Chapter 234 Xiang Yu's Ambition
In front of Hangu Pass.
This pass no longer has the strategic importance it once had where one man could defeat a million soldiers, not to mention that solid fortresses have always been breached from the inside. Shandong is full of rebel forces, the Qin court's army has been wiped out, Guanzhong has also been breached, and the Qin Dynasty has fallen. What can a single pass do?
No one wanted to resist at all. As soon as Xiang Yu's army arrived, the Qin generals guarding the city directly opened the city gate. As for the main general who was unwilling to surrender, he was naturally killed directly. This was the natural outcome for blocking everyone's way to survival.
Xiang Yu laughed loudly and said to Luo Ling: "Lord Luo, please enter Guanzhong."
Luo Ling understood that this was the aftereffect of his previous ability to call the wind and rain and defeat Zhang Han and Meng Tian. Now Xiang Yu was a little doubtful about his life and was very respectful.
Luo Ling shook his head and said, "Please, King Xiang, you are the common ruler of the world."
After some pushing and shoving between the two, Xiang Yu stepped forward, led the coalition forces of Shandong princes into Hangu Pass, and then headed straight for Xianyang.
He had already known the news that Liu Bang had captured Xianyang. If it had happened before, he would have definitely been furious. This was a great achievement in the fall of Qin, but it was actually taken by someone else.
What's even more frustrating is that the two men agreed to be brothers and jointly fight against Meng Tian and Zhang Han, and then Liu Bang turned around and entered Guanzhong. In Xiang Yu's view, this was Liu Bang's betrayal.
It was he who defeated the main force of the Qin army. The Meng Tian army that Liu Bang defeated was only a part of it. After that, Guanzhong was even more empty. In Xiang Yu's view, this was simply picking peaches. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. However, because Luo Ling was right beside him, he couldn't get angry.
However, Xiang Yu would certainly not sit idly by and watch Liu Bang become the King of Guanzhong. From the beginning of the Zhaocheng League, Xiang Yu had always wanted the position of King of Guanzhong.
After the fall of the State of Chu, Xiang had been thinking about why the State of Chu failed. There were many reasons, one of which was that the Guanzhong area of Qin was too good. Especially after it was connected with Bashu, the State of Chu was always on the defensive and had no power to fight back.
Of course, Xiang Yu would not let this land fall completely into the hands of one person. He had already thought about dividing the land, and then he would find excuses to weaken these allies, eventually reaching the point where the First Emperor would not be granted an inch of land.
That’s right!
What Xiang Yu really wanted in his heart was not to be granted an inch of land. He had to enfeoff the princes as kings and divide the land because those people were his allies rather than his subordinates. If they all worked together to defeat the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, you would be dreaming if you wanted to take over the world alone!
However, he was as stingy with rewards to his subordinates as the First Emperor, wishing to take everything into his own hands. The county system was simply the most perfect system.
This is why Xiang Yu was very happy when Luo Ling said that he was not going to restore his country. If Luo Ling did not restore his country, he would have much more room to maneuver.
Luo Ling really didn't expect that the collapse of the Qin Dynasty was just around the corner, but Xiang Yu still planned to do this. Simply stubborn can no longer be used to describe Xiang Yu. This is a typical political incompetence.
Power will never belong to just one person. It needs to be shared in any era and any country. A good power-sharing system can ensure the stability of the regime.
In this era that had just ended the chaos of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when transportation and information transmission were not very efficient, the most effective system for sharing power was to divide the land.
After all, land and population mean power, so only those who are willing to divide the land and enfeoff their subjects as kings and dukes can prosper and truly become kings!
…
As soon as Xiang Yu entered Guanzhong, Liu Bang brought Luo Yi and others to pay homage to him.
When the princes of Shandong held a meeting and jointly nominated Xiang Yu as the common ruler of the world, only Liu Bang and King Cheng of Han did not participate. It is only natural that they should be added now.
At the banquet, people were drinking and chatting in a harmonious atmosphere. There was no sharp swordplay as one might have imagined. However, Liu Bang remained extremely alert the entire time.
It was not just Xiang Yu who did not want him to be the King of Guanzhong; the other Shandong princes did the same.
Once Liu Bang became the King of Guanzhong, wouldn't it be a replica of the Qin State's eastward expedition to destroy various countries? How could people tolerate this?
These Shandong princes, especially the descendants of the Six Kingdoms, and even King Han Chengdu who traveled with Liu Bang, had the same request.
That is to completely destroy everything in the Qin State.
Including but not limited to killing all the Qin royal family members and destroying Qin's history books. They want to return everything that Qin had done to them.
You have to know that it was not just Xiang Yu who had a grudge against the Qin State. Those surrendered kings basically died in Xianyang.
If any of the Shandong heroes did not have several relatives who died at the hands of the First Emperor, it would only prove that their status and position were extremely low.
After three rounds of drinking, Xiang Yu raised his cup to Liu Bang with a smile and said, "Pei Gong, please drink again.
You are the bravest among the princes. You were the first to enter Guanzhong and overthrow the tyrannical Qin. Your contribution is the greatest among the princes. If I don't make you a king in Guanzhong, I'm sure the people of the world will not be convinced."
Liu Bang could naturally hear the sharpness hidden in Xiang Yu's smile, and hurriedly said: "Ji was able to break into Guanzhong because you defeated Zhang Han in the Central Plains.
This is why you, as the common ruler of the world, are hosting the banquet, and Ji is here to congratulate you.
You destroyed the tyrannical Qin for the people of the world. Who could not be grateful for your kindness?
The throne of Ji was agreed upon by the princes, but in the end, he still has to obey your orders. After all, your position as the common ruler of the world was also agreed upon by the princes. "
Xiang Yu laughed and said, "It took the whole nation's efforts to destroy the tyrannical Qin. Can Ji take all the credit on himself?
Ji had a conversation with Luo Gong some time ago. Luo Gong was unwilling to restore his country, but Luo Gong had made great contributions in destroying Qin. After much deliberation, Ji decided to rebuild Zhaocheng as Luo Gong's fief.
But when I was about to restore the country for you, I suddenly realized that if I restored the country according to the old rules, heroes like Pei Gong would have no land to be granted. Is this correct? "
Everyone was shocked when they heard this, but Liu Bang was fine, as he had the most stable throne among everyone present.
However, the faces of the kings looked unhappy, but they couldn't say anything.
After all, Xiang Yu was right. They took all the land away. Other heroes also participated in the fall of Qin. It was really unacceptable that they were not given any fiefdoms. I'm afraid they would start fighting on the spot.
Xiang Yu looked around at everyone's expressions and couldn't help but let a hint of pride flash across his eyes.
He thought to himself: After that, he would transfer all the kings away from his base, and only grant the King of Qi a part of the Qi territory.
Then he ceded a part of Yan territory and enfeoffed two outstanding men from Wei in Qi territory.
The other countries did the same thing, letting these kings fight each other and then reaping the benefits.
Luo Ling said nothing and watched Xiang Yu perform. He liked to let things take their course.
The general trend is unstoppable, and all human behavior will eventually reflect on the future. As for Xiang Yu's future, Luo Ling is not optimistic.
Liu Bang always kept a clear head. In just a moment, Liu Bang discovered that at least four people wanted to kill him. He was startled and became more cautious. He came here with some intention of making amends, so he did not have many people. Once these people wanted to take action and Xiang Yu did not protect him, he would really be in trouble.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
