69novels Chapter 811 Xiang Yu still plans to send troops!
Chapter 811 Xiang Yu still plans to send troops!
Fan Zeng's gaze turned to Xiang Yu, his tone becoming more earnest and graver, each word hammering like a hammer against his heart: "Your Majesty! Our Chu army rose from Jiangdong and overcame countless hardships to reach this point. Every soldier is a precious seed for restoring our nation and avenging our grievances, establishing the foundation for our hegemony! We cannot afford to lose a gamble that could shake our very foundation! Currently, Gaoyao is embroiled in conflict and endless fighting with the various warlords and even the remnants of the Qin court. Our army should conserve its strength and wait and see. When they are exhausted and both sides are devastated, we will strike with unstoppable force and sweep the world clean! This strategy of 'while the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman profits' may seem conservative, but it is the superior option for achieving the greatest victory at the lowest cost! Preserving strength and accumulating power is the fundamental way to plan for the long term and conquer the world!"
After Fan Zeng finished speaking, his gaze fixed firmly on Xiang Yu's resolute face. He no longer glanced at Yi Xiaochuan, his message clear: the final decision rested with the King of Chu. He cited core concerns like "foundation," "long-term perspective," and "kingly hegemony" to try to outweigh Yi Xiaochuan's tactical ingenuity.
Xiang Yu's massive figure, like a mountain, sat at the head of the table. The bronze wine jar shifted unconsciously in his broad hands, his deep eyes shifting slowly between Yi Xiaochuan and Fan Zeng. A brief silence fell within the tent, broken only by the crackling of burning torches and the faint clatter of fighting in the distance. Yi Xiaochuan's attack was fiery, full of passion and adventure, depicting a glorious and potentially swift victory; Fan Zeng's defense was like water, steady as a mountain, emphasizing the cold principles of foundation and survival. Two contrasting strategic philosophies clashed fiercely in his mind.
He saw the thrilling possibilities of Yi Xiaochuan's plan: the cavalry would crush Xianyang, Gao Yao would surrender in despair, and the fame of the Overlord of Western Chu would resound throughout the land! The image was incredibly alluring. However, Fan Zeng's heavy words—"shaking the foundation," "a turtle in a jar," "fisherman's profit"—were like a cold tide, washing away his boiling blood. He recalled the teachings of his uncle Xiang Liang and the young men of Jiangdong who had fought alongside him, now buried in a foreign land. The life of every soldier weighed heavily on his heart.
Xiang Yu's fingers suddenly tightened, and the bronze wine jar let out a soft groan. He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across Yi Xiaochuan, who was filled with anticipation, and then to Fan Zeng, whose expression was solemn and tinged with worry. His eyes were filled with a complex mixture of eagerness for a fierce battle, a weighing of the risks, and the heavy pressure of the responsibilities that came with being the commander of an army and a powerful lord.
"What my father-in-law said, 'Prudence and long-term planning,' is truly sound advice." Xiang Yu's voice was deep and rich, breaking the silence. He began by affirming Fan Zeng's core point, "Preserving our strength is indeed fundamental." He paused, but his tone remained conservative, his tiger-like spirit undiminished. "Then, Xiaochuan's strategy..." Xiang Yu's gaze flickered again to Yangping Pass on the map, a flame flickering in his eyes. "...is not entirely unreasonable. Opportunities for battle are fleeting. If we simply wait, who knows if others won't seize the initiative first? Perhaps Gao Yao will secure his position?"
He stood up, his towering figure almost reaching the top of the tent. An invisible pressure permeated the air. "Capturing Yangping Pass carries enormous risks, but if successful, it would be a brilliant move that could shake up the entire Guanzhong chess game." Xiang Yu tapped the location of Yangping Pass on the map. "However, can we truly, as Xiaochuan predicts, draw out the troops from Xianyang in full force? Can our army seize that fleeting opportunity and deliver a fatal blow?"
Xiang Yu's gaze grew sharp as a knife. He gazed out into the gloomy night, as if to penetrate the darkness and discern the enemy's true dispositions and intentions. "Order!" His voice suddenly rose, unwavering in its determination. "Immediately dispatch three times as many scouts. Spare no expense to ascertain the strength and deployment of the Yangping Pass garrison, as well as the exact movements of the enemy forces around Xianyang, especially those directly under Gao Yao's command! Also, order Zhongli Mei's cavalry to be ready to attack at any moment, and to be on guard at all times. Do not move a single soldier without my orders!"
He turned around, his gaze lingering on Fan Zeng and Yi Xiaochuan for a moment. His eyes were both soothing and warning: "Whether to proceed with this risky move depends on the military intelligence! I will bear in mind your father's foresight and consideration. However, Xiaochuan's fighting spirit should not be underestimated. We, Western Chu, are not afraid of war, but we will never fight recklessly! This game..." Xiang Yu's voice was filled with the domineering power of a man in control of the situation and a hint of solemnity about the unknown. "...If you want to play, you must be absolutely sure and kill with one strike! Otherwise, you will be gambling with the fate of our Chu!"
Xiang Yu's resounding command echoed through the tent. The words "absolutely certain, a single strike will kill" and "the fate of the nation hangs on this gamble" weighed heavily on everyone's mind. Fan Zeng's lowered eyelids trembled slightly, and then he let out a barely audible sigh that seemed to carry the weight of endless vicissitudes of life.
"Yes." Fan Zeng's voice rang out, low and short, carrying a sense of settled fatigue. He slowly rose, his movements seeming even slower than when he arrived. This response was far more than a simple obedience; it felt more like a dirge of finality.
He wielded strategic maneuvers, assisting Xiang Yu's uncle and nephew for over decades. From their humble beginnings in Jiangdong to the current reign of the Western Chu, every step was imbued with his dedication and wisdom. He knew Xiang Yu all too well. The orders to dispatch additional scouts and cavalry to stand ready at all times, ostensibly a cautious investigation, were in reality like an arrow released from a bow, revealing Xiang Yu's unquenchable thirst for a thunderous strike. Ultimately, he was a powerful overlord with unparalleled strength, not a calculating ruler intent on maintaining the status quo.
Fan Zeng's gaze swept over Yi Xiaochuan's youthful, spirited face, and a chill settled within him. He wasn't entirely dismissive of Yi Xiaochuan's strategy; the young man possessed a quick wit, able to see opportunities overlooked by ordinary men. However, Xiang Yu's admiration for Yi Xiaochuan's "spirit," even a touch of indulgence and protection, pierced Fan Zeng like an invisible knife. Over a decade of painstaking effort couldn't match the novelty and impact of a few ingenious schemes from a newcomer.
Fan Zeng understood that regardless of the outcome of the Battle of Yangping Pass, Yi Xiaochuan's name would be deeply etched in Xiang Yu's future strategic landscape, becoming the key figure who could ignite Xiang Yu's warlike fire and provide him with "thunderous tactics." And his "father," this veteran minister known for his prudence and cautious approach to statecraft, his conservative maxims might gradually be seen as a shackle that bound the Overlord. A sense of foreboding, like "when the bird is dead, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is dead, the dog is cooked," quietly spread, accompanied by a deep sense of powerlessness. His era seemed to be slowly drawing to a close with this sigh.