Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

After the siege of Xiangcheng started again, the situation took a turn for the worse. More than 10,000 reinforcements from the Qin army arrived one after another. Liu Bang's siege troops suffered heavy losses, but Liu Bang insisted on not retreating and did not ask for reinforcements. Into the enemy line.He issued a death order, only winning, not losing.In the end, the siege battle was victorious, and more than half of Liu Bang's troops were lost. At night, Chu soldiers held torches to guard both sides of the avenue, and in the middle of the avenue, there were five thousand soldiers walking in a file.The black army of soldiers marched silently into the Wengcheng of Xiangcheng.The descendants of the advanced city found that relying on the city wall, there were pottery urns, purlins, rafters and other wood taken from the ruined walls.Some soldiers gathered together, accidentally kicked over the pottery urn, shattered, and black tung oil flowed out of it.Immediately, the soldiers who saw this scene looked at each other in dismay—the soldiers flocked to the gate of the city, but the gate was closed.The soldiers slapped the city gate in despair... Under the leadership of Zhong Limei, the Chu soldiers drew their bows and arrows, and the arrows were all wrapped in cloth soaked in tung oil.Several Chu Bing captains held torches and ignited the arrows.Zhongli Mo shouted loudly: "The whole army listens to the order!"

The school lieutenant's order spread far away—the whole army listened to the order! Zhongli Mo pulled out his sword and pointed in the direction of Xiangcheng: "Shoot the arrow!" Tens of thousands of rockets whizzed and drew a shining arc in the night sky, falling into the urn of Xiangcheng, a sea of ​​flames suddenly rose up, and in the sea of ​​fire, there came the terrifying screams of the five thousand soldiers. In the sky, there was a ferocious crimson.Liu Bang led his subordinates to station horses in the middle of the road, staring blankly at the fire in Xiangcheng, and hearing the faint screams, everyone fell silent.

Xiao He said: "My lord! Although Xiang Yu is powerful now, he is like a gluttonous beast in ancient times. Sooner or later, he will swallow himself too." Liu Bang was in a daze for a long time before he said sadly: "Do you think there is really an afterlife outside of Huangquan? How did we win this battle? Three thousand brothers who were desperate to die were afraid of ten thousand Qin soldiers who wanted to live .But now, those who desperately wanted to survive survived, and those who wanted to survive all failed. Yes, you are not afraid of death—I am afraid.” Liu Bang turned the horse's head, clamped the horse's girth, and left.Everyone was stunned, staring at Liu Bang's back in a daze, and then looked at each other in blank dismay.

When Xiang Liang returned to the camp, he was furious when he learned that Xiang Yu had killed five thousand prisoners.He jumped off the horse, and immediately swung his whip towards Xiang Yu who was meeting him.Xiang Yu clearly saw it, but he didn't hide. He was whipped by Xiang Liang, and a stream of blood flowed from the corner of his forehead. Xiang Liang asked, "Why did you kill and surrender?!" Xiang Yu said: "I made an oath that no one will be left behind on the day when the Chu army beats the drums and does not surrender!" Xiang Liang said: "Yesterday I asked you how to deal with these captives, but you didn't say a word. You have already thought about killing them, haven't you?! Do you like killing people so much? Could it be that there is something in the blood of our Xiang family? , is cruelty flowing?"

Xiang Yu said: "Once I say something, I will never take it back." Xiang Liang nodded and said, "Baoqin used to kill captives and was hated by the world! Why, you want our Xiang family to be hated by the world?" Xiang Yu said: "No, I want to let the Qin soldiers in every city know that I am serious. If they dare not surrender, they will end up like this!" Xiang Liang ordered: "Come here, tie me up!" The crowd came over and tied Xiang Yu up. Xiang Liang ordered: "Confine yourself for three days and don't leave the camp! Remember, you lost one thing by doing this, a very important thing."

Xiang Yu asked: "What?" Xiang Liang shouted loudly: "Heavenly way!" On this day, Xiang's army attacked the city repeatedly, but failed.Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng were wondering if it was Xiang Yu who killed the prisoners and made the Qin army guarding the city fight to the death. Suddenly, it was reported that the lowered flag was hung on the top of the city, and the city guard sent people to negotiate peace! Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng looked at each other.Suddenly there was a neighing of horses, and cheers came one after another.Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng and others watched, and saw a person in the distance, holding a military flag with one hand, galloping on horseback.Soon it was Xiang Yu!Xiang Yu rode up to the front, jumped off the horse, and threw the flag to the soldiers around him in high spirits.Xiang Liang asked, "Bastard! What are you messing around with? Didn't I ask you to reflect in the camp?"

Xiang Yu said: "Uncle, I just want to prove to you that Qin soldiers will surrender when they hear my name and see my flag! Those prisoners, did I kill the wrong one? Is my Chu soldier's life more important, or Qin's soldier's life more important?" After finishing speaking, Xiang Yu got on his horse and galloped forward.When all the soldiers saw Xiang Yu galloping past, they all raised their weapons and shook them, shouting their salutes and being elated.The shouts of the crowd continued to shout "Xiang Jiajun, Changsheng Army". Xiang Liang turned to ask the generals who had returned from victory: "The city has been attacked for more than a day, and the fierce battle is in full swing. Why did you come here suddenly?"

Zhongli Mo went out and said: "General, the defenders of the city are brave and wanted to resist to the last person, but when the battle was in full swing, General Yu appeared alone on a single horse with a general flag. When all the Qin troops saw it, they no longer wanted to fight , and it descended!" Ji Bu also said: "The last general asked about the surrender. The soldiers all heard about the incident in Xiangcheng, and they felt lingering fear when they thought about it. The general may not know that even a child would not dare to hear the name 'Xiang Yu' in a hundred miles around. Weeping." Xiang Liang said relievedly: "It seems that Yu'er's trick of killing and surrendering is very clever, Mr. Fan?"

Fan Zeng said loudly: "The old man thinks it's wrong! Although Qin's soldiers are not as powerful as when the first emperor was, they are still very fierce. This city is afraid of Xiang Yu and surrenders. I don't know what will happen to the next ten cities? What will happen to the hundred cities? Just ask, fear If there are cowards who surrender, there are also brave ones who will fight to the death. Could it be that our army has since then marched westward under the banner of "not surrendering to death"? The tyranny of the Qin Dynasty. Wherever it goes, the people support it and are invincible. Not only are the soldiers brave, but they also follow the way of heaven. If the people and soldiers everywhere think that the Xiang family army is a brutal army, intimidated and unconvinced, we and What is the difference between Qin's brutal teachers?"

Xiang Liang nodded and said, "Sir, you are right." Fan Zeng went on to say: "Those who have won the world all the time have followed the Tao. If the general wants to wipe out the inhumane tyranny of the Qin Dynasty and return the people to peace, please think carefully about what this old man said." Xiang Liang bowed to Fan Zeng, "If Mr. hadn't pointed out, Liang would almost have missed a major event." At night, Liu Bang camped.Under the lamp, Xiao He was mending his sleeves, he was quite skillful with thick needles and threads.Liu Bang was lying on the side, groping for the dates in a cloth bag, and thinking about it.

Liu Bang asked: "Xiao He, tell me, should I propose to General Xiang Yu to sworn brothers with him?" Xiao He refused to tell the truth at first, but was forced to tell the truth by Liu Bang, so he spoke openly and honestly: "Master, why do people worship you? Who is he? Generations of hairpin tassels, descendants of a famous family, and you, a man from Luzuo , the officially appointed official position is just a famous pavilion chief! Who do you think you are? You are a grass head king now! He is in the mountains and I am in the ravine. Can this be put together? It’s okay if you don’t mention it. Bring it up, if people don't agree, we'll be ashamed!" Liu Bang laughed at himself and said: "Who are you missing? I have sacrificed my life for him! I fought for him!" Xiao He said: "Did you forget what Mr. Zifang said to you before leaving? Be careful not to offend Xiang's uncle and nephew. This is not a place to stay for a long time. If you sworn brothers with him, we can still Can you go?" Liu Bang laughed and said, "You, you, why are you so brainless? I don't understand? Since we are sworn brothers, he has to take care of me, right? If we have any trouble, this brother will be useful. It's over. When we grow big enough to separate our troops and leave, there's no need to mention this brother." Xiao He was startled, and then laughed dumbly: "My lord, what do you call sworn brothers? It's too disrespectful!" Liu Bang said: "I'm not talking about loyalty, I'm talking about the righteousness of the world! For everyone to survive, I can do anything, as long as I can leave him one day, what can I not do?" After finishing speaking, he spat Taking a sip, he spat out the date pit. Outside Xiangliang's mansion in Dingtao, Xiang Liang came out on horseback. Han Xin stopped Xiang Liang with open arms and said, "A military emergency!" Xiang Liang asked: "Look at your attire, are you a soldier?" Han Xin replied: "The villain is." Xiang Liang laughed loudly and said, "How dare a soldier call it a military emergency? Get out of the way!" Han Xin stretched out his hand to hold the rein and said, "General, please listen to me. If you don't take it, please punish me." Xiang Liang nodded and said, "Then let's talk." Han Xin took out a few pebbles from his arms, squatted on the ground, and said, "This is Dingtao City. This is Hangu Pass. After Zhang Han defeated Zhou Wen's army, he went straight to the south. If Zhang Han's army didn't want to If you want to advance, you should go back to Xingyang, where there is plenty of food and fodder. If you want to enter, you should go straight to Dingtao, that is, to fight with you, General." Xiang Liang looked down at the horse and said, "You are familiar with the terrain." Han Xin went on to say: "And he didn't advance, he didn't retreat, and he left the main force on the plain. How can he fight like this? According to my judgment, he must be bluffing and only planting the commander-in-chief flag in the camp. If I use troops , and it should be the same. He will secretly send troops from the left and the right to encircle Dingtao." After Han Xin finished speaking, he looked up at Xiang Liang.Xiang Liang squinted his eyes, finally smiled, and said, "Left and right, give him ten coins and tell him to get out!" Han Xin shouted: "General!" Xiang Liang said: "Be good as your soldier! Don't think about it!" The lieutenant threw down ten coins to Han Xin, picked him up and pushed him away.Xiang Liang and his entourage left without a trace.Disappointed, Han Xin picked up the pebbles on the ground and let the ten coins lie on the ground without bothering to touch them. However, he eventually picked up the money.Han Xin took the ten coins as a reward, invited two companions, sneaked near the enemy camp, and grabbed a tongue.When asked, it turned out to be Zhang Han's subordinates, Han Xin immediately told the two soldiers, not only did you get five coins, but you also lost a life!Dingtao has been besieged, going back is death! In this way, Han Xin's military talents came into play for the first time, saving himself and two comrades in arms. However, there was also Liu Bang who knew that Dingtao was besieged and rushed straight away. Liu Bang led his troops to rush towards Dingtao starry night, and Lu Wan came to report: "The two groups of Zhang and Han have joined forces! Dingtao is surrounded, and we can't break in!" Liu Bang drew out his sword, held it up high and ordered loudly: "Listen to my orders! Advance quickly! After dark, enter Dingtao!" In this way, Liu Bang's men and horses were staggering and exhausted after a night's journey, but they were still marching tenaciously.Distant shouts and noises could already be heard.The fire glowed red in the evening sky.From the mist ahead, several wounded soldiers of Xiang Liang's subordinates staggered towards Liu Bang's team, leaning on their spears. Their bodies were dripping with blood, their faces were blackened by the gunpowder smoke, and their eyes were terribly frightening. .Fan Kui sneaked back from among the defeated soldiers. He was holding a round shield and dagger, obviously after a lot of fighting.He hurried over and said, "My lord, the city has been captured, and Zhang Han's troops have entered Dingtao." Liu Bang asked: "Where are the troops of the princes? Has anyone arrived?" Fan Kuai said: "My lord, no one came to rescue except us. Not all the way." Everyone looked at each other and fell silent.Liu Bang was furious, but he calmed down immediately, gesticulating on the ground with his sword and said, "Look, this is Dingtao City, here are four gates, Fan Kuai, you set fire to the south gate first, to attract the attention of Zhang Han's army , let them think that the reinforcements are coming from behind, and we will bypass the north gate and break in from here!" No one answered him, and everyone bowed their heads in silence.Liu Bang shouted angrily: "What? Why don't you speak!" Cao Shen said: "My lord, calm down, Dingtao has fallen!" Lu Wan said: "My lord, this is death for nothing! Everyone is dead and useless!" Liu Bang scolded angrily: "Shut up! Go in, go in! Even if I die here today, I will find Duke Xiang Liang and snatch him out! He was the first one to help! Now he is in trouble, and the princes from all walks of life have abandoned him! Can the world be so shameless?! I am ashamed to be with them!" All the generals stood up, shouted excitedly, and hugged Liu Bang.Liu Bang broke free, drew his sword and pointed furiously, and shouted furiously: "I will see who dares to disobey the order! Anyone who disobeys the order will be beheaded! Zhou Bo! Cao Shen! I order you all to follow me! Charge immediately!" Liu Bang threw himself down and hit the back of Liu Bang's neck with the hilt of his sword.Liu Bang immediately passed out. In an adobe house in a village outside Dingtao City, the sky is already bright, and the light is cast from the hole in the roof.Liu Bang was lying on the couch with his upper body naked, with a wet cloth kerchief on his forehead, and a pair of slender white hands were holding the cloth towel, slowly wiping Liu Bang's back to cool him down.Liu Bang woke up leisurely, and suddenly saw a guard standing guard at the door, and then saw a woman beside him—Mrs. Qi, who was serving him.Liu Bang was about to get up, but suddenly felt dizzy.Liu Bang's consciousness gradually came back, remembering why he was here, he stared at the woman, and asked slowly: "Where is this?" Liu Bang wanted to kill and trap himself in the unrighteous Fan Kuai, everyone begged for mercy, and while they were talking, a report came suddenly, and General Xiang Yu arrived. After a short time, Xiang Yu appeared on a black horse with a black cloak and red tasseled helmet, followed by six strong generals on horseback.Several soldiers under Pei Gong knelt on one leg, and Xiang Yu led his men to rush forward. Liu Banglue bowed: "General Yu!" Xiang Yu dismounted.All six generals dismounted.Xiang Yu took off his helmet and tied a white scarf on his head.The six generals all took off their helmets and put them under their ribs, revealing the filial scarves tied around their heads.The generals, who were watching from a distance, were shocked by this momentum, and immediately looked at each other in blank dismay, solemnly. Xiang Yu said: "Pei Gong, take a step to speak." Liu Bang said: "Please!" Two people entered the adobe house.Xiang Yu sat on the head, didn't speak for a long time, and suddenly asked: "I ask you, yesterday at 3:00 Shen Shi, where are your troops?" Liu Bang bowed slightly: "It's about a hundred miles away from Dingtao." Xiang Yu asked again, "Where were you before dawn?" Liu Bang replied: "I am under Dingtao City." Xiang Yu asked, "Why didn't you enter the city when you rushed to the city?" Liu Bang said: "Major General, I apologize to you! Zhang Han is fierce, he overwhelmed all the main forces! But my men are too few, I am afraid that all brothers will die in battle, and it will not help. Therefore, I ordered, no Charge into Dingtao! I retreated before the battle, and it was all my fault that I failed to rescue Duke Xiang Liang! Please ask me to punish you! I am willing to be punished by military law!" Xiang Yu examined Liu Bang, and Liu Bang was very sincere.Xiang Yu said: "Pei Gong, there is no need to be like this. When the princes are in trouble, my uncle desperately goes to the rescue, but when it is my uncle's turn to be in trouble, the princes have not rushed all the way! They are just waiting around! Only you, the army, I ran all night, ran hundreds of miles, and killed Dingtao City! You didn't enter the city, I don't blame you, because it is wise. Not only should you not be punished, you should also be worshiped by me!" Liu Bang said in surprise: "General Yu! You can't do this!" Xiang Yu insisted on bowing down and said, "This is my uncle's thanks to Pei Gong!" Liu Bang was moved and said: "General Yu! You are serious!" Xiang Yu said: "I'm here to fulfill my promise. As I said, today is a good day to become sworn brothers with you. Let's become Jinlan brothers and avenge my uncle together!" Liu Bang was very pleasantly surprised. The two became an alliance with blood, and they became friends with eight worships.Xiang Yu said: "Brother! The world is chaotic and people's hearts are different. If one day you and I turn against each other, I will make this promise today. No matter what you do, I will never hurt your life!" Liu Bangdao: "Okay, brother, no matter what the situation is, I swear, I will protect your life with my life!" Xiang Yu returned to the camp, and immediately led his troops to attack Chen Liu and fight Zhang Han decisively.Suddenly, Fan Zeng came in with ragged clothes, haggard face, unkempt beard and hair, carrying a long burden on his back.He said: "Can't go! Absolutely can't go! Chen Liu wants to fight, but not now! Attack at this time, let alone fight, just go there, the soldiers will be exhausted, and there is no chance of winning!" Xiang Yu scolded angrily: "What? Are you still alive? How did my uncle die? Isn't there an old man who is advising him? Why is my uncle still dead! If you hadn't invited the sheep herder, how could my uncle and I have met? Look at people's faces! Now, my uncle is dead, but you are still alive! What kind of face do you have to give orders here!" Fan Zeng said angrily: "Zhu Zi! Stop talking so wildly! It's not easy to die! I've wasted my life and I'm tired of working. If I hadn't met Duke Xiang Liang, maybe this remnant body would have rotted among the graves! This time Ding Tao The defeat of the army is God's will, how can mortals redeem it! If it weren't for the fact that Mr. Xiang Liang's kindness has not been repaid, the old man would have fought this life with Qin Bing long ago, why should he struggle so hard to find here! I am really blind Eyes!" Fan Zeng threw down his burden and was about to poke his eyes out, Zhongli Mo and Ji Bu were horrified, and rushed forward to stop Fan Zeng. Xiang Yu looked down and was shocked.What was wrapped in that bundle was the precious sword passed down by the Xiang family, which Duke Xiang Liang always wore. Fan Zeng said: "Mr. Xiang Liang entrusted him to return this sword to you...he hopes that you will be worthy of the honor this sword bears!" Then he turned and left. Fan Zeng staggered around in the wilderness, his white beard and white hair swaying in the wind, he looked around blankly, seeing that there was no one around in the wilderness, he drew out his sword, threw away the scabbard, and stared at the void.Xiang Yu chased after him, and Fan Zeng said, "Xiang Ji! You have to understand that your uncle has no heirs, and everything he did was for you, for your Xiang family! Supporting King Huai was not a momentary impulse, but deliberation. The result. When the Qin Dynasty is about to perish, all the heroes in the world will rise up, and if they don’t follow the banner of the Great Chu, why should they obey you! If your intelligence is comparable to your courage and ambition, then you should know what to do! ——The old man is gone!" After saying that, Fan Zeng took a few steps back and raised his sword suddenly to kill himself, Xiang Yu grabbed the blade of the sword, and blood flowed from his fingers. Fan Zeng roared, "Let go!" Xiang Yu said: "I was wrong! Uncle Heroic Spirit has not gone away, he is blaming me! Please don't leave, sir! From now on, you will be my father!" Fan Zeng supported Xiang Yu tremblingly, the two held each other with four arms, Fan Zeng wailed. In the courtyard of the village outside Dingtao City, Liu Bang walked out of the earthen house and was assigning tasks.Liu Bang ordered: "Break camp immediately and go to Pengcheng!" Cao Shen said: "Obey!" Liu Bang ordered again: "Wait a minute, don't take away the excess military rations, give them all to the people in the village!" On the empty village road, Mrs. Qi, the widow of Liu Bang's recent landlord, was wearing a green dance dress. , Putting up skirts and rushing, but the Han army has gone far.Madam Qi was panting, anxious, looking around, but the Han army had disappeared.Suddenly, a horse came from behind her, and it was Liu Bang immediately.Madam Qi looked back, and was about to go home when she suddenly saw Liu Bang!She froze.Liu Bang stared at her and asked: "Aren't you a widow? Why are you wearing this dress again?" Mrs. Qi said: "General Renyi, I do not avoid suspicion, so I come here to see you off! Please don't laugh at me!" Liu Bang asked "How do you live without your husband?" Madam Qi choked up and said, "Let's live every day." Liu Bang suddenly said, "Come with me." Madam Qi was surprised and stared at Liu Bang blankly to confirm that he was not joking.Liu Bang stretched out his hand, looked at Madam Qi firmly and said, "I can't protect you from being rich, but I can protect you from starvation and being bullied!" Madam Qi reached out and took Liu Bang's hand.Liu Bang pulled vigorously, and the green dress drew a graceful arc. Mrs. Qi was pulled onto the horse by Liu Bang, and the two rode away together.