Chapter 16: The Son of the Red Emperor Makes His Debut (1)

  The three days passed very quickly!

  The sky is getting brighter and brighter. Just after the hour of the Tiger, Liu Jian was dressed neatly and brought out the dry food his mother had prepared for him, walking out of the house door.

  Shen Yu and Cao Wu Shang were already waiting at the door. Apart from these two, there was also a young man who looked about 17 or 18 years old. He was around 175 cm tall, slightly thin in build, with sunken cheeks and pale skin, seemingly not in good health.

  This young man is Tang Li, who was mentioned by Shi Fu.

  At the invitation of Cao Wushang, Tang Lie decided to travel with Shen Shi and Liu Quan. Anyway, having someone to take care of him was a good thing. In the past two days, Tang Lie had also become familiar with Liu Quan, knowing that he was incredibly strong, and following him would add an extra layer of security.

  Liu Jian also quite likes this young man who speaks with a warm and elegant tone.

  Shan Shi smiled and said: "I thought Auntie would be reluctant to part with it. Unexpectedly, she is more open-minded than us... Ah Jian, let's go."

  Liu Kan smiled and nodded, the four of them walking together towards the direction of the green bamboo forest in the suburbs.

  Qīng zhú lín is a local term in Pei.

  It can't even be called a "forest", with only about 100 or so stalks of bamboo as thick as a bowl, and it's said that these bamboos are all over a hundred years old.

  Outside the bamboo forest, there is a vacant lot, about three mu in size.

  In just three days, the empty land has been leveled. A simple camp wall was built with wooden fences.

  At the entrance of the camp, a black flag was hung, fluttering in the morning wind, showing an unspeakable atmosphere of killing. Since the rise of the Five Virtues, it has been widely adopted by various countries. According to the Yin and Yang school, Qin is in the west, and the five elements are water. Water is in charge of punishment and killing, so Qin values blackness. In the past few decades, this black flag, black armor and battle clothes, like a flood, swept across the six nations of Guandong.

  Liu Jian stopped in his tracks, looking up at the black flag fluttering in the air, and suddenly his heart surged with emotion.

  This is the Qin Dynasty!

  No matter how later generations evaluate Qin Shi Huang as a person, the name of the emperor for all eternity is unquestionable. Unlike some so-called scholars who praise Kangxi of Qing as an emperor for all eternity, in Liu Quan's mind, even Emperor Taizong of Tang cannot compare to Qin Shi Huang.

  This is an idolization, an idolization that doesn't need any reason.

  In the camp of the green bamboo forest, many people have already arrived in twos and threes. These people are scattered lazily throughout the camp, in groups of three or five, either sitting or standing, chatting with each other. It seems that Xun Shi has a good relationship with the people of Pei County, constantly greeting them.

  Liu Quan, Tang Lie and Cao Wu Shang stood at a corner of the camp, coldly watching the lazy people in the camp.

  "How strange!"

  Tang Lie suddenly spoke up. This was a taciturn guy who didn't like to talk much even on ordinary days. In Liu Jian's impression, having known Tang Lie for so long, it was the first time he saw him take the initiative to speak. So he asked in puzzlement: "A Lie, what's strange?"

  Tang Lie said, "This conscription order goes against the Qin law. Logically speaking, Ah Qiang, you are not yet fifteen years old and should not be here to serve. However, this conscription order states that those between fourteen and forty years old must participate in this conscription. As far as I know, the six nations have been pacified, and there are no major wars in the world. This conscription seems to have no reason. I don't know what it's for."

  "It's probably temporary recruitment, training rural militia."

  Cao Wu Shang interjected from the side: "Didn't we also do this when King Chu was still around?"

  "No, Qin and Chu are different. Since Shang Yang's reform, everything is done according to the law and regulations, there is no possibility of violating Qin's laws. Even if this county magistrate is a sharp and brave warrior, he wouldn't dare do such a thing. Unless... he has received orders from the King of Qin. But in that case, the purpose of this conscription is definitely not simple. Ah Qiang, be careful, I think there is another purpose behind this conscription."

  "Is there another purpose?"

  "Well, I think Qin Wang is likely to make a big move. Xiao He said earlier that Qin Wang would go east to hunt in Sishui County, but suddenly he changed his mind... Judging from Qin Wang's actions over the years, he is not someone who easily changes his mind."

  I think the King of Qin wants to take Si Water County as the foundation and do something big.

  There must be some big moves!

  Liu Kan couldn't help but take a glance at Tang Lie. Unexpectedly, this guy who was usually silent and taciturn actually had such skills. Before this, Liu Kan even suspected whether Tang Lie was really the grandson of Tang Yu... Tang Yu was a great debater, yet Tang Lie didn't like to talk. Now it seems that he is indeed a true master hiding under a famous name. Tang Lie had been hiding very deeply and wasn't the kind of person who showed off his abilities.

  This guess turned out to be surprisingly accurate.

  In the future, I really don't dare underestimate these people, including Shen Shi and Cao Wu Shang... They must all have excellent aspects that are unknown to others.

  Liu Jian was lost in thought when suddenly a commotion broke out in the camp.

  It's almost time for the fourth watch, and there are more and more people in the camp, with about two or three thousand people.

  A group of people walked into the camp at this time.

  The first was a man, about thirty years old. He had a tall and stately figure, with a handsome face. His eyebrows were prominent and curved in an arc shape. His nose bridge was high and straight, his nostrils were large and flared to the sides. A long beard grew under his chin, fluttering in the wind, making him look very attractive.

  Some things are innate and can't be imitated by others. As for the person in front of him, although he hasn't had contact with him yet, Liu Jian could feel that kind of unparalleled affinity. It seems that as long as he appears, the people around him will unconsciously get closer to him.

  Behind him followed a group of people.

  Liu Qian recognized one of them as Xiahou Yuan, who had previously clashed with Cao Wushang.

  As soon as this group of people appeared, the noisy voices in the camp suddenly subsided. Pairs of eyes looked at the approaching crowd, and many people rushed forward to salute the leader, calling out "Big Brother" with every sentence, looking very respectful.

  "Who is that?"

  Liu Kan looked at this person and had a vague understanding in his heart. However, he still asked Shen Shi who had just walked over in a low voice.

  She raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Who else could it be besides him?"

  Liu Bang!

  This guy is Liu Bang...