"Is that so?" Ye Xiu felt a bit bewildered. He extended a foot, hooked the halberd from the ground, and took it into his hand. Fan Zeng wouldn't lie to him about something so trivial. Indeed, Han Xin was not in the military camp. But what did Fan Zeng mean by 'having me alone is enough'? As Ye Xiu pondered, he almost laughed. How much military talent did he possess? At most, he was relying on having read history books and knowing a few tales. However, today was the forty-sixth day of the Chu army's encampment in Anyang, and this day was unremarkable, because history books recorded that on this day, Xiang Yu would personally kill Song Yi, the commander of the * army, and then take his place. Looking at Fan Zeng’s eyes, history indeed would not deviate in the slightest. Song Yi had to die, though the pretext for Xiang Yu killing him remained unknown.

At midnight, a cool breeze blew. The Second General, Xiang Yu, vehemently denounced the * army commander Song Yi for his fear of the enemy and other cowardly behaviors. With the fervent support of the entire army, he personally executed Song Yi and ordered someone to rush the news to King Huai of Chu, while simultaneously assuming full command of the Western Chu forces. Ye Xiu received this news while huddled outside Xiang Yu’s tent, fast asleep. The pale white of the eastern sky, like a fish's belly, was slowly creeping in. He detested that stark paleness, because, as time progressed, that paleness would inevitably turn to a bright crimson—a crimson that, reflected on the battlefield, meant endless corpses and despair. He understood that the Battle of Julu would be the genesis of Xiang Yu's lifelong glory, as well as a major turning point.

The order to march had sounded. The entire Western Chu army, having paused for several tens of days, was finally returning to the fray. Everyone seemed eager for action, their fists subconsciously flexing. They were aware of the Qin army's sheer numbers and their combat methods, which might have instilled a measure of apprehension, but when they gazed up at the supremely confident Commander Xiang Yu on his warhorse, that timidity almost vanished. At that moment, atop his steed Wuya, Xiang Yu was full of ambition, his sword pointing toward the world. Ye Xiu, though merely a Zhi Ji Lang Zhong (Officer of the Halberd Guard), received special favor from Xiang Yu and was afforded a swift horse, allowing him to keep pace with the middle and rear of the great army.

Following Fan Zeng’s arrangements, the Western Chu army rapidly advanced north, encamping near the Zhang River, south of Julu County, within sight of the Qin forces, within just a few days. During this period, Xiang Yu and Ying Bu were preoccupied with operational planning, leaving few to spare attention for Ye Xiu. Meanwhile, Fan Zeng remained somewhat perplexed by the overall strategy. On the night they set up camp, he sought out Ye Xiu again.

"We march tomorrow. I plan to have Long Ju and General Pu lead twenty thousand Chu troops to force a crossing of the Zhang River and engage the Qin army in a decisive battle. What are your thoughts, young man?" Although Fan Zeng had pondered and meticulously arranged his forces for a long time, he still felt uneasy.

"Isn't Long Ju one of General Xiang's trusted confidants? How can he be sent on such a perilous, solitary mission? That is unsuitable." In the battle at Yongqiu, Long Ju had led his troops down a dangerous path alone. Although he arrived without being ambushed in time, Ye Xiu still felt that while this man possessed both valor and strategy, he harbored a deep attachment to Xiang Yu—like losing his backbone once separated from his commander, resulting in a complete lack of commanding presence.

"Then..." Fan Zeng was still assigning personnel, momentarily unsure who else would be suitable.

For both public and private reasons, Ye Xiu managed a secret smirk. "Ying Bu, perhaps. I trust that he fears no battle, regardless of the circumstances. Furthermore, he is my shixiong (senior martial brother); it is entirely possible he could hold off a hundred enemies at a critical moment."

"I did consider him, but Ying Bu's temperament is too volatile. I worry he might cause some unnecessary trouble," Fan Zeng expressed his concern. "I fear he might fail to maintain control over the troops. If a soldier were to panic and flee, given his nature, he would certainly execute one as a warning to the rest, thereby needlessly shattering our morale."

"It matters not. Perhaps his sheer bravery will bring the soldiers good fortune. Let it be him, then. My lord, rest assured," Ye Xiu strongly recommended, smiling as he urged Fan Zeng on. "It is settled. Everything proceeds according to your plan, and there will be no issues with this battle. My lord, you should return to sleep soon; you'll be busy for several days starting tomorrow."

"Alas..." Fan Zeng had intended to say something more, but then considered that Ye Xiu’s words held some merit. With a nod, he turned and returned to his own tent.

The next day, the wind was gentle, and a few ospreys circled above the river.

Xiang Yu, having drunk wine, bid farewell to Ying Bu and General Pu on their warhorses. "I must trouble both generals to proceed first and shatter the Qin vanguard. After victory is secured, I shall certainly lead the main force to fight the Qin main army to the death."

Ying Bu drank his wine and nodded to Xiang Yu, yet his gaze never left Ye Xiu. He also understood the danger of this engagement, but he firmly believed that with his own strength, he could retreat safely even if they failed. He raised his sword Qishuo and smiled at Ye Xiu, his intent clear: one day, this very sword would claim Ye Xiu's head.

Ye Xiu tilted his head and smiled too, not for any particular reason other than his own fate.

"Depart!" Ying Bu raised his sword, cracked his whip, and led the twenty thousand highly spirited Chu troops across the Zhang River. General Pu temporarily oversaw the crossing from the center, directing the soldiers as they forded the water. Dozens of small boats were immediately lined up across the river surface, creating a magnificent sight. "For the world!" Xiang Yu roared, raising his great sword high. Instantly, all the soldiers began brandishing their weapons, their morale soaring. "For the world! For the world!"

The world? Ye Xiu watched the receding shadows of the advance force with a touch of melancholy. In the end, whom was all this fearless battlefield slaughter for? All the leaders invoked the banner of 'for the world,' yet once the world fell into their own hands, it became their personal possession. Those young soldiers who had once spilled their blood for the world were reduced to dust—how unfair.

"The entire army will rest; we depart tomorrow." Every word and action of Fan Zeng was strictly adhering to the plan. The advance force was merely bait; whether they won or lost was insignificant. The remaining forty thousand troops were the true focus of this campaign. Based on the Qin army's topography and positioning, the advance force would encounter an ambush immediately after crossing the river. If there were no surprises, news should arrive by this evening. Ye Xiu lowered his head and followed Fan Zeng into the camp. Every cooking pot and bowl was brought out and placed directly in front of the main camp. A fine show was about to unfold this evening.

The Zhang River offered no beauty; even at dusk when the cooking smoke rose, it appeared just as desolate.

All the cooking pots and bowls carried by the entire army were positioned directly in front of the camp. Every soldier ate this evening meal heartily, yet it felt as if they could never finish.

Seeing that the soldiers' actions closely mirrored Fan Zeng’s plan, Xiang Yu strode to the front of the main camp, his great sword in hand, and shouted loudly: "Brothers! Today, Ying Bu and General Pu forced a crossing of the Zhang River, and with twenty thousand men by the riverside, they struck down over one hundred thousand Qin soldiers! Let us cheer for them!"