Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

Han Xin said, "My lord, you are unaware of the truth. It seems that the letter you sent by your messenger was the wrong one. It was covered with smears, which made Mr. Xiang suspicious of me. My lord, please explain what happened that day."

Bai Su smiled and said, "No, it wasn't a mistake. That's how I wrote it from the beginning."

Han Xin was taken aback, and asked in surprise, "My lord, why do you do this?"

Bai Su said, "Naturally, I want to recruit you, General. If you are willing to join my ranks, I am willing to recommend you as a commander."

Han Xin shook her head, her slender hands gripping the reins tightly: "No matter what, Xiang Yu has shown me great kindness, and I... I will not join the Xia army until I have repaid his kindness."

Bai Su asked with great interest, "What if Xiang Yu didn't want you anymore and offered you to me willingly?"

"You don't want me anymore?"

Han Xin was taken aback, somewhat unable to understand what Bai Su was saying.

However, she soon understood.

Suddenly, a cloud of dust rose from the distant mountains and forests, and one after another, cavalrymen leaped from the high slopes, gripping their spears, and charged toward Xiang Liang and Long Ju.

Especially Fan Kuai, who was leading the charge, shouted as he charged: "Xiang Liang, you've fallen into General Han's trap! Surrender now! General Han's soldiers, follow me and charge into the Chu army to capture and kill Xiang Liang..."

For a moment, the Chu army was stunned.

Especially the soldiers who followed Han Xin, seeing the Xia army lying in ambush ignoring them and charging straight towards Xiang Liang and Long Ju, they all subconsciously looked at Han Xin in the distance.

Suspecting whether Han Xin was genuine and colluded with the Xia army, they set up an ambush here to capture and kill Xiang Liang, Long Ju, and others.

Regardless of what they thought, Xiang Liang and Long Ju completely believed what they had witnessed.

Xiang Liang gritted his teeth, his eyes, like autumn water, fixed on Han Xin: "You treacherous bastard, you really are a traitor."

"Give me your life..."

Fan Kuai brandished his long sword, sending Chu soldiers flying backward. He then raised his warhorse high and gripped his spear, swinging it directly at Xiang Liang.

"Clang!"

A metallic clang rang out.

Long Ju raised his spear and blocked Fan Kuai's fatal blow. At the same time, he immediately turned around and said, "Mr. Xiang, you should leave quickly. I will hold off this traitor. You should hurry back to the camp and seize Han Xin's military power. Otherwise, if this traitor tries to launch a sneak attack, things will be terrible."

Xiang Liang knew the situation was critical, so he didn't hesitate for long.

She glared at Han Xin for a moment, then spurred her horse and rode away, kicking up dust.

Han Xin parted his lips slightly and subconsciously reached out his hand to stop him, but it was too late.

As she watched Xiang Liang's retreating figure, only one thought crossed her mind: "It's over."

After this incident, he couldn't clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. If he returned to the Chu army now, Xiang Yu would definitely kill him.

After a long while, she turned her head and looked at Bai Su with a complicated expression: "My lord, why did you do this?"

Bai Su scratched his cheek, coughed lightly, and said, "Actually, I did this mainly because I was lusting after your body. Ugh, I admire your talent, so I had no choice but to use this method."

Han Xin was both angry and annoyed when he saw Bai Su's genuinely admiring gaze.

She couldn't help but say, "With this kind of method, you can only get my body, but you'll never get my heart."

Bai Su subconsciously replied, "After I've gotten your body, why would I be afraid of not getting your heart?"

Han Xin was taken aback and looked over with a strange gaze.

Bai Su coughed awkwardly and said, "General, you might as well think about it. I easily destroyed Xiang Yu's trust in you with just a simple letter. So, can I say that Xiang Yu's trust in you... was never that great to begin with?"

Han Xin was taken aback, his lips parted slightly as if he wanted to explain something, but recalling the scenes that had unfolded in the Chu camp, he fell silent.

Bai Su looked at the girl in front of him whose eyes had dimmed and continued, "But I am different. Although I am indeed scheming, I also admire your talent, General. If you are willing, I can give you my life right now. You can take me hostage at any time and hand me over to Xiang Yu."

Han Xin watched as Bai Su waved her hand, dismissing the surrounding guards, and handed him the sword from her waist. An incredulous look appeared on her fair face.

Looking at Bai Su, who was standing in front of her with a serious expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you worried that I, a defector general who came here, will betray you again, sir?"

Bai Su said with a smile, "To say I'm not worried would be a lie. After all, I'm just a mortal. Who wouldn't be afraid of death?"

Han Xin was even more puzzled: "Then why do you entrust your life and fortune to me, sir?"

Bai Su said with a smile, "Just as I just said, I admire the general's talent. In order to obtain such a great talent as the general, I am willing to take a gamble. If I win the gamble, then I will obtain the sharpest sword in the world."

"If I lose the bet, it doesn't matter. It just means that I, Bai Su, am nothing more than a man of this caliber."

Han Xin looked at Bai Su, who was completely unguarded, and his expression became complicated.

After hesitating for a moment, she put down her sword and said with a bitter smile, "Even if I take you back with me, Xiang Yu will at most let me command tens of thousands of troops. But you are willing to entrust your life to me. How can I bear to hurt you if you treat me like this?"

After saying that, she took the initiative to return the sword.

Bai Su smiled as she took the longsword, and then took Han Xin's delicate, boneless hand: "Now that you've returned the sword, you're mine from now on. Even if you want to leave, I won't let you go."

"Come, come, come with me to Liangshan, ah, I mean, come join the righteous army."

Chapter 350 The Duke of Zhou spat out his food to welcome guests, and the world turned to him.

Inside the Chu army camp.

The fire in the brazier blazed, filling the large tent with warmth.

Xiang Yu was sitting at his desk, looking at the reports that had been sent down from below.

In order to capture the fortified city defended by the Xia army, she specially dispatched a group of skilled craftsmen from Jiangdong to build a batch of siege weapons.

Although it was a bit rough, and its power, range, and accuracy were far inferior to Xia Jun's, it was enough for her.

She wasn't worried about a direct confrontation with Xia Jun, but rather about Bai Su's strategy for defending the city.

After all, the Chu army was not as strong as the Xia army, and the logistical costs of the long-distance expedition were enormous. If they did not engage in a decisive battle with the Xia army in a short period of time, the logistical problems alone would be enough to force the Xia army to retreat.

Currently, the siege equipment is almost complete.

She had originally planned to lead her troops to attack the city today, but her aunt stopped her.

Firstly, being able to take a city from the Xia army without losing a single soldier seems like a sure-fire way to make money.

Secondly, this opportunity could also be used to test Han Xin's loyalty.

After all, as a general in the Chu army, she had a close relationship with the enemy commander. If she did not clear her name as soon as possible, how could she easily hand over military power to Han Xin?

Thinking of this, Xiang Yu glanced at the direction outside the door with her almond-shaped eyes. It had been some time since her aunt and the others had set off, and she wondered how things were going now.

"Yu'er, something terrible has happened."

Just then, Xiang Liang's voice came from the doorway.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu raised his head and looked over. He saw that Xiang Liang's hair was disheveled, and his fair face was covered in dust. A strand of messy hair was stuck to his profile with sweat, making him look quite disheveled.

She was taken aback when she saw this: "Aunt, what's wrong with you?"

Xiang Liang took a moment to calm his breathing and said through gritted teeth, "That Han Xin was indeed secretly colluding with Bai Su; she is a traitor."

Xiang Yu was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but ask, "No... impossible, how could Han Xin suddenly betray me?"

You have to understand that ever since she saved Han Xin on the street, she has always kept him by her side. It's hard to imagine that someone would betray her.

Seeing his niece's incredulous expression, Xiang Liang gave a bitter smile and began to recount what he had witnessed.

How Han Xin secretly contacted Bai Su, intending to destroy the secret letter, but was caught red-handed by her; how she cooperated with the Xia army to set up an ambush; if Long Ju hadn't stayed behind to cover their retreat, she would probably have become a prisoner of the Xia army.

Xiang Yu was still somewhat incredulous: "Could there be some misunderstanding somewhere? She has no reason to betray me."

Xiang Liang had completely lost all trust in Han Xin and sneered, "You can't see into someone's heart. Once some people gain power, their ambitions grow. Even King Goujian of Yue was not someone you could share hardship with but not wealth with."

"If Yu'er doesn't believe me, you can ask her yourself when Long Qi returns."

After an unknown amount of time.

Long Ju, looking disheveled, led a remnant of his army back to the Chu army camp.

After carefully questioning Long Ju, Xiang Yu learned that it was indeed Han Xin who had voluntarily cooperated with the Xia army and led them into the ambush.

Her hands clenched tightly, making a cracking sound: "The people I hate most in my life are traitors. After I defeat Bai Su, she will be the second person I settle scores with."

Xiang Liang hurriedly reminded him, "No... the most important thing now is not to fight a decisive battle with the Xia army, but to quickly take back the military power granted to Han Xin, lest she collude with her former subordinates and rebel in our rear."

Xiang Yu frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Very well, let's focus on restoring morale first. After the army is stable, quickly write to Wei Bao and the others to urge them to launch a northern expedition against Langya County while we are fighting the Xia army, so that the Xia army will be caught up in fighting on two fronts."

"Yes."

Long Qi clasped his hands in respect to the leader.

......

......

In contrast to the murderous aura on Xiang Yu's side, the city was bustling with activity.

When Bai Su returned to the mansion, she could see a group of people standing at the gate, waiting for her.

Besides Chen Ping, Fan Kuai, and others, there were also Xiahou Ying and others who had gathered from other places.

With a bright smile on her fair face, Chen Ping quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency's victory in the battle forced the Chu army to retreat and dampened their morale, which has greatly boosted the morale of our army."

Bai Su smiled and said, "This victory is not my achievement alone. If it weren't for your fearlessness in the face of danger and your cooperation with my plan, how could we have achieved this victory today?"

Fan Kuai laughed heartily: "My lord, you are too modest. Since the Chu army rose up, it has been invincible and awe-inspiring. But under your command, I won with just one charge."

"I have never fought such a pleasant battle since the start of the campaign."

"At today's banquet, I must personally offer a toast to Your Excellency. Oh, who is that behind Your Excellency?"

She then looked closely and saw that there was a girl standing next to Bai Su, who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old.

The young girl wore a dashing silver dress armor that accentuated her shapely figure. Her appearance was elegant and refined, with delicate features.

But what's most striking about her are her eyes, which are like deep pools, revealing no emotion whatsoever, like a delicate marionette.

Bai Su smiled and glanced at Han Xin, saying, "This is a woman of unparalleled talent, whom I admire greatly. She is our most honored guest today."

Upon hearing Bai Su's words, everyone present was taken aback.

You must know who Bai Su is. He is the right-hand man of the current emperor and a pillar of the Great Xia Dynasty. It is no exaggeration to say that if he waved his sleeve, the entire empire would be shaken to several magnitudes.

It was hard to believe that such a great figure would value a young general from the State of Chu who had just made a name for himself, and it also made the soldiers present feel a little jealous.

After all, Han Xin's current reputation is not enough to convince the public.

Han Xin himself was also aware of this.