Liu Bang led Chen Ping and his people back to Guanzhong through Chenggao (Xingyang Bishui Town, Henan), about 20 kilometers west of Xingyang, leaving the imperial historian Zhou Ke and others to stick to Xingyang. The Chu army continued to besiege the city of Xingyang and occupied Chenggao.

There is the Yellow River flowing through the west and north of Chenggao, and the east and south are the remaining veins of Songshan Mountain, the geographical location is dangerous, and it is the place where soldiers must fight since ancient times. Chenggao's Tiger Prison has the reputation of "one husband is the pass, and ten thousand people are not opened".

Liu Bang gathered troops and horses in Guanzhong, preparing to go out of the customs again to find Xiang Yu for a decisive battle. A man named Yuan Sheng admonished and said: "Your lord, you and Xiang Yu have been in a stalemate in the Xingyang area for several years, and the Han army has often fallen into passivity because of the water and land grain routes. The king is better than going out of the martial arts, Xiang Yu will definitely lead the army to the south, and the king will raise the barrier and not fight, so that Xingyang and Chenggao can rest. When Han Xin stabilized the Zhao State, the Yan State, and the Qi State, forming a joint encirclement, it was not too late for the king to march into Xingyang again. ”

Yuan Sheng's strategy is very powerful, changing from passive to active, leading the enemy's nose. The Chu army had to be prepared in many ways and dispersed its forces, while the main force of the Han army was rested and recuperated, and then fought against the Chu army, and the chances of victory were great. In fact, the Chu-Han War was fought to the end, and the soldiers of the Chu army were dragged out of exhaustion, and their combat effectiveness declined significantly.

Liu Bang adopted Yuan Sheng's suggestion and went out of Wuguan (north of Danfeng County, Shaanxi) to Wancheng in order to attract the Chu army and relieve the pressure on the Xingyang and Chenggao fronts. Xiang Yu heard that Liu Bang was in Wancheng, so he led his army south. The Han army strengthened its guards and did not come out to fight. At the same time, Liu Bang ordered Peng Yue to sneak attack behind the Chu army. Peng Yue crossed Suishui and defeated Chu general Xiang Sheng at Xiapi (Gupi Town, Suining County, Jiangsu). When Xiang Yu heard this, he led his army to the east to attack Peng Yue. Liu Bang took the opportunity to lead his army north to recapture Chenggao.

As soon as Xiang Yu's army came, Peng Yue lost the battle. Peng Yue was not ambiguous at all, packed up the rest of the troops and ran away. Peng Yue is the ancestor of guerrilla warfare, he has always pursued the tactics of the enemy advancing and retreating, and the enemy retreating and chasing after Xiang Yu, constantly causing trouble in the rear of the Chu army, seizing the opportunity to build a base behind the enemy, cutting off the grain route of the Chu army, and playing a very good role in containing the Chu army.

Xiang Yu heard that Liu Bang had occupied Chenggao, so he led his troops westward and captured Xingyang. Xingyang has been under siege for more than a year, and the city has been cut off from grain and grass. Zhou Ke held out to the end, and when the Chu army broke through the city, he was captured. Xiang Yu planned to surrender, but Zhou Yan refused harshly, Xiang Yu was very angry and killed him. Among the old brothers who participated in the Pei County Uprising, Zhou Cao died the worst. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bangfeng Zhou Cao's son Zhou became Gao Jinghou, which was a little comfort to the old subordinates who died tragically.

Xiang Yu's soldiers pointed directly at Cheng Gao. Liu Bang was obedient this time, and before the Chu army arrived, he fled. Chenggao was again occupied by the Chu army.

Liu Bang crossed the Yellow River, fled into the military camps of Han Xin and Zhang Er on the north bank of the river, ordered Han Xin to attack the Qi State in the east, and sent Zhang Er to Zhao to recruit troops. Liu Bang planned to personally lead his troops across the river to attack Xiang Yu. How many times he was chased and beaten by Xiang Yu, Liu Bang couldn't swallow this breath. Langzhong Zheng Zhong advised Liu Bang not to fight for the time being and wait for the opportunity. Liu Bang calmed down, listened to Zheng Zhong's advice, and sent Lu Juan and Liu Jia to lead 20,000 troops, cross Baimajin (east of Huaxian County, Henan), go deep into Chu, meet with Peng Yue, and open up a battlefield behind enemy lines.

In September 204 BC, Peng Yue and others captured 17 cities including Suiyang (Shangqiu, Henan) and Waihuang (Lankao, Henan). Xiang Yu was anxious after receiving the news, and led his troops to attack Peng Yue, leaving his subordinates to defend Chenggao.

Before leaving, Xiang Yu repeatedly told Cao Yao, "You guard Chenggao well, the Han army comes to challenge, don't go out of the city to fight, just block the Han army, I will clean up Peng Yue within fifteen days and they will come to you." ”

Cao Ji didn't have to wait for fifteen days. At first, Cao Ji did not come out of the city. Liu Bang sent soldiers to the city for several days in a row to insult Cao Jiao, what was ugly and what was scolded, the purpose was to provoke Cao Jiao to fight. Cao Ji couldn't bear it, he didn't disappoint Liu Bang and led the troops out of the city. The Han army pretended to retreat. The Chu army crossed the Bishui River and pursued the Han army. When the Chu army crossed the river, the Han army suddenly counterattacked and broke the Chu army. Cao Ji committed suicide.

The Han army regained Chenggao again, restored the Aocang grain route, and the balance of victory began to tilt in favor of Liu Bang.