Chapter 19 2. Those who win Zhang Liang win the world

After the Han Dynasty pacified the world, Liu Bang once publicly published a wonderful historical confession, putting the credit of Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Han Xin in the first place.He said frankly: "I'm not as good as Zifang in strategizing and winning thousands of miles away." As a "teacher of the emperor", Zhang Liang always advised Liu Bang at the most critical moments without any mistakes. He was praised by Liu Bang as "Xing Han". The first of the "Three Heroes". In terms of background, Zhang Liang and Xiang Yu are very similar, and both have a deep hatred for Qin.Xiang Yu valued Zhang Liang very much, but why didn't Zhang Liang become Xiang Yu's counselor?

Zhang Liang was born in an aristocratic family. His grandfather served as the prime minister of the three Korean dynasties, and his father also served as the prime minister of the second Korean dynasty.By the time of Zhang Liang, South Korea had gradually declined. Later, Qin State unified China, and South Korea perished.Zhang Liang had the ambition to serve the country since he was a child, but the demise of South Korea made Zhang Liang lose the opportunity to inherit his father's career and lose his prominent and glorious status, so he harbored the hatred of subjugation of the country and family, and concentrated this hatred on one point—— — Anti-Qin.

In his youth, Zhang Liang was a bloody man, with such an ambition to repay his country and Korea, he disregarded his younger brother's funeral, scattered all his family wealth, and begged assassins to assassinate Qin Shihuang.Later, I got acquainted with a strong man and made a hammer weighing fifty or sixty catties. In the twenty-ninth year of Qin Shihuang (218 BC), Qin Shihuang led a large group of people to travel from Jingdong.Zhang Liang took this opportunity to hammer Qin Shihuang Yu Bolangsha with the Hercules, but missed the auxiliary vehicle.Qin Shihuang was furious, and immediately put Zhang Liang on the wanted list across the country.

From then on, Zhang Liang kept his name incognito, fled to Xiapi, and waited for the news.During Zhang Liang's time, there were many interpretations and speculations from later generations.Legend has it that Zhang Liang met Huang Shigong, also known as the "old man on the mountain", who was hiding in the cave here. He was moved by his sincerity and forbearance. Can be the master of the king."It is said that Zhang Liang studied the art of war day and night, looked up to the world's major events, and finally became a "brain tank" with a deep understanding of strategy, both civil and military skills, and resourcefulness.

From the failure of hammering Qin Shihuang to the outbreak of peasant uprising at the end of Qin Dynasty, during the nearly ten years, Zhang Liang lived in seclusion in the Xiapi area, not doing nothing.He lived a life of half recluse and half ranger, studying military books hard, making friends with heroes and rangers, and brewing a struggle against the Qin Dynasty.Xiang Yu's uncle, Xiang Bo, killed a man, but was hidden by Zhang Liang and escaped the pursuit of the government.This life-and-death relationship played a major role in the later Hongmen Banquet. After Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in Daze Township and raised their troops against Qin, anti-Qin armed forces surged everywhere.Zhang Liang, who had been waiting for many years, finally couldn't bear it anymore. With his connections, he gathered more than a hundred people and raised the banner of anti-Qin.

More than 100 people from Zhang Liang were active in the Xiapi area, but Zhang Liang felt that he was alone and unable to gain a foothold, so he decided to take refuge in Mingzhu.It happened that Jing Ju, the leader of the Peasant Army, proclaimed himself King of Chu and stationed troops in the county. Zhang Liang led the people to join him, and met the most important person in his life-Liu Bang on the way. At this time, Liu Bang was at a low point in his life and career.Liu Bang had just made his debut and achieved a little success, but he didn't expect his fellow villager Yong Chi to betray him.The city that Liu Bang worked so hard to build was taken away by Wei Wangjiu, his base was lost, and he also suffered a sense of emotional and psychological frustration.Liu Bang was in a state of embarrassment and was battered, but he still had to fight hard.

After Zhang Liang reported himself as his family, Liu Bang thought to himself: "Could this be the chivalrous man who failed to murder Qin Shihuang?" Suddenly closing the distance between the two, Liu Bang said frankly that he admired Zhang Liang's heroic spirit very much, and asked Remembering where Zhang Liang had avoided Qin Bing all these years, he forgot his unhappiness for a moment.The two talked freely, and they really felt like they had met each other late.Liu Bang left Zhang Liang together for a few days. Zhang Liang used his spare time to tell Liu Bang some "Tai Gong Art of War". After hearing this, Liu Bang sincerely praised: "Mr. I was puzzled, because he had studied this book of military affairs with many friends, but almost no one could appreciate the beauty in it, but Liu Bang praised it greatly, so he asked, "What do you think is good about this book, the general?" Comprehension said one by one, really not bad.Zhang Liang was very pleasantly surprised, thinking: "This Liu Bang is a natural genius."

A few days passed, and it was time for Zhang Liang to leave, so he hesitated.What kind of person Jing Ju is, Zhang Liang really doesn't know, but Zhang Liang believes that Liu Bang is a person with high talent and broad-mindedness. There must be a master who is good at accepting advice.Thinking of this, Zhang Liang decisively changed his mind and decided to follow Liu Bang.Zhang Liang found Liu Bang and said: "If the general doesn't dislike him, I want to follow the general." Liu Bang was overjoyed after hearing this, who is Zhang Liang?Ten years ago, I was already famous all over the world. It is my great fortune, Liu Bang, not to be my own counselor, but even to be a friend.Then Zhang Liang offered a plan, and Liu Bang borrowed troops from Xiang Liang to quickly regain Fengyi, which was occupied by Yongchi.Since then, Zhang Liang has been highly valued and trusted by Liu Bang, and his ingenuity has the opportunity to be fully utilized.

But Zhang Liang still has one thing on his mind, which is to help South Korea restore the country. Zhang Liang told Liu Bang his thoughts, and Liu Bang understood Zhang Liang's wish very well.Later, Xiang Liang established Xiong Xin, the grandson of King Huai of Chu, as king, and gathered the leaders of various rebel armies in Xuecheng to discuss major issues. Liu Bang took Zhang Liang to participate, and reminded Zhang Liang that he could ask Xiang Liang's help to revive Korea. Xiang Liang had heard of Zhang Liang before, and wondered why Zhang Liang was willing to assist Liu Bang instead of joining Xiang's army.So he asked Zhang Liang to talk alone, and Zhang Liang took the opportunity to propose to Xiang Liang: "Since the king has established a descendant of the king of Chu, and the king of Hengyang among the princes of the king of Han has become the most virtuous, he can be made king, so as to cultivate more followers." As early as the time of Xiapi, Zhang Liang had an old friendship with Xiang's family, and even saved Xiang Bo's life. At this time, Xiang Liang wanted to win Zhang Liang over, so he naturally agreed.

Therefore, Xiang Liangli became the king of Han, and appointed Zhang Liang as Situ to assist the king of Han.Zhang Liang's goal of "reviving Korea" was finally achieved, and his long-cherished political wish of "reviving his family" was also realized.So Zhang Liang bid farewell to Liu Bang, and wanted to help South Korea regain its lost ground.Liu Bang felt very reluctant, but everyone has his own ambitions. He just said: "Whenever you come back, I will regard you as a confidant." This is the first time Zhang Liang left Liu Bang.After that, Zhang Liang tried his best to support Han Wangcheng, sent troops to recover Han land, wandered around Yingchuan, sometimes captured several cities, and sometimes was recaptured by Qin soldiers, but failed to create a big situation.And Liu Bang, attached to Xiang Liang, and Xiang Yu divided troops to attack Qin.

In July of the third year of Qin II (207 BC), Liu Bang led his troops to capture Yingchuan.Han Wangcheng's troops joined Liu Bang.Liu Bang asked the King of Han to stay in Yangdi, and asked Zhang Liang to go south with the army, and Zhang Liang happily went.With Zhang Liang, Liu Bang, like a god, successfully captured Wanyang, broke through Wuguan, and captured Xianyang. In the first month of the second year, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the overlord of Western Chu, and entrusted eighteen princes and kings.He violated the previous agreement, entrusted Liu Bang to the remote and desolate Bashu, and called him King of Han. The division of the world has been decided, and Zhang Liang intends to leave Liu Bang and return to Korea to be Han Wangcheng.Liu Bang bestowed a hundred yi gold and two buckets of pearls.And Zhang Liang donated all the gold and pearls to Xiang Bo, so that he could apply for the addition of the Hanzhong area for the King of Han.Seeing the benefits, Xiang Bo went to persuade Xiang Yu immediately.In this way, Liu Bang occupied the three counties of Ba, Shu, and Hanzhong south of the Qinling Mountains. In July of the same year, Zhang Liang sent Liu Bang to Baozhong.Surrounded by mountains here, there are cliffs and cliffs along the way. There is only a plank road volleying through the sky, and there is no other way.Zhang Liang observed the terrain and suggested that Liu Bang burn all the plank roads into Shu after the Han army passed, expressing that he had no intention of going east, so as to eliminate Xiang Yu's suspicion and at the same time prevent others from attacking.In this way, you can take the opportunity to recharge your batteries, wait for the opportunity, and then expand your ambitions. When Liu Bang arrived in Hanzhong, he got a surprise general Han Xin and returned to Sanqin.When Xiang Yu heard that Liu Bang had pacified the Three Qin Dynasties, he was furious and decided to lead his troops to fight back.Zhang Liang once again helped Liu Bang, sent a letter to deceive Xiang Yu, interceded for Liu Bang and told Xiang Yu about Qi Wang Tianrong's conspiracy.As expected, Xiang Yu was caught in the trick, and he didn't intend to look west. Zhang Liang directed Xiang Yu's attention to the east, thereby relaxing his guard against Guanzhong, and bought Liu Bang precious time to recuperate. Zhang Liang helped Liu Bang again and again, which made Xiang Yu feel very uncomfortable.Xiang Yu thought to himself: "Liu Bang is not any better than me. Zhang Liang is a Korean nobleman. Why is he willing to follow that bumpkin?" .Xiang Yu has been troubled by this kind of thinking for a long time, and feels more and more that Han Wangcheng is not pleasing to the eye.Back then when Xiang Liang established the King of Han, he entrusted himself with the title of King of Han, mostly because of looking at Zhang Liang's face, but Han Wangcheng didn't realize this and often said some stupid things.Xiang Yu felt that Zhang Liang could not do anything for him, and it was useless to keep Han Wangcheng. The Overlord of Western Chu has become a habit of killing people, so he didn't need to find any reason for himself, so he ordered: "Catch Han Wangcheng, let me kill him, he doesn't have any credit, and he thinks he is so great." Han Wangcheng was killed, Zhang Liang He didn't have any mental preparations at all. He thought that if he was more thoughtful, he could at least save Han Wangcheng's life.Zhang Liang fell into deep self-blame and completely woke up from the fantasy dream of "Xiang Han". Without further ado, Zhang Liang quickly escaped from Pengcheng, escaped the Chu army's pursuit, and returned to Liu Bang's side.When Zhang Liang saw Liu Bang, it was like seeing his relatives. Liu Bang also got the bad news about Han Wangcheng. He understood Zhang Liang's mood very well, but he didn't say anything, and asked someone to arrange for Zhang Liang's board and lodging.Soon, Liu Bang named Zhang Liang the Marquis of Chengxin, and Zhang Liang followed Liu Bang day and night, becoming the most important minister of the Han army.Xiang Yu recklessly killed King Han and gave the Han army a good military adviser, which objectively helped Liu Bang a lot. When Zhang Liang met Liu Bang, Liu Bang was weak and precarious, but Xiang Yu was the recognized leader of the rebel army. The comparison between the two is very obvious.Zhang Liang and Xiang Yu have old stories and are both descendants of nobles.But Zhang Liang chose the most inconspicuous Liu Bang, which is equivalent to choosing the single-plank bridge instead of taking the Yangguan Road.Could he have seen the end of the conflict between Chu and Han then?No wonder later generations call him the Eternal Seeker. Liu Bang's enlightenment and Liu Bang's demeanor may have attracted Zhang Liang deeply, but what Zhang Liang valued most was Liu Bang's broad mind.In order to revive Korea, Zhang Liang voluntarily left Liu Bang twice: one time, before they defected to Xiang Liang, Zhang Liang left Liu Bang to assist Han Wangcheng in attacking the city;Not only did Liu Bang not feel a rift because of this, but he expressed understanding and support for Zhang Liang's behavior.When Zhang Liang experienced various setbacks and returned to Liu Bang again, Liu Bang still trusted him and regarded him as his confidant.This kind of mind convinced Zhang Liang, and Zhang Liang was loyal to Liu Bang all his life.The two monarchs and ministers cherish each other and complement each other. There are not many people Xiang Yu can fall in love with, but Zhang Liang, the only one he is interested in, has always been in love with Liu Bang. Zhang Liang's choice determines his own destiny, and also determines the fate of Xiang Yu and Liu Bang.Although Zhang Liang was only a frail man who never swung his sword into battle, he was known for his strategy.He fought against the Qin and supported the Han all his life, and his contribution is indestructible; he planned great events, and they eventually came to fruition.Historians throughout the history have written about his profound wisdom, praised his ingenious strategy, and affirmed that Zhang Liang's life was conducive to the historical process of Qin's death and Han's establishment.All the strategies proposed by Zhang Liang were adopted by Liu Bang: do not set up descendants of the six countries; unite with Yingbu and Pengyue, reuse Han Xin; pursue Xiang Yu and annihilate the Chu army.The establishment of the Han Dynasty strongly advised Liu Bang to grant Yongchi, and cleared up the doubts of the officials... It can be said that without Zhang Liang, there would be no later Han Dynasty, and Liu Bang won the world only after he got Zhang Liang.