God of War through the ages: Han Xin

Chapter 23
The impact of Pengcheng's defeat on the Han army was almost fatal. More than 20 main forces of the Han army were instantly reimbursed.Xiao He, who was sitting in Guanzhong, almost conquered all the middle-aged and elderly men and teenagers in Guanzhong, and sent them to the front line. Coupled with the remnant army who kept fleeing from Pengcheng, Liu Bang recovered to a certain extent.

However, the situation was not optimistic. A large number of Chu troops marched west along Surabaya, trying to gather and annihilate the remnants of the Han army in Henan and Hanoi, and then take advantage of the victory to pacify Guanzhong.At this time, Xingyang, where Liu Bang was located, became the bridgehead for the Han army to prevent the Chu army from advancing westward. The Chu army must not be allowed to cross from here, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

The spirit and fighting spirit of the Han army suffered a devastating blow in the Battle of Pengcheng. Fortunately, Liu Bang was good at doing ideological and political work, and his "political commissar" was not for nothing.Through various methods, such as comforting the soldiers and holding symposiums, Liu Bang encouraged the soldiers to cheer up, show the blood of a man, and let the Chu army see that we are all men who are indomitable!
In May of the second year of the Han Dynasty (205 BC), Liu Bang led the cavalry unit rebuilt by the Han army to face the proud and proud cavalry in the area east of Xingyang, with the doctor Ling Guanying as the main general, and the former Qin army knights Li Bi and Luo Jia as the left and right captains. Chu cavalry unit.

The result of this cavalry duel was somewhat unexpected. The Chu army’s cavalry was defeated by the Han army’s cavalry. Although we don’t know how many soldiers and horses this Chu army has, it is estimated that there will be no return.The Han army proved its bloodiness with practical actions, and it also proved that the battle in Pengcheng was just an accident.

The defeat of the Chu army in this Xingyang cavalry duel also marked that the momentum of the Chu army's massive rebound after the Battle of Pengcheng had been effectively contained.Liu Bang really risked his life this time, he didn't think about any precious beauties anymore, he concentrated on watching the Chu army stationed not far from Xingyang City, and he must defend Xingyang no matter what.

The geographical location of Xingyang is very superior. It is located in the middle of Henan. It is the only way to go from Guanzhong to Guandong.If the Han army wants to defend Xingyang, a necessary condition is to have enough food, otherwise it will not be able to defend.

In the northeast of Xingyang, there is a small town called Aocang, where a large amount of grain is stored.Liu Bang realized that if he guards the pass, he must guard Xingyang, and if he guards Xingyang, he must guard Aocang.Under Liu Bang's personal command, the Han army built a corridor between Xingyang and Aocang that was tens of miles long, and separated the grain transportation channel with high walls to ensure that the grain road from Aocang could be safely transported to Xingyang.

Since the fiasco in Pengcheng, Liu Bang has encountered unprecedented military, political, diplomatic, and economic pressure.Militaryly suppressed by Xiang Yu, Liu Bang's prestige plummeted politically because of the casualties of more than 20 troops, and almost all the princes betrayed Liu Bang diplomatically.

Economically, Guanzhong was suffering from severe natural disasters at this time. The grain harvests were in great decline, and the price of rice skyrocketed.Liu Bang knew the importance of people's support, so he immediately ordered the people in Guanzhong to go south to Bashu for food, and now he must keep the population base as much as possible.If there is no population, there will be no taxes to pay, and there will be no replenishment of soldiers.

Fortunately for Liu Bang, although the Han army on the eastern front suffered a disastrous defeat, Zhang Han, who was trapped in the abandoned hills, could only wait silently for the call of death because of Han Xin sitting in Guanzhong, which had no negative impact on the situation in Guanzhong.However, Han Xin was a little dissatisfied with Liu Bang leaving him idle in Guanzhong, because it has been more than three months since Liu Bang led the army to send troops in March of the second year of the Han Dynasty (205 BC), and Han Xin has almost nothing to do. by his side.

Every time he thought of Xiao He, Han Xin always had a warm current in his heart.Had it not been for Xiao He who almost broke his face with Liu Bang and "forced" Liu Bang to make himself a general, Han Xin would not know where to sit and lament the injustice of fate.Han Xin's spiritual benefactor is Piaomu (the opposite is the evil young man of the Tu family), while his political benefactor is Xiao He, not Liu Bang.

Xiao He is usually busy, because he has to manage the administration of Guanzhong, and continuously transport troops and food to the front line, taking care of all kinds of opportunities, Han Xin has become an idler.When he was free, Han Xin sat in the prime minister's office and watched Xiao He busy around without touching the ground. When Xiao He finished his work, the two of them put wine in the hall, sat near the table, had a few drinks, discussed the general trend of the world, and discussed life.

When Han Xin was drunk, he would tell Xiao He the story of his time in Huaiyin, especially the mysterious Piaomu who suddenly appeared when he was almost starved to death.Many years have passed, and the color of memory has turned yellow, but Han Xin will never forget Piaomu's kind smile. Every time this matter is mentioned, Han Xin will be a little emotional.

Han Xin is not a person who forgets his roots easily.

After a period of contact, Han Xin found that although Liu Bang was slippery and treacherous, he was still loyal and kind, and his essence was still good. Otherwise, how could the people of Qin be so excited about Liu Bang's rule of Guanzhong?Han Xin is not particularly proficient in politics, but he also knows the importance of people's support. Xiang Yu only knows how to kill blindly, use violence to show off his strength, and is too hard to break. Perhaps Han Xin was grateful for his decision to abandon Chu and return to Han.

Han Xin defected to the Han camp because he wanted to use a good platform to display his splendid ambitions, instead of wasting time with historical weedlers like Zhang Han.To deal with Zhang Han, Liu Bang can handle it, why use Han Xin!Liu Bang seemed to be eager to vent his anger on Zhang Han after the disastrous defeat in Pengcheng. In June of the second year of the Han Dynasty (205 BC), Liu Bang returned to Lindu Liyang, accompanied by the future prince Liu Ying.

Although Liu Bang's eldest son is Liu Fei, Liu Fei's mother, the Cao family, has a low status, and Liu Ying is the eldest son, so the position of prince naturally belongs to him.Within a few days, Liu Bang issued an edict to make Liu Ying the crown prince, confirming the future power succession relationship of the Han Dynasty.

Zhang Han?Liu Bang sneered as he read this unfamiliar name, it was time for Zhang Han to get off the stage and get a boxed lunch. "Han Shu·Gao Di Ji [-]": "Drain water to irrigate the abandoned hills, and the abandoned hills will descend. Zhang Han commits suicide. Yongdi decides." Zhang Han committed suicide. This may be the most correct decision he made in his life.Zhang Han has already lost his courtship once. If he kneels down to Liu Bang again this time, what face will Zhang Han have in the world in the future?
Only when Feiqiu was taken down, the territory of the Han Kingdom in Guanzhong would be considered complete. Because of the existence of Zhang Han before, the territory of the Han Kingdom appeared to be fragmented.What's more beneficial is that the Han army lost 20 troops in the Battle of Pengcheng, and the supply of troops in Guanzhong is very scarce, so the limited army should not be wasted on useless efforts, and should be pulled to the front of the Kanto to seek revenge from Xiang Yu.

After more than two months of rest, Liu Bang has basically come out of the shadow of Pengcheng's disastrous defeat, and the strength of the Han army has also recovered.

This time Liu Bang learned to be good, and the general Han Xin will drive eastward, leaving the prime minister Xiao He stationed in Guanzhong to assist the prince.Zhang Han is dead, Guanzhong is settled, and Liu Bang has no reason to put Han Xin in Guanzhong.Regarding matters in Guanzhong, whether it is building a city, resuming agricultural production, or mobilizing troops, food and grass to supply the front line, there is prime minister Xiao He, and everything can be assured.

However, although Han Xin left the customs and entered the Eastern Front battlefield, he did not follow Liu Bang to the frontline headquarters of the Han Army in Xingyang, but had another mission.Han Xin did not enter Henan along the south bank of the Yellow River through Hangu Pass, but took Pubandu on the northern line of the Yellow River.Han Xin wanted to cross the Yellow River from here, enter the territory of Hedong, and seek an explanation for the King of Han, Wei Bao, who had betrayed him for the second time.

At this time, Wei Bao was still looking for regret medicine in Pingyang City.

He blamed himself for being cloudy for a moment, and bought Liu Bang, a junk stock.Liu Bang is a big liar, he drew himself a seductive pie that still lives in Daliang as the king of Wei, what happened?Liu Bang almost lost his old life. Although Wei Bao's army deliberately kept a certain distance from Liu Bang and was not damaged in the Battle of Pengcheng, Wei Bao's behavior of carrying Chu to Han still offended Xiang Yu.

In order to clear up his "crime" of following Liu Bang against Chu, Wei Bao said in front of Xiang Yu that he must correct his past mistakes, make up for his mistakes, and stick to Pubandu to prevent a single Han soldier from crossing the river.Xiang Yu hates others for betraying him the most, but he still needs the cooperation of Wei Bao. The power of Chu State cannot reach Hedong for the time being, so as long as Wei Bao guards Pubandu, it will be able to exert great military pressure on the Guanzhong Headquarters of Han State , It can also contain Liu Bang's further eastward advance from the side.Out of this consideration, Xiang Yu did not pursue Wei Bao's betrayal, and continued to let Wei Bao be stationed in Hedong.

Liu Bang naturally knew what it would mean for the headquarters of Guanzhong that Hedong would be attached to Chu again. Once the Wei army or Chu army crossed the Yellow River from Puban to the west, Guanzhong would have no soldiers to use, and the consequences would be unimaginable.Liu Bang still has certain fantasies about Wei Bao. Doesn't Wei Bao want to return to Daliang?Liu Bang believed that Wei Bao's re-attachment to Chu was just a helpless move, as long as he sent a lobbyist, Hedong could be settled.

The one who acted as a lobbyist for Liu Bang was Mr. Li Shiqi, a drunkard from Gaoyang.

Li Shiqi is one of the famous mouthpieces of the time. Since he cooperated with Liu Bang, he has been Liu Bang's "Minister of Foreign Affairs".

Liu Bang attached great importance to this rebellion against Wei Bao, and he made a big promise to Li Shiqi: "You persuade Wei Bao to submit, and I will make you the Marquis of Ten Thousand Households." It means that there are countless delicious food and wine, and Mr. Li drooled to take over the job.

However, Li Shiqi still hit a big nail in front of Wei Bao.After Li Shiqichen finished talking about the general situation of the world, he advised Wei Bao to jump off Xiang Yu's wrecked boat as soon as possible, so as not to sink to the bottom of the water together.Wei Bao laughed after hearing this, this old man Li is really thick-skinned, now it is obvious that Liu Bang's wrecked ship has entered the water, Xiang Yu has regained his vitality, and the one who can win the world must be King Xiang!

Wei Bao not only stopped cooperating with Liu Bang, but even criticized Liu Bang's shortcomings in front of Li Shiqi: "Sir, don't you know that the King of Han is a man! The King of Han treats people contemptuously and humiliates them at every turn. Whether it is Han officials or princes, who has not been punished?" Has the King of Han scolded you? We princes are not partners in front of the King of Han, but rather his slaves. What can I gain by cooperating with such a person? The policy of being close to Chu cannot be changed, sir, please go back."

Li Shiqi, who already felt that he could not complete the task, wanted to make one last fight, but Wei Bao had already walked away.

A frustrated Li Shiqi returned to Xingyang, and dejectedly reported Liu Bang's trip to Hedong.Liu Bang's reaction to Wei Bao was also somewhat surprising.The strategic position of Hedong is very important. We must not allow Wei Bao, an ally of the Chu army, to guard him. He must be taken down, no matter whether he is Wei Bao, Han Bao, or Zhao Bao, Jin Bao, Chu Bao.Since diplomatic means cannot solve the problem, then use military means to solve the problem.

Liu Bang handed over this task to General Han Xin.

Liu Bang despised Wei Bao strategically, but he still attached great importance to the Western Wei State tactically. He asked Li Shiqi: "Who is the general of Wei?" I said this man, Bai Zhi was young and had no other talents, Wei Bao used this man to show that there is no one left in Wei State, how can he be my great general Han Xin!" Liu Bang learned that Wei State's cavalry general is Feng Jing, and the foot general is Xiang It specially dispatched Guan Ying to fight Feng Jing, and Cao Shen to fight Xiang it.

The King of Han issued an order: Immediately worship the general Han Xin as Prime Minister Zuo, together with Cao Shen and Guan Ying, lead the most elite main force of the Han army out of Liyang, travel eastward along the Weishui River, pass Linjin in the north, and then attack Pubandu in the east.

Sudden becoming Prime Minister Zuo with a civil position made Han Xin a little dumbfounded. He thought with a smirk, why didn't Liu Bang designate me as Captain Zhisu?Of course, Han Xin understood Liu Bang's intentions. Liu Bang intended to increase Han Xin's political prestige, enhance Han Xin's authority in the army, and facilitate Han Xin's troops.

The position of Prime Minister Zuo originally belonged to Cao Shen, but Cao Shen was the deputy general of the military campaign against Wei. It would not be politically appropriate for Cao Shen to be the deputy general of Han Xin in the capacity of Prime Minister Zuo, so Liu Bang handed over the position of Prime Minister Zuo. To Han Xin.Cao Shen has a broad mind, and always puts the overall situation first in his actions, not paying attention to personal gains and losses. Besides, he also admires Han Xin's military genius very much, and he has no objection to Liu Bang's decision.

The strategic significance of the Han Kingdom's eastward expedition to the Wei Kingdom this time is very important, but Liu Bang's vision is not limited to Hedong, but Hebei, which is the only strategic springboard for the Han army to enter Hebei.

Judging from the general situation of the world, Chu occupies the east and Han occupies the west, facing each other across Xingyang, but north of Xingyang there is still a vast country of Zhao, which is Chen Yu's territory.Although Chen Yu is not a member of Xiang Yu's family, he does not listen to Liu Bang's command.After Pengcheng was defeated last time, Chen Yu vaguely heard that the "Zhang Er" head given to him by Liu Bang was fake. Chen Yu was furious and broke off the cooperative relationship with Liu Bang.

The State of Zhao is relatively independent and does not accept Chu or Han, but Liu Bang cannot completely rule out the possibility of cooperation between Chen Yu and Xiang Yu. If Chen Yu is attached to Chu, it will cause greater military pressure on the Han army on the south bank of the Yellow River than Wei Bao , This is definitely not a burden that the Han Dynasty can bear.

If Han State can take Zhao State, it will greatly expand the strategic depth of Han State to the east, and can suppress Chu State from the north. If Han State can take Qi State from Zhao State to the east, the entire North The line will be firmly controlled by Han, which can further narrow the strategic encirclement of Chu.

So this time Liu Bang decided to divide his troops into two groups, and he would conduct a strategic confrontation with Chu on the southern front. He did not seek a decisive battle with the Chu army, but firmly held Xiang Yu's strategic attention in Xingyang.Han Xin took the northern line, attacked Wei and took Zhao Xiaqi, and carried out raids on the northern line, swallowing Xiang Yu's living space step by step.

This is Han Xin's first time facing Wei Bao. He doesn't know much about the king of the Western Wei Dynasty. Before he set off, he specially invited Li Shiqi, who had just been sent to Hedong, to Guanzhong from Xingyang, and carefully asked about Wei Bao. The situation, including Wei Bao's personal life, was the first time Han Xin heard that there was a Meiji named Bo in Wei Bao's harem, who was very favored by Wei Bao.

Han Xin was more concerned about Wei's military strength. Like Liu Bang, he asked about the staffing of Wei's army.However, Han Xin was in charge of the military, and his understanding of the Wei army was obviously better than that of Liu Bang. Liu Bang just asked who the generals of the Wei army were, which showed that Liu Bang did not know the situation of the Wei army.And Han Xin asked Li Shiqi directly: "I heard that there is a general in Wei State named Uncle Zhou. He is good at fighting and is enough to be my strong enemy. Dare I ask Mr. Guangye, Wei Bao can use Uncle Zhou as a general?"

Li Shiqi told Han Xin all the information he knew about Wei Guo, not daring to keep anything private.Li Shiqi told Han Xin: "When I was in Wei, I didn't see Uncle Zhou. Today is the general of Wei, Bai Zhiya!"

Han Xin laughed.

If the general of the state of Wei was Uncle Zhou, although Han Xin would not be frightened by Uncle Zhou, he would not dare to overdo it.Wei Bao's appointment of Bai Zhi as a general is as absurd as Liu Bang's use of himself as the captain of Su. The general told Guangye Jun with a smile: "Bai Zhi, Shumu boy! I catch!"

Seeing that the general was so confident, Li Shiqi clapped his hands in admiration, and patted Han Xin a few words of flattery by the way.Of course, Li Shiqi hoped that Han Xin could take over Wei Guo smoothly, and it would be best to capture Wei Bao alive. Only in this way could he prove that what he said before lobbying Wei Bao was correct.

When Han Xin led the Han army singing military songs to Linjin, he stood on the east bank of Luoshui River, looking to the east, with the wind and the clouds, the yellow waves turning the waves, and he was very ambitious.Han Xin caressed the precious sword given to him by the King of Han, slowly drew it out of its sheath, and killed the sun with it. What is the leopard doing at this time.

(End of this chapter)