Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

This girl in white was none other than Xiang Yu of Jiangdong, a man of immense strength who could lift a tripod and whose martial prowess was unparalleled in the world.

She had known Han Xin for some time, and was speechless at the sight of this eccentric girl.

Despite his appearance as a wandering knight, he was far too cowardly.

Despite carrying a sword, he was bullied by a mere butcher and didn't draw it. Instead, he lay down on the ground, preparing to crawl between the man's legs.

If she hadn't stood up for him and called Han Xin her underling, teaching that butcher a lesson, she might have been humiliated by him in the end.

Han Xin's fair and pretty face remained expressionless as he spoke, "This is not a sword for violence and infighting."

Han Xin raised a delicate eyebrow and couldn't help but say, "This sword is just a sword, a murder weapon. What's so special about it?"

Han Xin said calmly, “Swords are divided into three categories: commoner’s sword, prince’s sword, and emperor’s sword. A commoner’s sword is used to flaunt one’s power in the marketplace and for violence. Such a commoner’s sword is no different from a fighting cock. Once its life is over, it is of no use to the affairs of the state.”

"With bravery as its edge, integrity as its blade, virtue as its backbone, and loyalty as its shield, this is the sword of the feudal lords. When straightened, it is unmatched; when raised, it is unparalleled. Once drawn, it shakes like thunder, and all within its borders submit and obey the king's commands."

"With the seven kingdoms as its edge, the mountains and seas as its blade, crafted by the five elements, opened by yin and yang, held in spring and summer, used in autumn and winter, unparalleled in the world, this is the Emperor's Sword. Once this sword is used, all four directions will bow down, and the world will be united."

"My sword is the sword of a feudal lord, used to slay the world and sweep away the disobedient, not the sword of a commoner who wreaks havoc."

Xiang Yu couldn't help but chuckle. She glanced at Han Xin with interest: "With your meager resources—able to eat, poor to wear, penniless, and without even a place to stay—do you really think you can conquer the world and sweep away the rebellious?"

Han Xin gazed at the distant sky with eyes as deep as still water, and after a long silence, said, "Yes."

Xiang Yu was taken aback when he saw her expression, which remained unchanged and without any emotional fluctuation. Then he laughed heartily and said, "What an arrogant tone. But I like it. If you didn't have any arrogance at all, I, Xiang Yu, would look down on you."

Han Xin turned his head away, his face still bearing a blank expression.

She tilted her head in confusion, seemingly wondering why Xiang Yu thought she was arrogant when she was simply telling the truth.

Xiang Yu walked over, hooked his arm around Han Xin's thin shoulder, and said with a smile, "Your statement about discussing the world with a sword was quite interesting, but you should also add a spear."

Han Xin asked calmly, "Why?"

Xiang Yu curled his lips into a smirk, a haughty smile spreading across his handsome face: "Because whether it is the commoner's sword, the prince's sword, or the emperor's sword, none of them are worthy of me. Wherever my Overlord Spear passes, mountains and rivers are shattered, and the Five Sacred Mountains tremble."

"Looking at all the heroes under heaven, I, Xiang Yu, am the only one."

Han Xin pondered for a moment and said, "There are so many extraordinary people and strange talents in this world, why do you say there are no heroes?"

Xiang Yu smiled and said, "Then tell me, who are the heroes in the world?"

After pondering for a long time, Han Xin spoke up: "The first one is Meng Tian, ​​the Protector-General of Beiting. She once led an army of 300,000 to attack the Xiongnu in the north. She was quite famous on the grasslands and was called the number one warrior of China by the Xiongnu. Does the general think she can be considered a hero?"

Xiang Yu scoffed dismissively and said, "The number one warrior of China is nothing more than bullying some barbarians who don't understand military strategy. What's there to praise? In my eyes, she is not a hero."

Han Xin continued, "Meng Tian's sister, Meng Yi, conquered two kingdoms in a single month, his power shaking the Western Regions. Thirty-six kingdoms followed his lead. Could she be considered a hero?"

Xiang Yu sneered, “The Western Regions? A bunch of insignificant states, which can be wiped out with a flick of the finger. I only need five thousand elite troops to wipe out the entire Western Regions. She had two hundred thousand troops and still managed to take it down. In this light, this person is ambitious but incompetent. What right does such a mediocre person have to be called a hero?”

"What does the General think of Grand Master Bai Su?"

Han Xin raised a delicate eyebrow, and hesitated before asking, "Bai Su?"

Han Xin nodded slightly and said, "This man is exceptionally talented, skilled in both literature and martial arts. He can govern the world with his pen and pacify the world on horseback. He once assisted Meng Tian in defeating the Xiongnu, driving the once-powerful grassland overlords back to the northern grasslands and turning the entire southern region of the Gobi Desert into the pastures of the Great Xia."

"He also devised a plan to annex the Western Regions, and a few days ago he thwarted the plans of Wei Bao and others. He easily dealt with more than 100,000 believers with a wave of his hand. Can he finally be considered a hero?"

Xiang Yu shook his head and said, "That's because he encountered a bunch of mediocre people. If it were me, he would definitely have lost. I don't agree with calling him a hero."

Seeing Xiang Yu's disdainful expression, Han Xin suddenly spoke up: "If the general wishes to fight him, he should have the opportunity soon."

Xiang Yu's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"

Han Xin said calmly, "There have been frequent signs of troop movements in Xianyang recently, and the warhorses sent by the Tian family of Qi have been delayed for seven or eight days since the first batch arrived, with no news at all. Obviously, something has happened."

"If I'm not mistaken, it must be the powerful families, led by the Tian family of Qi, that made the move. With the gentry and powerful families of the six states coming to our aid, the time is ripe for us to act."

Xiang Yu chuckled and couldn't help but shake his head: "How could that be? The Tian family of Qi is powerful and wealthy. How could they be so easily overthrown? Besides, the Tian family was meritorious for surrendering the city. The First Emperor has no reason to take action. According to my aunt, we will have to wait at least another year or two before we can make a move."

Han Xin did not answer, but simply sat there calmly without saying a word.

Xiang Yu thought she had been persuaded by him and was about to speak when a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from afar.

Xiang Zhuang came running over quickly, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

Xiang Yu couldn't help but ask, "Xiang Zhuang, what's wrong? Why do you look so flustered?"

Xiang Zhuang took a deep breath and said, "Something terrible has happened! The Tian family of Qi has had their property confiscated by the Xia army..."

Xiang Yu was taken aback and stared blankly at the expressionless girl beside him. Really? She had actually guessed correctly.

Chapter 303 Hu Yu Assumes the Dragon Throne

Inside the hall.

A considerable number of people had already gathered. A girl who looked about twelve or thirteen years old, dressed in a fiery red robe with phoenix patterns, sat upright in the main seat, her fair face showing a serious expression.

Indeed, it was Mi Xiongxin, grandson of the King of Chu.

Xiang Liang and Lü Zhu, as his left and right arms, were positioned on the left and right respectively.

Seated below were several women dressed in different attire, including the Queen of Wei, Wei Bao, the Queen of Han, and Han Xin.

The remnants of the six former kingdoms gathered together, their faces solemn as if they had learned some important news.

Just as they were discussing, a sound of footsteps suddenly came from afar.

Everyone looked up and saw Xiang Yu, dressed in a dashing white robe, walking in from outside the door with a spirited smile on his fair face.

Behind her followed a petite girl with no clothes or accessories, carrying a sword on her back.

"Aunt, I heard there's news from Qi?"

Xiang Liang paused, pondered for a long time, and then said, "That's right. The Tian family of Qi has already had their property confiscated in Xianyang, and their businesses have been forcibly seized by the court. Now, many nobles from the six states are secretly contacting us, intending to support us in overthrowing the Great Xia."

"In addition to the Xiongnu, news has also come from the Donghu. The time is ripe for us to make our move."

Xiang Yu raised her delicate eyebrows and said with some disdain, "Those barbarians are not trustworthy. They are just trying to take advantage of the situation and use our strength to help them reclaim the grasslands."

Recalling those Huns who had no manners whatsoever, she couldn't help but say with some disdain, "A bunch of barbarians from beyond the Great Wall, blinded by profit and forgetting righteousness, not worthy of trust."

Xiang Liang shook her head. Since ancient times, Chinese and foreigners have been distinguished, so how could she possibly believe those disheveled barbarians?

She sighed softly and said, "I understand Yu'er's worries, but the Xiongnu's declaration of war on Xianyang has tied up Xianyang's troops, which gives us a better chance of winning."

Xiang Yu frowned slightly, somewhat unconvinced, and said, "I still look down on those barbarians. Why should my Great Chu need to rely on foreign tribes? The military deployment in Xianyang was completely unprepared. I only need to fight fast and fast, and I may have a chance to win."

Xiang Liang couldn't help but shake his head and said with a wry smile, "Yu'er, you are too naive. The First Emperor is not so easy to deal with. The southern grasslands have Meng Tian's 300,000 troops, the Western Regions Protectorate has Meng Yi's 70,000 to 80,000 troops, the Baiyue have Zhao Tuo's 500,000 troops, and the road to Guanzhong is heavily guarded by troops from Xianyang."

"No matter how fast you fight, it will be difficult to break through Hangu Pass in a short time. As long as we can't enter Guanzhong, there's no way to overthrow the Great Xia. Once Xianyang reacts and mobilizes troops from all directions to attack us from both sides, we'll be trapped with nowhere to go."

"Only by establishing a foothold with the Xiongnu and the Hu people, and keeping the troops of Beiting and the Western Regions tied down so they cannot return to the Central Plains, can we have a better chance of success."

"As the saying goes, those who achieve great things do not succumb to trivialities. Back when Chu and Jin were vying for supremacy, Jin supported Wu, thus containing Chu from two directions. This caused Chu, which was once powerful, to face increased pressure. If Chu had not had a vast territory, it would probably have been defeated by the alliance of the two states."

Although Xiang Yu was somewhat resentful, he knew that she currently lacked any significant prestige to command respect.

After pondering for a long time, she asked, "Then, according to Aunt's opinion, what should we do?"

Xiang Liang's red lips curved slightly as he pointed to the map on the table and said, "Right now, the First Emperor commands a million soldiers. Although we have been working for many years, we are still insignificant compared to the powerful national strength of Xianyang."

"Furthermore, the Shanxi region has already had many official roads built, making transportation convenient and troop deployments quick. We are temporarily unable to compete with them."

"After all, we are outnumbered and cannot afford to engage in a pointless war of attrition with Xianyang right from the start."

"Therefore, our primary objective is not Guanzhong, but the Chu, Wu and Yue regions that Xianyang has not yet fully conquered and controlled. With Jingxiang as the core, we will connect the Jiang, Wu and Yue regions. The world is divided into three parts, and we will obtain one of them."

"Based on this foundation, we will restore the State of Chu, relying on the support of the nobles and powerful families of the six states, recruiting soldiers and accumulating strength..."

"After that, we will observe the situation on the grasslands. If the Xiongnu and Donghu have been destroyed, we will consolidate our position and welcome the southward army of the Great Xia."

"But if the situation on the grasslands becomes deadlocked, or if the Xiongnu gain the upper hand, and the world changes, we will send troops north to restore the states of Qi, Han, and Zhao, drive the Great Xia back to the Guanzhong Plain, and form a situation where the six states of Shandong confront the Great Xia."

"The world is divided into three parts, and we will control two of them. At that time, our hegemony will be achieved..."

After hearing Xiang Liang's plan, everyone nodded slightly.

......

......

Meanwhile, in Xianyang, Hu Yu finally began his first day overseeing the government.

The palace gates were wide open.

Civil and military officials, dressed in their official robes, entered the main hall one after another.

It was still early, and there weren't many officials scattered around the court.

Inside the palace, Hu Yi sat upright in front of a mirror, with a maidservant beside her applying makeup. She had already changed into a formal palace dress, her hair was piled high with a hairpin, and she was adorned with an exquisite gold hair ornament.

Hu looked nervously at his reflection in the mirror.

Even at this moment, she still couldn't quite believe that she had actually defeated her older sister, Fusu, and begun to take over the reins of the government from her mother.

The maid was combing her hair with great care.

"I never expected that His Highness Hu would actually start governing the country."

“Who can argue with that? I never dreamed that His Majesty would entrust the affairs of state to Prince Hu Yu instead of Prince Fu Su.”

"Looking back now, it still seems a bit unbelievable..."

Just as everyone was discussing this, the envoy's voice came from outside: "His Highness has arrived..."

Everyone quieted down and looked up.

A young woman with a slender figure, delicate shoulders and a slender waist, wore a plain black palace dress embroidered with golden black bird patterns. Her exquisite face carried a hint of dignity, and a golden hairpin was inserted in her hair, swaying gently.

She seemed slightly nervous, her heterochromatic eyes glancing down. When she saw that familiar figure standing in the line, nodding slightly to her, her pounding heart slowly calmed down.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, her movements were neither fast nor slow. With her hands at her waist, she took each step closer to the supreme dragon throne, revealing a transformation in her youthful spirit that was gradually taking place in a way that could not be described in words.

Bai Su stood before the officials, watching Hu Su slowly walk towards the dragon throne, her figure gradually overlapping with that of the Empress, like a young version of the Empress. A sense of accomplishment welled up in her heart.

The thought of the two "empresses," one big and one small, lifting the strands of hair between their brows, parting their lips slightly, and bending down, stirred a flutter in her heart.

Hu Yu spread his wide sleeves like wings, slowly sat down on the dragon throne, glanced at Bai Su below with his heterochromatic eyes, whose strange gaze made his fair face flush slightly.

She forcibly suppressed her embarrassment and anger, coughed lightly, and asked in a serious tone, "My lords, today is my first day governing the country. Do you have anything to report?"

At this moment, an official stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, a report has arrived from the Northern Protectorate."

Hu Yi's heterochromatic eyes widened in surprise, and he asked with some curiosity, "What happened?"