Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

After unexpectedly learning some shocking news, she felt no anger at all, and was even secretly pleased.

After all, Xiang Yu raised the flag in rebellion and committed a heinous crime. Even being torn apart by five horses and having his entire clan exterminated would not be excessive.

Although Bai Su held the high-ranking official position of Grand Master of Ceremonies and wielded great power in the court, he was still just a subject. If His Majesty insisted on killing Xiang Yu, no matter how Bai Su pleaded, it would probably be to no avail.

But things are different now. Bai Su's relationship with the current emperor is far more than that of a subject and ruler.

In this way, Yu'er's life was saved.

As long as she stays by Bai Su's side and tries to serve the adults well, she can ensure that Yu'er has a worry-free life.

This is really good news for her.

After all, she had already fallen in love with Bai Su, so she naturally had no resistance to serving him.

After folding the clothes, Yu Ji looked at Bai Su and asked, "My lord, how is the war in Chu?"

Bai Su closed her eyes slightly and said, "The Chu army has retreated to Shouchun. They know that if they continue to confront Xianyang, they are no match for it. So they want to negotiate with me, intending to divide the country along the river. They are really dreaming."

"Liu Ji, Han Xin, and Zhang Han have already begun their operations. I believe it won't be long before we hear good news."

Yu Ji nodded slightly; it was just as she had thought.

The man before me was a genius of his generation, capable of governing the world with his pen and stabilizing the universe on horseback. Xiang Liang and King Huai of Chu were no match for him.

Bai Su pondered for a moment and asked, "How is General Xiang doing now?"

Yu Ji paused, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly: "Yu'er still can't let go of her feelings, my lord. I will try my best to persuade her. Please give me some more time..."

She worried that Bai Su would become enraged and murderous after failing to subdue Xiang Yu for so long.

As the saying goes, things don't happen more than three times. No matter how good-tempered a wise minister is, his patience is limited. If he fails to make the first request and the second, there is generally no third chance.

Bai Su smiled as she looked at Yu Ji's tense expression: "You don't need to worry. This is all within my expectations. If she easily succumbs to power, then she is not Xiang Yu."

"It's alright, I'll wait for her a while longer, until Xiang Liang, King Huai of Chu, and even her former subordinates all choose to surrender. Then we'll see how long her current obsession can last..."

rustle.

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Ji gently untied the ribbon, and her clothes slid down her snow-white jade feet to the ground, revealing a red bodice underneath. The bodice could barely contain her full figure.

Bai Su was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "Yu...Yu Ji, what are you doing?"

Yu Ji covered her chest with one hand, a tempting blush rising on her fair face, and said shyly, "This servant is preparing to scrub your back, sir."

Bai Su scratched his cheek and said, "It's not because you didn't kill Xiang Yu, but because I genuinely admire Xiang Yu's talent, so you don't have to force yourself."

Although it is indeed a great blessing that such a stunning beauty would take the initiative to serve him.

But the feeling of having leverage over others to bully them always made him feel strange.

Splash!

But Yu Ji did not hesitate at all when faced with his words. She quickly stepped in, and as her delicate body slowly sank into the water, she created a splash.

Bai Su was stunned: "Yu Ji, what's wrong with you...?"

Yu Ji slowly raised her head, her bright eyes fixed on Bai Su's face, and said softly, "My lord, you misunderstand. I have never felt forced. I truly love you."

"After all, you have helped me so much along the way. Today, let me serve you and help you wipe your back to relieve your fatigue."

As she finished speaking, her fair neck flushed slightly, whether from shyness or the heat, it was hard to tell. In the candlelight, her skin reflected a delicate luster, making her look incredibly beautiful.

Bai Su then looked at Yu Ji in front of her, and could clearly see her own reflection in her dark eyes.

Clearly, what she said came from the bottom of her heart.

As he breathed a sigh of relief, he glanced at Yu Ji's empty hands and couldn't help but ask, "But you didn't bring a towel, how are you going to help me wipe my back?"

"Actually... you don't need a towel to wipe your back."

Yu Ji bit her red lips lightly, glanced shyly at Bai Su, and then, under Bai Su's bewildered gaze, gently untied her bodice and walked behind him.

Bai Su's eyes widened instantly, and she gasped.

At this moment, he was suddenly inspired to compose a poem.

Seen sideways as a peak on the side of the ridge, the height varies from far to far.

We cannot see the true face of Mount Lu because we are in the mountain ourselves.

Chapter 366 What's given to you is yours; what's not given to you, you can't take.

Shouchun.

One hundred thousand Chu soldiers were trapped here, without food or supplies, and without reinforcements. Meanwhile, there was a massive army of three hundred thousand surrounding them.

Shouchun City was the capital of the State of Chu.

There wasn't enough space to house the entire army of 100,000. Instead, the Chu army's tents were set up along the flat ground around the city walls, nestled near the water, creating a dense, sprawling expanse.

Inside the camp.

The ministers of Chu were arguing amongst themselves. Some advocated breaking out of the siege, some called for a desperate battle, and others suggested personally killing the traitor Ying Bu. They all spoke with righteous indignation, but none of them could come up with a concrete and feasible solution.

Mi Xiongxin sat on the throne, watching Green Pearl and Xiang Liang argue incessantly. Her slender hands clenched slightly, and she sighed wearily.

Although she was still young and didn't understand much about the battlefield, she could still understand the basic situation at hand.

The State of Chu had reached a dead end and was powerless to resist the Xia army.

According to Mr. Xiang Liang's original plan, Shouchun, with its high walls and thick fortifications, was intended to block the Xia army, transport supplies from the rear, extend the Xia army's supply lines as much as possible, increase the logistical pressure on Xianyang, and use this opportunity to negotiate with Bai Su.

He aimed to retreat to the Jiangdong region and become the King of Jiangdong.

But they never expected that while they were confronting the Xia army, Ying Bu, who was originally guarding the rear and stabilizing the logistics, suddenly betrayed them and cut off the supply of food and fodder.

Originally, they wanted to emulate Bai Su's tactics by building various defensive fortresses in the front, like a tortoise shell that was difficult to break through, and gradually wearing down the morale of the Xia army.

Instead, it turned into a situation that pushed the Chu army into a dead end.

Looking at the arguing crowd below, Mi Xiongxin understood very well that, given the current state of the Chu army, they were no match for the Xia army.

She only had one option left.

However, everyone only dared to think about this method in their hearts, and no one dared to say it out loud.

Since no one else dares to speak, let her, as the queen, speak.

After pondering for a long time, Mi Xiongxin suddenly said, "Let's gamble."

Quiet.

Complete silence.

For a moment, all the arguments stopped, and everyone looked at the girl on the throne, somewhat astonished.

Green Pearl was the first to react and hurriedly retorted, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! Once we surrender, we'll be at their mercy!"

Mi Xiongxin gave a bitter smile and said, "But right now, do we have any other choice but to use this method? Liu Ji and Zhang Han have surrounded us and cut off our contact with the outside world. Once our food supplies run out, it will be the day our country perishes."

"Instead of continuing a meaningless standoff, it's better to surrender as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary sacrifices."

For a moment, everyone present fell silent, and few people stood up to refute.

Clearly, what Mi Xiongxin said was exactly what they had been thinking all along.

No one believes there's any chance of things turning around in the current situation.

Long Qi bit his lip tightly, looking at Mi Xiongxin on the throne with complicated eyes: "Your Majesty, we can all choose to surrender, and at worst become outlaws again and live in seclusion among the common people, but what about you, Your Majesty?"

Everyone in the Chu Kingdom could surrender, but she was the only one who could not.

After all, it was impossible for Xianyang to let go of a rebel king, especially one who had once held sway over half the country as a symbol of power.

"Yes, why don't we fight to the death? We still have the strength to fight. If we charge desperately, we might have a chance to escort the King out of the encirclement..."

Below, a group of generals volunteered to take command.

Mi Xiong smiled bitterly, his dark eyes looking at the large tent and the weary crowd: "Fight? How can we fight? The army is trapped, supplies are scarce, and morale is low. Even if we manage to break out, can we, a group of defeated soldiers, escape the pursuit of the Great Xia cavalry?"

"The Wei-Han allied forces were also suffering repeated defeats under Han Xin's attacks, and their demise was only a matter of time."

"Instead of continuing the standoff and increasing casualties, let's choose a day to submit the surrender document. I will personally go out of the city to surrender, dressed in plain white clothes."

Green Pearl's delicate brows furrowed: "But Your Majesty..."

Mi Xiongxin stretched out her jade-like fingers and covered Green Pearl's lips.

A faint smile appeared on her fair face as she said, "As a renowned scholar of Chu, you risked your life to break out of the siege with me when Chu was destroyed. For so many years, you have been taking care of me wholeheartedly."

"You, a renowned scholar, began to abandon your former noble status and started to clumsily try to sew clothes for me, cook for me, and even sold the only silk garment you had left to buy medicine for my illness..."

"For so many years, you have always taken care of me. No matter how poor we were, you always carefully kept that Chu royal robe. You would rather go hungry than sell it, always hoping that one day I would wear the royal robe and restore the Chu kingdom."

"You've done enough. Let me make the decision today."

“I know that I am a man of limited talent and learning, an incompetent ruler. I am neither capable of enriching the country and strengthening the army, nor can I, like General Xiang, turn the tide on the battlefield. Faced with the encirclement of the Xia army, I am powerless to change the situation.”

"The only thing I can do is to live up to your trust and support along the way. No matter what humiliation I have to endure, I will not hesitate for a moment. As long as I can protect the last 100,000 lives of the Chu Kingdom, it will all be worth it..."

As soon as she finished speaking, the entire tent fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone clenched their fists, looking at the girl on the throne who looked no more than thirteen or fourteen years old with complicated expressions.

Green Pearl's eyes were already brimming with tears, her lips trembled, and she couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty..."

......

......

In the Xia army camp.

"General Ying Bu, you are our greatest hero this time."

Liu Ji, dressed in a black official robe, sat upright at her desk. Her large, almond-shaped eyes were filled with laughter as she picked up a wine pot with her fair hands and poured wine for Ying Bu.

A smug look appeared on Ying Bu's face as he smiled and said, "Lord Liu, you are too kind. This humble general is merely following the will of Heaven to welcome the royal army."

Although she said that, her actions were incredibly arrogant.

Seeing Liu Ji pour wine for her, she showed no fear or trepidation whatsoever. Instead, she proactively extended her wine cup, treating Liu Ji as a servant.

It should be noted that Liu Ji was appointed by Bai Su as the commander-in-chief of the three armies to attack the State of Chu.

Although she wasn't very prestigious and still needed to consult Zhang Han, Fan Kuai, and others before leading troops on the battlefield, she was still, after all, a commander-in-chief.