Qingyan couldn't help but ask.

Shen Yanshu recalled the face that had once been so amazing and said:

"Her appearance is heavenly, rare in the world, and she exudes a charming aura all over her body. Her cultivation level should be above the Dan Realm, but I don't know exactly how high. As for her temperament... I only stayed with her for a few days back then, so I don't know."

"How does she compare to Sister Xu?" Shangguan Hong couldn't help but ask.

Among the three of them, Yu Qingyan had the most aloof temperament and was also absolutely beautiful, but if we were to talk about appearance alone, Madam Xu was actually slightly better.

"Each has its own merits," Shen Yanshu said in a low voice.

As soon as she heard this sentence, Madam Xu knew that Shen Yanshu was embarrassed to say that her appearance was not as good as that person's. Her appearance must be rare in the world. After pondering for a moment, she continued to ask:

"Can you talk about the scene of your first acquaintance?"

"Yes, Sister Shen."

Shen Yanshu frowned slightly, recalled their first meeting, and said:

"At that time, I was cultivating..."

Shen Yanshu described in detail what happened at that time, and the circumstances she was in. Chen Yuan was about to leave Nanling after breaking through to Tongxuan, and she wanted to go with him.

However, before she could meet Chen Yuan, a beautiful woman surnamed Su found her and said that her current cultivation level was just a burden and that she was willing to find a superior immortal sect for her to cultivate in.

And the sect she chose was the Goddess Palace.

After all, this was only something that happened more than a year ago, so Shen Yanshu actually remembered it very clearly.

"In other words, this Miss Su has some friendship with the master?" Yu Qingyan said softly.

"It seems that she is very likely to be a real person in the Huayang Realm, no wonder..." Shangguan Hong said halfway, and immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing, so she immediately shut up.

Madam Xu was silent for a long time, and squeezed out a smile:

"It's useless for us to say more now. After this Miss Su comes to Tangshan, we will naturally know. It would be good if she can help the Marquis."

"Sister Xu is right."

"Well, then I..."

Before Shen Yanshu could finish her words, a little maid ran in hastily from outside, panting and saying:

"Madam, Madam..."

"What's wrong? Could something have happened?"

Seeing the maid so anxious, Madam Xu's face suddenly changed, thinking that something big had happened below.

"No, no, it's...it's the Marquis is back...and he's with a...very beautiful woman..."

The maid finished this sentence intermittently.

The women in the room froze for a moment. As soon as they said Miss Su, Miss Su arrived.

In the end, Madam Xu stood up and said with a chuckle:

"Since the Marquis and Miss Su have arrived, then we naturally have to meet them."

In front of the Sky Patrol Division's residence, Chen Yuan and Su Ziyue walked into the courtyard while talking to each other. After returning from the Tangshan Mountains, the two went straight here.

It only took them a quarter of an hour to arrive here.

Originally, Chen Yuan wanted to use Divine Sense to notify Madam Xu in the courtyard first, but he was stopped by Su Ziyue, who said she wanted to see Madam Xu.

Madam Xu had never heard of her, but she had already begun to pay attention to this woman.

If we were to talk about acquaintance, they had never met, but when she was traveling in the world when she was young, she had heard of the name of the number one beauty in Shuzhou, but unfortunately she later married the master of the Zangbing Valley.

She had not paid attention to her since then.

Many years later, she paid attention to her for the second time, when Chen Yuan brought her back to Tangshan and had her take charge of Tangshan in the capacity of madam, taking control of all matters, big and small.

"Ziyue, you wait..." Chen Yuan pondered for a moment, wanting to say that Su Ziyue should restrain herself later and not cause any conflict, but before he could finish speaking, Su Ziyue nodded:

"I know what to do."

Entering the second gate, the maids at the door bowed and saluted, and Chen Yuan and Su Ziyue also saw Madam Xu and the others who were welcoming them at a glance, and smiled at them.

"Greetings, Marquis!"

"Greetings, Marquis..."

"Greetings..."

Madam Xu took the lead in saluting, showing the demeanor of a principal wife. Behind her followed Shen Yanshu and Shangguan Hong. As for Yu Qingyan, she also bowed slightly, but did not say much.

"This is Miss Su, right?" Madam Xu raised her head and looked directly at Su Ziyue. A hint of amazement flashed in her eyes. Whether she admitted it or not, from the moment she saw Su Ziyue, Madam Xu had a sense of frustration.

She...is very beautiful!

Whether it was her appearance or figure, she was no less than her, or even better.

Not to mention her family background and cultivation level.

This was natural, otherwise Chen Yuan would not have had a slight thought when he first saw Su Ziyue. Those big lights were unparalleled.

Not long ago, when she suppressed the fire for her in the Qiyue Mountain cave, Chen Yuan discovered an undiscovered advantage of Su Ziyue.

Simply put, it's... Buffett.

God of stocks!

Usually wearing a long skirt to cover it, you can only see that her figure is very good, but when facing her frankly, Chen Yuan was really a little unable to hold back.

Chen Yuan nodded and nodded: "Yes, this is Miss Ziyue that I mentioned in the letter."

"Miss Su is polite."

"Miss Su is polite."

Shen Yanshu and Shangguan Hong also nodded.

"These..."

"I know." Su Ziyue put on a smile and walked forward to hold Madam Xu's hand and said with a smile:

"You are Sister Wenxiu, right? Yuan Lang has long mentioned you to me, saying that you have helped him a lot, taking charge of Tangshan for him and handling various matters for him..."

Xu Wenxiu was Madam Xu's real name. Listening to Su Ziyue holding her hand and calling her sister, showing the attitude of a principal wife from the beginning, Madam Xu could only reluctantly smile:

"It's good to be able to help the Marquis."

"Yanshu, long time no see." Su Ziyue greeted Madam Xu and turned her attention to Shen Yanshu.

"Su... Senior Su."

"Why are you calling me senior? We are all family from now on, call me sister."

"Sister Su," Shen Yanshu responded quickly.

Whether it was the last time she contacted Su Ziyue or this time, she had always been at a disadvantage. However, she had not asked for too much.

As long as this sister is easy to get along with.

"Sister Shangguan, before..."

"Fairy Yu, please say hello to your master for me..."

Su Ziyue took the initiative and showed her attitude as soon as they met. Because of her cultivation and status, Madam Xu and others could only give in.

However, Chen Yuan still saw some reluctance on Madam Xu's face.

Yes, no matter how much preparation they had made before, it was still difficult to accept when they actually met. Fortunately, Su Ziyue did not act arrogantly after confirming her status at the beginning. Instead, she chatted with them very cordially.

Madam Xu, Shen Yanshu, and others were relieved.

Chen Yuan was thinking about how to eliminate these estrangements and barriers in a short period of time.

Be honest with each other?

Xuezhou, Liangshan.

When Chen Yuan arrived in Tangshan Prefecture City, Song Lun, the chief of the Liangshan stronghold, also known as the white-clothed scholar, was also preparing something.

In a dark secret room, Song Lun opened his eyes, and the entire secret room became much brighter. Looking at the sound transmission talisman that had been burned to ashes in his hand, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

In the depths of his eyes, however, a hint of coldness flashed.

Admittedly, the rise of Liangshan was aided by the Xiang family, and he had always been grateful to Xiang Qianqiu for his assistance and appreciation, but a person's ambition gradually changes with the passage of time and position.

In the past, he was just a down-and-out scholar who accidentally embarked on the path of a mountain bandit. All the ambitions in his heart had turned to ashes, and he only wanted to linger in the world.

Not to mention any grand ambitions, he would be satisfied if he could only spend the rest of his life in peace.

But now, he is no longer the down-and-out scholar he once was. His cultivation level has reached the Yang God Realm, he has been listed on the Supreme Heaven Rankings, and he is admired by countless people.

Once the banner is raised, heroes from all over the world will flock to him, and he controls an army of nearly 200,000 men.

There are also many Huayang Realm real people following him, so his ambitions have naturally grown.

At the beginning, he was dissatisfied with Xiang Qianqiu's control over him, feeling that he was just a chess piece, and even the foundation of Liangshan might just be his wedding dress.

Then, Xiang Qianqiu's elder, Lu Guangsheng, came to Liangshan to take charge, and as soon as he came, he began to serve as the second leader, using various means to win over forces everywhere in Liangshan.

He had tolerated it, but there was always a fire in his heart.

It was true that Liangshan had received the Xiang family's assistance, and it was precisely with Xiang Qianqiu's help that he had been able to rise so smoothly and his cultivation level had increased.

But... aside from those resource support, Liangshan was actually built by him alone. From being weak, all the way to becoming the top force in Xuezhou today, he had put in an unknown amount of effort.

He accepted becoming a subordinate, after all, Xiang Qianqiu had helped him a lot, but Xiang Qianqiu wanted to bypass him and directly control everything in Liangshan, which he did not agree to.

The brothers who followed him would not agree either.

The knife was already on his neck, so he had to take action.

Because he did not know what other means Xiang Qianqiu had, he did not dare to rashly contact other immortal sects and forces. After careful consideration, he thought of the imperial court!

At that time, the world was peaceful, but there were already turbulent waves in the dark, and Liangshan had become a major concern in the eyes of the imperial court. He secretly sent his confidants to the capital.

In the first year of Jingtai, on June 6th, he finally got in touch with the imperial court.

At the beginning, both sides were testing each other, and they gradually established trust. There was a shackle on his body, which was a backup plan that Xiang Qianqiu had left on him in his early years.

Although he was still very weak at that time, even now, he could not unlock it himself and needed a spiritual item from the imperial court to help.

As a price, he revealed that the Xiang family was behind Liangshan.

A long time passed again, and Jingtai gave him what he wanted. The two sides had been in close contact all the time, and had never revealed any news about this matter.

Jingtai gave him a lot of things and promises, promising that after he destroyed the Xiang family and took control of Liangshan, he would give him the entire Xuezhou as a fief, making him the third king of a different surname in the imperial court, directly reaching the sky in one step.

Song Lun happily agreed, because he did have many ambitions that needed to be realized.

However, he was not a fool either, knowing the imperial court's urine, so he had never sincerely prepared to submit to the imperial court. What he wanted was to drive away the wolf and devour the tiger.

He wanted to use the imperial court to get rid of the Xiang family, and he would control the entire Liangshan. At that time, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers in his hands, the initiative would be in his hands, just like Wei Jinfeng and Nangong Lie.

Even the imperial court would have to appease him, and even, when the real opportunity came, there might not be a chance to put on the yellow robe and sit on the throne.

Some time ago, almost before the Northern Barbarian invasion, Xiang Qianqiu came to him and asked him to start preparing to rebel at any time. He told Jingtai this news.

Both sides felt that they could no longer wait and had to destroy the Xiang family as soon as possible.

The Xiang family without immortals might still be very powerful, but it was not enough to deter the imperial court. As long as Xiang Qianqiu died, they would have achieved their goal.

And the time set was the 120th birthday in a few days!

On this day, Song Lun wanted to get rid of other people's control forever and become the chess player himself, and not just a 'insignificant' chess piece!

Chapter recommendation.

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(After the Great Ming)

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(End of this chapter)