In the forest shrouded in darkness, the man with short wine-red hair led his horse through the forest between the mountains. There were no roads here, so he simply determined the general direction based on the stars in the night sky and then moved forward according to his past feelings.

Although it is easy to get lost, this method also avoids the checkpoints on the main road and allows entry into the province in the south-central part of the empire.

After walking for more than ten miles on the rugged mountain road, the man gradually found a familiar feeling, and the surrounding scenery slowly matched his memory.

It should be here soon.

A thought flashed through his mind, and then he suddenly jumped away, avoiding the arrows shot secretly in the twilight.

Yes, there was actually a secret sentry. Facing the attack, he was not angry, but felt relieved. Then he jumped up, shuttled quickly among the treetops, and instantly found the figure hidden in the distance.

The sentry on duty was about to draw his dagger when he was subdued by the man.

"Shh, don't be nervous, it's me." He pulled down the black cloth on his face.

"Uh, Teacher Rock." The secret sentry who was pressed down spoke in a young voice.

Then the two of them slowly stood up and started talking.

"Why is the teacher back?" The young man in his early twenties stretched his sore arms and looked at the figure in the night with a little surprise.

"I received a letter from an old friend, so I came back to take a look." Rock walked in front, scanning the hidden layout in the mountains, nodding from time to time.

“Very good, great progress.”

"Thank you for the compliment, teacher, hehe." The young man followed with small steps, leading Rock.

"Come with me."

The two walked towards the depths of the forest. After passing through dense bushes, a door hidden by the shade of trees opened, and then the two entered the passage leading to the interior of the mountain.

The passage was well dug and had reinforced structures around it. After the two of them walked through the winding stairs, they gradually saw a warm yellow-orange light in front of them, and then some noisy voices were heard.

The guard in the passage saw the two of them and nodded, then opened the door and let them in. Suddenly, a wide underground hall came into view. Many people gathered here, listening to the person standing on the high platform preach.

"Why should we fight!" He looked at the hundreds of people below, holding a thick book in his hand, and his voice was deafening.

"To survive, to eat clean bread, drink clean water, have a warm house in the winter, and have more than enough food in the cellar to last a year. To be able to play with the children on weekdays without worrying about those vicious guards suddenly breaking into our homes."

"Isn't such a life worth looking forward to? Is it impossible to achieve?"

"Look at your own hands. How many calluses, scars, and marks are there? You've been busy for so many years, day and night, and have given so much. How can they take away the wealth you created without a word?"

"Those comfortable wood, beautiful furniture, and fine bows and arrows could be exchanged for countless endless loaves of bread, warm cotton, and sweet honey out there. And they won't leave a single cent for you!"

"I tell you, don't be afraid of those nobles. Yes, they are very powerful, and there are many extraordinary people among them, but! We can also accumulate strength. We have more brothers and friends, and we have rage as vast as the ocean!"

"They are human beings too. They need to eat, drink, defecate and urinate all day long. How can they have unlimited energy? Burn their food, destroy their houses, harass them while they sleep, make them run around, make them regret their past actions, and make them cry bitterly."

"How did the Clansians get here? Don't they have two hands and two eyes? They don't have an extra arm. Why can they do it, but we can't?"

"It doesn't matter if we can't win for now. We can quietly develop and let more brothers and sisters join us. When this country is full of our comrades, what can't be done?"

“We are small, insignificant, and weak, but! We are also glorious, proud, and great.”

"Years from now, when your descendants look back on this moment, they will certainly not feel inferior because of their status. Instead, they will proudly say loudly, 'Look, this is my ancestor, so brave and wise. It is because of them that we have the life we ​​have today.'"

The inspiring speech echoed in the hall built into the mountain. The faces illuminated by the fire showed pairs of bright eyes, reflecting hope and excitement, like ignited flames.

It was incredible. Rock looked at the scene in front of him. Even he was moved by the speech, let alone the local mountain people below.

Looking back at the uprising in Clancy, it seemed to have started in the mines in the mountains, where a large number of miners gathered.

After the speech ended and the crowd gradually dispersed, the man on the podium took a few sips of water, nodded when told by others, and then walked slowly over.

"Long time no see, Rock."

"Long time no see, Tokolin." The two walked side by side into a small room.

Rather than being a room, it is actually a small cavity dug out of the mountain, and the surrounding walls are made of yellowed and compacted loess.

An oil lamp was lit on the table, and the two men sat at the table. Rock looked at the gray-haired man and saw that his face was full of traces of weathering, giving him a sense of vicissitudes of life.

Both of them came from Ek County in the western mountains of the empire. Tokolin's father was once a viscount of the empire, but when he was young, his father was stripped of his title and executed for fighting, and he also had a difficult time in his youth.

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