flstandardbreds Chapter 522 Xiang Yan Returns to Chu 4
Chapter 522 Xiang Yan Returns to Chu 4
Zhou Xun never flaunted Qin's military might in front of him. Instead, he often sat opposite him with a pot of wine. At that time, Zhou Xun spread out a simple yet extremely vast map, on which the territory of the Central Plains was outlined with ink lines. Beyond the Central Plains, there were vast tracts of land and sea that had never been marked before.
“General Xiang, look,” Zhou Xun’s finger traced the vast blue area on the map, his tone filled with longing, “Everyone thinks that the Central Plains is the whole world, but they don’t know how vast this world is, far beyond what we can see. To the east, beyond this East Sea, lies a boundless fertile land where rice can be harvested three times a year, and the people no longer have to worry about food and clothing; to the south, through this jungle, lies an island piled high with spices, where a single spice can be exchanged for ten bushels of grain; to the west, there are mountains that produce gold, and grasslands that can tame thoroughbred horses…”
He paused, his gaze falling on Xiang Yan's face, and slowly said, "We are all of Chinese descent, descendants of Yan and Huang. Why must we fight to the death in this small Central Plains, causing people to be displaced and bones to be exposed in the wilderness? Why not turn our gaze overseas? There are vaster lands, more fertile soils, and more prosperous countries there! General Xiang, after a lifetime of fighting, are you not curious and eager to see for yourself what the overseas world is like?"
"A good bird chooses its tree to perch on, and a good minister chooses his lord to serve." Zhou Xun's last words carried a hint of unspeakable regret. "General, you are a hero of our time, yet you are bound to your corner of the land, trapped in the strife of Chu..."
At that moment, he turned pale with anger, slammed his fist on the table, and sternly rebuked Zhou Xun for talking nonsense and trying to shake his loyalty. Zhou Xun simply smiled faintly, did not argue, and left with only the words, "General, you may decide for yourself."
But now, looking back, the image of that vast ocean and boundless land is etched into his mind like a brand. Along with everything he saw with his own eyes in Qin—the peaceful smiles on the faces of the people in Xianyang, the strict discipline and high morale of the Qin soldiers in the military camps, the waterwheels and machine tools running day and night in the workshops, the clear reading voices of poor students in the academies… that vibrant vitality, strict laws, and ever-changing development, all took root and sprouted in his heart like a tenacious seed.
In contrast, the suspicion and anger in the Yingdu royal palace, the endless factional infighting in the court, the officials' incompetence in passing the buck and responding slowly when the famine first appeared, and the sorrowful faces of the people on the streets... the difference is stark.
Xiang Yan looked up at the gray sky over Chu, snowflakes falling into his hair and melting instantly. He opened his mouth, but only let out a long, silent sigh. It seemed that what he had gained in exchange for those three cities and millions of gold coins was not just his life, but also a heavy sense of confusion and worry about the future of his country.
That thorn had already taken deep root in his heart, quietly stirring the heart of this pillar of the Chu state, causing him, for the first time, to experience a subtle but undeniable wavering in the loyalty and beliefs he had upheld throughout his life.
The next few months were a long and agonizing period for Xiang Yan.
Although he still held the title of Supreme General, the cold treatment he received in the court and the alienation he experienced in the military camp were like invisible ice, gradually freezing him. He was not unaware of those overt or covert exclusions, but he swallowed his humiliation and resentment, maintaining a calm and resolute facade.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. In the streets and alleys of Yingdu, rumors spread quietly like a plague, growing ever more rampant. At first, they were just whispers questioning how he was able to return safely from the heavily guarded Qin Palace, but later they evolved into vivid and detailed tales.
"I've heard that General Xiang is treated with great courtesy in Qin, and that the Qin princess even had a private conversation with him..."
"Three cities, ten million taels of gold—this price is too convenient. Could it have been agreed upon beforehand?"
"The Xiang clan... I'm afraid they're now loyal to the Qin state, aren't they?"
These malicious speculations, like poisoned arrows, pierced through the heavy palace walls and mansions, eventually reaching Xiang Yan's ears and causing even more pain to his family.
What chilled him to the bone was that even his young son, Xiang Xiang, had changed the way he looked at him. The undisguised adoration and affection that once filled his clear eyes were now veiled in confusion and estrangement.
On one occasion, Xiang Xiang even clenched his little fists, looked up and questioned him, "Father, they all say you are a sinner of Chu, is that true?" At that moment, Xiang Yan felt as if his heart had been ripped out. He opened his mouth, but found that any explanation seemed so pale and powerless in the face of the surging rumors.
He tried to pour all his energy into the military camp, the place where he once found the greatest sense of belonging and control. As always, he donned his armor and personally supervised the soldiers' training, his voice still booming and his commands still clear. He attempted to hone the army with more intense training and stricter discipline, and also to numb the pain in his heart.
But soon, he noticed something was wrong.
Those soldiers who once obeyed him blindly and looked at him with awe began to have wavering eyes. His orders were still carried out, but with far less speed and force. Some centurions and chiliarchs hesitated when executing commands, even exchanging meaningful glances privately. He keenly sensed an invisible barrier and apathy spreading through the camp. The scene where his call to arms once drew throngs of support now felt like punching cotton, failing to ignite the expected passion or response.
During a battle formation drill, he pointed out a flaw in the connection. The general in charge of that unit verbally agreed, but then sighed almost imperceptibly. Xiang Yan noticed this subtle expression and instantly understood that this subordinate probably believed his authority as a general had been greatly diminished by the failed assassination attempt and the humiliating redemption. This double-dealing, like a fine net, subtly bound his hands and feet, and froze his heart.
As night fell, Xiang Yan stood alone on the command platform, gazing at the scattered lights of the distant camp, a cold wind brushing against his graying temples. He recalled Zhou Xun's words—"A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on." He also remembered the cold, suspicious gaze of King Fu Chu of Chu, the gloating smiles of his colleagues in court, and the no longer pure look in his son's eyes… An unprecedented weariness and desolation swept over him.
The Chu state, for which he fought and served, seemed to be decaying from within, and he could only watch helplessly, even becoming tainted by this decaying atmosphere himself, powerless to escape. This land, which he had once sworn to defend to the death, now filled him with a bone-chilling cold.