Surrender to the Chu army—to Xiang Yu and Xiang An.
That thought appeared in Jin Qixiu's mind.
"No, no, I can't." He straightened up and shook his head.
His father and mother were still back home. If word of his rebellion reached Xianyang, forget his dearly cherished parents—his entire family would probably be wiped out.
Betrayal was a grave crime, punishable by the extermination of nine generations.
"If that is the case, then there is only one path left."
From outside the tent, Jin Qixiu's shadow gradually changed from hunched to upright. The exhaustion and air of decay around him vanished completely. All that remained was fighting spirit—and the will to die.
Seven days later, north of the Zhang River.
The Qin and Chu armies stood facing one another, sizing each other up.
Xiang An stood at the forefront of the Chu army, staring at the enemy general standing at the head of his forces, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So this was the decision you made?" Disappointment colored his voice.
Standing beside Xiang Yu, Xiang An naturally understood what he meant. He answered evenly, "That is precisely why I admire him as a real man, rather than a madman willing to do anything to survive."
Xiang Yu glanced at Xiang An but did not respond, merely shaking his head.
The several wars he had previously waged against the Qin army with the Western Chu forces had been intended to force Jin Qixiu to understand one fact.
In war, the army in his hands could no longer win. At least, in the short term, victory against the Chu army was absolutely impossible. And Qin Er Shi was clearly no emperor who treated his people like his own children. On the contrary, forced labor and crushing taxes had left the entire Central