Chapter 22 2. Three Chapters of Covenant and Burning Xianyang

Liu Bang was the first among the anti-Qin vassals to enter Guanzhong. Facing the resplendent Xianyang Palace, he thought of the emotion he felt when he saw Qin Shihuang's majestic travels a few years ago.Although he was very reluctant, Liu Bang finally followed the advice of Fan Kui and Zhang Liang, resisted the strong material temptation, sealed up all the gold, silver and jewelry, and then returned to the army Bashang with a big hand. Once reluctantly parting with love, Liu Bang's next performance was very sober. He called together the prominent figures in Guanzhong and held a meeting for them.At the meeting, Liu Bang made an important speech, introducing where he came from, what he did before, and also introduced his glorious journey all the way through the barriers. His voice choked up several times and his speech was interrupted repeatedly.Finally, he said earnestly: "The fathers and elders have suffered from the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty for a long time. Those who slander the family and those who speak casually abandon the market. I make an appointment with the princes. The first to enter the pass will be the king, and I will be the king of the pass. Make an appointment with the father and elders, the law is three chapters Ear: The murderer dies, and the crime of wounding and stealing is punished. The rest of the Qin law is removed. All the officials are blocked as before. Wherever I came, I came to eliminate harm for my father and elders. There was no violence, no fear! And that's why I returned to the army Bashang, wait for the arrival of the princes to decide to restrain the ears."

Although this passage is short, it has a strong guiding significance, but it has a strong guiding significance. If you want to interpret it clearly, you need to publish a thin booklet.We ordinary people don't pay attention to it, just like Xiang Yu studying literature and martial arts, just don't ask for a deep understanding.In short, Liu Bang talked about four aspects: The first is to announce policy measures.Qin law is too harsh, "the slanderer family, the slanderer abandons the market", the common people don't even have the right to whisper, it's too bad, I don't have so many things to do when I come, just make three chapters, very simple, your political affairs in the future The environment is relaxed; the second is to stabilize people's hearts.The purpose of my visit this time is to "remove evil for my elders, not to commit violence", I am here to rescue you, I will not take needles and threads from the masses, you have all seen this, so please rest assured, folks, Why do you still do it, unload the burden, start the machine, travel lightly, do not delay production and life in a stable manner, and you will be the masters of your own family from now on; the third is to build momentum for yourself.Why did I, Liu Bang, do this, because "I made an appointment with the princes, the first to enter the pass will be the king, and I will be the king of Guanzhong".Before I came, we had an agreement. According to this agreement, among the anti-Qin princes, whoever enters Guanzhong first will be the king of Guanzhong. Now that I have entered first, there is no doubt that I will be the future king of Guanzhong, that is, you here The parent officer, so I will be responsible to you; fourth, the plan for the recent period.The reason why I return to Bashang instead of living in Xianyang is because I understand the rules, and I have to wait for all the princes to arrive together before announcing the appointment of me as the king of Guanzhong, so I will not arrange specific work during this period , "All officials are blocked as usual", to maintain the original official order of the Qin Dynasty, there should be no interruption in work, and continuity must be maintained.I don't engage in specialization, everything is done according to the agreement.All we need to do now is: wait.

The second, third, and fourth items, Liu Bang is actually boasting about how good he is, vaccinating the common people, paving the way for his future appointment, which is really related to the vital interests of the common people, which is the first item that Liu Bang emphasized: There are three chapters of the contract.The common people look at benefits and want freedom, so they don't care who is the king of Guanzhong.It's all right now, and I don't have to worry about being convicted for no reason anymore. As long as I don't make mistakes in principle, I can do whatever I want, and my anger will be much more even.

Liu Bang was calm and eloquent, with everything in mind and under control. If it is said that Liu Bang's entry into Xianyang was relaxed and step-by-step, then Xiang Yu's entry into Xianyang was much simpler and more majestic.He first "led troops to the west and slaughtered Xianyang", then killed "Qin's prince and infant", then "burned the Qin palace", and finally "received his goods and women and went east".A series of actions can basically be summed up in four words: burning, killing, looting, and plundering, and they are done in one go, cleanly and neatly.Judging from the fact that "everything that passed through Xianyang City is in ruins" and that the fire in Xianyang Palace "will not be extinguished in three months", Xiang Yu's massacre of the city is basically destructive. "The people of Chu are burned, and the scorched earth is pitiful." The resplendent and magnificent former imperial city has turned into pitch-black scorched earth, and it is impossible for grass to grow again.

Xiang Yu's behavior also illustrates three problems: First, Xiang Yu's attitude towards Qin is to eliminate evil and do everything.Xiang Yu's ultimate military goal is to overthrow the rule of the Qin Dynasty. This is also the philosophy of his and his uncle Xiang Liang's two generations of struggle.That being the case, then killing the King of Qin and burning down the imperial palace is part of the plan.In Xiang Yu's view, only by destroying the iconic people and objects of the Qin Dynasty can the Qin Dynasty be completely destroyed. Second, Xiang Yu advocates force.As we said before, Xiang Yu's ability to carry a tripod also made him rely on force.After the uprising, Xiang Yu conquered the city and conquered the land, and spent his days fighting and killing. The heroic act of breaking the boat and sinking the boat brought his conquest by force to the peak, so he became more obsessed with force.He firmly believes that force and massacre can solve all problems.This is his style.It should be said that the deterrent effect of this massacre is still very great. The last hope of the old ministers of Qin State for Qin State was shattered, and the people in Guanzhong were also terrified when they saw this scene. It's time to sieve the chaff between the two legs.

Third, Xiang Yu did not pay attention to the influence of the masses.It is understandable to kill children and babies and burn the palace, but "receiving their treasures and women to the east" is an act of robbers.Although the common people don’t say anything, it’s impossible for them not to have opinions in their hearts. While they are afraid, they will inevitably have a rebellious mentality: dare to feel that this master is more violent than the tyrant Qin. ", the good impression left by Liu Bang before has disappeared, replaced by infinite fear of Xiang Yu. Both entered Xianyang, but the behaviors of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were very different. The fundamental reason is that their goals are different.Liu Bangzhi is in the government, and sooner or later all the plants and trees in Guanzhong will be his, of course he is reluctant to destroy; Xiang Yu is aiming at destroying Qin, wanting to regain the prestige of Chu State and regain the glory of the family in the past, of course How to relieve anger.To achieve their own goals, Liu Bang will gather the hearts of the people to change the old order of the Qin Dynasty; Xiang Yu will use his prestige to destroy the old order of the Qin Dynasty.

In the first chapter, we said that Liu Bang and Xiang Yu said different things when faced with the majesty of Qin Shihuang when he traveled.Up to now, it can be said that their words have basically been fulfilled, and we can better understand the profound meaning of what they said at that time.Liu Bang envied Qin Shihuang because he wanted to take the position of Qin Shihuang. Although his wish at that time was still a beautiful legend, even after becoming the queen of Han, he did not dare to dream of being an emperor for a long time, but he had a desire in his bones; Xiang Yu To hate Qin Shihuang is to destroy Qin Shihuang's things, eliminate the influence of Qin State, and destroy Qin State just like Qin State destroyed Chu State back then.It is precisely because the two have different starting points that they say different things, which is also destined to do different things in Guanzhong.It is not difficult to understand their behavior just by looking at the secret behind their behavior.