klisemfg Chapter 347 The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Chapter 347 The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away.
On an ancient road deep in the mountains of northern China.
The remnants of the Xiang clan, fleeing north in a panic, were like stray dogs.
After three days of non-stop running, the team was exhausted.
Only after confirming that the Qin army behind them had not pursued them into the deep mountains and that they were completely safe did the group dare to set up camp in a secluded valley.
A gloomy atmosphere hung over the hearts of every member of the Xiang family.
The men looked dejected, collapsing onto the muddy ground, panting heavily, their former vigor completely gone.
Inside the makeshift central command tent, the atmosphere was so heavy it was practically freezing.
"Bang!"
Xiang Liang slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot, his face contorted, and he growled through gritted teeth, "Three years! A full three years!"
My Xiang family's painstaking efforts in Wu County, the immense resources we've accumulated through countless efforts and expenditures, have all been for naught in a single day! I am not reconciled! I am not reconciled at all!
Inside the main tent, several high-ranking members of the Xiang clan had their heads bowed, their faces ashen.
Ji Dan, the "Immortal Master" sitting in the guest seat, was also covered in dust and dirt.
He secretly rubbed his thigh, inwardly groaning in pain.
Recalling the extravagant nights of revelry, surrounded by beautiful women and indulging in delicacies, and then looking at the desolate scene before her, Ji Dan was filled with worry.
My good days are gone... Does this mean I'll have to go back to eating dirt in the deep mountains and forests with these brutes again?
"This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
Just then, Xiang Yu, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up.
"That treacherous villain who set this up in the dark is clearly playing us for fools! It's pitiful that hundreds of my elite soldiers from Jiangdong didn't die on the battlefield, but were ambushed and killed in such a humiliating way!"
"If I don't avenge this, I, Xiang Yu, swear I will not be a man!"
Seeing his enraged nephew, Xiang Liang closed his eyes in anguish.
After a long while, he turned his head and cast his gaze, as if grasping at the last straw, toward Ji Dan, and poured out his grievances: "Immortal Master! Now my Xiang clan is like a rootless duckweed, not only has it lost its foundation, but it is also difficult to continue to feed itself."
You are a divine being, possessing unparalleled wisdom and resourcefulness; quickly devise a plan to break this deadlock for the Xiang family!
Hearing Xiang Liang's plea, Ji Dan forced herself to calm down.
He knew very well that if the Xiang family really did collapse, he, the fraudster, would eventually be exposed.
We must come up with an earth-shattering method to borrow external help in order to preserve our wealth and honor for the rest of our lives!
Ji Dan's mind raced.
Suddenly, he remembered the northern border newspapers he had heard in the streets some time ago!
Taking advantage of the Qin Dynasty's internal weakness, the Xiongnu Chanyu repeatedly sent troops south to plunder grain and supplies in the north and harass the border.
An idea quickly took shape in his mind.
Ji Dan stroked his beard with feigned profundity, cleared his throat, and said, "Lord Xiang, do not worry. As the saying goes, destruction precedes construction. Although the tyrannical Qin has temporarily gained the upper hand, there are still 300,000 Xiongnu archers outside the northern border!"
In recent days, they have repeatedly traveled south to try and gain access to foreign trade.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why don't we secretly send people north to form a secret alliance with the Xiongnu Chanyu?"
"If we can promise them great rewards, we can persuade the Xiongnu army to launch a massive southward invasion from the north. The tyrannical Qin will then be unable to attend to both ends! At that time, my Xiang family can raise the banner of rebellion in the south, and the world will be at peace!"
Upon hearing this, the tent fell into an instant silence.
"fart!!"
After a brief silence, Xiang Yu suddenly drew his long sword and cleaved the wooden table in front of him in two with a single stroke.
"Immortal Master, are you perhaps confused?"
Xiang Yu glared angrily, pointed at Ji Dan's nose, and cursed, "My Xiang family is a noble family of Chu for generations, the legitimate successor of China! Those Xiongnu are nothing but barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood, who have repeatedly plundered my people in the Central Plains and slaughtered my compatriots!"
To conspire with such a beast would surely bring eternal infamy upon my Xiang family, condemning us as ungrateful and treacherous. This is absolutely unacceptable!
Startled by Xiang Yu's fierce and menacing aura, Ji Dan shrank back, gave a dry laugh, and dared not utter a word.
The other Xiang generals inside the tent were also whispering and arguing amongst themselves.
Some people think this is a clever scheme to kill someone with a borrowed knife, while others, like Xiang Yu, think it's too despicable to let a wolf into the house.
Xiang Liang, sitting in the main seat, remained silent with a gloomy face throughout.
"Enough! There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter!" Xiang Yu's attitude was extremely firm. He sheathed his long sword and glared angrily at everyone.
"Alright, Yu'er, calm down."
Xiang Liang finally waved his hand, interrupting the argument.
He sighed, looking utterly exhausted: "Yu'er is right. It is indeed inappropriate to form an alliance with the barbarians. Let's drop this matter and not bring it up again."
He glanced around at everyone and said, "You've all been traveling for days and are tired. Let's all go back to our tents and rest."
Xiang Yu snorted coldly, turned around and strode out of the tent. Seeing this, Ji Dan and the others had no choice but to bow and retreat.
Soon, only Xiang Liang remained in the tent.
A cold wind blew in from outside the tent, ruffling a corner of the tent.
The fatigue on Xiang Liang's face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling silence.
"A lasting infamy? Ha... What use is such an empty reputation if I lose my life and my family fortune?"
Xiang Liang sneered, walked into the inner tent, picked up a brush, and began to write furiously on a piece of silk.
After writing it, he sealed it with sealing wax, then whispered, "Xiang Zhuang!"
Xiang Zhuang immediately stepped into the tent and knelt on one knee: "My lord!"
Xiang Liang stuffed the secret letter into Xiang Zhuang's arms, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and said coldly, "Choose two of the best fast horses, and don't disturb Yu'er, and don't disturb anyone else."
"Head north, beyond the pass, and personally deliver this letter to the Xiongnu Chanyu!"
……
at the same time.
Inside the Zhangtai Palace in Xianyang City.
The main hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood and was completely silent.
On the high dragon throne, the First Emperor Ying Zheng, dressed in a black dragon robe, was casually flipping through a secret letter sent urgently from the Black Ice Platform.
After reading the contents of the letter, his expression remained calm, and he didn't even raise his eyelids. He simply handed the secret letter to Prime Minister Li Si, who was waiting to the side.
Li Si took the secret letter with both hands and scanned it quickly. A smile appeared on his originally solemn old face.
"Your Majesty, Zhang Fan is indeed quite a genius."
Li Si stroked his white beard and praised with a smile: "Without lifting a finger, just a few schemes, you have made a fool of the Xiang clan of Jiangdong like monkeys."
Although they failed to completely eradicate the remnants of the Xiang clan, the loss of their painstakingly accumulated resources and nearly a thousand elite troops has severely weakened them, making them unlikely to cause any further trouble in the short term.
At this point, Li Si slightly cupped his hands in greeting: "On this trip to the south of the Yangtze River, Zhang Fan not only quelled the rebellion but also eradicated the deep-rooted problem of cheating in the imperial examinations. He has accomplished a great feat. Your Majesty, Zhang Fan should be richly rewarded this time."
"Give him a reward?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng did not get angry but laughed and gave a light snort.