Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 15 The Han Dynasty: The Banquet of the Hongmen (3)
【Translation】

After the ceremony of paying homage to Han Xin was completed, Liu Bang returned to his seat and said, "The prime minister has praised you many times, general, what strategy will you use to teach me?" "Now go east to fight for the world, isn't your opponent Xiang Yu?" Liu Bang said, "It's him." Han Xin said again: "Your Majesty, think about it for yourself. In terms of bravery, toughness, benevolence, and firmness, you are the same as Xiang Yu." How about it?" Liu Bang was silent for a long time, and said: "I am not as good as him." Han Xin then bowed twice and praised: "I also think that your lord is not as good as him in these aspects. However, I was once a servant under Xiang Yu , now please let me talk about his character! When Xiang Yu shouted at people, thousands of people were frightened and stood aside, but he couldn't appoint a virtuous general; this is the so-called bravery Xiang Yu treats people with respect and kindness, and his words are gentle and considerate. When others are sick, he will shed tears and distribute his own food to the sick; Hold the seal tightly in your hand, rub it until it loses its edges and corners, but you are still reluctant to give it to others. This is what people call a woman's benevolence! Although Xiang Yu dominated the world and made the princes profess his ministers, he did not guard Guanzhong but established Pengcheng as his capital; Abandoning the agreement with Yi Emperor Huai Wang, and all the generals whom he trusted and loved were enshrined as kings, and the princes were outraged by this; He also expelled Emperor Yi to the south of the Yangtze River; the places he led his troops passed through were not devastated; the common people were unwilling to get close to him, but they were reluctantly attached to him because they were overwhelmed by his power. There are various signs As a result, although he is an overlord in name, he has actually lost the hearts of the people of the world, so his strength can be easily weakened. Now, if you can really do the opposite, my lord, let the world be brave and good at fighting How can there be any opponent who cannot be eradicated! How can anyone be dissatisfied with the feudal officials who reward the cities of the world! Use righteous military actions to obey the soldiers who are thinking about returning to the east. What enemy can't be defeated and defeated! What's more, the three kings entrusted to the land of Qin were all generals of the Qin Dynasty before. Later they deceived their subordinates and surrendered to the armies of the princes. As a result, when they arrived in Xin'an, there were more than 20 soldiers of the Qin army who were deceived by Xiang Yu and buried alive. Only Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi were able to escape. All the elders and brothers in Qindi hated these three people. They hated them to the bone. But now Xiang Yu is relying on his power to force these three people to be kings. No one in Qindi will love them. Your Majesty When you marched into Wuguan, Qiu did not infringe anything. You also abolished the harsh laws and regulations of the Qin Dynasty, and made three chapters with the people of Qin. The people of Qin did not want you to be king in Guanzhong. Besides, according to the original agreement with the princes, Your Majesty It is a matter of course for you to be king in Guanzhong. Everyone in Guanzhong respects thisKnown.You lost the throne you deserved and went to Hanzhong. The people of Qin did not complain about this.Now, my lord, if you send troops to the east, you only need to issue a conquest document to the land of the Three Qin Dynasty, and you can easily pacify it. "Liu Bang was overjoyed because of this, and realized that it was too late to get Han Xin, so he immediately followed Han Xin's plan and arranged for the generals to attack, leaving only Xiao He to collect taxes from Ba and Shu counties to supplement the army.

[Comment and Analysis]

The era of turmoil and heroes is an era of high spirits, and it is also an era of heroes competing in the Central Plains.Qin lost its deer, and all people in the world chased after it, and the quickest got first.After the Qin Dynasty was overthrown, countless talented people gathered under Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, and started the war to compete in the Central Plains.The essence of this war is a war to seize the supremacy, but the winner and the loser, the successful Liu Bang established the glorious Han Dynasty, and the most important reason is the help of Han Xin.

Gaixia Siege
[Original text]

Five Years of Emperor Gao, Emperor Taizu of the Han Dynasty
In the twelfth month, King Xiang went to Gaixia, his soldiers were few, and his food was exhausted. He was defeated by the Han and entered the wall. The Han army and the princes were heavily surrounded.At night, King Xiang heard that the Han army was besieged on all sides, and he was shocked and said: "Have the Hans already conquered Chu? Why are there so many people from Chu?" Weeping, Mo can look up.So King Xiang rode his steed named Zou, and more than [-] servants of the strong men under his command, broke through the encirclement south at night and galloped away.In Pingming, the Han army was aware of it, and ordered the cavalry general Guan Ying to chase him with five thousand horses.When King Xiang crossed the Huai River, there were only a hundred or so riders who could ride.When I went to the Yin Ling, I lost my way, and asked Yi Tian's father, Tian Fuling said "Left".On the left, it was trapped in the Daze, and the old Han chased after it.

Xiang Wangnai led his troops back to the east, and when he reached the east city, he had 28 cavalry. Thousands of Han cavalry pursued them.King Xiang couldn't get rid of himself, so he called his cavalry and said, "I have been in the army since I was eight years old. I have fought more than seventy battles, and I have not been defeated, so I have dominated the world. However, the soldiers are trapped here. The death of me today is not a crime of war. Yes. Today I will definitely die, and I wish to fight quickly for the lords. I will break the siege, cut off the generals, mow the flag, and win three times, so that the lords will know that heaven has killed me, and it is not a crime of war." He divided his cavalry into four teams, Four townships.The siege of the Han army was heavy.King Xiang said that he was riding and saying: "I am the public and take the other general." He was ordered to ride down on all sides, and there were three places in Shandong.So King Xiang shouted down, and the Han army was invincible, so he beheaded a general of the Han.

【Translation】

The fifth year of Emperor Gao of the Han Dynasty (202 BC)
In the twelfth month, Xiang Yu led his army to Gaixia. At this time, the soldiers were short of food and food.The Han army and the armies of the princes then surrounded Xiang Yu's barracks.At night, Xiang Yu could hear the songs of Chu being sung by the Han army from all directions, so he exclaimed: "Has the Han army captured all the land of Chu? Why are there so many Chu people all of a sudden?" So he got up He got out of bed, drank alone in the tent, sang generously and elegiacly, tears streaming down his face, and the attendants on the left and right cried so much that they couldn't even lift their heads.So Xiang Yu rode on his steed named Zou, and led 100 strong men from his men to follow him on horseback. While it was dark, they broke out of the encirclement of the Han army and galloped south.It was only when the sky was bright that the Han army realized that Xiang Yu's troops had fled, so Liu Bang ordered the cavalry general Guan Ying to lead [-] cavalry in pursuit.Xiang Yu led his army across the Huai River, and so far only more than [-] cavalry could keep up with him.After arriving at Yinling, Xiang Yu and his party lost their way, so they asked a farmer for directions, and the farmer tricked them by saying, "Go left." After Xiang Yu and his party really went left, they got stuck in a big swamp .The Han army then caught up with them.

Xiang Yu had no choice but to lead his troops and fled eastward. When he arrived in Dongcheng, there were only 28 cavalry left behind him.At this time, there were thousands of Han cavalry who came to chase them. Xiang Yu knew that he could not escape, so he said to the cavalry who followed him: "It has been eight years since I started the army. I have experienced it myself. There have been more than 70 battles, but I have never failed, so I was able to dominate the world. However, I am trapped here today. , I am willing to fight hard for you, and I will definitely break the siege of the Han army, behead the Han generals, cut down the Han flag, and win the Han army three times in a row, so that everyone knows that it is God who wants to kill me, not what is wrong with me using soldiers! "After that, he divided the 28 cavalry into four groups and rushed to kill the Han army in all directions.But the Han army has surrounded them several layers.Xiang Yu then said to the cavalry: "Watch me go and kill a Han general for you!" Then he ordered his cavalry to gallop down in all directions, and agreed to meet in three places on the east side of the mountain.At this time, Xiang Yu shouted loudly and rode his horse galloping down. The Han army was immediately routed and scattered. Xiang Yu took advantage of the chaos and beheaded a Han general.

[Original text]

At that time, Lang Zhongqi Yang Xi chased King Xiang, and King Xiang scolded him with angry eyes. He was shocked and moved away for several miles.King Xiang and his cavalry met in three places. The Han army didn't know where King Xiang was, so they divided their troops into three and surrounded them.Xiang Wang Naichi again beheaded a captain of the Han Dynasty, killing dozens of people.Gather their cavalry again, and kill their two cavalry ears.It is said that the rider said: "How is it?" The riders all fell down and said: "As the king said!" So King Xiang wanted to cross the Wujiang River eastward, and the long boat at the Wujiang Pavilion waited. People are like kings. May your majesty cross quickly! Now the only minister has a boat, and the Han army has arrived, so there is no way to cross." Xiang Wang said with a smile: "I am destroyed by the sky, how can I cross! And I have 10 children from Jiangdong. Crossing the river to the west, no one has yet returned; Zongjiang east, my father and brother are pitiful and king of me, how can I see him! Even if he doesn't say anything, I am worthy of my heart!" He gave the pavilion chief the stallion he was riding, and ordered all the riders to dismount and walk. , Fighting with short soldiers.Du Ji killed hundreds of Han soldiers and was wounded by more than ten people.Gu saw Lu Matong, the Sima of the Han Cavalry, and said: "If it is not my old friend?" Ma Tong faced him and instructed Zhonglang Qiwang Yi to say: "This is also the king!" Xiang Wangnai said: "I heard that the Han bought my head. Thousands of gold, ten thousand households in the city; I am Ruode." He slayed himself and died.Wang Yi took his head, and the rest of the cavalry trampled on each other to fight for King Xiang. Dozens of people killed each other.In the end, Yang Xi, Lu Matong, Langzhong Lu Sheng, and Yang Wu each got their own bodies; the five of them met their bodies together, and they all belonged to each other.

【Translation】

At this moment, Yang Xi, a Langzhong of the Han army, came to pursue Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu turned around and scolded him angrily.Xiang Yu then joined up with his cavalry in three places, and the Han army couldn't figure out where Xiang Yu was for a while, so they had to divide their troops into three groups, and surrounded Xiang Yu and his men again.Xiang Yu galloped again and killed another captain of the Han army, and killed nearly a hundred people of the Han army, and regrouped his cavalry.And Xiang Yu only lost two knights.Xiang Yu said to his cavalry, "How is it?" All the cavalry were impressed by his actions, and said in unison, "Just as your majesty said!" Waiting for Xiang Yu and his party to board the boat, he said to Xiang Yu: "Although Jiangdong is a little small, it has a land area of ​​thousands of miles, and there are hundreds of thousands of people. It is enough for you to be the king of the king. I hope you can do it." Hurry up and cross the river! Now I am the only one who has a boat. When the Han army comes after me, there will be no boats to cross the river." Xiang Yu said with a smile: "This is God who wants to kill me, Xiang Yu, why should I cross the river again! Besides, I and Baqian The children from Jiangdong crossed the river to the west together, but now there is no survivor; even if the elders of Jiangdong feel sorry for me and are willing to support me as king, what face do I have to face them again! Even if they don’t say anything, can I Don't Xiang Ji feel ashamed?" So he gave the stall chief the stallion horse he was riding on, and ordered all his cavalry to dismount and walk to meet the Han army.Xiang Yu alone killed hundreds of Han soldiers, but Xiang Yu himself was wounded in more than ten places.At this moment, Xiang Yu turned his head and saw Lu Matong, the Sima of the Han Cavalry, and said to him, "Aren't you my old friend?" It is King Xiang!" Then Xiang Yu said: "I heard that the King of Han offered a reward of one thousand pieces of gold and ten thousand households to take my head, so I will leave some favors to you now!" Then he drew his sword and killed himself.Wang Yi then cut off Xiang Yu's head.The rest of the cavalry trampled on each other and competed for Xiang Yu's body, and dozens of people killed each other.In the end, Yang Xi, Lu Matong, Langzhong Lu Sheng, and Yang Wu each won a part of Xiang Yu's body.After the five people went back, they put Xiang Yu's limbs together again, and it happened to be a complete whole. So Liu Bang divided the ten thousand households that had originally offered a reward to these five people, and made them all Liehou.

[Original text]

The land of Chu was determined, and Lu alone could not be conquered; the king of Han led the soldiers from all over the world to slaughter him.At the foot of the city, you can still hear the sound of chanting. For a country that observes propriety and righteousness, on the festival of the Lord's death, he holds the head of King Xiang to show Lu's father and brother, and Lu Nai surrendered.The king of Han buried King Xiang in Gucheng with the ceremonies of the Duke of Lu.All Xiang's branches and genera are not punished.The four people including Xiang Bo were all granted the title of Liehou, and they were given the surname Liu; all the people who lived in Chu all returned to them.

Tai Shigong said: "In the midst of Yuqi Longyu, within three years, the five princes will destroy Qin, divide the world and make princes, and the government will come out from the feathers; although the position will not end, it has never happened in modern times!"Ji Yubei cared about Chu, exiled Emperor Yi to stand on his own; it is difficult to blame the prince for betraying himself!Self-respecting meritorious deeds, promoting one's own wisdom without imitating the ancients, is called the career of a king, and wants to rule the world with strength.In five years, he died in his country and died in Dongcheng. He didn't realize it and didn't blame himself. Instead, he quoted "Heaven's death for me is not a crime of using soldiers," isn't it absurd!
【Translation】

After all the places in Chu were pacified, only Lu County still refused to surrender.Liu Bang led soldiers and horses from all over the world, intending to massacre the city.When the army arrived at the city, the sound of ritual and music orchestras in the city could still be heard.Since Lu County has always been a state of etiquette and must be loyal to its monarch, Liu Bang asked his subordinates to show Xiang Yu's head to the elders of Lu County, and Lu County surrendered.Liu Bang then buried Xiang Yu in Gucheng with the ceremony of burying Duke Lu, and personally mourned Xiang Yu, crying for a long time before leaving.The Han army did not kill any of Xiang Yu's clan relatives, but also named Xiang Bo and other four people as Liehou, and gave them the surname Liu, and handed over the people who were captured to Chu in the past to their jurisdiction.

Ma Qian of the Taishi Company said: Xiang Yu made his fortune in the fields. In just three years, he led the armies of the five vassal states of Qi, Zhao, Han, Wei, and Yan to destroy the mighty Qin State, divided the world and conferred princes, All government orders were issued by Xiang Yu; although his throne was not established in the end, it was unprecedented in modern times!But later, when Xiang Yu abandoned Guanzhong and cherished the homeland of Chu, exiled Emperor Yi and established himself as king, it would be hard to justify resenting the princes and kings for betraying him!They also brag about their military exploits, only know how to show their personal cleverness, but don't know how to learn from the ancients humbly, thinking that the achievements of the overlord are to use force to conquer and manage the world.As a result, after only five years, he finally lost his own country, and he himself died in Dongcheng, a foreign country, but he still didn't realize it, didn't blame himself, and instead deceived himself and said, "God wants to kill me, not me. The fault of using soldiers", isn't this ridiculous!
[Comment and Analysis]

"Strengthen the mountain and the world is overwhelmed, and the time is not good. The time is not dying. What is the time when the dying is not dying, what is the reason for the dying?" Xiang Yu sang under the besieged Gai, a tragic song of the hero's end.This elegy was recorded by Ma Qian of Taishi Company, and the song expresses the sigh of the hero's end.Speaking of heroes, how can I ask who is a hero in the world?I'm afraid there is only Xiang Yu alone.

Han Xin's death
[Original text]

Sixth Year of Emperor Gao, Emperor Taizu of the Han Dynasty
In winter, in October, someone wrote a letter to the king of Chu who believed in rebellion.The emperor asked the generals, and they all said: "Send troops urgently, and your ears will be erected!" The emperor was silent.Ask Chen Ping again.Chen Ping said: "When people write letters, what do you believe and know?" He said, "I don't know." Is there anyone who can surpass Han Xin in military use?" Shang said: "It is impossible." Ping said: "Today's soldiers are not as good as Chu Jing and will not be able to reach them. Raise troops to attack them. This is an interesting battle. Stealing is dangerous for Your Majesty!" Shang said: "What can I do for it?" Ping said: "In ancient times, the Son of Heaven patrolled hunting and met the princes. Your Majesty first came out, falsely traveling in Yunmeng, and meeting the princes in Chen. Chen is the western border of Chu; I believe that the Son of Heaven wants to travel. , It is bound to have nothing to do, and the suburbs will greet you; and your majesty will be there because of the birds, this is a special matter for a strong man." The emperor thought so, so he sent an envoy to tell the princes Huichen, "I will travel south to Yunmeng." Shangyin followed to do.

(End of this chapter)