Chapter 32 1. Heroes of Heaven and Earth

Overlord, at dawn.Outside the big tent, a hundred knights, one in a hundred, lined up, waiting for Liu Bang's order to set off.This team was led by Fan Kuai, Xia Houying, and two other trusted officers of Liu Bang, Ji Xin and Jin Qiang.This crime was more dangerous and dangerous, so everyone looked dignified, deeply feeling the heavy responsibility on their shoulders, and there was a chill atmosphere in front of the big tent. Liu Bang's civil servants and military generals came to see him off one after another, and they lined up in two long lines in front of the big tent.Under the attention of everyone, Liu Bang appeared accompanied by Lu Gong, Lu Zhi, Liu Jiao, Lu Wan, and Zhang Liang.To everyone's surprise, Liu Bang himself acted very relaxed, as if he was going to an ordinary banquet, with a smile on his face, talking and laughing with Liu Jiao and Lu Wan beside him.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for him, Liu Bang cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry to bother you all! Don't worry about me. My father-in-law has already made a divination for me. There will be noble people to help me on this trip. If there is no danger, I will be safe. Come back. After I come back, I will hold a banquet, and I will not return without getting drunk with you!" Liu Bang's voice was like a bell, full of pride, standing in the ice and snow, like a hero who stood up to heaven and earth.Everyone was infected by his courage and calm demeanor in the face of danger, and said in unison: "Waiting for the return of the king!"

Lu Gong actually gave Liu Bang a divination, but Liu Bang was not so confident because the divination was auspicious.He knew very well that at this juncture of life and death, he had to maintain his utmost calmness. As the soul of a crowd of over 100,000, if he messed up, this army would collapse without a fight.Moreover, I have made full preparations, considered all the issues that can be considered, and taken all the measures that can be taken. The remaining things are beyond the reach of manpower and can only be left to God.Liu Bang's psychological qualities different from ordinary people are fully displayed at this moment.

Liu Bang's heroism aroused Lu Zhi's goodwill. She put all the unpleasantness in the past behind her for the time being. She walked up to Liu Bang, smoothed the front of his chest gently, and said in a low voice, "Be careful in everything. Will pray for you!" The normally pungent and powerful Lv Zhi suddenly became tender and tender, which made Liu Bang very uncomfortable, and asked in surprise: "Ema..." He actually wanted to ask: "What's wrong with you?" With loving eyes, he felt that it was a little inappropriate to ask such a question at this time, so he simply hugged Lu Zhi in his arms, kissed her heavily on the cheek, and everyone present burst into laughter.Lu Zhi's cheeks were flushed, and he quickly pushed Liu Bang away and ran to the side.

Liu Bang laughed and walked towards his carriage.He and Zhang Liang rode in the same chariot, and Fan Kui, Xia Houying, Ji Xin, and Jin Qiang led a hundred knights to protect them, sandwiching the chariot.For the sake of safety, solid guard plates and a roof are installed around the car, forming a closed carriage, which is similar in appearance to the bullock cart Lu Zhi lured Yu Ji to ride.The moment he got into the car, Liu Bang let out a long breath. The others couldn't see it, only Zhang Liang in the car saw it, and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, aren't you nervous?"

Liu Bang glared at him and said, "I'm not a pig, can I not be nervous?" Lu Zhi hid in a corner and watched Liu Bang's convoy leave. Seeing that the group of people had disappeared, he was about to turn around and go back to the dormitory to accompany Yu Ji, when he suddenly saw Lu Gong hiding behind a tent, whispering to an officer. talking.Suspicious in Lu Zhi's heart, he walked straight over. The officer found Lu Zhi walking towards him, and hurriedly saluted. Lu Gong calmly said to Lu Zhi: "This is my old friend in the world, Liu Ji. He took refuge in him not long after he raised troops against Qin, and is now a general in the army!"

Lu Zhi nodded to the officer and asked, "Did something happen?" Lu Gong waved to the officer, motioning him to leave, then turned to Lu Zhi and said, "Don't worry about Liu Ji's safety, I've made arrangements, not to mention very sure, at least seven or eight points." Lu Zhi saw Father didn't want to go into details, so he didn't ask any more questions, and returned to his bed tent. Concubine Yu is waiting for Lu Zhi in the tent.She woke up early in the morning and found that Lu Zhi had gone out, and she was the only one left in the tent. After dressing up, Yu Ji wanted to go out to find Lu Zhi, bid her farewell, and returned to Hongmen.I didn't even say hello to Xiang Yu, so I didn't return all night, "Your Majesty, don't you know how worried you should be?" But the maid at the door stopped Yu Ji back, saying that she was weak and it was cold outside. Waiting for Lu Zhi in the tent.

Seeing Lu Pheasant walking into the tent, Yu Ji hurriedly went up to meet her, "Sister, I'm going back, or the king will lose his temper!" Lu Zhi forced a smile and said, "Sister, rest a little longer. You are weak in the first place, and you were frightened again yesterday. After tossing and tossing for so long, you must be very tired. It's cold in the morning, and I'll take you back when it warms up at noon." "But..." Yu Ji still hesitated. "Don't worry about King Xiang. Your brother-in-law went to Hongmen early in the morning, so he will report to King Xiang that he is safe!"

"I'm sorry to trouble my brother-in-law because of my business!" Yu Ji felt a little guilty instead. Lu Zhi smiled awkwardly and said, "The men have important military matters to discuss, but we women don't understand. Come on, my sister just learned a game that the army plays while drinking, and I'll teach you!" "Okay!" Yu Ji cheered up like a child again.Knowing that Liu Bang went to Hongmen to report to Xiang Yu, she was completely relieved and concentrated on playing games with Lu Zhi.She doesn't know about the turbulent situation outside, but she is the happiest in the eye of the storm. I don't know if this is a kind of happiness or sadness!

When Cao Wushang knew that Liu Bang was going to Hongmen to clear up the misunderstanding with Xiang Yu, his head immediately became bigger.If the rift between Liu and Xiang is bridged, he will die without a place to bury him.Judging from all the signs in front of him, Liu Bang should have known the news that Xiang Yu was going to send troops to attack Bashang, but he didn't know about his informant and internal response. "What should we do now?" asked the confidant who had been involved in the planning. There were two fierce lights in Cao Wushang's eyes, "Are you sure Liu Ji will only bring a hundred people to Hongmen?"

"I heard it with my own ears. He told Fan Kui that there should not be too many people, about a hundred." "Okay! Go and gather the most reliable brothers in the army to form a surprise army of 500 men, all dressed in plain clothes. You will lead the team yourself, ambush on the road from Bashang to Hongmen, and intercept and kill Liu Ji. Once Liu Ji dies, the enmity between Liu and Xiang will be inseparable. A battle will inevitably happen, and our plan will be considered a success! Liu Ji, Xiang Yu can't kill you, so I can only do it. " "Then I'll go to work. My lord, you have to be careful!" The confidant turned around and left Cao Wushang alone in the tent.He unconsciously clenched the hilt of his saber, success or failure was on the line, if he won, he would have a bright future; if he lost, he would be lost forever. Liu Bang's convoy is galloping on the snow-capped land, the sky is high and the earth is far away, and the snow is boundless. This team of people has become a landscape in the boundless world.At first, both of them were silent and didn't speak. Later, the wheels ran over a rock, and the carriage bumped a bit. The two heads bumped into each other. They rubbed each other's foreheads, looked at each other, and laughed loudly. The dull and oppressive atmosphere in the carriage was swept away, and Liu Bang said: "Zifang, we met on the way to seek refuge with King Jingju of Chu. Jingju was defeated by Xiang Liang, and we turned to Xiang Liang together. At that time, you were still my friend." Stable General (Chief of the Military and Horse Section), later on, you followed Han Wangcheng and became his apprentice to revive Korea. During my journey to the west, you persuaded Han Wangcheng to support me in marching into Guanzhong, and then came to my side to advise me. If it wasn’t for this time You have Xiang Bo's life-and-death connection beside Xiang Yu. I am afraid that Xiang Yu will cut off my head in my sleep. This is really fate! It is God who wants you to help me. If I can escape this time, you Just stay by my side! Let’s create a great cause together and share wealth!” Seeing that Zhang Liang bowed his head and did not speak, Liu Bang waved his hand generously and said, "You are a Korean nobleman, and you are determined to restore the country. Everyone has his own ambitions, and I will not force you! But I will always remember your great kindness and virtue, and I will definitely Try to repay!" Zhang Liangdao: "Your Majesty is a man bestowed by heaven, and his future is limitless! Zifang's lifelong wish is to assist the Emperor and accomplish a feat that will go down in history. Why doesn't she want to stay with the Majesty? It's just that the mission of revitalizing Korea has not been completed. Wait for my help After the king of Han rebuilds Korea, he will definitely return to the king and obey his orders." Zhang Liang still had another thought, but he didn't say it out loud.Facing Liu Bang, he has a feeling that once Liu Bang is firmly established, the founding heroes may not have good results!But this is an inexplicable perception, and there is no reason for it, but it makes people believe it.This is also one of the reasons why Zhang Liang hesitated to join Liu Bang, although Liu Bang's personality charm attracted him like a magnet.Although Han Wangcheng doesn't look like Liu Bang's imperial spirit, he makes people feel safe and non-threatening. Liu Bang suddenly asked: "You always say that I am a 'man of heaven', what is the basis? It is not some kind of mysterious words like being rich and powerful, and having an imperial aura on the top of your head?" Zhang Liang said with a smile: "Of course not. Since Your Majesty is a man granted by heaven, how dare I use such words to deceive the villagers in the mountains and fields to perfuse Your Majesty? I am familiar with the "Taigong Art of War" taught by an unknown old man. This book summarizes the ancient and modern Success or failure, it teaches people the principles of avoiding misfortunes and seeking blessings, seizing and governing the world. The essence of the book is to let people abandon such useless things as benevolence, righteousness and morality, 'responsible for the pure and empty', and win with the humble. Master this set "The art of the emperor's south face" can be a master of the emperor. I have talked about the profound meaning of it with different people, but there are very few people who can understand the true meaning. Including Han Wangcheng, they all miss the point, only the king , You can understand it as soon as you hear it, and you can draw inferences from one instance and comprehend others by analogy. It is based on this that I say that the king is a man bestowed by heaven. If the person who taught "The Grand Duke's Art of War" is the emperor's teacher, isn't the king a very talented emperor?" Liu Bang said with emotion: "You and I both have the style of 'Ren Xia'. We have been in the rivers and lakes for many years and have the same life experience, so you and I have a tacit understanding, which is self-evident. It seems that we are the only ones like us in the wonderful book "The Art of War". Only people can understand it! Whether it is a nobleman with rich clothes and good food, or an honest child from a good family, they can't understand the true meaning of the book, and they can't master this set of "the art of the emperor's south". What is the use of benevolence, righteousness and morality in a chaotic world where scheming wins, and warriors are in power? Back then, the first emperor won the world by relying on millions of soldiers, not benevolence and morality. Therefore, I look down on those pedantic Confucian scholars who talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality, and boastful, modest gentlemen It is impossible to win the world. Like Xiang Yu who blindly puts on his strength and surpasses the heroes, sooner or later he will be attacked by the people of the world, and defeat is a matter of time. Everyone will eventually return to me, the "loyal elder". When it was decided who would lead the troops in the Western Expedition, wasn't it precisely because Xiang Yu was brutal and I was a 'loyal elder' that everyone decided that I would appease the people in Guanzhong?" "This is the principle of victory with 'pureness, humbleness'. Benevolence and morality can be used to call on the world, but they cannot seize and govern the world; emperors can teach others to abide by benevolence and morality, submit and obey themselves, but they cannot be ruled by benevolence and morality." Restrain your hands and feet, and abandon the 'junren's south art'." As soon as Zhang Liang finished speaking, there was a noise of horses neighing and people shouting outside.Liu Bang and Zhang Liang lifted up the curtain at the same time and leaned over to look outside.On both sides of the road, masked men covered in snow rose into the air and rushed towards the convoy.Some brandished weapons in their hands, and some shot Liu Bang's guards with bows and crossbows in their hands.Fan Kuai, Xia Houying and others were shouting loudly, commanding the guards to fight. Liu Bang's head was spinning rapidly. Who on earth wanted to assassinate him at this sensitive time? "Is it Ziying's man? Wasn't Ziying captured by Cao Shen? His army in Xianyang was also wiped out! Is there any remaining party? Or Xiang Yu? Xiang Yu wants to kill himself, why didn't he wait until he arrived at Hongmen Do it again? Is it to put blame on others? But Yu Ji is still in her own hands. As a person like Xiang Yu, she certainly does not disdain to use this method to deal with herself. Is there a third force to get rid of herself? , take the opportunity to stir up disputes between the Liu and Xiang camps?" Before he could figure it out, the situation outside suddenly changed.Another group of men and horses came out from the woods on both sides of the road, attacking the assassins rushing towards Liu Bang's convoy from behind with bows and crossbows.These assassins obviously did not think that "the mantis catches the cicada, the oriole is behind", and they were shot dead very quickly without any precautions.After a little hesitation, the assassins turned their heads one after another, and started fighting with their attackers on the snow. Seeing this situation, Liu Bang was even more dizzy, not knowing who sent these people who were secretly protecting him.He cast his eyes on Zhang Liang, and Zhang Liang made an inexplicable gesture.Fan Kuai rushed to Liu Bang's car, "Your Majesty, what should we do? Do you want to go over and help, eliminate these assassins before going to Hongmen?" Liu Bang said decisively: "Don't delay, speed up!" What he didn't know was that this army was sent by Lu Gong, led by his old subordinates who joined Liu Bang's army, to protect Liu Bang along the way in case of accidents.