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墨書 Inktalez
Outside Guanting Town, in the camp of the Chu Army.
Flags fluttered as cavalry units galloped past, their armor gleaming. The whinnying of warhorses mixed with the shouts of soldiers, creating a cacophony that filled the air. The preparations for battle heightened the atmosphere, which was already thick with a sense of desolation and bloodlust. The autumn wind blew fiercely, carrying with it the scent of blood, and the entire camp was enveloped in a solemn silence.
"Report!"
A soldier rushed into the Central Army Tent and called out loudly, "General, there is someone outside seeking an audience. He claims to be Han Xin, well-versed in both literature and martial strategies, and wishes to become your strategist!"
"Strategist?"
Xiang Yu suddenly stood up, his expression stern. "Hmph, Han Xin?! Let him in immediately; I want to see how this infamous person possesses such strategies!"
"Yes!"
Shortly after, accompanied by light footsteps, Han Xin entered the tent holding an Iron Sword. He knelt down on one knee and clasped his fists together, saying in a deep voice, "Huaiyin Han Xin pays his respects to General Xiang!"
Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "You are Han Xin, the one who injured my subordinate Thundercloud at the Sword Seizing Tournament? Is that correct?"
Han Xin straightened up and replied, "Indeed, it was I, General Xiang. The Sword Seizing Tournament is a battlefield where blades have no eyes; injuring General Thundercloud was not my intention. I hope General Xiang can understand."
Xiang Yu nodded and said, "Han Xin, you claim to possess strategies. Pray tell me, what do you mean by strategy?"
Han Xin spoke confidently and seriously: "Strategy is about using one's sharpness sparingly; acting hastily leads to injury—it is a dangerous weapon. To conceal one's abilities and make decisions based on circumstances is a true advantage. Warfare is deceitful; understanding the essence of falsehoods and truths, advances and retreats, offense and defense, mental strength and subtlety are all crucial. Though my knowledge is limited, I am aware that there is an ancient saying..."
"Wait!"
Xiang Yu suddenly spread his fingers wide with a faint smile on his face. "Han Xin, I have heard that during your time in Huaiyin Han Xin, you received help from Drifter but also suffered humiliation in the marketplace. Is this true?"
Han Xin trembled all over, his face turning pale, looking quite embarrassed, with veins bulging on his forehead. He whispered, "There is indeed such a matter..."
"Hahahaha..."
Xiang Yu pointed at Han Xin and shouted loudly, "You, a cuckold, dare to boast under my command? What a joke! Under my command, every soldier is loyal and brave, willing to die rather than live in shame. How can I allow a coward like you to exist? Come here, immediately drive this person out with sticks, and never let him enter my Chu Army again!"
Instantly, Han Xin's face was filled with shock. He suddenly stood up, brandishing his sword angrily and said, "Xiang Yu, you arrogant brute! I, Han Xin, have great strategies and yet suffer such humiliation from you!"
"What? Do you want to fight?"
Xiang Yu suddenly lunged forward, extending one hand with fingers spread wide, transforming them into a terrifying palm strike. The immense energy of the glowing palm instantly enveloped Han Xin. With a pained grunt, Han Xin spat blood and was sent flying backward, rolling far away on the ground, leaving a trail of blood.
The generals under Xiang Yu were dumbfounded. They could all see that Han Xin possessed Starry Sky Level strength, yet under Xiang Yu's palm strike, he had no power to resist and was severely injured, completely losing his combat ability. The Xiang Yu before them, seeking revenge for Xiang Liang's death in battle, resembled a mad lion; the power he unleashed was beyond what any human could withstand.
...
"Gah... gah..."
Blood oozed from Han Xin's mouth and nose as he groaned in pain, struggling to rise from the ground. However, several soldiers grabbed him by the iron spear and struck his back with the spear handles, driving him out of the Chu Army camp in utter disgrace.
Outside the camp, Han Xin sighed deeply towards the sky and lamented, "Is there truly no place for me in this vast world? Where can I showcase my talents and vent my frustrations?"
In the distance, several soldiers laughed heartily and pointed at Han Xin's back. "This man has gone mad; he actually thinks he can become General Xiang's commander! Hahaha! We have fierce generals like Ying Bu, Long Qie, Ji Bu; why would we need someone as despicable as him?"
Han Xin slightly curled the corners of his mouth into a faint smile filled with sorrow. Holding his chest in pain, he wobbled away from the Chu Army camp.
Just as Han Xin was about to leave, a formidable Iron Cavalry appeared on the horizon, their large red battle flags fluttering in the wind, emblazoned with a giant character for "Ye."
Immediately, several scouts from the Cavalry rushed forward and shouted from a distance, "Who goes there?"
At the front of the Cavalry formation, a young general clad in dark red armor smiled broadly and replied loudly, "Liang City Ye Yang, here to seek an audience with General Xiang Yu!"
"Ye Yang?" The scouts from the Cavalry were momentarily taken aback, then said, "Please have Eastern General wait outside the camp; I will report to the general right away!"
"Thank you!"
Moments later, a commander emerged holding a long knife; it was Ying Bu. He looked at Ye Yang and his companions from afar and said coldly, "Eastern General, what brings you to our Chu Army camp? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable to hide in that small Hengshan County?"
Ye Yang ignored Ying Bu's hostility and smiled slightly, saying, "Is General Xiang Yu willing to see me, Ye Yang?"
"Follow me."
"Thank you!"
With a command from Ye Yang, a thousand Iron Cavalry waited outside the camp. Only Wang Lie, Zhang Tianhe, Zhao Yun, and Zhang Fei accompanied him into the Tent. As they entered, Ye Yang could clearly sense the hostility from the Chu Army generals; evidently, they had blamed Ye Yang for Xiang Liang's death.
...
"Ye Yang, how dare you come to my Chu Army's main camp?" Xiang Yu suddenly stood up and smashed the Table with his palm.
Ye Yang clasped his fists and said, "It's been a while, General Xiang."
Xiang Yu's gaze was fierce as he lunged forward. With a swift motion of his hand, he unleashed a powerful palm strike that echoed through the air—once again using the technique that had defeated Han Xin.
Who would have thought that Ye Yang remained unmoved, his body surging with the Fire God Fragment True Qi of the Starry Sky Fourth Level, suddenly condensing the Heaven and Earth Shield in front of him. Xiang Yu's radiant palm struck heavily against the Heaven and Earth Shield, resulting in a tremendous roar as the entire Central Army Tent's curtain was lifted, and the turbulent energy tore the fabric into shreds.
A group of generals were astonished; no one expected that Xiang Yu's fierce palm would not cause any substantial harm to Ye Yang. Ye Yang's expression remained calm as he lightly gazed at Xiang Yu.
However, only Ye Yang knew the force brought by this strike; his True Qi surged violently within him, and enduring such a blow was indeed quite uncomfortable, almost causing him to cough up blood.
"Damn it, this is too much!"
Zhang Tianhe raised his Warhammer, furious and ready to clash with Xiang Yu. Ye Yang, anxious at the sight, waved his hand to shake Zhang Tianhe back in place; it seemed that his True Qi had been blocked, preventing him from advancing.
Having stopped Zhang Tianhe's impulsiveness, Ye Yang looked at Xiang Yu and said calmly, "General Xiang, may I explain?"
...
Xiang Yu retracted his arm. On one hand, he was astonished by Ye Yang's strength; on the other hand, he wanted to know what Ye Yang had to say. He replied, "Zi Yu, go ahead. If you can convince me, we can avoid conflict. If not, don't blame me for being merciless."
Ye Yang nodded and said, "A few days ago, Song Yi came to my Hengshan County and persuaded Hengshan County to ambush Ding Tao. I rejected him but did not expect that Song Yi managed to convince the stationed troops of Yan Kingdom outside Hengshan County led by Lin Yin. Lin Yin is a confidant of King Yan and came to my Hengshan County solely to seize these twenty-seven cities. Lin Yin was incited by Song Yi; this was not my intention. I hope General Xiang can see clearly that Lin Yin has already been killed, and his head is here!"
Ye Yang flicked his hand, and Lin Yin's head rolled onto the ground from the Cosmic Bag, immediately causing a stir among the Chu Army generals.
Xiang Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "You say this is Lin Yin; does that mean it is Lin Yin?"
Before he finished speaking, Ying Bu interjected, "General, I have seen Lin Yin in Yan Kingdom; this person is indeed Lin Yin..."
"Hmph!"
Xiang Yu was furious and said, "Ye Yang, you have failed to discipline your subordinates properly, leading to my uncle's death at Ding Tao. His head still hangs at the gate of the Giant Deer Qin Army camp. Do you know the humiliation I have suffered?"
Ye Yang nodded, "I can relate deeply."
"Hmph, don't say useless things." An old man stood up under Xiang Yu's command, his eyes shining with intensity as he spoke to Ye Yang, "Your troops in Hengshan County have caused the death of our General Wuxin. How can you shirk this responsibility? Now, Zhang Han and Wang Li command four hundred thousand troops tightly guarding Giant Deer, blocking our path to Guanzhong. Ye Yang, you can take this opportunity to atone for your past sins!"
Ye Yang realized this and clasped his fists with a smile, "You must be the esteemed Mr. Fan Zeng, right? I will follow your orders; please feel free to give me any tasks!"
Xiang Yu calmly sat down, clearly allowing Fan Zeng to take charge.
Fan Zeng stroked his beard lightly and said, "Zhang Han and Wang Li appear to be united but are actually divided. Zhang Han commands two hundred thousand troops stationed across the Yellow River, eyeing our ten thousand Chu Army with hostility. I have already sent Yuer to raid several supply routes, but unfortunately, the Qin Army has numerous supply lines. Wang Li commands another two hundred thousand troops to protect the important supply routes and build defensive fortifications, making it difficult for our army to advance. Although the Chu Army is brave, how can we contend with forty thousand Qin Army?"
Ye Yang nodded, "You are right to be concerned."
Fan Zeng continued, "May I ask General Ye Yang how many troops the Qi Army has stationed in Hengshan County? I have heard that the Qi Army has built a garrison fortress around the Azure Cloud Mountain Range with many soldiers."
Ye Yang pondered for a moment and replied, "Indeed, I fear that Wei Kingdom, Zhao Kingdom, and Yan Kingdom covet Hengshan County. Therefore, I have stationed sixty thousand elite troops at Azure Mountain Fortress, including twenty thousand Iron Cavalry. This number is like striking a stone with an egg compared to the forty thousand Qin Army. However, as long as General Xiang gives the word, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Fan Zeng showed a pleased expression.
Xiang Yu suddenly stood up again and laughed, "Good! It was worth it for us to join forces to kill that old dog Ying Zheng. Ye Yang is indeed a remarkable young hero. Since that's the case, I will entrust those two hundred thousand troops of Wang Li to you, my dear brother. Additionally, please make sure to cut off the supply routes protected by Wang Li. Once those routes are severed and the Qin Army of forty thousand is out of supplies, their morale will falter; that will be our time to counterattack!"
Ye Yang nodded, "I will follow General Xiang's plan."
Fan Zeng smiled slightly and said, "Eastern General, you may not know this, but Song Yi has already fallen. At this time, Yuer is now the General of the Chu Army commanding one hundred seventy thousand troops!"
Ye Yang was astonished: "Song Yi is dead?"
"Indeed!"
Xiang Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Song Yi harmed my uncle; he deserves to die. Chancellor Huai ordered the army to advance, but this scoundrel fears Zhang Han's four hundred thousand troops, delaying our progress and wasting the opportunity for battle. I have already killed Song Yi, and Chancellor Huai has promoted me to General, commanding the army of Chu. Hmph, old thief Zhang Han, I will surely kill him!"
Ye Yang nodded, knowing that Xiang Yu now held great power.
Fan Zeng picked up a wine cup, filled it with wine, and handed it to Ye Yang, saying, "General Ye, we cannot delay in cutting off the Qin Army's supply lines. Drink this cup to celebrate your early achievements and to resolve the conflict between you and Yuer, restoring brotherhood. What do you say?"
Ye Yang gladly nodded, and Xiang Yu also drank a cup of wine.
After drinking, Ye Yang turned and left with a group of people; it was not wise to stay here for long.
...
After dismissing the generals, Xiang Yu sat at his desk with a satisfied smile: "Ye Yang is indeed a young hero. Few can withstand my full strength; he remains so calm. Hmph, he truly deserves to be one who stands tall in Qi Land, full of spirit!"
Fan Zeng stroked his beard and said, "Yuer, I must remind you of something."
Xiang Yu respectfully replied, "Father Ya, please speak."
"Ye Yang is not an ordinary person," Fan Zeng whispered. "Have you forgotten Your Majesty King Huai's agreement? The first to enter Guanzhong will be king. Ye Yang commands over a hundred thousand troops from Qi Land—strong and well-prepared—with great strategies. He is also an Eastern General promoted by Chancellor Huai. If he defeats Wang Li's Army and enters Guanzhong first, the title of King of Guanzhong will no longer belong to you."
Xiang Yu's gaze turned cold: "I have fought many battles and won each time, driving back Zhang Han and killing Li You. Such achievements are worthy of being King of Han Zhong. Ye Yang is merely a local lord trying to secure his own territory; how dare he compete with me for the title of King of Han Zhong? He is simply seeking his own death!"
Fan Zeng smiled faintly: "Yuer, be cautious; that boy is quite clever!"
"Yes, Father Ya, I will remember!"
On the other side, Ye Yang, Zhang Tianhe, and others urged their horses back to the city, a group of riders swiftly crossing the plains.
"Sir! Sir!"
Wang Lie, holding a whip, hurried forward and asked in confusion, "Sir, we could have held the Azure Mountain Fortress to withstand the Qin Army. Why do we need to agree to Fan Zeng's request to assist the Chu Army in attacking the Qin Army?"
Ye Yang smiled and replied, "If I don't fight Wang Li and Zhang Han, Xiang Yu will come after me. With so many renowned generals under Xiang Yu's command, we wouldn't be able to withstand them..."
Zhang Tianhe said, "If they come to attack Hengshan County, I'll make sure they leave horizontally!"
Wang Lie was still displeased. "Using our forces to gain Xiang Yu's respect is not worth it. Besides, that old thief Fan Zeng is calculating; he definitely won't trust us. What's the point?"
However, Ye Yang finally burst into laughter and said seriously, "I'm not fighting Wang Li for Xiang Yu's or Fan Zeng's trust; I'm doing it for the Qin Army's horses, supplies, and provisions. Hmph, Fan Zeng wants me to cut off the Qin Army's supply route. I would actually like to be the Qin Army's grain officer, stockpiling resources at the Azure Mountain Fortress and intimidating all around!"
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