502: Chapter 502 Departure from the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions

Zhao Xuan's efforts to recruit mercenaries were progressing with extreme difficulty; he was hitting a wall at every turn.

Under Zhao Fusu's governance, the situation in Great Qin had gradually stabilized, and most of those restless Remnants of the Six States had been drawn into the Huaxia Pioneer Group. Consequently, trying to find more restless individuals within Great Qin's borders who were willing to join the ranks of mercenaries was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Even though Zhao Xuan offered quite attractive high-pay conditions, very few people were willing to risk their lives in a foreign land for such a salary.

After all, social order had improved significantly after Zhao Fusu's vigorous nationwide efforts to suppress banditry.

Nowadays, merchants traveling across the country no longer had to worry about their safety, and more and more people were embarking on the path of trade.

As the circulation of goods across the country accelerated, commodities on the market became increasingly abundant, and prices dropped accordingly.

The cost of living for the common people decreased, and per capita disposable income naturally rose.

With life improving like sesame flowers blooming higher and higher, people preferred to live stable lives. How many would be willing to leave their homes and risk their lives in a dangerous and unknown foreign land?

"Consul General!"

Zhao Xuan stood before Zhao Fusu with a face full of guilt, his head slightly lowered, not daring to look Zhao Fusu in the eye. His voice was filled with self-reproach. "I haven't managed to recruit many mercenaries."

He knew well that he had failed Zhao Fusu's trust and felt deep regret in his heart.

"Mhm."

Zhao Fusu gave a soft response. His face showed no significant displeasure; instead, he said gently, "You've worked hard."

He understood Zhao Xuan's difficulties; this situation was actually within his expectations.

After a brief pause, Zhao Fusu continued, "Our Mercenary Corps doesn't necessarily have to be recruited within Great Qin. Once we reach the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, we can recruit along the way. The situation there is complex, and many might be willing to join us."

"Yes, sir!"

Hearing that Zhao Fusu not only didn't blame him but also provided a solution so understandingly, Zhao Xuan immediately felt a weight lift from his heart.

At the same time, a sense of determination welled up within him. He secretly vowed that upon reaching the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, he would do his utmost to recruit several thousand mercenaries and build a powerful Mercenary Corps, so as not to let down Zhao Fusu's expectations.

When preparing for this journey, Zhao Fusu was meticulous and did not spend all of the Huaxia Pioneer Group's funds on purchasing industrial goods.

Knowing the journey was long and the food consumption would be immense, he set aside some money to buy a large amount of grain, arranging it carefully for any needs along the way.

In addition, he carefully planned and purchased a batch of Crossbows.

Considering the safety of transport, he had the Crossbows disassembled into parts and cleverly hid them—one here, one there—scattered within the accompanying wagons. They would only reassemble these parts into usable Crossbows once they were outside the borders.

After some effort, the procedures for registering the Merchant Caravan were finally passed successfully, and they obtained the operating qualifications.

By now, all preparations for the Huaxia Pioneer Group had been finalized. Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhao Fusu decisively decided to set out for the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions.

Under the careful deployment of Zhao Fusu, Xiang Liang, and the others, the entire team was divided into two large Merchant Caravans, marching grandly toward Longxi Commandery.