Zhao Xu felt like he had just escaped one tiger's den only to fall into another.

He said weakly, "Our royal family and the Hongyun Gang have a bit of a grudge."

Yi Shuihan scoffed: "It's not as simple as a holiday, is it?"

Zhao Xu immediately fell silent.

Xiao Qingyin looked at Yi Shuihan: "You know?"

Yi Shuihan nodded.

He asked Xiao Qingyin, "Do you know why pirates were rampant in Nanyue?"

"have no idea."

“From the generation of the old King of Dai, the Zhao family has been secretly garrisoning troops. Maintaining troops requires a lot of expenses. They do not know how to increase revenue, but only how to exploit the people.”

“The people could not bear the suffering any longer, so they either rose up in rebellion or became outlaws.”

"Because the southeastern prefecture is located by the sea, it is less likely for pirates to be caught. As a result, they joined pirate gangs one after another, thus forming several powerful pirate forces."

"The Hongyun Gang is the leader of these forces. Its previous leader was Liao Yuan, Qiu San Niang's husband. Not long after she returned from the capital, Liao Yuan died unexpectedly."

"After Liao Yuan's death, Qiu Sanniang took over the Hongyun Gang and established very strict gang rules, forbidding gang members from robbing villagers, raping women, or disobeying superiors... Violators would be beheaded."

"These measures have won the favor of the people, and a large number of people have flocked to the Hongyun Gang. The Hongyun Gang has grown in size day by day and now has tens of thousands of members."

"They make a living by robbing foreign cargo ships, including Iraqi cargo ships that trade with the King of Dai."

"The people of Iraq were dissatisfied and joined forces with the King of Dai to attack the Hongyun Gang, wanting to completely wipe them out, but they were repelled by the Hongyun Gang."

"When the Hongyun Gang encounters any fleet from Iraq or the King of Dai, regardless of their nature, they will seize it."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

She asked in confusion, "How do you know so much? Weren't we supposed to have no information about Iraq before? How come they're now interacting with the Southeast County?"

Yi Shuihan replied, "When I went south to find you, I stayed in Nan Yue for half a day to learn about the situation here, and then arranged some manpower."

I see.

Xiao Qingyin looked at Zhao Xu: "Are you worried that the Hongyun Gang will kill you as a sacrifice?"

Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly.

"If my identity is exposed, they will definitely kill me."

"You were involved in leading troops to suppress the Hongyun Gang?"

Zhao Xu paused for a moment: "No, that's not true. Zhao Hao stole the opportunity to shine that time, and I was left sitting on the sidelines in the mansion. But in the eyes of outsiders, we Zhao family are a unified entity."

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "Your identity is extraordinary, so I definitely have to tell you. Whether they kill you or not depends on your luck."

Zhao Xu: "..."

Will he be able to see tomorrow's sun?

The group quickly found the Hongyun Gang branch. Qiu Sanniang had already made arrangements. After Xiao Qingyin explained their purpose, the branch leader arranged for them to board a ship.

"Third Sister is waiting for you in Hong Kong."

About an hour after the ship left the shore, they arrived at Hong Kong Island.

As soon as Xiao Qingyin stepped off the boat, she saw Qiu Sanniang.

Compared to more than half a year ago, Qiu San Niang has become much more dashing, but she is still as charming and beautiful as ever.

"You came so fast!"

Qiu San Niang said with a smile.

"I was just about to send someone to Nan'an to pick you up, but I didn't expect you to have come to Nan Yue."

“I took a shortcut,” Xiao Qingyin replied. “Where’s my cousin? Is he on this island?”

Qiu San Niang nodded: "Yes, after I found him on the deserted island, I brought him to Hong Kong Island."

How is he now?

Qiu San Niang's face darkened.

"It's not very good. You'll find out when you see him."

"OK."

Before going to the island, Xiao Qingyin told Zhao Xu about his situation, and Qiu Sanniang glanced at Zhao Xu.

Zhao Xu's heart was in his throat.

They were terrified that Qiu Sanniang would say, "Drag her away and execute her."

Qiu Sanniang, however, looked down on him: "It doesn't matter, let him follow. Even if he knows our main camp thoroughly, we still can't take it down."

Zhao Xu: "..."

Although it's the truth, it still hurts.

As Qiu Sanniang led them onto the island, she introduced the buildings along the way.

"This is our shipyard; we build all our own ships."

When Xiao Qingyin arrived at the dock, she noticed that the ships here didn't look like those of Da Xi; they seemed to be from elsewhere. Upon hearing this, she was surprised: "You built these ships yourselves?"

“Yes,” Qiu Sanniang said proudly, “We learned from those foreign ships and figured out how to build them ourselves. They are more robust and reliable than traditional ships and are more suitable for combat.”

"You guys are amazing."

Xiao Qingyin sincerely praised it.

"No wonder they were able to defeat the combined forces of Iraq and the Kingdom of Dai."

Qiu Sanniang laughed heartily: "You know about this? The navy of the Prince of Dai is not worth mentioning at all. We have everything that Yi Kingdom has, and in greater numbers than them. They definitely can't win."

Xiao Qingyin asked curiously, "Did you also build your own cannons?"

“No, that’s not it,” Qiu Sanniang said with a smile. “It was free.”

"You got it for free?"

"We bought it from the Iraqis, but after buying it, we robbed their ship. Don't you think we got it for free?"

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

That's so unfair.

No wonder the Iraqis want to wipe you out.

Qiu Sanniang continued, "The people of Yi are no good. They used the trade of firearms and cannons as a condition to get the Prince of Dai to allow them to sell tranquilizers in the Southeast Prefecture. Those tranquilizers are addictive. Countless wealthy families in the Southeast Prefecture have been ruined by these tranquilizers, becoming neither human nor ghost."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

She thought the tranquilizer was made by the Holy Sect, but it turns out it was related to the Iraqi people.

It seems that the Holy Church is also imitating others.

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