Chapter 205: Strategist Zhang Liang, Inventory Complete!

【Chapter Seven: Success and Retirement, From Marquis of Liu to "Grain Avoidance"】

The Han dynasty was founded and the meritorious officials were greatly rewarded.

Liu Bang offered Zhang Liang "the choice of a fief of thirty‑thousand households," a top‑level reward.

Zhang Liang declined, asking only for the Liu County where he first met Liu Bang (present‑day southeast of Pei County, Jiangsu), and took the title "Marquis of Liu."

He said, "My family has been prime ministers of Han for generations; after Han fell, I spent a fortune avenging Han against the mighty Qin, shaking the world."

"Now, with a three‑inch tongue I have become the emperor's strategist, granted a ten‑thousand‑household fief, ranked among the marquises—this is the highest a commoner can reach, and I am already satisfied."

"I wish to abandon worldly affairs and follow Chi Songzi to roam the heavens."

He surrendered his military command and withdrew from the court.

In his later years Liu Bang grew suspicious of his meritorious officials, killing Han Xin, executing Peng Yue, and having Ying Bu rebel and be slain… Xiao He was so frightened he tarnished his own name to survive.

Only Zhang Liang locked himself away and practiced "grain avoidance" (abstaining from the five grains, guiding health), declaring he had no political ambition and was solely seeking immortality and the Dao.

Liu Bang always trusted him, and Empress Lü also respected him.

Zhang Liang thus safely lived through the Gaozu and Empress Lü periods and peacefully passed away during Emperor Hui's reign.

Others are "when the birds have all flown, the fine bow is stored"; he is "the birds have not all flown," already having cleaned his bow and hung it up, meaning "I am merely a decoration, forget about me."

This insight into imperial psychology and his decisive retreat are wiser than any of his schemes.

【Heavenly Screen Verdict: "Zhang Liang's life was truly lived wisely."】

【He could endure, as the shoes of Xiapi could endure;】

【He could scheme, from Bolangsha to Gaixia, without a missed plan;】

【He could decide, choosing Liu Bang, delivering the decisive blow at the critical moment;】

【Most importantly, he could let go—after achieving fame and success, he let go without a trace of lingering.】

【His stratagems were not to flaunt his cleverness but to achieve his goals—revenge, choosing a lord, shaping the world, and finally preserving himself.】

【Clear objectives, clean methods, measured advance and retreat.】

【He was not like Xiao He, who had to be personally involved in every matter; not like Han Xin, whose great achievements threatened the ruler; not like Chen Ping, whose schemes were countless.】

【He was like a wind, bringing coolness and power when needed, and silently fading away when not, leaving no trace.】

The two characters "Strategist Saint" suit him without doubt.

He plotted not only for the nation, but for the world, and for his own life.

This completeness—how many strategists of all ages can match it?

【Historical Top Ten Strategists List, Rank Two: Zhang Liang, Inventory Complete!】

【Heavenly Blessing: Add forty years of longevity! Grant twenty‑hundred thousand jin of sweet‑potato seeds! Grant a copy of the "Hundred‑Tempered Steel" forging manual!】

(Note: Zhang Liang's perfect scheming, good beginning and good ending. The longevity blessing extends his legendary life; the sweet‑potato seeds relieve famine, matching his humanitarian spirit; the Hundred‑Tempered Steel method strengthens the nation, echoing his "strengthen the army to secure the world" ambition, helping the Great Han's realm become more stable.)

In the Great Qin, on the training ground of Xianyang Palace.

Everyone watching the heavenly screen fell into silence.

Ying Zheng's face was as if covered with a layer of cold frost.

He stared fixedly at the slender figure on the screen—the Han noble from Bolangsha who hurled a massive iron mace, intent on killing him, the "Strategist Saint" who later assisted Liu Bang and gradually dismantled the Great Qin empire piece by piece.

Anger, murderous intent, jealousy, and a kind of… a cold awe for that flawless wisdom that even he himself would not admit, intertwined in his chest.

"Zhang Liang… Zhang Zifang…"

Ying Zheng's voice was as cold as a stone beneath a glacier,

"Bolangsha… Hongmen Banquet… the clever scheme of Xia Yi… the siege of Gaixia… good, very good."

Each word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth.

He seemed to see another timeline, after his death, how this man named Zhang Liang used his terrifying wisdom to assist a "rascal" named Liu Bang,

pushing the Great Qin empire that his ancestors had built for six generations into the abyss of destruction.

This chill was felt not only by Ying Zheng but also by Li Si and the others behind him, who were all shivering all over.

They seemed to see their own future… no, an already‑occurred outcome in another timeline!

That Zhang Liang's wisdom could help Liu Bang obtain the world and also secure his own happy end—what about them?

"Your Majesty…"

Li Si's voice was a bit hoarse; he wanted to speak but did not know where to begin.

The future revealed by the heavenly screen was too cruel, yet too real.

Ying Zheng suddenly raised his hand, stopping his words.

He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths, and when he opened them again, only icy reason and boundless ambition remained in his gaze.

"Did you see?"

Ying Zheng's voice echoed across the dead silent training ground, addressed to Li Si and the others, and also to himself,

"This is the strategist who opposes the world, capable of destroying a nation, founding a dynasty, and… preserving himself!"

He abruptly turned and looked toward the high platform, where the white‑clad, seemingly transcendent "Gu Xianzhang" stared back, his eyes flashing an unprecedented, almost fanatical light.

"National Teacher!"

Ying Zheng's voice trembled slightly with excitement,

"This list… this list enlightens me like a divine revelation!"

"Zhang Liang's wisdom can bring down Qin and also revive Han!"

"I… I have obtained a National Teacher, just as the founder obtained Zifang! No, the National Teacher's ability far surpasses Zifang! I wish to use the nation's strength to honor the National Teacher!"

"Only ask the National Teacher to help me unify the world and create a millennial foundation."

He no longer cared whether Zhang Liang would try to assassinate him; he cared about the kind of strategist power that could overturn heaven and earth that Zhang Liang represented!

And now, before him, stood such a being, seemingly from the immortal realm, whose abilities even surpassed Zhang Liang's—an "immortal."

They must seize it! No matter the cost, seize it!

They want this power, to wield it for themselves, to wield it for their Great Qin!

They want to defy Heaven and alter fate, and also make Great Qin transcend all temporal rise and fall, becoming eternal and immortal!

Second on the Strategist List, already at the "Strategist Saint" level, intelligence, tactics, and outcomes are all nearly perfect.

Then, who can surpass the "Strategist Saint" Zhang Liang, ranking at the very top of history's top ten strategists…

What divine being could it possibly be?!

(Everyone can take a guess: who is number one on the Strategist List? (｢･ω･)｢Heh)