bestfiction Chapter 564 The King of Qin tacitly agrees to a appeasement strategy towards Xiang Yu
Chapter 564 The King of Qin tacitly agrees to a appeasement strategy towards Xiang Yu
The night in Xianyang Palace was as dark as ink, with only a few solitary lamps still lit in the inner hall of Zhangtai Palace. King Ying Zheng of Qin did not rest. He dismissed all his attendants and stood alone before the enormous map depicting the unification of the four seas. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's as he stared for a long time at the vast territory that once belonged to the State of Chu, now entirely stained with the dark black symbol of Qin.
With Xiang Yan's surrender and the fall of the Chu state, Wang Jian is steadily cleaning up the mess. Everything is proceeding according to plan, even more smoothly than expected.
However, there was a thorn in his heart that was not completely removed with the fall of the Chu Kingdom. Instead, it became clearer after the clamor of victory subsided—that was Xiang Yu.
He remembered it very clearly: four years ago, when he first paid attention to Jiayang, he heard Jiayang's voice. Through Jiayang's voice, he began to verify things one by one, and as it turned out, all of Jiayang's voices were verified.
In Jia Yang's mind, the names "Xiang Yu" and "Liu Ji" repeatedly appeared, labeling them as the culprits who overthrew the Qin Dynasty. Therefore, he dispatched Meng Yi, but both Meng Yi and Liu Ji fell into a mysterious coma and remain unconscious to this day. Xiang Yu, on the other hand, was captured by Jia Yang's scheme and brought back to Xianyang.
Today, this key figure, once described in Jiayang's "voice" as "strong enough to lift a tripod," "unparalleled in bravery," "the Hegemon of Western Chu," and ultimately the one who led to the downfall of the Qin Dynasty, is under house arrest in Xianyang and... is being gradually "educated" and won over by Jiayang.
The King of Qin's fingertip unconsciously traced across the map, finally settling on the point representing Xianyang. Xiang Yu, could this man truly submit willingly? Would Jia Yang's policy of appeasement have turned into nurturing a tiger that would eventually threaten his cause?
As a regional lord, he had experienced many trials and tribulations, witnessing far too much of the ugliness of human nature and the vicissitudes of life. He had suffered betrayal from his closest loved ones and lost his most loyal friends; these unforgettable wounds made him deeply understand the fickle nature of the human heart and the endless temptations that power brings.
Especially for someone as gifted and fiercely independent as Xiang Yu, his inner world is even more unpredictable. Perhaps his apparent submission at this moment is merely a temporary measure and cannot guarantee that there will be no further changes in the future.
However, considering that Jia Yang was always very prudent in his work, the King of Qin decided to ask him personally.
When he heard the summons from the King of Qin, although he was somewhat surprised, Ying Wuyou came without hesitation.
Ying Wuyou hurried to the side hall of Zhangtai Palace. Upon seeing the King of Qin, she immediately bowed and greeted him. Then she stood silently to the side, waiting for the King of Qin to speak.
The system, which had been silently observing the interaction between the two, keenly sensed the Qin King's emotional fluctuations and quickly understood what he wanted to ask. The system then suddenly spoke up: "Host, if I may be so bold, was your treatment of Xiang Yu too lenient?"
Ying Wuyou sighed helplessly: [System, Xiang Yu is only ten years old this year, his mind is still unsettled. Xiang Yan surrendered to Qin, and Chu has been destroyed. His greatest support and source of hatred are gone. I'm giving him a comfortable life, letting him study and understand principles, letting him see the strength and order of Qin, even letting his grandfather serve in the army. Isn't this better than simply imprisoning him and forcing him to harbor even deeper resentment?]
System: [Logical analysis shows that historical inertia has a strong corrective force. In the original timeline, Xiang Yu was stubborn, extremely arrogant, and deeply vengeful. While the host's current actions have altered the external environment to some extent, there is insufficient data to support whether his core personality has truly changed. The strategy of appeasement carries significant uncertainty and risk. If he feigns submission and waits for an opportunity, or if he gains military command in the future, the possibility of a backlash is as high as 73.8%. More thorough measures are recommended, such as permanent imprisonment or physical elimination, to prevent future trouble. This will reduce the risk to below 1%.]
The King of Qin felt a chill run down his spine. "Historical inertia," "core personality," "a 73.8% chance of backlash," "physical elimination"... these words were cold and precise, pointing to a deep-seated worry within him. The system's analysis coincided perfectly with his imperial intuition.
Ying Wuyou: [Thorough measures? Permanent imprisonment? Physical elimination? System, you're going too far! Yes, Xiang Yu in the historical timeline was like that, but people change! He's now witnessing the decay of the Chu state firsthand and feeling the Chu king's betrayal of his Xiang family—the impact is real! I exposed him to Legalism and the School of Military Strategists, and even secretly showed him records about the threats from foreign tribes beyond the Great Wall, all to guide his focus outward! To make him understand how insignificant personal bravery and family grudges are in the face of the greater good and the survival of the people!]
Ying Wuyou continued, "I know there are risks, but the rewards are equally enormous! If a Xiang Yu who truly submits could use his bravery and military talent to drive out the Xiongnu in the north and expand our territory in the west, how many soldiers could be saved for our Great Qin, and how many men could be spared? Wouldn't a powerful, expanding, and more internally cohesive Qin Empire be far more stable than an empire that exists solely through oppression and the elimination of potential threats?"
The King of Qin's expression shifted slightly. Jia Yang's thoughts always carried a vision that transcended his time. Outward expansion… driving the Xiongnu north… expanding westward… this was indeed his plan. If Xiang Yu could truly achieve this…
The system's cold voice retorted: [The host's idealized deductions contain an optimistic bias. A 73.8% risk of backlash is unacceptable. A reassessment is recommended.]
Ying Wuyou replied resolutely: "I will not give up! I believe human nature can be guided and shaped. I will continue to observe Xiang Yu and exert influence. At the same time, I will make thorough preparations. His every move in Xianyang is under surveillance; he has guards I have arranged around him, and the books he comes into contact with and the opinions he hears are all carefully selected. If he truly remains obstinate and shows any signs of danger…"
After a pause, Ying Wuyou continued, "Then I won't hold back. It's not too late to implement your 'complete measures' then. But for now, I want to give him a chance."
With the system ceasing its response, the conversation in Ying Wuyou's mind ended. The King of Qin, seemingly unaware of anything, inquired, "I've heard that Xiang Yu is exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts at such a young age?"
Ying Wuyou nodded and said, "Father, yes, Xiang Yu is incredibly strong and intelligent at such a young age. I observe that his character is still developing. If he is properly educated, he will surely be able to serve the Qin Dynasty in the future."
The King of Qin gazed intently at Ying Wuyou and said slowly, "Jiayang, you always have your own ideas about what you do, but Xiang Yu is involved in a great deal of trouble, so we must be careful."
Ying Wuyou respectfully replied, "Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. On the one hand, I will guide him to see the bright future of Qin and make him wholeheartedly accept Qin; on the other hand, I will keep a close eye on his movements, and if he has any disloyal intentions, I will not tolerate it."