Chapter 25: Xiang Family Raises an Army

  Yin Tong had the two of them move to the inner chamber and sit down facing each other. However, he discovered that Xiang Liang's nephew, Xiang Yu, was not sitting beside his uncle Xiang Liang, which made him feel somewhat surprised, so he asked Xiang Yu: "Worthy nephew, why aren't you sitting?"

  Only then did Xiang Yu's expression turn indifferent, and he replied coldly: "I prefer standing."

  After Huan Gong was finished, Xiang Yu felt even more uneasy in his heart, but he also didn't dare to make a move. He could only turn to Xiang Liang and say: "Since the time of Qin Er Shi, Zhao Gao has been abusing power, the court is dark, the people are suffering, and life is miserable. All the wise men have risen up. Not long ago, Chen Sheng's uprising in Daze Village was successful, and many people responded to it. I am not talented, but I also had a strong dissatisfaction with the cruel Qin dynasty and had been thinking of rebelling against them for a long time. However, the timing was not yet ripe. Today, Chen Sheng and others have risen up in Daze Village, and many heroes are responding to their call. Considering that General Xiang Liang has a very strong reputation after his victory at Nanjun, I specially invited you today to discuss with me the plan to rise up against Qin together. I wonder if General Xiang is willing to lend me a helping hand?"

  Xiang Liang remained silent for a long time after hearing this, then said: "Hmm, such a major matter is not child's play. I should think it over carefully. Please give me some time, Lord Yin. How about that?"

  "Alright, then please consider it, General Xiang." However, he didn't notice that when Xiang Liang said this, he made a barely perceptible glance at Xiang Yu standing beside him, in a very secretive manner.

  Xiang Liang himself, however, put on a nonchalant air, slightly closing his eyes as if he were really concentrating and seemingly having a hard time making up his mind.

  Just then, Xiang Yu deliberately coughed and said to Yin Tong: "Uncle, in my opinion, a great man should stand tall and do as he pleases. How can he stand under someone else's eaves for long and be controlled by others?"

  Xiang Yu's words clearly meant that he was determined not to be under anyone else's shadow, but rather to stand alone. It is clear that they found the idea of "assisting him in raising an army" proposed by Yin Tong to be utterly ridiculous. In the eyes of Xiang Yu and his nephew, the governor of Guiji was not even considered a factor. It seems that the influence of the Xiang family was indeed very great, otherwise why would Yin Tong have extended an invitation to them? If the Xiang family truly had such immense influence, then why bother assisting others? Wouldn't it be better for them to just go it alone?

  It's only natural that Xiang Yu dared to speak like this in front of Yin Tong, which means he didn't take Yin Tong seriously at all. Moreover, before they came, the uncle and nephew must have already discussed it beforehand, that is, to take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of the governor of Kuaiji Commandery, and seize the soldiers and horses under his command as capital for their own uprising. This calculation can't be said to be not precise! It's a move that takes advantage of the situation.

  Since I've already planned it out, then naturally there's no need to care about the county guard's concerns. Heh heh, today I came with the intention of taking your dog life, so looking at your reaction is also quite entertaining! Xiang Yu thought to himself.

  But Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji, never thought that Xie Xuan and his nephew would have such audacity. A dignified governor of Kuaiji had invited them over, yet they dared to commit murder on their own turf - who would have thought of this?! This is too outrageous! However, people with hearts like tigers and wolves will inevitably have the minds of tigers and wolves. Therefore, at any time, one cannot be overly trusting of others. As the saying goes, "One must not have a heart that harms others, but one must also not lack a heart that guards against others."

  But Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji, had been looking at that Xiang Yu with disapproval from the start. Although he was young and brave, he was also too uncouth. In their brief encounter earlier, he had already made Yin Tong feel very uncomfortable. Hmph, what a thing! Praise him a few times, and he doesn't even know his directions anymore! He's really overestimating himself! However, because of Xiang Liang, his uncle, Yin Tong couldn't say anything more. And to make matters worse, the person who had been given a seat refused to sit down, truly a thing that didn't know what was good for him.

  But now, it's really unbearable for Yin Tong. What Xiang Yu said earlier was too hurtful! Hey, this isn't even in his own Kuaiji Prefecture, it's like they're in their own home, and they're being too arrogant! They actually had the nerve to say they don't want to cooperate with him right to his face! If you don't want to, then just don't, but do you have to be so rude?! Yin Tong has been an official for many years, and this is the first time he's encountered such a situation. Hmph, it's really interesting!

  Then, Yin Tong suddenly became furious and vented all the anger he had accumulated since earlier at Xiang Yu: "You dare to interrupt me?! You're just a little brat! I'm discussing important matters with your uncle, what right do you have to butt in?! Get out of here quickly! What are you doing?! I'm discussing important matters with your uncle, what right do you have to butt in?! Get out of here quickly!" After all, this was his own county government office, and when he got angry, he didn't care about anything else. How dare you be so arrogant on my own turf! You don't even know the height of the sky or the thickness of the earth! If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't even know your own surname, let alone what your grandfather Yin does!

  It seems that Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji, has also made a very sarcastic remark, and naturally, Xiang Liang's face is not given either. He thinks to himself: Your nephew is so rude, but even if he is young and impetuous and doesn't understand etiquette, can you, Xiang Liang, also not understand etiquette? Originally, Yin Tong still wanted to give Xiang Liang some face, but now it seems that even if he tries to reason with him, it's no use. These two uncles and nephews of the Xiang family are really too much. Alas, it seems that I have thought too simply about this matter. Without further understanding of the Xiang family, I just assumed things would go smoothly. But can others also think so simply? Alas, I have thought too simply about this matter, too simply. In any case, since they have already been invited, let's just send them off for now and not bother with them again in the future!

  Although Yin Tong thought so, there is a saying that it's easy to invite the gods but hard to send them away. As for Xiang Shu and his nephew, they had already come up with a meticulous plan before arriving here, as the saying goes, "those who come with ill intentions will not leave empty-handed". Now that they've arrived, they won't leave without achieving their goals. Everything seems to be unfolding according to their preconceived plans.

  That Xiang Yu heard that the governor of Guiji, Yin Tong, called himself "Huang Kou Xiao Er" and had an angry expression on his face, but only gave a cold smile. He needed this effect. Ha ha, old man, today is your unlucky day! Huang Kou Xiao Er? Is that what you call yourself? Xiang Yu's eyes shot out a cold gaze, first looking at his uncle Xiang Liang, who hinted to him with an almost imperceptible speed, and then Xiang Yu suddenly drew out his treasured sword, gritted his teeth, glared, and walked towards Yin Tong!

  But Yin Tong was suddenly stunned! He never thought, never thought that the Xiang clan uncle and nephew would be so ruthless! He had originally wanted to invite them to discuss helping him start a rebellion against Qin, but instead, he had invited wolves into his home, and his own life was now in danger! This was truly disastrous! What kind of thing is this?! Heaven and earth, there probably hasn't been such a thing before!

  Alas, the honor of a lifetime! How could it end like this?! Even at this moment, Chong'er still held onto his last shred of hope: "Ah, General Xiang, General Xiang! Can't we talk this over? We have no past grievances, no recent grudges. Why must it be like this? Ha ha ha ha, can't we negotiate? I, Chong'er, am willing to surrender and follow your command. Wouldn't that be enough?"

  "Hahaha, unfortunately, you now know this matter, it's already too late! Come on, come on, let me show you the power of my swordsmanship!" As he spoke, Xiang Yu took a single step forward and arrived in front of Yin Tong. With a standard forward thrust, Yin Tong's eyes were still wide open, one hand pointing at Xiang Yu, as if there was something left unsaid. The poor governor of Guiji Prefecture was killed off without warning by Xiang Yu.

  Xiang's skill in bloodletting can also be seen from this.

  However, this is the county government office after all. As soon as a sudden "ah" cry was heard from inside the house, it was clear that something had changed. The guards in the courtyard immediately rushed into the house with their weapons at the ready. No matter what, they were guards and their duty was to protect the safety of County Governor Yin Tong. But by then, unbeknownst to them, County Governor Yin had already been killed! It was truly inexplicable! Nevertheless, as guards, they had to pick up their arms and capture the murderer!

  Those dozens of guards surrounded Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu in the middle, while Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu stood back to back with swords drawn, their formation was indeed a tense standoff!

  "I am Xiang Liang, the descendant of Xiang Yan, the general of Chu. Today, I have beheaded Qin officer Yin Tong and made up my mind to rise in revolt against Qin. Those who know what is opportune, immediately lay down your arms and surrender to me, let us work together for a great cause. Otherwise, you will all be killed without exception!

  Xiang Liang's voice was like a loud bell, making everyone's ears ring."

  But this group of people, having become leaderless scattered soldiers, naturally didn't have a single person who dared to speak up. They all just tightly grasped their weapons and stared fixedly at Xiang Yu and his uncle Xiang Liang, their eyes filled with fear and panic. Yes, as soldiers, the most embarrassing thing is not being killed by others, but rather not knowing what to do next. This is a kind of sadness, a soldier's sadness.

  In this way, the people of both sides were still confronting each other. A large group of people, a large group of county guards, surrounded Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu. The situation looked very critical.

  Just at this very urgent moment, a loud shout suddenly came from outside: "Stop, stop, all of you stop!" And with the arrival of that voice, two people rushed over in a hurry. The attire and demeanor of these two individuals were not like those of ordinary soldiers; they seemed to be two leaders.

  "Dare to ask, are you General Xiang's men? We are willing to surrender to General Xiang and stand under his command! What does General Xiang think?" The two leaders said to Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu. As soon as they heard this, Xiang Yu drew his sword and glared at the soldiers in front of him, saying to his uncle Xiang Liang: "Uncle, these two are Qin generals, let me take care of them first! Look at their cunning words and expressions, they don't look like good people!"

  Those two men, upon hearing Xiang Yu's words, immediately changed their originally gentle faces to fierce and rushed over, quickly grasping the hilts of their swords, as if they were ready to fight to the death.

  Xiang Yu delighted in killing, and from the very beginning, he had shown this trait. Originally, someone with a bit of strategy would have seen that this was a great opportunity! Even if Xiang Yu's martial arts were strong, after all, he was still a lone hero who couldn't defeat four hands. And these two people came because they were the direct superiors of those guards, so as long as they gave the order, all the guards would put down their weapons. Without moving a muscle, they could subdue the enemy, what a great opportunity! But Xiang Yu insisted on killing those two people first, truly brave but lacking in strategy! Think about it later, when Xiang Yu was surrounded and singing a sad tune, he still didn't realize where he had gone wrong, saying "Heaven is destroying me, not because of my fault in battle!" His cruel nature was too severe, causing him to lose the hearts of the people, ultimately ending in defeat, which was only natural.

  However, Xiang Liang was different. Firstly, he was indeed a few years older, and secondly, from a strategic perspective, he was not on the same level as Xiang Yu. So, at that time, Xiang Liang stopped his nephew Xiang Yu and said to the two men: "If you two generals really want to join our side, we would be very welcome! However, in order to show your sincerity, I suggest that you two people should first let all the troops under your command gather at the county government office, waiting for my dispatch!"

  It should be said that Xiang Liang's move was quite ruthless. Because in this way, it can be a good test of the two men's surrender and whether they are really sincere. Once they follow his words, let the guards gather together, and then accept the mission of the Xiang family, it is equivalent to letting them completely disarm. As a result, the two men did not hesitate to do as Xiang Liang said, and Xiang Liang was naturally very satisfied. After all, this is the first batch of people he received after starting the rebellion, and with this batch of people, his plan to start an army also has a basic guarantee.

  The Crown Prince Fu Su was guarding the northern border with General Meng Tian when a cold wind suddenly rose, making people feel chilled to the bone. The Crown Prince Fu Su was shocked and asked for someone who was good at observing the weather to come over. After that person observed the sky for half a day, his face looked very unsightly, and he didn't speak for half a day.

  The young master, Fu Su, looked at him with great confusion in his heart and hastily asked the man what this omen was. The man listened and suddenly knelt down in front of Fu Su, saying: "Young master, please forgive me, I really dare not speak recklessly! I really dare not speak recklessly!"

  Fu Su listened and immediately understood that there was a reason for this, so he pretended to be calm and said to the stranger: "Speak up, don't worry, I absolutely won't punish you!"

  With Fu Su's words, the man finally stammered and said: "Young Master, I observe this yin energy, it is extremely unfavorable to you! I'm afraid, I'm afraid someone is secretly plotting against you. Alas, I'm afraid, Young Master will be hard-pressed to escape this calamity! It is extremely unfavorable to you! I'm afraid, I'm afraid someone is secretly plotting against you. Alas, I'm afraid, Young Master will be hard-pressed to escape this calamity!

  Fu Su was shocked, he wanted to ask more, but the stranger refused to say another word, shaking his head and sighing, walking away on his own.

  Before long, a letter of summons was delivered to Fu Su and Meng Tian, with the following contents: I am on my way to inspect the southeast to quell the evil spirits. Considering that you two have been in the north for a long time without any military achievements, I specially order you to take your own lives to apologize to the world.

  Upon seeing this imperial edict, Prince Fu Su was greatly shocked. He then recalled the incident a few days ago when he was affected by the dark wind and the words spoken by that strange person. He couldn't help but feel deeply moved. It seems that all of this is due to the predetermined fate of heaven. Life and death are determined by fate, wealth and nobility are in the hands of heaven! Although he also knew that his father, the Emperor, should not have made such a decision, because even though he sometimes had some minor criticisms of his father's governance, he also knew that his father actually liked him very much from the bottom of his heart. Especially on a day like today, although it seemed peaceful on the surface, in reality, many places were already turbulent and stormy. In such a situation, his poor and pitiful little brother naturally did not have the ability to govern. Therefore, the more unstable the world was, the greater the possibility that his father would pass the throne to him.

  But how could Father Emperor think of killing me?

  Fu Su was at a loss. Although he was at a loss, there was an imperial edict with the jade seal here, what else could he say? If he didn't obey, it would be deceiving heaven and earth and deceiving the ruler! Since it was the ruler who ordered him to die, he dared not disobey; since it was his father who ordered him to perish, he dared not disobey. So, did he still have any room for choice?

  "Master, master, this is a villain's trick! This is a villain's trick! Master must not be impulsive, master must not be impulsive, you must think thrice, you must think thrice!" Meng Tian had some experience after all, and he felt that things were coming in a rather suspicious way. So, he tried his best to dissuade Prince Fu Su. But alas, Fu Su was already at the end of his tether, feeling that no matter what, he could not escape the arrangement of fate. Therefore, he did not listen to Meng Tian's strong advice and resolutely drew his sword to take his own life.

  But as for Meng Tian, he also realized that his current situation was extremely dangerous. If there were Prince Fu Su to support him together, then his life would be a bit better. But now, Prince Fu Su is dead, so he has become the truly isolated and lonely one, alone and unable to make a sound!

  Actually, Meng Tian had thought about rebelling. Although he was also very loyal to the Great Qin State, and for the establishment and rise of this great state, he had indeed made great contributions. But based on this, I would still be sentenced to death? What kind of world is this? If it's really like this, then why should I continue to serve this dynasty? After all, in my own hands, I hold tens of millions of soldiers, one-third of the entire Great Qin State's military power. So, as long as I give the order, I can dominate the north and achieve great things.

  Actually, Meng Tian had thought about rebelling. Although he was also very loyal to the Great Qin State, and for the establishment and rise of this great state, he had indeed made great contributions. But based on this, I would still be sentenced to death? What kind of world is this? If it's really like this, then why should I continue to serve this dynasty? After all, in my own hands, I hold tens of millions of soldiers, one-third of the entire Great Qin State's military power. So, as long as I give the order, I can dominate the north and achieve great things.

  He had already killed that envoy, what does he care about the trivial matters of three sevens and twenty-ones? What self-inflicted punishment, nonsense! I have no merits, but I do have hardships. Is it said that the greater the merit one has achieved, the more severe the punishment should be?

  However, he didn't dare to openly defy the Qin Emperor. After all, their emperor's prestige was renowned throughout the land, and his authority was unshakeable. Although he had many military achievements, he was just a general who led troops into battle. If he were to openly rebel, not to mention others, even his own soldiers wouldn't listen to him. So, he needed to come up with a foolproof plan. Thus, he thought of forming an alliance with the Xiongnu army - those nomadic tribes were quite formidable! By then, his military strength would be greatly enhanced, and no matter which aspect of the Qin army's strength, they wouldn't be able to match his troops. The consequences of such actions were unknown. Perhaps it would succeed, but he knew that the possibility of failure was also extremely high. However, that was still much better than dying inexplicably like this!

  After thinking about it, Meng Tian secretly sent someone to make contact with the Xiongnu, expressing his willingness to get along with them and submit to their rule. Although this was a difficult pill for Meng Tian to swallow, he thought that at least this way, he would still have time and more opportunities waiting for him.