binnovel Chapter 560 Xiang Yan's Sincere Submission
Chapter 560 Xiang Yan's Sincere Submission
"General Xiang, please have a seat," Ying Wuyou said. "Try this tea; I prepared it especially for you."
Xiang Yan sat down as instructed, but his attention was clearly not on the cup of tea. He went straight to the point: "Your Highness, now that I'm here, I won't beat around the bush. I want to know, what exactly did Your Highness mean by sending Zhou Xun to say 'All of China is one family, united against foreign enemies'? And how does Your Highness intend to settle my Xiang family and those tens of thousands of surrendered Chu soldiers?"
Ying Wuyou gently put down the teapot and met Xiang Yan's scrutinizing gaze: "General Xiang is quick-witted and has a forthright personality, which I like very much."
Xiang Yan was clearly not expected that Ying Wuyou would express his affection for him so directly. His expression turned somewhat astonished for a moment, and his tense face relaxed slightly.
Before Xiang Yan could recover from the sudden praise, Ying Wuyou immediately asked a question: "General, do you know why our Great Qin has been able to win battle after battle and increase its national strength in recent years?" Hearing Ying Wuyou's question, Xiang Yan came back to his senses and was about to answer.
Before Xiang Yan could answer, Ying Wuyou answered his own question, “It’s not just about the soldiers’ willingness to fight, but also about orderly farming and warfare, strict laws, making the best use of resources, and giving full play to people’s talents. What I’ve done is simply to make this ‘order’ and ‘efficiency’ even better.”
Then, Ying Wuyou continued, "However, although the Qin Dynasty is strong, it will eventually reach its limit. And the world is so vast, and the dangers are so deep, that we must not be complacent."
At this point, Ying Wuyou's tone became solemn. "The Xiongnu in the north are growing stronger day by day. Their cavalry come and go like the wind, plundering the border people. They are a major threat to the Central Plains. Beyond the East Sea, there is Baga Island. South of the Southern Frontier, there are thousands of miles of fertile land. In the far west, there are also powerful countries that are no less powerful than the Central Plains."
Her words opened a door to an unknown world for Xiang Yan. "If the feudal lords of China continue to indulge in internal strife and waste their strength, when foreign enemies come with powerful ships and cannons one day, we will all become slaves of a conquered nation. At that time, what will be the point of talking about Chu, or Qin?"
Xiang Yan was deeply shaken. Although he might not entirely believe the claim of a "powerful overseas state," he was aware of the threat posed by the Xiongnu in the north. The scenario depicted by Ying Wuyou was a far grander and more brutal struggle for survival, transcending the power struggles among the feudal lords.
“Therefore, my statement that ‘all Chinese people are one family’ is not an empty phrase,” Ying Wuyou continued. “It is not about annihilating the six kingdoms, but about unifying our strength, standardizing our writing, our cart tracks, and our ethics, so that we can form a stronger whole and meet the greater challenges of the future.”
Ying Wuyou looked at Xiang Yan seriously: "The destruction of the Chu Kingdom is not for the sake of killing, but to end the chaos of the past few hundred years and usher in a new era."
Her gaze was sincere: "General Xiang is a renowned general of our time, well-versed in military strategy, and deeply respected by his troops. If you are willing to surrender, it would be to serve the future unification of China. I can recommend you to my father, and you can still command an army. However, your goal will no longer be to serve your fellow countrymen in the Central Plains, but to drive out the northern barbarians and expand your territory to the west! Your talent should be used in a wider world, rather than being lost in this soon-to-be-ending war of the feudal lords."
"As for those tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers," Ying Wuyou said with certainty, "they are all Chinese people. As long as they are willing to abide by the Qin laws and settle down to farm or serve in the army, I guarantee that they will receive the same treatment as the Qin people, and their families will also be properly settled. Although the Qin laws are strict, they are clear in their rewards and punishments, and those who have made contributions can also obtain titles and land."
Xiang Yan fell silent. Ying Wuyou's words were completely different from what he had expected. There was no insult, no harsh conditions, but rather an invitation... to imbue him with a new sense of mission.
For a general, expanding the frontier and protecting the people is indeed more attractive than dying for a foolish King of Chu or serving a corrupt court.
He thought of his grandson Xiang Yu, and the despair of being betrayed by Yingdu... After a long while, he took a deep breath, picked up the cup of tea in front of him that had already cooled down, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Your Highness's vision is truly admirable." He put down his teacup, his gaze now different. "Xiang Yan is willing to serve you with utmost loyalty. But Your Highness, please keep your promise and treat the people and soldiers of Chu with kindness."
Ying Wuyou revealed a genuine smile: "General, rest assured. If Great Qin wishes to conquer the world, it will not only rely on military force, but also on the hearts of the people. To break a promise is the most foolish thing to do."
When the news of Xiang Yan's surrender and his personal reception by Princess Jiayang, who entrusted him with an important task (temporarily leading the surrendered troops for training in preparation for the northern frontier), along with the letter written by Xiang Yan himself, urging his former subordinates to return to Qin and plan for the future together, was officially published through the "Da Qin Xin Bao" newspaper, it caused a great uproar throughout the Central Plains.
In Yingdu, the capital of Chu, the king, Fu Chu, was so grief-stricken that he felt as if he had lost his parents. In his shock and anger, he fell ill.
The Chu court was in an uproar, with people condemning Xiang Yan for treason while living in constant fear.
The collapse of the State of Chu was imminent.
In Xianyang, in the imperial prison, Xiang Yu held the latest issue of the "Great Qin News" and read it repeatedly. He checked it many times, but he was still completely bewildered.
Grandfather...surrendered?
His grandfather, who had taught him from childhood to be loyal to the emperor and love his country, and to never surrender, actually surrendered to the Qin state?
Moreover, it wasn't just a simple act of kneeling to survive; she was recruited by Princess Jiayang and seemingly entrusted with an important mission.
This was completely different from the ending he had imagined—his grandfather dying on the battlefield or being killed by the King of Chu! The overwhelming information left him unable to think for a moment.
Soon, he was allowed to meet his grandfather.
The reunion of grandfather and grandson felt like a lifetime had passed. Xiang Yan looked at his grandson, who was noticeably thinner but whose eyes were now deeper and sharper, and was overwhelmed with emotion. He didn't explain much about his inner thoughts, but calmly relayed to Xiang Yu what Ying Wuyou had discussed with him about "the general trend of the world," "the crisis in China," "overseas territories," and the arrangements made for him.
"...Yu'er," Xiang Yan said in a deep voice, looking at his grandson who was still unable to accept it, "Chu betrayed us first, abandoning its loyal subjects, and is no longer worthy of our dying efforts. Qin's strength lies not only in its military might, but also in its system and vision. Princess Jiayang's words may have some truth to them. For a general, the greatest glory is not dying in internal strife, but expanding territory and protecting the people of China. You have a long road ahead of you, do not let momentary hatred blind you, but see clearly where this world is heading."
His grandfather's words struck Xiang Yu's heart like a heavy hammer. His pent-up anger, which had been focused solely on revenge against the King of Chu, was now directed in a more uncertain yet broader direction.
Xiang Yu couldn't help but ask himself, "What happens after revenge? What if the path my grandfather chose was one that better reflects the value of a military general, and even concerns the future of the entire clan?"
With more questions in mind, Xiang Yu was sent back.
Several days later, Xiang Yu was summoned again. This time, he was taken to a spacious training ground.
As Xiang Yu stepped into the training ground, his gaze was immediately drawn to the equipment and training methods he had never seen before. He stared wide-eyed, observing everything with curiosity and a heart full of doubt.
These pieces of equipment looked very special, quite different from the traditional weapons he was familiar with. Moreover, the training methods were also very novel to him, and he couldn't help but think about their impact on the soldiers.