"Why wouldn't he betray you? How many people have betrayed you for their own benefit? The biggest traitor is Xiang Bo. Not only did he help Liu Ji at the Feast at Hongmen, but he also secretly helped Liu Ji afterward. If he hadn't killed Ying Bu's family, would Ying Bu have wholeheartedly pledged allegiance to Liu Ji? Where is Xiang Bo now? If you don't want to lose too quickly, you'd better kill him as soon as possible."
Hao Jiu could understand to some extent. Xiang Yu treated people sincerely and cherished his soldiers. He was genuinely good to his own people, and the Chu soldiers were willing to follow him to the death, unlike Liu Ji, who was only bought off and used.
However, Liu Ji was too good at disguising himself; his feigned sincerity was more convincing than the real thing. He also knew how to use empty promises to lure people, which led to Xiang Yu having trusted confidants who still defected to Liu Ji and willingly became traitors. Xiang Yu probably wouldn't have believed that such a despicable person existed in the world if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.
Xiang Yu frowned. "You fiend, do not trouble my mind any further. Xiang Bo is my uncle. His actions at the Hongmen Banquet were to repay Zhang Liang for saving his life. He has already repented and will never betray me. Go away. I will not agree to be bound to you."
Hao Jiu sighed inwardly, "Fine, a forced relationship won't be sweet. Before I leave, I have one more hint. Believe it or not, after we're surrounded by enemies, Yu Ji will commit suicide because she doesn't want to be a burden to you. This act will be praised by future generations. Whether you save her or not is up to you. Oh, by the way, Ding Gu captured Liu Ji during the Battle of Pengcheng, but he released him afterward. This person can't be trusted either. I'm leaving."
Xiang Yu was stunned upon hearing this, while Hao Jiu turned and flew eastward. How could he bear that his most powerful system had been rejected?
...
Chapter 6 Han Xin, the Military Genius
Chapter 6 Han Xin, the Military Genius
Twenty li east of Gaixia, on the west bank of the Xiao River, lies the southern camp of the Chu army.
"General Ding, the King of Qi has made preparations to cross the river. Has General Guan Ying's troops arrived yet?" Xiang Bo looked around and said in a low voice.
Ding Gu sighed, "I'm afraid they won't come. Most likely, they'll be driven back after Xiang Yu discovers them."
"Then let's not wait any longer. I'll transfer all my trusted men to you. You can lead them directly from the southern camp to surrender to King Qi and help his army cross the river. I will try my best to bring Xiang Yu's loyal followers to the northern camp to act according to the situation, but there must still be many loyalists to Xiang Yu in the southern camp. You must be very careful," Xiang Bo instructed.
"Yes, sir, please be careful as well." Ding Gu bowed deeply.
...
On the east bank of the Xiao River, the Qi army was fully prepared for battle.
Han Xin, clad in silver helmet and armor, stared expressionlessly at the Chu army's defensive line on the opposite bank.
At this moment, a soldier came to report, "Your Majesty, the other side has sent a signal."
Han Xin frowned and turned to the Confucian scholar beside him, saying, "Strategist, there is no chaos in the camp on the other side, nor has there been any sign of Guan Ying's cavalry arriving. Should our army still cross the river as agreed?"
Li Zuoche stroked his beard. "Is Your Majesty afraid there might be a trap?"
"Indeed." Han Xin didn't quite believe Liu Ji's claim of a traitor within the Chu army. Could there really be such a traitor in the world who would betray his own family and friends?
Li Zuoche smiled slightly, “But even if it’s a trap, so what? Xiang Yu’s forces are limited. As long as Your Majesty’s army can cross the river smoothly, even if Xiang Yu ambushes half of his main force on the other side, it will be useless. Besides, would Your Majesty be afraid to attack just because there are no inside help on the other side?”
"The strategist is right. Issue the order: the army must cross the river immediately. If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy!" Han Xin waved his hand.
Military orders were issued layer by layer, and soon after, hundreds of rafts and bamboo rafts carried Qi soldiers across the Xiao River and headed straight for the west bank.
...
On the west bank of the Xiao River, in the southern camp of the Chu army, at the central command tent.
"Reporting to the general, the Qi army has begun crossing the river," a Chu soldier hurriedly reported.
"Understood. Pass down the order: No one is to fire an arrow without my command. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!" Ding Gu issued the order in front of all the officers and soldiers.
"Yes." No one suspected anything, after all, shooting arrows from such a distance would be a waste.
Not long after, a junior officer stormed into the central command tent in a rage.
"General Ding! The Qi army is about to reach the shore. If we don't attack now, when will we?"
"Hmph! Do I need you to teach me how to do things? Men! Drag this man away and behead him!" Ding Gu gave the order, and several men immediately rushed forward and dragged him away.
"General Ding, why are you doing this! This humble general is utterly loyal to the Great Chu, this humble general has been wronged... Ah!"
Ding Gu straightened his armor. "Come, follow me to greet His Highness Prince Qi!"
"Here you go!"
...
On the west bank of the Xiao River, the northern camp of the Chu army.
"Report! My lord, the Qi army is crossing the Xiao River from General Ding's defense zone, and General Ding has not stopped them!"
Xiang Bo slammed his hand on the table. "Hmph! Absolutely impossible! The information must be wrong. Investigate further and report back!"
"Here you go."
"Lord Zuo Yi, this humble general believes that the claim that Ding Gu did not stop them may be untrue, but surely the news that the Qi army crossed the river from General Ding Gu's defense zone is accurate? This humble general believes that we should immediately send reinforcements to support General Ding," the deputy general suggested.
Xiang Bo pondered for a moment, then said, “Good. Send the order down immediately to prepare food and have the army set out to support General Ding Gu.”
"Here you go."
...
By the time Xiang Bo's army had eaten and drunk their fill and arrived near Ding Gu's camp, tens of thousands of Qi soldiers had already crossed the river.
"So it seems General Ding Gu has indeed surrendered to the enemy!" the deputy general exclaimed.
"What? This is outrageous! Send down the order for a full-scale attack! We must retake the riverbank, or we will betray King Xiang's trust! Let the Qi army see the might of our great Chu warriors! Charge!" Xiang Bo waved his hand.
"Kill them!"
"Charge!"
...
Han Xin watched the Chu soldiers charge fearlessly and smiled coldly, "Surround them and annihilate them all!"
Hao Jiu could only sigh in despair at the tragic state of the Chu army. He never expected that Xiang Yu would send Xiang Bo and Ding Gu to guard the Xiao River. No wonder they suffered such a crushing defeat.
"How have you considered it, Marquis of Huaiyin?" Hao Jiu had previously explained the future plan to Han Xin again.
"I don't care who you are, but I am the King of Qi, officially appointed by the King of Han, not some Marquis of Huaiyin," Han Xin said in a low voice, frowning.
"Didn't I already tell you? After defeating Xiang Yu, you will be enfeoffed as the King of Chu. First, they will sideline you and take away your military power. Then, you will be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Huaiyin, and then accused of treason. You will be killed by Empress Lü in a way that is neither seen nor heard. Why not take advantage of your military power now and quickly rebel against Liu Ji?" Hao Jiu said helplessly.
"Nonsense! The King of Han has been kind to me, and I have rendered great service. How could the King of Han treat me like this? It's impossible for me to rebel against the King of Han. Oh, I see. You were invited by Xiang Yu, weren't you? You cowardly rat hiding your head and tail, don't even think about deceiving me!" Han Xin felt that he was very stupid, talking to himself. Fortunately, he had been speaking very quietly until the last sentence, which was a little loud.
With repeated rejections from host binding attempts, is this system the most disliked system in history?
Hao Jiu wanted to try again. If he couldn't get Han Xin to agree to the deal, he would probably have no choice but to go to the Xiongnu to find Modu. Not only would that be a waste of time, but it would also be uncomfortable to help the Xiongnu fight in the Central Plains.
"So you still don't believe I traveled from the future, do you? What if I could prove it and tell you what will happen in the future?"
Han Xin scoffed, "If you're trying to say that I can defeat Xiang Yu at Gaixia, then there's no need to say it."
Hao Jiu smiled and said, "You're overthinking it. Your battle with Xiang Yu resulted in a minor defeat. What truly crushed the Chu army was Zhang Liang's 'Song of Chu on All Sides' strategy. The future I'm telling you is one of being surrounded by enemies on all sides. Even Zhang Liang himself might not have thought of this strategy now."
I'll only wait until you're surrounded by enemies. If you still don't agree then, I'll leave. Good advice won't change this damned fool. Think it over carefully: do you want to unify the world and become emperor, or will you become someone else's puppet, your entire clan wiped out?
"Hmph, then we'll wait and see. I'll show you how I defeat Xiang Yu in this battle!" Han Xin thought angrily. How could he lose to Xiang Yu with such a huge advantage? Xiang Yu will surely be defeated by me this time!
"Alright, give it a try." Hao Jiu glanced at Han Xin with disdain. This kid has already gotten too cocky. No wonder he can't see the situation clearly. He's too naive and foolish.
At Gaixia, the main camp of the Chu army.
"What is Your Majesty thinking about?" Yu Ji asked as she entered, carrying a bowl of meat soup.
"Oh, it's nothing." Xiang Yu took the meat soup and swallowed it in one gulp, then handed the bowl back to Yu Ji.
Xiang Yu had been thinking about the terrible future Hao Jiu had described. If there really were so many traitors in his army, could he still win the battle?
Although he didn't believe Hao Jiu's words, at Hao Jiu's suggestion, he still sent out two teams of scouts, one in the south and one in the north, to at least determine if there was a risk of being surrounded from all sides.
And then there's the Xiaoshui River defense line to the east. If Xiang Bo and Ding Gu really have problems, then...
Just then, soldiers rushed in in a panic.
"Report! Your Majesty! Lord Xiang Bo has returned wounded. Ding Gu surrendered without a fight and helped the Qi army cross the Xiao River. When Lord Xiang Bo learned of this, he tried to lead his army to retake the river, but he fell into Han Xin's ambush and his entire army was wiped out!"
Crack! Yu Ji's hand slipped, and the ceramic bowl fell and shattered into pieces...
Chapter 7 The Wrath of the Overlord
"Your Majesty, please forgive me..."
Yu Ji hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but Xiang Yu caught her.
"Yu, this isn't your fault, he's the one who disturbed you. Lü Matong, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and come and tidy up."
“Look.” Lu Matong hurriedly bent down to pick up the pieces.
"Yu, believe me, if Han Xin dares to come, I will make him pay a heavy price, and I will also avenge Long Ju at the same time." Xiang Yu said earnestly, holding Yu Ji's shoulders with both hands.
"Yes, I believe in Your Majesty." Yu Ji nodded with a smile.
"Wait for me here, I will be right back."
After saying this, Xiang Yu strode away from his sleeping tent, his iron fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
At this moment, the central command tent of the Chu army was filled with grief and indignation.
Xiang Bogang tearfully recounted how his sons, Xiang Sui and Xiang You, had both died in battle while protecting him, causing him immense grief.
"Damn it!" Zhongli Mei slammed his fist on the pillar next to him.
Today, everyone risked their lives to achieve a great victory, only to lose it all so easily.
"Don't let me run into that scoundrel Ding Gu again, or I'll tear him to pieces!" Ji Bu roared.
“Alas, now that things have come to this, there’s no use in making threats. We should hurry up and think of how to deal with the current crisis. Once Han Xin’s 300,000-strong army arrives tomorrow, we will…” Xiang Bo covered his left arm, which had just been bandaged.
Just then, Xiang Yu strode in.
"So what if they have 300,000 troops? If they dare to come, I will make sure they never return!"
"King Xiang".
"Overlord".
...
Ji Bu, Zhongli Mei, Huan Chu, and others clasped their hands in greeting.