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Meng Tian's eyes were filled with joy of reunion, concern and longing for him. It was a pure and deep brotherhood without any impurities.

This true love reminded Yi Xiaochuan of the days when he fought side by side with Meng Tian, ​​those moments of sharing joys and sorrows, life and death. They had fought together on the battlefield, facing the enemy's swords and shadows, supporting each other and protecting each other. At that time, they had the same ideals and beliefs in their hearts, and they were willing to shed their blood for the glory of the Qin Dynasty and for the peace of the world. But now, he stood on the opposite side of the Qin Dynasty, trying to use Meng Tian to achieve his own selfish desires. How could he not feel guilty?

Yi Xiaochuan knew that once his plan was implemented, it would bring disaster and suffering to countless people. The Qin Dynasty would be plunged into war, and the people would be displaced and devastated. As a general of the Qin Dynasty, Meng Tian would also be in a dilemma: either betray his loyalty or fight him. No matter which result, it was not what he wanted to see. But he could not easily give up his years of persistence and determination for revenge. The inner contradictions were like two invisible hands, pulling his soul painfully.

Meng Tian was undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the Qin Dynasty. Their meeting seemed to be arranged by fate. From the initial suspicion of each other to the later trust in each other, their relationship went through many twists and turns.

Meng Tian admired his talent and courage and regarded him as a confidant and brother; he also saw the loyalty, integrity and responsibility of ancient soldiers in Meng Tian. They had spent many unforgettable times together, and those times became his most precious memories of his life in the Qin Dynasty. But now, these memories have become the heaviest burden in his heart, making it difficult for him to take steps on the road of revenge.

Yi Xiaochuan was struggling painfully, and he didn't know what to do. Should he continue to stick to his revenge plan, regardless of Meng Tian's friendship and the lives of the people of Daqin?

Or should he give up his hatred, let go of the past, and return to his brotherhood with Meng Tian? His mind was in a mess, as if two voices were arguing with each other. One voice urged him to move forward bravely for revenge at all costs; the other voice warned him to cherish the true feelings in front of him and not let hatred blind his eyes. He felt as if he was standing at a crossroads in his life. Every choice was related to his fate and future, but he was unable to make a decision.

In this solemn atmosphere, time seemed to freeze, and every second seemed so long. Fine beads of sweat gradually oozed out of Yi Xiaochuan's forehead, and his breathing became rapid and heavy.

Meng Tian seemed to have noticed something was wrong with him, and asked with concern: "Xiaochuan, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" This question was like a heavy hammer, hitting Yi Xiaochuan's heart hard, making him feel even more guilty and painful. He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but found that his throat seemed to be choked by something, and he couldn't make a sound for a while.

Finally, Yi Xiaochuan took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and said slowly: "Brother, I'm fine. I just remembered some past events and felt a little emotional."

He didn't dare to look directly into Meng Tian's eyes, fearing that he would see through his inner secrets. Meng Tian nodded slightly, as if he believed what he said, but there was still a hint of doubt and worry in his eyes.

Meng Tian grabbed Yi Xiaochuan's hand and pulled him to the seat, saying, "Sit down first, sit down first." Then he turned around and shouted to his guards, "Quick, bring some tea."

After sitting down again, Yi Xiaochuan slowly picked up the teacup and took a sip. The hot tea went down his throat, but it was hard to dispel the entanglement in his heart. He thought about how to persuade Meng Tian, ​​knowing that Meng Tian was loyal to the Qin Dynasty and it would be difficult to change his beliefs.

"Brother, do you know the current situation in the world?" After careful consideration, Yi Xiaochuan decided to start from the general situation in the world.

Meng Tian nodded slightly: "The Qin Dynasty has a stable government, a harmonious people, a strong army, and many nations come to pay tribute. This is the result of your majesty's wisdom and the bloody battles of the Qin soldiers."

Yi Xiaochuan put down the teacup with a slight clinking sound, and a barely perceptible jealousy flashed in his eyes: "Brother, have you ever thought that a country, though great, will perish if it loves war? The Qin Dynasty may seem like a riot of colour, but in reality, it is just a raging fire."

Meng Tian frowned and said unhappily, "Xiaochuan, what do you mean by that? The Qin unified the six kingdoms, ended the war, and allowed the people to recuperate. This is an unparalleled achievement. Why are you slandering it?"

Yi Xiaochuan was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Since I parted with my elder brother, I have been to many places. In those remote counties, the lives of the people are not as good as you think. The Qin Dynasty went to war everywhere. Although it was known for expanding its territory, countless families were torn apart and many passionate men died in foreign lands."

"In Xianyang, there was peace and prosperity, and the nobles lived extravagantly, while the people in the border areas had to bear heavy taxes and corvee labor just to support this seemingly prosperous appearance."

"Now that Zhao Gao is in power, it seems that the Qin Dynasty is thriving and the people are living and working in peace and contentment, but there is a huge crisis hidden behind this. Excessive concentration of power will inevitably lead to chaos if it continues for a long time."

Yi Xiaochuan deliberately exaggerated in order to mislead Meng Tian.

Meng Tian frowned: "Xiaochuan, your majesty and the prime minister have been working hard to govern, and the foundation of the Qin Dynasty is solid. We cannot deny the dynasty because of a few doubts."

Yi Xiaochuan sneered:

"Brother, this is not just a little doubt, but a fatal drawback. If we don't change it, once the crisis breaks out, the Qin Dynasty will be doomed. As a general of the Qin Dynasty, shouldn't you plan for the real future of the people instead of just focusing on the false prosperity in front of you? Are you going to watch the Qin Dynasty go to ruin?"

Meng Tian was shocked: "Xiaochuan, this is extremely treasonous. I, Meng Tian, ​​have been deeply favored by the emperor, how can I have such thoughts?"

"Brother, you are an upright person. You should see the truth. Don't be fooled by false appearances."

Seeing that Meng Tian was touched but still hadn't changed his mind, Yi Xiaochuan decided to change his angle and continue to persuade him. He said solemnly, "Brother, have you ever thought that the prosperity of the Qin Dynasty today is achieved by constantly exploiting the people's strength and militarism. The seemingly prosperous business is actually a plunder of the people. How many small vendors are overwhelmed by high taxes just to fill the Qin Dynasty's treasury."

He paused, observing Meng Tian's expression, and continued, "Looking at the successive years of war, although there are merits in expanding the territory, the people in the border areas are suffering. The newly conquered lands have not been pacified in time, and the people are divided. If this continues, it will become a disaster. Moreover, although Zhao Gao has made the Qin Dynasty appear peaceful on the surface, he has monopolized power, and the court has gradually lost the voice of honest advice. Once he has other intentions, there will be no one in the Qin Dynasty to check and balance him."

As he spoke, Yi Xiaochuan looked at Meng Tian, ​​his eyes full of earnestness and expectation. "Brother, you have a very high prestige in the army, which is a well-known fact. If you can raise your arms and advocate benevolent governance, reduce those unnecessary wars, allow the people to recuperate, and at the same time supervise the power checks and balances in the court, so that all forces can restrain each other, then you can ensure the long-term stability of the Qin Dynasty. If you continue to sit back and do nothing, I am afraid that the splendid country of the Qin Dynasty will collapse overnight!"

"Raise your arms and call?!"

After hearing this, Meng Tian showed a bitter smile on his face, which was filled with helplessness and self-mockery: "Do you think the Meng Family Army is still the Meng Family Army of ten years ago? Times have changed, and the current situation is no longer the same as before. Without the order of the court, it is a capital crime to dare to mobilize the army privately. The middle-level officers of the Meng Family Army are all from the Qin Royal Military Academy. The education and philosophy they received are all centered on absolute loyalty to His Majesty and the Prime Minister. In their hearts, the orders of His Majesty and the Prime Minister are above all else. What's more, the logistics of the army and the food and wages of the soldiers are all directly distributed by the military, and all of this is firmly controlled by the court. If the Meng Family Army wants to take action, without these key supports, it will be difficult to move forward. Although I am the commander-in-chief of the Meng Family Army, it is difficult for me to do anything under these restrictions."

As he spoke, Meng Tian sighed softly, with a trace of fatigue and worry in his eyes: "Xiaochuan, please don't mention such dangerous things again. I, Meng Tian, ​​have always been loyal and righteous. I am loyal to the Qin Dynasty and will never do anything that goes against the court. Your Majesty is in power. Although Zhao Gao assists, the Qin Dynasty as a whole is still running in an orderly manner, and the lives of the people are gradually improving. You only see the local troubles, but ignore the overall safety."

Yi Xiaochuan frowned and retorted emotionally: "Brother, you are deceiving yourself! Your so-called orderly operation is just a superficial illusion. Can't you see the suffering of the oppressed people? How can you be so callous!" Meng Tian's face changed slightly, and he said seriously: "Xiaochuan, be careful with your words! The laws and systems of the Qin Dynasty have been precipitated for many years. Although there are shortcomings, they are constantly being improved. If you act rashly, it will only cause greater turmoil, and the people will suffer in the end."

Yi Xiaochuan sneered: "Brother, you always use these excuses to evade me. Are you willing to continue to be an accomplice to the evil in this seemingly stable but actually corrupt empire?"

Meng Tian felt a sharp pain in his heart, and slowly said: "Xiaochuan, I know you care about the world, but your method is wrong. I have been in the army for many years, and I know that if the army is involved in court disputes, the consequences will be disastrous. Regardless of whether I can mobilize the Meng family army, once the war is launched, the Qin will inevitably fall into civil war, and foreign enemies will take advantage of the opportunity to invade. Is this what you want to see?"

Yi Xiaochuan was speechless for a moment, but still said stubbornly: "That's better than sitting and waiting for death. If the status quo is not changed, Daqin will sooner or later perish in internal conflicts."

Meng Tian shook his head and advised earnestly: "Xiaochuan, have you ever thought that if you insist on doing this, you will not only bring disaster upon yourself, but also implicate many innocent people. Your family and friends will be implicated by your behavior. I can't watch you go to a dead end."

Yi Xiaochuan was silent for a moment, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but was soon replaced by determination: "Brother, I have made up my mind. I can't watch Daqin go further and further down the wrong path."

Seeing Yi Xiaochuan so stubborn, Meng Tian was filled with helplessness and disappointment. "Since you won't listen to my advice, I have nothing to say. But I want to warn you, if you make any unusual moves, as a general of the Qin Dynasty, it is my duty and I will not sit idly by."

Yi Xiaochuan looked at Meng Tian with a look of determination and unwillingness in his eyes: "Brother, I hope you won't regret your decision today in the future."

After saying that, Yi Xiaochuan stood up and left. Meng Tian looked at his back for a long time, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that after this separation, the two of them might take completely different paths.

Meng Tian didn't know that his decision saved the Meng family. Meng Tian was now the focus of the Black Dragon Guards' surveillance. If he really dared to go along with Yi Xiaochuan, what awaited him would be the Meng family being exiled to Siberia to dig potatoes and live with polar bears. The Meng family's past glory and status would collapse in an instant and turn into nothing.

………………

Yi Xiaochuan, who had tried to cooperate with Meng Tian to no avail, was filled with resentment and helplessness, and resolutely turned his attention to the remnants of the Xiongnu led by Maodun.

Yi Xiaochuan knew that if he wanted to realize his revenge plan, his own strength alone would not be enough and he must rely on powerful external forces. At this time, although the remnants of the Huns had suffered damage due to the attacks of the Qin Dynasty, they still possessed combat potential that could not be underestimated.

Yi Xiaochuan quickly started emergency discussions with Xiang Yu, Xiang Liang and Liu Bang.

Yi Xiaochuan was the first to express his thoughts. He analyzed the current situation in detail and pointed out that under the protection of generals such as Meng Tian, ​​the military defense of the Qin Dynasty was strong and it was difficult to break through from the front with their own strength. As for the Xiongnu, although the population of the Xiongnu had been greatly reduced due to the Qin Dynasty's conquest, and all the tribes combined might not be as large as the former Yiqu, the Xiongnu's unique living habits and fighting methods made them a force that could not be ignored.

Xiang Liang nodded slightly. He knew a lot about the Xiongnu and said slowly, "I have witnessed the scene in the Xiongnu tribe with my own eyes. I still remember it. A group of children aged seven or eight were already able to ride sheep or ponies skillfully. The older children were even more courageous and climbed onto the horses' backs, following their elders to gallop through the forests and grasslands, shooting foxes and rabbits with bows and arrows to get food for their families. They grew up on horseback and have mastered the art of horseback archery to perfection."

Everyone listened to Xiang Liang's description and had a more intuitive understanding of the Xiongnu's fighting ability. Yi Xiaochuan continued, "Now that the Xiongnu remnants have gathered together, there are still tens of thousands of soldiers who can fight, and all of them are strong enough to bend a bow, and all of them are armored cavalry. Their cavalry combat capability is very strong. If we can form an alliance with us and use them to attack Qin's border, we will be able to take them by surprise and attack them when they are unprepared. This is a very favorable strategic choice for us."

Liu Bang stroked his chin, pondered for a moment and said, "Although this plan is feasible, the risks of forming an alliance with the Xiongnu cannot be underestimated. The Xiongnu are barbaric and unpredictable. How can we ensure that they will not betray us during the cooperation?"

Xiang Yu laughed proudly: "We are here to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, so why should we fear the risk? Although the Xiongnu are barbaric, their hatred for the Qin Dynasty is even deeper. As long as we can give them enough benefits and a strict cooperation plan, we will be able to control them."

The hatred between Chu and Qin has a long history.

Since King Huai of Chu went to Qin and never returned, Chu and Qin had an irreconcilable blood feud. Although the common people may have forgotten it over the years, the nobles will never forget it. In Xiang Liang's eyes, Qin was an enemy and the Qin people were invaders. The Huns had nothing to do with Chu, they were just enemies of Qin. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. At this time, forming an alliance with the Huns was a temporary measure and also for the realization of his own cause.

After a heated discussion, everyone finally reached a consensus and decided to form an alliance with the Huns.

Yi Xiaochuan volunteered to take on the important task of communicating with the Xiongnu and embarked on a long journey to the Xiongnu tribe, crossing the uninhabited desert and rugged mountains.

When Yi Xiaochuan arrived at the Xiongnu camp, Maodun personally went out to greet him. After Yi Xiaochuan explained his intention, Maodun's eyes flashed with doubt and hesitation. He knew that an alliance with the Chu people meant getting involved in a more complicated war, but the Xiongnu's current predicament also forced him to consider this option.

Seeing this, Yi Xiaochuan elaborated on the cooperation plan and the distribution of benefits. He promised that if the Xiongnu could help them attack the Qin Dynasty, he would give them a large amount of property, land and slaves after the victory. At the same time, he also revealed some of the Qin Dynasty's internal military secrets and defense weaknesses to Maodun to show their sincerity.

Maodun summoned the elders and generals of the tribe to discuss the matter. Inside the tent, everyone was arguing. Some people were worried that cooperating with the Chu people would lead to more severe retaliation from the Qin State, while others saw an opportunity for revenge and gain. After weighing the pros and cons, Maodun finally decided to form an alliance with the Ailao State.

...............

Yi Xiaochuan's gaze slowly moved towards Xiaoyue, lingering on her face only briefly before quickly moving away. He seemed to be deaf to Xiaoyue's question, and reached out to lift the door curtain, his eyes looking straight into the distance. The vague outline of Tuan County gradually became clear in his field of vision.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his thoughts seemed to be pulled by an invisible wind. This was the place where he and Yu Shu had first met, and every detail of the past slowly unfolded in his mind.

Yu Shu's appearance instantly illuminated his world. An accidental encounter, Yu Shu's gentle smile and smart eyes were deeply imprinted in his heart. Every moment, every conversation, despite the wind and rain, is still clear and discernible. At this moment, standing on this familiar land, those beautiful memories surged like a tide, completely submerging him, and immersing him in a deep nostalgia for the past.

(End of this chapter)