"The King of Qi... still dithering at such a critical moment. What a useless fool," muttered Lord Changping, his tone dripping with contempt.
In the palace of Chu, Lord Changping and Yan Dan seethed with frustration upon receiving intelligence from Qi State. Although Chu appeared evenly matched with Qin on the surface, possessing natural geographical advantages as the defender, the reality was far less promising.
Changping's sudden rise to the throne had left Chu divided. While many, including the kingdom's three major armies, swore allegiance to him, a significant faction remained loyal to the previous king and his retainers. Under ordinary circumstances, Changping would have had the time and means to deal with his domestic opponents, but with Qin's threat looming, internal strife had to be put aside.
Outwardly, Changping exuded confidence, but he knew the truth. As a former Right Chancellor of Qin, even after his authority was curtailed by Ying Zheng, he was privy to many of Qin's secrets. His defection had been a major scandal, triggering a sweeping purge within Qin, rivaling the fallout of Lü Buwei's downfall. More alarmingly, the incident implicated Crown Prince Fusu, as many sought to use the chaos to undermine him.
This was part of Changping's strategy, mirroring Ying Zheng's own ploy. Ying Zheng had deliberately allowed him to flee to sow discord in Chu, while Changping had hoped his defection would destabilize Qin. Yet, the opposite occurred: Ying Zheng's immense authority ensured Qin remained stable, while Chu descended into chaos.
---
"Confucians," Changping muttered, and Yan Dan echoed the sentiment.
Both men recognized that the only force capable of persuading Qi to act decisively was the Confucian school. Unfortunately, despite repeated efforts—ranging from covert emissaries to overt appeals from figures like Zhang Liang—the Confucians refused to take sides in the Qin-Chu war.
To the Confucian leadership, Qi's involvement was against their interests. A unified Qin would be preferable, as governance, rather than conquest, was their domain. The Confucian ideology thrived in times of stability, and a united empire was fertile ground for their teachings. Even if Qi were to fall, their influence would remain intact.
Confucians had long been aware of their limited appeal during the chaotic Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. However, altering their core philosophy to gain broader acceptance would mean abandoning what made them Confucians.
---
"Can we use the Azure Dragon?" Changping asked after a long silence, his eyes fixed on Yan Dan. For him, the only remaining hope for victory lay in deploying the Azure Dragon, the pinnacle of the Mohist mechanical beasts.
"Not yet," Yan Dan replied, shaking his head. "If it were ready, I would have deployed it in Yan State. Yan would never have fallen otherwise."
"In that case, our only option is to buy time," Changping said reluctantly.
In the original timeline, Changping had the confidence to overthrow Qin after orchestrating the annihilation of 200,000 Qin soldiers. Now, however, his ambitions were much more modest. He hoped to rely on Chu's vast territory to bog Qin down in a protracted conflict, forcing them to retreat.
"Agreed," Yan Dan nodded solemnly.
---
### A Warning in Xinzheng
At Zhang Kaidi's residence in Xinzheng, Daniel Davis found the elder statesman leisurely fishing by a pond, accompanied by a young and beautiful concubine. Despite his advanced age, Zhang Kaidi seemed to revel in his indulgent lifestyle, surrounded by a harem of youthful beauties.
"Master Zhang, you seem to be enjoying yourself," Daniel remarked as he approached.
Recognizing his guest, Zhang Kaidi immediately set aside his fishing rod and dismissed his concubine. "To what do I owe the honor of the Grandmaster's visit?" he asked politely once they were alone.
"I came to give you some advice: the empire's unification is inevitable. I suggest you abandon any petty schemes you may have. Otherwise…" Daniel trailed off, flashing a meaningful smile.
"I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning," Zhang Kaidi replied, his expression unchanged.
"Oh, you understand perfectly," Daniel said, his tone turning icy. "Your grandson Zhang Liang is making quite the impression at the Little Sage Village in Sanghai. Don't think I'm unaware of your attempts to involve the Confucians against Qin. Do you think Master Fusu and his disciples are fools?"
As Daniel spoke, he drew his Luminescent Blade, the sight of which caused Zhang Kaidi to fall silent. The blade had once belonged to Yan Lu, a prominent Confucian. Its presence in Daniel's hands carried a clear message: the Confucians had tacitly acknowledged his authority.
"Qin and Chu are on the brink of war. Certain people should tread carefully. Otherwise, don't blame me for acting without mercy," Daniel warned. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a sword beneath his feet and soared into the sky, leaving Zhang Kaidi's estate.
Watching Daniel's departure, Zhang Kaidi struggled to maintain his composure. The sight of him flying away left the elder trembling.
---
### The War Begins
Daniel soon turned his attention to the battlefield between Qin and Chu. At one of three major fronts, Qin's Golden Fire Cavalry faced Chu's Tenglong Legion, led by the Xiang clan. Both were elite cavalry units, prepared for a brutal confrontation.
Though Changping had intended to fight defensively, the realities of war had forced adjustments. The Tenglong Legion, as cavalry, excelled in open plains rather than defensive fortifications. Moreover, Qin's deployment of Mohist siege engines—courtesy of the Gongshu Clan—made prolonged defense untenable.
---
On the plains, the two armies stood ready. Twenty thousand cavalry on each side awaited the signal to charge.
"Xiang Yan of Chu," called out Qin's General Meng Tian.
"Meng Tian of the Meng clan," Xiang Yan replied with a mocking laugh. "So the Meng clan has truly run out of talent, sending a mere boy to face me?"
The Xiang clan's arrogance was well-known, and Xiang Yan, as Chu's Grand General, held a rank equal to Qin's Wang Jian. Meng Tian, though accomplished, was still a rising star.
Meng Tian smirked. "Let's see if you're still laughing later." With a wave of his hand, the Golden Fire Cavalry began their charge.
---
Before the cavalry clashed, both sides unleashed their mechanical beasts. The Mohist faction had lent their support to Chu, deploying numerous Mechanical White Tigers across all three fronts. However, Qin's superiority in siege engines, refined by the Gongshu Clan, gave them the edge.
From his vantage point, Daniel observed the battle with interest. "So, this era doesn't have generals dueling on the battlefield," he mused.
---
The clash was devastating. While the Tenglong Legion initially held their ground, Qin's combined forces proved overwhelming. The modified trebuchets, lighter and more mobile, began bombarding Chu's ranks. Hidden mechanical beasts emerged, taking the Tenglong Legion by surprise.
Xiang Yan, forced into a corner, could only grit his teeth as his forces suffered heavy losses.
---
Amid the chaos, Daniel's attention shifted to a prominent figure on the battlefield—a warrior in striking red armor, mounted on a crimson steed. This was none other than Long Ju, a key commander of the Tenglong Legion.
"Quite the spectacle," Daniel murmured. Seizing a spear from a nearby soldier, he imbued it with powerful energy and hurled it with pinpoint accuracy. The black-tinged spear descended like a meteor, piercing Long Ju through the chest and pinning him to the ground, steed and all.
The sudden death of their commander sent shockwaves through the Tenglong Legion, while Qin's Golden Fire Cavalry erupted in cheers. Two Qin soldiers quickly secured Long Ju's corpse, fending off Chu's attempts to retrieve it.
With Long Ju gone, the Tenglong Legion's morale crumbled. The tide of battle had decisively turned in Qin's favor.
------------------
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