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

......

Two months later.

Although they had occupied Xianyang, many old Qin forces still existed in the Central Plains. Although they could not pose a fatal threat, their constant harassment was still a nuisance. During this time, Xiang Yu was reorganizing everything in Xianyang, while Xiang An, who had been reassigned as a deputy general, and Zi Juan, who was also a deputy general, were traveling around the Central Plains with other lords to eliminate these petty villains who might threaten the new order.

King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin, is almost at Xianyang. He set off for Xianyang when Xiang Yu broke through Hangu Pass, but the journey was so long and it took more than three months. Now he is finally about to arrive in Xianyang.

Even so, Xiong Xin was not happy at all.

He knew that his time as King of Chu was probably coming to an end.

Not long after he sent Xiang Yu to attack Qin, he roughly understood that this day would come, and after the Battle of Julu, he suffered more and more each day.

This trip to Xianyang was less about being escorted and more about being forced to come under guard.

As mentioned before, once something is done, there is a price to pay.

Now, it's time for him to pay the price for his actions.

"Xiang An, please help me..." Xiong Xin gripped Xiang An's arm, his voice trembling, tears welling in his eyes, "For the sake of the past, please help me..."

Xiong Xin was terrified, truly terrified.

Although he is still nominally King Huai of Chu, no one treats him as the ruler of a country anymore. The cold words and self-blame he has received along the way have driven him to the brink of madness.

He gripped Xiang An's forearms with both hands, his lower body seemingly powerless, relying entirely on Xiang An to stand. He raised his head, his mouth opening and closing, shaking his head, repeatedly saying, "Help me."

Xiang Yu's reputation was already known throughout the world. His victory of 100,000 over 400,000 at Julu and the massacre of 200,000 Qin soldiers at Zhangshui, along with his killing spree after breaking through the pass, all demonstrated his brutal style. Now, facing judgment from Xiang Yu, Xiong Xin was filled with despair.

Xiang An helped Xiong Xin up, looking at Xiong Xin's red and swollen eyes, pursing his lips, not knowing what to say.

"If only you had known this would happen, Your Majesty... why did you do it in the first place?" Zijuan stood to the side, looking at the weeping Xiong Xin, feeling a pang of pity, but she had no intention of helping him.

She wasn't a soft-hearted person, or rather, her soft-heartedness only existed for her close family. Moreover, Xiong Xin's actions truly chilled her and Xiang An to the bone.

"I was wrong, I was really wrong..." Xiong Xin's hand gripping Xiang An's arm trembled, his grip tightening. He looked up at Xiang An's complex face, pleading, "Help me. If it happens again, I'll end it all myself..."

"...There won't be a next time."

Xiang An sighed, closed his eyes, and shook his head.

Xiong Xin was stunned and subconsciously let go of Xiang An's hand.

"At most, I can keep your life safe. Take care of yourself, Xiong Xin." Xiang An led Zi Juan out without looking back, leaving Xiong Xin with only his back. After saying this, he left the room, leaving Xiong Xin alone in a daze.

After Xiang An and Zi Juan left, the soldiers guarding Xiong Xin closed the door.

Xiong Xin collapsed to the ground, half-kneeling, muttering to himself.

"That's enough...that's enough..."

Recalling the past, tears welled up in Xiong Xin's eyes once again.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

......

Stepping out of the room and breathing in the fresh air, Xiang An grinned and wiped his face twice.

"When we brought him back, I never imagined he would be this kind of person." Zijuan looked troubled, patted her arm as if brushing off dust, and sighed.

"It's only human nature, but when it happens to us, it's disgusting." Xiang An also felt somewhat helpless. This kind of test is indeed not something everyone can pass, but when the result is actually presented to you, the feeling of being betrayed... is truly chilling.

"Hasn't Big Brother said when he's going to become emperor yet?" Putting aside her worries, Zijuan's expression brightened with excitement. "If Big Brother becomes emperor, what do you think we'll be?"

Xiang An blinked, then stroked his chin thoughtfully: "You'll probably be a princess or something, as for me... a great general? Or something else?"

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

Chapter 943 Execution Without Report: A Sneak Attack from the Elder Brother

The world is a place where division inevitably leads to unity. The times are constantly progressing. The Central Plains, having experienced the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties and the chaos of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, is already exhausted and scarred. What it needs now is a centralized state to rule and provide its people with a stable life.

Qin succeeded, but Zhao Gao's misrule led to the Qin dynasty's demise after only two generations, failing to preserve its foundation.

Now, the decision of whether or not the Qin Dynasty can continue to protect the Central Plains rests in Xiang Yu's hands.

......

Xianyang, a palace that is still relatively intact.

The future of the world will be decided in this palace at this very moment.

Those who can stand in this palace at this moment are all famous feudal lords and generals. Each of them has made great contributions to the great cause of the downfall of Qin. Although they may not be comparable to Xiang Yu and Liu Ji, the two meritorious officials, they are still indispensable in the general trend of the world.

All eyes were fixed on the person standing in the head seat, dressed in magnificent robes—Xiang Yu.

Xiang An stood to the side of Xiang Yu, a slight smile on his face.

In his view, although Xiang Yu did not say it explicitly, the people in front of him were the core of the so-called "Chu Dynasty".

During this period, he was not in Xianyang, but was suppressing small groups of Qin troops. Now most of the Qin troops have been killed, and the Qin forces have been completely dismantled, making it impossible for them to form an effective resistance force.

"I am delighted that you have gathered here." On the high platform, Xiang Yu, with his hands behind his back, lowered his head slightly and looked at the lords below who dared not raise their heads, speaking in a calm tone.

He refers to himself as "I, the Lonely One" because, a few days earlier, Xiang Yu had formally denied the existence and value of King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin, and deposed Xiong Xin from his position as King of Chu. Now, Xiang Yu is the true king of Chu.

No one dared to say anything, not even Xiong Xin, because he was already grateful that Xiang An had saved his life.

"The world has undergone dramatic changes, and the divine weapons have changed hands, but have been given to the virtuous." Among the feudal lords, one man slowly stepped forward, cupped his hands to Xiang Yu, turned slightly to face the other feudal lords, and said, "King Xiang came out of Kuaiji and enfeoffed the virtuous, thus settling the world."

"Now that the Qin Dynasty is gone, Xiang Yu has made the greatest contribution. Therefore, Wu Rui is willing to recommend that Xiang Yu follow the example of the First Emperor, ascend the throne, become the emperor, govern the world, and bring peace to all people."

As she spoke, Wu Rui lowered her head, wishing she could kneel on the ground.

Wu Rui was also a general of the former Chu state and one of the feudal lords. He was quite close to Xiang Yu, Xiang An, and others. He stepped forward now, naturally wanting to set an example.

Xiang Yu simply looked at Wu Rui without making a comment.

The feudal lords looked at Wu Rui, who had taken half a step forward, and exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

"I also believe that Xiang Yu should ascend the throne."

A short while later, another person stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said...

This was someone he knew well. He was the one who led the vanguard of Xiang Yu's army in the Battle of Julu. His name was Ying Bu, and he made great contributions in the battle on the way to Xianyang.

Incidentally, Ying Bu is Wu Rui's son-in-law, which makes them a relative of some importance.

After Ying Bu finished speaking, Xiang Yu waved his hand.

"I understand your intentions, but the reason I have summoned you all to this Qin Palace today is not for this matter." Xiang Yu walked around his small table and stepped forward.

Xiang An, who was standing behind and protecting Xiang Yu, suddenly frowned.

He sensed something was wrong.

Knowing his elder brother as he did, Xiang An couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

"Brother! You—" Without the slightest hesitation, Xiang An stepped forward, trying to interrupt Xiang Yu.

"Xiang An!" Xiang Yu seemed to have anticipated what Xiang An wanted to say. He turned around and shouted, his serious expression somewhat frightening, causing Xiang An to freeze in place.

"Don't speak now," Xiang Yu said, enunciating each word clearly. His aura, imbued with magical power, pressed down on Xiang An almost all at once.

"Uh—Big Brother—" Xiang An couldn't help but take a step back. He was almost completely unprepared for Xiang Yu, and felt a huge pressure pressing down on his limbs and bones. He took half a step back and looked at Xiang Yu in disbelief.

The princes below the stage were all stunned by what they saw.

"Xiao Si, take your second brother down to rest." Xiang Yu turned around, ignoring Xiang An and Zi Juan's reactions, and said coldly.

"Big brother...you? Why?" Zijuan was a little confused, but that didn't stop her from being surprised and scared.

vertex

"Don't ask, take your second brother back first." Shaking his head, Xiang Yu seemed unwilling to say anything, only urging him on.

"Big brother..." Xiang An could clearly taste the salty and fishy flavor in his mouth. His mind was still not fully clear. He felt weak and wanted to do something, to ask Xiang Yu why, but he felt pain all over his body.

Without a doubt, Xiang Yu launched an attack on Xiang An, and because of his profound understanding of each other's physical structure, he used almost no magic power to injure Xiang An's internal organs from a distance of three meters, rendering Xiang An unable to move.

"Xiao Si, take him away!" Xiang Yu urged again, his tone cold.

Zijuan pursed her lips, intimidated by Xiang Yu's usual imposing manner, and finally obediently helped Xiang An into the back hall, away from the front hall where the meeting was taking place.

Ignoring Xiang An's questioning and angry gaze, Xiang Yu turned his attention back to the assembled lords.

"I am sorry for my rudeness, everyone," Xiang Yu said casually, bowing slightly.

The situation was slightly awkward, but it didn't last long.

"General Xiang An is unwell, and King Xiang has sent him to rest. What a kind brother he is!" Wu Rui could only make up this sentence after struggling for a while.

"Absolutely, absolutely..."

"King Xiang and General Xiang An were truly brothers in harmony..."

Wu Rui offered a way out, and the other lords naturally followed suit. As for whether Xiang An was "uncomfortable"... they weren't blind, but the atmosphere just now was indeed a bit frightening.

"Let's get back to the main topic, everyone." Shaking his head, Xiang Yu casually turned the page and said as he walked down, "As I said before, what I am doing today is not for the so-called ascension to the throne."

"I have no intention of ascending the throne."

Upon hearing this, the feudal lords were all stunned.

Xiang Yu paid no attention to the reactions of the feudal lords. He spoke calmly and continued.

"I... what will become of this world...?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his words were full of seduction.

"It should rightfully be handed over to you all."

"Therefore, based on military merit, I have decided—"

"To divide the land among the people."

Xiang Jing carried a map and walked in through the main entrance of the hall.

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

Chapter 944 Xiang Yu's Division of the World

Xiang Yu seized the opportunity that would determine the fate of the Central Plains, and his choice was—