After the massacre of Xiangcheng, the benefits were immediately apparent. The next few cities surrendered almost without resistance. However, while there were advantages, there were also drawbacks—Roy's reputation among other rebel forces and the Qin army suffered greatly. Whispers spread that when General Xiang had sought to massacre the city, the Duke of Pei had pleaded with him in earnest, only for General Xiang to ignore her and proceed with his ruthless slaughter.
Moreover, there were even rumors that General Xiang's massacre of the city was for the sake of Duke Pei. People whispered that Duke Pei was exceptionally handsome, almost like a woman, while General Xiang was also a man of striking appearance, tall and graceful. It was speculated that the two might share a "passion akin to Longyang."
Roy paid no heed to these rumors, nor could he control them. Instead, he continued his campaign of conquest. The future Emperor Gaozu, who would unify China within a few short years as the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty, proved to be a quick learner. After suffering a near-fatal defeat at the Battle of Xiangcheng, she adopted a more cautious and steady approach. Splitting their forces, she and Roy captured several cities before regrouping at Pengcheng for a temporary respite.
Ancient warfare was unlike modern warfare—human bodies had their limits. Balancing battle with rest was essential, and since overthrowing the Qin Dynasty was no overnight task, Roy was in no hurry.
Historically, Jiangling was known as Southern Chu, Wu as Eastern Chu, and Pengcheng as Western Chu. The Pengcheng where Roy now rested was the heart of Western Chu—the very capital of the legendary Hegemon-King of Western Chu!
Once temporarily settled in Pengcheng, Roy began refining his troops and managing the city with care, treating it as his true stronghold.
In the general's residence at Pengcheng, Roy listened to a report from an envoy sent by Xiang Liang.
"General, Lord Xiang has installed the grandson of the former King Huai of Chu as the new King of Chu, retaining the title King Huai of Chu. Lord Xiang now styles himself as Lord Wuxin!"
The envoy knelt on one knee, hands clasped respectfully, his tone deferential yet brimming with pride.
"A subordinate of King Chen, Qin Jia, had falsely proclaimed Jing Ju as King of Chu. Upon hearing this, Lord Xiang was enraged. He crushed Qin Jia's forces and executed Jing Ju. Later, the Qin general Zhang Han sent troops to obstruct Lord Xiang, but Lord Xiang broke through several cities in succession, defeating the Qin army decisively at Dong'e. From there, he marched westward and again routed the Qin forces at Dingtao. Now, he stands in stalemate against Zhang Han's main army. Lord Xiang bids us urge you, General, to swiftly secure Western Chu and join forces with him!"
"I understand. Tell my uncle that once Pengcheng is consolidated, I will rendezvous with him."
Roy stood before a table, gazing at a crude map, one hand clasped behind his back. He did not turn as he spoke.
"Your servant takes his leave. May the General act swiftly. Lord Xiang also commends your handling of the city's massacre—pay no heed to the idle gossip!"
With that, the envoy departed.
Not long after the envoy left, Roy called out, "...Someone!"
"What are your orders, General?"
A personal guard entered and knelt on one knee.
"Send men to intercept and kill that envoy. Wait until he is a hundred li beyond Pengcheng before striking."
"As you command, General!"
The guard asked no questions and left to make preparations.
Once the room fell silent, a delicate hand—as if gathering all the grace of the world—drew aside a nearby curtain. Yu Ji stepped forth, clad in a revealing black gown that exposed swathes of snow-white skin. Cradling a zither in her slender arms, she moved with light steps, her jade-like feet tinged with a delicate pink, enough to stir any man's heart.
Noticing Roy's gaze, Yu Ji smiled faintly, subtly tugging at her hem to reveal a glimpse of her slender, lotus-root-white calf.
When they had first met, she would have blushed and shielded herself from Roy's direct stare at her feet. Now, she deliberately lifted her skirt, teasing him with these small, alluring gestures.
She walked over and knelt on the soft cushion, placing the guzheng across her lap. Tilting her head slightly in confusion, she asked, "...Why did the king kill that envoy?"
"That envoy was likely a close confidant of Xiang Liang. Though he appeared respectful on the surface, his smug expression betrayed his true thoughts. Since he showed me disrespect, I naturally had to kill him. This also prevents him from sending any messages back. If Xiang Liang knew I might bring troops to join him, he would likely hold back temporarily. But without receiving any reply, there's a greater chance Xiang Liang will directly engage Zhang Han in battle."
Roy gave a brief explanation, noticing Yu Ji still looked bewildered, as if countless question marks hovered above her head. Her adorable expression made Roy smile, so he elaborated further: "...Xiang Liang has recently had many rebel forces flocking to him. Having suffered no defeats in his campaigns, he's occupied vast territories within just a few months. This has made him arrogant. The Qin forces he's encountered so far have collapsed at first contact, so he likely already looks down on them."
"...From the envoy's message, it's clear he established King Huai of Chu and styled himself Lord Wuxin, yet granted me no official title. This shows Xiang Liang no longer considers me significant, believing the Qin forces to be nothing special. Even without me, he thinks he can overthrow the Qin dynasty single-handedly."
"On the contrary, I now hold the Xiang family's name, control the lands of Western Chu, and command a hundred thousand soldiers—effectively maintaining my own military power. I've become a thorn in his side, as he fears I might seize his authority. This summons to join forces is actually a ploy to strip me of my troops while he holds the moral high ground, consolidating his own power."
"Notice how he supports my city massacres? This is precisely because it tarnishes my reputation, making him feel more secure. If he truly cared for my interests, he would subtly advise against excessive slaughter."
Apart from Xiangcheng, Roy had massacred two other resisting cities along the way, earning him a notorious reputation for brutality.
"...Xiang Liang is indeed shortsighted. The Qin troops Zhang Han sent to block him were all second-rate forces, while the main Qin army was being deployed to attack Qi. Yet Xiang Liang is already thinking of internal strife."
"Now that Xiang Liang's forces are strong and have engaged Zhang Han's army, Zhang Han will temporarily abandon Qi to confront Xiang Liang. Given Xiang Liang's current arrogance, he'll surely suffer a major defeat—possibly even meet his death. This presents the perfect opportunity for me to advance northward leisurely after Xiang Liang's defeat, absorbing his forces. Then I can depose King Huai, and the entire Chu will belong to me."
Roy spoke with calm assurance, exuding the aura of one who "plans strategies within a command tent to secure victories a thousand miles away."
With his current capabilities, even without any martial prowess, Roy could easily carve out a place for himself in the chaotic late Qin period. If he wished, without resorting to any supernatural powers but relying solely on strategy and management, he could unify the six states.
Had Emperor Gaozu of Han encountered such a demonically brilliant "Xiang Yu"—with both martial and intellectual abilities off the charts—she would have abandoned her own ambitions without hesitation, finding it only natural to serve such a leader.
Yu Ji blinked her beautiful eyes. Although she understood every word Roy said, when strung together, they left her utterly bewildered.
She parted her small lips, hesitating for a moment, but ultimately said nothing.
You humans are truly devious. This is exactly why I avoid dealing with you! That envoy just said a few words, and you've already spun a whole web of schemes—utterly baffling!
Yu Ji could only grumble silently in her heart.
Seeing that Yu Ji had stopped playing her qin and was simply sitting there dazed, Roy couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "…If you were leading an army, Yu Ji, how would you destroy the Qin dynasty?"
Without a second thought, Yu Ji replied, "…Just march straight into Xianyang and kill the Second Emperor."
Her tone was decisive.
Roy choked on his words, realizing this was indeed the most straightforward strategy—ignoring everything else and striking straight at the enemy's heart, taking out their leader. If one held an overwhelming advantage, this would be a surefire path to victory. But without such an advantage, this approach was practically suicide.
It was like playing an RPG and trying to fight the final boss without leveling up first. Unless you cheated, you were just asking to die!
Roy silently scoffed. If I ever meet some incompetent fool who can't wage war, maybe I should mock them by saying, 'Your tactics remind me of my Yu Ji!'