Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 14 The Han Dynasty: The Banquet of the Hongmen (2)
At this time, Zhang Liang came to the military gate to meet Fan Kuai.Fan Kui asked: "Is everything going well today?" Zhang Liang then said: "Now Xiang Zhuang is drawing his sword and dancing, but his intentions are always on Pei Gong!" Fan Kui said: "The matter is so urgent, I ask to come in and fight He is desperate!" Fan Kui immediately broke into the army gate with a sword and a shield.The guards guarding the military gate wanted to prevent him from entering, so Fan Kui turned his shield sideways and collided, and the guards fell to the ground immediately.Fan Kuai was able to enter, and opened the curtain and stood there straight, glaring at Xiang Yu, his hair stood on end, and the corners of his eyes were cracked.Xiang Yu pressed his sword with both hands, stood up, and shouted, "What does this man do?" Zhang Liang said, "This is Fan Kuai, the guard accompanying Peigong." Xiang Yu said, "This is really a strong man! Give him a glass of wine. !” So ​​the attendants on the left and right immediately gave him a big glass of wine.After Fan Kuai thanked him, he stood up and drank it all in one gulp.Xiang Yu said again: "Give him another pork leg!" The attendants then gave him another raw pork leg.Fan Kuai put his shield upside down on the ground, put the pork leg on it, drew out his sword, cut it open and began to eat.Xiang Yu asked: "Strong man, can you drink any more?" Fan Kui replied: "I don't even want to escape from death. Is a glass of wine enough to make me refuse? The king of Qin has a heart as cruel as a tiger and wolf. Punish people with punishment for fear that it will not be enough to torture people, so it will lead to rebellion from all over the world. King Huai once made an appointment with various generals: "The one who first defeats the Qin army and invades Xianyang City will become king in Guanzhong." Now Peigong is the first to defeat The Qin army invaded Xianyang, but they didn't dare to touch anything as small as a hair, but they still led the army back to Bashang to wait for your arrival, general. Not only did you not reward him with fiefs and titles, but you listened to him The villain's slander is to punish those who have made meritorious deeds. This is simply repeating the same mistakes that the Qin Dynasty was destroyed. I privately think that your approach is not advisable!" Xiang Yu was speechless and could only say: " Please sit down." Fan Kui then sat down beside Zhang Liang.

[Original text]

After sitting for a while, Pei Gong got up to go to the toilet, because he called Fan Kuai out.Pei Gong said: "If you come out today, you haven't said goodbye. What can you do?"Hongmen went to Bashang forty miles, while Peigong set up his cart and rode alone; Fan Kuai, Xia Houying, Jin Qiang, Ji Xin and others walked with swords and shields, and descended from Lishan to Zhiyang. superior.Leaving Zhang Liang as an envoy to thank Xiang Yu, presenting the feather with a white biscuit, and the jade fight with Yafu.Pei Gong called Liang and said: "From now on, the road to our army is only twenty miles away. If you send me to the army, you will enter." Pei Gong has gone, and Zhang Liang entered the army. Resignation, I would like to envoy Liang to present a pair of white biscuits, and then offer to the general's feet; and a pair of jade buckets, to worship the feet of Yafu." Xiang Yu said, "Where is Pei Gong?" Go alone, you have reached the army." Xiang Yu received the bi, and sat on it.Yafu received the jade fight, put it on the ground, drew his sword and smashed it, saying: "Oh! Shuzi is not enough to plan! The one who takes the general and the world must be Pei Gong. I am now a prisoner for him!" Pei Gong went to the army and stood up. Kill Cao Wushang.

After staying for a few days, Xiang Yu led troops to the west, slaughtered Xianyang, killed Qin's prince Ying, and burned Qin's palace. The fire did not go out for three months.Collect its treasures and women and go east.Qin Min was disappointed.Han Sheng said that Xiang Yu said: "The land in Guanzhong is blocked by mountains and rivers, and the land is fertile and fertile. You can dominate it." Like clothes embroidered and walking at night, who knows!" Han Sheng retreated and said: "It is said that Chu people wear monkeys to wear their ears, and it is true!" Xiang Yu heard this and cooked Han Sheng.

【Translation】

After sitting down for a while, Liu Bang got up and went to the toilet, and took the opportunity to ask Fan Kui to go out together.Liu Bang said: "I came out now and didn't say goodbye, what should I do?" Fan Kuai said: "Now the other party is like a butcher's knife and a chopping board, and we are fish and meat. In such a situation, why should we say goodbye!" So he left immediately go.The distance between Hongmen and Bashang was forty miles, so Liu Bang left his chariot and horse and rode forward alone. Fan Kuai, Xia Houying, Jin Qiang, and Ji Xin held swords and shields in their hands. , via Zhiyang, copy the path and gallop on Bashang.Only Zhang Liang was left, and asked him to thank Xiang Yu and present a pair of white biscuits to Xiang Yu, and a big jade cup to his father, Fan Zeng.Before leaving, Liu Bang told Zhang Liangdao: "It's only twenty miles from this road to our barracks. You can go in when we have already arrived at the camp." Liu Bang and his party left and took a small path back to the army. Then Zhang Liang went in to apologize and said: "Pei Gong couldn't come to say goodbye in person because he couldn't drink, so I would like to send my humble minister Zhang Liang to present a pair of white biscuits to you, general, with the grand ceremony of worshiping twice in a row; Dedicate a pair of jade cups to Yafu." Xiang Yu asked, "Where is Pei Gong now?" Zhang Liang replied, "He heard that you wanted to blame him, General, so he left alone, and now he has returned to the station. It is." So Xiang Yu accepted Bai Bi and put it on the seat.Yafu Fan Zeng took the jade cups and put them on the ground. He drew his sword and smashed them to pieces. He said angrily, "Oh! This kid is not worth working with him! Liu Bang is the one who won the world of General Xiang. Now those of us You are about to become Liu Bang's prisoner!" After Liu Bang arrived in the army, he immediately executed Cao Wushang.

Within a few days, Xiang Yu led his army westward, looted and slaughtered Xianyang City, killed the surrendered Qin Prince Ying, and set fire to the Qin Dynasty palace. The fire burned for three months and did not go out.He also ordered to collect the gold and silver treasures and women of the Qin Dynasty and go eastward.The people of Qin were greatly disappointed.Han Sheng persuaded Xiang Yu: "Guanzhong is surrounded by mountains and rivers as a barrier, and there are dangerous places to defend on all sides. The land is fertile, and you can establish a hegemony here." Xiang Yu looked at the palaces of the Qin Dynasty on the one hand. It was dilapidated, and on the one hand, he was thinking about returning to his hometown in the East, so he said: "When you are rich but don't return to your hometown, it's like going out at night wearing silk and satin. Who can see it!" Han Sheng stepped back and said: " It is said that the people of Chu are like macaques wearing human hats, and they are really so!" Hearing this, Xiang Yu immediately boiled Han Sheng to death.

[Comment and Analysis]

The uprisings of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang failed soon, but the anti-Qin struggle they led was in full swing.In this struggle, the armies led by Xiang Yu and Liu Bang became the two most important forces.After Xianyang was captured, the two heroes in troubled times finally met together, and the sparks lit up the eyes of future generations.This "Hongmen Banquet" was their first contest. On the surface, Liu Bang quit halfway in embarrassment and left without saying goodbye, seemingly fleeing; but everyone knows that Xiang Yu actually failed. He let the tiger go back to the mountain. This tiger is not only cunning , and there are Zhang Liang, Fan Kui and other subordinates.Therefore, this halfway banquet also foreshadowed the later ending.

Han Xin
[Original text]

The First Year of Emperor Gao, Emperor Taizu of the Han Dynasty
In the early days, Han Xin, a native of Huaiyin, had a poor family and no business.Xin fished under the city, and there was a drifting mother who saw the letter and was hungry.Xinxi said that Piao's mother said: "I will repay my mother." The mother said angrily: "A man can't eat by himself. I mourn for the king and grandson and eat. How can I expect to repay it!" Even though he is grown up, he likes to carry a sword, but his heart is timid." Because of the humiliation of the crowd, he said: "Believe can die, stab me; if you can't die, get out of my crotch!" So the one who believes in it, sticks out from the crotch, and prostrates himself. .Everyone in the city laughed and believed, thinking they were timid.

And Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River, followed by the stick and sword.Under his command, he is unknown.Xiang Liang was defeated and belonged to Xiang Yu, who thought he was a doctor.The number is used to dry the feathers, but the feathers are not used.When the king of Han entered Shu, he believed that Chu would return to Han, but his name is unknown.For Lian Ao, sit down and beheaded.All thirteen people of his generation had been beheaded, and the next time he believed in him, he looked up and saw Duke Teng, and said: "Doesn't the superior want to conquer the world? What do you mean by beheading a strong man?" Duke Teng marveled at his words, his appearance was strong, and he released it without beheading him; Language, speak it out loud, speak to the king.Wang Bai thought it was not surprising that he ruled Su Duwei.

【Translation】

The first year of Han Gaozu (206 BC)
At first, Han Xin from Huaiyin grew up in a poor family and didn't develop good morals, so he couldn't be elected to be an official.Han Xin once went fishing in the city, and an old lady who was washing silk cotton by the water saw that he was hungry, so she gave him her own food.So Han Xin was very happy, and said to the old lady, "I will definitely repay you, old lady." After hearing this, the old lady said very angrily, "A man can't support himself! I just give you food because I pity you. Could it be that you can get something in return?" A young man among the butchers in Huaiyin County insulted Han Dao: "Although you are tall and like wearing a knife and carrying a sword, you are actually very timid inside." He took the opportunity to humiliate him in public: "Han Xin, if you are really not afraid of death, then come and kill me. If you are afraid of death, then you have to get under my crotch!" Han Xin looked at the young man carefully for a while, then bent down, prostrated himself on the ground, and passed him slipped between his legs.At this time, people in the whole market laughed at Han Xin, thinking that he was timid.

When Xiang Liang crossed the Huaihe River, Han Xin went to join him with his sword, so he remained as Xiang Liang's subordinate, where he remained unknown.Later, after Xiang Liang's defeat, Han Xin returned to Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu made him a doctor.Han Xin offered Xiang Yu several strategies for reuse, but Xiang Yu refused to adopt them.Han Wang Liu Bang entered Shuzhong, and Han Xin fled from the Chu army and surrendered to the Han King. He was still unknown there, and only served as a small official to receive guests.Later, Han Xin violated the law and should be sentenced to beheading. The thirteen people who were in the same case with him had all been beheaded. Don’t you want to take over the world? Why do you want to kill a strong man!” Teng Gong felt that his words were extraordinary, and seeing that he was so strong, he released him without beheading him. He was very happy when he talked with him. So he reported the specific situation to Liu Bang.Liu Bang then appointed Han Xin as the captain of Zhisu, but he still didn't think there was anything special about him.

[Original text]

Xinshu and Xiao Heyu, He Qizhi.From the king of Han to Nanzheng, all the generals and soldiers sang praises of thinking about returning to the east, and there were many dead people.How trustworthy is the king of words, if the king does not use it, he will die.He Wenxin is dead, if you don't hear it, you will chase it yourself.Some people said that the king said: "Why is the prime minister dead?" The king was furious, as if he had lost his left and right hands.After living for one or two days, why come to visit the king.The king was angry and happy, and scolded He, saying: "If you die, why?" He said: "I dare not die, I chase after the ears of the dead." Yes." Wang Fu scolded and said: "The number of generals who died is as many as ten, and the public has nothing to pursue. Pursuing the letter is deceitful!" He said: "The generals are easy to get ears. As far as the believer is concerned, the country's scholars are unparalleled. The king must want to be the king. In Hanzhong, if you don’t believe in anything, you will want to fight for the world. If you don’t believe in it, you can’t do anything with it. Gu Wang Ce’s decision.”

The king said: "I also want the east ear, and I can live here for a long time!" He said: "If you plan, you must want the east. If you can use faith, you will keep it; if you can't use it, you will lose your ear." I think you will be a general." He said: "Although you are a general, you will not keep your faith." The king said: "I think you are a general." He said: "What a blessing!" So the king wanted to call him to worship him.He said: "Wang Su is slow and rude. Today, worshiping the general is like calling a child. This is because of faith, so he went. The king must want to worship him. Choose a good day, fast, set up a mandala, and be polite. That's good." Wang Xu Zhi.All the generals are happy, and everyone thinks they are generals.It was Han Xin who paid homage to the general, and the whole army was shocked.

【Translation】

Han Xin talked with Xiao He many times, and Xiao He felt that he was extraordinary.When the king of Han arrived in Nanzheng, all the generals and soldiers sang songs of missing their hometown in the east, and many fled on the way.Han Xin estimated that Xiao He and others had recommended him to the King of Han many times, but the King of Han still did not reuse him, so he also fled.When Xiao He heard the news of Han Xin's escape, he had no time to report to Liu Bang, so he went after Han Xin himself.Someone told Liu Bang: "Prime Minister Xiao He has also escaped." After hearing this, Liu Bang was furious, as if he had lost his left and right hands.After a day or two, Xiao He came to see Liu Bang.Liu Bang was very happy and angry, and then he scolded Xiao He and said, "Why are you running away?" Xiao He said, "I dare not run away. I am chasing the fleeing man." The King of Han then asked, "Then the one you are chasing?" Who is it?" Xiao He replied, "It's Han Xin." The King of Han then cursed, "Among the generals, more than ten figures have escaped, and you don't go after Han Xin, but you are lying!" Xiao He said: "Those generals are easy to get. Talents like Han Xin are indeed unparalleled in the world. If you plan to be king in Hanzhong for a long time, my lord, there must be something for Han Xin; if you If you want to conquer the world, I don’t think anyone can conspire with you except Han Xin. Now it’s up to you to make a choice!”

Liu Bang said: "Of course I want to go east, how can I stay here for a long time?" Xiao He took the opportunity to say: "If you are determined to develop eastward, if you can reuse Han Xin, Han Xin will stay; if you can't reuse him, He will run away eventually." Liu Bang said: "Then I will appoint him as a general for your sake." Xiao He said: "Even if he is a general, Han Xin will not stay." Liu Bang said: "Then let him be a general." Xiao He said happily, "That's great!" So Liu Bang wanted to call Han Xin to give him an official position.Xiao He said: "My lord, you have always been arrogant and rude. Now that you are about to be called a general, you treat yourself like a child. This is why Han Xin wants to leave. If you want to give him an official position, please choose him." On an auspicious day, fasting is done routinely, setting up sealed altars and squares for worshiping generals, and preparing various ceremonial facilities for worshiping generals, so that’s all right.” Liu Bang agreed to Xiao He’s request one by one.All the generals were very happy when they heard the news, and everyone thought that they must be the one who got the position of general.But when the general was appointed, it was discovered that it was Han Xin, and the whole army was quite surprised by this.

[Original text]

After the letter and worship, sit up.The king said: "The prime minister said a few words about the general, why does the general teach the widows how to plan?" The letter resigned, because he asked the king: "Now Dongxiang is fighting for power in the world, isn't it King Xiang?" The king of Han said: "Yes." Said: "The king knows it himself. Who is brave, benevolent, benevolent, and King Xiang?" The king of Han was silent for a long time, and said: "It's not as good as it is." Xin then bowed his congratulations and said: "But Xin also thinks that the king is not as good as you. However, I have tasted things, and please say that King Xiang is a man. King Xiang Dumb and powerful, thousands of people are abolished, but you can't be appointed as a virtuous general; this is the brave ear of the top man. When King Xiang sees people, he respects and loves, speaks and vomits, and when people are sick, he weeps and divides food and drink; when he makes people, he should be knighted for meritorious service. Those who are imprinted are poor, and they cannot bear it; this is the so-called benevolence of a woman. Although King Xiang dominates the world and ministers to the princes, he does not live in Guanzhong, but he is the capital of Pengcheng; The lord and the king, his generals and ministers, moved to the emperor of Yi and set them in the south of the Yangtze River; everything he passed was destroyed, and the people were not attached to him, and he was especially robbed by the mighty ears. Although he is called a hegemon, he actually loses the hearts of the world, so he is strong and weak. Today Your Majesty is sincerely able to go the other way, let the world be brave, why don't you punish him! Use the cities of the world to seal the hero, why don't you refuse to accept it! Why don't you disperse the soldiers who returned from Sidong with righteous soldiers! And the three kings of Qin are Qin generals, generals The sons of Qin were several years old, and the killings were incalculable; they also deceived all of them to surrender to the princes, and arrived at Xin'an. People, hurt to the bone marrow. Now Chu is strong and powerful, and Qin people don't love these three people. When the king enters Wuguan, autumn will do no harm; except for Qin's harsh laws, he will make three chapters with Qin people; Qin people all want to win the king Qin. According to the agreement between the princes, the king will be the king of Guanzhong, and the people of Guanzhong will know it; if the king neglects his duty and enters Hanzhong, the people of Qin will all hate him. Now the king is moving to the east, and the three Qins can be passed down." So the king of Han was overjoyed and thought that It was too late to get the letter, so he listened to the plan and deployed the generals to attack.Liu Xiaohe collected rent from Ba and Shu and gave food to the army.

(End of this chapter)