novelaction Chapter 542 The Name of the Attack on Chu
Chapter 542 The Name of the Attack on Chu
In early July, at the Zhangtai Palace in Xianyang, the setting sun shone through the carved wooden windows, casting dappled shadows on the smooth, mirror-like black floor. King Ying Zheng of Qin stood with his hands behind his back before a massive map of the seven states, his figure as upright as a pine tree.
His gaze was fixed on the vast land to the south—the State of Chu.
The hall was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense, and utterly silent, save for the ticking of the water clock, which marked the passage of time. The eunuchs and palace maids standing there held their breath and bowed their heads, as still as statues.
After a long silence, the King of Qin slowly raised his hand, his well-defined fingers pointing precisely at the location of Ying, the capital of Chu. His voice, though not loud, carried a resolute tone, like the clash of metal, echoing in the empty hall:
"It's time."
These four simple words, however, struck like a thunderbolt, containing an unyielding will to sweep across the land and an unquestionable authority. The long-suppressed fighting spirit was like a volcano about to erupt.
Han and Zhao have been destroyed, the state of Dai has perished, King Xi of Yan has fled to Liaodong to eke out a living, Crown Prince Wei Ji of Wei is a hostage in Xianyang, and the rulers and ministers of Qi are indulging in pleasure.
Now, in this game of unifying the world, the biggest and last stumbling block that must be removed is the vast and populous Chu Kingdom, which, though showing signs of fatigue, still retains its profound cultural heritage.
Standing slightly behind the King of Qin was a woman dressed in a light blue dress. Her figure was becoming increasingly slender and graceful; she was none other than Princess Jiayang, Ying Wuyou.
Time flies. The little girl from years ago is now eleven years old. As she grows older, Ying Wuyou has grown taller, and her once slightly immature figure has begun to show the slenderness and grace of a young woman. Her dress gently brushes the ground, like tender leaves in a breeze, light and agile.
Moreover, Ying Wuyou's features gradually matured with the passage of time. Her eyebrows resembled distant, misty mountains, her eyes were clear and bright, and beneath her high, straight nose, her lips were slightly upturned, revealing a faint smile. Such a face possessed both the innocence of a young girl and a gradually emerging grace and beauty.
Hearing her father's unquestionable declaration, Ying Wuyou's heart sank slightly. She looked up at her father's tall back, which seemed to merge with the vast world outside the palace, carrying an invincible power and an unquestionable authority.
She knew this day would come sooner or later, but she never expected it to come so quickly and so decisively.
Several years ago, it was she who presented her father with the "strategy to weaken Chu" and the "economic development zone" strategy. The strategy was to entice Chu to grow sugarcane with high prices, thereby weakening their grain production costs; at the same time, to demarcate areas on the borders of Qin, Chu, Wei, and Qi, advocating "cessation of hostilities and mutual benefit."
This move not only greatly depleted Chu's national strength and relieved the pressure of Qin's years of war, but also allowed Qin to digest the newly conquered territories of Han and Zhao and accumulate strength. The border economic zone did indeed boost trade and commerce, which to some extent appeased the other states, especially Chu, and gave them hope for peace.
Now, seeing the time is ripe, Father intends to launch a swift and decisive southward campaign to achieve his goal in one fell swoop. From a military strategic perspective, this is perfectly justifiable. But…
Ying Wuyou took a light breath, curtsied and took a small step forward. In her voice, which still carried a hint of childishness but was exceptionally clear and calm, she said, "Father, I believe that although we have the advantage of favorable timing in launching a military campaign against Chu at this time, we are still lacking in terms of 'human harmony' or 'righteousness,' and I am afraid it is not a perfect strategy."
The King of Qin did not turn around, his gaze still fixed on the territory of Chu on the map. His voice was calm and unwavering, revealing no emotion: "Oh? What are your thoughts, Jia Yang? Tell me in detail." He had always valued this daughter, who was known for her ingenious strategies and exceptional intelligence, even showing her a level of trust beyond her years. He was also willing to listen to her often insightful analysis before making decisions.
"Father, you are wise," Ying Wuyou said, organizing his thoughts with logical rigor and clarity, "Our Great Qin and Chu have a 'mutual trade' agreement, advocating peace and mutual benefit. This agreement is not merely a piece of paper; all the feudal lords, scholars, merchants, and even commoners of the world are aware of it. If our Great Qin were to initiate hostilities without cause, it would be a breach of faith and a reversal of our promise. How would the world view our Qin state? How would they view Father? How can we command respect if we are untrustworthy?"
She paused slightly, observing her father's retreating figure, before continuing, "At that time, the people of Chu will surely fight to the death because their homes have been invaded; it will be a desperate struggle, and their strength should not be underestimated. What is even more worrying is that the states of Wei and Qi, seeing this, will surely feel a sense of shared vulnerability and fear that they will be the next target of our Great Qin. If they set aside their past grievances and form an alliance again to resist our Great Qin, although our Great Qin is strong, we will be at odds with Chu, Wei, and Qi at the same time, and the battle lines will be long. Even if we ultimately win, we will have to pay a price far exceeding expectations, wasting national strength and manpower."
She raised her increasingly beautiful face, her gaze clear and resolute: "Father's ambition lies in the world, not merely in the victory or defeat of a single time or place. Conquering cities is secondary; winning hearts and minds is paramount. Our Great Qin must not only seize their lands, but also unite their people, establish their trust, and solidify its prestige. If our reputation is tarnished, and we are seen by the world as a tyrannical and untrustworthy nation, even if we unify the world by force in the future, governing the remnants of the six states and winning their sincere allegiance will likely be much more difficult and fraught with hidden dangers. The words 'righteousness' and 'trust' may seem intangible, but sometimes they are more important than a thousand armies, concerning whether the country can enjoy lasting peace and stability."
The King of Qin finally turned around slowly. His sharp, hawk-like gaze, seemingly capable of piercing the heart, fell on his daughter's face, carrying a scrutinizing look, as well as a hint of barely perceptible appreciation and inquiry. How could he not know the importance of having a "just cause" for his campaign?
However, faced with his absolute confidence in his strength and determination to sweep away everything, he sometimes felt that these "empty reputations" were not insurmountable obstacles, and could even be remedied later. But Jia Yang's words always reminded him to weigh the pros and cons from a longer-term and more fundamental perspective.
"In your opinion, what should be done? Should we allow the State of Chu to linger on its deathbed and miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because of this one-piece alliance?"
The King of Qin's tone remained calm, but those familiar with him could hear the undercurrents beneath the surface.
Ying Wuyou knew this was her father testing her, and also her last chance to persuade him and refine her strategy. She bowed again, her voice clear and steady, carrying a composure beyond her years:
"Your subject dares not. The State of Chu will surely be attacked; this is a foregone conclusion. It concerns the great cause of Qin's unification of the world and must not be shaken." She first affirmed her father's strategic direction.
Then, he changed the subject, "However, the 'name' of attacking Chu is sometimes more important than the 'army' itself. If our Great Qin wants to establish a lasting dynasty, we cannot do unjust things. We must let the people of the world, including the people of Chu, see clearly that it was the Chu people who broke the agreement first, that the Chu court was immoral, and that they brought this disaster upon themselves! Our Great Qin is here to relieve the people's suffering and punish the guilty, and is forced to raise a righteous army! In this way, the resistance to our army will be greatly reduced, and we may even be welcomed by the people of Chu with food and drink."