Xinfeng Hongmen was merely a small town, incomparable to the bustling Pengcheng, let alone the Qin dynasty's capital, Xianyang.
Yet today, the Overlord of Western Chu's four hundred thousand troops were stationed in this small town and its vicinity, their camps stretching for dozens of miles. The sheer might of the army alone was enough to terrify the common folk to death.
After the victory at the Battle of Julu, the Chu army marched westward, plundering many of Qin's granaries when passing through Xingyang. Now, the Chu army was strong and well-provisioned. Although there were still many feudal lords across the land of Huaxia, none shone as brightly as the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, who had become the most dazzling star of the late Qin era.
The largest mansion in Hongmen had been occupied by Roy's forces. As for who the original owner of this mansion was, Roy couldn't be bothered to care. He would be hosting Liu Ji here for a banquet.
Xinfeng Hongmen was not large, but scouts were sent galloping to larger cities to procure the ingredients Roy required. The entire Hongmen was filled with Chu soldiers, bustling with activity. To those in the know, it was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu preparing to host the King of Han for a banquet; to the uninformed, it might have seemed like the Hegemon-King was preparing for a wedding celebration.
In the courtyard where Roy resided, Fan Zeng requested an audience.
Roy, who had been listening to Yu Meiren play the zither in the courtyard, waved his hand. Yu Meiren immediately stood up, cradled the yaoqin, slightly bent her jade-like legs to offer a slight bow to Roy, and then retreated into the house, seating herself behind a curtain.
Seeing Yu Ji's exaggeratedly formal demeanor, Roy couldn't help but find it amusing. This celestial fairy had actually learned the intricate human etiquettes.
"What brings you to see me, Master Fan?" Roy received Fan Zeng in the courtyard, watching as the elder strode toward him with vigorous steps.
Upon seeing Roy, Fan Zeng hesitated for a moment before clasping his hands and saying, "...Does Your Majesty realize that the moment to seize the realm is now?"
"Oh? What wisdom do you have to impart, Master Fan?" Roy rubbed the jade cup in his hand, his smile unchanged as he looked at Fan Zeng and asked.
"Although there are many feudal lords across the land of Huaxia today, the only one who poses a threat to Your Majesty is the King of Han, whom you personally nurtured and supported. I never imagined the King of Han could truly march all the way into Guanzhong, causing Qin Er Shi and Zhao Gao to turn on each other and perish, and even forcing Prince Ying of Qin to surrender and hand over the tiger tally. In terms of judging people, I am indeed inferior to Your Majesty. Initially, I thought Liu Ji was just a ruffian from Pei County, not worth worrying about. But now it seems she is a true dragon!"
Fan Zeng sighed, his tone respectful, and in the course of his speech, he also praised Roy extensively.
Roy remained silent, continuing to smile at him, waiting for Fan Zeng to continue.
"When the King of Han was in Pei County, Shandong, he was known for his greed and fondness for wealth and beautiful women. Yet now that he has entered Guanzhong, he has taken nothing for himself—not only refusing to reside in the Qin palaces but also dismissing the Qin palace women. From this, it is clear his ambitions are far from small. I once knew a mystic who observed the aura above the King of Han. The mystic said his aura took the form of dragons and tigers, shimmering with five colors—this is the aura of a true Son of Heaven!"
"...And now, my lord, your military might is unmatched among the feudal lords. With the title of Hegemon-King of Western Chu, your own dragon aura surges. If tomorrow you summon Liu Ji to the Feast at Hongmen and secretly station assassins, at your command, they can cut him down, slay the red dragon, and seize his fortune. Then, proclaim yourself king over Guanzhong, reviving the Qin dynasty's momentum to conquer the six states. Within five years, you could crush all the feudal lords and unify the realm!"
"At your age, you would surely reign for many years. With policies to restore and nurture the people, the eternal empire dreamed of by the First Emperor would be realized in your hands!"
"...If you cannot bear to kill Liu Ji out of sentiment, this old man is willing to defy all conventions and order the assassins to strike him down. Afterward, I will gladly atone with my death—only asking that you show kindness to my Fan clan!"
Fan Zeng spoke with resolute determination. Now nearly seventy years old—an exceptionally long life in ancient times—he knew his time was short. His only wish before death was to help Roy achieve greatness, trading his own life for the prosperity of his descendants.
Roy set down his jade cup and gazed deeply at Fan Zeng. "...Master Fan, your strategies are profound. If I follow your counsel—slay the red dragon and seize Guanzhong—the realm will inevitably fall to me. There is almost no chance of failure."
Fan Zeng, overjoyed, bowed his head. "...Then, my lord?"
Yet Roy shook his head. "...But do you know what I truly desire most at this moment?"
"This old man does not. I beg you to enlighten me."
"What I must do now... is to raise Liu Ji to the throne."
"What?!"
Fan Zeng was stunned. He jerked his head up to stare at Roy, his face filled with disbelief.
The imperial throne was within reach—the riches of the land, the wealth of the four seas, all waiting to be claimed. The realm was so alluring that countless heroes would bow for it. Yet Fan Zeng had never imagined that Roy would treat it as nothing, standing unbowed before this most exquisite prize, casually offering it to another.
Was he a fool? No, Fan Zeng did not believe the Hegemon-King of Western Chu was foolish—on the contrary, he was one of the rarest minds in the world.
Then why would he do this? Why surrender a realm already in his grasp?
Fan Zeng realized he did not understand Roy at all. Even after serving him for so long, he still did not know what Roy truly sought. He had assumed it was the empire—but now, it seemed he had been wrong.
Only then did Fan Zeng suddenly recall that the Hegemon-King before him was not actually of the Xiang clan. He was merely a stranger Xiang Liang had encountered in the underground palace of Xianyang. Almost no one knew this secret now—Xiang Liang was dead, leaving Fan Zeng as the sole keeper of the truth.
'A stranger... So that's it.'
Fan Zeng suddenly understood. He bowed deeply and said, "...So Your Majesty already has his own plans. Although this old man does not know what exactly you intend to do, all I can offer here are my wishes for your military success."
Since he was a man descended from the heavens, his thoughts and actions naturally wouldn't align with those of ordinary mortals. Trying to comprehend this Conqueror of Western Chu through human logic had been a mistake from the start—he had never truly seen through him.
"Your Majesty, this old man has grown too old to continue serving you. I hope you will permit me to return to my homeland, so I may die in my native soil and rest in peace."
Fan Zeng bowed deeply once more.
"This king grants it!"
Having received Roy's approval, Fan Zeng sighed again. He turned and walked out of the residence. When he had arrived, his spirit had been vigorous, but now his steps were faltering, as if he had aged several more years in an instant.
He had emerged from seclusion in his sixties, like Jiang Ziya, with grand ambitions—only to see them all come to naught.
Watching Fan Zeng's desolate retreating figure, Roy called out, "...Even if the King of Han becomes emperor, I will ensure she grants your Fan clan a prosperous future!"
Though Fan Zeng had acted out of self-interest, everything he had done had been for Roy's sake. Roy couldn't bear to see his efforts wasted and thus gave him this promise.
Fan Zeng's hunched back straightened slightly. He turned and kowtowed. "...My gratitude, Your Majesty!"
The world believed the Conqueror of Western Chu to be cruel, but Fan Zeng knew the truth—this was a man who honored his promises. Since he had given his word, Fan Zeng no longer needed to worry about his descendants.
This life... was enough.
After watching Fan Zeng leave, Roy thought for a moment before shouting to the soldiers outside, "...Summon the court officer Han Xin!