Chapter 125 The First to Enter Guanzhong is King 37
Who would have thought that Xiang Yu would act unpredictably? He didn't seem happy, as if he had been holding back his anger from the previous two times.
However, after Liu Bang reminded him that this place was now under the jurisdiction of King Huai of Chu, Xiang Yu still didn't say anything. He only said that they needed to attack the next place as soon as possible, and take advantage of the high morale to take Chenliu in one fell swoop.
Liu Bang had no objection. He ordered his men to enter the city to rest and recuperate while he considered the matter of Chenliu.
While studying the luminous map again at night, Liu Bang suddenly saw a pair of eyes in the room. They were as black as obsidian, something no ordinary person could possess. In particular, the landscape patterns on her clothes also had a dim golden light.
Liu Bang was shocked: "Why have you come at this time?" Is Chenliu really that important?
The position of Chenliu... isn't particularly important, is it?
Qin smiled but remained silent, leaving Liu Bang with only a profound and unfathomable smile.
Liu Bang pondered the expression for a moment and figured she wasn't there to settle scores with him, nor with Xiang Yu, and that she seemed to be in a good mood.
A sudden thought struck him; he remembered what she had said earlier. Could it be some kind of retribution coming his way?
Liu Bang himself did not believe in retribution or ghosts, and he certainly did not believe in gods or spirits. This can be seen from the fact that he himself came up with the idea of pretending to be a god or spirit and fabricating miracles. However, the emergence of 'Qin' created a different situation. 'Qin' was neither a ghost nor a god, but a national spirit.
There are many things to consider...
Unable to get anything out of 'Qin', he studied the luminous map and went to sleep. He even pondered the question in his dreams, dreaming that they conquered Chenliu and then Xiang Yu suddenly went mad.
Liu Bang sat up in surprise. Seeing that it was just getting light outside, he breathed a sigh of relief: "So it was just a dream..."
Two days later, after receiving supplies in the city, Liu Bang led his army on another journey, this time towards Chenliu. Liu Bang felt his heart pounding wildly.
It's like something bad is about to happen. If a modern person were here, they would probably confidently tell him that this is just a psychological suggestion you're giving yourself.
But Liu Bang himself didn't have this concept; he just felt that his intuition might be right.
He sent someone to keep an eye on Xiang Yu, just out of curiosity about what this so-called retribution was. Nothing else mattered, his main concern was: "Don't drag me into this..."
He wondered if he could trust 'Qin' this once. Since 'Qin' hadn't warned him, it shouldn't harm him.
No, even 'Qin' can't predict the exact future, he only has a general feeling, so could something really happen to him...?
Suffering from timed paranoia, Liu Bang chose to consult Cao Can on the left, Fan Kuai on the right, and finally Zhang Liang to have his fortune told.
He's being so cautious; nothing should go wrong.
----
Before attacking Chenliu, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang held a pre-battle discussion, and those present were mostly their trusted confidants.
Cao Can and Fan Kuai, who had been following Liu Bang closely recently, were also present, but neither of them spoke. The person speaking now was Xiang Yu.
Liu Bang and his men nodded from time to time. Putting everything else aside, Xiang Yu was indeed very good at leading troops and fighting battles.
Just as Liu Bang had uttered a few words of his opinion, someone outside announced loudly that there was an urgent matter to be reported to the generals.
Xiang Yu disliked others interrupting the pre-battle meeting, but he also knew that anyone who could come to him at this time must be someone with important news. He waved his hand to signal the guards at the door to bring the person in.
A disheveled soldier appeared in everyone's sight, and Liu Bang's heart skipped a beat. This man's appearance didn't seem like a good thing.
As expected, this person addressed Xiang Yu directly, not because of his status, but because...
The person he mentioned who died in the battle of Dingtao was Xiang Liang, Xiang Yu's uncle, the uncle who raised Xiang Yu.
Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu felt his head spinning. He abruptly stood up, glared at the soldier, and roared, "Say that again!"
Even if the man said it again, Xiang Yu only heard the key words: 'Xiang Liang', 'died in battle', 'Dingtao', and 'Qin general Zhang Han'.
As the soldier's mouth opened and closed, only a few words echoed in Xiang Yu's mind.
She said the retribution had come, and it took only three months, from July to September.
Liu Bang wasn't worried that Xiang Yu would notice something was off about his expression, since Xiang Yu probably didn't have time to observe the expressions of everyone present anyway.
No, there was a soft chuckle in the room. He subtly observed his surroundings. Who could laugh without being seen? It could only be 'Qin'.
Liu Bang caught a glimpse of a dark-colored garment out of the corner of his eye. He casually turned his head slightly and saw Ling kneeling beside him.
However, when he looked at her, there was no smile on her face at all; the corners of her lips were flat and without any curve, not even two pixels.
Looking at the somber atmosphere, Liu Bang felt that only he truly understood her, and the exhilarating feeling of being on the same side was finally here.
Of course, he couldn't laugh along; if he did, he might just die on the spot.
The attack on Chenliu goes without saying. Without much discussion, everyone decided to abandon Chenliu and return east. The death of Xiang Liang was a major event. After all, Xiang Liang was the one who established King Huai of Chu, and their army was under his command. With Xiang Liang's death, there would be a lot of fighting over what he left behind.
Whatever the reason, Xiang Yu had to get back as soon as possible.
Liu Bang, on the other hand, thought that after fighting for so long and with Zhang Han nearby, it would be better to avoid him. He also wanted to go back and take a look at the new power structure of Chu after the reshuffling.
So the allied forces stopped attacking Chenliu. After returning to their own territories, the two divided their forces again. Xiang Yu's army was stationed in Pengcheng, where Lü Chen's army was stationed, while Liu Bang led his own army to Dang County.
Many of the soldiers Liu Bang led were recruited from Dang County. They were like fish in water, with good logistics and sufficient food supplies, so they did not need to enter the city to plunder. They quickly got along well with the people in the city.
----
The news of Xiang Liang's death finally spread, and the consequences were severe. It not only shocked the feudal lords but also instilled fear in them towards the Qin army. Zhang Han naturally seized this opportunity to press his advantage and pursue the enemy.
Under these circumstances, the restored Chu state suffered repeated defeats and was no match for Zhang Han. The successive victories made Zhang Han feel that Chu was no longer a threat, so he turned to attack the Zhao state, which was making a ruckus in the north.
September was nearing the end of the year, and the power struggles among the upper echelons had little to do with Liu Bang at the moment. A few days later, Liu Bang heard that King Huai of Chu had merged the armies of Lü Chen and Xiang Yu, and that he himself was now in command.
Liu Bang was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wu'an and also became the Chief of Dang Commandery, commanding the troops of Dang Commandery. He could now be referred to as Chief Liu.
Xiang Yu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Chang'an and given the title of Duke of Lu, which was similar to Liu Bang's self-proclaimed title of Duke of Pei. In modern terms, Liu Bang's title of prefecture magistrate was much higher than that of Duke of Lu.
In the end, Lü Chen was appointed as Minister of Works, and his father became the Prime Minister.
Liu Bang didn't react much to this. Zhang Liang, who was under his command, had been appointed Minister of Works because of the matter of establishing the King of Han.
However, the situation there was constantly changing, and Zhang Liang was also concerned about the affairs of the state here, so he did not actually stay to assist King Han and left soon. It was precisely because he left quickly enough that he was able to catch up with the allied forces of Liu and Xiang.
However, it's hard to say whether this title of Situ still holds true now, since the previous Situ was appointed by Xiang Liang, while the current nominal ruler of Chu is King Huai of Chu.
A few days later, things were at least outwardly peaceful, and King Huai of Chu even summoned people to discuss matters.
The main topic of discussion was the western expedition and the northern expedition. The western expedition was naturally to attack Qin, while the northern expedition was to aid King Zhao, who had been besieged in Julu by Zhang Han's army and had sent envoys to Chu for help on several occasions.
The western expedition was decided long ago, regardless of whether the King of Zhao asked for help. However, because Chen Sheng had died and Xiang Liang had recently been defeated and killed, it could be said that from King Huai of Chu to ordinary people, no one was optimistic about the western expedition.
As soon as King Huai of Chu asked, "Who is willing to lead the army on a western expedition?"
"This humble general is willing to go!"
King Huai of Chu looked at Xiang Yu, paused for a moment as if he hadn't seen him, and then looked at the silent people.
Everyone present lowered their heads, looking down at their noses and minds, as if it were none of their business.
King Huai of Chu fell silent for a moment, his lips twitching. Very well, none of his men were willing to lead the army on the western expedition, but he couldn't very well refuse to go west.
He added, "Whoever enters Guanzhong first can be made a king."
The temptation was considerable, but... one had to be destined to be a king, so many generals hesitated but none volunteered to go on the expedition.
Except for Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu hated Qin general Zhang Han for killing his uncle Xiang Liang. He volunteered as soon as King Huai of Chu asked the question, but King Huai ignored him.
Xiang Yu gritted his teeth, assuming that King Huai of Chu was old and his eyesight and hearing were failing, and shouted again, "This humble general is willing to go!"
This time the sound almost shook the roof, and King Huai of Chu couldn't pretend he didn't hear it; he showed a troubled expression.
So he looked at the old men who had followed him for many years, and immediately some of them, who had been his trusted confidants for many years, received the signal from King Huai of Chu.
“No, Xiang Yu is a ruthless and cunning man. The last time he attacked Xiangcheng, he slaughtered the entire city. The last time he attacked Chengyang, he killed the entire city. Even the governor of Dang County couldn’t stop him. Such a person cannot be a general.”
"The westward expedition is already facing great resistance. If he leads the troops with his personality, won't it become more and more difficult? What about the reputation of my Chu Kingdom?"
The man who stepped forward rolled his eyes and began to praise again: "The governor of Dang County has always been kind and virtuous. Wherever he goes, everyone praises him. Even in cities that have been conquered, the people praise him highly. His reputation for benevolence has spread throughout Dang County."
Liu Bang: 6.
After being showered with compliments, Liu Bang was completely taken aback; he himself wouldn't dare to boast like that.
Moreover, he already felt like he had a thorn in his side, as if someone was watching him from behind.
It has to be said that King Huai of Chu's subordinates really know how to stir up trouble. They flatter him, which he loves to hear, and their methods of praising one person while putting down another and sowing discord are really good. And what they say is the truth, because everyone present basically thinks the same way.
Then it's not his problem; it must be Xiang Yu's problem.
"Now that the western expedition is blocked, the situation is indeed quite difficult," he said, his eyes flickering. It was not just difficult, it was extremely difficult. "But with a benevolent and righteous person like Prefect Liu, he will surely be able to move the people of Qin with his righteousness, reduce their resistance, and make them submit to our Great Chu."
Liu Bang chuckled inwardly. If winning with mere words were enough, he would have already ascended the throne as the Second Emperor of Qin. This guy was just trying to fool people.
However, this was not impossible. He could fight it depending on the situation. The most important thing was to get more food and military supplies from King Huai of Chu again. He had already made a list in his mind and planned to ask for more benefits.
There's also the allure of being able to become a king the first to enter the pass.
"Slurp!" Liu Bang thought, indicating that the temptation was too great for him to resist.
So he stepped forward and said humbly, "General Wang is too kind. I am but a man of some wisdom, and do not deserve such praise."
The old general quickly replied, "It's worth it, Marquis Wu'an is too modest. Your benevolence is truly..."
“Oh, General, you’re praising me too much,” Liu Bang quickly interrupted the man, knowing it wouldn’t be good to be praised again. He put on a righteous and awe-inspiring appearance and said, “I am willing to lead the army on a western expedition, but the journey is quite long. I don’t know if we can keep up with the supplies. If we go on an expedition without supplies, it will be difficult for me to fight.”
"That's easy to say. I will certainly give my full support to the western expedition."
Having received King Huai of Chu's promise, Liu Bang was satisfied. He didn't insist on a specific amount; whether it would be enough was up to him.
His main concern was that the first to enter the pass could be crowned king. Although it was a title bestowed by others, it meant that he would truly have the opportunity to compete with others.
They are no longer chess pieces, but the players who wield them.
Therefore, given the opportunity, he would still very much like to seize the chance to become king.
Having been belittled, Xiang Yu suppressed his anger, but his appointment was still nowhere to be seen, and he grew anxious. He hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble general is willing to follow... Marquis Wu'an on the western expedition!"
Since they volunteered to follow, it goes without saying that Liu Bang would be the main general and Xiang Yu the secondary general.
Liu Bang: His smile gradually fades. (jpg)
Who would want to work with this volatile ancestor? And if he brings someone like this along, it's questionable whether he can even control him.
King Huai of Chu also saw Liu Bang's reluctance. He didn't want to give the two a chance to develop a relationship. If there was even the slightest possibility of them uniting, would he still be able to keep his throne? So no matter what, Xiang Yu would not go on a western expedition with Liu Bang.
King Huai of Chu directly rejected Xiang Yu's request, and said, "The State of Zhao has repeatedly sought my help, and I cannot bear to abandon the King of Zhao. Naturally, I cannot send all my troops to the west. How about this..."
King Huai of Chu paused for a moment. Someone had spoken highly of Song Yi to him before, saying that Song Yi had predicted that Wu Xinjun's army would be defeated, and that Xiang Liang had indeed been defeated and killed. He had foreseen the outcome before the battle even started, and that Song Yi's talent made him a worthy general.
King Huai of Chu also thought this made a lot of sense, so he chose Song Yi as the person to rescue King Zhao and relieve the siege of Julu.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Song Yi is appointed as the Supreme General to lead the army north to rescue Zhao, and Xiang Yu is appointed as the Second General."
After observing for a while, King Huai of Chu selected Fan Zeng as his junior general, and all were placed under the command of Song Yi.
This completes the arrangement of the two groups; the remaining detailed plans will need to be discussed further.
When the troops were finally dispatched, it was already the beginning of the following year, the third year of Qin Er Shi's reign. Just before leaving, Liu Bang heard about Xiang Yu's exploits after his northward march.
The army that marched north to rescue Zhao set off much earlier than him. While Liu Bang was still making preparations, Song Yi and others were already fully prepared to depart.
The logistics support was also first given to Song Yi and his men, since the rescue was urgent and if it wasn't done quickly, King Zhao might perish. Even if King Huai of Chu wanted to delay, he wouldn't do it openly.
The Northern Route Army could be said to have set off immediately, but no battle reports came for a long time, and everyone had their own plans.
Only Liu Bang secretly paid tribute to Qin, used the Great Summoning Spell to find Qin, and shamelessly asked Song Yi of Qin what was going on and whether something had happened.
As he thought, this accident must have been caused by Xiang Yu. The only unstable factor in the northern army was Xiang Yu. He just didn't expect that even the general appointed by King Huai of Chu couldn't control him. It was really something. Fortunately, that person was not in the western army.
'Qin': 'Is that all you're asking?'
Liu Bang nodded: "But you didn't give me the specific details of the army's situation that far away."
Qin knew what Liu Bang meant, so she smiled and said, "Then shall I take it back?"
Liu Bang, who was secretly testing the waters, quickly shook his head: "No, ancestor, I was wrong. I was just curious about the situation on Song Yi's side. I absolutely did not mean to look down on the Golden Light Map!"
"It's not that I can't tell you; it just so happens that I've also been following Xiang Yu."
Liu Bang nodded, intently listening to what was to come. He wasn't worried at all that his ancestor had other grandsons outside. He glanced at the list of grudges; Xiang Yu was still third. What was there to worry about? He'd have to sleep with one eye open if he was worried about Xiang Yu.
“Song Yi led his troops to Anyang a few days ago and is currently stationed there. It doesn’t seem like he intends to continue marching.”
"However, the situation inside looks complicated, so I haven't paid much attention. You just need to keep an eye on Xiang Yu; his luck has been gradually increasing lately."
There was only one person and one spirit in the room. Liu Bang spoke cautiously and in a low voice, not afraid of being overheard. He frowned and said, "But Xiang Yu's killing goes against the will of Heaven. How can his fortune rise?"
Zhu Qing'ai knew the truth of Liu Bang's suspicion that the massacre of the city was a form of retribution, since retribution in Xiang Liang's case didn't seem to prove anything.
Then she gave a meaningful smile, her eyes filled with a strange and mysterious light that was barely noticeable unless you looked closely, but upon closer inspection, it revealed her inhuman nature.
"It was precisely because he offended the natural order that he was sent to a great height, only to fall and be smashed to pieces."
"No one has ever massacred a city before him, but there have been many since..."
Liu Bang didn't hear the second half of her sentence clearly, or rather, she said it, but he didn't 'understand' it.
"Do you want to be a temporary emperor, or an emperor for life?"
Liu Bang: Is there even a need to choose?
Liu Bang: 222.
"Never mind," she said without waiting for Liu Bang's reply, "You wouldn't hear me anyway, just keep it to yourself. I have other things to do, don't call me unless it's important."
The figure of 'Qin' disappeared along with the voice. Liu Bang had just gotten excited, but now he had a lot to say and nowhere to say it. How frustrating!
He was suffocating.
But what could he do? He had no choice but to forgive his ancestors.
----
When news of Xiang Yu came again later, he was already planning to lead his troops out, as news arrived from the north.
Song Yi lingered in Anyang with his army for forty-six days, showing no intention of crossing the river to rescue Zhao. Xiang Yu grew impatient and killed Song Yi when he saw him in the morning.
At this time, he had temporarily taken over Song Yi's position and was called the Supreme General.
According to the news that came from him, Xiang Yu said that Song Yi was plotting a rebellion in alliance with Qi, and King Huai of Chu ordered Song Yi to be executed.
King Huai of Chu, who had just received the battle report from the front: ?
The battle report also stated that after Xiang Yu killed Song Yi, he had decided to cross the river to rescue Zhao. Regardless of King Huai of Chu's reaction, they had already crossed the river and set off when the battle report was sent.
King Huai of Chu was furious, but he couldn't show it on his face. He could only appoint Xiang Yu as the supreme general, commanding the northern army and ordering him to rescue King Zhao.
When Xiang Yu was appointed as the Supreme General, it was done in front of all the ministers present, and at the same time, the appointment was made while he reluctantly accepted Xiang Yu's explanation.
Upon hearing this explanation, Liu Bang sensed something subtle about it, and after the court session ended, he secretly touched his neck.
That's good, it's not him who commands the northern army.
This Xiang Yu is really...
He's ruthless; he even dared to kill his own boss.
Liu Bang frowned, thinking that he should be extremely careful with such a competitor.
-----------------------
Author's Note: *1 Xiang Yu's character was described as fierce, ruthless, and cunning, according to the Records of the Grand Historian.
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