nycdaug Chapter 556 Conquest of Chu 12
Chapter 556 Conquest of Chu 12
Putting down the secret report, Ying Wuyou strolled to the huge map, which had been slightly modified with the help of the system. His gaze swept over the vast area now covered with black Qin flags, finally settling on the southern Chu region, specifically on Chen City, which was heavily besieged by Wang Jian's army.
“Chencheng…Xiang Yan…” she murmured to herself. Historically, Xiang Yan was defeated and killed, while Xiang Yu, driven by national and personal hatred, launched an anti-Qin campaign. But now that she was here, she was determined to change that fate.
If Xiang Yan could be won over and turned from enemy to ally, it would not only reduce the Qin army's losses but also deter the remnants of the six states. As for Xiang Yu, with his unparalleled bravery, if guided onto the right path, he too could become a capable general.
After thinking for a moment, Ying Wuyou summoned Zhou Xun. "It's time to add fuel to the fire in this predicament." Ying Wuyou's voice was calm. "Let Xiang Yu in the prison see for himself what the Chu Kingdom he swore to serve is really like."
“Your Highness,” Zhou Xun bowed, “Xiang Yan…”
Ying Wuyou smiled slightly. She understood that Zhou Xun also admired Xiang Yan and didn't want him to die like this. Ying Wuyou said, "The idea that 'all Chinese are one family, united against foreign aggression' and the idea that there are still vast fertile lands overseas, surrounded by powerful enemies, may have sounded like a fantasy at the time. But in dire straits, after learning that he had been betrayed by the king behind him, these words would grow strong in his heart like seeds."
Next, Ying Wuyou began her planning.
"First, let our people in Yingdu 'confirm' the rumors that have been spread before. Find a few 'disappointed' minor officials of Chu, or noble retainers who have old grudges against the Xiang family, and have them 'speak carelessly' in public, claiming with certainty that Xiang Yan has long harbored ambitions of amassing military power and even had private dealings with Wang Jian, intending to sell him for a higher price. The details must be convincing, such as that in a certain year and month, Xiang Yan secretly met with a persuader of unknown origin."
Next, several forged secret letters, supposedly from high-ranking officials in the Chu court, were "accidentally" leaked. The letters were to express fear of Xiang Yan's military strength, suggesting that if Xiang Yan successfully lifted the siege and returned to Yingdu with a great victory, he would wield immense power and threaten the king's authority. The implication was that only by using the Qin army to weaken or even eliminate Xiang Yan could the stability of the Chu court and the king's throne be secured.
Finally, let Xiang Yu "see with his own eyes" the "evidence" that slandered his Xiang family, and how his grandfather was betrayed by his king and colleagues. Send Xiang Yu the meticulously prepared "Chronicles of the Chu Court," the "Copy of Secret Letters from Nobles," and the "Official Gazette" recording the King of Chu's renewed rejection of the request for reinforcements.
What she wanted was not Xiang Yu's weeping and wailing, but to shatter his inherent loyalty and faith in his homeland and the King of Chu. Anger, despair, and the pain of betrayal—these intense emotions would become the best catalyst for reshaping his mind.
“Remember,” Ying Wuyou emphasized, “the process must be natural, and you must make him believe that this is the truth he accidentally obtained through ‘wisdom’ and ‘luck,’ rather than our deliberate arrangement.”
"Understood, subordinate." Zhou Xun bowed deeply and his figure quickly disappeared.
Ying Wuyou looked at Chencheng on the map again, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions. "Xiang Yan, I hope the forward-thinking ideas Zhou Xun brought can open a new window for you. If you remain stubborn, then the wheels of history will simply roll over you. Your grandson Xiang Yu is also a promising talent; don't ruin his future."
A sense of despair permeated Chencheng.
The shadow of food shortage loomed over everyone. The smoke from the cooking fires in the camp grew thinner day by day, the soldiers looked pale and sickly, and their once high morale was slowly eroding under the weight of hunger and the long wait. The initially successful harassment tactics became costly after Wang Jian quickly adjusted his deployment, adding traps and increasing patrol density. The small teams sent out often suffered heavy casualties, yet they could no longer achieve significant results.
Inside the city lord's mansion, Xiang Yan seemed to have aged ten years overnight. The white hair at his temples became more and more obvious, and his eye sockets were sunken. Only his eyes still burned with an indomitable flame, but beneath that flame was an undisguised weariness and worry.
“Father, this can’t go on.” Xiang Liang’s voice was hoarse. “The city’s food reserves are less than half a month’s supply. The army medical officer reports that the number of soldiers being killed due to hunger and illness is increasing daily. The soldiers… are very resentful.”
Xiang Yan remained silent, his finger unconsciously tracing patterns on the map. He knew all too well they were in dire straits, but he couldn't show his despair. He was the backbone of Chencheng, the spiritual pillar of these tens of thousands of soldiers.
"Yingdu... is there still no news?" he asked in a low voice, even though he already knew the answer in his heart.
Xiang Liang shook his head, a hint of resentment flashing across his face: "There's no news of reinforcements. On the contrary... on the contrary, some bad rumors have spread into the city."
"What rumor?"
Xiang Liang hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "They say...they say that Father, you are holding onto your military power and are delaying your decisive battle with Wang Jian, hoping to sell yourself to a higher bidder...and some people say that Your Majesty...His Majesty has listened to slander and believes that your achievements are too great for the emperor, and has already...has become wary of you, so that's why..."
"Enough!" Xiang Yan slammed his hand on the table, the solid wood clattering loudly. His chest heaved violently, his eyes blazing with fury, but in the end, that fury transformed into a deep sense of powerlessness and desolation.
He wasn't unaware of similar rumors, but hearing them so clearly from his son's mouth still felt like a dull knife cutting into his heart. He had fought for the State of Chu his entire life, his whole family loyal and valiant, and now, trapped in a fierce battle, all he received in return was suspicion and slander after his death?
"Nonsense!" Xiang Yan spat out the words through gritted teeth, speaking both to Xiang Liang and to himself. "This must be a Qin trick to demoralize our army! Send down the order: anyone who dares to spread such rumors again will be punished according to military law!"
However, orders can be issued, but the hearts of the people are difficult to control. Rumors are like a plague; once they begin to spread, they cannot be completely eradicated. The atmosphere within the city became even more eerie, and the soldiers' gazes toward the city lord's mansion, besides the usual reverence, seemed to carry a hint of subtle suspicion and complexity.
Just then, the commander of the personal guards rushed in, his face solemn, holding a small copper tube in his hands.
"General, a signal arrow has been shot in from outside the city, and this thing is attached to it."
Xiang Yan took the copper tube, unscrewed it, and poured out a roll of silk as thin as a cicada's wing. He unfolded it and glanced at it, his face instantly turning ashen, and his hand holding the silk trembled violently from the extreme force.
Xiang Liang leaned closer for a look and gasped in shock. On the silk was a fragment of a "secret letter" imitating the handwriting of a high-ranking official of a powerful family in the state of Chu. The letter discussed how to use the Qin army to weaken Xiang Yan, and even hinted at tacitly allowing the Qin army to "behead" Xiang Yan and his core generals in order to eliminate their "threat" to the royal power.
"It's fake! This must be Ying Wuyou's trick!" Xiang Liang exclaimed urgently.
Xiang Yan was well aware that this was a trick, but it was too vicious! It precisely struck at his deepest fears and doubts.
The King of Chu's delay in sending reinforcements, the opportunistic attacks from his rivals in the court... these were originally just vague speculations, but now they have been given a certain "real" form by this forged "secret letter".