As Ying Feiyu expected, Liu Bang received the news as soon as the army arrived in Yizhou.
"A large army has arrived in Yizhou?"
Liu Bang felt guilty as a thief and suddenly trembled all over.
"That's right! Dozens of warships have arrived at the port, with a visual estimate of at least 100,000 troops!"
The craftsman who came to report the news said firmly.
"Why did so many troops suddenly arrive?"
Liu Bang was beating a drum in his heart, but he still pretended to have a calm expression on his face.
"My subordinates don't know either! They rested on the shore after landing. After two or three hours, they scattered in all directions. We still don't know what their purpose is!"
The craftsman said truthfully.
"Okay! I understand, you go and do your work first!"
Liu Bang nodded and sent him away.
Then he ordered people to summon his confidants to the old place to discuss matters!
After a while, dozens of people arrived at a hidden cave in the factory.
The craftsman guarding the door looked around carefully for a few times before opening the door and letting them in!
"Ouch! Don't worry, we are all careful!"
"Yes! This isn't our first time here either!"
"So what if someone sees it? Which of the craftsmen in this factory doesn't follow our factory director's lead...?"
The few old guys who were the first to enter began to mumble dissatisfiedly. They thought the doorkeepers were too cautious and acted as if they didn't trust them.
The gatekeeper didn't say anything, he just did his job.
After everyone went in, the door was closed again and a lot of hay was placed as a cover.
The cave is in a semi-arc shape, with a door blocked in the middle.
Entering from this side, passing through the corridor, is a secret meeting room.
Going further, there is an iron gate.
Passing through the iron gate is the place where the medicine is studied.
Keep going and get out from the other side!
The reason why it is designed this way is for escape.
In case of any crisis, you can enter from one side of the cave and escape from the other side.
At the same time, it provides a suitable place for secret gatherings and the production of drugs!
This cave is in a secret location. Not to mention ordinary people outside, even the craftsmen in the factory rarely know about it!
After everyone entered the door, they bowed to Liu Bang who was sitting above him and said, "Director, are you looking for us...?"
"That's right! I just received news that the imperial court has sent a large army, and it is now scattered everywhere. What did you hear?"
Liu Bang's slightly thin body sat upright on the mahogany chair, his eyes bright and clear, scanning everyone present, especially Wang Zhiming, Jiang Yongshou and others who had just arrived two years ago.
They have been officials in Xianyang for many years. Even if they come here, they should still have some informants staying in Daqin to see if they have heard any rumors.
Was it their side that was exposed, or was it someone other than the army?
"The imperial court sent a large army? No way? Haven't you heard?"
"I don't know? Why did the imperial court suddenly send a large army to Yizhou?"
"I don't know...!"
After hearing this, everyone shook their heads and expressed confusion.
"No! Director, are you here to arrest us...?"
However, Wang Zhiming, the former governor of Longxi County, panicked at that time. His legs were shaking. He knelt down on the ground and crawled to Liu Bang's chair. "Director, you must save me. I will do all this." But it’s all in accordance with your instructions!”
"Director, save me!"
"Please, director, save us...!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yin Tianlu and others knelt down on the ground one after another, kowtow and begged for help.
"The matter hasn't been investigated yet, so why are you panicking? When the army comes to Yizhou, it may not be for you! If the court could find you, it would have been dispatched long ago. How can it wait until now?"
Liu Bang frowned, especially dissatisfied with Wang Zhiming's performance.
What does it mean to follow his instructions? If he doesn't poke out the hole, he won't be able to get in even if he wants to!
"But...but now the army has arrived. If it's not aiming at us, who else could it be aiming at?"
"Yes! Yizhou has always been peaceful, there is nothing worthy of the imperial court sending an army here, and we are the only ones left!"
"Da Qin must not be able to find us, so they sent a large army to Yizhou to search...!"
Wang Zhiming, Yin Tianlu and others were completely panicked at this time, thinking that the army was coming to arrest them.
"Okay, let's get up first! The army is definitely not coming for you! There are only a few of you, and the court wants to use a hundred thousand troops?"
Liu Bang was very angry at these idiots and said contemptuously.
After all, he has also served as the governor and county magistrate of Longxi County. Is this his psychological quality?
"Director, you have to protect us!"
Wang Zhiming had a bitter look on his old face, with snot and tears falling down one after another, and his face turned pale with fear.
"Don't worry! Yizhou is so big, even if they really come to arrest you, they won't be able to find you if you hide anywhere!"
Although Liu Bang was dissatisfied, he still patiently gave them relief pills.
As expected, after hearing these words, several people thought about it again and felt much relieved!
If nothing else, this cave is very hidden, and outsiders can't find it at all!
"Thank you, director, thank you, director...!"
Several people thanked him profusely.
Others in the room looked at them with disdain and looked down upon them at all!
"Okay, get up quickly!"
Liu Bang said in a deep voice.
"Yes Yes!"
Several people nodded repeatedly and returned to where they should sit.
"What do you think about this matter?"
After Wang Zhiming and others calmed down, Liu Bang glanced at everyone present and asked.
"Director, why do I feel that the imperial court's sudden dispatch of troops this time is not done with good intentions?"
"Yes! I feel the same way!"
"Could it be that you received some news?"
"Impossible, we have always been very careful, how could we reveal our flaws...?"
All the confidants said something to each other, but for a long time they didn't come up with any useful information.
Finally, Liu Bang turned his attention to Jiang Yongshou and others to see what they thought.
"Back to the factory director, when we left, the imperial court did not make any plans for Yizhou, nor did it receive any unusual news from here. Ordinarily, we should not send troops suddenly!"
"Yeah, we haven't received any strange information recently!"
"right……!"
Jiang Yongshou and others were also very surprised by the sudden move of the court.
Liu Bang stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and seemed to have made up his mind, "Send a telegram to each branch factory and order all craftsmen to come to Nancheng Main Factory!"
"yes!"
A confidant responsible for delivering the message immediately took over.
"Director, are you...?"
Following this order, everyone present felt that a battle was imminent and suddenly became nervous.
"Our weapons and equipment have not been successfully developed yet, but if the imperial court is really targeting us, we must take precautions!"
Liu Bang didn't hide anything and said it straightforwardly.
"The factory director is right. Our factories together have at least 200,000 to 300,000 people. Are we still afraid of the imperial court's 100,000 soldiers? I don't believe it. Can they really attack the craftsmen?"
"That's right! They couldn't find any evidence. We are just ordinary people. They attacked us for no reason. The people of Yizhou cannot agree!"
"right……!"
There are a few militants among his confidants who have been waiting for this day.
They all had grudges with the imperial court, and they had been looking forward to this day for who knows how long.
The only pity is that it is too early. If it were a little later, when the research on thermal weapons was successful, their chances of winning would be even greater!
