Chapter 25 Separation

Xiang Yu finally entered the palace of the Qin State as he wished.

He came with a raging rage. This anger contains a strong national hatred, hating the Qin State for swallowing up the Chu State; This anger contained a deep family feud against the Qin people who killed his people; This anger also includes so many years of bloody battles, it was the Qin State that caused them to lose their relatives and comrades......

Ziying, who has been appointed as the prime minister, originally thought that he had escaped the call of death and thought that he could survive in this new regime. But apparently he was thinking a little simpler. At this time, Ziying, who was tied hand and foot, knelt at the feet of General Xiang Yu with other old officials and old people of Qin, and he didn't dare to raise his head, tears dripping. The officials and people of the Qin State were not as strong and brave as they imagined, and trembling cries filled the entire Xianyang City.

Facing the majestic and glorious Imperial Palace of the Qin State, Xiang Yu was not as amazed as Liu Ji was at the beginning. He was born in a noble family, and the former palace of Chu was no worse than here. He didn't know the palace here, and he never wanted to live here. He believed that these were the relics of the Qin State and represented the power of the Qin State. He looks at these victories and deals with them with a winner's mentality, a master's mentality. And Liu Ji is different, Liu Ji came all the way from the commoners, and he was in awe of these Qin State treasures. Liu Ji looks at these victories with the mentality of an upstart. Therefore, Liu Ji did not dare to kill the child, because as a civilian, it was ominous to kill the king. Moreover, Ziying has only been in power for more than 40 days, and there is nothing wrong with it. Liu Ji also did not dare to forcibly snatch the precious treasures of the Qin Imperial Palace, because he knew that this would inevitably attract strong accusations. So Liu Ji could only secretly leave a few pieces when others were not paying attention.

Xiang Yu fought very hard all the way, killing and wounding so many brothers. He wants to take revenge on these Qin people with all his hatred. Therefore, he ordered Ziying and these Qin people to be killed. At the same time, it was also ordered to burn these Qin palaces, including the Afang Palace, which had not yet been built.

The red fire burned for three months. Those three months were the longest three months in Xianyang City, and the most tragic time in the history of Xianyang City, and they are still not relieved. During this time, Xianyang City was a purgatory on earth, with grief and fear filling the entire city, and the starry sky seemed to be full of dead souls. The once flowery, bustling and noisy capital Xianyang City suddenly became a ruin, and the smell of death was everywhere.

Liu Ji could only watch, not daring to say anything, no one dared to say anything. At that time, someone was thrown into the blazing fire by Xiang Yu because he said the wrong sentence. He sarcastically ridiculed the Chu people as monkeys, dressed and hated to look like people, but not human after all. (People say that Chu people are monkeys and crown their ears, sure enough.) "Historical Records - Xiang Yu Benji")

No one can make this kind of joke in front of Xiang Yu, a Chu person, and no one can even joke in front of Xiang Yu.

Only Xiang Yu himself can joke.

The next few days were the time for the founding of the country and the marquis, but Xiang Yu joked with everyone.

【Xiang Yu】

Today's Xiang Yu is the highest real power in the world, and he is only 25 years old at this time, full of spirit and ambition. China's history has been dominated by a 25-year-old, and this is not an exception.

The problem in front of Xiang Yu was also the problem that Ying Zheng faced back then. That is the question of the national system - whether to adopt the feudal system or the county system? What kind of political system can be implemented to consolidate the rule of Chu and achieve long-term peace and stability? This is a major political issue that Xiang Yu must solve.

When dealing with this issue back then, Ying Zheng was 39 years old, obviously much more mature than Xiang Yu. However, both then and now, the government and the opposition have been arguing about this. This controversy has not ceased until millennia later. Some people say that Yingzheng's choice back then was right and great, because he created an unprecedented imperial system; However, some people say that Ying Zheng's choice back then was wrong, because it was he who left the sequelae of the later emperors of the Qin Dynasty, which led to a nationwide riot that no one stopped......

At this time, the mainstream view was undoubtedly the derogatory theory of Qin, and only by standing on the opposite side of Yingzheng and saying that Yingzheng was wrong could he show the legitimacy of his regime. For so many years, the military and civilians across the country have fought bloody battles in order to eliminate the Qin Empire and the imperial system and restore the Six Kingdoms of the year. Xiang Yu, of course, wanted to deny the county system of the Qin Empire. Moreover, although Xiang Yu has made great achievements, he does not have the authority of Yingzheng and can suppress all the princes. In particular, Xiang Yu also has a nominal boss, Xiong Xin, the king of Chu. Xiong Xin is still nominally the king of Chu, and Xiang Yu is one of his generals.

【Bear Heart】

Xiang Yu first joked with Xiong Xin, the king of Chu.

He adopted a clear and deprecating approach, first respecting Xiong Xin as the righteous emperor and upgrading Xiong Xin's status. From the outside world's point of view, Xiong Xin is like the reign of Qin Shi Huang back then, but in essence, he does not have the prestige and power of Ying Zheng.

Prestige and authority are in the hands of Xiang Yu, and he has won the country, and Xiong Xin just sits back and enjoys it. Xiang Yu clearly told his generals and told the National Revolutionary Army that Xiong Xin had no credit at all, and the world was won by the princes and I, Xiang Yu, through bloody battles. Xiang Yu wants to divide the world to the princes, but the righteous emperor Xiong Xin does not have an inch of land. (Those who destroy Qin and set the world will all be the same as the power of the king.) Although the righteous emperor has no merit, he should divide his land and be the king. "Historical Records - Xiang Yu Benji")

In Xiang Yu's heart, he actually hates Xiong Xin very much. Because his uncle Xiang Liang was defeated and died that year, but Xiong Xin didn't care, he not only promoted the traitor Song Yi who killed his uncle, but also arranged himself in Song Yi's army, and was suppressed and insulted by Song Yi everywhere. What's more, he and Liu Ji were the only two people who were willing to take the risk of attacking Guanzhong, but Xiong Xin gave this opportunity to an unknown Liu Ji, so that in the end, Liu Ji picked up a big bargain. It can be said that Xiang Yu has never had respect for Xiong Xin. All of this is the hatred in Xiang Yu's heart. And Xiang Yu is a person who will take revenge.

Xiong Xin has always been unwilling to be at the mercy of others, and once wanted to seize the opportunity and hold the power tightly. But it's a pity that when Xiang Yujie won consecutive victories and finally attacked Xianyang City, he had lost this opportunity. He could no longer control Xiang Yu, and he could no longer suppress Xiang Yu's authority.

Xiong Xin, who has been promoted to Emperor Yi, can only accept Xiang Yu's arrangement and move to the desolate Chenxian County, Changsha County to settle down. Xiong Xin's mood was very low, he felt that this was the worst treatment, the worst ending. But he didn't expect that worse treatment and a worse ending followed, that is, he was deprived of the qualification to live. Later, Xiang Yu sent someone to assassinate the righteous emperor Xiong Xin, and it was the fierce madman Huang Bu who carried out the order.

【Liu Ji】

Next, Xiang Yu joked with Liu Ji.

At that time, Xiong Xin, the king of Chu, promised the generals of the Chu army that whoever entered Guanzhong first could be the king of Guanzhong. This decision was announced to the whole country and the whole army, and it is undeniable that it has an impact that cannot be ignored. This is also a big cake thrown by Xiong Xin in order to inspire the soldiers. Liu Ji worked hard, nothing more than to get the crown of this "King of Guanzhong", as well as the land and people of the old Qin State. Liu Ji was looking forward to it, thinking that this award belonged to him, and he was ready to give an acceptance speech. (Thank you TVB, thank you to the fans who supported me...... ）

But unexpectedly, Xiang Yu played a word game. Although the treaty was created by Emperor Xiongxin, the right to interpret it is in the hands of Xiang Yu - Xiang Yu has the final say, because Xiang Yu is the one who holds the real power. Xiang Yu divided Liu Ji as the king of Han according to the agreement, but the land and people of the Qin State were not completely divided into Liu Ji, but they were divided into three pieces, and Liu Ji only got the worst of them - the land of Bashu.

At that time, Bashu was not as prosperous and noisy as it is now, there was no delicious "Chongqing hot pot", mapo tofu, dandan noodles and strings of incense, there were no Sichuan operas with various tunes and mysterious and surprising face-changing, and there were no magnificent Leshan Giant Buddha and Dujiangyan...... There are many high mountains and mountains like Mount Emei and Mount Qingcheng. At that time, Bashu was a large prison of the Qin Empire, and all prisoners who committed serious crimes would be taken here to be punished. It's a long way, it's so desolate and so dangerous that it's a question of whether you can come back or get there safely. It is very likely that before he went to Bashu, he had already died on the road.

Liu Ji was assigned to Bashu, and in his heart, he didn't think it was a happy event. On the contrary, he felt that this was a deep insult to him, which was equivalent to going to Bashu to be punished with death. Liu Ji felt very angry, and he couldn't wait to the guy and Xiang Yu immediately, regardless of his body in his 50s.

The steady Xiao He stood up at this time and persuaded Liu Ji not to be impulsive, and fighting hard would only send him to death.

"Nonsense, how do you know we must be sent to death." Liu Ji, who had already experienced many wars and attacked the pass, looked a little proud at this time.

But this pride was quickly suppressed by Xiao He. Xiao He first started from the reality and compared the difference in strength between the two. Whether from the perspective of the number of soldiers or from the perspective of military experience, we are not as good as Xiang Yu. A hundred battles will inevitably be defeated, and hard work will only send you to death. Xiao He also quoted scriptures and brought out the ancient Shang Dynasty founding monarch Tang and Zhou Dynasty founding monarch Ji Fa to inspire Liu Ji. In the end, Xiao He persuaded Liu Ji to temporarily raise troops and accumulate strength, and he would definitely be able to seize the world in the future. (The minister wishes that the king of Hanzhong, raise his people to be virtuous, accept Ba and Shu, and return the three Qin, and the world can be drawn.) "Hanshu - Volume 39 Xiao He Cao Shen Biography")

said it so well, I don't know if Liu Ji understands it. However, Liu Ji is a pragmatist, as long as it is beneficial to himself, he will generally humbly adopt it. As a mature man, for the sake of the ideals in his heart, no matter how reluctant he is in his heart, he must accept the pain and grievances in front of him. Liu Ji understands this truth, he will not be like the naïve Xiang Yu, who holds on tightly to the things he loves and refuses to let go, even if he knows that it will hurt him.

But Liu Ji secretly vowed in his heart that he would definitely return to Xianyang in the future.

【Xiang Yu】

In the end, Xiang Yu joked with other revolutionary army generals.

Xiang Yu is only a 25-year-old boy, and although he has experienced a hundred battles and countless military wars, he has little experience in political struggle and system building. He has been brave and ruthless since he was a child, he likes to fight hard with others, and his favorite game is to show off in front of others. Carrying the tripod is the skill he is most proud of in his hometown Jiangdong. He did not receive a systematic royal political education like Ying Zheng, and was immersed in the atmosphere of political power struggle and political system construction for a long time. He doesn't have any great achievements in his heart.

He treats power as a plaything in his hands, and he can give it to whomever he wants, and he can divide it as he wants. He divided the world from the previous seven major pieces into nineteen small pieces, and divided nineteen kings, and he himself was the overlord of them - the overlord of Western Chu. He didn't want to be like Ying Zheng, to be the first emperor of Chu and take charge of national government affairs. He did not build a unified empire, but nineteen nations of equal status. The feudal kingdoms have a county system of internal administration. Each country established its own calendar system, appointed its own officials, had an army, ruled the land and the people, and was a completely independent kingdom. Regarding the government affairs of other countries, Xiang Yu did not think of interfering. Xiang Yu only hoped that other kings could obey his orders, and he only wanted to control these kings, just like the ancient Western Zhou Dynasty. In ancient times, the Zhou royal family did not directly manage the affairs of the vassal states, and rarely intervened. The vassal states had a high degree of autonomy over the affairs of their own countries, and the Zhou royal family neither directly collected taxes from the vassal states, nor sent or appointed officials to the vassal states, nor did they interfere in the judicial activities or military operations of the vassal states. The obligation of the vassal states was to obey the Zhou royal family, pay tribute on schedule, and accompany them in battle to defend the royal family.

However, there is one biggest difference between the sub-feudal system established by Xiang Yu and the sub-feudal system established by the Zhou Dynasty, that is, there is no sub-feudal family, which is also the core point. The vast majority of the feudal monarchs of the Zhou Dynasty were relatives of Ji Fa, the founding monarch of the Zhou Dynasty. All relatives with the surname Ji, as long as there is no mental problem, as long as they are not idiots or madmen, each of them is given a piece of land and a group of slaves. Although other heroes and ancient tribal leaders have also been divided, they are all surrounded by the vassal states surnamed Ji. The Zhou royal family controlled absolute political and military power, and could completely balance other non-Ji vassal states. However, Xiang Yu did not hold absolute authority, he could not deprive other leaders of the revolutionary army of their military power, and he did not have enough troops to divide them among other relatives. His idea was simple, that is, to divide the previous six kingdoms into three parts, hoping that the vassal states could check and balance each other. For example, the Qin land is divided into three pieces, the Qi land is divided into three pieces, and the Zhao land is divided into three pieces, and each piece of land checks and balances each other.

But he was clearly overly optimistic.

【Xiang Yu】

In the process of specific separation, Xiang Yu also handled it quite casually and willfully, especially on the issue of dividing the soldiers of Qi State. Xiang Yu expelled the original Qi Wangtian City from Linzi, the capital of Qi State, and relegated Qi Wangtian City to the remote Jimo as the king of Jiaodong, just like Liu Ji, but divided Tian City's general Tian Du into the king of Qi. Because he thinks that Qi Wangtian City is the same as Chu King Xiongxin, and has no merits. All the military exploits were achieved by the general Tian Du, and Tian Du was like a copy of himself in the Qi Kingdom.

However, Tian Rong, another general of the Qi State who held real power, did not obtain the qualification to be crowned king, because Xiang Yu always believed that the death of his uncle Xiang Liang had a great relationship with Tian Rong. Back then, his uncle Xiang Liang and Qi Guo Tian Rong fought together against the Qin army, but when his uncle Xiang Liang fought bloodily, Tian Rong sat on the mountain and watched the tiger fight, and he could not save him when he saw death. Xiang Yu was still haunted by the death of his uncle Xiang Liang in his heart, and hated Tian Rong to the core.

The other leaders of the revolutionary army were not always very satisfied with their separation. Xiang Yu divided the big cake of the world very carefully, thinking that everyone would be able to get a piece, and everyone would be happy. As a result, everyone felt that their piece of cake was small and was not satisfied. The leaders who did not get a share of the cake were even more angry. Because Xiang Yu did not have any objective standards when he divided the cake, it was more based on his own preferences and subjective biases. Whoever is kind to him will be better divided.

Of course, the premise is that Xiang Yu must respect the merits of other revolutionary armies, and he cannot completely put aside his military exploits to divide them, because he does not have enough authority to deprive other revolutionary armies of their military power. Therefore, among these divided kings, although several have a good relationship with Xiang Yu, none of them are people in his Xiang family, such as Xiang Bo and Xiang Zhuang, who have not been divided, because they have no military exploits.

As a result, the sub-feudal system established by Xiang Yu was more fragile than the sub-feudal system established by the Zhou Dynasty and the county system established by the Qin Dynasty. Because the king who was divided was not his own blood relative, but a general who had great strength. These generals themselves have no feelings for Xiang Yu, not respect from the heart, but more fear - afraid that they will not be able to beat Xiang Yu. And Xiang Yu is not very familiar with these generals themselves, although they sometimes fight side by side, but it is difficult to call them comrades-in-arms who share life and death, nor relatives and friends who share honor and disgrace, but can only be said to be colleagues with stakes. Once the common goal of the Qin Empire was eliminated, these generals would oppose Xiang Yu for their own benefit. What's even worse is that Xiang Yu doesn't have any means to restrain them at all. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, countries also sent sons to each other as hostages, but now Xiang Yu doesn't even have the least capital. This also laid the groundwork for future riots, and the struggle was inevitable.

Sure enough, two months later, the nationwide scuffle broke out again.

Note: The righteous emperor Xiong Xin is the nominal emperor, but in essence he is the most powerless monarch. Xiang Yu, as the supreme commander, proclaimed himself the overlord of Western Chu, Dupengcheng, and returned to the place where the army was first raised. The remaining eighteen princes were, Liu Ji, the king of Han, who originally belonged to the Xiang group, and his fiefs included Bashu and Hanzhong; The three surrendered Qin generals Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Fei were respectively divided into King Yong, King Sai, and King Zhai, and their fiefs included the homeland of Qin; The three Qi generals Tiandu, Tianshi, and Tian'an were respectively divided into the kings of Qi, Jiaodong, and Jibei, and their fiefs included the homeland of Qi; Yingbu, the king of Jiujiang, the thug with a thorn in his face and handing out business cards everywhere in the prison, the most fierce and brave general under Xiang Yu, was fiefdomed in the six counties, that is, Yingbu's hometown; Wu Rui, the king of Hengshan, Yingbu's father-in-law, was once quite reused by the righteous emperor Xiongxin; The two revolutionary army generals of Yandi, Han Guang and Zang Di, were respectively named the king of Liaodong and the king of Yan, but in fact, Han Guang had established himself as the king of Yan, and Zang Di was his subordinate, so Han Guang was very unconvinced and refused to go to the country, and was defeated and killed by Zang Di in the same year, and both Yan and Liaodong were owned by Zang Di; The four generals of Zhao Di, Zhao Xie, Zhang Er, Sima Wei, and Shen Yang were respectively divided into Dai Wang, Changshan Wang, Yin Wang, and Henan Wang, and the fiefs included the homeland of Zhao and Wei; Han Cheng, the general of Han Land, was named King of Han, but the overlord Xiang Yu refused to let him return to China, and finally killed him; Wei Bao, the general of the revolutionary army in Wei, was named the king of the Western Wei Dynasty, and its earliest source can be traced back to the Chen Sheng group, which can be said to be a veteran revolutionary army; There is also an unknown general Gong Ao, who was named the king of Linjiang because of his outstanding performance (meritorious service in capturing Nanjun).