The Xiang residence in Pengcheng was bustling with activity today. After Xiang Liang's death in battle, the state of Chu was thrown into turmoil. Xiong Xin, whom Xiang Liang had installed as King Huai of Chu, panicked and hastily relocated the capital to Pengcheng, where Roy was stationed.
Following Xiang Liang's death, Roy, leveraging the Xiang family's name, rallied the scattered troops, amassing 100,000 soldiers. Combined with his own standing army of 100,000, he now commanded a force of 200,000. Having long fortified Pengcheng, his original 100,000 troops had undergone rigorous training, making them one of the strongest forces in the land, rivaling even the Qin army.
Now, the upper echelons of Chu had gathered at the Xiang residence. Among them were King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin, and Song Yi, the former prime minister of Chu. Upon learning of Xiang Liang's defeat and death, Song Yi had wisely avoided heading to Qi and instead circled back to Chu, joining the migrating King Huai on his way to Pengcheng.
Aside from these administrative figures who had long worked in Chu's rear, the rest were rebel leaders once allied with Xiang Liang, such as Liu Ji and Ying Bu.
"General Xiang, what should we do now?"
Seated at the head of the gathering, King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin—a man in his thirties—looked visibly shaken. He turned to Roy, the de facto ruler of Pengcheng, seeking guidance.
Even before this, the Chu army had been under the control of Xiang Liang and Roy. Now, with Xiang Liang gone, Roy had swiftly consolidated power under the Xiang name, effectively controlling the entire Chu military. King Huai had long been reduced to a figurehead.
Roy studied the man before him—King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin—with a hint of admiration.
This man was originally a scion of the Chu royal family, but after Chu's fall to Qin, he had spent his youth as a shepherd. Xiang Liang had found him and installed him as king. Though he had lived most of his life tending sheep, he was well-educated and talented. During the resistance against Qin, he personally handled Chu's military and political affairs, strategizing the campaign against Qin.
Xiang Liang was fighting on the front lines, but in reality, the rear of the Chu Kingdom had long been controlled by this King Huai of Chu. Upon hearing of Xiang Liang's defeat, he hastily moved the capital. Beyond sheer fear for his life, he also sought to extend his influence into the military, thereby securing partial control of the army to stabilize his throne.
In the normal course of history, Xiang Yu would indeed have been manipulated by this King Huai through various means, becoming his subordinate and allowing him to grasp control of the loyalist troops—until Xiang Yu seized back military authority during the campaign against Qin.
Unfortunately for King Huai of Chu, however, he was now dealing with Roy. Before his schemes could even begin, Roy had dismantled them all. When King Huai arrived in Pengcheng, he was met with the awkward realization that the entire city was already an impenetrable stronghold under Roy's control, leaving him no room to interfere.
"Your Majesty need not worry. Though my uncle was defeated at Dingtao, Zhang Han grew overconfident, believing that with Xiang Liang's death, Chu would no longer pose a threat. Instead of pressing his advantage, he turned north to attack Zhao. Now, with the 100,000 troops I've trained in Pengcheng and my uncle's remaining 100,000 joining us, these 200,000 soldiers will ensure Chu's safety."
Roy's expression was calm as he faced the King of Chu. Nominally, he was the king's subordinate, but Roy naturally had no intention of paying him any deference.
King Huai seethed inwardly, yet he knew that Roy now held military power and was a formidable warrior in his own right. Directly venting his anger here would be unwise.
Still wearing a smile, the king feigned sincerity. "...With General Xiang in Chu, this king can rest easy!"
Then he asked, "...So what should our next move be?"
Without hesitation, Roy replied, "...Zhang Han's Qin army didn't even pause to regroup before launching a fierce assault on Zhao. This suggests that Qin Er Shi and Zhao Gao have been pressuring him relentlessly. But the Qin forces are exhausted from continuous campaigns, while the King of Zhao commands over 100,000 troops and holds the advantage of fortified terrain. For Zhang Han to conquer Zhao with his weary army will be no easy task—this will be a protracted war."
"...Therefore, my suggestion is that our priority should be sending troops to aid Zhao. No doubt Zhao's envoys requesting reinforcements are already on their way."
At this point, Roy couldn't help but scoff at Xiang Liang. With 200,000 troops, had he held his ground, how could the Qin army have defeated him so swiftly? A call for aid to Zhao and the scattered resistance forces in Qi would have sufficed—anyone with sense would understand the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.' A three-pronged siege on the Qin army could have recreated the Warring States scenario, where each faction vied for dominance based on their own strength. Yet Xiang Liang had stubbornly clashed head-on with Zhang Han, leading to his own defeat and death.
King Huai had actually been thinking along the same lines. Delighted, he declared, "...Pengcheng cannot afford to lose you, General. Henceforth, you shall inherit Lord Xiang's title as Lord Wuxin, guarding Pengcheng and commanding all of Chu's forces. As for Song Yi, he shall be named 'Qingzi Champion' and lead the army north to rescue Zhao."
"...With the Qin forces concentrated in the north, the Guanzhong region must now be vulnerable. I observe that the Duke of Pei is benevolent and trusted by his soldiers, having won successive victories lately, his prestige at its peak. This king intends to have the Duke of Pei march west to strike directly at Guanzhong. If he succeeds in taking it, I shall grant him the lands of Guanzhong as his fief. What say you?"
As his words fell, the faces of those present darkened—this was truly a venomous scheme.
Although Roy was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuxin, stationed in Pengcheng, and appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army, the question remained: where would the troops come from for Song Yi to lead the northern campaign? Naturally, Roy's forces would have to be divided, allowing King Huai of Chu to establish his own personal army and no longer fear the Xiang clan's military dominance.
The crowd turned their gaze to the elderly Song Yi, stroking his beard in silence, knowing he had long conspired with King Huai of Chu when they met on the road.
The most ruthless move was sending the Duke of Pei westward. Everyone knew Roy held great favor for the Duke of Pei, but King Huai first praised her benevolence and the soldiers' adoration for her—words easily sowing suspicion in Roy's mind. Now, by having the Duke of Pei further divide Roy's forces, and given her long stay in Pengcheng where she already commanded some troops, it would be effortless for her to take control of the army.
The strategy of promising the fertile lands of Guanzhong was equally venomous. Guanzhong, the prosperous heartland where the Qin dynasty rose, was coveted by all the feudal lords. Though it was said to be undefended, it was still Qin's stronghold—far from easy to conquer.
If the Duke of Pei succeeded in taking Guanzhong, King Huai would grant her the land, driving a wedge between her and Roy and inciting internal strife. If she failed, Roy would lose his right-hand woman, his army thoroughly divided, and his power drastically weakened.
All eyes turned to Liu Ji. King Huai of Chu was exploiting human greed—if Liu Ji agreed, even Roy could do nothing, for she had long been in Pengcheng and already held partial military authority.
At that moment, Liu Ji became the target of all scrutiny. Her heart skipped a beat, and for an instant, she was truly tempted.
If she nodded now, the world would be hers—like a fish leaping into the vast sea or a bird soaring over high mountains. With elite troops at her command, she could march into Guanzhong or carve out her own domain as she pleased.
The Liu Ji of old would have knelt without hesitation to accept the order—her shamelessness cared little for reputation.
But when her gaze fell upon Roy, seeing his calm and unruffled demeanor, she laughed at herself mockingly.
'Liu Ji, oh Liu Ji! Just days ago, you swore loyalty, vowing never to betray him. How can you now sell out your general for personal gain?'
Yet she knew deep down it was her genuine feelings for Roy that stirred such thoughts. Were it anyone else, her thick-skinned, ruthless nature wouldn't have hesitated.
Taking a deep breath, she clasped her fists toward King Huai and said, "...I thank Your Majesty for your kindness, but I know my limitations. It would be disastrous if I ruined your grand plans!"
Her refusal left the assembly stunned, and King Huai's expression darkened. He had investigated Liu Ji thoroughly—knowing her past as a rogue, a scoundrel. By his calculations, she should have accepted his offer of wealth and power without a second thought. How could this unscrupulous woman forsake glory and become so loyal and steadfast?
Could the rumors be true? Did these two share that kind of relationship?
The crowd's gazes at Roy and Liu Ji grew peculiar, but Roy paid them no mind, and Liu Ji, thick-skinned as ever, ignored them all. The two simply toasted each other, undisturbed by the scrutiny.
King Huai of Chu sighed inwardly. He made a subtle gesture, and soon a man dressed as a Daoist priest entered.
Seeing the Daoist priest, Roy also sighed to himself. He had originally planned to engage King Huai of Chu in political games using conventional methods, but it seemed now he would have to overturn the chessboard.
If this were the Xiang Yu of normal history, even if filled with rage in such a situation, he would have swallowed his anger and compromised. But in this history, Xiang Yu had become Roy—these late Qin dynasty warlords could only blame their bad luck.
'In that case, the title of Hegemon-King of Western Chu will have to be mine!'