Heirs of the Seven Swords of the Qin Dynasty

After leaving Sanghai, Long Qie went south to the Jianghuai area, gathering the former Chu troops here and recruiting like-minded people who were willing to resist the empire.

As the former heartland of the Chu State, the Jianghuai area is home to a large number of remnant soldiers of the Chu Army. Many of them still care about their homeland and intend to rebuild the world. However, there was no one with enough weight to step forward and raise their arms, so they could only survive under the rule of the empire.

Fortunately, as the empire gradually shifted its focus to the Baiyue and Lingnan areas further south, the ruling power in the Jianghuai and Jingchu regions plummeted. It was not difficult for these "remnants of the Six Kingdoms" to survive quietly, even if they could not do so openly.

When Long Qie, the former commander of the Tenglong Legion, showed up, it was unclear whether to say that it was like a turtle seeing a mung bean, or like a long drought finally being met with rain, but in any case, the two sides hit it off immediately.

Together with some local people who were dissatisfied with the imperial rule, Long Qie quickly gathered a group of people.

As he successfully established connections with local authorities, Long Qie, with several thousand rebels, took root near Wu County, the seat of Kuaiji County.

Of course, the number of people under Long Ju's command is not too few, but it is definitely not too many, at least it is definitely not enough to directly resist the empire.

So Long Qie could only continue to lie dormant, continue to accumulate strength... or wait for the opportunity.

With the protection of the local government, he could walk around Kuaiji and the surrounding counties openly, but at least he didn't have to hide from place to place.

Those who wanted to join him had already joined, and those who had not yet joined were basically unwilling to take risks.

What ordinary people pursue is a wife, children, and a warm bed. It is difficult for them to make up their minds and take the initiative to rebel, which is an act of putting their heads on the waist of their pants to help others seek wealth and honor, even if they are about to die.

If Long Qie really stood up and raised his arms to rebel, maybe he could attract some people, but he couldn't really rise up now.

So it has basically reached its limit.

The organizational development encountered a bottleneck, so Long Qie naturally had to find something else to do.

On the one hand, it was to publicize his name and gain the favor of the people, and on the other hand, it was to train soldiers and try to recruit more able-bodied men. So, during this period of time, Long Ju had been leading his "new recruits" to sweep the mountain bandits and water robbers in the surrounding counties.

The times are tough, and the more the people struggle to survive, the more people want to help them.

Therefore, bandits and robbers who robbed and killed people began to emerge in various parts of the empire. The Jianghuai area had a well-developed water system and numerous lakes, which gave rise to a large number of water bandits.

Today, Long Ju came here to wipe out a group of pirates, but he happened to meet Zhong Li Mei who was passing by.

The latter learned that Long Qie was here to crack down on gangsters and eliminate evil, so he decided to do his part as well... even though Long Qie didn't need it at all.

Most of the soldiers under Long Jue's command were newly recruited guerrillas. Rather than being soldiers fighting in battle, they were more like farmers who had put down their farm tools. Even after formal training, their combat effectiveness was still very limited.

Fortunately, the mountain bandits and the pirates are even more of a mob, worse than even these rookies. When the situation is favorable, they can still cheer and wave flags, but once they encounter an unfavorable situation, they will basically be shattered at the first touch.

Zhongli Mei listened to Long Qie's words and turned around to look at the soldiers under Long Qie.

By clearing out bandits and pirates, these new recruits have seen blood and killed enemies, barely escaping the category of pure recruits. However, since the enemy is too weak, they are still of little use.

No matter how shitty the imperial court's actions were, at least the army's combat effectiveness was impeccable.

With the strength of the people under Long Jue...is it really useful?

Long Qi probably saw what Zhongli Mei was thinking, but he didn't care much.

They are just vegetables, there is nothing to say about it. It is simply unrealistic to expect the fighting power of a group of old soldiers who were ordinary civilians not long ago or have been living a life of drunkenness and dreams for more than ten years to be comparable to that of the regular army of the empire.

But strength and weakness are never fixed.
Didn’t an army as powerful as the Wei Wuzu gradually decline and even completely disappear?
The imperial army will not remain strong forever.

"Brother Zhongli, did you come from the north or the west?" Long Qie changed the subject and asked Zhongli Mei.

"North, I came directly through the Huaibei area." Zhongli Mei replied casually.

"Is there any interesting new news from the north?" Long Qie asked.

"Uh..." Zhong Limei replied after a moment's hesitation, "The Mirage that returned earlier has set sail again. Does that count?"

"Going out to sea again?" Long Qie was stunned.

He really didn't know this news.

To be precise, after he came to Kuaiji, he had been isolated from the news and learned about everything very slowly.

Because the intelligence from the outside world was of little use to him and he was very busy, he was too lazy to add more people to the intelligence network.

"By the way, is it true or false that the rumor that Mirage returned because it encountered a monster at sea?" Long Qie asked hurriedly.

Zhong Limei shook his head. "It's useless for Brother Long Qie to ask me about this. I just travel every day and have no way to get information. I just hear some rumors from others when I eat and stay in hotels."

"There are many rumors about the truth behind the return of the Mirage, but how can I know the true truth?"

The imperial court announced the truth about this matter, which was the story of a monster. But even though the court openly promoted stories about gods, ghosts and monsters, there were still a lot of people who did not believe it, and various conspiracy theories were derived from this.

Zhongli Mei and Long Qie certainly would not believe those messy conspiracy theories, but for them, what the empire announced might not be the truth - the monster theory was too ridiculous and hard to convince people.

Hearing Zhong Limei's answer, Long Qie shrugged and smiled, "That's true... Mainly because the monster story is too absurd, otherwise a ship is not worth paying too much attention to."

Zhongli Mei nodded. "The idea of ​​seeking immortality and survival has existed since ancient times, but it is all false. The mirage went out to sea with great fanfare and caused a sensation all over the world, but in the end it was nothing but a mess. It is really not worth mentioning."

"As for the monster story... maybe it's just nonsense to fool the emperor. It's meaningless."

While the two were talking, the boat had already docked.

After landing, Zhong Limei said goodbye and left:

"The pirates have been eliminated. I won't bother you any more."

Long Qie hurriedly stopped him and grabbed Zhong Limei, "Please don't, Brother Zhongli, we finally meet again, at least let me show my hospitality."

"Let's go back to the county town. We have to stay here for a few days anyway!"

Zhong Li Mei hastily refused, "No, no, no, I'd better not bother you. Brother Long Qie, you have a lot of things to do, so there's no need to waste your time on me."

"How can this be considered a waste of time? Besides, at least let me set up the table and let's get drunk!"

"No need really!"

……

……

After a long struggle, Long Ju finally gave in because Zhongli Mei was determined.

"Since Brother Zhongli is in a hurry to get on his way, I won't force you. Let's wait for the next opportunity!"

Long Qie was not angry at Zhongli Mei's lack of respect, and his attitude remained friendly.

Zhong Limei did the same, and replied with a smile, "Okay, I'll wait until next time. Next time I have a chance, I will definitely not be polite to you, Brother Long Qie!"

At this time, a soldier from the Tenglong Legion came over holding a large package.

Long Qie smiled when he saw this, quickly took the package in his hand, and then handed it to Zhong Li Mei:
"Brother Zhongli, since you don't want to be a guest, then accept these things."

Zhongli Mei didn't rush to take it over, but asked, "What is this?" "Some supplies you can use on the road." Long Qie stuffed it directly into Zhongli Mei's arms, "Don't worry, it's not something expensive."

"The environment in Lingnan is miserable. It's not just worse than in the Central Plains, but even worse than in the North. I've heard people say this a lot."

"Inside are some clothes that I asked someone to prepare that are suitable for the Lingnan environment, as well as some medicines that may be useful, and other small tools that may be needed."

"It should be able to help."

Hearing these things, Zhongli Mei held back his words of refusal, but he felt a little conflicted.

Seeing this, Long Qie patted his shoulder and said, "Okay, keep it. Even if you are thick-skinned and thick-fleshed and can't use it, you have to consider Miss Meng."

When it comes to Meng Jiang, Zhongli Mei can no longer refuse.

"In that case, I would be disrespectful."

"You're welcome." Long Qie smiled, then bowed solemnly, "Brother Zhongli, the mountains are high and the road is long. We'll meet again if we're lucky!"

"Take care!" Zhongli Mei put the package on his back and returned the salute solemnly.

Looking at Zhongli Mei's receding figure, a gleam of divine light flashed in Long Qie's eyes.

After this contact, Long Qie felt more and more that Zhongli Mei was someone worth pursuing.

As a former senior military officer in the empire, Zhongli Mei's strength and ability are unquestionable. He is definitely a great general for the Xiang family who are intent on starting a rebellion.

They had intended to win over Zhongli Mei before, but due to Zhongli Mei's refusal and their own concerns, they failed to do so.

Zhongli Mei’s refusal seemed normal to them.

This man has always been loyal to the empire. The reason why he stood on their side in the battle of Daze Mountain was, on the one hand, because he could not accept the imperial army's indiscriminate killing of innocent people, and on the other hand, because Zhang Han cooperated with them, Zhongli Mei obeyed their orders, and the main general Wang Li on the empire's side did not give him a chance to live.

Whether subjectively or objectively, Zhongli Mei had to stand on their side, otherwise he would not only go against his conscience, but also easily lose his life.

Although he was unable to return to the imperial army afterwards, it was understandable that he was unwilling to join them in resisting the empire.

Long Qie and the others were also worried that there was something wrong with Zhongli Mei, and that he was a hidden hook released by the empire... Although they felt that the possibility was not high, it was still possible, so they did not force it.

However, after this contact, Long Qie's suspicion of Zhongli Mei was reduced a lot.

Zhongli Mei's many behaviors really don't seem like he wants to be an undercover agent, and his resentment and anger towards the empire are also very real.

Although all of this might have been deliberately performed by the other party, Zhongli Mei really didn't seem like someone who could have such acting skills - they were all soldiers from the military, so Long Ju could make this judgment.

Unless... Zhongli Mei started acting from the first time he met Long Qie.

But this is obviously unrealistic.

In fact, among the three people, Long Qie, Ji Bu and Ying Bu, only Ji Bu was slightly more defensive against Zhongli Mei, and it was only slightly higher. Overall, it was not high.

Long Qie originally planned to bring Zhongli Mei back to Wu County and try to recruit him again, but Zhongli Mei was determined to go to Lingnan, so he had to give up.

However, he still tried his best to make as many good connections as possible, and he could try again when Zhongli Mei came back from Lingnan.

Long Qie felt that this was not a bad thing. After Zhongli Mei fought another battle in Lingnan, he might become further disappointed with the empire, and his chances of success would be even greater.

………………

Empire, Dongjun, Dazeshan, Farmers Headquarters, Shennong Hall.

“Ah…”

A long sigh came from his chubby body. Zhu Jia put his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the room dejectedly.

Liu Ji was holding an apple, sitting there lazily, chewing the apple and saying:
"Brother, what's wrong with you? Why are you sighing?"

Zhu Jia, with a blue face of sorrow, looked up at Liu Ji and said, "Brother, the mirage has gone out to sea again."

Liu Ji looked confused, "Ah... so what? Then the ship can go out to sea."

"Looking for immortals overseas is just a business where charlatans try to trick fools and it's a one-sided fight. It has nothing to do with us!"

"But it just happened that our chivalrous leader came to me at this time. Do you think it is a coincidence?" Zhu Jia asked back.

"Oh!" Liu Ji suddenly realized, "So it was Miss Tian Yan who came to see you. Why didn't you tell me earlier? You even mentioned the mirage."

"Brother, do you think it's just a coincidence?"

"What else?" Liu Ji spread his hands. "Boss, that broken ship has already sailed away. Can Xia Kui still come to you specifically for it?"

Liu Ji's attitude towards mirages can also be seen as the attitude of most people in the martial arts world towards mirages - it was just a wonder created by those charlatans of the Yin-Yang School to fool that fool Ying Zheng.

In the past, they paid attention to the mirage because it was directly related to Ying Zheng, but now Ying Zheng has left Sanghai, and the mirage is not completely worthless, but it is almost worthless.

Not to mention that the ship has now drifted deep into the East China Sea, and has nothing to do with them, the 'ordinary people' on land.

"Everything is not that simple." Zhu Jia hung his head and sighed again.

Liu Ji curled his lips and stopped talking.

If the boss thinks there is a problem, then there is a problem.

"So, big brother, are you going to see the eldest lady now?"

"Of course, I have to go." Zhu Jia murmured in a low voice, then looked at Liu Ji, "Brother, will you come with me?"

Liu Ji chuckled and stood up, "Of course no problem."

………………

Daze Mountain, the entrance of Lieshan Hall.

Ah Yan was standing at the entrance of Lieshan Hall wearing her 'hero suit' - a plain linen dress with a long velvet cape.

Most of the six hall masters had been killed before, but she had not appointed a new hall master and kept all the halls except Shennong Hall in her own hands.

The Zhu family wanted to stop it, but unfortunately they were powerless.

He was not dominant in terms of power, and his status was much lower than Tian Yan's. He could only watch Tian Yan devour almost the entire farm family. Not to mention stopping him, he couldn't even grab a piece of meat.

He had to thank the protection of Master Shennong for being able to preserve Shennong Hall.

A Yan, who owns five major halls, usually stays in Lieshan Hall - this is not her habit, it is Tian Yan's habit, and she just chooses to respect this habit.

Ah Yan didn't have to wait too long before the chubby Zhu Jia showed up with the tall and thin Liu Ji - it was a pity that Zhu Jia was too short, and his fatness was limited, otherwise the contrast would have been more interesting. (End of this chapter)