132: Chapter 132 You say your name is Zhao Qian, we'll call you King Zhao Qian.

Seeing that the First Emperor's mindset was so positive, He Zhi also let out a sigh of relief.

He asked again, "Your Majesty, are we really going to continue like this forever?"

"If that rebellious son Fusu can truly safeguard the Great Qin's territory, even if I really die, what does it matter!"

With his hands behind his back, Zhao Zheng muttered to himself, "Fusu, you better not let me down!"

...

The most famous highway in the Qin Dynasty was the Qin Straight Road leading to the Hetao Plain.

But besides the Qin Straight Road, the Qin Dynasty also had the Shangjun Road, the Western Road, the Linjin Road, the Eastern Road, the Binhai Road, the Wu Pass Road, and the Qin Plank Road.

The common people were allowed to travel on these imperial roads.

Ever since Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng, and Xiang Yu's group encountered a bandit attack on the mountain paths, they took the Wu Pass Road to avoid unnecessary trouble, heading south all the way to Fangling.

After traveling for more than half a month, they finally arrived in Fangling, escorting a batch of sickles forged from auspicious metal.

Given the Xiang family's influence in the Chu Region, Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng, and Xiang Yu's group soon met the middle-aged King Qian of Zhao at his residence.

Xiang Liang was the patriarch of the Xiang family and also the leader of the School of Military Strategy.

When such a major figure visited, not only did King Qian of Zhao come to greet him, but all of King Qian's former officials also turned out to welcome Xiang Liang.

"Xiang Liang greets King Qian of Zhao."

Xiang Liang cupped his hands in greeting toward King Qian of Zhao.

"Brother Xiang Liang, I am truly flattered!"

Zhao Qian gave a bitter smile. "At this point, how can I still be called King Qian of Zhao?"

"My name is Zhao Qian."

"You may just call me Zhao Qian."

King Qian of Zhao perfectly concealed his ambitions.

However, Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng were both the shrewdest of the shrewd. Although Zhao Qian had matured a lot and was skilled at hiding his thoughts, the bitterness at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true feelings.

Xiang Liang said, "Then we shall each use our own terms."

"You say your name is Zhao Qian, but we will call you King Qian of Zhao."

Hearing Xiang Liang say this, Zhao Qian didn't feel happy; instead, he felt suspicious about Xiang Liang's purpose for seeking him out.

He knew Xiang Liang wanted to rebel.

But even if he wanted to rebel, he didn't have the capital.

In the Chu Region, Xiang Liang had scoured and taken all the armor and bronze ware.

No matter what ideas Zhao Qian had, he could only bury them in his heart.

"Then, Brother Xiang Liang, you may call me that in private, but please, never call me that elsewhere."

Zhao Qian still harbored great fear toward Zhao Zheng.

Zhao Zheng's henchman, the Governor of Fangling Commandery, was constantly watching him; any small move he made would be noticed by the Governor.

If the Governor of Fangling heard that he still harbored thoughts of being the King of Zhao and reported it to Zhao Zheng, he feared Zhao Zheng would have him killed.

Xiang Liang frowned and said, "Your Majesty, do you truly have no wish to return to the Zhao State and reclaim your throne?"

"No, no, no!"

Seeing Xiang Liang getting bolder with his words, Zhao Qian hurriedly said, "I am happy here and have no thoughts of Zhao!"

"Is that so?"

Fan Zeng suddenly spoke, looking at Zhao Qian with a half-smile.

He understood Zhao Qian very well.

He said, "I have heard that after Your Majesty was exiled to the deep mountains of Fangling, you composed the poem 'Mountains and Waters' out of homesickness."

Fan Zeng was also an artist of many talents.

He was very well-rounded.

He began to sing the poem 'Mountains and Waters' using a Chu melody.

The Chu melody was sorrowful.

The desolation of the Chu melody was like the cold moon over a wintry river; its clear light shone down, reflecting only solitude and chill.

To create an atmosphere of sadness and homesickness, Fan Zeng had even brought musicians along to play the Eight Tones in harmony.

"Mount Fang is my palace, the Ju River my broth!"

"I hear no zithers or harps, only the rushing of the stream!"

"The water has no feelings, yet it can reach the Han River."

"Alas, I, once the lord of ten thousand chariots, now only dream of my homeland!"

"The water has no feelings, yet it can reach the Han River."

"Alas, I, once the lord of ten thousand chariots, now only dream of my homeland!"

"Who brought me to this? 'Twas the spreading of slanderous words! Loyal ministers were submerged, and the state fell to ruin."

"My ears were not keen!"

"How dare I resent the King of Qin?"

Fan Zeng's weathered voice and the low music of the Eight Tones made the sorrowful and desolate atmosphere of the poem even heavier.

Scenes of the past involuntarily surfaced before Zhao Qian's eyes.

In the past, he was the sovereign of a nation, enjoying supreme power.

Now, he was the ruler of a fallen nation in an unfamiliar land; everything had changed, and before he could speak, his tears flowed.

He missed his days in the Zhao State.

He also hated himself for believing slander, which led to the current desolation of his country's destruction and his exile to a foreign land.

Zhao Qian burst into tears.

His subordinates also wailed without exception.

Gotcha!

Seeing Zhao Qian's defenses crumble, Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng glanced at each other, both showing looks of triumph.

Someone with Zhao Qian's level of experience dared to put on an act before these two old foxes!

The corners of Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng's mouths curled up high; now that Zhao Qian and his former subordinates had broken down, it would be easy to sell the batch of auspicious metal sickles they had brought.

"The world has suffered under Qin for too long!"

Xiang Liang got straight to the point: "Now that Ying Zheng is dead, it is time for us to overthrow the tyranny and plot our grand ambition together!"

"Exactly!"

Xiang Yu suddenly spoke up, "As long as you are willing to rebel against Qin with us, I, Xiang Yu, can let you continue being the King of Zhao!"

Zhao Qian couldn't help but glance at Xiang Yu, and he was greatly shocked by what he saw.

The man before him was exceptionally imposing, nearly two meters tall, with thick arms like a man's thighs or a woman's waist.

With his double pupils, he clearly didn't look like an ordinary person.

"Do you not believe me?"

Xiang Yu's face darkened with obvious displeasure.

He glanced around the hall and then looked at a large bronze tripod placed in the courtyard as a decoration.

He walked toward that thousand-jin bronze tripod.

"What is he doing?"

Xiang Yu's actions left Zhao Qian and his former subordinates bewildered.

Xiang Yu had already reached the tripod, which came up to his chest.

He stared at the tripod and walked around it.

"What on earth is he trying to do?"

Zhao Qian couldn't help but stand up.

His former subordinates did the same.

The tripod was over 1.7 meters tall, nearly the same as their own height.

Back then, to place this tripod in the courtyard, they had hired over a dozen people to lift it together.

Xiang Yu now crouched down and pressed his shoulder against the bottom of the tripod.

"He couldn't possibly be trying to shoulder it, could he?"

One of Zhao Qian's subordinates exclaimed in shock.

"Rise!"

Just then, Xiang Yu gave a thunderous roar, and the thousand-jin tripod was actually hoisted onto his shoulder.

"Up with you!"

Xiang Yu's double pupils glared as wide as a bull's eyes.

With veins bulging on his arms—which were as thick as a woman's waist—he erupted with incredible strength and actually raised the thousand-jin tripod high above his head.

Holy crap!

Zhao Qian and the others were dumbfounded, every one of them struck with shock.

Even Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng were greatly startled by the sight.