Chapter One Hundred: General Feng

Xiang Liang was Yi Xiaochuan's master, and Yang Wenhao knew that. But only today did he truly lay eyes on Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Chu.

After seeing Xiang Yu, Yang Wenhao felt somewhat disappointed. Xiang Yu was really not suited to be an emperor.

He was better fit to be a fierce vanguard. The reason he was only fit for that role was simple: he was too rash and far too fond of solving everything with force.

That was why, in the years to come, he would lose his struggle with Liu Bang for the realm. Once Xiang Liang died, he no longer had a strategist at his side.

It was much like Lu Bu losing Chen Gong as his counselor and collapsing in utter defeat.

Perhaps no one could match Xiang Yu in the charge of battle, but when it came to strategy, he was by no means strong.

Yang Wenhao went with Li Lingyun, Xiang Liang, and the others to the Hall of Worthies.

He also very much wanted to see Prince Fusu.

In truth, the system's choice of Hu Hai could be considered a worst-case option for him.

Hu Hai was easy to control, but Yang Wenhao had not yet reached the point where he would elevate a worthless man merely for his own ends.

Not now, though perhaps someday.

They arrived at the Hall of Worthies and entered together with Xiang Liang. The princes and nobles of the Six Kingdoms were seated on the left, while commoners were placed on the right.

Though Yang Wenhao had no real status, as he had come with Xiang Liang, a descendant of Chu, he was naturally seated on the left as well.

Sitting there, just as he was preparing to look for Fusu, he saw someone familiar.

"Liu Bang."

In plain cloth, with a long beard, he looked like nothing more than an ordinary man of the streets.

When Liu Bang came in, he announced his title as the head constable of Sishui Pavilion, but the people recording names at the Hall of Worthies did not buy it at all. In their eyes, the head constable of Sishui Pavilion was no different from a commoner.

Liu Bang then strode in, angry all over, but when he was about to sit on the right side, the commoners already seated there would not let him take a place.

It was only because they had heard the words he had spoken at the gate, and they mocked him for it.

Just as Liu Bang was at a loss, he spotted Yi Xiaochuan.

But then he also saw Yang Wenhao sitting beside Yi Xiaochuan.

Liu Bang looked at Yang Wenhao, and Yang Wenhao looked back at Liu Bang.

Liu Bang forced a smile. "Brother Yang."

Yang Wenhao smiled but said nothing.

Seeing no warmth there, Liu Bang turned his attention to Yi Xiaochuan, hoping to cling to him instead.

"Xiaochuan," Liu Bang called out.

Yi Xiaochuan had originally been lying on the table to rest, after all he was drunk. Hearing Liu Bang's voice, he lifted his head and saw who it was, then frowned slightly.

"Xiaochuan," Liu Bang said shamelessly, squeezing in beside him.

"Xiaochuan, who is this man?" Xiang Liang asked, a look of disdain in his eyes.

What Liu Bang had said at the gate was naturally heard by both Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu as well. They had no desire to keep company with such a brazen fellow.

Before Yi Xiaochuan could speak, Liu Bang first clasped his hands and said, "Greetings to both of you. I am Liu Bang, Xiaochuan's sworn elder brother."

"Hmph." Xiang Liang gave a cold snort, unwilling to associate with Liu Bang, and moved to sit beside Xiang Yu.

Seeing an empty seat, Liu Bang simply sat down without a shred of shame.

Afterward, Yi Xiaochuan sobered up and spoke with Liu Bang, frowning all the while.

Liu Bang explained a few things, but the suspicion on Yi Xiaochuan's face still would not fade.

After hearing Liu Bang and Yi Xiaochuan talking, Yang Wenhao merely smiled faintly and said nothing.

"Master, that man is so obnoxious," Li Lingyun whispered beside Yang Wenhao.

"Heh." Yang Wenhao shook his head. "That man is deeply scheming and will stop at nothing to achieve his aim. What do you think?"

"Yes, that's true. I just don't know how Uncle-master came to know such a friend," Li Lingyun said.

While everyone was still talking among themselves, a figure slowly rose from among the seats below.

He was refined and scholarly; none other than Prince Fusu.

Fusu then spoke a few words, opening his heart and expressing his hope of dissolving the old enmities between the Six Kingdoms.

Many were moved by his words. Clearly, Prince Fusu possessed the makings of an emperor.

Even Yang Wenhao could not help sighing. If, in history, it had been Prince Fusu who succeeded the throne, then Qin would not have perished after only two generations.

But such things were fate. Had it not been for Zhao Gao, the might of Qin might well have endured for another few centuries.

No one knew what the ages to come would have looked like then.

Afterward, although Yi Xiaochuan and Xiang Liang's party went to register their names, Yang Wenhao and Li Lingyun did not.

Since Yang Wenhao did not go, Li Lingyun naturally would not go either.

The moment they returned to the Water Moon Paradise, Three Treasures came rushing over. "Mr. Yi, Mr. Yang, someone from the palace has arrived."

Hearing this, Yi Xiaochuan and Yang Wenhao hurried off at once.

Waiting in the Water Moon Paradise was a senior eunuch from the imperial palace.

"His Majesty has issued an edict: tomorrow, summon Cui Wenzi, Yang Wenhao, and Yi Xiaochuan to the palace."

After delivering the imperial message, the senior eunuch left, leaving the others behind.

Hearing that they could go to the palace again, Yi Xiaochuan was overjoyed.

Still, Cui Wenzi nonetheless took the opportunity to advise him a few words.

Yi Xiaochuan, of course, only gave a perfunctory answer and did not take it to heart at all.

The next day, Yang Wenhao and the others set out for the imperial palace.

This time they were going to the main hall to be received by the First Emperor. Unlike the previous occasion, they would now be facing all the civil and military officials of the court.

Zhangtai Palace was where the First Emperor of Qin usually conducted state affairs, and all the officials had to attend the morning audience there every day.

Today, however, the Qin Emperor was holding a banquet, and Yang Wenhao, Yi Xiaochuan, and Cui Wenzi had been invited.

Above the hall stood the dragon throne. The First Emperor wore black imperial robes, and his majesty filled the entire great chamber.

Seated beside the First Emperor was a beautiful woman, the very Lady Li who had haunted Yi Xiaochuan's thoughts day and night, or rather, Princess Yushu.

From the instant he stepped into the hall, Yi Xiaochuan's gaze had remained fixed on Yushu.

Even Yang Wenhao could not help but shake his head at the sight. Yi Xiaochuan truly was a man ruled by love.

It was only a pity that one was the emperor's consort and the other merely a subject; there was simply no common ground between them.

"Back then, my honored ministers Yang and Yi rendered meritorious service in saving the imperial carriage at Lan Pond. And now they have cured the Lady Li. I believe it would be a pity not to employ such talents in the service of our Great Qin. Let it be thus: the palace and Xianyang are both in need of a guard commander. Minister Yi shall take charge of guarding the palace, while Minister Yang shall oversee Xianyang for me. What do all my ministers think?"

As soon as the First Emperor spoke, he had appointed two generals, and their ranks were by no means low.

Upon hearing this, Li Si, as the head of the ministers, naturally spoke first. "Your Majesty, I believe that General Yang and General Yi being able to guard our Great Qin is truly a blessing for Great Qin."

Hearing this, the First Emperor smiled. Since no one objected, that meant it was agreed.

Yet at that moment, Yi Xiaochuan clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I fear I may not be able to shoulder such a grave responsibility."