In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

"I have long admired the great name of General Xiang Liang. I am Liu Ji, a native of Pei County."

"I have long admired the illustrious name of General Xiang Liang. I am Chen Ying, a native of Dongyang."

The two generals bowed to Xiang Liang, which immediately made Xiang Liang beam with joy.

They occasionally encountered rebel armies that sought refuge with them, but these were never large-scale. Today, however, they had acquired two rebel armies with a combined strength of ten thousand men each. How could he not be overjoyed?

"Please rise quickly, General Chen, please rise quickly..."

Xiang Yu and Xiang An stood behind Xiang Liang, watching with a sense of helplessness as Xiang Liang became familiar with the other person in less than two minutes.

but......

"Brother, don't you think that old man standing to the left of Uncle looks familiar?" Xiang An quietly approached Xiang Yu and said to him.

"You mean... Duke Pei?" Xiang Yu blinked and looked at the old face.

Well, you know what, looking at it this way...

In fact, not only the two brothers, but even Xiang Liang felt... had he seen this Duke of Pei somewhere before?

"Ah! I remember now!" Xiang An suddenly slammed his fist down. "Pang Shan!"

"...You mean the one who grabbed your scalp?" Xiang Yu stroked his chin and glanced at Xiang An with a teasing look.

"...What did you remember at Pangshan?" Xiang An looked at Xiang Yu speechlessly, then smiled and nudged Xiang Yu's side. "Hey brother, shall we go ask that Duke Pei later?"

"I don't care, but I suggest you bring Xiao Si along." Xiang Yu shrugged.

“Okay.” Xiang An knew what Xiang Yu wanted to say.

Since then, due to various messy matters, neither Xiang Yu, Xiang An, nor Zijuan had been to the vicinity of Pangshan for a long time. This time, they happened to meet Liu Bang, who had fought alongside them at Pangshan, so they decided to ask him about it.

......

After chatting for a while outside the city, Xiang Liang invited Chen Ying and Liu Ji into Xiapi City to discuss various matters concerning surrender and military positions. He also summoned Xiong Xin to discuss matters together.

Xiang An, on the other hand, took this opportunity to go find Zijuan.

"Hey Xiao Si, why is it that every time I see you, you're with your sister-in-law?" Xiang An said with a pained expression. "Instead of wasting your time, why don't you look at the generals in our army and see if there are any you like? Your uncle is worried sick."

Zijuan is not young anymore, and has even passed the age of marriage. However, because of her high standards and the shadow left by the original Yu Meiren, she has never thought about finding her sweetheart, which makes Xiang Liang suffer from stomach pain during his military campaigns.

My daughter can't get married...

"Mind your own business. Besides me, my sister-in-law is the only woman in this army. If I don't stay with her, am I supposed to go to a bunch of men?" Zijuan crossed her legs and looked at Xiang An with disdain. "You train every day but you can't even get close to me. A bunch of useless trash who would only be killed by two shots from me on the battlefield."

Her dislike was clearly not directed at Xiang An.

"Yes, yes, who can compare to you, the fourth brother of the Xiang family who tramples on my second brother and punches our eldest brother?" Xiang An rolled his eyes and looked at Yu Meiren with a hint of resentment, "Sister-in-law, you spoil the fourth brother too much."

Yu Meiren smiled wisely: "I only have one younger sister, can't I spoil her? Besides, when it comes to spoiling Xiao Si, who can compare to you four uncles and nieces?"

With a slight smile in her eyes, she patted Zijuan's head.

Xiang An's expression froze.

It seems...that's true. If Xiang Liang hadn't spoiled Xiao Si out of indulgence, she wouldn't still be unmarried. Xiao Si's inability to get married actually has little to do with the three brothers.

It's not very big.

It's not very big... right?

"Second brother, what brings you here? Father and the others should be incorporating the troops that have surrendered to us, right? How did you manage to sneak out?" Zijuan hugged her legs and puffed out her cheeks as she looked at Xiang An.

"Oh right, I almost forgot the important matter." Xiang An slammed his hand on the table. "Little Si, you should know who's come to seek refuge with us today, right?"

"Who?" Zijuan looked puzzled.

“Pei Gong, that’s Liu Laosan from Pei County who killed the giant white snake. He—oh right, you might not recognize me if I say it like that… let me put it this way.” Xiang An scratched his head, “You should remember… Pang Shan, right?”

Zijuan was taken aback, her eyes dimming slightly, and she forced a smile: "Second brother, you're just being silly. Pang Shan... how could I not remember?"

"Hey, hey, hey—Xiao Si, don't misunderstand." Xiang An saw that Zi Juan's mood had visibly dropped, so he quickly stopped and hurriedly continued, "That Pei Gong, I met him when my elder brother and I were in Pangshan back then."

"Moreover, he also helped us rescue some of the tiger kings and their servants who had been tricked into going up the mountain by the fake mountain king."

“…Huh?” Zijuan tilted her head.

Yu Meiren sat beside her, looking puzzled, but remained silent and only smiled reservedly.

Xiang An sighed and ruffled Zijuan's hair: "After I rescued you from the ruins of Zijia Village, you never went back..."

Have you thought about that place?

"...Well, there's a little bit of that, I guess." Zijuan looked into Xiang An's eyes, opened her mouth, and then nodded.

"So, why don't we ask that Duke Pei a little? Maybe he knows something." Xiang An let go of his hand, smiled, and Zi Juan's hair was already ruffled.

Zijuan was silent for a few seconds, then jumped off the chair and chuckled.

"Okay! Let's go!"

She pursed her lips and exhaled.

"Pangshan isn't too far from here. Come back with me sometime, Second Brother!"

------------

Chapter 888 Han Xin's Heartbeat

Han Xin was sitting in the room where Xiang An and his generals were discussing matters, quietly fiddling with the sand table.

"Brother Han, are you still working out tactics?"

Han Xin turned his head and saw Liao Ye standing at the door with a basket in his hand, looking at him with a smile.

Han Xin has been in a good mood lately, and his appetite has been excellent, making him visibly much stronger.

"Oh, Brother Liao." Han Xin waved and greeted Liao Ye before turning back to look at the sand table.

"It's lunchtime, come and have something to eat." Liao Ye put the basket aside and brought out two large bowls of rice and a small dish of vegetables, some of which even contained mutton.

"Quite a feast!" Han Xin's eyebrows twitched, and he picked up the chopsticks.

"Hehe, it was originally meant for Lord Xiang An, but he has a lunch banquet in the back hall, so this is a good deal for us two brothers." Liao Ye picked up his bowl and shoveled down several mouthfuls. "I saw a lot of people gathered at the city gate today. I heard that quite a few people have come to pledge allegiance to our General."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Han Xin shoveled rice into his mouth, occasionally taking a bite of vegetables. "How many people are there? Did they say?"

"He didn't say, but it must be... a lot." Liao Ye smacked his lips seriously.

"What you said is as good as saying nothing at all." Han Xin rolled his eyes, put the bowl on the table, wiped his mouth, and continued to look at the sand table.

"Did the general tell you where to attack next?" Liao Ye asked Han Xin while still eating.

"They didn't say, but it's probably about stabilizing the situation in the rear, right?" Han Xin tapped a corner of the sand table with his finger, his expression serious. "General Song Yi has gone to aid Wei, but whether it's a real aid or a feigned one, ordinary soldiers may not know, but how could we not know?"

"The general's confidants are really something else, they're on a completely different level from the division commander's confidants before." Liao Ye finished eating, put his bowl down with a "click," and teased Han Xin, "Unlike me, a mere squad leader."

"You call yourself a mere squad leader? Don't you have any shame?" Han Xin was amused by Liao Ye's teasing. "Look around our army, who dares to treat you like an ordinary squad leader? You call yourself a mere squad leader? You don't even care about having any shame at all."

Liao Ye only held the military rank of squad leader, but almost everyone under Xiang An knew of his existence. He had no subordinates, but he had a very good relationship with Xiang An's generals. He was always by Xiang An's side, helping him with various matters, and everyone respected him.

So people call him a lackey in private.

Fortunately, these words did not reach Liao Ye's ears, otherwise Liao Ye would have slapped the face of the first person who called him a lackey to pieces.

"Hey, what's the point of having a face? You can't eat it, but you still have to wash it." Liao Ye laughed as he stacked the bowls and put them back in the basket. "You can continue your research here. I'm going back now."

"Okay, you go back first, I'll take another look." Han Xin waved his hand, signaling Liao Ye to leave quickly.

Liao Ye smiled helplessly, shook his head, picked up the basket, and walked away.

After Liao Ye left, Han Xin suddenly slumped into a chair, sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I feel... really excited..." He lowered his head, but his eyes lit up with excitement.

Tired, but excited.

War, war, I crave war, I crave to win the war...

"So, let's start the war quickly, let's... let's start the war..." Han Xin's eyes narrowed.

......

Inside the only palace in Xiapi, a scene of clinking glasses and exchanging toasts is currently taking place.

"Today, my Western Chu has gained two more fierce generals! Hahahaha! With the help of these two generals, crushing the tyrannical Qin is probably just around the corner!" Xiong Xin sat in the main seat, looking quite interested now that he had opened his heart.

"Come, this cup is for the King!" Xiang Liang was happy to give Xiong Xin some face in front of others. He raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp after Xiong Xin nodded in acknowledgment, showing great generosity.

Liu Ji and Chen Ying both raised their wine cups to toast Xiong Xin, Xiang Liang, and also to drink with the brothers Xiang Yu and Xiang An.

Zijuan sat at the end of the table, occasionally offering a toast, but seemed somewhat distracted.

She's thinking about Pangshan all the time.

My hometown, which I haven't thought about for many years, may not be missed simply because it's not mentioned. But as soon as I recall that such a place once existed, I miss it terribly.

What does that place look like now?

Zijuan couldn't help but think of it, and her eating movements slowed down.

Has the Shanjun Temple been renovated again? Does the custom of worshipping Shanjun still exist? The village...

Ah, the village... it's gone...

"Xiao Si? Xiao Si!" Xiang An noticed that Zi Juan seemed a little off, so he called out to her quietly while everyone else was making noise, which woke her up.

"Huh? Second brother, what's wrong?" Zijuan blinked as she came to her senses.

Xiang An didn't say anything more, but just gestured with his lips towards Liu Ji.

"I've long heard that Western Chu not only has a wise King Huai and a skilled general, but also that the general's two nephews are exceptional individuals." Liu Ji raised his wine cup, first glancing at Xiong Xin, then at Xiang Liang, and finally at Xiang Yu and Xiang An, nodding slightly. "To be honest, back at Pang Mountain, I foresaw that the two young masters of the Xiang family would achieve great things in the future, and now I see it's true! Hahaha—"

"Hahaha, General Liu really does remember what happened back then." Xiang Liang smiled and cupped his hands in acknowledgment. "Back then, General Liu fought alongside my two nephews and saved many people. I also saw that General Liu wielding a long sword had an extraordinary bearing, and he was destined for great things!"

Xiang Yu and Xiang An felt goosebumps as they listened to the two old men's mutual flattery.

However, out of politeness, the two still managed an awkward laugh and bowed to Liu Ji.

"I had a very pleasant meeting with General Liu and General Chen today, but... there is still something I need to ask General Liu." Xiang Liang put down his wine cup, his smile turning calm and indifferent.

"What is it? General, please ask. I, Liu, will answer to the best of my knowledge." Liu Ji was a man of principle and readily accepted Xiang Liang's words.

"This is our division commander, our only female general, and also... my beloved daughter." Xiang Liang pointed to Zijuan, his face full of pride. "Xiaojuan has performed very well on the battlefield, and I, her father, am very proud of her."