Dai 26th Taizeshi Township 2

  At this time, Chen Sheng, who was in the crowd, gave Wu Guang a wink, and then quietly slipped out of the onlookers.

  Those two other Qin generals soon arrived at the outer edge of the crowd, and with a few swift movements, they pushed open the crowd, shouting: "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! If you don't get out of the way, I'll kill someone! Get out of the way! Get out of the way! If you don't get out of the way, I'll kill someone!" When the people heard these words from the two Qin generals, their faces all showed extremely disgusted expressions.

  They quickly entered the circle and saw one of their companions lying on the ground, with fresh blood gushing out of his chest. Their eyes widened in shock. They simply didn't dare to believe their eyes, thinking: What's going on? What's going on? Have these guys all gone crazy?

  "You, you, do you want to rebel? Say, who did this! Who did this?" The two Qin generals were now somewhat hysterical, their eyes bulging outwards with flames, looking utterly defeated.

  Everyone's gaze fell on Wu Guang. In fact, Wu Guang did not walk away and was still holding the treasure sword, standing not far from the corpse of a Qin general who had been killed. However, the two Qin generals just now were busy looking at their companion lying on the ground and hadn't had time to look around yet.

  "What's wrong with you two, are your eyes blind? Didn't you see me standing here?! I'm the one who killed that old man, what do you want to do about it? If you want revenge, bring it on!" Wu Guang said with a stern expression.

  "Alright, alright, if you're not afraid of death, come on over!" Actually, those two Qin generals were also somewhat intimidated now. Because they had already seen one of their companions being killed by the guy in front of them, and naturally, they felt a bit apprehensive about this ordinary-looking guy who was actually quite formidable.

  And the guy in front of them, Wu Guang, was now expressionless, with a sharp glint in his eyes, showing no intention of backing down. At this point, for those two Qin generals, there was actually no way out. No matter what choice they made, the outcome would be the same - they would have to face off against this guy in front of them. No matter how formidable Wu Guang was, they had no other choice.

  Those two Qin generals looked at each other, then both held their treasured swords and stepped forward one step at a time towards that guy, towards that despicable guy, towards the one who killed their comrades, towards those two who dared to rise up in revolt. They pressed forward step by step. Wu Guang, however, remained standing there indifferently, facing the two Qin generals who were pressing in on him step by step. He seemed not to have seen them, as if he hadn't seen them at all.

  A face of indifference. A face of complete disregard. A face of utter apathy.

  The onlookers around them couldn't help but sweat for Wu Guang. To be honest, they all sympathized with Wu Guang. Wu Guang was a good person and had a good relationship with the team. Moreover, what's more important is that they also hated those three Qin generals very much and had been looking forward to someone taking revenge and giving them a bad reputation.

  When Wu Guang killed a Qin general, they felt extremely delighted and thrilled in their hearts. The evil spirit that had been pent up inside them was finally vented. Watching the fresh blood gushing out from the chest of the stabbed Qin general, they felt an unparalleled delight in their hearts. However, although he also saw the other two Qin generals approaching him, he was fearless. Yes, he was naturally fearless.

  If it were just him, then even if he was extremely powerful, it would be difficult to withstand the attacks of those two Qin generals. But now, the situation is not that he is alone. He also has a Chen Sheng, who is currently supporting him from the side and rear. Thinking of this, Wu Guang's heart couldn't help but let out a sneer.

  As he watched, the two Qin generals had already made their move, charging towards him with a ferocious and sinister air. But Wu Guang remained standing in his original position, still as motionless as before, looking like a statue, expressionless, with cold eyes. However, inside his heart, a storm was brewing.

  As they watched, the two men were getting closer and closer to him, their faces twisted in a ferocious expression that made one's heart tremble with fear. But just as the two Qin generals were only three or four steps away from Wu Guang, one of them suddenly let out a loud cry, "Ahhhhh!" and then fell to the ground with a thud. The other Qin general, who had concentrated all his energy on delivering the final blow to Wu Guang, suddenly discovered that his only companion had, in the blink of an eye, turned from a living person into a corpse! Good heavens, how did he die?! What's going on here?!

  The remaining Qin general, at this time, didn't have time to think about anything else. Suddenly, he turned his head - he naturally wanted to see what it was that had suddenly taken down another of his brothers. Although by this time he had already lost his footing, he still had to hold on...

  When he turned his head that instant, he finally understood, it was that guy named Chen Sheng who did it! Damn it, these people are really crazy, they're all crazy, they don't want to live anymore! What's going on here?!

  It's too late to think about that now, let's just make the first move and exchange blows with that guy! If he can take down one of his own companions in a single move, it means this person is not ordinary, not simple at all!

  That Qin general immediately swung his sword and attacked Chen Sheng. However, Wu Guang would not be idle here either, with a flick of the treasured sword in his hand, he also killed him. In this way, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, the two of them started fighting together against the Qin general. The situation was immediately reversed, and the Qin general could no longer withstand the joint attack of these two fugitives, and soon he was killed.

  Chen Sheng and Wu Guang then drew their swords, facing the crowd of onlookers, and shouted loudly: "We are now encountering heavy rain, unable to arrive at our destination within the time limit. This will result in us being beheaded. Even if we aren't killed, we'll be sent to guard the borders, where at least seven or eight out of ten men won't return alive. As men, we should have some achievement to leave a good name for posterity. The emperor and ministers are also human beings. Humans are not born great or lowly!"

  "Yes, yes, no one is born noble! I am not born noble! Those people all raised their arms and shouted in unison as Chen Sheng and Wu Guang loudly cried out. The sound shook the fields..."

  "Alright, brothers, from today on, we are one family! We will share the blessings and hardships together, walk the same path, and weather the storms together!" Chen Sheng saw that everyone was stirred up, and he himself became even more heroic. He couldn't help but raise his arms again and shout loudly. The other people also responded enthusiastically.

  "Alright! Everyone, listen to my command! Let's all bare our right arms as a symbol of our identity. Come on, everyone follow me!" Chen Sheng led the way by baring his own right arm. In an instant, the several hundred people also quickly bared their right arms. And so, an army with exposed right arms as their emblem was born!

  "We are a team, after all, and we should have a leader! Let's elect one!" Wu Guang said to everyone. In fact, anyone with discerning eyes could see that this leader was none other than Chen Sheng and Wu Guang themselves, who else had the qualifications to be the leader? However, just thinking about it in their hearts wasn't enough, they had to go through some procedures to make this matter official.

  "We are willing to recommend Chen Sheng as the general and also willing to recommend Wu Guang as the deputy general, to work together for a great cause!" The crowd exclaimed.

  Next, under the auspices of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, they also held a sacrificial ritual. The offerings were the heads of the three Qin generals.

  "Everyone knows that the Emperor is now weak and incompetent, with corrupt officials in power, and good people being excluded and even killed. The common people of the country have suffered under the cruel rule of Qin for a long time! Today, we rise up in this place called Daze Village, to take the place of heaven and overthrow the brutal rule of Qin, to give freedom to the poor and suffering people of the world, so that they can all live happy and joyful lives! For our victory, charge!" Chen Sheng stood on the high altar, gave a brilliant speech, and then led the hundreds of rebel soldiers in an attack to the west.

  Thus, the Dazeshang Uprising officially broke out.

  The outbreak of the Dazexiang Uprising directly affected the nerves of the people on both sides of the Yangtze River, and people all over the country rose up in resistance against Qin. Among these armies that rebelled against Qin, the two most popular ones were those led by Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Chen Sheng's place of uprising was very close to Pei County where Liu Bang was from, so Pei County was the first to be affected. At this time, Liu Shanhe had been hiding in the deep mountains for more than two years, and his military strength had also increased greatly, with several hundred men under his command. Moreover, these troops were training every day in the deep mountains, and their combat effectiveness had been greatly improved.

  In many cases, success depends on timing. Without the right timing, no matter how capable you are, your ambitions can only remain in your heart. Liu Shanhe is currently facing such a situation. Although his team has developed greatly compared to before, with a significant increase in numbers and enhanced combat power, there is no turmoil or unrest in the four directions, so his troops can only hide deep within the dense forests of Mangdang Mountain, waiting for the right moment. And that moment finally arrived for Liu Shanhe. This story begins with the turmoil within the county government of Pei County.

  Since the news of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising in Daze Township spread throughout the country, heroes from all sides responded, and the wave of uprisings across the country was like a storm, sweeping in at once. At the same time, the trend of killing local officials also prevailed nationwide. Many places saw their officials killed, whether they were county magistrates or prefectural governors, leaving those officials who had devoted themselves to the Qin dynasty for most of their lives worried and restless every day, fearing that one day those unruly commoners would also learn from other places' wicked habits and kill them too.

  And the magistrate of Pei County was also thinking this way, and he was worried all day long. So one day, the Magistrate of Pei summoned his two most trusted men, Xiao He and Cao Shen, to the county government office and told them his thoughts.

  "Magistrate Xiao, Officer Cao, I'm sure you're both aware of the current chaotic situation in the country. As officials of Qin, we should think of a way to protect ourselves in these turbulent times. You may have heard that in some places, some unruly commoners have even joined in and killed local officials, and this trend is getting worse by the day. I've called you both here today to discuss how we can ensure our own safety. Please share your ideas, as we are all high-ranking officials of the Qin dynasty!" The Magistrate of Pei said with concern to Xiao He and Cao Shen. He kept emphasizing that "we are all officials appointed by the imperial court", which naturally carried a clear implication. The unspoken meaning was that their fates were all tied together! If something happened, although he as the county magistrate would be the first to bear the brunt, they, especially the two of them, who were his most trusted subordinates, would also be implicated.

  Xiao He and Cao Shen had long known the intentions of the county magistrate, and they had also secretly planned to take advantage of this opportunity to bring Liu Bang out. Because of the current situation, it was a great opportunity to start an uprising and do great things! Thinking of Liu Bang, he had been hiding in the mountains for so long, even if he hid until old age, what fruit could he gain? Now, without a doubt, it was a great opportunity. If they grasped this opportunity well, they would very likely be able to gain the greatest benefits for their own future in this uprising.

  However, Xiao He and Cao Shen were both extremely astute individuals. Their greatest characteristic was that they had a deep understanding of their own abilities. They knew that such matters required someone with great courage to undertake, and neither Xiao He nor Cao Shen possessed this ability. Looking around the entire Pei County, only Liu Bang had such courage. Therefore, the result of their discussions was to rely on Liu Bang to make a move in this chaotic world. Moreover, there was another point - whether they would succeed or not. If they succeeded, it would be great and everyone would rejoice; but if they failed, the consequences would be terrible, as they would be risking extermination of their nine clans. However, if someone else took the lead, then even in failure, there would still be some room for maneuver, and the crime would not be too severe.

  Since they had such an idea, once there was an opportunity, Xiao He and Cao Shen would naturally focus on this aspect. However, the two of them also knew that things couldn't be rushed, otherwise it would backfire. So, they had to take it slow, slowly talking to the county magistrate, best to set up a scheme, letting the guy actively and slowly fall into it. This was the best strategy!

  Xiao He listened to the county magistrate's words and thought for a moment, deciding to hear out the county magistrate's own thoughts. So he said: "This matter is of great importance, we also dare not make reckless remarks. We are willing to listen to the county magistrate's opinion first, and guide us."

  This move is called "casting stones to inquire about the road". First, listen to the county magistrate's idea, and then add your own embellishment. In this way, you can stand on unassailable ground!

  After hearing Xiang Yu's words, Pei Gong sighed and said: "Alas, living in a chaotic world is indeed our misfortune! You two are my trusted assistants, and I have always considered you as insiders. So, I don't want to hide my thoughts from you either. Today, I'll share my ideas with you, and you can help me consider them. Hmm...I think that once Chen Sheng's army arrives at our Pei County, we should surrender the city to them. This way, they won't slaughter those who surrender to him. As a result, both the civilians in the city and us officials will be able to survive this disaster. The cost is minimal - just providing some supplies, money, and troops to their army. That's all. By doing so, we'll only change the appearance of our Pei County, but the internal affairs will remain the same, won't they? What do you two think?"

  It should be said that Pei Gong's consideration for surrendering to Chen Sheng was quite thorough. Xiao He listened and didn't say a word for a long time, while Cao Shen remained silent all along. He knew his own abilities were not as good as Xiao He's, so he let Xiao He have the final say in everything, which also made things easier for himself.

  After a long time, Xiao He slowly said: "County magistrate, I think your approach to surrendering to Chen Sheng is inappropriate. We cannot resort to this inferior strategy unless absolutely necessary."

  "Oh? Then I'd like to hear it, what's your high opinion, Xiao Zhong?" Pei Ling asked with interest, sizing up Xiao He for a moment.

  "Oh, County Magistrate, I understand it this way. Think about it, no matter what, we are Qin officials! How can we, as dignified Qin officials, surrender to those bandits? Isn't that lowering our own status? So, let's just forget about it! We can't go and surrender to them. And even if we really did surrender to Chen Sheng, what would happen? It might even stir up the people's discontent, and by then, I'm afraid we'd be killed by our own citizens before the bandits even breach the city walls. Who among us wants to see that kind of outcome? Please consider my words, County Magistrate. Think about it, no matter what, we are Qin officials! How can we, as dignified Qin officials, surrender to those bandits? Isn't that lowering our own status? So, let's just forget about it! We can't go and surrender to them. And even if we really did surrender to Chen Sheng, what would happen? It might even stir up the people's discontent, and by then, I'm afraid we'd be killed by our own citizens before the bandits even breach the city walls. Who among us wants to see that kind of outcome?"

  Na Pei listened to Xiao He's words and felt that they still made some sense, so he sank into thought for half a day before finally letting out a long sigh, looking very helpless. "Alright," he said, "but if we don't go surrender to them, what else can we do?"

  "Your Honor, this is easy to handle. I think we should go around and gather those scattered soldiers and brave men from each village, use this method of recruiting local braves to expand our strength. Once we have enough power, we won't be afraid of anything. If the enemy army comes, we can defend the city, and if we really can't hold it, we can surrender later! Moreover, more importantly, by having a certain amount of military power in our hands, at least our local people will not dare to make trouble. Once we have enough power, we won't be afraid of anything. If the enemy army comes, we can defend the city, and if we really can't hold it, we can surrender later! Moreover, more importantly, by having a certain amount of military power in our hands, at least our local people will not dare to make trouble. Isn't this achieving the goal of being worry-free? No matter what situation we encounter, we can stand undefeated. Please, Your Honor, think carefully."

  Xiao He's words were sharp and persuasive. The Magistrate of Pei thought for a moment, nodding his head repeatedly in agreement, and finally said to Xiao He: "Alright, let's do it this way. I'll leave this matter to you to handle. I trust your abilities! You two are indeed my left and right arms! It's only at critical moments that your value can be seen! Once the situation stabilizes, I will definitely thank you both properly! Hahaha!" Clearly, Xiao He's previous words had finally put the Magistrate of Pei at ease. For him now, all other matters were secondary; as long as he could maintain stability and especially keep his own life safe, that would be enough. In a chaotic world, there is a logic to chaos.