Zeng Nianzhen considered himself a private retainer of the Eastern Palace. Though this order violated the laws of the court, he answered without hesitation, "This minister is willing!"
He added, "It should have been done long ago."
"You have contacts in the martial world, so recruiting five hundred men should be possible. But what I need is not merely assassins—it is an army." Su Ziji's expression was grave. "At the critical moment, they must be able to be brought out and risk their lives."
Driven into a corner by the Crown Prince's suppression during the political struggle, Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident. In the end, he gathered one hundred warriors willing to stake their lives, while another six hundred, upon hearing the news, were willing to follow him. Only then did he turn the tables in one stroke. At that time, the Crown Prince had two thousand three hundred Changlin Army soldiers.
This showed that having an elite force at a critical moment, even if it numbered only a few hundred, made all the difference.
Even if he were sinister and cunning to the utmost, he still needed an army of his own. Otherwise, he would follow the Crown Prince's old path—unable to mobilize even a single soldier or general at the crucial moment.
"Under all Heaven, is there any land that is not the king's land? Along the shores of all lands, is there any man who is not the king's subject? Training five hundred elite soldiers within the country without being discovered—that is something only a fool would do."
"You must go overseas. That is the court's blank territory."
As they spoke, they reached the village. Since the matter was of great importance, they fell silent.
The Sun Household stood at the entrance to the village.