Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 800 Yi Xiaochuan rejoins the Chu army to fight for the right to speak!

When the news that Gao Yao was preparing his troops in the southern border and was officially marching north exploded like thunder, Xiang Yu, who was far away in the north, received this battle report that would determine the fate of the world almost at the same time.

With the heavy weight of military events weighing on his mind, Xiang Yu didn't hesitate. His massive figure, bearing the biting northern wind, immediately entered the quiet courtyard of his father-in-law, Fan Zeng. This matter was of grave importance, and he knew he needed to carefully discuss it with this wise counselor before formulating a strategy.

As Xiang Yu's heavy boots stepped onto the mossy stone slabs of the courtyard, he was greeted by a scene far from the expected: Fan Zeng lost in solitary contemplation. In the center of the courtyard, beneath an ancient tree with twisted branches, a stone chessboard sat quietly. Two figures, separated by the Chu and Han rivers, sat facing each other, making silent moves. One of them, with white hair and a gaze as deep as an ancient well, was Fan Zeng, his father-in-law.

The young man sitting opposite him, with a hint of melancholy and tenacity between his brows that was incompatible with this era, was Yi Xiaochuan - the Yi Xiaochuan who came across time and space with Gao Yao and experienced the dramatic changes in Mount Li.

After the search for Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum at Mount Li concluded, Yi Xiaochuan made a difficult yet decisive decision: return to Xiang Yu's side. He was well aware that Fan Zeng harbored resentment against him, viewing him as a potential threat to the destiny. But the fire of revenge burned within him day and night. Looking among the heroes of the land, only Xiang Yu, commanding a vast army and unrivaled in bravery, offered him a glimmer of hope for revenge against the powerful and mysterious Gao Yao.

In reality, Yi Xiaochuan's initial choice wasn't Xiang Yu. He had been following the trajectory of history, intending to join Liu Bang, the future heir apparent of the Han Dynasty. He firmly believed that his past friendship with Liu Bang, along with his status and potential as the future emperor, would be a powerful ally in his quest for revenge. He had even set foot in the northeastern territories controlled by Liu Bang.

But the moment he set foot on that land, the strange aura that greeted him set off alarm bells. Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin—all these exceptional talents who should have been Liu Bang's right-hand men and laid the foundation for the Han Dynasty—had all been recruited by Gao Yao! And how could Liu Bang himself have miraculously escaped from the dire situation in Bashu, marched thousands of miles across the country, and conquered the vast Northeast in one fell swoop? To Yi Xiaochuan, this was simply unbelievable. Having spent a long time with Liu Bang, he knew that while he possessed the qualities of a hero, he lacked such astounding strategic vision and execution.

"This isn't right... it's terribly wrong." Yi Xiaochuan's heart sank. A terrifying thought formed in his mind: It wasn't that Liu Bang was fake, but rather that the mysterious Yi Xiaochuan, lurking in the shadows and hailing from the same time and space as himself, might have completely controlled Liu Bang, or perhaps even been collaborating closely with him, orchestrating all this! Perhaps their goal was to restore order and establish order that suited their will. And Yi Xiaochuan, as another "variable," was bound to be a thorn in their side.

"This world can't accommodate two Yi Xiaochuans." This cold realization made him feel like he was sinking into an icy cave. He knew that if he showed up rashly, what awaited him would not be a happy reunion with old friends, but only a fatal blow from his "other self."

Yi Xiaochuan suppressed his impulse and chose the most cautious approach: lurking and observing. Like a ghost, he wandered around the edge of Liu Bang's sphere of influence. Soon, his doubts were cruelly confirmed.

First, there's Liu Bang himself. Yi Xiaochuan had spent countless hours with Liu Bang, sharing hardships and escapes, and was intimately familiar with his subtle habits and unintentional gestures. However, the Liu Bang he observed exuded a strange and distant air in his every move, all traces of familiarity vanishing. This couldn't be explained by simple disguise.

What chilled him even more was the actions of Liu Bang's regime. He witnessed firsthand the staggering scale of the clandestine trade: vast quantities of sophisticated weapons, precious silk, and even core technological equipment like stirrups, saddles, and horseshoes, capable of transforming cavalry combat effectiveness, were continuously delivered to the Xiongnu in the north! Even more outrageous, in exchange for Xiongnu war horses, a large number of Han women were traded like merchandise!

"Supplying the enemy with weapons and enslaving fellow citizens... Liu Bang would never have done this! Even if he was shameless, he still had a bottom line!" Yi Xiaochuan felt sick and angry. This act of sacrificing the nation's future for short-term gain was tinged with a cold calculation that transcended its time.

He instantly determined that the person currently holding the reins of power must be the "mysterious Yi Xiaochuan" from the future. Only he would so recklessly exploit the information gap of the times and engage in such a desperate "deal" with only one goal: to rapidly strengthen his own power and eliminate all obstacles, including himself, Yi Xiaochuan.

His last shred of hope for revenge through Liu Bang was completely shattered. Men like Wei Bao and Wu Rui were shortsighted, clinging to family ties, lacking the strength and vision to conquer the world. They were no match for his revenge. Looking around at the vast world, Yi Xiaochuan only had one choice left, his initial, helpless one: Xiang Yu.

Upon his return to the Chu camp, Yi Xiaochuan was a transformed man. His former cynicism and indecision were replaced by deep hatred and icy determination. No longer a bystander who relied on others, he began to truly apply the knowledge and insights gained over two thousand years.

The first major gift he brought was to solve the Chu army's pressing food and fodder problem. The widespread cultivation of potatoes and sweet potatoes in the southern border was no secret; he managed to introduce seeds and, leveraging his knowledge of cultivation methods, guided the Chu army and civilians in their cultivation. The advantages of these crops, such as high yield, drought tolerance, and a short maturation period, quickly became apparent, greatly easing the Chu army's logistical burden. While not as nutritious as refined grains, being able to fill their stomachs during a time of famine was a tremendous blessing. This single achievement earned Yi Xiaochuan immense prestige and effective influence within the army.

But this was only the beginning. Yi Xiaochuan devoured military texts and strategies, incorporating modern concepts to improve soldier training methods and designing simple yet practical equipment to enhance efficiency. He abandoned his aloof seclusion and actively befriended leading officers. Through his proven achievements and advanced insights, he gradually built a network of influence within the Chu army. He knew that to exact revenge on Gao Yao and the "mysterious Yi Xiaochuan" behind him, Xiang Yu's trust alone was not enough; he needed to grasp the true strength of the Chu army.

All of this inevitably created a delicate tug-of-war with the Chu army's mainstay, Fan Zeng. A shrewd and calculating man with a keen understanding of human nature, Fan Zeng remained deeply wary of Yi Xiaochuan's motives. The chess game in the courtyard epitomized this silent confrontation between the two men. Each move was a clash of ideologies and a test of power.