Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

In Xiang Yu's tent, Fan Zeng finally waited until Xiang Yu came back.Xiang Yu said: "I took people to patrol the periphery, and when I found Qin's small team, I killed them all." Fan Zeng said: "Why do you need a general to go to such a trivial matter? You must know that an army cannot be without a commander for a day..." Xiang Yu said: "Okay, I'm back. Don't you even give me a break?" Fan Zeng asked: "General, do you mean that woman by resting?" Xiang Yu felt that the question was strange, so he said, "Why do you ask that?"

Fan Zeng said: "Blame me for talking too much, general, if you want to achieve great success, you must stay away from women." Hearing this, Xiang Yu immediately lowered his face and said, "Is this what you're talking about?" After finishing speaking, he made a gesture to leave. Fan Zeng had no choice but to talk about the military situation: "General Yu, Zhang Han is still standing still, and our army's food and grass are no longer enough." Hearing this, Xiang Yu stopped in his tracks and said, "Yes, I have a worry right now. How can I feed the more than 100,000 Qin soldiers captured in Julu?"

Fan Zeng said: "Your troubles are mine. If you let them starve, it will cause riots. But if you distribute weapons and let them fight Zhang Han's army, I don't know when they will fight back and turn around. To deal with the Chu army. Such a large group of captives is best placed in the rear. But the Chu army will no longer be able to move forward and surround Jiyuan, because the large group of captives may attack from behind, and no one can rule out this possibility .” Xiang Yu asked, "How about killing it?" Fan Zeng said: "You can't kill it! The soldiers of Zhang Han's army may come to surrender. This is an obvious fact. If the captives are killed now, the enemy who intends to surrender will be desperate. Morale is high."

Xiang Yu said: "Our army has become sluggish and difficult. The above-mentioned situation is the main reason. In this sense, the result of the Battle of Julu has become a heavy burden for our army." Ying Bu said: "General, small battles like outposts have been fought countless times. No matter how small a battle is, you have to gallop to the front line and command in person. Seeing your heroic appearance, the soldiers of the Chu army fight desperately every time, and our army is as crazy as they were on the battlefield of Julu. But it is impossible to continue like this. We can't afford it."

Fan Zeng said: "Our Chu army will win every battle. Zhang Han's army has always fled into Jiyuan City, and the casualties have always been heavy. These few days they have not moved, and Zhang Han's reputation is gradually declining. However, now the two armies The main force is at a standstill, and it can be said that it is in a state of stalemate with Zhangshui as the boundary." Xiang Yu said: "A whole winter has passed, and the earth has returned to spring. This situation has not changed. In the Central Plains, the people's hearts are no longer on the side of the Qin Empire. Although Zhang Han's army is becoming increasingly isolated, it can still keep up with our army. The state of being evenly matched is really a spectacle. How is Liu Bang?"

Fan Zeng said: "Liu Bangjun, who was originally a secondary force, is approaching Guanzhong step by step, and has reached the Wuguan area." Xiang Yu said: "This is what makes me feel uneasy. King Huai agreed at the beginning that the one who enters Guanzhong first will be the king. Zhang Han restrained me in the Central Plains and made it difficult for me to move an inch. As far as I am concerned, it is really unfavorable. It can be said that this is a futile, or ironic situation." At this time Yu Ziqi came in and said, "General, General Chen Yu of Zhao is asking to see you."

The first sentence Chen Yu came in was: "How could there be such a stupid thing?" Everyone was taken aback by what he said, and then he went on to say, "Ah, forgive me for taking the liberty to come up with such a sentence, the fact is that at the moment The general held all the troops of the Qin Empire under the name of "Zhang Han" firmly on the north bank of the Zhangshui River, and it was this heaven-sent opportunity that Liu Bang was able to advance easily like a fish in water. The army he led was small in number , It’s just a bunch of mobs. But it’s such an army, but it can march towards Hangu Pass smoothly. For example, it seems that the general bleeds and sweats here because he wants Liu Bang to be the king of Guanzhong.”

Xiang Yu was very impatient when he heard his words.Chen Yu was still talking endlessly: "I was an anti-Qin warrior a long time ago. I used to travel among the vassal states with my early ally Zhang Er, and I was once rewarded with a lot of money for my head." Xiang Yu interrupted him and said, "But when your sworn brother Zhang Er was besieged in Julu City for a long time, you held a large army far outside the city and refused to rescue you for a long time. Lu's Zhang Hanjun, still has no shame in the above actions." Chen Yudao: "Oh, the general must be thinking at this moment, this guy has never used a knife or a gun on the Julu battlefield! Yes, I know my own strength, so I will judge the situation. It doesn't matter what you think of me, but I I really want to help you. General Xiang Yu, you only care about fighting Zhang Han, this is an endless thing!"

Yingbo couldn't help asking: "How do you talk?" Chen Yu continued unaffected: "The purpose of fighting is to fight for interests! Zhang Han's battle with the general may not have any benefits, right? Zhang Han also loves fighting too much, what an idiot!" Xiang Yu didn't want to hear Chen Yu commenting on Zhang Han anymore, but he still controlled his emotions, looked back at Fan Zeng and said, "You come and talk to General Chen." Pushing Chen Yu to Fan Zeng, Xiang Yu went into the room. Chen Yu said to Fan Zeng: "Xiang Yu, who is naturally intelligent, has long understood that I came to persuade Zhang Han to surrender. I came to him only to get approval. General Xiang Yu also felt that it was necessary to persuade Zhang Han to surrender. However, Zhang Han is so A good opponent wants to use vertical and horizontal lobbying methods, General Xiang Yu is really unwilling to show his face in this kind of negotiation."

Fan Zeng said: "Tell me, what is your strategy?" Chen Yu said, "Send an envoy to Zhang Han! Let General Xiang Yu write a letter." Fan Zeng said: "As far as I know the general, he doesn't know how to write." Chen Yu said: "I will write this letter. No need to ask, even I know that General Zhang Han is completely loyal to Qin. However, if the court that accepted this loyalty has been completely corrupted, there is no need Useful. It stands to reason that Zhang Han should have known his own situation long ago. Although I don't know the inside story of Xianyang City very well, I have already seen through the essence of the imperial court since the Six Kingdoms. Xianyang, you still have some grasp of the situation."

Fan Zengyu asked sarcastically, "You said you wanted to write a letter to Zhang Han, but have you dealt with him in the past?" Chen Yu shook his head and said, "I've never met him before, but it's been a long time since we've been friends with Zhang Han. Isn't this beyond the friendship of close friends?" Zhang Han was still sitting in Jiyuan City, and all kinds of Qin Dynasty flags were planted on the city wall in an orderly manner, lined up along the top of the wall; the military discipline in the city was strict, the morale remained strong, and there was more than enough food.All this depends on Zhang Han's careful deployment earlier.The security army outside the city is on standby to prevent spies from entering.Chen Yu came to lobby and was led into Zhang Han's residence. Zhang Han said: "If you have anything to say, please tell me, sir." Chen Yu said: "Let me start with the fate of the famous generals of the Qin Dynasty. It's a long story, let's recall General Bai Qi first! Bai Qi has outstanding military exploits. However, Bai Qi was rejected by the king, expelled from Xianyang, and committed suicide. Let’s recall the general Meng Tian who is right in front of us! The Great Wall was built to protect the border of the country. Nevertheless, after the death of the first emperor, he fell into the eunuch Zhao Gaozhi's trickery and was forced to commit suicide. Why is this so in the Qin Dynasty? It is said that once the credit is too great, there will be no land to pay for it, and it will be excused by the This is the tradition of the Qin Dynasty, and the general is from the Qin Dynasty, so I understand it. Allow me to continue?" Zhang Han was silent and nodded. Chen Yu continued: "Nowadays, people's hearts are turning away from the Qin Dynasty, and the number of soldiers and horses raising the banner of righteousness is increasing day by day. The generals are not replenished, and the number of troops is decreasing day by day. This is a piece of evidence that the heaven will destroy Qin. Zhao Gao covers the sky with one hand, General Zhang Han! The more loyal you are, the more you will be hated; the more military exploits you have made, the more you will become a thorn in the eyes of others. Everyone knows how Daqin treats heroes. General, you are always noble, but you are willing to be a sinner and be scolded by future generations General, please listen carefully. If you can turn around the army and attack Xianyang, you will divide Qin with the princes, and you will be called king and orphan. If you continue to resist, you will be cut into the city as a sinner. Two roads for the general Choose. I have finished my sentence, and I ask the general to think twice." Zhang Han said: "It's just a cliché, because you are an envoy, I won't kill you, come and see off!" When Chen Yu left, Chief Shi Sima Xin suddenly knelt down and cried out, "General! You will be punished for meritorious deeds, and you will be punished for not dedicating meritorious deeds!" Zhang Han said: "Chang Shi Sima Xin, please get up quickly. I, Zhang Han, am not a numb person. I can clearly see the fate I am facing, just as I can clearly see my own shadow. Even so, I have never I don't like to choose my destiny at will just for my own benefit." Sima Xin said: "For the sake of the soldiers, you should go to Xiang Yu's camp without hesitation and serve as a wing of the army he leads." Zhang Han said: "Xin, I have never thought of what you said. Do you mean to think about the soldiers?" Sima Xin said: "The soldiers I'm talking about are not only the soldiers in the army, but also the captives captured by Xiang Yu's army. As long as you can be Xiang Yu's general, general, they can regard you as their leader as always. Be it Bai Qi or Meng Tian, ​​all famous generals are popular among the soldiers. You are such a general too!" Zhang Han said: "Some people have a compassionate heart, and some people gain people's hearts by dressing up like this, but I never had such an idea. I should be the kind of person who can win the active support of soldiers. In my mind , The soldiers are only shown as numbers that are constantly changing, and I have never expressed mercy for the life and death of any one of them. Since I left Hangu Pass, in the battles I commanded, it is estimated that tens of thousands of soldiers died in battle, but I've never been sad or heavy about it. Saying this doesn't mean I'm a merciless person, I'm just calmer than normal. Thinking of soldiers... To tell you the truth, I have very little regard for myself, As long as I act for a noble goal, I can always maintain a high-spirited momentum. If I no longer have the meaning of fighting for the court, then I should look at these soldiers again. If I can sacrifice myself for them ...maybe it makes sense." Sima Xin said: "General, I have some connections with the Xiang family. It is inconvenient for the general, but I can secretly send a personal envoy to have an interview with Xiang Yu." Zhang Han didn't answer. Sima Xin went on to say: "There is no news from the imperial court yet. Right now, for the sake of the lives of these hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the general should not insist on going his own way." Zhang Han said: "I have my own plan for this matter. The news of Chen Yu's visit must be strictly sealed." What forced Zhang Han to make a final decision was a piece of news: Zhao Gao killed the king!Qin II Hu Hai was killed! Hearing this news, Zhang Han jumped up against the case: "I can't wait to go back to the court immediately and chop up the whole Zhao family!" Sima Xin said: "I have exhausted my strength in the Great Qin Dynasty. The emperor trusts people like Zhao Gao. That's why such a thing happened. In fact, it should be expected." Zhang Han said: "The matter has come to this, what can we do?" Sima Xin persuaded Zhang Han: "Don't think about it anymore, there is no other choice, no one will come to help us." Zhang Han sighed and said, "Can I get some wine?" Sima Xin said: "Didn't the general never drink alcohol?" Zhang Han said: "Let's find some. After entering the tent of the Chu army, maybe we won't have the chance to drink." On Yinxu Mountain, Zhang Han walked up the hill, sweating profusely along the path on the hill.Apart from Chief Shi Sima Xin, there were only two personal soldiers following him.Zhang Han asked, "Is that tree an elm?" Chief Shi Sima Xin looked up from a distance, frowned and said: "The general's way of thinking is really different from ordinary people. At this time, he doesn't care about victory or defeat, but cares about the tree. We are going to participate in the surrender ceremony. This is intentional by the Chu army." You humiliated us, so you chose this place for surrender. I thought that the general might be so heartbroken that he couldn't even move his legs. How could I know that even if the expression on your face can't be said to be happy, it is still relaxed." Zhang Han said: "Do you know? There used to be such a story: General Meng Tian, ​​who was forced to commit suicide earlier because of Zhao Gao's treachery, drove the Huns in the barbaric area outside the Great Wall to the northern desert step by step. The cavalrymen planted elm trees in the area outside the Great Wall and built a tall forest belt. I climbed up the hill now and thought of this, so I asked you like that." Sima Xin said: "So that's the case. However, at this stage, I don't think even if General Meng Tian is still alive, he can't save Daqin, right?" Halfway up the mountain, Yu Ziqi led the guard of honor and waited there.Zhang Han presented the sword, and Yu Ziqi took it solemnly.He turned sideways to pass Zhang Han, Sima Xin was about to follow, but Yu Ziqi waved his hand to stop him.In the corridor between two rows of Chu soldiers, Zhang Han walked up the mountain alone. Among the Chu soldiers, Zhong Limo openly showed hatred, but Han Xin looked at Zhang Han with longing eyes, and asked Zhong Limo in a low voice: "Is this the scheming General Zhang Han?" Zhong Limo sneered and said, "If I were him, I would commit suicide." In the forest on the top of the hill, Xiang Yu sat on a leather cushion, waiting for Zhang Han.When Zhang Han arrived, he was about to prostrate himself, but Xiang Yu hurriedly stopped: "That's it, there's no need to be like this, please sit down." So the soldiers also gave Zhang Han the same cushion, and the two sat together. This is no longer the case with Zhang Han in the future. Xiang Yu said: "I have always respected the general, and I admire your fighting style." All of a sudden, a feeling of pity welled up in his heart. Zhang Han lowered his head, holding back his tears and unable to look at Xiang Yu, he said: "I suddenly thought, above the Qin court, is there anyone who condescends to say the same thing as me?" No. There is no kindness at all between the monarch and his ministers, but the former enemies, sitting together today, spoke sympathetic words to me... Zhang Han is not a person who likes to complain to others, but at this moment, I really want to Beat your chest and cry a lot.” Fan Zeng said: "Although we were enemies in the past, we will be our own people in the future. General Yu respects you, and it is by no means a lie, because he admires your courage and your command. You have caused us a lot of trouble." Zhang Han said: "I'm ashamed, from now on, Zhang Han will obey the general's orders." Xiang Yu said: "Don't talk about dispatching, you are not my general. I thought about it. This is also a joint decision between Yafu and I. We hope to call you king. From today, you will become King Yong." Zhang Han was surprised and dumbfounded. Xiang Yu said: "I am just the general of King Huai of Chu, and I have no right to make arbitrary decisions, but I will report this suggestion to King Huai, and the king will definitely approve it. Please accept it." Zhang Han bowed down to thank him and said: "Zhang Han is sincere and fearful, and dare not accept it." Xiang Yu said: "We should work together to overthrow Tyrant Qin. As King Yong, you will stay in my tent. Let the general Sima Xin take on the task of commanding more than 200,000 old Qin troops." In this way, Xiang Yu was finally freed from the shackles of Zhang Han's army.The rest is to go all out to advance westward-break through Hangu Pass, rush into Guanzhong, and turn the Qin Emperor's capital Xianyang upside down. In Zhao Gao's mansion, Yan Le conspired with Zhao Gao. Yan Le said: "Zhang Han surrendered. At this moment, Xiang Yu's momentum was so strong that he was approaching Hangu Pass. Liu Bang's Western Expeditionary Army also approached Wuguan. Xianyang City was directly threatened. The officials of the dynasty and the head of Guizhou were greatly shocked. Qin Jianguo In six hundred years, there has never been such a crisis.” Zhao Gao patted the table irritably and asked, "Is there any news from Liu Bang?" Yan Le said: "There is no news yet. But, I heard that his people have already entered Xianyang." With her head covered, Lu Wan was taken into a secret room in Xiangguo's mansion.Yan Le waved his hand, and his entourage withdrew. Yan Le stepped forward and pulled off his hood.Lu Wan opened her eyes, said slowly, "Lu Wan pays homage to Xiangguo." Zhao Gao said, "There is no need to be strict. You are from Liu Bang, and you are quite courageous to take the risk to come here." Lu Wan said: "Xiangguo, I am here to discuss matters by order of my lord." Zhao Gaodao: "Discussion? Then, have you heard of what happened in Xianyang recently?" Lu Wan said, "I've heard something." Zhao Gaodao: "Hu Hai, the foolish lord, has committed suicide, and the heavens have finally issued an inviolable decree. What you want to do, I have already done it for you, is that good?" Lu Wan said: "This, of course, is good. My lord will definitely remember Xiangguo's great contribution." Zhao Gao said: "Oh, will he really remember?" Lu Wan said: "To tell you the truth, my lord appointed me to meet Xiangguo to discuss peace. As long as Xiangguo agrees to dedicate the city, our army will guarantee your rights and interests after entering Xianyang." Zhao Gao said: "Li Yi, why should I trust you? You know, I am about to set up a new king of Qin. The entire Qin Dynasty is still under my control. With all due respect, what Pei Gong led was just a makeshift army. What if I sacrificed the city, but Xiang Yu came and refused to agree?" Lu Wan said: "The men and horses in the world are all made up of patchwork. But you should also understand that this is because Qin's tyranny has made people no longer want to endure it. The men and horses assembled by Duke Pei defeated Qin's elite soldiers and defeated them by dozens of times. The city is now beyond Wuguan. Do we need to prove anything else? If you don’t agree with our conditions at this time, then I’m afraid Xiangguo won’t have a chance to make conditions in the future.” Zhao Gao said sternly, "Do you know who you are talking to? Are you threatening me?" Lu Wan said: "Of course I know, but at the same time I also believe that Xiangguo is very clear about this threat, and it is not false." Hearing this, Zhao Gao took a few steps, and laughed loudly: "You speak very well. However, I don't want to let you go back, so I can only keep you in the house temporarily. I heard that Pei Gong can't do without you, and I take you as a treasure." Treat them like brothers." Lu Wan said: "Xiangguo is really good at hearing and seeing. I really don't know how Daqin got to where he is today. It's no problem to ask me, Lu Wan, as a hostage. But, if I don't go back and return to my life, how will Peigong know what Xiangguo means?" Zhao Gao said, "You don't have to worry about it." At this time, Liu Bang's army had arrived at Wuguan, but it had not yet set up a battle, but the inside had already surrendered.Everyone was amazed, but Zhang Liang seemed to have grasped it. He said: "Looking west at Xianyang, Zhao Gao exercised power and killed princes and ministers indiscriminately. He has long lost the popularity of the people. Surrender, the general situation is gone. Seeing my brave army suddenly arrive, the defeated generals guarding the pass are hard to resist. In addition, it is said that Peigong was kind and loyal along the way, and he did not kill the surrendered officials. How can there be a better choice than surrender? The guard of Wuguan is a smart people." Liu Bang said excitedly: "I never thought that a Xiongguan would be captured so bloodlessly! Order the whole army to enter Wuguan, prepare food and grass, and go straight to Gaoguan." Zhang Liang hurriedly said to Liu Bang: "Pei Gong, don't be impatient. Although Wuguan is easy to win, if you don't strengthen your defenses, Xiang Yu's army will arrive soon. Can you resist it?" Liu Bang suddenly realized: "How do you think the ovary should be defended?" Zhang Liang said: "Now we have to enter Wuguan, and then close the gate to thank the guests. Immediately strengthen the defenses of the pass to make it as strong as gold, and send heavy soldiers to guard it to keep the princes from all walks of life away. In this way, if future troubles are eliminated, Pei Gong can lead his troops to attack calmly." Kill the Qin army in Guanzhong, and go straight to Xianyang, why worry about the violence of Qin and not destroy it?"