Sky Curtain: A Review of Historical Foes and the Secrets of Ministers

Zhang Han's fifty men, looking at the few lime marks on their bodies and then at the dusty and disheveled appearance of the usually aloof veterans opposite them, could hardly believe that they had actually won.

A kind of pride began to take root in the hearts of these new recruits.

The losing side was even more incredulous; they could not accept this humiliating fact.

"This can't be! He's cheating!" A burly man, his eyes bloodshot, frantically tried to swing his wooden sword and charge forward again. "I'm not dead! I can still fight!"

"Stop!" The scarred veteran stopped him and pinned him to the ground.

Although I was filled with resentment, military orders were absolute, and a loss was a loss.

The scarred veteran threw down the wooden spear in his hand and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhang Han.

"This humble general is convinced!"

Zhang Han's hand holding the command flag trembled slightly, but he gritted his teeth and maintained the dignity of a commander, his gaze sweeping over the entire army.

His reputation is now firmly established.

On the distant reviewing stand, behind the curtain.

Ying Zheng witnessed this thrilling process firsthand.

"What do you two think of Zhang Han's ability to lead troops?" Ying Zheng asked casually, his hands behind his back.

Meng Tian and Wang Jian exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of hesitation in each other's eyes.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

The soldiers below thought Zhang Han was a brilliant strategist, but in the eyes of these two true military geniuses of the Qin Dynasty, it was a completely different story.

"Your Majesty..." Wang Jian hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth, "In terms of the result of fifty defeating one hundred, it is indeed amazing. But if I were to evaluate his ability to lead troops... at present, I can only say that it is mediocre and his talent is average."

Meng Tian nodded in agreement, "The old general is absolutely right. Zhang Han was able to win entirely because he exploited the weakness of those one hundred soldiers who were leaderless."

"His tactic of luring the enemy deep into our territory and then flanking them from both sides is actually very clumsy in a real battle."

Wang Jian stroked his white beard and continued his analysis, "Yes. Your Majesty, imagine if those hundred men were not scattered individuals fighting their own battles, but were led by a subordinate general who was even slightly shrewd."

"The moment Zhang Han's central gate was wide open, the enemy general only needed to stabilize his position, divide his forces to protect the flanks, and then advance steadily with his main force. Zhang Han's mere fifty men would be crushed into mincemeat in an instant."

At this point, both of them couldn't help but think of the name mentioned in the sky: Xiang Liang.

The sky clearly stated that Zhang Han would later kill Xiang Liang, a famous general of Chu, and even withstand the attacks of Han Xin, known as the "God of War," and Xiang Yu, the "Overlord."

Han Xin and Xiang Yu didn't know who he was, but Xiang Liang and the others certainly did.

That was the son of Xiang Yan of Chu, a descendant of a military family, and an absolute renowned general of his time.

If the person standing opposite those hundred men had been Xiang Liang instead of that reckless, scarred old soldier.

Zhang Han's supposedly clever tactics were laughable to Xiang Liang, who saw them as child's play. Zhang Han would be utterly crushed, leaving not even a bone fragment.

Therefore, they are now extremely confused by the comments on the sky.

With Zhang Han's current abilities, what makes him capable of killing Xiang Liang?

But they had already experienced the magic of the sky curtain; it was a skill almost divine, so they dared not question it too much.

Therefore, Meng Tian could only smooth things over tactfully, saying, "However, Zhang Han is able to keenly perceive the soldiers' psychology and formulate targeted tactics, so he can be considered a promising talent."

"With more experience in the military, and given time, he might truly transform into a renowned general. His abilities are quite good."

Ying Zheng listened to the analysis of his two beloved generals without any change in expression.

He naturally sensed the doubts and confusion in Meng Tian and Wang Jian's words.

With his keen insight, how could he not see through Zhang Han's petty tricks?

But does he care?

Ying Zheng turned his head and gazed intently at the vast天地 (heaven and earth).

At least in today's drill, Zhang Han won.

He used the most direct method to shatter the arrogance of the Qin veterans and establish his authority in the camp, and that was enough.

He now has unwavering faith in the heavens.

Since Tianmu said that Zhang Han could support half of the Qin Dynasty in the future, he was willing to give Zhang Han this opportunity.

The Qin Empire could afford to risk the loss of a mere hundred soldiers, or even the outcome of a local battle, and Ying Zheng could afford to risk it even more.

He then stopped dwelling on Zhang Han's current immaturity.

In fact, compared to Zhang Han, the names that Ying Zheng truly cared about and was concerned about at this moment were the other three names mentioned on the sky: Liu Bang, Han Xin, and Xiang Yu.

These three were the culprits who would later push the Qin Dynasty into the abyss of destruction.

If it were a mediocre ruler, upon learning of the existence of these three people, his first reaction would undoubtedly be to launch a nationwide manhunt and then execute their entire families to prevent future troubles.

But this was by no means the vision of the First Emperor.

Ying Zheng's eyes gleamed with fanaticism; he not only didn't want them to die, but he was also extremely eager to find them.

"Kill them?" Ying Zheng sneered inwardly.

"If I were to hastily eliminate these extraordinary talents while they are still young simply because I fear what might happen in the future, how would I be any different from those foolish rulers of the six kingdoms who feared powerful enemies and only knew how to prolong their lives? They were the real idiots!"

He wanted immortality; he wanted the Qin dynasty to last for ten thousand generations.

Since these three people have the talent to overthrow the world, why can't they be used by him?

He, Ying Zheng, was able to conquer the six kingdoms and tame the arrogance of the entire world.

He was confident that as long as he was alive, as long as he sat on the throne in Xianyang Palace, which symbolized the supreme ruler of the world, he could stand against Liu Bang, Li Bang, Zhao Bang, Han Xin, Ma Xin, Qian Xin, or even that Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.

When they arrive before him, dragons must coil up and tigers must lie down.

He wanted to subdue them, to make them the sharp sword for Qin to expand its territory and conquer the vast map in the sky called "the world".

"Meng Tian." Ying Zheng snapped out of his thoughts, his voice regaining its calm and dignified tone.

"Your subject is here." Meng Tian immediately bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

"How's things going with Yao Jia?"

Meng Tian respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Yao Jia has, as Your Majesty instructed, deployed all of the Black Ice Guard's most elite spies. A vast net has been laid in Pei County, Huaiyin, Jiangdong Wu... They are especially focusing their investigations on individuals named Liu Bang, Han Xin, and Xiang Yu. As long as they remain on Qin territory, I believe we will soon have results to report to Your Majesty."

"Um."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, turned around, and strode down from the command platform.

"Once we find these three, there's no need to shackle them. Bring them directly before me." Ying Zheng's voice carried on the wind. "I want to see just what kind of courage these heroes who could bring about the downfall of Qin possess."

"Whether they pacify the four seas for me or turn into a handful of yellow earth in this Guanzhong region is entirely up to them."