The most powerful emperor Liu Bang

Chapter 23

Xiang Yu worked as a firefighter in the rear for several months, and finally stabilized the situation.Peng Yue's strength was weakened, and Han Xin saw that he could not defeat the Overlord for a while, so he returned to Qi State to enjoy the honor of the king of a country.

Concubine Yu stayed by Xiang Yu's side every day, and Lu Zhi often came to make fun of him, so the overlord of Chu's "revolutionary will" really declined.He had planned to stay in Pengcheng for a few more days as "Xiaoyao Gong", but when the news of Cheng Gao's fall came, he couldn't help frowning, and cursed: "Damn, these two trash, let them stay there and not move. I don't even have the patience for that!"

The urging on the front line was getting tighter and tighter. Zhong Limei and Long Qie sent letters one after another, saying: "Overlord, if you come back quickly, I am afraid that the Chu army will not be able to resist Liu Bang's counterattack. Some of the cities that have been captured will be taken back by the Han army. It’s possible to turn defeat into victory.”

Because Xiang Yu returned to Pengcheng and brought back the main force. Although the remaining forces were about the same number as the Han army, their combat effectiveness was severely weakened due to the insufficient supply of food and grass.When Long Qi's troops confronted Zhou Bo, they were almost completely eaten, and the situation of the Chu army was extremely urgent.

Xiang Yu reluctantly made the decision to go west again.At this time, he was indeed a little slack, dawdling around and just didn't want to leave.In the end, he was urged to the point where he had no other choice, and Jiang Shan had no choice but to go into battle again.But this time Yu Ji was unwilling to separate from him no matter what, and he was willing to take her with him, so that he would have less worries when he went out.Before leaving, he had an extra mind, and took Lu Zhi and Liu Taigong and other prisoners with him, thinking that he would make a deal with Liu Bang if necessary.

Xiang Yu had some affection for Lu Zhi, and naturally he would not let her suffer much along the way, but he was not so polite to Liu Taigong, and he used a car to take it indiscriminately. A lot of bumps and bumps, but fortunately the old man was used to suffering at home, so he was not tortured to death by Xiang Yu.

Liu Bang watched Xiang Yu being mobilized back and forth by him, and the joy in his heart was not to mention how beautiful it was. It was like an old farmer working in the field in summer suddenly eating a piece of iced watermelon. It was so comfortable.Hearing that Xiang Yu was back, he still didn't dare to be paralyzed, so he left Zhou Bo and Fan Kui to guard Chenggao, and led his troops to quickly find a small town called Guangwu in a dangerous place south of Chenggao and stationed there.He knew how powerful Xiang Yu was. Although the Chu army was a little tired from being mobilized back and forth by him, as long as Xiang Yu was around, it would be easy to attack the city.Facing such an opponent, Liu Bang must be careful everywhere.This is the experience he has accumulated from fighting Xiang Yu for a long time, and he always takes precautions first, so Xiang Yu catches him every time and lets him slip away.

In addition, Liu Bang also clearly realized that the reason for Xiang Yu's frequent expeditions to the west was to get rid of himself. If he was not in the city, Xiang Yu would definitely come to him, which would save the Han army the trouble of moving them. Avoid some things in town being looted.Then again, this is where Xiang Yu's brain is lacking. Liu Bangren is a living man, where he goes, where you go, won't you be led by the nose by him?If you occupy the city and want things and places to live, then Liu Bang will deliver them to your door.Of course, Xiang Yu also has his own considerations in doing this. He always thinks that people come first. As long as I wipe out your people, those things, including your Liu Bang's palace beauties, and the army's luggage, will not all belong to me.But he forgot that he was working on an expedition, and the logistics supply was a big problem. There was no food, no place to live, especially in winter, no clothes to wear, what did the troops rely on to fight the enemy?

When Xiang Yu arrived in Chenggao, he heard that Liu Bang had led his troops to station in Guangwu. As expected, he did not go to occupy Chenggao, but also dragged him to Guangwu, just across the river from the Han army.Anyone who has been to the Loess Plateau knows that the Loess Plateau looks like a large flat land from a distance. Due to the erosion of ancient floods, deep ditches have been left on the plateau. canyon.These deep valleys and valleys divide the whole plateau into pieces, among which the terrain is slightly flatter and the area is larger, the locals call it Ping.People between Ping and Ping can shout across the stream, but it is not easy to get close to each other. It often takes a lot of detours, and it is basically impossible to do it for most of the day.This is also the reason why most people in the west have a high voice, shouting.

Several years of confrontation with the Chu army made Liu Bang more and more aware that the Chu army came from afar and only wanted to fight quickly.Liu Bang waited quietly in Guangwu just like this, trying to force the Chu army away.

A few months passed in a blink of an eye, Xiang Yu couldn't stand it anymore, and came out to challenge the Han army in person.He asked people to build a high platform in front of the battle, set up a big pot, boiled the water, and then pulled out Liu Tian's five flowers and tied them to the pillars in front of the pot.Xiang Yu shouted and asked the Han army to call Liu Bang out.

From time to time, Liu Bang appeared on the opposite side of the ditch. When Xiang Yu saw it, he immediately scolded loudly: "Liu Bang, you treacherous villain, I let you go several times. Every time you go back, you take the curses and oaths as jokes. Now Your father and wife are here with me, see? There is a big pot next to it, and the water is boiling. If you don’t surrender, I will call you to repay the world today, and boil your father to death on the spot. Strip your wife naked in public, so that you will never be able to hold your head up in front of the world, do you still keep your promises?"

Liu Bang saw his father tied to a pillar from a distance, with his eyes closed, and he was even thinner than before.The old man didn't seem to hear what Xiang Yu said just now, or he might have heard it and just pretended not to hear it, with a look of death.Seeing this scene, Liu Bang had a sore nose and almost knelt down to plead with Xiang Yu. His heart was like a knife, thinking that he had spent half his life outside without letting his parents get a trick, and now let his opponent boil his father alive. personal?For a moment, I was in a state of confusion and didn't know what to do.

Zhang Liang saw Liu Bang's painful expression from the side, thinking that he might not be able to bear it anymore, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, look at the opposite side, Mrs. Lu is not in front of the battle, it must be Xiang Yu's use of this to blackmail us, you must not go to Xiang Yu That's right!"

Liu Bang looked intently, but he did not see Lv Zhi on the opposite side, so he quickly woke up, and then shouted to Xiang Yu: "Xiang Yu, we two swore to be brothers in front of King Huai, and we agreed to share blessings and difficulties together, Regardless of each other, forever. According to this agreement, my wife is your wife, and my father is your father. Today, if you insist on insulting your wife in public and killing your father, it can only show that you have lost your mind , inhumane. No one else can stop this kind of thing, so just do it. Just don’t forget to share a bowl of soup with me when you eat my meat.”

When the generals of the Han army heard Liu Bang's words, some were surprised and some admired.After hearing this, Zhang Liang shook his head and nodded again, not knowing what it was like.

Hearing what Liu Bang said, Xiang Yu really had no choice but to take him, so he sarcastically said: "Liu Bang, I only know that you have a thick skin, but I didn't expect you to be so dark-hearted. Seeing that Lao Tzu was killed, you actually wanted a share of the pie; my wife is going to be ruined." It doesn't matter. I really admire your cold heart and your ability to argue. But I don't know, are you still a human? A beast!"

Liu Bang said: "You demon king who can't kill an eye, don't tell me about human nature! Let alone the big ones, we two are fighting, why do you detain my family? You are also a big hero, and we once It's a friend, do you think it's honorable to treat my father and wife like this? What kind of man are you, a mad dog!"

"I'm disgraceful? I'm a mad dog? What about you? Have you ever done a glorious thing in your life? For so many years, the common people in the world have been in turmoil all year round, and they are in fear every day. It's all because you don't accept my anger. In addition, set up a 'central government'. If you really have the ability and courage, stand up, we two will fight to the death, we will fight to the death, you will live and die, and don't let the common people in the world suffer for nothing because of us." Xiang Yu said disdainfully.

Liu Bang replied: "Don't you just have some stupid strength? I would rather fight wits with you than wrestle with you. That's the method used by villains in the market, not by people who lead soldiers to fight. I really admire you for thinking Come up with such an idea."

"Coward! If you don't have the courage to come out and fight alone, why are you talking about leading troops to fight? Don't even think about it. How many times have you won battles in your life? Are you worthy of talking about fighting?" Xiang Yu asked.

Liu Bang said: "No matter how cowardly I am, no matter how often defeated a general, I am still cuter than you, at least I have done less evil than you. It is good that you have won many battles, but you have committed many crimes. It is heinous. Have you counted this? "

"Joke, I am unpardonable for ten crimes. Where is the crime? Where is the evil? Overthrow the Qin Dynasty, avenge the six kingdoms, restore the kingdoms, divide the princes, including the king of unrighteous people like you, this is you The so-called my crime?" Xiang Yu asked contemptuously.

"Xiang Yu, listen carefully. First, you resisted the order and did not obey it. You relied on force to deprive me of the right to be king in Guanzhong, and sent me to the remote and closed Shu Han. You are open-eyed and disrespectful to King Huai. Second, you support your own self-respect. After leading the troops to rescue Zhao, you will not return to the king's order, and you will kidnap the princes' soldiers to enter the pass without authorization. Third, you kill the commander in chief of the army and make yourself the leader, and the next one will commit crimes. Fourth, after the Qin Dynasty is destroyed, you will not act kingly , wantonly burned, killed and looted, burned the Afang Palace, robbed the Qin Emperor’s Mausoleum, and took all the treasures of the world as private property. Fifth, bullied the weak and innocently killed Qin Jiang’s prince baby. Sixth, lost humanity, buried 20 Qin Jiang’s soldiers alive at a time, but Add the head of the thief as king. Seventh, expel the princes, forcefully divide their land, and cause chaos in the world. Eighth, exile Emperor Yi, seize the emperor's capital for himself, and invade the princes. Ninth, go against the law and use the most despicable means to assassinate Emperor Yi , claiming to be the overlord of Western Chu. Tenth, to sum it up, as a subject you kill the lord, as a soldier you kill captives, as a lord you are unjust in politics, as a friend you are not faithful. Your actions are admired by all people in the world Shameless, it can be said that the crime is extremely heinous, too numerous to write down, and should have been punished long ago. I am now leading the righteous soldiers to attack you with all the princes. Those who survived under your brutal rule want to kill you with their own hands, Shall I challenge you alone? Furthermore, do you, a heinous sinner, deserve to challenge me alone!" Liu Bangyi said sternly.

Before Liu Bang finished speaking, Xiang Yu was so angry that his seven orifices were filled with smoke, and he immediately ordered the crossbowmen who were in ambush in advance: "Quickly release the arrow, hurry up, shoot this dishonest and pretentious scoundrel to death!"

It was too late to say it, and then it was too fast, just hearing a "whoosh", three arrows shot at Liu Bang together, and one of them hit Liu Bang's chest.Liu Bang immediately bowed his body with an "Ai yo", on the one hand he was on guard against the subsequent arrows, and on the other hand he said loudly: "The anger hurt my toe!"

Seeing that Liu Bang was injured, the Han army quickly surrounded him and rescued him quickly.

Xiang Yu saw the panic of the Han army, and guessed that Liu Bang must have been shot in the vitals, and he might be shot to death with an arrow. The anger has not completely dissipated, he turned and pointed at Liu Tian and said to his subordinates: "Throw this old thing into the pot for me quickly, and burn him to death!"

Xiang Bo came over and said to Xiang Yu: "You can't do this to an overlord. People who fight for the world don't even care about their own lives, so they don't care about their parents. Everyone has parents. If you kill a family's parents, it will chill the hearts of all parents in the world. Besides Doing so will only increase the hatred between the two sides, and will not benefit the world, so it is better not to involve him. I don’t know whether Liu Bang is dead or alive now. It is important to attack the Han army while Liu Bang is injured, and maybe we can win in one fell swoop.”

Xiang Yu felt that his uncle was right, so he said to his subordinates: "Okay, let this old guy go first, and stay in the army as a hostage." Then he said to Xiang Sheng, the general beside him, "Move the army immediately, move Earth and rocks, fill up the gully in front of you, and launch a general attack on the Han army tomorrow morning!"

Xiang Sheng agreed: "Yes." Tens of thousands of horses quickly got busy.

The Han army saw that Xiang Yu's men were frantically filling the stream with earth and rocks, and worried that they would soon be able to fill in a path.When the situation was reported, Zhang Liang ordered the crossbowmen to shoot ten thousand arrows at the Chu army to prevent the Chu army from moving, and the Chu army had to stop.

The arrow that Liu Bang received hit right in the hollow of his chest, but fortunately the opponent was far away, when the arrow hit him, it didn't have much power, it only penetrated the ribs and didn't hurt the internal organs.But Liu Bang was in so much pain that he could hardly move.

In the evening, when the Chu army filled the valley with huge crowds of people again, the Han army saw a commotion.Zhang Liang felt that the situation was not good for the Han army, so he said to Liu Bang, "Your Majesty, the Chu army thought that you might not die but also be seriously injured, so they intensified their attacks on our army. Seeing that you were injured, our army was in a state of confusion. It seems that we cannot resist this." The attack of the Chu army. Fortunately, when you were injured, you said something like 'the slave hurt my toe', so you were able to prevaricate the soldiers on both sides. But now you have to endure the pain and show your condolences in name Taking a look at the soldiers in front of the battle is really to stabilize the morale of the army and boost morale. At the same time, it also lets the Chu army know that you are not seriously injured, and dispels their mentality of taking advantage of the fire.

Liu Bang said sadly: "Zifang, I'm afraid it won't work."

"Your Majesty, the doctor has already seen you, and there is nothing serious. Now the situation is urgent, and you have to hold on. I have arranged everything. You don't need to walk around, just sit in the car and go around. It will be quick. "Zhang Liang said.

"Then follow your arrangement and help me into the car." Liu Bang endured the pain and said.

He got into the car, wore a tall Liu's crown on his head, and walked steadily along the Jianbian Avenue on the side of the Han army, without any signs of injury.Although it was not very dark, a few lanterns were arranged beside the car to illuminate it.When the soldiers talked to him, he greeted him with jokes and told everyone not to slack off, and persistence is victory.Chu Jun saw Liu Bang passing by from a distance, thinking that he was not seriously injured, and suddenly relaxed a lot.They reported the situation to Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu believed it.At this time, he was eating with Yu Ji, and said casually: "Since Liu Bang is not dead, then don't rush to attack him, and order the soldiers to rest for a while."

Unexpectedly, Liu Bang turned around and went back soon.Zhang Liang made arrangements for his defense, took a group of entourages, and escorted Liu Bang to Chenggao overnight to recuperate his injuries.

A few months later, Xiang Yu's plan to attack Liu Bang made no progress at all, but the Han army completed the encirclement of the Chu army from the west, north and back.Seeing this situation, Xiang Yu couldn't keep up with the supply of food and grass for the Chu army, and many soldiers fled. This made him very worried and panicked, and he had to propose negotiations with Liu Bang.

The two sides had been stalemate for several years, and Liu Bang was a little war-weary, so he agreed to Xiang Yu's request. The two agreed to divide the world equally with the gap as the boundary. The west of the gap belongs to Han, and the east belongs to Chu.Xiang Yu returned Liu Taigong and Lu Zhi, who had been held hostage in the army, to Liu Bang, and led his exhausted troops to retreat one after another.

Xiang Yu didn't expect this time that Liu Bang has always been a person who doesn't stick to formality. As soon as he walked halfway here, Liu Bang joined forces with several contemporary heroes such as Han Xin, Peng Yue, and Yingbo in Guling. , launched a major counterattack against the Chu army.At this time, Liu Bang had 30 troops, and Xiang Yu only had [-] troops. The Chu army was soon forced to retreat to Gaixia.In order to shake Xiang Yu's army's morale, Liu Bang selected a group of soldiers who could sing Chu's local folk songs, and sang Chu's songs around the Chu camp every night. The general situation is over, and many people have left.Xiang Yu drank his sorrows with wine, and sang a song "Gaixia Song" about the end of a hero:
Pulling the mountain out of the world,
The time is not good, and it never dies,
It's not going to die,
Yu Xi Yu Xi Nai Ruo what?
It turned out that Xiang Yu was worried that he was about to be defeated. My horse can be owned by others. What about my lover, should she also be owned by others?

Concubine Yu saw that it was time, but Xiang Yu was still worried about her. In order to show her true love and not to drag Xiang Yu down, she unpreparedly pulled out the sword from Xiang Yu's waist, and smacked it on her own neck, performing a scene of grand and intense action. Farewell My Concubine tragedy!

Shortly thereafter, Xiang Yu fled to Wujiang and took his own life with the same sword.

(End of this chapter)