Disciplining Emperor Gaozu of Han

Chapter 43 Strategic Stronghold: Xingyang

Zhang Liang was skilled in open strategy and his plans were grand, magnificent, and extraordinary. Therefore, Sima Qian believed that Zhang Liang, being a handsome and talented man, must have been a tall and extraordinary man. However, when Sima Qian saw Zhang Liang's portrait, he was greatly disappointed. Zhang Liang's appearance was actually that of a beautiful woman, that is, an extremely beautiful woman.

Liu Ying, clinging to his habitual thinking, made the same mistake as Sima Qian, assuming that Zhang Liang should be as handsome and masculine as Chen Ping. Little did he know that when he met Zhang Liang in person, he was no different from a stunningly beautiful woman.

Liu Ying was truly shocked, feeling as if she had been struck by lightning.

Here's a small suggestion for future film and television productions: cast a stunningly beautiful woman to play Zhang Liang, rather than a handsome man, to be more historically accurate.

Zhang Liang stared at Liu Ying with hostile eyes.

Liu Ying felt that Zhang Liang's starry eyes were like swords, piercing his heart and seeing through his thoughts. He forced a smile on his small face and said, "I heard that you have returned, sir. The King of Han ordered me to come and verify this. I will report back to the King of Han now."

After saying that, without waiting for Zhang Liang's reaction, he mounted his warhorse and rode away with Li Bi and Luo Jia.

Zhang Liang's lips curled up slightly, full of mockery.

"Zifang! Zifang! I've missed you so much!" Liu Bang rode his warhorse at breakneck speed, shouting from afar with a face full of joy.

"King of Han! King of Han!" Zhang Liang exclaimed with joy. He spurred his horse and galloped straight towards Liu Bang.

The two men greeted each other like long-lost best friends. Liu Bang addressed Zhang Liang as Zifang, and Zhang Liang as King of Han, and they rushed towards each other. Soon, they were close enough that they simultaneously dismounted and charged at each other.

Rushing closer, Zhang Liang bowed deeply, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, King of Han!"

Liu Bang rushed forward, picked up Zhang Liang, spun him around three times, then put him down, holding Zhang Liang's hand and laughing heartily: "Zifang, I've missed you so much! I've really missed you so much!"

"I am deeply grateful for the King of Han's concern." Zhang Liang wanted to bow, but Liu Bang grabbed his hands, so he had to give up.

"Zifang, given our friendship, it would be too formal to express my admiration," Liu Bang said with a smile.

Liu Ying, riding his warhorse, watched from a distance with Lü Ze, and was quite surprised: "Are they really that close?"

"No doubt about it." Lü Ze said seriously, "Zifang was the founder of the Han Dynasty's foundation, and he was highly trusted by the King of Han, far surpassing others."

Old Liu was rude to everyone, even Xiao He; if you angered him, he would still curse you. Only towards Zhang Liang was he consistently polite and never uttered a harsh word.

Such treatment was reserved for Zhang Liang alone in Liu Bang's entire camp.

This shows how highly respected Zhang Liang was by Liu Bei's side.

After the two had finished their intimacy, Liu Bang beckoned to Liu Ying: "Ying'er, come quickly and greet Zifang."

Liu Ying pretended not to hear.

"Is this a prince?" Zhang Liang looked Liu Ying up and down, smiling as he said, "Truly a dragon among men, yet he utters such vulgarities."

Liu Ying glanced at Zhang Liang's handsome face and muttered to herself, "You look like a woman, how can you blame me?"

"Zifang thinks too highly of me; how could Ying'er dare to accept such praise?" Liu Bang, unaware of the discord between Liu Ying and Zhang Liang, and failing to recognize that the "filthy" in the poem was not the same as the "exquisite" in the poem, took it as a compliment and was delighted: "When we first met Zifang, he praised me as 'almost divinely gifted.' Now, Zifang is praising Ying'er for her eloquent speech; I am truly overjoyed!"

Zhang Liang: "..."

Liu Ying rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "Old Liu is a scoundrel and a good-for-nothing. He's ignorant and can't even tell the difference between 'dirty' and 'stamp'."

Having been misunderstood by Liu Bang, Zhang Liang felt embarrassed to pursue the matter further and let it go.

"Zifang's return is a truly wonderful event. Let's set up camp and celebrate properly!" Liu Bang ordered.

"King of Han, you mustn't!" Zhang Liang hurriedly stopped him.

"Why not?" Liu Bang insisted.

After the entourage stopped and settled down, Liu Bang ordered a banquet to welcome Zhang Liang back.

To honor Zhang Liang, Liu Bang ordered Zhang Liang and Chen Ping to sit together in the front row, with Liu Bang in the center, Zhang Liang on the right, and Chen Ping on the left.

At this time, the Qin system was used. The Qin people valued the right and regarded the right as the place of honor. By having Zhang Liang sit on Liu Bang's right, they were giving Zhang Liang the most honorable position.

Chen Ping's wisdom was no less than Zhang Liang's, but he met Liu Bang later, so he could only sit to Zhang Liang's left.

When Liu Bang was handling affairs, Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were always by his side, inseparable. When Han Xin requested to be appointed as a provisional king, Liu Bang was furious and about to curse Han Xin. Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, one tugging at his sleeve and the other stepping on his foot, made Liu Bang realize his mistake, and the curse he was about to utter turned into words of praise, thus calming Han Xin down.

The reason why Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were able to tug at his sleeve and step on his foot was because the two of them were right next to him.

After the banquet began, everyone took turns toasting Zhang Liang, treating him with utmost courtesy and respect.

Even Zhou Bo and Guan Ying, who had slandered Chen Ping for stealing his sister-in-law, were no exception.

This was Lu Wan, an arrogant and unreasonable man who considered himself the most powerful person in the Han army besides Liu Bang. He was extremely respectful to Zhang Liang and dared not be disrespectful in the slightest.

Liu Ying's gaze swept back and forth between Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, thinking to himself that these two looked completely different. Chen Ping was skilled in scheming and intrigue, so his appearance should be like Zhang Liang's, with a beautiful woman's face.

Zhang Liang was skilled in using overt strategies, and his ambition and magnificence must have made him look as masculine and handsome as Chen Ping.

It must be that Zhang Liang offended the gods when he was reincarnated, and they gave him a beautiful, delicate woman's face.

"The King of Han's decision to abandon Xiayi and retreat the entire army to Xingyang is a brilliant move." During the banquet, Liu Bang asked for advice on the next strategy, and Zhang Liang greatly approved of Liu Bang's decision to retreat from Xiayi.

"We have few troops at our disposal, and although Dangjun is in a good position, we cannot hold it. It would be better to retreat and concentrate our forces to defend Xingyang." Liu Bang took credit for himself: "That's what I was thinking."

Liu Ying rolled her eyes. Is that what you really think?

Xiahou Ying and Lü Ze glanced at Liu Bang, too lazy to expose him.

"King Han, you should immediately send someone to persuade Ying Bu to defect and hold back Xiang Yu," Zhang Liang suggested again.

"Good!" Chen Ping agreed.

"Don't worry about this, Zifang. I've already sent people to investigate." Liu Bang said smugly, "In the Battle of Pengcheng, my army was wiped out and we are powerless to defend it. We need time to catch our breath. Only by turning Ying Bu against us can we buy ourselves some time."

"The King of Han is wise!" Zhang Liang gave a thumbs-up in praise.

"Great job!" Chen Ping cheered.

Liu Ying, Xiahou Ying, and Lü Ze rolled their eyes, having no interest in exposing Liu Bang's trick.

After a one-day stay, we set off again.

All of Liu Bang's civil and military officials returned, and everyone was in good spirits, making their departure much more relaxed.

The journey was smooth, and we finally arrived in Xingyang before the end of June.

Xingyang was a strategic stronghold and the eastern gateway to Luoyang. Its geographical location was extremely important, so the main battles of the Chu-Han Contention were fought around Xingyang.

Xiang Yu's westward advance was bound to be aimed at capturing Guanzhong and completely annihilating Liu Bang.

To enter Guanzhong, we must first capture Luoyang.

Luoyang is a strategic link in Guanzhong and a strategic outpost. If it cannot be captured, it will be impossible to pass through Hangu Pass.

To capture Luoyang, we must first capture Xingyang.

Luoyang is a basin, an alluvial basin surrounded by five major mountains: Songshan, Mangshan, Xiong'ershan, Xiaoshan, and Wan'anshan. Therefore, its terrain is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Luoyang has eight major passes: Hangu Pass, Yique Pass, Guangcheng Pass, Dagu Pass, Huanyuan Pass, Xuanmen Pass, Mengjin Pass, and Xiaopingjin Pass. These passes guard vital locations and are easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Hangu Pass is the eastern gateway to Guanzhong and the western gateway to Luoyang, making it important to both places.

If Liu Bang could hold the eight passes, Xiang Yu, even with a massive army, would find it difficult to launch an attack. To quickly capture Luoyang, he first needed to take Xingyang.

There was no other choice.

Therefore, the struggle for hegemony between Chu and Han revolved around Xingyang.

"It's truly treacherous." Liu Ying, riding on his warhorse, looked at the exceptionally sturdy Xingyang with great surprise.

"Zifang, Chen Ping, what do you think is the best way to defend Xingyang?" Liu Bang asked his two strategists, Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, who were riding beside him, as he rode his warhorse toward Xingyang.

Note:

The Records of the Grand Historian, in the chapter on Marquis Liu, states: "I thought he was a man of imposing stature and extraordinary appearance, but when I saw his portrait, his features resembled those of a beautiful woman. Confucius said, 'Judging a person by their appearance, one will lose sight of Ziyu.' Marquis Liu also said the same thing."