The Worth of a Blade
The Battle of Hanei unfolded with a boldness that left a strong impression.
Xiang Yan spoke with clear regret, as if the Crown Prince of Chu, Ying, fell short of her expectations. Even though we were in a foreign land, to openly evaluate her own nation's future king in such a manner... It seemed Xiang Yan and Lian Po were cut from the same cloth. Both were the type who would only half-heartedly follow even their own kings if they didn't meet their standards. They were incredibly sharp blades, yet precisely because of that, they were weapons that were all the more difficult to wield.
My analysis of Xiang Yan ended there. I quickly shifted my thoughts to the main topic she was about to broach.
Xiang Yan spoke with profound respect, a level of deference she hadn't even shown toward her own Crown Prince. Since there was no reason to hide it, I readily nodded, confirming the truth.
She had probably guessed that not only herself but the other generals would react this way the moment Lord Xinling singled me out to remain behind. What worried me was whether keeping me at his side might be seen as special treatment. Although there were no Han forces present yet, this was still a Grand Coalition of four states. The moment the word "discrimination" arose, cracks would form, and there was no telling when the alliance might collapse.
I waited anxiously for Xiang Yan's next words, inwardly fretting that she might have come precisely to raise that issue.
In other words, Xiang Yan could clearly see that Lord Xinling intended to name me his successor, so she wanted to establish a direct connection with Chu in advance. She also wanted her nation's rising star to receive Lord Xinling's teachings alongside me. For me, it was a welcome proposal. I had already planned to build a closer relationship with Xiang Yan during this opportunity. Moreover, if a talented individual from Chu stood beside me under Lord Xinling's wing, there would be no talk of special treatment.
Lord Xinling knew that I had inherited Lord Pingyuan's seal and that I had sworn an alliance between Zhao and Yan to him. Lord Xinling of Wei, Lord Chunshen of Chu. The greatest talents capable of leading the Grand Coalition—the Four Gentlemen. If I stood firm in Yan alongside those two, a Coalition army of Yan, Zhao, Wei, and Chu could be formed at any time. A four-nation alliance sharing the same cause, capable of maintaining a permanent Coalition, would be established.
Yet the central pillar of the grand alliance that Lord Xinling and I were planning had to be Lord Xinling himself. Nevertheless, Xiang Yan seemed to consider me more important than Lord Xinling. She made little effort to hide her slight disappointment as she muttered under her breath.
It was spoken so softly that I wouldn't have caught it without my keen hearing. Whether it was carelessness or sheer arrogance, I couldn't say.
It seemed that wasn't her only purpose. Xiang Yan casually cast her gaze over my shoulder. Her brilliant crimson eyes reflected Yeo Hong-seong's face.
From behind me, Yeo Hong-seong let out a displeased grunt. Paying it no mind, Xiang Yan declared boldly, as if it were her natural right.
Yeo Hong-seong hadn't even participated in battle while serving as my bodyguard—what did she mean by exceptional martial prowess? I glanced back at Sima Shang with a sinking feeling, and she merely shrugged with an expression that said there was nothing she could do.
No wonder the atmosphere around camp had felt unusually restless earlier. It seemed the two of them had clashed before I arrived. Neither Xiang Yan nor Yeo Hong-seong were the type to stop easily even if Sima Shang tried to intervene. Yeo Hong-seong might have held back somewhat due to our accumulated bond, but even if Li Mu had come instead of Sima Shang, controlling Xiang Yan would likely have been impossible. This wasn't someone who could be handed off to another.
This was a problem I had to resolve myself.
Xiang Yan's counterquestion was a clear slip of the tongue. I immediately seized on her self-inflicted blunder.
From what I recalled, the Xiang clan derived its surname from having once been enfeoffed with the land of Xiang. Since then, the family had produced generals for Chu generation after generation. Their pride as a prestigious house of Chu was immense. My guess had struck the mark perfectly.
Xiang Yan erupted with raw fury and rejection. But she quickly regained her composure and readily admitted her mistake.
Though she often displayed rude behavior, Xiang Yan was fundamentally a bold and forthright person. Instead of nitpicking my points, she acknowledged them cleanly and without hesitation.
Next? It seemed she still had other topics she wished to discuss with me besides this matter. Having announced her next visit one-sidedly, Xiang Yan spun on her heel and strode away with heavy steps, as if her business here was finished. It was an exit as abrupt as her arrival—like a sudden gust of wind that came and went without warning.
Still, perhaps because the storm had passed, the shock of the first battle felt somewhat lessened.
It wasn't something either of them particularly wanted, but that was simply how military affairs worked. Yeo Hong-seong, whose emotions rarely showed, seemed more preoccupied with reflecting on her recent clash with Xiang Yan than her role in the coming battle. Sima Shang simply accepted the reality with a resigned "It can't be helped."
I had spoken that way to avoid raising false hopes only to disappoint them later, but I intended to do everything possible to keep the two of them together. If I emphasized that Sima Shang was from Zhao and the next great general to succeed Lian Po, Lord Xinling would hardly refuse. It wasn't difficult—Lord Xinling and Sima Shang already knew each other. When Sima Shang briefly worked at the Mubi Trading Company, Lord Xinling had witnessed her talent firsthand. Adding the fact that she was the prized disciple of Li Mu, whose value had skyrocketed recently, I probably wouldn't even need to persuade him with great fervor.
Me from Yan, a promising new talent from Chu brought by Xiang Yan, and Sima Shang, disciple of Zhao's great general Li Mu. Lord Xinling of Wei teaching the pillars of three different states. The picture is clean and quite fitting.
It would be a scene that perfectly embodied the value of the Grand Coalition.
The next day, when I presented my suggestion, Lord Xinling readily accepted, saying she had already spoken with Xiang Yan. I had heard that Zhao's General Bang Nan was close to Li Mu, but I wasn't sure if he knew about Sima Shang. Still, once he met her and talked for a while, he would quickly realize she was Li Mu's disciple.
After the first battle, both sides remained quiet the following day. The air drifting across the battlefield made it abundantly clear that both armies were conserving their strength, waiting for the decisive moment.
And finally, the second battle began—the decisive clash where both camps would pour their full strength into the fray.
When I arrived at the watchtower prepared for command, a representative from Chu who had arrived first greeted me.
I had heard that Xiang Yan had three children. Given that the Xiang clan was such a prestigious family, it was said that when Xiang Yan became the family head, she had taken a son-in-law into the family. And if this was her eldest son, then he must be...
This man is Xiang Yu's father.
He was the one who would give birth to the Hegemon-King who would one day conquer the world.