Chapter 112 Qin Shi Huang Meets with Emperor Gaozu of Han and Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. ...
In autumn, the river breeze carries moisture across the cliffs of Kuaiji Mountain, and the red maple leaves rustle across the mountainside, creating a sea of red.
Nine-year-old Xiang Yu was squatting on the pebble beach by the river, clutching a bronze short sword longer than his forearm—a miniature version specially made for him by his uncle Xiang Liang. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, making his still-developing double pupils shine brightly, like two flames.
“Uncle, the Qin people built a road that leads directly to our Chu land. They even cut down the old locust tree at the village entrance to pave the road.” He looked up, his childish voice carrying a melancholy beyond his years. “Grandpa said that our Xiang family’s fiefdom was taken away by Ying Zheng.”
Xiang Liang was bending down to pick up seashells from the river when he heard this. He paused and quickly covered Yu'er's mouth, saying, "Yu'er! Don't talk nonsense!" He looked around and saw only a few village women washing clothes and laughing in the distance before letting go of Yu'er's mouth. He whispered, "The Qin people have eyes and ears everywhere. If the village head hears this, the whole family will be sent to Mount Li to do hard labor."
Xiang Yu, however, stubbornly raised his neck and suddenly slashed his short sword at a blue stone beside him.
With a crisp clang, the sword deflected, sparks flying onto the back of his hand, but he was oblivious, staring intently at the faint white mark on the stone, his eyes brimming with stubbornness: "When I grow up, I'll take back everything he stole!"
This fire will one day burn down the Qin Dynasty.
Xiang Liang looked at the bulging veins on his nephew's forehead and suddenly remembered the unusual double pupils the child had when he was born. A complex feeling welled up in his heart. He sighed, took the short sword from the child's hand, and tucked it into his waistband: "Let's learn how to wield a sword without cutting our hands first."
The river breeze lifted the corner of Xiang Yu's coarse cloth jacket, revealing the abrasions on his calves from climbing rocks. He gazed at the faint outline of the city on the opposite bank, his small hands clenched into fists, as if he were quietly making a heavy vow in his heart.
He can definitely do it.
Even if Chu has only three households left, it will surely be Chu that destroys Qin!
In a tavern in Pei County, thirty-three-year-old Liu Bang was leaning over a table, squinting as he watched Fan Kuai play a drinking game with someone. He had just gotten a job as the head of the Sishui Pavilion and had specially invited his brothers to drink today; the table was piled high with dog meat bones.
Entering politics at the age of thirty-three, passing the civil service exam inevitably requires some spending.
"Old Fan, if you lose, you have to drink!" Liu Bang laughed and pushed the earthenware bowl towards Fan Kuai, taking a big gulp himself, the wine flowing down his chin and into his coarse cloth clothes. He hadn't yet grown the signature beard he would later have, and the wrinkles around his eyes were shallow; however, when he smiled, his eyes always narrowed into slits, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
However, at this time, Liu Bang really didn't have much to offer in terms of his character or abilities.
His name was Liu Ji, and he was just the third son of an ordinary farmer's family in Zhongyang Village, Fengyi Town, Pei County. In terms of background, he could not compare with the illustrious family of Xiang Yu, who had been a military family for generations. In terms of appearance, he did not have Xiang Yu's naturally gifted double pupils, nor did he have any outstanding appearance. He was just an ordinary man with a high nose and a broad forehead. When he smiled, the corners of his eyes would fold up, and he looked more like the uncle next door who liked to drink on credit.
Every day, he neither diligently tended the fields like his eldest brother, Liu Bo, nor meticulously amassed a fortune like his second brother, Liu Zhong. Instead, he always liked to wander around the village streets with a wine gourd in his hand. He would either huddle at the butcher Fan Kuai's stall to get a piece of dog meat, or squat in the tavern listening to people from all over the country chatter. When he got excited, he would even join in the commotion and laughter, looking every bit the idle, street-smart person.
Who would have predicted that such a person would amount to anything in the future? He didn't have the sharpness that Xiang Yu showed from a young age—it is said that Xiang Yu could split rocks with a sword at the age of nine, and the fierceness in his eyes even frightened veterans; nor did he ever do anything remarkable. He would only occasionally boast a few words like "A real man should be like this" when he was drunk, and then be laughed and scolded by his fellow villagers as "Liu Ji is daydreaming again."
At that time, he was Liu Ji, the third son of Liu Taigong's family who was the most troublesome. Like weeds that could be seen everywhere by the roadside, no one thought he should be taken seriously, and no one would guess what he was hiding in his heart.
After all, there are far too many people like this in the world of Qin.
Xiao He sat opposite him, counting rods in his hand, but his brows remained furrowed: "Liu Ji, you've only been the village head for three days, and you dare to let two laborers who missed their deadline escape? Do you really think the Qin law is just for show?"
Liu Bang let out a drunken hiccup and waved his hand dismissively, "Those two men both have babies crying for food at home. Sending them there will only lead to their deaths. It's better to let them escape." He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer to Xiao He, "Haven't you heard? Seven or eight out of ten of the laborers building the Great Wall in Shangjun died of cold and hunger. Last winter, some of them even took up hoes and rebelled. Although they were suppressed by the Qin army, this spark..."
He dipped his finger in the wine and drew a crooked circle on the table: "It'll burn down sooner or later."
Fan Kuai, who had just won the fight, was gnawing on a dog's leg when he heard this and mumbled, "Liu Ji is talking nonsense again! The Qin army is the best in the world, who dares to rebel?"
Liu Bang chuckled, then suddenly stood up, put his hands on his hips, and paced around the tavern, mimicking the manner of a county magistrate holding court: "Gentlemen, look! Last night I dreamt that a red snake crawled into my stomach, and when I woke up my mouth was full of a fishy smell—this is no ordinary omen!"
The red serpent didn't dare to breathe loudly in front of the black dragon.
The crowd roared with laughter, saying he was bragging again. Liu Bang didn't argue, but simply picked up his wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. His gaze swept across the bustling streets outside the window and landed on the Qin army escorting prisoners in the distance, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.
Inside a secret chamber in Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng was reviewing confidential reports from Kuaiji Commandery and Pei County. The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his face. He was thirty-seven years old, and the great undertaking of unifying the six kingdoms was nearing its end. The maps on his desk were being filled in bit by bit with vermilion ink.
He was reading the secret report. Although he had sent people to find Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, Ying Zheng did not bring them back directly, but observed them carefully.
"A nine-year-old boy, claiming he wants to reclaim his fiefdom?" Ying Zheng tapped on the secret report about Xiang Yu with his fingertips, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips. "Xiang Yan's grandson does have some of his ancestor's fierceness."
Li Si stood aside, bowed, and said, "The Xiang clan still has some old followers in Chu. Perhaps..." He made a throat-slitting gesture.
Ying Zheng shook his head: "Just a mere child." He picked up another secret report, "This Liu Bang is quite interesting. He released prisoners and dared to say that the world would be in chaos. He's got some nerve."
“His words and actions are extremely disrespectful; he should be immediately escorted to Xianyang for execution,” Li Si said.
Ying Zheng put the secret report back on the table, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Bring them to Xianyang."
Li Si was taken aback: "Your Majesty? Xiang Yu is only nine years old..."
Could a nine-year-old child really become the future Hegemon-King of Western Chu?
"So what if he's nine years old?" Ying Zheng raised his head, his gaze sharp as an eagle. "I want to see what this child who dares to say he wants to seize my throne looks like." He paused, then added, "And that Sishui Pavilion Chief, let him come too."
Three months later, in a side hall of Xianyang Palace, Xiang Yu stood on tiptoe, surveying his surroundings. He wore a clean brocade jacket, specially provided by the officials who had escorted him, though his face still bore the marks of travel fatigue. When he saw Ying Zheng sitting high on the throne, he didn't tremble with fear like the others. Instead, he stared intently at the man on the dragon throne with wide, curious eyes, as if comparing whether this man was truly as terrifying as the rumors suggested.
"You are Ying Zheng?" Xiang Yu's voice still had a childlike quality, but it was also filled with stubbornness.
The palace guards immediately shouted a rebuke, but Ying Zheng raised his hand to stop them. Looking at the child, barely taller than the table, he suddenly found it somewhat amusing: "You said you wanted to reclaim the Xiang family's fiefdom?"
"Yes!" Xiang Yu puffed out his chest. "My grandfather said that those things originally belonged to our Xiang family."
This was the future Hegemon-King of Western Chu, but now he was just a snotty-nosed child. Ying Zheng smiled, a smile rarely seen on his face, almost gentle: "Do you know that my iron cavalry can flatten Mount Kuaiji?"
Xiang Yu pursed his lips, clenched his small hands into fists again, but didn't say anything more.
At this moment, Liu Bang was brought in. Upon seeing this scene, he immediately knelt down with a thud, his knees pounding loudly on the brick floor: "This humble subject, Liu Bang, pays his respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"
Looking at his obsequious manner, Ying Zheng remembered that this man was none other than Liu Bang, the future Emperor Gaozu of Han, and couldn't help but think that this man did possess some wisdom. "You say, the world will inevitably descend into chaos sooner or later?"
Liu Bang lowered his head even further, his voice trembling: "This humble subject was drunk and talking nonsense, Your Majesty, please forgive me! This humble subject is just a village head, I can't even control the dogs at the village entrance, how dare I discuss matters of state..."
Ying Zheng looked at him for a long time, then suddenly said, "Li Si, find a school for Xiang Yu in Xianyang so he can study." He then said to Liu Bang, "Since you have served as a village head, go to Xianyang Stables and become a stable manager to oversee the horses."
Xiang Yu and Liu Bang were both stunned, and even Li Si looked astonished.
They didn't kill them?
Ying Zheng ignored them and waved his hand, saying, "Go down."
After the two had both left, Li Si couldn't help but ask, "Why, Your Majesty..."
“It’s better to keep a child under our noses than to let him become the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.” Ying Zheng looked at the map again, his fingertip tracing the territory of Chu. “As for Liu Bang… a commoner who knows how to assess the situation, keeping him in Xianyang will allow us to see just how capable he really is.”
Since Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, and Emperor Gaozu of Han are so capable, then let them work for him. The Qin Dynasty has always valued talent above all else.
His fingertip was resting on the spot in Han Di Yang Di, without looking up.
"Still no news from Yangdi?" he suddenly asked, his voice calm.
Li Si was taken aback before realizing that His Majesty was referring to the "remnant of the Han state" who had attempted the assassination at Bolangsha. Previously, His Majesty had secretly ordered the governors of various prefectures to search for Zhang Liang, a man portrayed in television dramas as "a master strategist who could win battles from afar," destined to become Liu Ji's sharpest weapon, using his wisdom to undermine the foundations of the Qin Dynasty.
Unfortunately, after searching for several months, they still couldn't find him.
“Your Majesty,” the commander of the secret agents standing by bowed and replied, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead, “I have sent men to search all over the old lands of Yangdi and the counties of Xiapi and Chenliu, and have asked former ministers of the King of Han and the elders of the countryside. They all say that there was indeed a prince of Han named Zhang Liang, whose grandfather and father served as prime ministers of Han for five generations. After Qin destroyed Han, he disappeared without a trace, and there has been no sign of him for three years now.”
He paused, then added, "According to the soldiers near Bolangsha, Zhang Liang looked like a beautiful woman. Some people saw him talking to a village girl in a coarse cloth dress by the Huai River. The girl's eyebrows and eyes even resembled his. But in an instant, she disappeared into the crowd of refugees... The villagers all said that he must have died in the chaos of the army, or that he had changed his name and dared not show his face again."
Ying Zheng finally raised his eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable, like a cold pool. His fingertips slowly traced the characters for "Yangdi." He could forgive Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, but he could not forgive Zhang Liang.
"A woman's appearance?" He sneered. "She can spend a fortune to hire an assassin and shock the world with a single blow at Bolangsha. She is not truly weak, but rather good at hiding her true nature."
This kind of concealment is more dangerous than Xiang Yu's reckless courage. Xiang Yu's sharpness is exposed, like a sword drawn from its sheath, visible and controllable; but Zhang Liang is like a vine entwined in the shadows, seemingly weak, yet able to silently entwine the beams and pillars until he strangles the entire palace.
He doesn't like being passive.
"Keep searching." Ying Zheng's voice was devoid of emotion, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "Tell all counties in Yingchuan and Sishui that anyone who matches the description—over six feet tall, with delicate features like a woman, dressed in plain clothes yet walking with composure, and whose eyes gleam with a sharp light when observing people—must be reported immediately. Anyone who dares to hide such a person will have their entire family exterminated."
"Yes, sir!" the spy chief responded, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
Li Si watched as His Majesty turned his gaze back to the map, which was densely marked with the names of people sent from all over the country—Xiao He was already auditing accounts at the Imperial Treasury, Cao Can had been promoted to Commandant of Sishui, Fan Kuai was guarding the palace gate with a butcher's knife in hand... Even eight-year-old Han Xin was almost in Xianyang.
Most people have been found.
Zhang Liang, however, vanished without a trace, like ink dropped into the ocean.
“Your Majesty,” Li Si hesitated before speaking, “perhaps… what is said on television is not necessarily the whole truth?” In his opinion, there was a lot of embellishment involved, such as the fact that Li Si was such a petty person.
In a thatched hut outside Xiapi, a "village girl" dressed in a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was embroidering a handkerchief. The silk thread twirled between her fingers, but the embroidered orchids looked somewhat hasty. The sound of Qin soldiers' hooves searching came from outside the eaves. Her hand holding the embroidery needle paused slightly, then she continued to thread the needle, but her other hand, which was hanging by her skirt, quietly rested on her sword.
"Sister, the Qin soldiers are searching again. They say they're looking for a man who looks like a woman." The old woman next door pushed open the door and came in, carrying a bowl of hot porridge.
Zhang Liang raised his head, a look of surprise followed by a timid smile, his voice soft: "Could this person be a monster?"
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Author's Note: Please add this to your favorites [Let me see]. I'm so conflicted about whether to write the all-female version first or the version with both male and female characters. Please give me some advice [Let me see]. I'll probably start a new one seamlessly after this one is finished.
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