"Your Highness, I have already spread the word that the Prince's Palace is recruiting personal guards."
Helian Chen, dressed in full armor, stood respectfully before Helian Jue.
Helian Chen was the illegitimate son of the Prince of Guangling, and according to seniority, he was Helian Jue's cousin.
However, Helian Chen's birth mother was just a Hu woman who was given as a gift to the Prince of Guangling by a Hu merchant.
For the first two years, Hu Ji was quite favored and gave birth to Helian Chen and his younger sister Helian Yan.
Too many pregnancies caused Hu Ji's figure to change shape, and she also developed some pregnancy spots on her face.
A concubine who relies on her beauty to serve her lover will naturally lose favor once she loses her beauty.
As a result, Helian Chen and Helian Yan, the brother and sister, were also subjected to humiliation in the backyard of the Prince of Guangling.
Helian Chen was hardworking and ambitious. At the age of thirteen, he accompanied the emperor on a hunting trip and risked his life to save Helian Jue.
Helian Jue saw the indomitable spirit and ambition in Helian Chen's eyes, so he recruited him to the Eastern Palace and appointed him as a captain of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace.
With the Crown Prince's backing, Helian Chen gained power, and his birth mother and sister also gained status in the Guangling Prince's Mansion.
Her younger sister, Helian Yan, was also engaged to the second son of a marquis in the capital.
Unfortunately, this period of good fortune was short-lived, and the crown prince was deposed.
Helian Chen was also implicated.
If he had done the same as the other officials in the Eastern Palace, trying to sever ties with the deposed crown prince or join the service of another prince, he might not have suffered such a tragic fate.
However, Helian Chen always remembered Helian Jue's kindness in recognizing his talent and remained loyal to Helian Jue wholeheartedly.
Of course, Helian Chen did not betray Helian Jue, partly because he was too familiar with him—this master was a meticulous and vengeful person!
Helian Jue never shows mercy to traitors!
Anyway, whatever the reason, the result was that Helian Chen became one of the few confidants around Helian Jue.
"This subordinate has decided that the selection of personal guards will be held at the temporary military camp in Crescent Moon Village in half a month!"
Helian Chen bowed and replied.
"Um!"
Helian Jue still looked lazy and casually gave a reply.
Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he said to Helian Chen, "I have entrusted all the affairs of the Prince's residence to the Princess!"
"The princess is knowledgeable and experienced, and may have unique insights into assessments and military training."
"Helian Chen, you can report directly to the Princess and follow her instructions!"
Helian Chen's eyes widened: "Your Highness, Princess?"
Princess Xie is indeed capable.
Helian Chen witnessed everything that happened along the way.
Moreover, everyone in the Prince's mansion held the Princess in high esteem.
The problem is, no matter how capable the princess is, she is still just a woman.
She... she doesn't know anything about assessments and selections, or how to train soldiers.
"Not convinced? Heh, don't forget, the entire Prince's Mansion is currently being supported by the Princess Consort's dowry!"
Helian Jue was impatient with those mundane affairs, but he wasn't completely ignorant of them.
The meager amount of money allocated by the Ministry of Revenue for settling down wasn't even enough to build a prince's mansion.
The journey from the capital to Yuezhou was over 3,000 li (approximately 1,500 kilometers), and it took them three or four months.
The food, drink, and provisions for the 800 soldiers, plus their pay and rations, would cost more than a hundred catties of gold.
Needless to say, the guards eat three meals a day, each with plenty of oil, and spend money like water.
Helian Jue didn't say it, but he knew in his heart that the Yue Prince's Mansion was currently using Xie's dowry.
Helian Chen: ...
So it turns out the prince was living off the princess.
But, for some reason, His Highness, who is usually arrogant and conceited, didn't seem angry at all when he talked about the fact that he was a kept man.
A hint of smugness lingered between his brows!
What's going on here?
"Helian Chen, remember this: those who accept bribes are bound to be obligated! Since you've spent the Princess Consort's money, the Yue Prince's Mansion must obey her!"
"The royal guards are also part of the royal family, so they must follow the princess's instructions regarding the assessment and training."
As Helian Jue said this, he secretly wondered: Hmm, I wonder what kind of "surprise" the Xie family will give me this time!
...
"Your Highness really says that?"
Xie Yuangang had just returned from the construction site in Crescent Moon Village when he ran into Helian Chen, who had been waiting for him at the entrance.
Helian Chen did not hide anything and relayed all of Helian Jue's orders to Xie Yuan.
Of course, Helian Chen selectively "forgot" the part about "being obligated to someone who feeds you".
"Yes! That is indeed His Highness's instruction!"
Helian Chen bowed respectfully, "What are the procedures for the assessment and training of the Prince's personal guards? Please instruct Your Highness!"
What are the assessment criteria? What are the training methods?
Hey, Xie Yuan actually knows.
This doesn't even require using her historical knowledge base; she can simply modify the procedures for physical examinations and military training from later generations and use them!
"The assessment criteria are simple: height, weight, and whether there are any disabilities in the limbs..."
Xie Yuan habitually took out white paper and a writing brush, and began to speak and write at the same time:
"Vision and hearing will also be assessed!"
"We can put a wooden sign ten steps away, with words or pictures written on it, in different sizes, so that the people taking the test can identify it."
"You can also take a bell and shake it on both sides of the examinee's left and right ears."
"Oh, and we also need to find a doctor to take everyone's pulse. Those with infectious diseases or hidden ailments should be rejected..."
Xie Yuan spoke fluently, writing a long list of sentences on the white paper.
Helian Chen was initially somewhat dismissive, thinking that the princess was just rich and that she, as a woman, would not know anything about recruiting soldiers.
But as Xie Yuan spoke more and more, Helian Chen's eyes were filled with admiration.
Especially after hearing the later parts, even Helian Chen himself felt "moved"—
"Oh, right! Our Yue Prince's Mansion is new here, and the people in the various counties of Yue Prefecture may not be familiar with us."
"In that case, send more people on horseback, beating gongs, to spread the news that the Prince's Palace is recruiting soldiers to every corner of Yuezhou in the shortest possible time."
"Also, ask the current guards if they have any relatives or friends in Yuezhou. Have them testify and emphasize how good the treatment they receive at our Yue Prince's Mansion!"
"Armor and weapons are all provided by the Prince's Palace. Four sets of clothes a year, three meals a day, with meat at every meal. Grain and salary are paid on time and in full every month, 12 shi of grain per person."
"If you get injured, the Prince's Mansion will cover all your medical expenses, provide you with an injury allowance, and even give you special meals for patients!"
"If you make a contribution, you will not only be promoted, but you will also receive a reward from the Prince's Palace!"
"If someone is unfortunately killed in battle, the Prince's Mansion will provide a pension, which will be no less than twenty strings of cash. The Prince's Mansion will also arrange a livelihood for the family and give priority to employing the children of the fallen soldiers."
Helian Chen was astonished; this treatment was even better than that of the Imperial Guards.
If he were an ordinary, poor man, he would have risked his life to participate in the selection and secure this coveted position in the Yue King's mansion.
"Our Yue Wang Mansion offers great benefits, but the requirements are also strict! Discipline is strict, and orders must be obeyed without question. If you fail the training, you will be dismissed!"
Xie Yuan smiled and took out another piece of paper, beginning to formulate detailed training rules...
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