"That's true. Without second-grade strength, how could he keep all the martial artists in Linghai Province under control?" Tang Wen nodded.
"There's another that's much the same," Jiang Xuan said.
"Who?" Tang Wen asked.
"Ridge-Sea Academy." Jiang Xuan gave Tang Wen a meaningful look.
"You must have heard about my dealings with Ridge-Sea Academy, brother," Tang Wen said.
"I'd only just returned and hadn't had time. I only heard a few days ago. They really are bullies, but, brother, let me tell you the truth.
"Ridge-Sea Academy isn't simply an academy. It has several hundred years of accumulated foundations.
"Don't think they're just scholars. Ridge-Sea Academy has a martial division too.
"They have large numbers of expert instructors, and the academy's guardian is a second-grade powerhouse," Jiang Xuan said.
"How do you know that, brother?" Tang Wen asked.
"I heard that when General Qiu first arrived, a major war broke out that year too, against Great Qi Country.
"General Qiu had no other choice, so he went to Ridge-Sea Academy to demand men, intending to conscript several hundred of their martial artists to kill enemies on the front lines.
"Of course they refused, and things blew up.
"In the end, I heard General Qiu fought that mysterious guardian of the academy. After he returned, he never mentioned conscription again.
"That's why the Commander-in-Chief's Office tried to conscript your soldiers last time. Luckily, Zhao Zhilong had already conscripted you. But that won't work now. I'm afraid you won't be able to keep them.
"I'm giving you advance warning, brother, so you won't be caught unprepared.
"It probably won't be long. Fighting has broken out in the east, and Linghai will bear the brunt of it. Every available soldier will have to be conscripted. No one can escape.
"Look at my Commander-in-Chief's