ATPnovel Chapter 21 The Rogue Who Listens to Advice
Chapter 21 The Rogue Who Listens to Advice
With so many people present, everyone else was in favor of the opposition, except for He He. At this moment, Liu Ying was added to the opposition, which surprised everyone, who stared at her with wide eyes.
"Does the prince think what I said makes sense?" Sui He was most surprised.
He never imagined that the person supporting him would be Liu Ying, a mere child.
"It's not just reasonable, it's absolutely reasonable!" Liu Ying raised her right thumb.
"Go away, go away." Liu Bang waved his right hand as if shooing away a fly: "You are too young, you have never been on the battlefield, how would you know these things?"
"Good!" Lü Ze agreed.
"Good!" Xiahou Ying agreed.
Although Liu Ying had the merit of devising a strategy to delay Xiang Yu, it was impossible for Xiahou Ying to believe that he understood military strategy.
"Dang Commandery is good, but the question is, do you have the strength to defend it?" Liu Ying asked Liu Bang. "What you say is very reasonable, sir. Dang Commandery is so important that Xiang Yu will not allow you to control it. He will definitely take it before advancing westward. How many troops do you currently have? Can you defend Dang Commandery?"
"I have a considerable army, 100,000 men." Liu Bang always loved to boast, and this time was no exception.
"Hehe." Liu Ying pursed her lips.
"One hundred thousand might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's probably around eighty thousand." Liu Bang said somewhat awkwardly.
"Speak like a human being," Liu Ying sneered.
"I have..." Liu Bang was about to make up another story.
Lu Ze interrupted, saying, "We currently only have 11,000 troops."
"With eleven thousand troops, can you hold Dang Commandery?" Liu Ying mocked. "When Xiang Yu launches his westward offensive, he will surely sweep through Dang Commandery with his massive army. How could a mere eleven thousand troops possibly stand a chance?"
Liu Bang remained silent: "..."
"Even if you can threaten Pengcheng, so what? You have no troops and cannot pose a threat to Pengcheng. If you defend Dangjun to the death, it will only increase casualties. It would be better to withdraw all troops and defend Xingyang." Liu Ying looked at Sui He and said, "What you say is the right thing to do!"
Lü Ze and Xiahou Ying remained silent.
Liu Bang remained silent for a moment, then looked at Lü Ze and asked, "What do you think, brother?"
"I... think what Sui He said makes sense." After pondering for a while, Lü Ze changed his mind.
"Let's retreat," Xiahou Ying said before Liu Bang could even look at him.
"Then let's retreat." Liu Bang thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Although Liu Bang was a rogue by origin and lacked formal education, he was a rogue who listened to advice. As soon as he realized he was wrong, he would correct himself immediately. For example, when someone suggested that he enfeoff the six kingdoms and have them fight for him, he had the seals made and was just waiting to distribute the fiefdoms.
While they were eating, Zhang Liang arrived and brought up the matter. After a lengthy analysis, Zhang Liang concluded that if Liu Bang had divided the country into six kingdoms, he would surely be doomed. Liu Bang, finding this reasonable, spat out his food and ordered the carved seal to be burned first.
For example, regarding the decision of choosing a capital, all the generals were from Shandong and preferred Luoyang. However, Lou Jing met with Liu Bang and explained the advantages and disadvantages, arguing that the capital should be located in Guanzhong. Liu Bang was unsure and consulted with his generals, who naturally agreed to Luoyang as the capital.
Liu Bang found Lou Jing's words reasonable but hesitated, so he consulted Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang explained the advantages and disadvantages and agreed with Lou Jing's assessment. Liu Bang immediately prepared his troops and set off for Guanzhong to establish his capital.
Holding Dangjun to the death is futile; it will only increase casualties. It would be better to concentrate our forces and defend Xingyang.
Liu Bang realized he had made a mistake and immediately corrected it.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir." Liu Bang stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed to Sui He.
"King of Han... I dare not accept such a title." Sui He was very surprised and could not believe that Liu Bang would treat him with such courtesy. After a while, he quickly clasped his hands in return.
"Sir, you are truly talented. I misjudged you. I apologize." Liu Bang bowed again.
"I dare not accept such a grand gesture from the King of Han." Sui He hurriedly stepped aside.
Yesterday, when he first met Liu Bang, Liu Bang didn't take him seriously at all. Now, he was treated with courtesy twice, and Sui He couldn't believe it was true.
"Since we are withdrawing, tell the people that those who are willing can come with us. If the people are willing to come with us, we will provide carriages for the elderly and those who cannot walk." Liu Bang's eyes were bright as he scanned the crowd and said, "Make sure to inform every single person."
Liu Ying was very surprised, looking at Liu Yingbang, who actually did not abandon the people.
"King Han, taking the common people with us will slow down our retreat. We must not," an advisor warned.
"This matter is not to be discussed." Liu Bang waved his right hand and said firmly, "Based on my understanding of Xiang Yu, if he occupies Dang County, he will surely carry out a large-scale massacre and slaughter all the people."
"King Han, that's not necessarily true," one of the advisors said, skeptical.
"Shut up, you pedantic scholar!" Liu Bang roared. "Who in the world understands Xiang Yu better than me? He is cruel and ruthless, bloodthirsty by nature, leaving devastation in his wake. Besides, what kind of place is Dang Commandery? I once served as its governor, and many of its people are loyal to me. After Xiang Yu enfeoffed many princes, he also took Dang Commandery as his own territory. I then launched a major eastward campaign and reoccupied it. If Xiang Yu reoccupies it, he will surely accuse the people of disloyalty and massacre them. I cannot ignore this matter."
"Good." Lu Ze thought for a moment and agreed.
"Good." Xiahou Ying also agreed.
Dang County changed hands several times, first under Liu Bang's rule, then under Xiang Yu's, and then back to Liu Bang. Xiang Yu would surely be furious and would definitely accuse him of disloyalty, leading to a large-scale massacre.
Therefore, for the common people to remain is only one path: death.
Unexpectedly, Liu Bang actually cared about the lives of ordinary people. Liu Ying looked at Liu Bang and muttered to himself, "Perhaps, this is the reason why Liu Bang was able to gain the world."
Liu Bang had many flaws: he loved wine and women, but he was unique in that he never killed anyone. This was quite unusual in the chaotic world at the end of the Qin Dynasty.
This is a key reason why Liu Bang was able to succeed.
"I dare to tell the King of Han: since you are going to withdraw, why not set fire to Xiayi and leave a scorched earth for King Xiang?" A staff member stood up and clasped his hands in a salute.
"Come here." Liu Bang beckoned to the advisor with his right hand.
The advisor, beaming with joy, rushed over, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply: "Bing, may I ask what important matter Your Majesty requires my assistance?"
Liu Bang stood up, moved behind Bing, and kicked him hard in the back of the knee with his right foot. Bing screamed and fell to his knees. Liu Bang pounced on him, pinned him to the ground, straddled Bing's back, grabbed Bing's hair with his left hand, and slammed his right fist heavily into Bing's back.
The punch was powerful and heavy, causing Bing to scream in pain: "Ouch..."
Liu Bang struck again and again, each blow landing squarely, causing Bing to cry out in pain.
"Liu Bang, why did you hit me?" Bing was stunned by the blow, and enraged, he turned around and questioned Liu Bang.
"Tell me why I'm beating you!" Liu Bang continued hitting him, shouting, "I'm not Xiang Yu, who burns everything in his path! You dared to ask me to burn down Xiayi? Do you know your crime?"
"That's it?" Bing's anger surged. "Since you're retreating, isn't it only right to leave Xiang Yu with scorched earth?"
There's nothing wrong with that statement.
Liu Bang's withdrawal left Xiang Yu with scorched earth, preventing him from increasing his strength; this was a good way to weaken Xiang Yu.
"I am not Xiang Yu, I cannot do such a thing," Liu Bang cursed. "If anyone is to burn something, let Xiang Yu do it, just like he did with Xianyang last year."
Liu Bang entered Guanzhong first and captured Xianyang. He did not burn, kill, or loot, but sealed the treasury and handed it over to Xiang Yu to deal with.
When Xiang Yu entered Xianyang, he burned it to the ground.
"Since I raised my army, I have never slaughtered a city, nor burned a commoner's home. If I were to burn down a small town, wouldn't all the reputation I've built up over the years be ruined in an instant?" Liu Bang shouted as he beat the city. "With such vicious thoughts, don't you deserve to be beaten?"
"I..." Bing didn't know how to answer.
Everyone present, from Lü Ze and Xiahou Ying to Sui He and his advisors, craned their necks and widened their eyes, looking on with anticipation as they watched the spectacle.
Liu Ying was speechless. She went to Lü Ze's side and asked, "Uncle, aren't you going to stop it?"
"Ying'er, he's done far more outrageous things than this. You haven't seen him urinate into a scholar's hat." Lü Ze didn't even turn his head, his eyes wide as he watched the spectacle.
Liu Ying rolled her eyes. "That old rogue Liu loves to do outrageous things, and you guys watching this spectacle are pretty outrageous too!" she thought. "I despise you!"
They stretched their necks, opened their eyes wide, and crossed their arms to watch the spectacle.
Note:
The "Biography of Li Shiqi" in the *Records of the Grand Historian* records that Li Shiqi, wanting to see Liu Bang, sought out his fellow townsman, who was also one of Liu Bang's cavalrymen. "The cavalryman said, 'Liu Bang dislikes Confucian scholars. Whenever guests wear Confucian hats, he immediately removes his hat and urinates in it. When he speaks to people, he often curses loudly. He cannot be reasoned with as a Confucian scholar.'"
The Book of Han contains a similar account: "The knight said, 'Liu Bang dislikes Confucian scholars. Whenever any guest who wears a Confucian hat comes, Liu Bang will remove his hat and urinate in it. When he speaks with people, he often curses loudly. He cannot be reasoned with by Confucian scholars.'"