Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Upon hearing about the structure of the Annan Army, Hou Yuxiao's eyebrows furrowed immediately.

Seeing his expression, Hou Yucheng understood and promptly cupped his hands, saying: "Elder brother can rest assured, the upper echelons of the Annan Army are indeed composed of the Hong Miao Tribe and local experts from Nanping. Half a year ago, I already considered this issue, while bringing people over from Hexi, I observed Hong Kui's performance in the army. With my current Three Realms of Yuan Dan cultivation, combined with the structure of the Annan Army, Hong Kui's prestige in the army far exceeds mine. If he truly harbored ill intentions, over the past six months, not to mention taking advantage of the internal unrest in the Annan Army, the opportunities provided by the Nanjiang rebels would have been countless.

But over the past six months, not only did he not show any signs of disloyalty, he helped me control the Annan Army everywhere, and even privately kept a distance from the original Hong Miao Tribe's commanding generals. In my opinion, the loyalty of the Hong Ju father and son duo is no longer an issue."

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuxiao nodded. He wasn't particularly worried about the Hong Ju father and son duo; the problem is that the Annan Army has 1.5 million soldiers, and it's hard to ensure that there aren't a mixed bag of individuals with different agendas. Expecting them to be completely loyal within just half a year is certainly unrealistic.

"The large number of soldiers makes control difficult, which is normal. However, as long as we can stabilize the Hong Ju father and son duo, without anyone leading those with different ideas, the Annan Army won't have any major problems. Over the past six months, I've asked Second Brother to assist in bringing quite a few soldiers from Hexi to pose as local martial artists from Nanjiang, mixing them into the Annan Army. Some unstable elements have actually been sorted out and can be dealt with at any time, but most of these people only have verbal grievances. Over time, there are ways to convert them, so there's no need to worry, Elder Brother!"

With Old Fifth's words, Hou Yuxiao was truly at ease.

"That's good. For now, I'll leave Nanping Prefecture in your hands. The Red Flame Army's establishment has yet to be restored. This time, Second Elder will take the Red Flame and Zhaoyang Army back to Hexi with me. Moreover, the Hong Ju father and son duo will also take 1 million Annan soldiers with me. I'll leave you with 500,000 troops and 20,000 Red Flame Army in Nanping. Is that enough?"

The restoration of the Red Flame Army's establishment, in fact, already has enough personnel. Not mentioning the Zhaoyang Army, even among the soldiers with the Ten Layers of Body Openings in the Hexi Army, there are many in the 1.5 million Annan Army who can be used as supplements. Moreover, as long as Hou Yuxiao provides enough Primordial Blood, the soldiers with Ten Layers of Body Openings cultivation will only increase.

The problem with recruiting for the Red Flame Army lies in the teaching of the Holy Army Code, which requires not only cultivation from the soldiers but also their loyalty. One cannot expand the army carelessly. Based on past experiences, the soldiers must be taken to the Baiye Camp for training and then selected. This is why on this return to Hexi, Hou Yuxiao plans to take two-thirds of the Annan Army.

"Five hundred thousand is more than enough. Besides us in Hexi, only the northern Leiyin Temple is neighboring Nanping Prefecture. According to the messages from Third Sister, no movements have been reported from Leiyin Temple. With the masters of the Four Holy Lands having gone to Jianye Prefecture, it's impossible that nothing has happened. Either Leiyin Temple has sealed off the information, or the four still remain in Jianye Prefecture for some reason. Anyways, Leiyin Temple has no time to trouble us now, so Elder Brother can rest assured and return!"

Hearing about Leiyin Temple, a cold glint flashed through Hou Yuxiao's pupils.

The news regarding Leiyin Temple from Nanping sent by San Niang also reached him.

The reason he dared to lead an army south this time was primarily due to two reasons: Rakshasa Holy Sect extending its reach into Nanjiang, and the Ziqing Holy Sect sending information about Leiyin Temple through his wife, Zhao Qingxue.

In early July, Wei Xuheng, Xun Mu, Meng Qu, and Jing Yuanxiu, the masters of the Four Holy Lands, collectively went to Jianye Prefecture to meet with Shitian Buddha of Leiyin Temple.

It was precisely because of this news that Hou Yuxiao dared to lead all seventy thousand elite troops from Hexi southward. Although it turned out later that he fell into Sikong Yue's scheme to assist Great Jin against Ni Han, the gains in Hexi were substantial — acquiring a vast part of Nanjiang, including half of the Five Elements Heaven, the allegiance of Hong Ju father and son, and the changes within the Divine Lotus in the Sea of Consciousness. Compared to the loss of 420,000 elite troops, the harvest was indeed rich.

After conquering Nanjiang, the Hou Clan held Xinan, Hexi, and Nanping Prefectures, with a population near fifty million. This scale had long met the standards of one Dao (province) in Shenzhou. If not for the fear of attracting undue attention, Hou Yuxiao would have announced the merger of the three prefectures into one Dao long ago, as such a move would greatly enhance the people's sense of identity within the three prefectures.

When will it be possible to openly establish a Dao?

Hou Yuxiao has thought about this question more than once over the past half year.

With the northern Yunlan Ancient River, the Hou Clan's threats only come from the east, south, and west. With the resolution of Nanjiang, only the east and west remain. On the east side, Wuwei King is supported by the Ziqing Holy Sect and is still contending with the Wanjian Holy Sect, so his main focus, at least for now, remains on Xuzhou, posing no immediate problem; thus, the only concern for the Hou Clan is the western Leiyin Temple rooted in Jianye Prefecture.

Interestingly, Leiyin Temple is currently in a difficult situation!

According to Hou Yuxiao's speculation, the four masters of the Holy Lands going together to Jianye Prefecture to meet Shitian is undoubtedly regarding Lin Xuangan's Treasure Map Fragment. Although he hasn't received any news from Jianye Prefecture thus far, he is certain that Leiyin Temple is in trouble.

For the past six months, Hou Yuxiao worried more than once that Leiyin Temple would solve the God Sect Treasure Map problem. Time and again he sent messages back to Hexi, instructing San Niang to always closely monitor the situation in Jianye Prefecture. Fortunately, as of now, nothing has emerged from Leiyin Temple.

No news is the best news!

Hou Yuduan stated that it's problematic for Leiyin Temple to come trouble Hexi.

The cold light in Hou Yuxiao's eyes began to show. Since Leiyin Temple hasn't solved the issue with the masters of the four Holy Lands in over half a year, it's become less about Hexi fearing their trouble and more about Leiyin Temple fearing if Hexi would trouble them.

Failing to take advantage of the current scourge of the four Holy Land masters against Leiyin Temple to resolve this ticking time bomb would be too regrettable.

This return to Hexi serves two main purposes: accelerating the restoration of the Red Flame Army's establishment to recover the losses from half a year ago and expanding the current Hou Clan's military preparedness.

The new policy has been implemented in Nanping Prefecture for half a year now, and through the Martial Registry Command, Hou Yuduan has nearly grasped the situation regarding the martial artists in the entire prefecture. Once he returns to Hexi, simultaneous conscription in the three prefectures will enable the Hou Clan to draw together a force much larger than it was six months ago.

The purpose of expanding military preparedness is, of course, for the western Leiyin Temple.

"Second Elder, tomorrow morning you and Gao Changlong, Gao Changhu will lead the troops to set out, Old Fifth, you'll stay with Gao Changbao with 20,000 Red Flame Army and 500,000 Annan Army in Nanping Prefecture. Remember, early April marks the full-scale conscription in the three prefectures; by then, the Annan Army's expanded troops will all rotate through Baiye Camp for training under Second Elder, forming combat capabilities by the end of this year at the latest.

To safeguard these three prefectures and even continue expanding territories, our Hou Clan must possess an army far stronger than before!"

Hou Yucheng, Hou Yuduan, and the three brothers of the Gao Family were exhilarated, bowing in unison.

"Yes, Elder Brother!"

"At your command, Family Head!"

......

New Yu Era, March 6, 1332

Hou Yucheng, Gao Changlong, Gao Changhu personally led a million-strong Annan Army, coupled with a hundred thousand Red Flame Army and 180,000 Zhaoyang Army, embarking together on the road back to Hexi. Such a large-scale troop movement naturally aroused quite a stir among the people of Nanping Prefecture.

From Nanping Prefecture City to Hexi Prefecture City, the journey is over 3,000 li (miles); even at the fastest pace, it would take nearly twenty days to complete.

Hou Yuxiao did not accompany the main army. Eager to return home, thinking of his son who had been born more than twenty days ago, he couldn't wait for so long. Since Nanping and Hexi had long since become united, and there was no significant threat to the army, he decided to set off directly with the Hong Ju father and son duo first.