Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Putting aside all the court intrigues and the war against Chu, Xu Qing threw himself back into sword forging.

He had seen Xinghun's eagerness to gain power when he came to ask for the sword. He had noticed that Xinghun was willing to lower himself and take the initiative to visit him in order to become stronger.

After careful consideration, Xu Qing decided that there was no need to forge a fourth-tier sword for him. The power of a third-tier sword was already comparable to many famous swords in the sword manual, so forging a third-tier sword for Xinghun would be sufficient.

All Xinghun seeks is power; simply adding a few more offensive characteristics to the sword will be enough to satisfy his needs.

A few days later, on the banks of the Wei River, a gentle breeze blew and the water rippled.

Xu Qing had been waiting there for a long time. When Xinghun appeared, he handed him a short sword with a sharp, cold gleam.

"This sword is called Xingluo. Besides being used as an ordinary weapon, it can also be used to infuse internal energy into the blade and activate sword energy. Once activated, the sword energy is like the stars in the sky, covering the heavens and the earth, vast and boundless." Xu Qing slowly spoke, introducing the sword's power to Xinghun one by one.

Upon hearing this, Xinghun's eyes lit up with surprise. He gently stroked the sword with his fingertips, feeling the immense power contained within it, unable to hide his joy.

Upon hearing the words "Xingluo," his expression faltered slightly, and past memories quietly surfaced in his mind.

"Star Soul" is just his current code name. In the Yin-Yang School, anyone who rises to a high position must abandon their past name and be referred to by their code name.

Titles such as the Five Elders, Moon God, Eastern Lord, Star Soul, and even the highest-ranking Eastern Emperor Taiyi are both divine positions and code names. They are not fixed to one person and can be replaced at any time if a stronger person appears.

These rules are somewhat similar to those of the Luo Wang (a powerful online organization), where everything is named after the sword; people may die, but the sword must not perish.

Xinghun's original name was Gan Luo.

The fact that Xinghun named the sword after "Xing" from his current code name and "Luo" from his past name makes it hard to say whether Xu Qing's actions were intentional or unintentional.

"Thank you, Mr. Xu."

Regardless, Xu Qing spent a lot of time and effort forging the sword and did not make any excessive demands. He only asked him to choose to stand aside and watch someday in the future. Although he did not know when that day would come, Xinghun remembered this kindness in his heart and sincerely thanked Xu Qing.

"No need for thanks." Xu Qing waved his hand, his tone indifferent. "The sword has been handed over to you. Now that you have received the goods, in addition to the previously agreed conditions, let's sign a contract."

Xinghun glanced at him, but didn't ask any further questions. He simply said, "Where's the contract?"

With a flick of his wrist, Xu Qing produced a sword contract.

……

The world is vast; there are peaceful and prosperous places where songs and dances are performed, and there are also chaotic places where war rages.

Xianyang was the former. After Xu Qing returned, his life was peaceful and uneventful.

Meanwhile, the State of Chu was already plunged into a state of utter chaos and misery.

Wang Jian led 300,000 Qin cavalry to attack Chu, which was undoubtedly a catastrophe for the Chu state.

Because history has already shifted, and there is no precedent of Li Xin leading an army of 200,000 to attack Chu and ultimately suffering total annihilation, Wang Jian's expedition this time, while still adhering to the principle of prioritizing stability, lacks the caution and prudence of history.

In his military campaigns, he always prioritized stability, not rushing to capture cities and fortresses, but advancing slowly and steadily in the most prudent manner. Only after ensuring that the current territory was completely conquered and free of any hidden dangers would he order his army to march on to the next city.

This approach will certainly consume more time and more supplies, but this is a war of annihilation, and stability is the top priority. As long as we can ultimately destroy the State of Chu and achieve unification, some losses are not worth regretting.

This was Wang Jian's plan.

But for the people and soldiers of Chu, this "steadiness" was a deep-seated despair.

If Wang Jian had been too hasty and reckless, they might have been able to find a chance to retaliate, but Wang Jian chose not to.

He allowed his 300,000-strong army to advance steadily and relentlessly, like a tidal wave. Unless the State of Chu could stop the advance of these 300,000 iron cavalry on the main battlefield, it could only watch helplessly as city after city fell, and the State of Chu would gradually march towards its doom.

In the Chu court, people were already in a state of panic. King Xiong Fuchu of Chu sat on his throne, his face ashen, and the oppressive atmosphere around him made it hard for the civil and military officials in the hall to breathe.

The officials were silent as cicadas in winter, standing with their heads bowed. No one dared to look directly at the king's angry face, and no one dared to utter a single word in rebuttal. Everyone knew that the State of Chu was already on the verge of destruction.

In fact, coups were a common occurrence in the Chu court.

When Xu Qing was a guest in the State of Chu, the "Xuanpu Sword" he forged indirectly stirred up the political situation in Chu, causing a considerable upheaval.

For the sake of that famous sword that symbolized power, Li Yuan set up an ambush and killed Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie. Afterwards, he supported Xiong Han, the son of his sister Li Yan, to succeed to the throne, while he himself replaced Huang Xie and sat on the position of Prime Minister, wielding immense power in the court.

According to the normal course of history, Xiong Han should have reigned for ten years, and Li Yuan could have enjoyed ten years of wealth and power for his role in supporting him. After Xiong Han's death, Li Yuan would have supported his brother Xiong You to succeed him, but unexpectedly, Xiong Fuchu launched a coup and seized the throne in one fell swoop. At that time, Li Yuan and Li Yan were both purged, suffering the fate of being beheaded and their entire families executed.

But now, the course of history has already shifted.

Whether it was the aftermath of the Li Yuan coup or something else, a shocking scandal was suddenly exposed just a few years after Xiong Han took office.

Some have pointed out that Xiong Han was not the son of King Kaolie of Chu, but was actually the illegitimate son of Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie.

The scandal caused an uproar throughout the Chu Kingdom, shaking both the court and the public.

Even more fatally, someone produced irrefutable evidence, leaving no room for doubt.

Amidst the turmoil, Xiong Fuchu acted decisively, leveraging the power of the three noble families of Qu, Jing, and Zhao to launch a coup, eliminating Xiong Han, Li Yuan, and their cronies, and successfully ascending the throne as king.

Compared to the historical path to the throne, although Xiong Fuchu has relied on the power of the three noble families and will inevitably be constrained by them after ascending the throne, he cannot be considered to have lost out.

After all, he ascended the throne of the King of Chu, while his former political enemies had all turned into withered bones and dead souls.

He never expected that before he could even enjoy the honor and privileges of being a king, the Qin cavalry would have already broken through the borders of Chu and advanced straight into its heartland.

This sudden war left Xiong Fuchu extremely anxious and agitated.

The Qin state had already conquered the states of Han, Zhao, and Wei one after another, and its momentum was unstoppable. Now, its military force was pointing directly at the state of Chu, clearly indicating its determination to win.

Surrender? Absolutely not. As the King of Chu, he couldn't afford to lose face, and the people of Chu would never agree to it. Seeking peace? That was wishful thinking. Judging from the posture of the Qin army, Ying Zheng was determined to completely destroy the State of Chu and unify the world.

Fighting back was the only way out for the State of Chu, and also the only option for Xiong Fuchu.

With no other options, he once again relied on the three noble families of Qu, Jing, and Zhao, and issued an edict appointing Xiang Yan as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, handing over all of Chu's troops to Xiang Yan's command.

Xiang Yan was a famous general of Chu, a veteran of many battles, and had a very high reputation. Xiong Fuchu and the three noble families all believed that with Xiang Yan in charge, they would definitely be able to stop the Qin army's iron hooves and protect the Chu state.

But reality dealt them a heavy blow.

In Shouchun Palace, Xiong Fuchu received only bad news of the Qin army's relentless advance and the successive fall of cities; he never received a single report of victory.

"Useless! All of you are useless! Xiang Yan is even more useless!" Xiong Fuchu slammed the military report in his hand to the ground, his roar echoing throughout the hall. "Issue my decree: Xiang Yan is hereby ordered that if he cannot stop the Qin army, he shall bring me his head!"

After his anger subsided, Xiong Fuchu ordered his men to send the latest military report to the mansions of the three noble families.

The nobles were furious when they learned of the unfavorable outcome of the war. They shared the fate of the State of Chu, and if Chu fell, all the power and wealth they had accumulated over the years would vanish.

However, Xiang Yan was the commander-in-chief they had jointly recommended. Now that the war had failed, they could only swallow their dissatisfaction and secretly send people to contact Xiang Yan, sternly questioning him about why he was powerless to resist and why he allowed the Qin army to run rampant in Chu territory and destroy their foundation.

In the front-line military camp, Xiang Yan felt wronged by the King of Chu's rebuke and the nobles' questioning, but he had no way to express his bitterness.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white and the pads of his fingers slightly bluish from the force. His gaze was fixed on the military map on the table, his brows furrowed into a knot, his eyes filled with anxiety and resentment.

He was not incompetent; he had his own strategies for defeating the enemy. However, Wang Jian was too cautious, advancing step by step and defending flawlessly, never giving the Chu army any opportunity to exploit. He wanted to take the initiative and fight the Qin army to the death, but he was afraid that if he acted rashly, he would fall into Wang Jian's trap. Once defeated, the Chu army would be completely annihilated, and there would be no way to recover. He would then become the eternal sinner of Chu.

The wind howled outside the tent, carrying the dust and blood of the battlefield, its howling sound seemingly telling of the perilous situation of the Chu Kingdom and questioning the general's choice, making it hard to breathe.

Just then, a guard announced from outside the tent: "General, the two young masters, Xiang Chao and Xiang Liang, request an audience."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Xiang Yan's eyes, and the anxiety of the past few days subsided slightly. She quickly ordered in a deep voice, "Send it quickly!"

The two men were covered in dust and grime from their journey, their robes stained with mud and dirt. Upon seeing Xiang Yan, they immediately bowed and spoke with respect and urgency: "Father, we have successfully completed our mission and have met with Lord Changping, bringing back his plans."

Xiang Yan quickly stood up and stepped forward to support the two men, her voice filled with urgency: "Speak quickly! What strategy does Lord Changping have to defeat the enemy?"

For days, there had been no breakthroughs on the main battlefield, and the secret letter that Changping Jun had sent earlier had become his only hope.

He knew that Lord Changping had once held a high position in Qin, was familiar with the Qin court's operations and the Qin army's tactics, and secretly held considerable power. The other party's plan might be Chu's only chance of survival.

Xiang Chao wiped the dust from his face, composed himself, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Changping has already secretly contacted the former Chu troops, who are all hiding in the Huaiyang and Chenying areas. He asked Father to take the risk and take the initiative to send troops to meet Wang Jian, trying to lure Wang Jian's army deep into the heart of Chu. Once Wang Jian's army is trapped in the heart of Chu, he will raise an army in Chenying, unite with the former Chu troops and the people, cut off the Qin army's retreat, and block their supply lines. At that time, Father can lead the army to attack from both sides, and we will surely defeat the Qin army and drive them away."

As soon as Xiang Chao finished speaking, Xiang Liang stepped forward and added, "Father, Lord Changping also said that he has made full preparations. Chen Ying's old troops are all ready and waiting for your signal before they can act immediately. He also promised to do his best to contact the remaining forces and people along the way to fully cooperate with your army and tie down the Qin army's forces."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yan's eyes immediately lit up with a sharp light, her brows, which had been furrowed for many days, relaxed instantly, and the gloom on her face dissipated somewhat.

But this joy did not last long; he soon fell into deep thought, his expression becoming solemn.

Taking the initiative to engage in battle and luring the enemy deep into our territory is undoubtedly a risky and extremely dangerous move.

Wang Jian is a shrewd and meticulous military strategist who is unlikely to be easily fooled. Once the plan is exposed, the Chu army will be caught in a desperate situation, besieged on both sides, and will be completely annihilated, leading to the complete destruction of the Chu state.

But now, the State of Chu has no way out.

Rather than sitting idly by and waiting to be devoured step by step by Wang Jian's army, watching city after city fall and people become displaced, it is better to take a gamble, risk this last glimmer of hope, and fight for a way out for the State of Chu.

A moment later, Xiang Yan suddenly raised his hand and slammed his fist heavily on the table, his tone as firm as iron: "Good! Let's do as Lord Changping says, take the risk, and take the initiative to meet the enemy!"

Chapter 334 The Rise and Fall of Qin and Chu, the Shadow of Yin and Yang Swords

Just as Xiang Yan made up his mind to confront Wang Jian head-on.

In a secluded courtyard in Huaiyang and Chenying, Lord Changping, dressed in plain clothes, was discussing matters with several men from Chu.

It was only a few decades before the Qin state occupied Chenying and turned it into Qin territory.

This place is located at the border between the Qin and Chu states. A large number of Chu people live here. Several decades have not been enough for all of them to die out. The Chu state is a country ruled by nobles. In Chu, nobles have an extraordinary status.

Even though this approach didn't work well in the Qin state, these nobles who had stayed in Chenying back then still held considerable influence in the area.

Many years ago, Lord Changping had been plotting for the State of Chu, secretly supporting the remaining forces of Chu. When he arrived in Chenying, he immediately took over the area in secret.

These people will respond immediately as soon as he gives the order.

Lord Changping looked at the crowd before him, a resolute glint in his eyes, and slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, Wang Jian's army is pressing forward relentlessly, and the State of Chu is on the verge of collapse. Now, General Xiang Yan has agreed to take the initiative to meet the enemy, luring Wang Jian into a deep and isolated position. Our opportunity has arrived."

He looked at everyone present and said firmly, "Issue the order: all the former troops who have been lying in wait must immediately assemble, reorganize their military preparations, and strengthen the defenses of Chenying. Once they learn that Wang Jian's army has penetrated deep into their territory, they must immediately rise up in rebellion, seize control of the key roads to Chenying, cut off the Qin army's rear, and blockade the supply lines. We are all Chu people, and the state of Chu cannot perish!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines, and their faces revealed a resolute determination. They rose one after another, bowed, and accepted the order: "We are willing to obey Lord Changping's command and swear to defend the State of Chu to the death!"

As night deepened, the lights of Chenying City quietly lit up, and a hidden force was gathering in the shadows.

Meanwhile, on the Chu front, Xiang Yan's army was fully prepared for battle, and a momentous contest concerning the fate of both Chu and Qin was about to begin.

……

Xu Qing wasn't really concerned about the war between Qin and Chu. He wasn't a pure Qin person, nor was he a Chu person.

After informing Ying Zheng of Changping Jun's problem, he had already done everything he could.

He wasn't entirely sure how this situation would unfold. After all, many things had already changed.

During this time, however, an unexpected yet perfectly logical guest arrived in Xianyang.

"Are you all alone?" Xu Qing sighed as he looked at the person who had come to him following the address he had left behind.

Zi Nu did not answer Xu Qing's question directly. Instead, she looked around Xu Qing's residence, her gaze shifting with a hint of inquiry: "I never thought that someone like you would end up settling in Xianyang!"

Today, Zi Nu is wearing a plain white dress instead of the purple dress she usually wears. Her long hair is tied up at the back of her head. Compared to her former worldly air, she now has a more gentle and elegant demeanor, and has lost some of her flamboyance and gained more tranquility.

However, those who know her well know that this outward appearance is the easiest thing to deceive people.