"Of course I have no objections. Everything is up to you, Master," Ximen Taigao said with a helpless nod.
"Hall Master Ximen, Cloud-Sea Hall must immediately select two thousand men to form a Residence Guard Army. They must enter the Training Ground for special training at once.
"They need to familiarize themselves with firing and operating the Black-Clad Cannons and firearms, and coordinate with Li Liao and his men.
"We need to forge an elite force of four thousand, ready to fight at any moment," Tang Wen said.
"Master, you said our main goal now was construction. Why do we need so many soldiers? We aren't going to war, are we?" Wang Haiting asked in puzzlement.
"This time, I've decided to take up the challenge," Tang Wen said.
"Take up the challenge? What challenge?" Taken aback, Wang Haiting hurriedly asked.
"Ridge-Sea Academy's challenge," Tang Wen said with a cold snort.
"Master, you intend to lead troops to the front to resist the Sun Kingdom?" Li Liao was taken aback.
"That's right." Tang Wen nodded.
"Wouldn't that put us right into Ridge-Sea Academy's trap?" Wang Haiting countered.
"Absolutely not, Master. You don't know the situation in the Sun Kingdom. They've been supporting bands of pirates along the eastern coast all along.
"They provide them with money and supplies, including Spirit Pills and cannons.
"In fact, several bands of pirates are essentially the Sun Kingdom's auxiliary troops.
"If our guess is correct, the ones who seized our islands in the initial raids were those very bands. The master behind them must be the Sun Kingdom.
"These bands of pirates are well equipped, much like the Sun Kingdom's troops.
"In fact, after years of burning, killing, and plundering, they're even more ruthless and ferocious than regular soldiers.
"We fought them several times ourselves