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At dusk, the red sun in the sky had gradually set, leaving only a little afterglow shining on the Wuzhong County Magistrate's Mansion.

In the courtyard of the palace, several locust trees stood quietly, their trunks rough and covered with traces of time. The branches were covered with sparse green leaves, which swirled and fell when the wind blew.

In the county hall, the candles were not fully lit yet, and the light was a little dim. The red paint on the several vermilion pillars in the hall was a little mottled, and the stone bricks on the ground were slightly cool, with crisscrossing stone patterns. On the wall directly above the hall hung a huge Qin map, and the curtains on both sides of the map were a little faded due to age, and swayed slightly.

County Magistrate Yin Tong was wearing a dark green official uniform, with a jade belt around his waist that shone faintly in the light. He was slightly bloated, with a round face and narrow eyes. At this moment, he calmly instructed his attendants, "Go, invite Mr. Xiang Liang to come over for a chat."

The attendant was thin and had a clever look in his eyes. After hearing the order, he was slightly startled and asked in surprise: "Sir, you said to invite Mr. Xiang Liang?"

Yin Tong nodded slightly: "Yes."

The attendant showed a hesitant look on his face and hurriedly advised: "Sir, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu are uncle and nephew from Chu. The situation is a bit delicate now. Isn't it inappropriate to invite him at this time?"

"Haha~"

Yin Tong raised the corner of his mouth, laughed and asked: "Then tell me, where am I from?"

The attendant replied: "You are from Qin."

"Yes."

Yin Tong nodded with a smile on his face: "If it was still the time when the Qin court was unstable and the four directions were in turmoil, perhaps the Qin and Chu people would be more clearly distinguished. But now, the four seas have united, and the world belongs to the Qin Dynasty. How can there be so many differences? Don't worry, and quickly invite Mr. Xiang Liang to come."

Although the attendant was still somewhat worried, seeing that the county magistrate was determined, he had no choice but to obey the order and go and ask for help.

Yin Tong stood in the hall, looking in the direction where the attendant left, thinking, and began to pace with his hands behind his back. Not long after, the attendant brought Xiang Liang to the front of the hall.

Xiang Liang was wearing a blue shirt, which had a few wrinkles but was overall clean and tidy. He had an upright posture, broad shoulders, strong facial lines, thick and slightly upturned eyebrows, and deep and bright eyes.

"Hahaha~"

Yin Tong laughed, cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Xiang Liang, I haven't seen you for a long time. You are free now!"

"I am honored to be summoned by Your Excellency!"

Seeing Yin Tong's attitude, Xiang Liang felt relieved and hurriedly returned the greeting: "I just don't know why you want to see me, sir?"

Yin Tong raised his hand to signal Xiang Liang to take a seat, and said, "Although the Great Qin has unified the world, there are undercurrents in all parties. I heard that you have a high prestige in Wuzhong and have extraordinary insights. I would like to discuss the current situation in the world and the future direction of Wuzhong with you."

Xiang Liang's eyes flickered a few times, and he looked directly at Yin Tong: "Your Excellency is too kind. I am just an ordinary person. The affairs of the world are too complicated. I have been hiding in the countryside for a long time and have not been concerned with worldly affairs. I don't know what you mean by this?"

Yin Tong stared at Xiang Liang for a while, shook his head slightly, and said with a smile:
"Sir, there is no need to be modest. I think you are a man of great character and have great ideas. Nowadays, the imperial court has issued many decrees, and the people are quite dissatisfied. As a county governor, I want to maintain peace in the area, but I have to obey the imperial court's orders. I am really in a dilemma."

Xiang Liang was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Your Excellency is the governor of a county, and you care about the people. This is a blessing for the people. However, the laws of the Qin Dynasty are strict, so you must act with caution."

Yin Tong sighed slightly: "I know that too. But in the current situation, if we don't prepare for the rainy day, something unexpected might happen. I heard that your family was once in Chu..."

Before he finished speaking, Yin Tong seemed to realize that something was wrong and paused.

Xiang Liang's expression remained unchanged, but a barely perceptible light flashed in his eyes: "The past of our family is long gone. Now we are all Qin people, and we should abide by Qin laws."

Yin Tong nodded: "Sir, you are open-minded. But I heard that the old people in Chu still have many dissatisfactions with the Qin Dynasty. How do you think we can resolve this?"

Xiang Liang picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Sir, the will of the people cannot be changed overnight. Only by reducing taxes and levies, giving the people a rest, and allowing them to live and work in peace, can we achieve long-term stability."

Yin Tong pondered for a moment, staring at Xiang Liang closely: "Sir, what you said is very true. However, the taxes and labor service are all set by the court, and I have no right to change them. Lord Xiang Liang... I will be frank! The Qin Dynasty is unjust right now, so we should rebel!"

"ah?!!"

Xiang Liang was horrified and suspicious, thinking that Yin Tong was testing him, so he smiled and said, "Sir, you are not joking, are you?"

"How could I possibly joke about such a big thing!... The Second Emperor did not attend court and allowed Zhao Gao to control the government."

Yin Tong stood up, his round face tense, his narrow eyes revealing determination and cruelty, his voice low and hoarse, filled with endless resentment:

"In the court, treacherous officials are rampant, and loyal officials are driven out. I thought that with the new king on the throne, the world would have a new look, but it has only been a year, and just when there were some signs of rest and recuperation, the world has to go to war again. The people have long been exhausted from the continuous conscription, and countless people have sold their children. The fields are barren, the villages are dilapidated, and everywhere there is crying."

Yin Tong clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He recalled the glory days in Wuzhong County. At that time, he only needed to give an order and everyone would obey. The extra taxes flowed into his pocket like a stream, and the money from corvée service made his mansion rich. He used the money to buy land and recruit guests. His confidants surrounded him like stars around the moon, and the flattery was endless.

However, Yi Huawei's decree was like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering his beautiful dream. The provisions restricting the additional collection of local taxes were like a shackle, tightly locking his financial path; the strict control of corvée dispatch was like a sharp blade, cutting off the source of his profit. The expenses of the government office were reduced again and again, from delicacies to simple meals, from silk and satin to plain clothes. Those confidants who once greeted him with smiles and flattered him now avoided his eyes when they saw him, and some even secretly talked about him behind his back, preparing to look for a better branch.

What made him even more angry was that he recently received a secret letter, the contents of which were like a poisonous thorn that pierced his heart deeply. The letter said that when his term of office was over, Zhao Gao was going to transfer him from Wuzhong to Guilin County. In his eyes, Guilin County was nothing more than a barren land filled with miasma and rampant wild beasts.

Thinking that I have been working diligently in Wuzhong, defending the territory and ensuring the safety of the people for the Qin Dynasty, is this the outcome I get?

This Great Qin, it’s better not to have it!!
At this time, Yi Huawei transferred half of the best soldiers in the county to the Western Regions. This transfer was a godsend in Yin Tong's eyes. He secretly bribed several captains and only needed a general who could lead the troops in battle. His eyes naturally fell on Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang had a long-standing prestige in Wuzhong and had considerable military talent. If he could get his help, great things might be accomplished.

Yin Tong looked at the dark night outside the hall, as if he saw the day when he would ascend to a high position and hold great power. At this time, Xiang Liang was sitting quietly by the side, his face as calm as water, but his heart was like a turbulent sea, thinking about the situation in front of him and how he should choose.

In the lobby, candlelight flickered and light and shadows danced chaotically on the walls.

Yin Tong slowly turned around and looked straight at Xiang Liang, speaking earnestly and with a bit of admiration: "Mr. Xiang Liang, you are the son of General Xiang Yan, a descendant of a noble family. Your reputation is known to everyone in the world."

Xiang Liang raised his eyes slightly, a complex look flashed across his eyes, fleeting, and then he lowered his head humbly.

Yin Tong continued, "Of the six kingdoms that were destroyed, Chu suffered the most. And now, the Qin has lost the support of the people, and the people are suffering and complaining. Tell me, can I not follow this trend?"

Xiang Liang came back to his senses and was secretly delighted to hear Yin Tong's words, as if a pillow had fallen from the sky when he was dozing off. However, he remained calm, suppressed his inner excitement, and bowed deeply to Yin Tong: "Thank you for your trust, Xiang Liang is very grateful! However, if I want to start a rebellion...Do you have any troops?"

Yin Tong raised his head, put his hands behind his back, and showed a smug smile on his face: "Haha~, the soldiers, horses, and military vehicles are all under my control, and they all obey my orders."

Xiang Liang nodded slightly, but a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, and his eyes darkened slightly: "What about the Qin envoy? If the Qin envoy knew about this and reported it to the court, it would be a disaster."

"Hahahaha~ Lord Xiang Liang, Lord Xiang Liang, you said you don't care about worldly affairs, but in fact you have always cared about the world."

Yin Tong burst into laughter, and his laughter echoed in the hall, shaking the candlelight even more. After a long time, Yin Tong stopped laughing, stretched out his finger, and pointed at the wooden box on the table: "Come, open this box, Lord Xiang Liang, and see what's inside?"

A sense of curiosity and uneasiness surged in Xiang Liang's heart, and he slowly walked towards the wooden box. He gently opened the lid of the box, and in an instant, his eyes widened. Inside was the head of the Qin envoy. His eyes were wide open, as if he had died with his eyes open. The blood had dried up and condensed into dark red patches at the bottom of the box.

Xiang Liang was shocked, but quickly regained his composure. He knew very well that there was no turning back after Yin Tong had done this.

"Hahaha~, do you understand?" Yin Tong looked at Xiang Liang's reaction and said slowly: "The Qin envoy tried to interfere in the affairs of Wuzhong and reported the situation here to the court. If I don't take the initiative, how can I accomplish great things? Now, his head and body are separated, and he can no longer stop us."

"So, I understand your intentions! As long as you are sincere in fighting against Qin, I will definitely serve you!!"

Xiang Liang frowned slightly and said, "Your Excellency's move is decisive, but once the Qin envoy is dead, the court will definitely notice it. We need to speed up our actions."

Yin Tong nodded and walked to Xiang Liang's side: "Mr. Xiang Liang is right. I have soldiers and you have prestige and wisdom. Together, we can surely make a name for ourselves in this chaotic world. After we succeed, we will share the glory and wealth together."

Xiang Liang thought to himself that although he had the heart to rebel against Qin, he also had to be on guard against Yin Tong. He clasped his fists and said, "Since you are so kind, Xiang Liang will do his best. However, now we need to plan carefully how to gather troops and how to deal with the troops that the court may send to suppress us."

In the lobby, the figures of the two were elongated in the candlelight, and their whispered conversation was intertwined with the whistling wind outside.

The night was as dark as ink, weighing heavily on the Wuzhong County Magistrate's Mansion. The faint light of the cold stars shone down, but was swallowed up by the thick darkness and left little.

Outside the County Magistrate's Mansion, the originally quiet streets were now shattered by the chaotic footsteps. Thousands of soldiers quickly gathered from all directions like a surging black tide, and in the blink of an eye, the County Magistrate's Mansion was surrounded tightly.

The leading military commanders were Xiahou Ying, Fan Kuai and Zhou Chang.

Xiahou Ying stood tall on his horse, commanding his soldiers with a stern look. His eyes were like torches, staring at the gate of the county governor's mansion, and he shouted loudly: "Form a battle line!"

The soldiers moved in unison upon hearing the order. The crossbowmen holding powerful crossbows quickly squatted in the front row and strung the crossbows. The sound of metal friction was chilling in the night sky. The crossbowmen's eyes were focused and cold, and their arrows were aimed at the key exits of the county governor's mansion.

Fan Kuai, with a long sword in hand, stood in front of the army, shaking his shoulders slightly, stretching his muscles, with a murderous look on his face, as if he couldn't wait to rush into the palace. Zhou Chang shuttled between the soldiers, commanding the deployment of defense in an orderly manner, not letting go of any possible loopholes.

The county magistrate's mansion was instantly thrown into chaos.

When Yin Tong heard the noise outside, his face turned pale as paper, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. His body trembled slightly uncontrollably, his legs became weak, and he could hardly stand.

"What...what should I do?"

Yin Tong muttered to himself, his eyes full of fear and despair. Xiang Liang's brows were tightly knitted into a "川" shape, his eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, and his brain was working rapidly to think of countermeasures.

Xiang Yu ran from the courtyard to the main hall holding a long halberd, and stood in front of Xiang Liang, his muscles tense, his eyes staring around vigilantly, as if ready to fight a desperate battle with the enemy at any time.

"Uncle, what should we do?"

Xiang Yu asked in a low voice, his voice was light but it could not hide his nervousness. Xiang Liang took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and whispered: "Don't panic, we will wait for an opportunity to break through."

At this time, Xiahou Ying's loud voice came from outside the palace again: "Yin Tong is plotting treason, and his entire clan should be executed. You should surrender immediately! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!"

The voice penetrated the thick walls of the mansion and echoed in the courtyard. Yin Tong seemed to be grasping at the last straw and shouted at the top of his lungs: "I am the county governor, how dare you do this!"

However, the only response he received was a heart-wrenching silence.

Xiang Liang carefully observed the surroundings, crouched down and slowly moved towards the backyard with Xiang Yu. Every step was as light as a cat's foot touching the ground, for fear of making any sound.

The followers in the palace had already been thrown into confusion. Some were hiding everywhere, while others were trying to find weapons to resist. Crying, shouting, and cursing were intertwined.

Suddenly, a dense stream of crossbow arrows shot towards the county governor's mansion like a violent storm. The sound of "whoosh-whoosh" of arrows cut through the night sky, making people shudder.

Crossbow arrows penetrated the doors and windows, and wood chips flew everywhere. As one of the henchmen stood up from the corner, a crossbow arrow shot into his chest like lightning. He opened his eyes wide, screamed, blood spurted out like a fountain, and then he fell heavily to the ground and died.

Yin Tong collapsed to the ground in fear, holding his head in his hands, and kept muttering: "It's over, it's over..."

Xiang Yu waved his halberd and deflected the incoming arrows. The crisp sound of metal colliding was particularly harsh in the chaos.

"Uncle, be careful!" Xiang Yu reminded Xiang Liang with concern while blocking the arrows. Every time a crossbow arrow was deflected, a string of sparks splashed, like a short-lived firework blooming in the night sky.

The two men moved towards the backyard with difficulty. Xiang Yu always protected Xiang Liang behind him and used his body to build a solid barrier for him.

When they arrived at the backyard, they found that it was not as safe as they thought. In the backyard, several soldiers were trying to escape over the wall, but they were greeted by ruthless crossbows from outside. The soldiers fell from the wall like a kite with a broken string, and fell heavily to the ground, making a dull sound.

"Anyone who stands in my way will die!!"

Xiang Yu shouted loudly, like a thunderbolt in the blue sky, which made people's eardrums hurt. He rushed towards the soldiers at the door with a halberd, and the halberd was so powerful in his hand. Seeing this, the soldiers gritted their teeth and raised their swords to meet him. Xiang Yu swung the halberd, and the powerful force was wrapped in the wind, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, and instantly repelled several soldiers. Several people fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"Uncle, go!"

Xiang Yu shouted, his voice full of urgency. Xiang Liang followed closely behind Xiang Yu, and the two rushed towards the door. However, the door was already surrounded by enemy troops.

Fan Kuai's burly figure appeared before him, holding a long sword. Under the dim moonlight, the long sword flashed with cold light. When Fan Kuai saw Xiang Yu and Xiang Liang, he grinned and laughed, his laughter was full of ridicule and murderous intent: "Traitors, today is the day you die!"

After saying that, he stomped his feet on the ground and swung his sword like a galloping buffalo.

"Look who dies!"

Xiang Yu showed no fear, his eyes burning with anger and fighting spirit, and he rushed forward with his halberd. The sound of metal colliding resounded through the night sky, and sparks flew like stars. The two fought back and forth, and for a moment it was difficult to tell who was better.

Xiang Liang was nervously looking for a chance to break out. Zhou Chang saw this and immediately ordered the crossbowmen to shoot arrows at Xiang Liang. In an instant, several crossbow arrows shot towards Xiang Liang like meteors. Xiang Yu saw this with his peripheral vision and was extremely anxious. While resisting Fan Kuai's attack, he used his body to block the arrows for Xiang Liang.

"Yu'er, be careful!" Xiang Liang shouted anxiously. Xiang Yu gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words: "Uncle, please leave quickly!"

At this critical moment, Xiang Yu seized a flaw in Fan Kuai and thrust out with his long halberd. Fan Kuai was unable to dodge and his arm was scratched. He roared, and the pain from the wound made his attack even more fierce. But Xiang Yu took the opportunity to pull Xiang Liang over and rushed towards the group of soldiers on the side. The soldiers gathered around him, and the weapons in their hands shone coldly in the moonlight.

Xiang Yu wielded his halberd, charging left and right. Soldiers fell wherever his halberd touched them. His strength was amazing, and each blow was as powerful as a tidal wave, knocking back several soldiers. Xiang Liang also picked up a sword and fought alongside Xiang Yu. Although he was not as brave as Xiang Yu, he also relied on his wit and courage to deal with the enemy.

After a bloody battle, Xiang Yu and Xiang Liang finally broke through the heavy siege and broke out. In the county governor's mansion, Yin Tong was still struggling desperately, looking for a way to escape. Xiahou Ying led the soldiers to rush into the mansion like a tide, and Yin Tong was quickly captured. His face was ashen, his eyes were empty, as if his soul had left his body, and he was dragged out by the soldiers like a dead dog.

Xiang Yu and Xiang Liang ran for their lives in the night, with shouts of killing behind them. Their clothes were already soaked with sweat, and their breathing was rapid and heavy, but they did not dare to stop for even a second. They ran all the way to a forest outside the city, and then Xiang Yu stopped panting.

"Uncle, what should we do now?" Xiang Yu asked, his voice filled with fatigue and confusion.

Xiang Liang looked into the night sky with a firm look in his eyes. He raised his head slightly, took a deep breath and said, "Let's find a place to hide first and make plans later. The Qin Empire will be in chaos, and we still have a chance."

The moonlight shone through the gaps in the leaves on them, making them look mottled. The two figures gradually walked away in the woods, leaving only a series of heavy footsteps, and the thrilling storm in Wuzhong City had just begun.

(End of this chapter)