The rumors swirling outside had nothing to do with the Chu army's internal affairs.
Xiang Yu's decision had been bloody, but it was born of necessity—and it was the only way to deal with those prisoners.
Both Xiang An and Zi Juan had agreed to this decision.
Two hundred thousand Qin soldiers required money for food, drink, and every other necessity, yet these Qin soldiers could not possibly provide the Chu army with even the slightest beneficial return. They could not be released, and persuading them to surrender was equally impossible.
At a time like this, killing became the only choice.
With the greatest obstacle gone, the Chu army led by Xiang Yu could finally advance westward in earnest and race Liu Ji against time.
By then, Xianyang had already begun to fall into panic.
Three months had passed since the Battle of the Zhang River. Over those three months, "victory reports" had poured in from both Wu Pass Road and Hangu Pass Road.
Liu Ji's army had followed the Dan River and already pushed into Wu Pass, while Xiang Yu's army had arrived beneath Hangu Pass. Qin defenses were woefully inadequate, and it seemed that Xiang Yu's army would soon breach Hangu Pass and ravage the lands Within the Passes.
"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor, wh-what should we do now?" Hu Hai had completely lost his composure. Bent at the waist, he leaned close to Zhao Gao and asked in a trembling voice.
"Your Majesty, Y-Your Majesty, please—please calm down first. Let me think, let me think." Zhao Gao dabbed the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
Though he spoke of finding a solution, what solution could Zhao Gao possibly have?
He was skilled at intrigue and deception, but governing a state and securing the realm were beyond him.