"Victory for the Chu army is assured! We will annihilate the Qin state in one stroke!" At this, several soldiers and officers raised their swords in salute to Xiang Yu's stance, their shouts echoing through the camp. A wave of [Sound/Action Implied by Context, e.g., roaring or cheers] swept through the encampment, rousing many soldiers who had been lazily resting after their meal to jump up joyfully and cheer for the impending victory.

Ye Xiu wiped his mouth. The meal tonight had been exceptionally good, with plenty of meat, but when he turned to look at Fan Zeng beside him, he understood the true meaning behind it all.

At that moment, Fan Zeng was smiling confidently at Ye Xiu. A victory report? In truth, no one knew the actual situation on the front lines, and they couldn't afford to wait for messengers to return. Lingering by the Zhang River for even a moment longer would only erode the morale of the Chu army further. The claim of defeating a hundred thousand with just twenty thousand was Fan Zeng's own invention; now, the Chu army possessed little other than its fighting spirit.

"Brothers, we have used all our rations tonight. Take whatever you haven't finished, and then smash the great cauldrons in front of you." Xiang Yu didn't pause in his speech. He was the first to grab his dry rations and stuff them inside his clothes, then lifted his greatsword and cleaved the cauldron before him in two. "Brothers, we have no path of retreat left. Come! Follow me, for the realm!"

"Good!"

"We swear eternal loyalty to General Xiang!"

"Annihilate the Qin army!"

Another wave of excessive clamor erupted, the sound of countless breaking pots and bowls making Ye Xiu's ears itch. He inwardly teased these crowd actors—they couldn't do much else, but they certainly knew how to shout. This, he realized, must be the famous act of breaking the cooking vessels associated with the decisive moment. Once the entire army crossed the Zhang River, the decisive battle would surely commence. There was nothing more to do now but prepare; he squatted down and gathered a large pile of steamed buns, realizing he was fated to experience the Battle of Julu, and he certainly couldn't afford to starve himself.

It was the deep winter, yet wisps of hot mist rose above the Zhang River. The main force of forty thousand advanced forcefully, treading across shallow boats and through icy waters. The entire surface of the river was choked by the densely packed crowd, giving the impression of filling the river with men—a sight both grand and tragic.

Ye Xiu followed the marching column silently, his long halberd long since discarded somewhere unknown. He knew this would be a direct confrontation; to survive, he wondered how many eyes would turn bloodshot with killing intent, and how many Qin soldiers would perish beneath his demonic blade.

"Land and form ranks!" Xiang Yu shouted first, reining in his horse. At this, the main body of the Western Chu army successfully disembarked, quickly assembling their formations. The previously calm riverbank was instantly hemmed in on all sides, yet the Chu soldiers possessed remarkably high morale and were brimming with confidence; routine maneuvers like arraying themselves were completed in an instant.

Xiang Yu breathed a sigh of relief, surveying his assembled troops. Thankfully, the Qin forces hadn't set an ambush on the riverbank. What did that imply? It suggested that the advance units under Ying Bu and General Pu had likely succeeded in their surprise attack: "Brothers, sink all the boats."

"Crack... Thud-thud..." Hearing Xiang Yu's command, the soldiers behind them showed no hesitation, turning back immediately to smash all the ferry boats and push them into the Zhang River. Though the river appeared calm, the hidden eddies were enough to swallow every vessel in moments.

"Whoa..." Xiang Yu suddenly raised his greatsword high above his head, the sheer force of the motion stirring the wind itself. "Brothers, we have no way back now. We have only one objective: destroy the Qin army!"

"Destroy the Qin army! Destroy the Qin army!" The soldiers roared their assent, gripping their weapons tightly, their expressions intensely focused, their eyes blazing with murderous intent.

This served as the final boost to morale before the battle. This time, Ye Xiu also raised a fist. It was the first time he felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head—the passionate fervor of a man prepared to shed his blood for his chosen cause.

The Julu defensive position lay not far ahead. Amidst the wilderness and forests, Qin General Wang Li's army, though not ambushing at the river, was fully prepared, ready to fight rested against weary foes. Despite the previous night's potential setback, the formidable Qin army would not concede so easily.

"Charge!" Xiang Yu gave the order and, accompanied by Wu Ya, galloped towards Julu. The cavalry and infantry in the rear quickly followed. Ye Xiu urged his horse forward, riding toward the center of the opposing lines. Soon, a vast, overwhelming host of Qin soldiers appeared before the Chu army, and the two sides faced off across a stretch of woodland.

"Fire Rain Formation!" At this, Fan Zeng waved a brightly colored banner in the center of his formation. As soon as the order was given, the archers throughout the army halted, drew their bows, and lit the arrowheads with fire.

"Loose!" Fan Zeng swept his banner down, and instantly, thousands of flaming arrows streaked toward the Qin forces. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu was not idle; he raised his greatsword and signaled all the cavalry to charge directly into the fray.

"Kill!" The Western Chu army roared in unison, their sound shaking the heavens, catching the Qin army—who had intended to hold their ground—completely by surprise.

Ye Xiu spurred his horse, blade held high, and leaped into the heart of the battlefield. The fiery rain from the allied archers continued to spew endless flames. The charging ranks crashed into the Qin army's iron-clad formation amidst the blazing inferno illuminated against the sky.

"Hya..." Xiang Yu reared his horse and kicked forward, carving a breach directly into the front line of Qin shields. Then, with arrogant flourishes, he swung his greatsword left and right, felling several foot soldiers attempting to drag him from his saddle.

"Hahaha! Waaahahaha! Wang Li, come out and face death quickly!" Xiang Yu grew increasingly animated, his body and his warhorse Wu Ya now smeared with blood of varying shades as he cut a swath through the enemy. "Warriors of Western Chu, charge!"

"Kill!" Xiang Yu's ferocity served as the best stimulant for the Chu soldiers. Every man was invigorated, wielding swords and halberds, fighting with the might of ten, thoroughly enjoying the slaughter. Under the cover of the fire rain, the entire offensive flowed like water, a surging tide of ten thousand horses with no visible weakness.

"Ghost: Ten Thousand Slashes." Ye Xiu was similarly galvanized by the scene. He pulled his horse high over the Qin defensive trenches, suddenly standing atop the saddle and unleashing the ultimate technique of his demonic blade. In an instant, countless apparitions of Ye Xiu filled the space before the Qin troops; wherever the glow of a demonic blade flashed, the enemy was instantly dismembered.

"Ah! A ghost! A ghost!" The Qin generals, only versed in martial combat and warfare, knew nothing of the esoteric arts of the martial world. Everyone on this part of the battlefield was awestruck by Xiang Yu’s ferocious might and Ye Xiu's immense destructive power. At this point, someone in the Qin ranks raised his sword and shouted: "Retreat! Fall back into the Julu Forest to rendezvous with Lord Wang Li."

"Trying to escape!" Xiang Yu followed up with a massive slash, cutting down several more Qin soldiers. Where the warhorse Wu Ya passed, no enemy remained standing intact. "Brothers, press the advantage and pursue!"

"Kill! Charge!" The morale of the Western Chu army soared even higher. The soldiers who had manned the Fire Rain Formation now discarded their bows, grabbed their long swords and halberds, and joined the general rush.

The Qin army threw off helmets and armor, retreating rapidly into the deeper woods. The path behind them was littered with discarded weapons and provisions. The Western Chu army, however, was already red-eyed with battle fury and pursued relentlessly, not a single soldier pausing for the valuable items on the ground. They all understood this battle was fought with lives; what use were possessions if life itself was lost?

"Could there be a trap?" Fan Zeng followed close beside Ye Xiu as they pursued the Qin army. Even he found it hard to believe that the main force of the legendary Qin army under Wang Li could be defeated so easily.

Ye Xiu let out a long breath, a strange feeling welling up as he recalled cutting down Qin soldiers as easily as chopping vegetables. "What trap could there be? The Julu Forest is just a patch of woods, densely packed with trees that hinder the cavalry charge."

"Then what do you propose, young man? Dismount and proceed on foot?" Fan Zeng's eyes darted around again. "Or perhaps there are archer ambushes hidden among the treetops!"

"Precisely," Ye Xiu smiled as he managed his horse. "The main body of the Qin army must be hidden within that forest. If I'm not mistaken, the force we just routed was merely the remnant shattered yesterday by Ying Bu and General Pu."

"You mean the advance guard won their battle!" Fan Zeng conceded that Ye Xiu’s logic held weight, feeling a sense of relief. "If that's true, that unit is now outside Qin surveillance. If our main force can successfully pin down the Qin army, Ying Bu and the others can cut off their supplies—a massive victory awaits!"

Ye Xiu nodded, but the Qin forces within the Julu Forest would not be easily handled. Relying solely on Xiang Yu's determination and valor, coupled with the army's momentum, could be extremely perilous. He paused, looking at Fan Zeng. "Considering the time of year, the woods must be incredibly dry. Why don't we set the entire forest ablaze to force the Qin army into a decisive battle?"

"Then we can meet them fresh against weary foes!" Fan Zeng could hardly contain his excitement. "This will lure out the Qin army, giving the advance units more time to intercept their supply lines—a perfect pincer attack! Excellent! Excellent!"

"What? My honored father! You want me to wait outside the forest? Won't that mean missing a golden opportunity and damaging the entire army's morale?" Xiang Yu, by nature impatient, saw the situation as overwhelmingly favorable and could not comprehend Fan Zeng's counsel to not pursue a cornered enemy.

"Aji, you know that Wang Li's elite corps is entrenched at Julu. Why would such a crack unit be defeated so easily by us? There must be a trick," Fan Zeng, aware of Xiang Yu's temperament, knew he had to persuade him logically, even if Xiang Yu outwardly disagreed. "The Julu Forest is dense with vegetation, making it utterly unfavorable for our cavalry charges. If we run into an ambush, our army will surely be unable to withstand it."

"Our army's morale is sky-high, and every soldier fights like ten men—how could we fear a mere ambush!" Xiang Yu shook his head, clearly dissatisfied. However, since Fan Zeng was entrusted to him by Xiang Liang, he had no choice but to heed his counsel.