Chapter 19 6. Hongmen Banquet
Now it seems that the story of Hongmen Banquet is more like a legend.
Hongmen is located in today's Lintong County, Shaanxi Province, bordering the Weihe River in the north and Lishan Mountain in the south. It was originally a small village.If it wasn't for the dinner event more than 2,000 years ago, this village would probably be little known.
In fact, Xiang Yu didn't intend to treat guests to dinner at first.He has issued an order to destroy Liu Bang early the next morning.This is his real thought, but someone should not get the news.
This person is Xiang Bo.
Xiang Bo is Xiang Yu's uncle and Zhang Liang's friend.Back then, Xiang Bo committed murder, and it was Zhang Liang who saved him.Therefore, Xiang Bo ran to Liu Bang's barracks overnight to report the news, lest Zhang Liang and Liu Bang die together the next day.
Yes, he didn't intend to save Liu Bang, he just wanted to save Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang refused to be alone.
Xiang Bo can understand this point.If Zhang Liang had not been righteous, he would not have saved Xiang Bo back then.Since Xiang Bo admired and appreciated Zhang Liang's loyalty, he had to agree with Zhang Liang to say hello.Leaving without saying goodbye is not enough, right?
In the end, it was Zhang Liang who told Liu Bang all about the situation.
Liu Bang was shocked.
Zhang Liang asked: Is Peigong really planning to betray Xiang Yu?
This question is very important, because it determines Zhang Liang's attitude, and also determines Liu Bang's life and death.The trouble is that if Liu Bang confesses, he will be convicted of the crime; if he lies, he will not be able to gain Zhang Liang's trust.
Liu Bang, how should I answer?
It's time to test Liu Bang.
Fortunately, Liu Bang's EQ and IQ are extremely high.He knew very well that the most important thing at this time was to tell the truth.If you are sincere, others will be single-minded; if you tell the truth, others will go all out.However, there is no way out.
So Liu Bang replied truthfully: There is indeed a little bastard who gave me a bad idea, saying that as long as the princes are kept out of the pass, I can become king in Qin.
Zhang Liang breathed a sigh of relief.
Because of misunderstanding and slander, you can be regarded as a fool at best, and it is better than self-assessment and deliberate rebellion.That leaves room for maneuver.
Most importantly, this is the truth.
So Zhang Liang asked again: Honestly speaking, can Pei Gong beat Xiang Yu?
Liu Bang was silent for a long time, and then said: It is impossible!
The "long silence" here has a deep meaning.Liu Bang's inability to fight against Xiang Yu is obvious, why he has been silent for a long time?plan?Evaluate?Save face?Seriously?But, silent for a long time, is true.
Then Liu Bang asked: What can I do for it?
Zhang Liang said, "I can only ask Uncle Xiang for help."
At this time, Liu Bang once again showed his high EQ and IQ.He asked Zhang Liang: Jun or Xiang Bo, who is older?
Zhang Liang said: Xiang Bo is old.
Liu Bang immediately stated: Then I will regard Uncle Xiang as my elder brother.
Obviously, this was for Zhang Liang, because Liu Bang did not compare his age with that of Xiang Bo.The meaning is also very clear, I, Liu Bang, and you, Zhang Liang, are definitely brothers.Your brother Zhang Liang is my brother Liu Bang.As for me and Uncle Xiang who are older, it doesn't matter at all.
Of course, as Liu Bang's Peigong, respecting Uncle Xiang as his brother also gave Uncle Xiang enough face.Liu Bang deserves to be a master of crisis public relations.
Xiang Bo was also quickly settled by Liu Bang.
Liu Bang said that when the minister entered Guanzhong, Qiu would not offend him.Find out the household registration of officials and people, and seal up the treasury's property, just waiting for General Xiang to receive it!As for sending troops to guard Hangu Pass, it is to guard against bandits, how dare you betray General Xiang?
Liu Bang said these words without shame.
That's right, it's a fact that you don't take a penny, quit Xianyang, and return to the army.But only he and Zhang Liang knew the real reason, and Zhang Liang would not reveal it.Liu Bang at this moment should really thank Zhang Liang and Fan Kuai.
Xiang Bo also fully accepted Liu Bang's rhetoric.He just warned Liu Bang: You must come early tomorrow to apologize to Xiang Yu.
Liu Bang got up to pay tribute and said: promise!
When Liu Bang and Xiang Yu met the next day, the atmosphere was very harmonious.Liu Bang's attitude is naturally sincere and humble, and at the same time he has the tone of an old friend.Xiang Yu has been disarmed by Xiang Bo, and he is very magnanimous.He even inadvertently revealed a piece of information: someone in Liu Bang's army informed him.
Liu Bang remembered the name and decided to go back and settle accounts with that guy.
Xiang Yu was very relieved and relaxed.
In fact, Xiang Yu ordered "to feed the soldiers every day, in order to defeat Pei Gong's army", because someone secretly reported that Liu Bang wanted to become king in Qin, which made Xiang Yu furious.In other words, Xiang Yu's decision was "passionate murder", not "premeditated murder".Now, since Xiang Yu has lost his temper, how can he have any killing intent?
So Xiang Yu invited Liu Bang to dinner.
So far, the matter has no suspense.Liu Bang and Xiang Yu can also drink wine and chat with each other happily.No one expected that this meal was not delicious.
The reason for the bad taste lies in Fan Zeng.
Fan Zeng strongly advocated killing Liu Bang.Fan Zeng told Xiang Yu long ago that Liu Bang was originally a hooligan.When he was in his hometown, he was greedy for wine, sex and wealth.Entering Xianyang this time, Qiu didn't commit any crimes. He wanted something bigger!Such a person who can restrain himself, how can he not guard against it?
Unfortunately, this is Fan Zeng's opinion, not Xiang Yu's.
Therefore, Fan Zeng winked frequently during the banquet, but Xiang Yu turned a blind eye.Xiang Yu turned a blind eye.Fan Zeng held up the jade ring again and again, but Xiang Yu also turned a blind eye to it.Jue reads like decision, implying decision.If you raise the jade ring three times but don't respond, then there is no decision.
Fan Zeng had to do it himself.He went out to find Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Yu's younger brother, and asked him to go in and dance the sword, waiting for an opportunity to murder Liu Bang.It's a pity that Fan Zeng's intentions were seen through by Xiang Bo, so he drew his sword and danced to cover Liu Bang, but Xiang Zhuang couldn't succeed.
Zhang Liang couldn't sit still anymore, he went out to find Fan Kuai.
Fan Kuai asked: "What's the matter?"
Zhang Liang said: "Not good."Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was aimed at Pei Gong.
Fan Kuai said: "This is a matter of life and death, and I am willing to live and die with Pei Gong."
So Fan Kuai forced his way through the gate, entered the tent, and glared at Xiang Yu, his hair stood upright, and his eye sockets almost burst.
Xiang Yu raised his sword and asked, "Who is coming?"
Zhang Liang said: "It's Pei Gong's driver and guard."
Xiang Yu said: "Strong man!"Give wine.
Fan Kuai thanked him, took the wine and drank it down.
Xiang Yu said again: Give him a pig leg.
The subordinates gave Fan Kuai a raw pork leg.Fan Kuai sat down on the ground, drew out his sword, cut pork legs on the shield, and ate while cutting.All the people present were stunned, only Xiang Yu greatly appreciated it.
Xiang Yu said: What a fucking strong man!Can I have another drink?
Fan Kuai said: "Your minister is not afraid of death, but wine is nothing!"
Next, Fan Kui made a long speech, made an impassioned speech, and denounced Xiang Yu.Fan Kuai said that the King of Qin had the heart of a tiger and a wolf, and he feared that there would be few murders, and fear that the criminal law would be unruly.Now, Pei Gong was ordered to enter Qin and seal the pass to wait for the general.The merits of hard work are so high, there is no seal of an inch of land, but there is a fear of life, what is the reason for it?The general listens to slander and wants to punish those who have meritorious service. Isn't it the continuation of the death of Qin Dynasty?
Xiang Yu was speechless.
The rest of the story is simple.Liu Bang escaped on the pretext of going to the toilet, leaving Zhang Liang to continue public relations.Before leaving, Liu Bang hesitated whether to say goodbye.But Fan Kuai said: Great practice does not care about meticulousness, and great gifts do not hesitate to make small concessions.Now people are kitchen knives and chopping boards, we are fish, so why say goodbye!
Liu Bang took it very seriously, and trot all the way back to the barracks.
The Hongmen Banquet came to an end.
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