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The news of the recruitment of companion students continued to spread throughout the Central Plains, and long queues still formed every day at the residence in the east of Kaifeng.

The main reason is that the imperial examination system had long been discontinued, and the changing of the ruling class was a common occurrence.

Therefore, the collapse of social order during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period left scholars feeling utterly lost and helpless, suddenly realizing their utter powerlessness in the face of brutal warfare.

Therefore, faced with Suning's recruitment of study companions and such generous conditions, these students couldn't help but be tempted.

Suning himself, however, has quietly left the registration point and appeared in another place that few people pay attention to.

In the northwest corner outside Kaifeng city, there is a continuous stretch of low-lying shacks.

That was the wounded soldiers' camp after the siege.

When Guo Wei's army entered the city, although the battle was not long-lasting, many soldiers were still wounded in the siege.

Some lost arms, some were injured in the legs and feet, and some were hit in vital areas by stray arrows. Although they survived, they were left with permanent disabilities.

These people were temporarily settled in this simple camp outside the city. Every day, the army doctor would give them a quick dressing change and some thin porridge and dry biscuits. If they survived, they were lucky; if they didn't... they wouldn't survive either.

Nobody has the energy to deal with them.

The army entered the city to stabilize the situation, appease the people, and prepare for the important event of welcoming the new emperor.

The generals were busy vying for credit, busy choosing sides, and busy planning for their own future.

These wounded soldiers, who had lost their fighting ability, became forgotten people.

When Su Ning first arrived at the wounded soldiers' camp, Guo Zhong, who accompanied him, was still a little worried.

"Young master, this place is filthy, and your injuries are severe; I fear it might offend you..."

“Uncle Zhong,” Su Ning interrupted him, her voice low but calm, “they were injured fighting for the Guo family.”

Guo Zhong stopped speaking.

The smell of the wounded soldiers' camp was indeed pungent—a mixture of blood, pustules, herbs, and sweat.

The shack was low and drafty, with only a thin layer of dry grass on the ground.

Su Ning walked into each shed, looking at the severed limbs wrapped in blood-soaked burlap, at the eyes clouded by high fever, and at the cracked, peeling lips.

He was seen squatting in front of a young soldier who had lost his right arm. The soldier was no more than twenty years old, with a sallow complexion and empty eyes staring at the ceiling.

"What is your name?"

"...Li Er".

"Where are you from?"

"...Zhengzhou. My elderly mother is still at home."

How did you hurt your hand?

"During the siege, they climbed ladders and threw rolling logs from the city walls...that's how they were hit." Li Er's voice was very soft, as if he were talking about someone else's business.

Su Ning paused for a moment, then stood up and said to Guo Zhong behind him, "Uncle Zhong, write down his name, hometown, and injuries. Send someone to Zhengzhou to find his mother and bring her to Kaifeng. The resettlement expenses will be covered by my account."

"Yes, young master."

Li Er suddenly turned his head, his chapped lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

That day, Su Ning stayed in the wounded soldiers' camp for a full two hours.

He visited every shack, saw every seriously wounded soldier, and memorized dozens of names.

Some names may be crossed off the list in a few days.

But at least, while they were still alive, someone came to see them, someone asked their names, and someone remembered their mother.

Even knowing that such a benefactor could not possibly have feelings for them, they still couldn't help but feel hopeful and moved.

……

The next day, when Su Ning reappeared at the wounded soldiers' camp, he brought with him several well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctors specializing in traumatology from Kaifeng.

"Gentlemen, these soldiers in the wounded soldiers' camp are all brave warriors who were wounded for the country in the siege battle." Su Ning bowed deeply to the several white-haired old doctors. "I have nothing to repay you with, so I would like to use my own money to invite you gentlemen to come here every day to provide medical treatment and medicine. I will bear all the costs of the consultation and medicine."

The old doctors looked at each other in bewilderment.

They had practiced medicine for decades, seeing high-ranking officials and wealthy people invited to see doctors, as well as poor people who couldn't afford medical care, but they had never seen a fourteen-year-old boy use his own money to seek medical treatment for a wounded soldier.

An elderly doctor surnamed Qin spoke first, "Young master, your kindness is admirable, and I am willing to go."

"I, an old man, am also willing to go."

"Count me in."

That afternoon, for the first time, the wounded soldiers' camp had a proper doctor, appropriate medicine, and clean linen.

For the first time, those who were waiting to die were treated as "human beings".

As the news spread, the atmosphere in the wounded soldiers' camp subtly changed.

No longer was there only deathly silence and groans; people began to talk in hushed tones, some struggled to sit up, and some asked others to send messages home.

But what Suning did went far beyond simply hiring doctors.

He began to have another group of people selected from the wounded soldiers' camp...

Those old soldiers whose injuries had healed but who were disabled and unable to return to the battlefield.

Zhao Da, in his early forties, had lost his left leg below the knee; it was broken by a boulder during the siege.

He served in Guo Wei's army for fifteen years, rising from a foot soldier to a squad leader. He was literate, knew how to do accounting, understood drills, and knew when to advance and retreat.

Qian Qi, thirty-eight years old, lost his right arm below the elbow.

He was originally a scout, skilled in tracking and concealment, able to identify mountains and terrain, and able to teach people to climb and swim.

Sun Wu, 45 years old, is blind in one eye.

He served as an infantry instructor for twenty years. He was strict in training his troops, hitting them hard and scolding them fiercely, but the soldiers he trained had the highest survival rate on the battlefield.

Zhou Laosi, fifty years old, is hunchbacked; he was hit by falling rocks during a siege years ago.

He was illiterate and didn't know how to fight, but he could repair weapons, mend armor, set up camps, and tell the wind direction.

The veterans said that as long as Zhou Laosi was around, the camp would be secure.

These people are waiting to die in the wounded soldiers' camp.

They felt useless, a burden. Nobody told them they were still useful.

Suning found them one by one and questioned them one by one.

Ask them if they know how to teach, are willing to teach, and can endure hardship.

After hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Zhao Da's cloudy eyes. "Young Master, are you saying... I can still be of use?"

How many words do you know?

"A thousand or so."

"Can you do accounting?"

"I can do addition and subtraction within 100."

"Would you be willing to teach?"

Zhao Da remained silent for a long time, then suddenly straightened up, dragging his broken leg, and tried to sit up straight. "Young master, my life originally belonged to the Guo family army. If you don't mind that I'm useless, I'll sell my crippled life to you."

Similar conversations took place throughout the wounded soldiers' camp.

Qian Qi, Sun Wu, Zhou Laosi, and many other unnamed veterans emerged one after another from the corner where they were waiting to die, straightening their hunched backs once more.

They didn't know who the young master wanted them to teach, but they knew he didn't consider them useless.

This is enough.

On the tenth day of the tutor recruitment, the list of registered students has exceeded 800.

From these 800 people, Su Ning initially selected 200 who were of suitable age, in good health, and had some basic knowledge of reading.

Then, he took the two hundred men, along with the twenty-odd wounded and disabled veterans, to an abandoned military camp outside the city.

"Gentlemen." Su Ning stood on a simple earthen platform, facing two hundred young scholars dressed in long gowns of various colors, their eyes full of doubt, and twenty-odd old soldiers who were missing arms and legs but stood ramrod straight.

"You came here to apply for the position of study companion, presumably thinking that studying companion means accompanying the young master in reading, writing, and composing poems."

Some people in the audience nodded, while others looked blank.

“No.” Su Ning’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. “With me, Guo Xin, your companions must study, be literate, and understand principles. But they also need to practice martial arts, run laps, and train in formation. In the future, you will follow me to inspect farms, survey river works, and provide disaster relief. Without a strong physique, you can’t travel far or shoulder heavy responsibilities.” Whispers began to circulate among the audience, while Wang Pu and Zhao Pu in the crowd had bright eyes; these top talents naturally understood Su Ning’s purpose.

"Therefore, from today onwards, you will all rise at dawn and practice for one hour before having breakfast. From dawn to noon, you will study classics and history with Prime Minister Feng and the other gentlemen. From late afternoon to late afternoon, you will practice for another hour. From late afternoon to late evening, you will review your books, practice calligraphy, and give lectures."

Someone couldn't help but mutter under their breath, "This isn't studying, this is joining the army..."

Su Ning heard this, but he wasn't angry. He calmly continued, "Those who find it bitter can withdraw now. The registration cards will not be returned, and you don't need to return the rice and meat you received when you came. Just don't say that you are Guo's study companion from now on."

"..."

At this moment, no one in the audience moved.

Of the two hundred scholars, not a single one moved.

Su Ning waited a moment, then nodded slightly. "Since none of you are leaving, then it's settled. These twenty-odd men are all veterans who have followed my father in battle for many years. From today onwards, they will be your instructors. All matters concerning training will be under their command."

Then he turned to the wounded and disabled veterans and bowed solemnly, saying, "Esteemed seniors, I entrust these promising students to you."

Zhao Da, leaning on his cane, took the lead in clasping his hands in a fist salute, "Young master, rest assured, as long as I have a breath left, I will definitely train you a decent soldier... no, train you a decent attendant!"

Within the broken bodies of Qian Qi, Sun Wu, and Zhou Laosi, it seemed as if a fire had been rekindled.

From that day on, this abandoned military camp outside the city began to show a strange vitality.

Every day before dawn, a loud command would pierce the morning mist.

"Halt!"

"Turn right—"

"Run—walk!"

Two hundred scholars in long gowns ran panting, their hats askew, their belts undone, some with blisters on their feet, and others being verbally abused by Sun Wu.

But no one quit.

After finishing their run, they quickly washed up, drank a bowl of thick porridge, and then each took their books and gathered in the makeshift shed to listen to the lectures given by the old scholars invited by Feng Daoyan.

Feng Dao himself did not come often, after all, he held a high position and important responsibilities, but he would always give a lecture in person every now and then.

He spoke of the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, the rise and fall of dynasties, and the importance of governing with virtue.

Two hundred students from impoverished families sat in the audience; some listened with rapt attention, some wrote furiously, and some were moved to tears.

Lunch consisted of brown rice and stewed vegetables, and it was all you could eat.

There were no delicacies, but everyone could eat three big bowls.

After a short rest following the meal, it was time for more drills.

This time, Qian Qi's sect was tracking and hiding, while Zhou Laosi's sect was setting up camp to determine the direction.

There were also veterans who had learned a few martial arts moves, who taught them the most basic self-defense techniques.

Nighttime is the quietest time.

Two hundred people each sat by a solitary lamp, reviewing their day's lessons and practicing calligraphy.

Suning is among them.

He sat neither in the center nor at the front, but right next to his fellow students. They used the same lamp oil and slept on the same bunks.

At first, the students dared not speak loudly in front of him, and they had to think carefully before they spoke.

A few days later, some people began to dare to ask Su Ning about his insights.

Ten days later, someone dared to argue with Su Ning about the chapters and verses of the Analects.

Suning wasn't annoyed; they carefully reviewed the situation and made the necessary changes.

I ate, lived, trained, and studied with these two hundred people.

Suning is no different from other tutoring companions.

The news naturally spread, leaving many people bewildered.

Inside the headquarters, Guo Wei remained silent for a long time after Guo Zhong finished reporting.

After a long silence, he finally managed to suppress his shock and asked, "Yi-ge'er is running laps by himself too?"

"Yes. Every day from dawn, he studies and trains with his companion. He crosses twenty miles without missing a single step."

"You've developed calluses on your hands?"

"Yes. There are already calluses on the part of my hand that holds the pen."

Guo Wei remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly.

"This kid...is far superior to his father."

In the east of the city, at Wang Jun's residence.

"Eat, live, and train together?" Wang Jun's expression turned strange after hearing this. "The third son of Lord Ling, instead of staying in his perfectly good mansion, went to a deserted camp outside the city to struggle and train with a bunch of poor scholars?"

"Yes," the confidant reported. "We also found more than twenty disabled veterans to be instructors."

Wang Jun opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but didn't know where to begin.

After a long pause, Wang Jun said in a muffled voice, "What exactly is this kid trying to do?"

No one can answer that.

In the military camp outside the city, Su Ning was squatting on the ground, studying the "track and trace identification" technique taught by Sun Wugang with several companions...

There were several sets of footprints on the muddy ground. Which set belonged to those who got up early to fetch water, which set belonged to those who patrolled last night, and which set belonged to stray dogs?

"Young master, look at this footprint. The sole of the shoe is worn on the outer side, so this person must walk with their toes pointing outwards..."

Su Ning looked at it carefully, nodded, and made a note of it.

Sunlight fell on his still somewhat thin face; he was expressionless, but very focused.

He knew that many people outside couldn't understand what he was doing.

Recruiting study companions, hiring renowned doctors, taking in wounded soldiers, training veterans, sharing meals and lodging...

Each of these events, taken individually, is somewhat out of line.

When put together, they look even more incongruous.

But he wasn't in a hurry.

He was just doing what he was supposed to do.

Fighting wars requires soldiers, governing a country requires people.

Where do the soldiers come from? From the fields.

Where do people come from? From humble backgrounds.

Every seed planted now will grow into a big tree in ten or twenty years.

I'm only fourteen years old now, I can afford to wait.

In the distance, Zhao Da, leaning on his crutch, was demonstrating the essentials of "standing at attention" to a group of scholars with his one leg.

Qian Qi squatted in the corner, drawing the contours of mountains and rivers on the ground with a twig.

Sun Wu's voice was still full of energy as he cursed.

Zhou Laosi and several disciples were studying how to build tents around a pile of tent components.

Two hundred scholars in long gowns, though they still sometimes scrambled their feet when running laps and still blushed when scolded, had eyes that were different from when they first arrived.

No longer feeling lost, fearful, and just trying to make a living.

It is something brighter.

Su Ning looked away and continued to look down at the footprints on the ground.

These two hundred people are the seeds of my future livelihood through education, and I will use subtle means to build my own influence.

The regional separatism that had existed since the late Tang Dynasty would also end in his hands.

Anyone who wants to be crowned emperor should first ask themselves if they agree to it.

...(End of this chapter)