The paper can't contain the fire no matter what, and during the period of the tug-of-war between the young marshal army and the princes' coalition army in Hangu Pass, because Xiang Yu never showed up in public, the news that he had been seriously injured was still quietly spread in the ranks of the princes' coalition army, and it gradually caused the people's hearts of the princes' coalition army to fluctuate and the army's heart to turmoil.

The internal hidden dangers of the princes' coalition army were gradually exposed, Zang Di of Yan State, Wei Bao Wei Bao who joined after Xiang Kang went south, and Tian Du, Tian Jian and Tian Leave of Qi State, almost once a day, they tried to find an excuse to contact Xiang Yu, either visiting in person or sending their powerful subordinates to come to greet them, looking for reasons to meet Xiang Yu, and after repeated refusals, they also started with Xiang Yu's close attendants, invited guests to drink and stuffed red envelopes, and tried every means to inquire about Xiang Yu's specific situation.

On the Zhao side, although several warlords such as Chen Yu and Sima Wei coveted the throne and left the Sanchuan battlefield, after their subordinates who stayed in Xingyang found out that the situation was wrong, they also sharpened their heads to inquire about the news, for fear that the rumors of Xiang Yu's serious injury were true, and they suddenly lost their breath and died, and they were bitter about the Zhao army that went to the vanguard of the princes' coalition army.

Even Sima Xin, who is currently in charge of the Qin army's prisoners of war, couldn't help but cautiously ask his friend Cao Ji why the former general had reappeared since the Battle of Aocang, and if something had happened?

The same is true within the Chu army, Yingbu, Chai Wu, Ji Bu and Huan Chu and other generals are also paying attention to Xiang Yu's situation at all times, and the children of the Xiang family who have known the inside story are even more worried, obviously worried to death, but they must pretend to be casual in front of people, and what they are afraid of is that the rumors will leak out, causing the ambitious princes outside the Guanwai to have different intentions.

In this way, of course, Xiang Yu's absolute henchmen, Old Man Fan and Cao Yao, had to try their best to prevaricate and cover up, desperately avoid the premature exposure of the truth, and always had to guard against the careerists in the princes' coalition army, the warlords from all walks of life with bad intentions, and even more closely concerned about the all-important Hanguguan battlefield.

Fortunately, after all, Xiang Yu's body is strong and abnormal, no matter how serious the injury in his right eye is, it did not let Xiang Yu really die, after a period of treatment and rest, Xiang Yu's injury still has some improvement, no longer as long as in the first few days, he began to be able to stay awake for a long time and say some words, understand the various military trends and changes in the situation that occurred after he was injured and unconscious.

In order to let Xiang Yu rest assured, Old Man Fan and Cao Ji were also very kind to try their best to pick up good news to tell Xiang Yu, saying that the important town of Xingyang had been successfully taken, and the remnants of the Qin army that retreated to Ao Cangcang City were also wiped out by the Qi and Chu coalition forces, and the Qin army in the surrounding places either surrendered voluntarily or was completely annihilated, and no clown dared to get along with the princes. It's a pity that Xiang Yu is not most concerned about these, and asked directly: "How is the situation over there in Hangu Pass?" What is my brother Xiang Kang's actions? ”

In desperation, Old Man Fan could only tell Xiang Yu the truth, introducing the various methods he and Cao Zhi adopted against Xiang Kang and the young marshal's army, including sending Zheng Chang into the customs to deceive Xiang Kang to take the initiative to hand over Guanzhong, and using the throne as a bait to let the Zhao army go west to coerce Xiang Kang to make concessions, so as to prevent Xiang Kang from turning his face and starting a war after hearing the rumors. Xiang Yu was silent for a while after hearing this, and then he sighed rarely, and said very helplessly: "It's hard work for Father Ya and Uncle Cao, although this is a bit not above board, but in this situation, there are only some such methods." ”

After reluctantly agreeing with Old Man Fan and Cao Yao's strategy, Xiang Yu asked again: "Then what's the situation now?" My brother's side, did you promise to take the initiative to hand over Guanzhong? ”

Old man Fan and Cao Ji didn't dare to answer, but after Xiang Yu asked again and again, Cao Ji said very helplessly: "Back to the former general, the latest news I received only yesterday evening, the right general suddenly turned his face in Ning Qin, sent troops to attack the camp of Pei Gong Liu Ji and General Tian An, and killed them to a great defeat, Pei Gong Liu Ji led the remnants to flee back to Hangu Pass, General Tian An, and the Zheng Chang Zheng doctor we sent, the current whereabouts are unknown. ”

Before Cao Jiao's words were finished, Xiang Yu, who had been lying on the couch for many days, had already sat up violently, and the two pupils (real numbers) in his left eye shot out fierce light at the same time, and roared: "Little erector, what a big guts!" How dare you attack my army! I just don't know how to write dead words! ”

The action was too intense, and he was affected by anger, and after shouting this sentence, a little blood suddenly oozed out of Xiang Yu's right eye wrapped in silk, and Old Man Fan and Cao Ji were shocked when they saw it, and hurriedly persuaded him: "Former general, calm down!" Calm down! Although Pei Gong and they suffered defeat, they also figured out the reality of the right general for us, because we started too fast, almost did not give the right general time to gain a foothold in Guanzhong, the right general he gave everything he had, and only led an army of more than 40,000 to the east to fight with us, the army is at an absolute disadvantage, we still have a chance. ”

"An army in the early 40,000s?" Xiang Yu turned his anger into joy, and hurriedly asked, "Is the news reliable?" My brother fought all the way south from Puyang to Nanyang, and then went north from Nanyang to Guanzhong, but there is still only such a small number of troops? ”

"It shouldn't be true." Old man Fan replied: "First, there is no need for Liu Ji to deceive us, second, we all know the right general's style of using troops, he has always liked to be expensive and not expensive, and he has never liked to fill up the number indiscriminately, and the road is narrow and difficult to travel from Wuguan to the army, it is impossible for him to expand his troops in Nanyang in large quantities, and now he has only taken Guanzhong for more than 20 days, and it is difficult to immediately expand the army in large quantities, and in addition, he has to leave some troops to prevent the violent Qin court that has just surrendered, so the strength of the right general should be this number." ”

"Then we don't need to do it, the Zhao army alone is enough to clean him up." Xiang Yu came to a conclusion very confidently and said: "As long as the Zhao army can seize the advance of the Hangu Pass in his recapture of Hangu Pass, the terrain in the pass, the 130,000 Zhao State army will definitely make him unable to defend it, and he can't defend it if he wants to!" ”

Old man Fan and Cao Ji hurriedly agreed, and told Xiang Yu the good news that most of the troops left by Tian An were guarding Hangu Pass, so that Xiang Yu could only rest assured, and only wait for the Zhao army to successfully arrive at Hangu Pass, so that he could sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and watch the fire from the other side to watch Xiang Kang and the second-strongest Zhao army in the princes' coalition army eat dog.

It was also a coincidence that Xiang Yu had just laid down, and the news of the visit of the general of Qi Guo Tian to the camp came from under the tent, but fortunately, Xiang Yu had calmed down and did not move, but closed his eyes and ordered lightly: "You go and find a way to send him, buy me a little more time, and wait for me to be better, and then come out to clean up this group of ill-intentioned horsemen." ”

Cao Zhi and Old Man Fan agreed, and then Cao Zhi was about to go out of the account to deal with the field leave for Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu suddenly opened his left eye and said: "There is news from Hangu Pass, whether it is good or bad, you must tell me immediately." ”

Old man Fan and Cao Ji honestly agreed, and soon found an excuse to send away Tian Jiao, the general of Qi who was already obviously suspicious, and only hoped that the Zhao army could arrive at Hangu Pass first and seize the strategic initiative on the battlefield in Guanzhong, so as to stabilize the military spirit of the princes' coalition army - with the opportunity to kill in Guanzhong to grab money, food, and beauties, even if Xiang Yu was seriously injured, the princes' coalition army would not easily disperse.

Xiang Yu also has this plan, knowing that he has been seriously injured The news will definitely not be concealed for a long time, the princes outside the Guanguan and the generals of the Chu army will know the truth sooner or later, and whether he can still suppress these careerists and continue to unite the princes' alliance into a group, it will also depend on whether there is a piece of fertile soil in Guanzhong that can drive the princes to continue to work for themselves. So in the next few days, every time Xiang Yu woke up, he first had to ask about the latest situation on the battlefield of Hangu Pass, and he only hated that the Zhao army could not keep his wings on his shoulders, so he immediately flew to Hangu Pass to crush the hope of the young marshal's army to recapture Hangu Pass.

In the first few days, Old Man Fan and Cao Zhi reported to Xiang Yu as usual, saying that there was no news from Hangu Pass, but on the fifth day, Xiang Yu found that the situation was wrong, and Old Man Fan and Cao Ji, who were not good at concealing it, were all spitting and spitting, and they didn't answer what they asked, Xiang Yu was also immediately alert, and asked sharply: "What happened?" What happened to Hangu Pass? Tell me the truth! ”

Forced to be helpless, Cao Ji could only tremble and take out an urgent report of military intelligence, and said: "Former general, I received the news this morning that Hangu Pass has been lost, and the Qi army and Pei Gong have suffered another major defeat, and they are forced to abandon Hangu Pass and Shaanxi County and retreat eastward. ”

"What about the Zhao army? Where are they? Xiang Yu sat up again, and asked with a red left eye.

"When Pei Gong and the Zhao army rendezvous, the main force of the Zhao army had just arrived in Michi." Cao Ji said with a painful expression: "In addition, General Right also took the initiative to send someone to contact the Zhao army, claiming that the former general you have been seriously injured and died, Chen Yu and Sima Wei will be suspicious, and sent someone back to inquire about the latest situation of the former general, the envoy has arrived at the Aocang camp, and I want you to come forward in person to appease the heart of the Zhao army." ”

"Piff!"

Xiang Yu roared again, and jumped up directly, kicking the case next to the sickbed into the air, Old Man Fan didn't dare to continue to hide it, and said: "Also, our people also found that the armies of Qi, Yan and Wei are also spreading rumors everywhere that the former general you have been more than lucky, and the army's heart is very shaken, Tian Du, Wei Bao and Zang Di They were still secretly meeting in the Qi camp the night before, it is likely to discuss matters related to the serious injury of the former general." ”

"Piff!" Xiang Yu yelled again and shouted: "Raise the account, call them all to me, I want to see, even if I am seriously injured now, how dare they be?!" ”

"Former general, calm down." Cao Ji hurriedly persuaded: "The news of General You's recapture of Hangu Pass will soon spread in the army, if you show up in public and confirm the news that you have been seriously injured, our military morale will definitely be seriously affected, and the alliance of princes will completely collapse, it is not impossible to do so!" ”

"Former general, we'd better calm down and endure for a few more days." Old man Fan also persuaded: "Although Chen Yu and the others sent people back to inquire about the news, they did not give up their troops in Hangu Pass, and they still continued to march to Hangu Pass, and when they successfully took Hangu Pass and regained the initiative on the battlefield in Guanzhong, the situation will definitely have a turnaround!" ”

"But what if Chen Yu and they can't get back to Hanguguan?" Xiang Yu asked menacingly.

Old man Fan and Cao Ji didn't dare to say anything, Master Xiang Boxiang next to him saw that the situation was not good, and hurriedly stood up to clear up the relationship, and said: "Virtuous nephew, this matter is also to blame Cao Sima and Fan Zuoshi for their nonsense, you and Kang Er are brothers, if there is anything that can be settled by sitting down and negotiating peacefully, there is no need to inch in, you must force Kang Er to take the initiative to hand over Guanzhong." Now it's okay, Kang'er is completely anxious, and he is determined to fight us to the end, and we don't know how things will end. ”

Hearing Xiang Bo's words, Cao Ji, who was loyal to Xiang Yu, of course had a nose that was almost crooked, but Old Man Fan sneered loudly and said: "Master Xiang is a good boat, and when the wind is strong there, he will turn the rudder there." But it's a pity that you want to put all the responsibility on the old man and Dr. Cao, and your nephew Xiang Kangxian is the first to refuse. Just now, the old man and Cao Sima didn't have time to report to the former general, and the right general Xiang Kang turned his face this time to start a war with the princes outside the Guan, and the excuse he used was that Master Xiang, you were rebellious, greedy for the throne of Guanzhong, and faked the reputation of the former general to deceive the princes into attacking Hangu Pass, and took the lead in provoking the war, swearing to destroy his relatives with righteousness, and capture you, the rebel minister of the Chu State, alive, and punish you in the Ming Dynasty! ”

Before Old Man Fan finished speaking, Master Xiang's face had already turned iron blue, and he roared with teeth and claws: "You are talking nonsense! Kang Er is my cousin, how could he point the finger at me, Uncle Ji? Besides, how could I, a nominal master of the Chu State, have a position but no power, how could I deceive the princes outside the pass to attack Hangu Pass? Who will believe this? ”

"If Master Xiang doesn't believe it, you can read the text issued by General You."

Cao Ji sneered and took out a copy of the young marshal's military document sent by the Zhao Army, and after Master Xiang hurriedly grabbed it, Cao Ji smiled more coldly and said: "Actually, Xia Guan and Fan Zuoshi are very clear, Master Xiang, you are really wronged, but there is no way, the right general just wants to stare at you, even if Xia Guan and Fan Zuoshi want to stand up for Master Xiang and shout injustice, I am afraid that the right general will definitely not believe it and is unwilling to believe it." ”

After quickly reading the young marshal's upside-down black and white nonsense, Master Xiang, who was seriously lacking in courage, collapsed directly on the ground, and when Xiang Yu came up to grab the text and take a closer look, Master Xiang came back to his senses, hugged Xiang Yu's legs and shouted in despair: "Virtuous nephew, you have to call the shots for me!" Xiang Kang, that little evil beast, is talking nonsense, and he deliberately put the basin on my head because he is holding a grudge! Don't listen to his nonsense, don't use me as a scapegoat, and give an explanation to the world! ”

"Get up!" Xiang Yu kicked Uncle Xiang angrily, and roared: "You are still an elder, is it okay to look like an elder?" Who do you think of me, will you use you, Uncle Ji, as a scapegoat? Stand up for me and get out of the way! ”

kicked away Xiang Bo, and carefully read Xiang Kang's military uprising text, as well as the military intelligence report sent by the Zhao army, Xiang Yu, who had always been irritable, calmed down instead, and said with a cruel smile: "Okay, you are a good brother, you are ruthless enough, you obviously want to take advantage of the fire to rob and swallow the old land of tyranny Qin, but you actually give me a bite back, and put all the responsibility on the elders." Since you are so unkind, don't blame me for being unjust! ”

After gritting his teeth, Xiang Yu suddenly roared again, and said: "Order the whole army, immediately pull out the camp and march to Hangu Pass!" I will personally raise troops to fight Hanguguan and crusade against Xiang Kang, a rebel minister of the Chu State! ”

As we all know, what people who are injured and sick are most afraid of anger, especially not being angry and attacking the heart, so before Xiang Yu's words fell, a sharp pain in his right eye immediately came into his mind, and the blood quickly oozed out of the silk cloth again, Xiang Yu wanted to stand firm, but after the darkness in front of him, Xiang Yu still staggered and fell, and passed out in the screams of Old Man Fan and Cao Ji and others......

I woke up a few times groggily, and fell asleep a few times, I don't know how much time has passed, when Xiang Yu finally regained his consciousness and opened his eyes, the first thing that caught his eye was Old Man Fan's concerned face, and Master Xiang's relieved expression, but before they could speak, Xiang Yu suddenly heard that there was a noise outside his tent, and he could vaguely hear someone talking loudly, Xiang Yu asked in a difficult voice: "What's wrong?" ”

Old man Fan didn't dare to say anything, but Uncle Xiang next to him couldn't wait, and hurriedly said: "Virtuous nephew, it's great that you woke up, Tian Du and Wei Bao's gang of horsemen simply wanted to rebel, and they actually came here together to ask you to go out to meet them, and directly asked if you are dead?" No matter what Cao Sima said, they wouldn't leave, and if you don't meet them again, no one knows what will happen. ”

"Piff." Xiang Yu scolded again, and then asked, "What is the new news over there in Hangu Pass?" ”

"Not yet." Old man Fan shook his head helplessly.

Xiang Yu closed his eyes in disappointment, but the noise outside the tent became louder and louder, and even Tian Du, the general of Qi State, could be heard openly threatening, saying that if Xiang Yu didn't go out to meet them again, the Qi army would withdraw and return to Qi State, Xiang Yu's anger rose again, opened his left eye and said: "Take me out, I want to see, even if these horsemen know that I am seriously injured, what kind of wind and waves can they stir up?" What can you do with me?! ”

When Old Man Fan hesitated, Cao Qi suddenly rushed into Xiang Yu's sleeping tent with a gust of wind, holding a military emergency report with chicken feathers, and shouted with joy on his face: "Former general, good news!" I just received an urgent report of the military situation, the Zhao army successfully recovered Shaanxi County, and sent Shen Yang to lead Zhao Guo's division from Shaanxi County to cross the river to the north, and attack Puban by way of Hedong, and there is hope that they will enter the pass! ”

"Divide the troops to attack Kasaka from the east of the river?" Old man Fan was also overjoyed when he heard this, and said: "Chen Yu did it too right, Xiang Kang's rear is empty, and dividing his troops to attack Pusaka will definitely make Xiang Kang at a loss and unable to parry!" If it goes well, it is not impossible to annihilate Xiang Kang's main force at Hangu Pass! ”

"There is such hope for the army of the Zhao State?" Master Xiang's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said: "Virtuous nephew, this is a good thing, hurry up and make this matter public, it will definitely stabilize our military heart!" ”

Master Xiang came up with a good idea, and Old Man Fan, who was not with him in history, also stood on his side even more rarely, and said quickly: "Former general, what Master Xiang said is extremely true, anyway, it can't be concealed anymore, it is better to gather the princes and our generals of Chu State in the big tent of the Chinese army, and make the good news of the Zhao army's recovery of Shaanxi County and the attack on Puban public, and stabilize the army's heart first." ”

"Former general, you should do it." Cao Ji also said quickly: "As long as there is hope of entering the Guanzhong, Tian Du and Wei Bao's gang of horsemen will definitely not have any dissenting intentions, even if they see with their own eyes that the former general you are seriously injured, in order to covet the treasures and money in the Guanzhong, they will still continue to respect you as the commander of the princes." ”

Xiang Yu thought about it, nodded for a while, and asked Cao Ji to go out and order the princes outside the Guanwai to go to the big tent of the Chinese army to wait to meet him, and then got up and freshened up with the support of Old Man Fan and Xiang Bo, and tried to meet with the princes and generals of the Chu army who had not seen him for many days in the most majestic manner, but when he was wearing his coat, Xiang Yu said extremely bitterly in his heart, "The tiger fell in Pingyang and was bullied by dogs, I didn't expect that I, Xiang Yu, would also have such a day, and I had to rely on friendly troops to recapture a small county town to boost the morale of the army and boost morale." ”

In fact, Xiang Yu didn't hate Xiang Kang, just because of his envy and jealousy of Xiang Kang, he insisted on using the excuse created by Liu Laosan to turn his face and start a war with Xiang Kang.