When it comes to the best military strategists in the Chu-Han period, they are probably Xiang Yu and Han Xin. Liu Bang has never defeated Xiang Yu in his life. Xiang Yu's marching formations made Liu Bang afraid. He was such an outstanding military strategist, but politically imbecile. He could not defeat the old fox Liu Bang.
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In the last years of the Qin Dynasty, peasant uprisings broke out in various places. Qin general Zhang Han led the Qin army to suppress the rebels. In 208 BC, Zhang Han took advantage of the neglect of Xiang Liang's army and suddenly attacked Xiang Liang one night. The Chu army was defeated. Zhang Han began to underestimate the enemy and felt that the Chu army was no match. So he prepared to go north to quell the Zhao uprising army, but he did not expect that the armies of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were still active south of the Yellow River.
Subsequently, Zhang Han crossed the Yellow River to join Wang Li's 200,000-strong army, preparing to attack the powerful King Zhao. King Zhao was unable to resist and retreated to Julu. The Qin army took advantage of the victory to pursue Julu and surrounded it. Soon, reinforcements from all over the country rushed to Julu to reinforce King Zhao. However, because the rebel armies were afraid of the bravery of the Qin army, they did not dare to attack the Qin army when they were stationed in place.
King Chu Huai also sent General Song Yi and Deputy Commander Xiang Yu to lead troops to rescue King Zhao. Song Yi’s army set out and stationed in Anyang. Anyang was still a long way from Julu, and Song Yi was there. Anyang stayed for 46 days but did not dare to head north. Deputy Commander Xiang Yu couldn't stand it anymore. Xiang Yu was strong enough to resist Ding and was a tough warrior. All the young people in Wuzhong admired Xiang Yu's bravery. In addition, Xiang Yu's grandfather and uncle both died at the hands of the Qin army. Xiang Yu had a strong desire for revenge. In a rage, he killed his commander Song Yi and led the Chu army across the Zhang River to Julu.
After the Chu army crossed the Zhang River, Xiang Yu ordered all the ships to be scuttled and the cooking tools to be smashed. Each soldier was only allowed to carry three days of dry food. Xiang Yu prepared to fight with the Qin army. Fight to the death. The Chu army, led by Xiang Yu, launched a fierce attack on the Qin army. According to historical records, the Chu army had nine victories in nine battles, while the Qin army retreated steadily.
According to the cruel laws of the Qin State, those who lost a battle would be punished by death, so Zhang Han's remaining 200,000 troops surrendered to Chu. Xiang Yu was afraid that the Qin army would pretend to surrender, so he ordered them all to be killed.
After the Battle of Julu, the main force of the Qin State was wiped out, and the Qin State existed in name only. After Xiang Yu destroyed the main force of the Qin army, he led his troops westward and arrived at Hangu Pass. He found that Hangu Pass was heavily guarded. After Xiang Yu inquired, he found that it was Liu Bang's army and had entered the pass two months ago.
In fact, before the Battle of Julu, King Huai of Chu appointed Liu Bang as the commander-in-chief to lead the troops to march westward, and agreed that the first person to enter Guanzhong would be the king of Guanzhong. After Liu Bang entered the pass, he sent heavy troops to guard Hangu Pass. This was Liu Bang's mistake. Now Liu Bang did not have the strength to compete with Xiang Yu. A single charge from Xiang Yu's army could knock Liu Bang off his armor. Liu Bang's sending troops to guard Hangu Pass undoubtedly exposed his political intentions. If Xiang Yu had a political mind, he would definitely take the opportunity to destroy him, but Xiang Yu did not. He did not understand the current political situation. Xiang Yu was just very angry that Liu Bang sent people to guard Hangu Pass.
Xiang Yu’s anger only shows that he is not a mature politician. After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Xiang and Liu families are no longer friendly forces but enemies. Now both Xiang and Liu families want to enjoy the destruction. The fruit of Qin's victory is the opposing military group. If Xiang Yu can see through the current political situation before Liu Bang, then he will take the initiative politically. He can completely eliminate Liu Bang's group on the grounds that Liu Bang is guarding Hangu Pass, but Xiang Yu didn't.
After Xiang Yu broke through the pass and settled in Hongmen, he received a tip from Liu Bang's subordinate Cao Wushang. He said that Liu Bang wanted to be the king of Guanzhong and monopolize the wealth, and he also appointed Prince Qin Ying as prime minister. Xiang Yu originally hated Qin, but Liu Bang still made the conquered king his prime minister, so he was very angry and decided to lead his troops to attack Liu Bang the next day. Xiang Yu's decision was very correct. His adviser Fan Zeng also believed that Liu Bang had always been greedy for money and lust, and he stopped after entering the customs. This shows that Liu Bang's ambition is not small. Fan Zeng was a famous strategist and an outstanding politician during the Chu and Han Dynasties.
Xiang Yu's attack on Liu Bang is undoubtedly hitting an egg with a stone. Xiang Yu has an army of 400,000, while Liu Bang only has 100,000. Moreover, Xiang Yu's army has always been strong in combat effectiveness. Attacking Liu Bang is like picking something out of a bag. However, Xiang Yu's decision to attack Liu Bang was made out of anger. Xiang Yu did not discuss with his advisers before deciding like a mature politician, so the decision came and went quickly, and everything was based on emotion.
Xiang Yu stills
On the night before Xiang Yu was about to attack Liu Bang, Xiang Yu's uncle secretly rode to Zhang Liang on horseback in order to repay Zhang Liang for saving his life and informed Zhang of Xiang Yu's plan. Liang, and told Zhang Liang that he could avoid death by joining Xiang Yu.
Zhang Liang was very loyal to Liu Bang. After hearing this, he immediately tricked Xiang Bo into staying. Zhang Liang said to Liu Bang: "How can you send troops to guard Hangu Pass? With the few troops you have, you can compete with Xiang Yu." contend? After hearing this, Liu Bang calmly asked Zhang Liang what to do. Zhang Liang said: "Go and show Xiang Bo your loyalty to Xiang Yu."
Liu Bang was cunning and very good at interpersonal communication. In order to win over Xiang Bo, he proposed to marry Xiang Bo and expressed his absolute loyalty to Xiang Yu. Xiang Bo believed it and told Liu Bang the next day when he left. Go to Hongmen and explain to Xiang Yu in person.
In fact, Xiang Bo is not a mature politician. He betrayed Xiang Yu out of loyalty and had no ability to distinguish between true and false Liu Bang's sugar-coated bullets. Couldn't Xiang Bo understand that Liu Bang was just using him? If Xiang Yu died, Xiang Bo would lose his use value, and the affairs of his children and their relatives would be in vain.
After Xiang Bo returned to Xiang Ying, he began to lobby Xiang Yu and continued to exonerate his future in-law Liu Bang. What was unexpected was that Xiang Yu was as confused as his uncle Xiang Bo, since they all believed Liu Bang's lies. , only one person saw it clearly, that is Fan Zeng, a very outstanding strategist in the Chu and Han Dynasties.
Liu Bang came to Hongmen the next day to see Xiang Yu. He apologized very enthusiastically and began to deceive Xiang Yu that he had no second thoughts about him. Xiang Yu was very moved and held a banquet in honor of Liu Bang. During the entire banquet, Fan Zeng was the only one who saw Liu Bang's wolfish ambitions, so he took the opportunity to kill Liu Bang in the name of sword dancing, but Xiang Bo immediately stepped forward to rescue Liu Bang. Later, Liu Bang found an excuse and left Xiang Ying. Xiang Yu undoubtedly let the tiger go back to the mountain.
In 205 BC, Liu Bang took advantage of Xiang Yu to quell the civil strife in Qi and commanded an army of 560,000 to capture Pengcheng in Western Chu. After Xiang Yu heard about it, he immediately returned to the court and suddenly attacked the Han army. Liu Bang was defeated miserably. Xiang Yu only needed 3 Thousands of men defeated Liu Bang's 560,000-strong army, and Liu Bang's main army was annihilated. The Battle of Pengcheng was the most costly war since Liu Bang launched his army, and almost the entire army was wiped out.
After Liu Bang was defeated, he gathered his remaining troops and retreated to Xingyang. Xiang Yu took advantage of the victory to pursue and besiege Xingyang. At this time, the cunning Liu Bang pretended to surrender to Xiang Yu. Since the naive Xiang Yu was ready to accept the surrender, Fan Zeng said: "This is the best time to annihilate the Han army. If you let them go, you will definitely regret it." ?Xiang Yu listened to Fan Zeng's advice and prepared to annihilate the Han army. Liu Bang was horrified when he found out. He asked Chen Ping what to do, and Chen Ping came up with a clever plan to drive a wedge between Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng. Xiang Yu felt that Fan Zeng had colluded with Liu Bang and began to seize Fan Zeng's power.
After Fan Zeng found out, he said angrily and helplessly: "Now that the overall situation has been decided, King Xiang, can you find a way yourself?" Then Fan Zeng resigned and returned to his hometown, and died of illness on the way home.
After Xiang Yu accepted Liu Bang's surrender, he marched eastward. Liu Bang immediately rebelled and pursued Xiang Yu. After that, Liu Bang basically never defeated Xiang Yu. Due to the continuous support from Liu Bang's rear, Xiang Yu did not. In the end, Xiang Yu The army was trapped in Gaixia by Liu Bang's coalition forces. The Chu army was completely wiped out, and Xiang Yu committed suicide.