Volume 4: The Chu Army Chapter 65: Luring the Wolf into the House

  Yin Xu and Chen Ping found the news of Prince Huai's legitimate grandson, Song Yi, spreading like wildfire. Of course, this also includes the classic showdown between Yin Xu and Ping Wu in Xihewan Village, which spread far and wide like it had grown wings.

  The first to receive the news was the Zhenze Mountain Villa in Kuaiji. In the scorching summer heat, Fan Wenzhuan always liked to sit by the lake, fishing under the shade of green willows.

  The sound of footsteps echoed, and Fan Yang hurried over. Just as he was about to speak up, he saw his father make a silencing gesture, so he quietly stood aside.

  A moment later, the float on the water surface suddenly sank, and Fan Wenxuan quickly pulled up the fishing rod. A few kilograms of carp were swinging their tails and struggling constantly. Fan Wenxuan took off the hook and put the carp into the fish basket while laughing: "You see, fishing doesn't require impatience, you need to be patient to catch big fish!"

  "Yes, I've learned my lesson!" Fan Yang understood the implication in his father's words.

  Fan Wenxuan washed his hands by the lake and asked: "Is there any news from Jiujiang?"

  Fan Yang nodded and said: "Yes, father, Song Yi received the news and rushed over in time to escort Your Majesty."

  "Hmm! Fan Wenxuan smiled lightly: "What's the result?""

  Fan Yang replied: "It has been decided that we will temporarily set up our base in Xuancheng and, together with Song Yi and Yin Xu, escort you there."

  "Oh? Is Yin Xu also going to escort him?" Fan Wenxuan seemed to be interested, as if he had expected it, yet was still slightly surprised.

  "Yes, Yin Xu insisted on being a bodyguard for the crown prince of Huai. Song Yi was unwilling at first, and sent his top swordsman, Ping Wu, to fight with Yin Xu. Since Yin Xu won, he stayed."

  Fan Wenxuan smiled and said: "Ping Wu is a direct disciple of Mo Family's Xiang Fu Shi?"

  "Yes, it is said that he was a prominent figure in the Xiang family in recent years. He was expelled from the family for violating the rules and was taken in by Song Yi." Fan Yang admired his father even more, never leaving the house, sitting steadily on the fishing platform, knowing everything about the world.

  "Did he lose to Yin Xue's sword?" Fan Wenxuan asked back with a pause.

  Fan Yang nodded: "Yes, Yin Xu's martial arts are not ordinary, and he also has the Broken Water Divine Sword given by his younger sister, which is like a tiger adding wings. It is said that on that night, Yin Xu forced Ping Wu to retreat repeatedly, if not for Yin Xu's voluntary concession, I'm afraid..."

  Fan Wenxuan once again cast his fishing line into the water, pondered for a moment and shook his head: "Don't just look at the surface of things. Is winning necessarily about being in an advantageous position? Are those who retreat in defeat always weak? Sometimes avoiding the sharp edge and knowing when to quit are also forms of self-protection, and they too are a kind of wisdom!"

  "Yan Yang hesitated and nodded: 'Yes, I understand!'"

  "What's the reaction on Peng City's side?" Fan Wenyuan nodded in satisfaction, but it wasn't because of his son's attitude, rather someone else.

  Fan Yang said, "By reason, the news should have reached Peng City by now, but it hasn't come back yet. At this moment, Xiang Liang might be furious. Xu Yi is a crucial place and has been occupied by Song Yi, I'm afraid he will not be able to rest or eat well from now on."

  "Hmm, let's take a look! Is there anything else?"

  Fan Qing thought for a moment and said, "That's right, the king's eldest grandson is young in years but mature in mind, calm and composed, seemingly playing a balancing act between Yin Xu and Song Yi."

  "Really? This is an unexpected gain! But if this balance is not grasped well, it will be a terrible fall." Fan Wenyuan laughed and continued: "Let your third uncle handle the matters of Song Yi and Qi Guo, you go to the north."

  Fan Yang was taken aback and asked in doubt, "Huh? Does Father mean the Eastern Hu? The foundation on the Dingtao side has always been personally managed by the eldest house. Is it suitable to hand it over to Third Uncle? Besides, Song Yi and Tian Rong, as well as Tian Heng's investment, can Third Uncle handle them properly?"

  Fan Wuxuan said, "That's natural, don't worry about the Dingtao matter, let Father handle it himself. Besides, isn't there still Yilan? They've always wanted power, I'll give it to them, whether they can do a good job or not depends on their abilities. I can also have a few days of peace and quiet. You go to the north and straighten out the relationship between Yan and Zhao's two high-ranking officials. After General Meng died, the road in Shanggu cannot be used, it can only be reopened in the east, which will be very useful in the future. Moreover, the business with Xiongnu and Donghu has been suspended for a long time, which is not good! Autumn is approaching, the war in the Central Plains is endless, and there is a shortage of war horses!"

  Fan Yang, having been influenced by his father since childhood and assisting him in business for many years, immediately understood upon hearing the news: "Don't worry, Father, I'll set off right away. The matters in the north will be taken care of. Please take good care of your health, you and Mother."

  "Be careful yourself and send me a message back in time!" Watching his son's receding figure, Fan Wenyuan couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

  At the same time, Xiang Liang in Pengcheng also let out a long sigh, holding in his hand an urgent letter sent by Yin Yue from Jiujiang.

  "Uncle, what's going on?" Xiang Yu asked anxiously.

  Xiang Liang handed over the letter with a gloomy face, and Xiang Yu was also shocked after reading it. The handwritten letter by Chen Ping was circulated among the core figures of the Wujiang army.

  "Alas, how did Song Yi suddenly appear out of nowhere?" The sudden appearance of Song Yi was beyond everyone's expectation.

  Xiang Bo Dao said: "Song Yi had been entrenched in Jiangxia before, how could he suddenly appear in Jiujiang, and so coincidentally, just in time for General Yin and Lord Chen to find the Crown Prince Xiong Xin?" This can be said to be the doubt in everyone's heart.

  Ji Bu said: "It must be that the news was leaked somewhere, or it could be that Song Yi has been keeping an eye on us all along. The mantis stalks the cicada, while the yellow sparrow waits in ambush to reap the benefits."

  "Song Yi is a despicable person, when the city was broken and the country was lost, he did not think of reporting to the country but instead escaped for his life. Now in Jiangxia, he has recruited tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, but he does not take the initiative to attack Qin, on the contrary, he comes to ruin our good deeds, dragging us back, alas!"

  "Judging from what Chen Ping said, Xiong Xin's heir is listening to Song Yi's words and following his plans. This is not a good thing at all!"

  Long Jiao said: "Using the crown prince to order the vassals, in the future it will be difficult to avoid being controlled by him, just look at his expression."

  Xiang Yu looked at the letter and corrected: "It's not entirely like that, General Yin meant that the crown prince seems to have his own ideas, in that he and Song Yi restrain each other."

  Fan Zeng, who had never spoken before, smiled: "It's interesting!"

  "The crucial Huaiyin city is still hanging in the balance, and it's also where we plan to ascend to the throne. Song Yi has led 40,000 troops there. Our army's grain supplies mainly come from Jiangdong and Huainan, transported north along the Hangou canal, with Huaiyin as the hub... future supply replenishment will inevitably be somewhat..." Yu Ziqi didn't continue, but everyone understood what it meant if Huaiyin fell into Song Yi's hands.

  Zhong Lidi sighed and said: "Alas, if only they had missed each other by two or three days, General Yin would have taken the crown prince back to Pengcheng."

  Xiang Zhuang said, "General Yin has already done his best. He only brought 300 men and horses, while Song Yi had 5,000 people. The crown prince was unwilling to come, so there's nothing that can be done. In order to get close to the crown prince and protect him, General Yin even fought a fierce battle with Ping Wu."

  "Fortunately, General Yin won!"

  Xiang Zhuang shook his head: "Winning is also a narrow victory, Ping Wu is the Mo family's door-to-door disciple, swordsmanship and martial arts are not ordinary, coming east is mostly a desperate struggle to win narrowly, very difficult!"

  It is unknown who suddenly came up with the phrase "great rebellion and immorality": "If I had known that the crown prince's son was not invited, it would have been better not to come. Now the crown prince has not been invited, but instead a wolf has been brought into the house, and a Song Yi has arrived."

  Fan Zeng, who had been silent until now, sneered: "What are you all afraid of? Since we've invited the wolf into our home, let's go to Xuyi and meet this wolf. Let's see how capable he really is."

  Xiang Yu's powerful and deep voice rang out: "Right, we started with 8,000 brothers in Jiangdong, and have come all the way to today. Will we be afraid of a small Song Yi?"

  Xiang Liang listened attentively for a long time, nodded resolutely and said: "Right, go to Xuyi to meet Song Yi and see what this wolf is capable of."