Battle at Xianyang

That must be Xianyang...

Fou, fooou!

I knew it had to be a helluva place from the images we captured at a distance, but seeing it in person...

Hm, it is quite a peculiar city...if indeed a city it can be called.

Well, what would you call it? Look how prosperous it is!

My concern lies in whether it fulfills the functions we typically associate with cities.

Those things packed around its perimeter must be the rockets Qin Shi Huang uses to distribute the Benefactions.

The emperor's gotta have more than enough here to cover the entire planet.

I guess this explains how Qin Shi Huang could rule the whole world with just this one city.

That stadium-looking thing in the center would seem to be the city's central hub...

So far as I can tell from here, there does not appear to be anything in the way of residential buildings.

Then...does that mean nobody lives in this city?

Hmm, that's the key question, isn't it? At least that would be what determines whether or not this is a city in the sense we usually think of them.

Even if there are people living here, I have a suspicion it's far fewer than in our own cities.

Given that even this world's soldiers are robots, I have a hard time believing there is any particular need for a human labor force.

There does seem to be a deal of activity taking place, so it is doubtful the city is totally uninhabited...

...I think you'll find it faster to just go in and take a look for yourself.

Shouldn't take long for even you lot to figure out what the culture here is like.

Not that they'll be opening the gate and welcoming you with open arms anytime soon, of course.

Fou, fooou!

I'm seeing new hostiles make their way towards us. But...

Indeed. These are human, not automatons.

That's the royal guard of Xianyang, the elite soldiers assigned to protect the emperor even in times of peace, without ever being put to sleep in Mt. Li.

Oh and, just so you know... They're a far, far cry from the supervisors you fought back on that farm.

We've defeated the enemy troops!

Fooou!

Well, now that the enemy is shedding real blood to win, we know they're finally taking us seriously.

Well sure, now that we're this close, it's no wonder they decided to pull out all the stops.

All right, one more gate, and we'll be inside Xianyang proper. Stay sharp, everyone!

Damn, all this fighting's even startin' to wear me out.

We have. Still succeeded. We can. Now enter. The city.

Do keep your guard up. I expect we will encounter even greater resistance soon.

This is...Xianyang?

There do appear to be people living here, but I never expected this...

Are they...playing?

They're all painting pictures, singing songs, dancing...

What the hell? They don't know there's a freakin' war goin' on in their front yards?

Fou, fooou?

And now it seems we have automaton soldiers to deal with. Ah, perhaps not. They do not seem to be particularly interested in us.

It looks like they're telling the residents to evacuate...

Hey, get out of my way! I need to finish this painting for Most Glorious and Majestic Heavenly Emperor! These colors are sure to delight the emperor's senses!

And I need to sing this song about our glorious emperor's greatest accomplishments! This melody is fit even for the emperor's divine ears!

This is what gives our lives meaning! Why would you have us leave!?

Be reasonable. Remember, each and every one of your lives is truly precious to the emperor.

We can't risk putting your lives in danger. Now leave. You will be able to return soon enough.

But I haven't finished my picture...

And I haven't finished my sculpture...

Heartbreaking, isn't it? The only thing they have to their names is a single bed in the basement.

When they're not sleeping, they're working their fingers to the bone on monuments and murals a hundred times more magnificent than anything they'll ever own.

I hesitate to call them "artists," but

Is this some kind of bad joke!?

Their only subject is...Qin Shi Huang!? That's not art! Not by a damn sight!

Entertaining each other has been a key aspect of culture as long as people have existed.

But here, the only true personwhich is to say, the sole audience for entertainmentis Qin Shi Huang and Qin Shi Huang alone.

That's why the emperor is the only subject of all the art these people create.

Those who are deemed to have creative talent are gathered from countries all around the world, and brought here to spend their lives creating art directly beneath Epang Palace.

That would mean artists who wished to entertain the masses, like Shakespeare, and artists who pursued the truth of the human condition, like Andersen, would never even be born here.

Here, the very premise of culture itself could not be more different from that of Proper Human History.

Right you are. Certainly Qin Shi Huang loves the people of the empire...much like an owner loves their pets.

In this history, all of mankind's vile arrogance is concentrated in Qin Shi Huang.

And all that remains are these lifeless, worthless excuses for pets.

This whole city is basically nothing more than a giant cat cafe, only with primates instead of felines.

Fooou...

As I've said many times before, I despise humans...but that doesn't mean I enjoy seeing them as livestock.

Humans are supposed to be selfish and arrogant, following their desires wherever they take them.

This...spectacle, where they sing the praises of life without any real worries, is an affront to us beasts.

...

Hey, she's glarin' at us something fierce.

If we don't attack first, the enemy will have the advantage. Are you sure you wish to hold back, Master?

？！

...I'm surprised. I thought for sure you would ambush us while we had our hands full with the evacuation.

True, this is, in many respects, an invasion. Our ideas of what this world should be could not possibly be more different.

But we are not here to massacre your people...even if our actions ultimately lead to them ceasing to exist.

...

Obviously, getting these people to safety is your top priority.

But you know just as well as I do that Qin Shi Huang would order you to kill them if there was even the slightest hint of suspicion that they were "infected."

Is that really a leader worth obeying?

Yeah! You saw what that prick was willing to do to those supposedly treasured citizens.

Yes, I did. My own hometown was once destroyed by a falling star just like that.

...I beg your pardon?

Zhang Xianzhong seduced my neighbors into thinking they could lead better lives if they founded their own nation.

Once the emperor determined they were no longer willing to obey, Qin Shi Huang made the decision to drop a star upon their village, wiping them all out.

And did Zhang Xianzhong do anything to help them? No!

He abandoned them without a second thought, and wasted no time inciting people in another village to make up for the soldiers he'd lost!

...

I have nothing but pity for the people who were led astray by his empty promises.

They were driven to their deaths all because they were deceived into believing such a charlatan could bring them happiness, and deluded about another way of life.

None of you could know what a tragedy it is for the people of this land to be robbed of their tranquility.

Had it been possible, I would have been just as happy never having taken up the spear.

All I ever wanted was to live with my family, tilling our land in peace!

Qin Liangyu...

The peace we enjoy now is only made possible by keeping people's worst tendencies dormant. That is the great feat, the blessing that Most Glorious and Majestic Heavenly Emperor brought to the world!

I will never forgive you for trying to rouse the people from that slumber!

Now repent for your selfish misdeeds as this white ash spear pierces your throats!

The enemy's on the ropes! We're almost there!

No, I doubt this will be the end of it. They are very much in this for the long haul!

Lady Qin Liangyu! The royal guard has arrived to assist you. What would you have us do!?

The royal guard!? If you're here, then who's protecting Epang Palace!?

Heavenly Emperor said we were no longer needed there. The emperor ordered us to hold this line of defense for the sake of our nation...

Your Imperial Majesty...

Please, stop this, Qin Liangyu. Surely a warrior of your caliber must know when she is outmatched.

...

Tell me, those of you who claim to be from Proper Human History: Why do you threaten our world?

？！

So you want to set the world right...? Hmph. That's all you Confucians ever say.

How should the world be then? What is this "proper" world of yours like?

How does your world function when everyone has their own idea of how things should be, while denying all others?

How many people lose their lives to the ravages of war each and every day?

How many innocent lives end in senseless tragedy?

Has all your bloodshed led to even one good thing in your world? Or just been an excuse for the next war?

...

We fought hard for a world without war... A world where peace could truly endure forever.

My husband, my brothers...all of them gave their lives while fighting to make that dream a reality.

Wethe people of this empirehad to build this world on their corpses!

The peace this land now enjoys was paid for with the blood of soldiers who will never be granted respite in Mt. Li.

And so I will defend it at all costs. I will not let your flowery words and false promises lead me astray.

I believe in our way of life, in the happiness we fought so hard to obtain!

I don't need any other countries. I don't need any other version of myself.

Allow me to demonstrate for you that this other me you speak of and I are nothing alike at all!

...Ahh, another mountain of corpses. Another ocean of blood...

...Every time someone waves the flag of so-called progress, that is all I ever see...

I had hoped to never see this again... I wish I could have just stayed on Mt. Li, frozen in slumber...

Qin Liangyu...

...Your Proper Human History terrifies me.

Our world truly achieved lasting peace. It should have been the one to survive.

But now, it will be just another corpse you tread across on the way to your destination.

Tell me... What sort of bloody future do you see past the mountain of bodies you are piling up...?

？！

...Haha. I guess there was no point in asking you that.

The only one with that answer is the emperor...

In the end...all I ever did to bring about peace was take up my spear...

...C'mon, Fujimaru. Just keep moving. Don't worry about her.

？！

You don't have the time or the energy to spare on her. Remember what it is you gotta do.

...Let's keep moving, Master. If we're going to find out Qin Shi Huang's true intentions...

...why the emperor rules this Lostbeltthis historyin this way...then our only choice is to get a real audience.

...Fooou.

...So, the enemy has made their way into Xianyang.

Grrr...

I can't believe it...

Then it is time for us to face Chaldea.

This is not the end. They can never hope to conquer the empire without first conquering us.

Meanwhile, you need serve as our advisors no longer. Qin Liangyu has already given everything she has.

So as of this moment, we are relieving both of you of duties. You have served us well.

Your Imperial Majesty...

I'm so sorry I couldn't win this battle for you, Your Imperial Majesty. I will atone for this with my life!

Stop that, Han Xin. Your loss in this battle demonstrates your loyalty towards us admirably.

Wh-what do you mean?

Tell us, Han Xin. If we had ordered you to crush Chaldea, even if it meant destroying all of Xianyang...

...surely you could have come up with at least a dozen viable plans?

If you had been willing to stop at nothing, even the destruction of our nation, in order to secure victory, then you would certainly have prevailed. Are we wrong?

...

And yet, that was a line you would not cross. That was your limit as a general.

Be honest: Did you not dream about devising strategies that would have rocked this nation to its core?

...I don't think that would be a path I'd want to go down.

I mean, there's a good chance I still might have ended up going down it eventually, but still...

Belated though this may be, we cannot help but feel a bit sorry for you.

If you had ended up serving a different lord, you may have achieved even greater glory and recognition.

Oh, haha, I don't know about that. That way sounds like it would end in a pretty painful death.

Lord Han Xin...

Well, I guess I'll be taking my leave then. You don't mind if I go by just plain old Han Xin rather than a general of the empire from now on, do you?

We do not.

...Captain, would you keep an eye on him in his final moments, as one last favor to us?

If that is what you wish, Your Imperial Majesty. ...Then, you are certain of this?

We are. Worry not, we have this well in hand.

Very well then, if you'll excuse me. And, if I may, Your Imperial Majesty, I hope you can make the most of this opportunity.

Oh yes, we expect we will finally have an opportunity to cut loose, as they say, for the first time in a very long time.

...All right, everyone else is gone. If you have any manners at all, show yourself.

...