Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 20 Gathering Strength
As for Sima Qian, all Huo Shan could do was to keep his distance from him.

He would not regard Sima Qian as an idol, nor would he worship him because of some things. It was obvious that they were unlikely to become friends, so he would just keep his distance.

He would never do anything that would make him feel uncomfortable. As for the so-called respect for celebrities, it all depends on the situation. If others don't give him face, Huo Xian won't give him face either. It's that simple.

According to Sima Qian's understanding and his mission, he certainly wanted to know about the Dengfeng Ceremony. But if Huo Shan told it, Sima Qian would still be famous, but Huo Shan might lose his life immediately.

Chen Ju and others would not give Sima Qian any face and would almost immediately drive him away when Huo Shan gave the order.

The Guanjun Marquis Mansion once again returned to its lively and peaceful atmosphere, and everyone was busy doing what they were supposed to do.

Huo Xian was very experienced in recruiting carpenters and blacksmiths.

When making the big iron pot before, because of the lack of preparation, he could only go to the palace to find the Shaofu who was in charge of the royal family's private property and life. But now, Huo Xian can open a blacksmith shop at home.

Quenching technology, cold forging technology, and even steel-making methods have been invented and used in this era.

However, the current steel-frying method is still being improved and upgraded, and it cannot be regarded as a truly large-scale technology promotion and use.

But no matter what, Huo Xian felt that he didn't need to worry too much. He didn't know much about smelting anyway, and the ironware and other things that the Han Dynasty had were basically enough.

It was meaningful for Huo Xian to introduce saddles, horseshoes, and stirrups at the right time. It was also meaningful for him to study beds, chairs, and so on.

Huo Xian was also racking his brains to see if he could "restore" some farm tools according to his unclear memories.

Of course there were plows in the Western Han Dynasty, but they were basically single-long-shafted and rather clumsy. This type of single-long-shafted plow was usually pulled by two oxen.

This method of "two oxen pulling a plow" was very common in the Han Dynasty, and after these two people, one more person was needed to sow the seeds.

Huo Xian felt that if he could invent the curved plow, it would be a remarkable achievement.

That will greatly liberate productivity and allow more people to cultivate more land.

The Han Dynasty today can be considered to be in a prosperous age. The country is at peace, people are free from corvée labor, the harvests are good every year, the people are prosperous, the yield of millet is thirty bushels, and cattle and sheep roam the wild.

But Huo Xian also knew that this prosperous era might soon come to an end. With the continued dispatch of troops, the corvée labor of the people would continue to increase, and a large number of refugees would appear.

Fighting a war is not just a matter of military capability, it is also a competition of a country's comprehensive strength.

Previously, the Han Dynasty had beaten the Xiongnu so badly that they were unable to resist. When Wei and Huo suddenly appeared, their abilities were beyond doubt. However, it was also the times that made heroes. If there had not been the rule of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, where would the Han Dynasty have gotten hundreds of thousands of war horses?

Huo Xian was thinking about his next plans. He could not go to the battlefield now. Liu Che would not allow it, Wei Qing would not allow it, and it was basically impossible for others to agree.

Even though Huo Xian was a brave and heroic young man, it was not realistic to expect him to go to the battlefield at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

From Huo Xian's point of view, the earliest possible outcome would be after sixteen. Waiting until eighteen would be the most likely scenario.

There is no need to worry too much, because there is still time and you won’t miss any major battles.

A dozen young men came to the Guanjun Marquis' Mansion. Even though they were all from good families with good financial conditions, when they looked at the Guanjun Marquis' Mansion today, these young men felt that the gap was too big.

Huo Xian was very happy and said, "You have accompanied me in practicing horse riding and archery over the past two years, so we can be considered comrades. Now I will organize a new army and assign all of you to it. How do you think?"

These young men are all from good families, but in fact they do not have official positions now and do not need to serve in the military because they are not of age yet.

"At your command, my Lord!"

"I have no way to repay your love and respect, so I will die for you!"

These young men were also very excited. Being able to become Huo Xian's troops was a step to heaven for many of them. Having such an opportunity was already better than their fathers and brothers. "Now we are also ambitious young men. You all go home and prepare horses and arrows." Huo Xian arranged, "Follow me to Shanglin Garden in five days. I want to see your riding and archery!"

"only!"

"only!"

Practicing horse riding and archery is something these martial young men like to do.

Being able to go hunting naturally suits their appetite more.

As for each of them preparing horses, bows and arrows, it was normal, although now if you join the army, armor and weapons are basically provided by the court. But for some people, it is more convenient to hold their own weapons.

This group of young men in front of us are just like this. Their family conditions are basically not bad, and they all have horses and weapons.

Huo Xian clapped his hands, and Chen Ju and others stepped forward holding bows and swords.

"A lacquer bow and a ring-handled sword." Huo Xian said, "The one who gets the most from hunting can claim the reward. Remember, you are not allowed to kill mother animals or young animals in the spring."

In fact, everyone has some ideas about "sustainable resources". The idiom "drain the pond to catch all the fish" was proposed in the Spring and Autumn Period.

For these good family boys, hunting is not just for fun. Hunting can show off their bravery, but it can also show off their character.

Although the reward is not huge, it is enough to make these young men look forward to it. It is more important to perform well.

Practicing horse riding and archery is something these martial young men like to do.

Being able to go hunting naturally suits their appetite more.

As for each of them preparing horses, bows and arrows, etc., it is normal, although now if you join the army, armor and weapons are basically provided by the court.

But for some people, it is more convenient to hold their own weapons.

This group of young men in front of us are just like this. Their family conditions are basically not bad, and they all have horses and weapons.

Even if these weapons of the Marquis of Guanjun's Mansion are not magical weapons, they can be guaranteed to be much better than standard weapons.

What's more, for these good family boys, what they want is not just the weapons themselves, but the recognition and honor brought by these weapons, which is more important and meaningful.

After everyone left, Feng Xu said, "Sir, if you want to train 800 cavalrymen, we can also serve."

Huo Xian said directly, "Uncle Feng, even if you want to take a break, I won't allow it. Since I am training the troops, you four must follow. There are some things I don't understand, but you must understand them after being in the army for a long time."

Feng Xu and the others were immediately excited. Although their life in the Marquis of Guanjun Mansion was very good, it was certainly a wonderful life with ease and wealth.

But deep down, what they still think about is the war and the opportunity to go to the battlefield and kill the enemy again.

Zhao Hexi puffed out his chest and said, "My lord, although I have lost an arm, I can still kill the enemy. When I was in the general's tent, I only used a knife to kill the enemy. If you go to war, you must take me with you!"

Huo Xian quickly stopped him, as the four generals might want to fight. "You should also prepare for the farm. How about this? Uncle Feng goes back to the farm first. Your wife and children are also there. Train the farm boys well. I will use them in the future!"

Feng Xu didn't waste any words. If he had been asked to go back to Zhuangtian before, he would have felt that they despised him as a useless person, and might even have been so stubborn as to commit suicide to show his disobedience.

But now it's different. Now I have to go back to train the guards for the prince. This is the real job. The prince has entrusted me with such a thing. What a trust!
It is no exaggeration to say that these personal guards are Huo Xian's last trump card when he goes on an expedition in the future.

It can be a sharp weapon to charge into the battle line and kill the enemy, or it can be a trump card to save your life. It must be absolutely loyal and reliable, and absolutely brave and unparalleled!

(End of this chapter)