FBC – Chapter 326 Recruiting Troops

Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilan acted as soon as they decided.

They first selected two groups of young maids from the prince’s manor. Six who were literate, good at arithmetic, and quick-witted were chosen to be managerial maids of the manor—most of them were long-serving family-born retainers of the Mu household.

The plan was for Zhou Zhilan to train them for a month, and once competent, they would be assigned as assistants to the senior stewardesses to gain experience, becoming the manor’s second tier of female stewards.

The Princess Consort also said that for every disciple an older stewardess trained, she would receive a reward of a hundred taels of silver. Once the disciple could work independently, the senior stewardess would earn the right to “retirement honor”—no longer needing to work yet still receiving a stipend.

The stewardesses instantly abandoned their fear that “teaching a student means starving the master,” and wholeheartedly taught the younger generation.

Another ten girls with martial arts foundations, sharp eyes, and quick hands were selected to become female guards.

These ten were almost all orphans of Mu Army soldiers—skilled and fiercely loyal.

Gu Hua planned to have Zhou Zhilan train them into the backbone of a future female troop. One could lead a hundred, and someday they could command a thousand-woman force.

If a major war truly came and all Mu Army men had to leave the city, then the women could shoulder the responsibility of protecting their families and even defending the entire city of Juzhou, allowing the men to fight without worries.

Every morning, Zhou Zhilan led Dong Qing and the six managerial maids to observe how she handled the inner residence affairs—how she delegated tasks, arranged schedules, and inspected the manor four times a day. She explained in detail what to watch for and how to handle anything suspicious.

In the afternoons, Zhou Zhilan trained the female guards in martial arts.

Whenever that time came, the Old Madam would bring Tuantuan and Yuanyuan along with stools to watch them practice.

Tuantuan only hugged his sketchbook, absorbed in drawing, seemingly uninterested in martial arts.

He often slipped away to watch his mother and Aunt Zhou discuss household matters instead, sitting like a little adult in a huge armchair, his small legs crossed, hands placed properly on his lap, his little face full of seriousness.

He understood none of it, yet kept flashing an appreciative smile—as if saying, “You’re doing great.”

Every time this happened, he made both Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilan laugh until their stomachs hurt. Zhou Zhilan would even deliberately ask him a few questions. The little fellow would solemnly nod in agreement or shake his head in disapproval.

Gu Hua and Zhou Zhilan immediately cooperated with praise, giving him a thumbs-up.

Only then would the little rascal finally act like a two-year-old, giggling happily.

Yuanyuan, however, couldn’t sit still. She often ran into the training ranks, shouting “hey-ya!” while punching along with the older sisters—small arms and legs waving everywhere. Sometimes she couldn’t even stand steadily, but still looked quite imposing, making all the older girls burst into laughter.

Gu Hua had notices posted in Juzhou City, announcing the recruitment of female guards for the prince’s manor—target: twenty recruits.

She and Zhou Zhilan never expected that only one hour after posting the notice, the manor gates were nearly crushed by the crowd.

Some came personally, some brought their daughters, and others came to gather information for female relatives.

Gu Hua quickly ordered tables and chairs to be set up at the street entrance and had Zhou Zhilan sit and personally select candidates.

Because of the Princess Consort’s recent measures, the entire manor was energized—everyone worked with great enthusiasm, footsteps light, faces bright with smiles, as if celebrating a grand festival.

Yin Tao, after making a full round of the manor and seeing the lively scene, felt alarmed—they were even beginning to recruit female guards now.

She rushed back to her small courtyard and found Yiyun leisurely reading in the east side room. Annoyed, she snatched the book away.

“Read, read, read—can reading this nonsense help you marry a good husband? Will it bring you gold and jewels? Can’t you see the whole world outside has already changed? And you’re still reading!”

Yiyun frowned. “Can’t you speak properly without shouting?”

Yin Tao laughed angrily. “Oh, so you came here to enjoy life like a noble lady? Did you throw away everything the Empress told you to do?”

Yiyun glanced quickly toward the doorway. The old servants watching the gate had already been removed, leaving only two young maids—who happened to be in the kitchen fetching food.

She stood, checked the courtyard entrance, confirmed no one was around, and finally relaxed.

Closing the gate, she pulled Yin Tao into the east room and whispered, “Are you not afraid people will hear you’re the Empress’ spy? You’re shouting so loudly.”

Yin Tao’s face turned pale, and she peeked outside. “What should we do? Do we report this to Her Majesty?”

“We can’t even leave—how?”

Yin Tao thought for a moment. “Didn’t they say we could throw a token over the west wall at midnight? And someone would contact us with instructions on how to pass messages?”

Yiyun was reluctant.

But she understood clearly that they were not the only informants placed by the Empress. If they never delivered any updates, they would lose their value.

Seeing Yiyun hesitate, Yin Tao grew impatient. “Hurry up and take it out! Isn’t the token with you?”

Who knew why the Empress had chosen this timid girl?

Just because she used to be an official’s daughter?

She was as timid as a mouse—how could she accomplish anything?

While Yin Tao was silently complaining, Yiyun retrieved an item from her room and handed it over.

“At midnight, throw this over the west wall.”

Yin Tao looked at it. It was an ordinary wooden hairpin. “This? Seriously?”

She didn’t believe the Empress would give something so cheap as a signal token.

Yiyun whispered, “It’s hollow.”

Yin Tao quickly examined it—and indeed, the hairpin could be unscrewed, revealing a hollow interior.

“Then write a note to put inside—about them recruiting female guards.”

Yiyun stared at her as if she were an idiot. “I’m not writing anything. If someone else picks it up and traces it back to us, we’re dead.”

Yin Tao choked. “So we’re throwing it empty?”

“Didn’t they say someone would come find us? We’ll just test it. If no one comes, it’s not our fault.”

Yiyun said this, took the book back, and resumed reading.

Yin Tao could only wait for nightfall.

…

Gu Hua sat behind Zhou Zhilan, her pregnant belly prominent, and watched each girl who came to register. Every time someone was chosen and cheered excitedly, she felt equally happy.

Those not selected still received fifty coins—everyone left smiling.

Gu Hua simply wanted to restore confidence in Juzhou, sweeping away decades of fear and gloom caused by war.

Southern border women were indeed different from Central Plains women. Many ethnic groups surrounded them—Miao, Yi, and others who had settled in Great Liang. They still lived by hunting, chopping wood, and gathering wild herbs to sell for money.

But such a life depended on nature. If a family had many children, they would often go hungry.

Becoming a female guard in the Prince’s Manor meant a stable monthly wage and honor—bringing pride to their whole family.

The girls surrounded Zhou Zhilan layer upon layer, and soon the twenty positions were filled.

Zhou Zhilan glanced at Gu Hua, silently mouthing, Enough?

Gu Hua nodded with a smile.

This couldn’t be rushed.

The manor now had a pair of young twins, and the Princess Consort was pregnant again, so it wasn’t suspicious that many female guards were needed.

But recruiting too many at once would attract unwanted attention.

Zhou Zhilan stood, stretched, and happily looked at the twenty neatly lined-up women.

She strode toward them and smiled. “You may all return home and pack today. Don’t bring anything—the manor will provide all clothing. Food and lodging are covered. You don’t need to spend a single coin. You will also receive monthly wages.

Tomorrow at dawn, come to the manor. We will sign a contract and give each of you two taels of silver to bring home as filial offerings to your families. The day after tomorrow, we will begin formal training.”

“Understood, my lady!”

A tall, dark-skinned girl shouted loudly.

The others didn’t know how to respond at first, but after hearing her, they all pulled their voices and echoed:

“Understood, my lady!”

Twenty women shouting together was deafening.

Zhou Zhilan was startled back two steps by the sheer volume.