Chapter Twenty-Eight: Fighting

Liu Ji, the king of Han, had just appointed Han Xin, a young general he was not familiar with, and he had never been so casual before. It's just that it was for the sake of Xiao He, Xiahouying and other cronies that they made this decision impulsively. Actually, he hasn't thought it through yet.

He was somewhat remorseful. Because in his heart, he was still completely unfamiliar with this young general, Han Xin, and he couldn't even recognize people. If you walk in the barracks and meet, you may not be right. He even confused the young general, Han Xin, with another general with the same name and surname. Originally, before he promised Xiao He, he should have personally talked to this young general, Han Xin, to see if he was really a rare general with unparalleled national warriors as Xiao He said.

After the inauguration ceremony, he couldn't wait to meet the newly promoted young general, Han Xin, and hear what he could offer him.

It was a belated interview.

"Prime Minister Xiao He has mentioned you in front of me many times, young man, what benefits can you bring to the group" (Prime Minister said a few generals, why does the general teach the widow to strategize?) "Historical Records - The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin")

Liu Ji said very directly, straight to the point, and even omitted the most basic congratulations and polite words, and did not praise Han Xin's merits. Moreover, it was directly pointed out that this was recommended by Xiao He, not that he directly pointed to the general, indicating that he did not fully trust Han Xin.

However, Han Shin did not feel stage fright for this interview. On the contrary, he is full of confidence and eager to stretch out his ambitions in one go. He needs understanding too much. After a quarter of the incense, Han Xin will completely convince Liu Ji and make Liu Ji convinced of his talent.

"King Han, you want to compete with Xiang Yu for the world." (Now Dongxiang is fighting for power in the world, isn't it King Xiang evil?) "Historical Records - The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin")

Han Xin first threw out the core issue, which is also the most confidential issue in the military. No one dared to speak out in the military about this confidential issue. Because he had just experienced the thrill of the Hongmen Banquet, Liu Ji could be regarded as picking up a life, and he felt a little sensitive to this issue. If the wind is released again at this time, let Xiang Yu know that he has this idea, then the consequences will be unimaginable, and the results of burning the cliff plank road will be wasted.

However, at this time, Liu Ji decided to tell the young general his true thoughts. That's right, he just wants to compete for the world, what good way do you Han Xin have. (King Han said: Yes.) "Historical Records - The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin")

Han Xin, like Liu Ji, has been crawling and rolling at the bottom of the market since he was a child, and has been in contact with all kinds of characters, and has a deep and unique understanding of human nature. Moreover, he once observed the leadership of the Xiang Group as an ordinary soldier in the military camp of the Xiang Group. Next, Han Xin analyzed in detail the power contrast, conduct of people, and personality traits between Xiang Yu and Liu Ji. In particular, he made a comprehensive perspective analysis of the personalities of Xiang Yu and Liu Ji, and unreservedly analyzed these two most powerful monarchs in the world today.

He said that Xiang Yu seems to be very polite and polite, speaks very gently, seems to care for his subordinates, and is very close to his subordinates. When the soldier was injured and sick, Xiang Yu would go to deliver soup and food with tears in his eyes, which looked very touching. But in fact, this is not Xiang Yu's nature, but the treacherous methods he learned from the military book, just to win people's hearts. In essence, Xiang Yu's heart is extremely brutal and ferocious, and he will not compromise the means to achieve his goal. For example, killing and killing pawns made him lose the hearts of the people. Moreover, Xiang Yu seems to be very generous, but he is actually very stingy. Whenever his subordinates were knighted, he took the seal and looked at it, and seemed to be very reluctant to give it to others. It's also very fair when it's divided, whoever has a good relationship with himself will seal a big one, and whoever has a bad relationship with himself will seal a small one. The worst thing is that even his boss Xiong Xin ran away. How can a leader like this really win the support of the world. (King Xiang has done everything that has been destroyed, the world is full of grievances, and the people are not attached to him, and they are especially robbed by Wei Yi'er.) Although the name is hegemonic, it is really lost in the world. "Historical Records - The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin")

However, Liu Ji, the king of Han, you are different. Since you entered the customs, you have abolished the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty, which has won the hearts of the people, and the Qin people are all looking forward to you being the king of Qin. (The king's entry into the martial arts, Qiu Hao did no harm, except for Qin's harsh law, and the Qin people's covenant, the three chapters of the law, the Qin people all want to get the king of Qin.) "Historical Records - The Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin")

……

Liu Ji listened attentively. He felt that Han Xin's analysis was the first and the most important and had a deep understanding of the general trend of the world. After so many years of raising the army, no general has ever made such a brilliant and clear analysis of the entire situation. At this moment, he felt a little regretful that he hadn't listened to Prime Minister Xiao He earlier and met this young man earlier. He was already deeply impressed by the young man's talent. In the later political struggles, Liu Jili counted several of Xiang Yu's ten major crimes, and the blueprint for these crimes originally originated from Han Xin's conversation.

Han Xin finally passed this rare interview, and with his profound skills, he won the trust of the leader Liu Ji. He couldn't even believe it, because no one had ever given him so much glory and wealth. In the past, he needed to beg others for even a meal and clothing, and he could not even enjoy the most basic respect and understanding. In the past, he silently endured humiliation and suffering, and now he finally achieved results. It's gold, and it always shines.

【Liu Ji】

This year was the year when the Han soldiers were most puzzled. Liu Ji, the king of the Han Dynasty, obviously worked hard and made great achievements, and was the first to enter the customs, but he was enshrined in this wild place where there are few birds. One by one, his comrades-in-arms fled, and the deserters were not punished. What puzzled them even more was that Liu Ji, the king of Han, had appointed a general who was only in his 20s, and they didn't know much about this young man, and they didn't know what kind of strong background and connections he had behind him. The most strange thing for them is that the cliff plank road that has just burned down is being repaved again. The most important task of the year seems to be to build this steep cliff boardwalk.

This cliff plank road stretches for more than 300 miles, the terrain is steep, and the construction project is extremely dangerous, and someone will accidentally fall down at any time. Such a major traffic project, with high construction requirements and difficult construction, has never been encountered by the Han army. In the past, I didn't know that this plank road was built for hundreds of years before it could have what it is today, but now it has been burned. If it is burned, it will be burned, but now it will take so much strength to build, and the Han King who was divided into Bashu is really idle and has nothing to do.

Liu Ji, the king of Han, was not idle.

He was leading another team, wandering through the wilderness mountains. The grass is overgrown, wild beasts are rampant, and they will lose their way at any time, and they can't distinguish between east and west, north and south. The road they took was a deserted road that no one had ever walked before. It should be said that this is not the road in itself.

They didn't know where they were going, and they didn't know if there was enough food in the army to get to their destination. There were even some who were so miserable that they fell ill while walking. The leadership was determined and told them that they would see the light immediately.

After many difficulties, they finally arrived at their destination, Chencang. It turned out that they were on a secret mission, that is, to raid Yongwang Zhanghan and return to Guanzhong. And these are all the tactics of the young general Han Xin.

【Zhang Han】

Zhang Han, who was once brave and scheming, really didn't expect that the Han army, who was still building the cliff plank road, suddenly appeared in his own territory, could it be that they flew over. Before he could react, he had already been defeated by Liu Ji. Soon, the situation in Qin, like the situation in Qidi, was unified by one of the generals, that is, Liu Ji, the king of Han.

Later, in the war with the Han army, Zhang Han lost the city again - the entire city was flooded by the Han army, and Zhang Han did not expect that even the most basic tactics could not be prevented. Since the surrender of Xiang Yu, especially the 200,000 Qin soldiers who were killed, Zhang Han's psychological pressure has been very great. Zhang Han felt sorry for the Qin State and the Qin people, and he didn't put his mind into it in several wars, which led to repeated defeats. His subordinates also seem to have lost faith in him, and have repeatedly cast disdainful and questioning glances at him.

In the final failed war, Zhang Han could no longer bear this feeling of defeat - he felt completely hopeless about his life, and he felt lighthearted about the coldness and warmth of the world.

He waved the blood-stained sword in his hand, the sword that had accompanied him through many wars, years, and great feats, and ended his life.

The once heroic and fearless Qin general Zhang Han left this world in a tragic way. At the moment he left, there may have been regret - hatred for not sticking to his original intention, not sticking to the end, and not sacrificing his life for the Qin State. He may have been ashamed of his surrender and cowardice, and he felt deep guilt for the soldiers and people of the Qin State—at this moment, he felt that he was finally relieved.

He was the last famous general of the Qin Empire.

【Liu Ji】

In such a difficult journey, Liu Ji, the king of Han, led his elite troops to attack Zhanghan, the king of Yong, and conquered the other two Qin kings to unify the Qin land. After occupying Guanzhong, Liu Ji did not stop, but continued to attack the Western Chu Palace to the east, because he wanted to seize this best opportunity and succeed in the shortest possible time. If you wait until the overlord Xiang Yu's class returns to the dynasty, then he will no longer have an advantage.

While waging the war, Liu Ji, the king of Han, did not forget to consolidate the construction of the base, and these were all thanks to the fact that there was Prime Minister Xiao He in the rear to preside over the overall situation. Prime Minister Xiao He Zhen was a genius in managing the country, and he settled everything in the rear in an orderly manner, and quickly established a wartime legal system, a tax system, and a conscription system. At the same time, tax reductions and exemptions, amnesty for sinners, and land reclamation. The common people of Guanzhong were allowed to freely use the orchards, gardens and lakes that were formerly reserved for the Qin royal family, and were exempt from service for two years – a preferential policy that had never been granted in the history of the Qin state, including during the reign of Qin Shi Huang.

And Liu Ji, who was fighting in the front, never had to worry about the supply of soldiers and military rations, because Xiao He in the rear would definitely arrange it properly and send it to the front line in a timely manner.

What made Liu Ji, the king of Han, even more happy, was that his most admired strategist Zhang Liang had returned to his side. It turned out that on Zhang Liang's way back to Korea, the overlord Xiang Yu abolished Korea and killed the monarch of Korea. Losing the country again, Zhang Liang was forced to defect to Liu Ji, the king of Han, again.

Life was full of ups and downs, and Liu Ji, the king of Han, not only walked out of the wild Bashu, but also recaptured the coveted Guanzhong. What he didn't expect the most was that he also successfully invaded Pengcheng, the capital of the Western Chu Kingdom, and captured the palace of the overlord Xiang Yu.

【Xiang Yu】

Overlord Xiang Yu suppressed the rebellion in Qidi, and at the beginning it went quite smoothly, and the pseudo-Qi king Tian Rong was quickly defeated. However, Xiang Yu was not able to completely annihilate the mob's ranks. Although Tian Rong died, his younger brother Tian Heng took over the banner of his second brother Tian Rong, collected the stragglers of Qidi, and continued the great cause of opposing Chu.

Xiang Yu felt angry. He once again took out his anger on these pawns, just like he had done in Xianyang City before, and killed them all. This is the consequence of the rebellion, and the overlord Xiang Yu wants to teach them a profound lesson.

originally thought that he could quickly solve the turmoil in Qidi, and return to the capital Pengcheng to enjoy the life of the overlord with peace of mind. But Tian Heng didn't give Xiang Yu this chance, and played a protracted battle with Xiang Yu. For large-scale positional warfare, Xiang Yu is familiar with the road; But for guerrilla warfare, Xiang Yu seemed to be powerless. Xiang Yu didn't have so much patience to grind slowly with them.

However, it backfired, and the rebellion in Qidi had not yet been resolved, and fireworks were lit in the rear. Even more shocking news came from the capital Pengcheng Kuaima - his Western Chu Kingdom had fallen! Liu Ji, the king of Han, led an army of more than 500,000 to invade the capital Pengcheng and occupy the palace of Western Chu.

The Western Chu Kingdom is the brainchild of the overlord Xiang Yu, and it is also the foundation of the Xiang Group, and Xiang Yu is extremely unwilling to accept this fact. Xiang Yu, who was leading the soldiers to build the city wall and prepare for a hard battle, immediately threw down the tools in his hand to build the wall, led 30,000 elite troops, and rushed back to the capital Pengcheng non-stop.

On the way back, Xiang Yu's heart was anxious. He may have regretted it a little, and felt that his father Fan Zeng's words might be right, and Liu Ji should have been solved at the Hongmen banquet at that time. He originally felt ashamed of Fan Zeng, but soon this guilt disappeared. Because Fan Zeng was too nagging and chattered all day long. After the fall of Pengcheng this time, Fan Zeng blamed Xiang Yu when he met, and he didn't listen to him at the beginning, which led to today's consequences. What made Fan Zeng feel even more angry and chilling was that Xiang Yu actually sent someone to kill the righteous emperor Xiong Xin, which was a rebellious behavior that the world could not tolerate, and completely violated Fan Zeng's outlook on life and values. As a young man with strong blood, how could Xiang Yu stand this kind of anger. All men can't stand the nagging of others, and they hold on to their past mistakes all day long.

In terms of military warfare, Xiang Yu has never been afraid. When approaching the capital Pengcheng, Xiang Yu suddenly changed the direction of his march, successfully evaded Liu Ji's key fortifications, and made a detour to the rear to launch a surprise attack on Liu Ji's army in Pengcheng.

【Liu Ji】

Liu Ji, the king of Han, who was enjoying himself in the palace of Pengcheng, did not realize that danger was approaching. He thought that he could stop Xiang Yu's army by sending heavy troops to guard the pass ahead—he was basking in the joy of victory.

Because this is the second time he has successfully invaded the capital of a kingdom, the last time it was the Qin Empire, and this time it was the Chu Kingdom. When he saw the exquisite treasures in the palace of Western Chu, Liu Ji had a feeling of waking up like a dream. Last time in Xianyang City, I didn't have time to play with these treasures, and now they have fallen back into my hands again, which means that these treasures always belong to me. Liu Ji, the king of Han, not only had to loot all the treasures of the Western Chu Kingdom, but also hugged all the beautiful concubines in the Western Chu Kingdom into his arms. Drinking and banqueting, singing and dancing every day, dancing Chu dance today, Qin dance tomorrow, Liu Ji seems to have forgotten his relatives in nearby Pei County, especially his wife and children. Liu Ji thought that this matter was not in a hurry, and it was not too late to do it slowly. Who knows, Xiang Yu suddenly appeared in front of him.

The battle was not a hard one. Because the more than 500,000 Han troops led by Liu Ji, the king of Han, were defeated by the 30,000 Chu troops led by the overlord Xiang Yu in less than half a day, and it was a complete rout. More than 100,000 Han troops could not escape, that is, they were slaughtered by the order of the overlord Xiang Yu, just like killing the pawns in the Qi pit, the overlord Xiang Yu wanted to teach them a profound lesson. There were also more than 100,000 Han deserters, although they escaped the butcher's knife of the Chu army, but they still did not avoid the call of death, and they fell into the Sui River in a panic. The drowned Han army filled the entire Sui River, densely packed with corpses in armor, pale faces with expressions of extreme fear. They didn't have time to think before they died, maybe they would regret it, if they had escaped with other deserters in Bashu, they might not have ended up today. But they never had that chance again.

That day was the most lively day in the history of Suihe, and it was also the most terrifying day. No one knows how long it took for these bodies to slowly disperse; No one knows how long the bones have been deposited at the bottom of the river; No one knows how long it took for these souls to rest in peace.

Leading troops to fight is indeed not the strength of Liu Ji, the king of Han. In the process of escaping, Liu Ji, the king of Han, ran the fastest. As the commander of the First Army, he left behind more than 500,000 soldiers behind him. He not only forgot his duties as a commander, but also forgot the image of the king of Han. Seeing Chu Jun chasing after him, he was pale and embarrassed, and he couldn't even recognize his own children.

On the way to escape, Liu Ji, the king of Han, unexpectedly met his children - they also fled for their lives after the city was broken. I haven't seen each other for many years, and the father and son didn't expect to meet again on such an occasion, and everyone almost didn't recognize each other. However, this is clearly not a good place to catch up. Moreover, they don't have time to catch up. Father Liu Ji didn't even look at them, didn't respond to their cries, didn't ask why they were here, didn't ask where their mother was at this time. Father Liu Ji didn't think much about it, and kicked them out of the carriage with one kick - because the two of them were too much of a nuisance, although they were not very fat, but they were also a burden.

Liu Ji, who only cared about running for his life, didn't have the heart to take care of anything else, including his closest children. The two children, who were abandoned by their fathers, looked at their father's imminent figure with a blank face, and they couldn't catch up with them. Smoke and dust billowed and yellow sand covered their young faces, and only miserable cries could be heard.

At this critical juncture, it was Xiahou Ying who made a move. At this time, Xiahou Ying, the driver who was driving for Liu Ji, the king of Han, saw that the children of the king of Han were thrown out of the carriage, so he quickly tightened the reins and stopped, and quickly ran back to pick up the two anxious children into the car. - Xiahou Ying is really the nemesis of the god of death, and he can always snatch people back from the hands of death at the last moment before they die.

Hanwang Liu Ji saw the driver Xiahou Ying stop and pick up the two children, his face turned pale with fright - when is this, it is still his mother-in-law's. However, Xiahou Ying was more concerned about the safety of these two children, he cautiously stepped onto the carriage, and waited for the two children to hold him tightly before galloping. However, the two poor children had not yet reacted, and were once again kicked out of the carriage by their father Liu Ji - it was too much of a hindrance.

The advancing carriage stopped again, and the driver Xia Houying hurriedly ran back again, quickly carrying the two children into the carriage. And this time, Xiahou Ying was more careful, he wanted the two children to hug him tightly, and then he was willing to ride the horse and gallop. The Chu army behind was about to catch up, and the carriage seemed to be much slower. Liu Ji, the king of Han, couldn't help it, he was full of anger and really wanted to kick off the carriage with Xiahou Ying.

But he didn't do it, because Hanwang Liu Ji's driving skills were not good and he didn't know the road. If there was no driver Xiahou Ying, Liu Ji, the king of Han, would not have escaped from the clutches of the Chu army. So, Liu Ji, the king of Han, once again kicked his biological children out of the carriage. Similarly, the familiar scene reappeared, the driver Xia Houying tightened the reins without any suspense, ran back quickly, and skillfully carried the two children who had been stunned into the carriage. This time, however, the carriage seemed to be moving even slower, for the driver, Xiahou Ying, was more cautious than before, and the two children wrapped him tightly like clothes.

Han King Liu Ji really has no choice.

The driver Xiahou Ying was also angry, and scolded Liu Ji, the king of Han, fiercely - no matter how urgent the situation is, you can't abandon your own children! (Although you can't drive it away in a hurry, why should you abandon it?) ）

Fortunately, Xiahou Ying is a skilled old driver, which is not difficult for him at all, and Chu Jun can't see the back of his car at all. Long before the riot, Xiahou Ying was in charge of raising horses and driving in the stable in Pei County, and he knew the performance of the carriage well. Therefore, although he was slightly delayed by the two children halfway, he was not surprised to get away from the pursuit of the Chu army.

In the end, Liu Ji, the king of Han, and his children escaped unharmed. When Liu Ji, the king of Han, settled down and came back to his senses, he remembered his wife and father Liu Taigong. Later, I learned that my wife and father were separated from the two children in a panic and wanted to find them back, but they were unfortunately captured by the Chu soldiers who came.

In this Pengcheng War, Liu Ji, the king of Han, lost completely. originally thought that the Western Chu Kingdom had won the battle and won the overlord Xiang Yu. But unexpectedly, not only did the city not hold, but also the more than 500,000 troops he brought over were all stuck into it. It was not until much later that he was able to regather the scattered soldiers, and it took a great deal of effort to restore their morale. What's more, he also lost the prestige that he had built up with great difficulty, and a sense of pessimism and disappointment spread in the ranks of the Han army, and the princes and generals who followed the Han king Liu Ji and Chu rebelled and returned to Chu one after another. It's not that bad, even his family is not at peace. The relatives of Liu Ji, the king of Han, were captured by the other side in this war and became the prey of the overlord Xiang Yu, who was left to be humiliated. And Liu Ji, the king of Han, almost fell into the hands of the other party, and he was only one step away from death - this was an embarrassment that Liu Ji, the king of Han, had never encountered before.

In this battle, Liu Ji, the king of Han, lost the city, lost the troops, lost the prestige, lost the allies, lost the family, and almost lost his life - he lost everything.