After clearing out the bandits on Niujiao Mountain, Xiao Jiu led people to clear out the bandits on other hills around Xun County for half a month.

The atmosphere in the entire Xun County was improved, and the number of troops under Xiao Jiu also expanded from a few hundred to nearly two thousand.

Because of this, Wu Ke was so worried that his hair turned completely white.

"My lord! My lord, we can't accept any more people!"

In front of the village gate of Niujiao Mountain, looking at Xiao Jiu who had returned from suppressing bandits somewhere and brought back a bunch of prisoners of war, Wu Ke's hands holding the account book and brush were trembling, and he leaned against the door tremblingly, his feet weak for a while

.

This is not recruiting a group of guards, this is clearly raising an army!

Thousands of people were spending money on food and drink, and money was being consumed every day. The assets Xiao Jiu had entrusted to him were almost at their lowest point.

"Sir, don't worry, I will take care of you if you dare."

Xiao Jiu rode on the horse and walked slowly towards the village gate, with a casual and satisfied smile on his face.

After many fights, he couldn't help but feel a little bloody. Even when he was smiling, he looked a little more aggressive than before.

The same goes for the Tenglong Army who followed him into battle many times. They lost their previous rawness and became qualified warriors.

"Don't worry, Mr. Wu, the people my lord wants to support will not starve to death!"

"Hahahaha, that's right! You will be blessed if you follow our lord!"

Following Xiao Jiu, several middle-aged men on horses laughed.

After a while, the team had reached the gate of the village. Someone in the Tenglong Army teased Wu Ke, "Mr. Wu, don't worry, be careful not to lose your beard!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Seeing Wu Ke's wide-eyed look in disbelief, Xiao Jiu couldn't help laughing. He quickly turned over and dismounted, and patted Wu Ke's shoulder comfortingly, "Don't worry, Mr. Wu, as long as I'm here, I won't let anyone follow you."

I'm hungry."

After that, he turned around and walked away, leaving Wu Ke beside the gate looking angry and confused before he could react.

He pointed his trembling fingers at Xiao Jiu, then at the Tenglong soldiers who were laughing away, and finally looked down at his beard.

Did I really lose my beard?

No.

Wu Ke observed his precious beard carefully and carefully.

"Hong Guang."

"Yes." A middle-aged man behind Xiao Jiu immediately straightened his body and stood up.

"Assign the newly recruited people to the tenth battalion, or break them up and assign them to the team. Let the brothers keep an eye on them and don't let them rebel."

"Follow your orders!" After saying that, the man ran away. The man came to the newly brought group of bandits up the mountain and ordered the people to follow him.

He was a good young man that Xiao Jiu had just discovered among the soldiers recently. He was capable and clever, and had made many achievements. Xiao Jiu directly promoted him to the leader of the Tenglong Army, and his status was second only to Xiao Lan.

He is in charge of ten battalion commanders, and each battalion commander is in charge of two hundred Tenglong troops. Counting the new recruits this time, there are probably more than 1,900 people.

After reaching two thousand, Xiao Jiu planned to suspend the recruitment of troops.

Really, I can’t afford too many...

"Brother..." Xiao Lan hesitated, as if he had something to say.

Xiao Jiu wiped her hands with a wet cloth and asked, "Brother, what's the matter?"

"Are we recruiting too many people?" Seeing that the number of Tenglong soldiers under Xiao Jiu was increasing day by day, he became more and more worried, "We are not official members, and we have only raised a few generals.

The number of people is limited and cannot be exceeded, otherwise..."

Otherwise, you will break the law.

No, to be precise, they have already broken the law!

Xiao Lan and the other three were ordinary citizens and should not have raised so many private soldiers, but Xiao Jiu insisted on doing so and could not stop them.

"I know." Xiao Jiu said calmly. He knew that he had to keep the matter of raising troops a secret. Otherwise, why would he hide the Tenglong Army in the mountains and pretend to be bandits?

Xiao Lan was stunned, "Then you still..."

After wiping the stains off her hands, Xiao Jiu threw the towel aside and calmly called Xiao Lan aside.

"Brother, come and say."

The two of them walked slowly to an uninhabited tree and looked around. Xiao Jiu suddenly said something shocking, "Brother, have you ever thought that if one day the country is in chaos, the existing laws will not be enough?"

It’s a piece of paper.”

At that time, who will care whether it is illegal or not?

Aren't they all trying to make a living, and the weak will eat the strong?

Xiao Lan was startled and looked around. Seeing no one there, she couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, "Brother, be careful with your words."

"Brother, I'm not joking, nor am I confused." Xiao Jiu leaned against the big tree, clasping his hands and looking at the sky in the distance, and said carefully, "In recent years, natural disasters have continued, people are struggling to survive, and there are difficulties everywhere.

The people's livelihood is in chaos. But the people in the court are busy fighting for power and profit, scheming, and fighting endlessly over the matter of establishing the heir. There are also the other four countries watching eagerly."

Judging from the increasing number of refugees pouring into Xun County every year, the lives of the people of Qi State are becoming increasingly difficult.

In recent years, there have been either snowstorms or severe droughts, as well as epidemics. Refugees and bandits in various places have caused trouble and chaos, but the government and the central government have not even cared about it.

If this continues, how can it not cause chaos!

"Brother feels that if the world of Qi is really in chaos, how can we protect ourselves?"

"how come?!"

"Why not? A country can be established but can be destroyed. If you look at past history, you will know that dynasty changes are common."

Xiao Lan was stunned. He was stupid and wanted to say that this day would never happen. Even if it did, King Qi and the princes in the court would not ignore us.

But when the words came to his lips, he suddenly couldn't say them again.

Really...does anyone care about their life or death?

Xiao Lan asked himself, suddenly remembering what he saw and heard on the way to escape when he was young, and suddenly fell silent.

If there was really someone to take care of them, why would I still be wandering around in the first place?

"Brother...so you are raising troops to protect yourself?" Xiao Lan asked this sentence in a difficult tone.

He saw with his own eyes how Xiao Jiu pulled up this team, and understood that he wanted to build this team into an elite soldier.

But why?

This was not the first time that Xiao Lan felt this kind of doubt.

"Self-protection?" Xiao Jiu smiled, "Brother, if thinking this way can make you feel more at ease, then think so."

After saying that, Xiao Jiu waved and left.

Xiao Lan stood there, her body stiff for a moment.

When Xiao Jiu said this, it was obviously not what it seemed on the surface, it could only mean the opposite.

A vague answer emerged in his heart, but he just didn't want to believe it. Could it be that Xiao Jiu raised soldiers to plan for the future? Or to follow the Ming Dynasty? Or... to establish himself as king?

Xiao Lan was worried for several days and felt uneasy.

It wasn't until Wu Ke came to see him about something and saw that he was so distracted that he curiously asked, "What's wrong with Xiao Dalang?"

"My brother..." He paused mid-sentence. Some of the words were just his own guesses and it was not easy to talk about them everywhere.

He hesitated and then said, "He's too bold."

Without thinking, Wu Ke smiled after hearing this, stroking his beard and said, "It's better to be bold!"

The protagonist is courageous, resourceful and decisive. Wu Ke is simply overjoyed!

This means that he has a future with Xiao Jiu!

He knew what Xiao Lan had guessed, but he taught him, "In this world, people are born to the weak and the strong. Sometimes, if you don't fight, you can only wait for death; if you fight, you can live."

Having said that, Wu Ke didn't say much else. He got the transfer warrant from Xiao Lan and left.

At the same time, I couldn't help but sigh in my heart, no wonder Xiao Jiu is the one who calls the shots among the brothers.

He had been in the Xiao family for a long time, and he saw more and more that Xiao Jiu's ambition was not small, but Xiao Lan was not. He was a qualified brother, but not suitable to be a leader.

"Really...is that so?"

Behind him, Xiao Lan was murmuring in a low voice, lost in thought.

After not seeing anyone for more than half a month, Xiao Jiu returned to the academy after taking care of the Tenglong Army.

Mr. Qingxi looked around at his young disciple whom he had not seen for a long time, and suddenly asked, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Jiu looked innocent and confused, "Disciple is recuperating at home."

His complexion is rosy and he is full of energy. He seems to be two points more energetic than before. How does this look like he is recovering from his illness?

The old man squinted his eyes and stared at Xiao Jiu silently for a long time, making it unclear what he was thinking.
To be continued...