roccoschili Chapter 377 The March deadline has arrived!
Chapter 377 The March deadline has arrived!
"So what?"
Xiang Yu declared domineeringly, "I'd rather die standing than live kneeling!"
I, Xiang Yu, would rather lead my eight thousand men and fight the Qin army honorably on the battlefield until the last soldier is left, than stoop to beg for mercy from those barbarians beyond the Great Wall!
"What use is a restored kingdom if it is restored by the charity of barbarians? Where is the backbone of the people of Chu?"
"Foolish! Reckless courage!"
Xiang Liang trembled with rage, pointing at Xiang Yu's face and roaring, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles! History is written by the victors!"
"Can your pride feed you? Can your arrogance withstand the Qin army's powerful crossbows? If we cannot restore our country, how will we face our ancestors in the afterlife?!"
Inside the tent, the uncle and nephew broke into an argument.
Xiang Yu clenched his teeth, staring at his uncle with a look of utter bewilderment.
a long time.
Xiang Yu knew that he could not change his uncle's decision, and filial piety and military discipline bound him tightly, preventing him from committing any act of betrayal.
"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together!"
Xiang Yu suddenly swung his hand and pulled the Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd from the ground.
He didn't say another word, then suddenly turned around and strode out of the main tent.
Xiang Yu's figure disappeared into the night, and the tent fell into a deathly silence.
Xiang Liang's chest heaved violently as he looked at the empty tent. Suddenly, he grabbed the bronze candlestick from the table and smashed it hard on the ground.
"Bang!"
Sparks flew everywhere, lamp oil spilled all over the ground, and the flame struggled for a few moments before going out.
"You are a traitor! You are a traitor!"
Xiang Liang cursed loudly, his eyes bloodshot.
He had planned and endured humiliation for half his life, only to have his closest nephew point his finger at him and call him spineless in the end. How could he not be angry?
But after his anger subsided, Xiang Liang gradually calmed down.
He slumped back onto the couch and rubbed his throbbing temples.
He knew Xiang Yu's temper best; he was fierce and resolute, and wouldn't yield to force. If pushed too far, with Xiang Yu's martial prowess, no one in the camp could stop him.
"It was my own recklessness!" Xiang Liang murmured.
"Someone come here!" Xiang Liang called out in a deep voice towards the outside of the tent.
Two bodyguards quickly entered.
"Send men to keep a close watch on the young general from a distance, to prevent him from causing trouble, and especially to ensure that the Xiongnu envoy is not alerted," Xiang Liang instructed after a moment's thought.
"Go and fetch Xiang Zhuang, and have him persuade Yu'er."
……
Meanwhile, on a solitary peak behind the camp.
The night wind was cold.
Xiang Yu, carrying a jar of strong liquor, sat alone on a boulder at the edge of the cliff.
The Heavenly Dragon City-Breaking Halberd was stuck diagonally in the frozen soil beside him, radiating a chill.
He broke the mud seal, tilted his head back, and gulped down the strong liquor.
The strong liquor burned like fire in his stomach, but it couldn't extinguish the vexation in his heart.
The jar of wine was quickly emptied.
Xiang Yu casually tossed the empty wine jar off the cliff. Listening to the echo coming from the abyss, and feeling the cold wind, his previously feverish brain finally cleared up a bit.
After calming down, Xiang Yu recalled his actions in the tent and felt a pang of self-reproach.
His father died early, and he was raised by his uncle Xiang Liang, who taught him military strategy and martial arts.
For the sake of the Xiang clan's restoration of their kingdom, my uncle traveled far and wide, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the cause.
My words just now were like daggers to the heart; how heartbroken must my uncle have been to hear them?
"My temper..." Xiang Yu slammed his fist on the boulder beneath him, sending stone chips flying.
He hated the Xiongnu and the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, but he only felt respect and gratitude towards his uncle.
No matter how unwilling you are, you shouldn't lose your temper with your elders.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind them.
"Big brother!"
Xiang Zhuang, wearing a cloak and carrying two jugs of new wine, sat down next to Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu did not turn around, but simply responded with a muffled sound.
Xiang Zhuang handed a flask of wine to Xiang Yu, sighed, and said, "Brother, Uncle is doing this for the greater good. In our current situation, without external assistance, facing Qin is like throwing an egg against a rock. Uncle's grievances are no less than yours!"
Xiang Yu took the wine jug, but instead of drinking it, he gripped it tightly in his hand until his knuckles turned white.
"I know!"
Xiang Yu's voice was low and deep. "I acted impulsively just now. I shouldn't have yelled at my uncle. My uncle's kindness in raising me is as heavy as a mountain; even if I, Xiang Yu, were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay even a fraction of it!"
Xiang Yu turned his head, looking at the distant night sky, his eyes filled with struggle and pain:
"But Zhuang, those are the Xiongnu! They are not of our kind, their hearts are surely different! If we borrow their weapons and horses, what will we use to repay them in the future? The land of the Central Plains? The people of my Chu state?"
He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling in the cold wind: "I, Xiang Yu, can die on the battlefield, and my Jiangdong men can be wiped out!"
But I absolutely cannot tolerate exchanging the charity of these barbarians for the throne of my Great Chu!
This is worse than death!
Xiang Zhuang was immediately at a loss. He wanted to speak, but he didn't know how to persuade him, since he knew his elder brother's personality.
He simply raised the wine jar and took a big gulp.
I am not good at literature, so how can I not be good at martial arts?
Why don't you try that Sunflower Manual too?
……
time flies.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
A rare event occurred in the imperial court.
Emperor Qin Shi Huang issued an edict that all officials should take a two-day holiday and that the morning court session should be suspended.
During these two days, the officials in Xianyang did not stay at home to rest.
Retainers and attendants frequently entered and exited the various residences, passing on messages to each other.
The one-month deadline that Zhang Fan set at Zhangtai Palace has arrived.
The court's sudden holiday at this time aroused suspicion among most officials.
Inside the main hall of Zong Yu's residence, more than a dozen court officials had gathered.
A brazier was lit inside the hall, and the doors and windows were tightly closed.
Zong Yu sat in the main seat, holding a teacup. He looked at the officials below who were discussing and said, "Zhang Fan proposed using steam trains to transport grain."
The one-month deadline has passed, and he has no concrete evidence. His Majesty's sudden announcement of leave is to protect him and delay our impeachment process!
A civil official nodded in agreement: "Lord Zong is absolutely right. There's been no movement from the Imperial Academy of Natural History. If they had truly created something that could travel a thousand miles a day, they would have sent it to the palace long ago!"
The fact that there's no news now means they've definitely failed!
How could those steel carriages possibly move on their own? That's utter nonsense!
Another official sneered: "The laws of Qin are strict. The crime of deceiving the emperor is unforgivable. Even if His Majesty intends to protect him, we will still jointly submit a memorial to punish Zhang Fan when the morning court resumes in two days!"
He also injured a craftsman a few days ago; this matter cannot be left unresolved. With the northern expedition imminent, the transport of supplies is of utmost importance, and Zhang Fan's actions are delaying military operations!
Zong Yu put down his teacup and looked at everyone: "Everyone, go back and prepare your memorials. We will submit them together the day after tomorrow morning. We cannot allow this person to remain in the court."
Similar discussions were heard everywhere in Xianyang.
Not only civil officials, but some military generals also began to doubt Zhang Fan's progress.
The transport of provisions was crucial to the Northern Expedition, and 300,000 troops at the front were waiting. The deadline had arrived, but there was still no movement, causing much discussion throughout the court and among the people.