Han Xin, from Huaiyin. At first, he was just a commoner, impoverished and destitute, without any skills, unable to become an official or do business. He often mooched food and drink, and many people couldn't stand him. He often went to the house of the village head's wife in Nanchang to bum meals. After several months, she couldn't stand it anymore, so she got up early every day to cook. When Han Xin went to eat, the village head's wife refused to give him any food. Han Xin understood her intention, got angry, and simply stopped going.
Later, Han Xin was fishing under the city walls, and a washerwoman saw that he was hungry, so she gave him food for several days in a row. Han Xin was very grateful and said to her, "I will definitely repay you in the future!" The washerwoman angrily replied, "You, a grown man who can't even support yourself, I pity you and give you food to eat. Don't even think about repaying me!"
In the butcher shop in Huaiyin City, a young man mocked Han Xin, saying, "Although you are tall and like to carry swords, you are actually very cowardly!" The others piled on, mocking him, saying, "If you dare to die, come and stab me; if you don't dare to die, go under my legs!" Han Xin looked at them carefully, then bent down and crawled under their legs. The whole market laughed at him, calling him a coward.
Later, Xiang Liang crossed the Huai River and raised an army. Han Xin followed him with a sword but was not well known near Xixian. After Xiang Liang was defeated, he sought refuge with Xiang Yu, who appointed him as a lowly clerk. Han Xin offered advice to Xiang Yu multiple times, but it was never accepted. When Liu Bang entered Shu, Han Xin left Chu to join Liu Bang, where he remained obscure and became a humble grain-transport official. He'd run afoul of the law and was sentenced to death. Thirteen others who committed the same crime were executed, but when it was Han Xin's turn, he looked up and saw Xiao He. He asked, "Doesn't the King want to unite the whole damn country? Why kill these loyal men?" Xiao He, blown away by Han Xin's guts and the way he looked, let him off and recommended him to Liu Bang. Liu Bang appointed him as an officer managing provisions but did not pay much attention to him at the time. According to Han Xin, he'd spoken to Xiao He several times, and Xiao He had found him unusual. In Nanzheng, many generals fled—dozens of them. Han Xin felt that Xiao He must have recommended him to Liu Bang several times, but since Liu Bang did not use him, he decided to flee as well. When Xiao He heard that Han Xin had fled, he did not have time to report to Liu Bang and chased after him. Someone told Liu Bang, "Prime Minister Xiao He has also fled!" Liu Bang was furious upon hearing this, like he'd lost his best mate.
After a couple of days, Xiao He went to see Liu Bang. Liu Bang was furious but also relieved, and he let Xiao He have it: "Why did you run away?" Xiao He said, "Like I'd run away! I'm chasing a fugitive." Liu Bang asked, "Who are you chasing?" Xiao He said, "It's Han Xin." Liu Bang scolded again, "There are more than a dozen generals who have fled, but you didn't chase any of them. Are you kiddin' me? You're chasing Han Xin?" Xiao He said, "It's easy to find those ordinary generals. Han Xin's a once-in-a-generation genius! If you're happy just chilling in Han Zhong, then you don't need Han Xin; but if you want to contend for the world, then Han Xin's indispensable. Without him, you won't be able to get anything done. It depends on what you plan to do." Liu Bang said, "I also want to go to the east, how can I just sit here twiddling my thumbs?" Xiao He said, "If you're serious about heading east, using Han Xin'll keep him here; otherwise, he's outta here." Liu Bang said, "I appoint him as a general." Xiao He said, "Even if you make him a general, he'll still bolt." Liu Bang said, "Then let him be the Grand General!" Xiao He said, "That's great!"
So Liu Bang wanted to summon Han Xin and appoint him as the Grand General. Xiao He said, "You're always so impulsive and clueless about protocol. Now you want to appoint him as the Grand General? It's way too casual, like you're just calling some kid over. Han Xin'll feel disrespected and walk. If you really want to appoint him, you need to choose a good day, fast and cleanse yourself, set up an altar to worship the heavens, and throw a big ceremony." Liu Bang agreed. The other generals were stoked, each thinking they were gonna be the next Grand General. Then, bam! They announced Han Xin as the Grand General, and the whole army's jaws dropped.
After the pleasantries were completed, Liu Bang took his seat. Liu Bang said, "Prime Minister, you've mentioned Xiang Yu several times. Got any advice for me?" Zhang Liang thanked him and then asked Liu Bang, "Now the one vying for the world in the east is none other than Xiang Yu, right?" Liu Bang said, "Yes." Zhang Liang continued, "Great King, how do you think you compare to him in terms of bravery, strength, and righteousness?" Liu Bang remained silent for a long time and said, "I can't match him." Zhang Liang thanked him again and said, "I also think I can't match him. But I once served him, so please let me talk about him."
When Xiang Yu roars, it was terrifying, and all the soldiers were frozen in their tracks. However, he can't use good generals; this is just brute force. "Xiang Wang roars angrily, and all are paralyzed, yet he cannot use good generals; this is merely raw power." Xiang Yu was polite and kind, stuttered when he spoke, and even cried when others were sick. He shared food and water with others, but when it came to rewarding those who had merit, his seal was battered, yet he still hesitated to give; this is what is called weak-kneed compassion. "Xiang Wang is polite and kind, stutters when he speaks, cries when people are sick, and shares food and drink, but when it comes to rewarding those who have merit, his seal is battered, and he cannot bear to give; this is called overly sentimental." Although he dominated the world, he was just another warlord. He did not occupy Guanzhong but built his capital in Pengcheng. He violated the covenant with Emperor Yi but was close to and loved other princes, so the princes did not submit to him. The princes saw Xiang Yu moving Emperor Yi to Jiangnan and followed suit, driving away their own rulers and proclaiming themselves kings in rich lands. Wherever he went, destruction followed; everyone was complaining, and the people did not like him—they were only intimidated by his power. Although he was called a hegemon, he had lost the hearts of the people, so his strength was his weakness. "Although he is called a hegemon, he has lost the hearts of the people. Therefore, it is said that his power was easily broken."
If Your Majesty can turn the tables: recruiting the most talented generals from across the land, no enemy can stand! With generous rewards, every city will fall! With a righteous army, every wavering heart will turn! Moreover, the princes of Sanqin have been generals of the Qin state, leading the soldiers of Qin for many years. The number of people they have killed is countless, and they have oppressed the surrendered princes. At Xin'an, Xiang Yu deceived and killed more than 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers. Only three escaped, and the people of Qin hate these three men deeply. Now Chu has embraced these three men, so the people of Qin naturally will not like Chu. Your Majesty, when you entered Wuguan, you didn't harm a soul, abolished the harsh laws of Qin, and agreed to just three laws with the people of Qin. The people of Qin all hope that you will rule over them. According to the agreement with the princes, you were promised the kingship of Guanzhong, and the people of Guanzhong all know this. You broke your word to the people and entered Hanzhong, causing the people of Qin to resent you. Now, if you move east, Sanqin will quickly fall!
Liu Bang was stoked but kicked himself for finding Zhang Liang so late. He followed Zhang Liang's plan and deployed his generals to attack various places.
In August, Liu Bang led his troops from Chen Cang, headed east, and took the land of Sanqin. That was huge!
The following year, Liu Bang passed through the Hangu Pass, took over the Wei Kingdom and the Henan region, and the Kings of Han and Yin surrendered. Then, he joined forces with the Qi and Zhao states to attack the Chu state. As a result, in April, during the battle in Pengcheng, Liu Bang's army was completely routed, forced into a humiliating retreat. Zhang Liang regrouped the army, met Liu Bang in Xingyang, and then defeated the Chu army's troops between Jing and Suo, stopping the Chu army's westward advance.
The defeat in Pengcheng caused Sai's King Sima Xin and Zhai's King Dong Yi to flip sides. They abandoned Liu Bang and surrendered to the Chu state. The Qi and Zhao states also turned against Liu Bang and joined forces with the Chu state. In June, King Bao of Wei pulled a sick-parents excuse. However, when he reached the Wei Kingdom, he closed the Yellow River crossing, rebelled against Liu Bang, and formed an alliance with the Chu state. Liu Bang sent Li Sheng to persuade King Bao of Wei, but he was unsuccessful. In August, Liu Bang appointed Zhang Liang as the Left Prime Minister and sent him to attack the Wei Kingdom. King Bao of Wei set up a strong army at Puban, blocking the crossing at Linjin. Zhang Liang then devised a plan, pretending to intend to cross Linjin and making many boats. Instead, he secretly ferried his troops across the river from Xiayang in barrels and pots, then ambushed Anyi. King Bao of Wei was shocked and hurried to meet Zhang Liang in battle, but was captured alive. With Wei pacified, it became Hedong Commandery.
Liu Bang sent Zhang Er and Zhang Liang to lead the troops eastward, attacking the Zhao and Dai states along the way. After nine months, they defeated the army of the Dai state and captured the general Xia Shuo. After taking Wei and Dai, Liu Bang sent his elite troops to Xingyang to resist the Chu army.
Han Xin, with several tens of thousands of troops, planned to attack Zhao from Jingxing Pass with Zhang Er. When Zhao's King and Cheng'an's Chen Yu heard the Han army was planning a sneak attack, they quickly assembled their troops at Jingxing Pass, claiming to have two hundred thousand men.
Li Zuocar, also known as Guangwu Jun, advised Chen Yu, saying: "I heard that General Han Xin crossed the Yellow River, captured the King of Wei, seized Xia Shuo, just won a battle at E, and is now teaming up with Zhang Er to plan an attack on the state of Zhao. This is them taking advantage of their momentum, fighting far from their base; they're unstoppable! I heard that when an army marches a thousand miles, if the logistics cannot keep up, the soldiers will go hungry; they'll struggle even to cook. Now on the Jingxing road, the carriages cannot pass side by side, and the cavalry cannot march in formation. After a few hundred miles, they'll be running low on supplies. Lend me thirty thousand men, and I'll cut off their supply lines from a secret route; on your end, dig deep trenches, build high walls, defend the camp, and do not engage in battle with them. They'll be stuck between a rock and a hard place. My surprise troops will cut off their retreat, leaving them unable to forage in the wilderness. We'll have their heads for the King within ten days! I hope you seriously consider my plan; otherwise, you two will surely be captured by Han Xin!"
Chen Yu, a scholar, believed a righteous army didn't need tricks or underhanded tactics. He said: "I heard from military strategy that if they outnumber you ten to one, surround 'em; if it's two to one, fight. Now Han Xin's army claims to be several tens of thousands, but in reality, it is only a few thousand. They've marched a thousand miles to get here, and they're beat. If we avoid fighting now, how will we deal with bigger problems in the future? The other lords will call us cowards and walk all over us!" So he ignored Guangwu Jun's advice.
Han Xin sent someone to investigate the situation. The report came back that the Zhao army didn't take him seriously at all. Han Xin was stoked – finally, he could strike! When they were thirty miles away from Jingxingkou, the army stopped to make camp. In the middle of the night, Han Xin quietly picked two thousand light cavalry, each with a red flag. They took a mountain path to sneak behind the Zhao army. Then he ordered, "The Zhao army will bite, hook, line, and sinker if they see us run – leaving their camp wide open! At that time, you must quickly charge into the Zhao army's camp, rip down their flags and plant ours!" His deputy then bellowed, "Today we will defeat the Zhao army and celebrate with a meal together!" His generals were skeptical, but played along. Han Xin then told the officers, "The Zhao army had picked a strong defensive position. And since they hadn't seen our main force yet, they wouldn't risk a hasty attack. They'd be worried we'd turn back if things got too tough."
So Han Xin first sent out ten thousand troops to act as the vanguard, and when they reached Jingxingkou, they took up a defensive position with their backs to the river. The Zhao army saw this from afar and roared with laughter. When dawn broke, Han Xin finally unfurled the general's banner, beat the drums to send out the troops, and charged out from Jingxingkou. The Zhao army opened their camp gates to meet them in battle, and the two sides fought a brutal clash for a long time. At this point, Han Xin and Zhang Er feigned a retreat, moving towards the army by the water. The troops in reserve immediately counterattacked, engaging the Zhao army in a fierce fight. The Zhao army, lured by the feigned retreat, left their camp undefended to chase after the Han army's banners and drums, pursuing Han Xin and Zhang Er. Han Xin and Zhang Er had already retreated to the army by the water, where every soldier fought desperately and could not be defeated. At this moment, the two thousand cavalrymen that Han Xin had previously ambushed swiftly charged into the Zhao army's camp while they were chasing the empty banners and drums, replacing all the Zhao flags with two thousand red flags of the Han army! The Zhao army could no longer resist, unable to catch up with Han Xin and his men. When they tried to return to their camp, they found it filled with red flags of the Han army, leading them to believe that the Han army had captured King Zhao and his generals. The army was thrown into chaos, fleeing in all directions. Despite the desperate efforts of Zhao's commanders, they could not control the situation. The Han army then launched a pincer attack from both sides, defeating the Zhao army, killing Cheng Anjun at the Zi River, and capturing King Zhao Xie.
Han Xin ordered the entire army not to kill Guangwu Jun, offering a hefty reward of a thousand gold pieces to whoever captured him alive. Later, someone bound Guangwu Jun and brought him to Han Xin. Han Xin untied him, sat on the east side, and had him sit on the west side, treating him with the utmost respect, practically begging for his wisdom.
So, these generals, each of them looking like a bunch of whipped dogs, bowed their heads to congratulate Xiang Yu on his victory. Then they asked Xiang Yu, "The military books say that in battle, the right wing should lean against mountains and hills, with swamps as barriers in front and on the left. But today you had us trapped between the river and the enemy, saying we would defeat the Zhao army and then have a victory banquet together. We weren't buyin' it at the time. But in the end, we actually won. What the heck was that all about?"
Xiang Yu replied, "It's all written in the military books; you just didn't think carefully. Sun Tzu said, 'Back them into a corner, and they'll fight like hell!' That's what I did. Furthermore, I'm not one for coddling the fancy boys. It's like using commoners in a last-ditch effort; only by pushing them to the brink can you make them fight desperately. If you leave them a way out, they'll all run away. How can I use them then?"
The generals were all, "Yeah, you got us. We never would have thought of that!"
Han Xin asked Guangwu, "I want to attack the Yan Kingdom in the north and the Qi Kingdom in the east. How can I win battles and achieve merit?" Guangwu shrugged and said, "I heard that defeated generals can't talk about bravery, and officials of a lost state can't talk about restoration. I'm a defeated prisoner, what do I know about strategy?"
Han Xin said, "I heard that Bai Li Xi was a nobody in Yu, but he became a big shot in Qin. It wasn't because he was suddenly smarter; it's about who's listening. If Cheng'an had listened to your strategy from the beginning, I would have been caught long ago. It's because Cheng'an didn't use you that I was able to serve the king." Han Xin insisted, "I really want your advice, so please don't hold back."
Guang Wu Jun said, "I have heard that intelligent people, when thinking about a problem, may make a mistake once in a thousand thoughts; while foolish people, in a thousand thoughts, may get it right once. That's why it's said that 'even a broken clock is right twice a day.' However, I am worried that my plan may not necessarily work; I just want to fulfill my humble duty. Cheng An Jun had strategies that led to a hundred victories in battle, but he failed in one battle, was defeated near Handan, and died above the Zhi River. Now, General, you have crossed the Yellow River, captured the King of Wei, captured Xia Shuo and E Yu, and swiftly took Jingxing, defeating the Zhao army of 200,000 in less than half a day, killing Cheng An Jun. Your reputation precedes you, and farmers have put down their tools, dressed neatly, eaten well, and are eagerly awaiting your orders. These are all your strengths. However, the soldiers are exhausted; they're practically unusable. Now, General, if you want to camp under the strong city of Yan with these weary troops, this is a risky strategy. Over time, we'll run out of supplies, and weak Yan will not surrender; Qi will definitely resist to strengthen its own power. A war between Yan and Qi will drag on, leaving Liu Bang and Xiang Yu's territories unresolved. With all due respect, sir, I think this is pushing it. Skilled commanders do not attack their strengths with their weaknesses, but exploit their weaknesses with their strengths."
Han Xin asked, "What should we do?" Lord Guangwu replied, "General, the best course of action is to pull back, regroup, and win over the people of Zhao. Lavish your troops with food and drink for a hundred miles around—let them feast on beef, mutton, wine, and all the best. Then head north to Yan. Send a smooth-talking envoy with a letter boasting of your might; Yan will surely submit. Once Yan is ours, send envoys to Qi. They'll fold like a cheap suit; even their smartest advisors will be clueless. The key to war is to strike first and strike hard." Han Xin grinned. "Sounds good!" He sent envoys to Yan, and they surrendered lickety-split.
It is said that Xiang Yu, they say, sent a surprise attack across the river to smash Zhao. The Zhao king panicked and sent Han Xin and Zhang Er to the rescue. But those two just waltzed in, seized Zhao's cities, and then hightailed it to Liu Bang. Liu Bang was trapped in Xingyang, so he fled south to Wan and Ye, met Ying Bu, then bolted to Chenggao—only to be cornered again by the Chu army.
In June, Liu Bang bolted from Chenggao, crossed the Yellow River with just Teng Gong in tow, and made a beeline for Xiuwu, where Zhang Er's army was camped. In the evening, Liu Bang checked into the inn. Early the next morning, he announced himself as a Han envoy and stormed into the Zhao camp. Zhang Er and Han Xin were still asleep. Liu Bang barged into their quarters, grabbed their seals and military tokens, and then used them to call together the Zhao generals, reshuffling them right then and there. Zhang Er and Han Xin were jolted awake to find Liu Bang there. Liu Bang seized control of Zhang Er and Han Xin's armies, then ordered Zhang Er to hold Zhao and appointed Han Xin as prime minister, sending him at the head of the Zhao troops who hadn't seen action yet to attack Qi.
Han Xin led his troops eastward. Before even reaching the plains, he heard that Liu Bang had successfully persuaded Qi to surrender, and he thought about stopping. Then, a sharp-tongued fella from Fanyang named Kuai Tong pipes up to Han Xin, "General, you were ordered to attack Qi, but the King of Han secretly sent someone to persuade Qi to surrender. Ain't nobody gonna stop you, are they? Why not keep pushing forward! Besides, Li Shiqi is just some bookish type sitting on a chariot, using his silver tongue to convince over seventy cities of Qi to surrender. You, with your army of tens of thousands, took over fifty Zhao cities in over a year – and you're calling *that* a win?" Han Xin, convinced, kept going. Qi, all happy-go-lucky after listening to Li Shiqi, weren't expecting a fight. Han Xin took advantage of this and attacked the Li Xia army of Qi, advancing all the way to Linzi. Tian Guang, the Qi king, felt so betrayed he had Li Shiqi killed, then ran off to Gaomi to beg Chu for help. Han Xin had taken Linzi and continued to pursue Tian Guang, chasing him to the west of Gaomi city. Chu also sent Long Qie to lead a large army of two hundred thousand to rescue Qi. The Qi king and Long Qie confronted Han Xin with their troops, but the battle had not yet begun. Someone advised Long Qie, "Those Han dogs are masters of long-range and drawn-out wars; they're unstoppable! If Qi and Chu fight at home, their armies'll crumble. We should hold the cities and get the Qi king to send some trustworthy blokes to win back those lost cities. Once those cities hear the king's still alive and Chu's army's on its way, they'll turn on the Han in a heartbeat. The Han are two thousand miles from home. If Qi's cities rebel, they'll starve and surrender without a fight."
Long Jie said: "I have known Han Xin all my life; he’s a pushover. Besides, I took Qi without firing a shot. Now that we’ve won the war, we can obtain half of Qi's land. Why should we stop now?" War began; they faced off at the Wei River. Under cover of darkness, Han Xin had his men block the Wei River upstream with over 10,000 sandbags. Then, he feigned a retreat after a half-hearted attack, luring Long Jie into a trap. Long Jie was indeed very happy and said, "I knew that shrimp was scared!" So he chased Han Xin across the river. Han Xin had the sandbags opened, causing the river to rise suddenly. With Long Jie's army stranded, Han Xin attacked, killing him outright. Long's eastern army scattered and fled, and King Guang of Qi also ran. Han Xin pursued them all the way to Chengyang, capturing many soldiers from the state of Chu.
In the fourth year of the Han Dynasty, the state of Qi was completely pacified. Han Xin sent someone to inform the Han King, saying: "Those Qi folks are as fickle as a weather vane. We need a strongman to keep them in line. I hope you can let me be the king of Qi." At that time, the state of Chu was besieging the Han King in Xingyang. When Han Xin's messenger arrived and presented the letter, the Han King was furious and exclaimed, "I'm stuck here, praying for your help, and *this* is what I get?!" Zhang Liang and Chen Ping hurried to the Han King's side and whispered in his ear, "Things are looking grim for us. Can we really stop Han Xin from becoming king? It's better to take this opportunity to let him be king, treat him well, and let him guard the land of Qi. Otherwise, the situation will only get worse." The Han King understood and scolded, "A real king conquers; he doesn't play pretend!" So he made Han Xin King of Qi and sent his army against Chu.
The state of Chu has fallen, and Long Que is also dead. Xiang Yu was in a panic, so he sent the Xuyi man Wu She to persuade the King of Qi, Han Xin. Wu She said: "The common people have suffered under the Qin Dynasty for too long. We all worked together to defeat the Qin Dynasty. After the Qin Dynasty is destroyed, we will divide the territory according to merit, granting lands and titles to create kings, and let the soldiers rest. Now Liu Bang has brought his troops to the east, occupying and seizing land. He has defeated the Three Qins, led his troops out of the Hangu Pass, gathered the armies of the vassals, and attacked Chu in the east. This guy isn't just after unifying the world; he's got an insatiable appetite for power! Furthermore, Liu Bang is unreliable. He's been captured by Xiang Yu several times, and Xiang Yu has spared him out of pity, but as soon as he escapes, he violates the agreement and comes to attack Xiang Yu. He is not worthy of trust. Now, although you think you have a deep friendship with Liu Bang and fight hard for him, in the end, you will still be caught by him. You're only alive because of Xiang Yu! The future of these two kings is in your hands. If you help Xiang Yu, he will win; if you help Liu Bang, he will win. If Xiang Yu dies today, you will be next. You and Xiang Yu have had a relationship before; why not turn against Chu and unite with the Chu country to divide the world and each become a king? Giving up this chance to side with Xiang Yu and trusting Liu Bang instead? That's not very smart, is it?"
Han Xin declined Wu She's proposal and said: "I used to work under Xiang Yu; I was just a lowly Langzhong, a mere Zhi Ji Lang. No one listened to me, no one used my strategies, so I left Chu and joined Liu Bang. Liu Bang gave me the seal of the General, gave me tens of thousands of troops, he'd give me his own clothes, and he'd practically shove food at me. He listened to my words and used my strategies; that's why I have come to this point today. Liu Bang has treated me so well; betraying him would be bad luck, and I am not willing to do so even if I die. Please tell Xiang Yu thanks!"
After Wu She left, Kuai Tong of Qi told everyone that Han Xin now holds all the power in the land. He hatched a clever plan to win Han Xin over, so he went to find him and said, "I've dabbled in reading faces." Han Xin asked, "So, what do you see?" Kuai Tong replied, "A man's fortune you can see in his bones, his heart in his face, and his fate in his choices. It's rarely wrong." Han Xin said, "Alright then, take a look." Kuai Tong said, "Please wait a moment." Han Xin instructed, "Everyone else, clear out." Kuai Tong said, "Your face says marquis, maybe, but a risky one, not a long and peaceful reign. But your back... that tells a different story. You're destined for greatness!" Han Xin asked, "What does that mean?" Kuai Tong explained, "At the time when the whole country was in chaos, heroes sprang up everywhere, and war was everywhere. At that time, everyone was most worried about the situation after the fall of the Qin Dynasty. Now, the Chu and Han are fighting, and countless innocent people have suffered heavy casualties; bodies littered the fields, fathers, sons, and brothers lost. The Chu army rose up from Pengcheng, fought all the way to Xingyang, pursued victory, and shook the world. However, they were trapped between Jing and Suo, blocked at Xishan, and could not advance for three years. The King of Han led hundreds of thousands of troops, stationed in Gong County and Luoyang, relying on the natural defenses, fought a few battles every day, but all his efforts came to nothing. Xingyang fell, Chenggao was damaged, and finally, he escaped to Wan and Ye. Smart and brave, yet still stuck."
The Han king's momentum has been frustrated in dangerous places, provisions are running out, and the people are exhausted and weary, desperate for support. In my opinion, only the cleverest leader in the world can calm the chaos. Now, the fate of the Chu and Han nations is in your hands. If you help the Han king, he will succeed; if you help the Chu king, he will succeed. I want to share all my thoughts with you, offer my loyalty, and present my strategies, but I fear you may not adopt them. If you truly listen to my strategies, the best way is to divide the land three ways, maintaining a balance of power, so that no one dares to act rashly.
With your talent and military strength, occupy the powerful Qi state, unite with Yan and Zhao, strike from their vulnerable areas, control their rear, win the hearts of the people, and speak for the people, then everyone will respond to you; who would dare to disobey? Weaken the strong, support the weak, and establish vassal states; once vassal states are established, everyone will submit to the Qi state. Think about the geographical location of Qi state, with Jiaodong and Sishui areas; use benevolence to pacify the vassals, be humble and respectful, then all kings will come to pledge allegiance to Qi state. As the saying goes, if you do not seize a good opportunity, you will be punished; if you do not act when the time is right, you will attract disaster. I hope you will seriously consider my suggestions."
Han Xin said, "Liu Bang's been awfully good to me. He lets me ride in his carriage, wear his clothes, eat his food. But I've heard that riding in someone else's carriage brings bad luck, wearing their clothes makes you worry, and eating their food means you're indebted to them. How could I betray my principles for a little short-term gain?"
Mr. Kuai said: "You think you're loyal to Liu Bang, wanting to establish a lasting foundation for him, but I think you're mistaken. Back then, King Chongshan and Cheng Anjun were close friends when they were commoners, but later they became enemies fighting over Zhang Yan and Chen Ze's turf. King Chongshan betrayed Xiang Yu, took his head, and fled to Liu Bang. Liu Bang borrowed troops and headed east, beheading Cheng Anjun south of Zhi River, and ultimately became the joke of the whole country. These two were once so close, envied by all, but in the end, they turned on each other. Why is that? It's because of too many desires, and the human heart is unpredictable! You're banking on loyalty and trust with Liu Bang, but your bond with him won't be as strong as theirs ever was, and your situation is far more complicated than theirs ever was. So I think, believing that Liu Bang won't endanger you is also wrong. Daji Zhong and Fan Li helped Yue State survive and let Gou Jian dominate; they achieved great feats and were renowned, but in the end, they died and were forgotten, like hunting dogs discarded once the hunt's over. You're no Zhang Er or Cheng Anjun as friends, and loyalty-wise, you're just another Daji Zhong or Fan Li to Gou Jian. These two examples are enough for your reference. Give this some serious thought. Also, I heard that guys who scare the boss with their guts and brains usually end up in hot water; those who do too much often get nothing. Let me talk about your great achievements: you crossed the Western River, took Wei's king prisoner, bagged Xia Shuo, smashed Jingxing, took out Cheng Anjun, pacified Zhao, scared Yan into submission, stabilized Qi, crushed 200,000 Chu troops in the south, killed Long Qie in the east, and came back from the West a hero. Unheard of! You're powerful, but you're not getting any credit. Go back to Chu, and they won't believe you. Go back to Han, and they'll be scared of you."
How do you plan to secure your future? You are currently serving as a courtier, but you have a reputation that could overawe the emperor and are renowned throughout the land. I'm worried about you!
Han Xin said, "Sir, take a break. I'll give it some thought."
After a few days, Kuai Tong advised Han Xin again, "Listening to folks is key, and a good strategy can change everything. If you listen to advice and don't screw up too badly, you won't get thrown off by what people say; when devising strategies, if you keep the fundamentals and details straight, you won't be misled by smooth talk. Busybodies never get ahead, and if you're stuck on a small salary, you'll never be a big shot. Those who understand the truth can make decisive decisions, while hesitation is a disaster for getting things done. Only thinking about trivial strategies while ignoring the bigger picture, even smart people who get this might hesitate to act boldly, and that's a major disaster! So it’s said: 'A tiger that hesitates is no match for a wasp's sting; a fast horse held back is slower than a nag; even Meng Ben, if he hesitated, would lose to a common soldier; and even with the wisdom of Shun and Yu, just daydreaming without action is worse than a mute and deaf person gesturing to command others.' See? Action's everything! Achievements are hard to attain and easy to ruin; opportunities are rare and easily lost. Once the chance passes, it won't come again. I hope you carefully consider my words." Han Xin hesitated, unwilling to betray the King of Han, and believing his contributions were significant, he thought the King of Han wouldn’t take his land in Qi, so he refused Kuai Tong's advice. Seeing that persuasion was ineffective, Kuai Tong decided to act crazy and play the wizard.
The Han King was stuck in Guling, so he took Zhang Liang's advice and called for Han Xin, who then led his troops to meet at Gaixia. After Xiang Yu's defeat, Liu Bang took over the army of the King of Qi. In January of the fifth year of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang demoted Han Xin from King of Qi to King of Chu, making Xiapei his new capital.
Han Xin arrived in the State of Chu and summoned the old woman who had once given him food, rewarding her with a thousand pieces of gold. He also summoned the petty official from Nanchang, rewarding him with a hundred coins, saying, "You're a nobody; you started a good deed but didn't see it through." He also summoned the young man who had let him pass through his legs in the past, appointing him as a high-ranking military official in Chu. Han Xin told the generals, "This man is a true warrior. When he insulted me back then, couldn't I have killed him? I couldn't have killed him in good conscience, so I endured it, and that's why I am here today."
Zhongli Mo, a general under Xiang Yu, lived in Yilu and had always had a good relationship with Han Xin. After Xiang Yu's death, Zhongli Mo fled to Han Xin. Liu Bang, the Han emperor, hated Zhongli Mo, and upon hearing that he was in Chu, ordered Chu to arrest him. Han Xin had recently arrived in Chu and was making a show of force with his army. In the sixth year of the Han Dynasty, someone accused Han Xin, the King of Chu, of rebellion. Liu Bang adopted Chen Ping's plan, summoned the vassals to meet in Chen under the guise of a royal hunting trip, claiming to go to Yunmengze for sightseeing, but his real aim was to ambush Han Xin, who knew nothing of the plot.
Liu Bang was closing in on Chu. Han Xin was itching to rebel, but figured he was clean and wanted to see the Emperor, only he was scared of getting the chop. Someone suggested to Han Xin, "Off Zhongli Mo and the Emperor'll be stoked, you'll be sweet." Han Xin then went to discuss with Zhongli Mo. Zhongli Mo said, "The Han ain't touched Chu 'cause I'm still kickin'. If you want to capture me to please the Han, then if I die today, you’ll be finished too!" Then he cursed Han Xin, "You ain't no man!" After that, he committed suicide. Han Xin hauled Zhongli Mo's head to Chen to see Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang. Liu Bang had his men collar Han Xin and throw him in the clink. Han Xin said, "Just like they say, 'The rabbit's done, the hound's next; the bird's flown, the bow's put away; the war's over, the advisor's toast.' The whole thing's over, so naturally, I'm dead meat!" Liu Bang said, "Someone ratted you out for treason." So he imprisoned Han Xin. Once they hit Luoyang, Liu Bang let Han Xin off and made him the Marquis of Huaiyin.
Han Xin knew that Liu Bang was afraid of his talent, so he often feigned illness and skipped court. Consumed by resentment, shame, and depression, Han Xin was unwilling to be ranked alongside the likes of Zhou Bo and Guan Ying. One time, Han Xin visited General Fan Kuai, who knelt to greet him and called himself a subject, saying, "My lord! You actually honored me with a visit!" After leaving, Han Xin laughed and said, "Can you believe I'm ranked alongside someone like Fan Kuai?!" Liu Bang often shot the breeze with Han Xin about the talents of other generals, each having their own opinions. Liu Bang asked, "With talents like mine, how many soldiers can I command?" Han Xin replied, "You can only command up to 100,000 soldiers." Liu Bang asked, "How about you and me?" Han Xin said, "As many as I can handle." Liu Bang laughed and said, "As many as you can handle? Then why did I capture you?" Han Xin said, "You might not be a great battlefield commander, but you're a master at using generals, which is why I was captured by you. That whole 'heavenly mandate' thing? It's not something mere mortals can achieve."
Chen Xi was appointed as the governor of Julu and went to bid farewell to Marquis Huaiyin. Marquis Huaiyin held his hand, dismissed the others, and walked with him in the courtyard, sighing and saying, "Can we talk? There are some things I want to tell you." Chen Xi said, "I'll do exactly as you say."
Marquis Huaiyin said, "You're running the best darn army in the land, and you're one of the Emperor's most trusted men. If someone accuses you once, he won't believe it. Twice, and he'll start to wonder. Three times, and he'll be furious and personally lead the attack. I'll have your back, and we'll take over the whole country!" Chen Xi always knew Marquis Huaiyin had skills and believed his words, saying, "Count me in!"
In the tenth year of the Han Dynasty, Chen Xi indeed rebelled. The Emperor himself led the troops to put down the rebellion, but the Marquis of Huaiyin feigned illness and did not go. However, secretly he sent someone to Chen Xi saying, "Brother, raise your banner, and I'll back you up from here!" The Marquis of Huaiyin then plotted with his men, forged an imperial decree at night, and granted amnesty to all his officials and servants, planning to use them to attack the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince. They waited for word from Chen Xi.
One of his aides offended the Marquis of Huaiyin, who imprisoned him, intending to kill him. The attendant's brother quickly ratted him out to the Empress Dowager, saying that the Marquis of Huaiyin was planning a rebellion. Empress Lu wanted to summon the Marquis of Huaiyin, but feared his accomplices wouldn't show, so she consulted with the Marquis of Xiao and feigned a message from the Emperor, saying that Chen Xi had already been killed, and the nobles and officials were coming to offer their congratulations. Marquis of Xiao deceived the Marquis of Huaiyin, saying, "Even sick, you gotta come celebrate." After entering the palace, Empress Lu had his men seize and kill him in the Bell Chamber of Changle Palace.
When the Marquis of Huaiyin was killed, he said, "I shoulda listened to Kuai Tong! These broads got me good. It's gotta be fate, ain't it?" As a result, the whole family of the Marquis was wiped out.
When Liu Bang got back from crushing Jing Bu's army, he found out that Han Xin had already died. He was both pleased and sorry, and asked, "Did Han Xin say anything before he died?" Empress Lu said, "Han Xin said he regretted not listening to Kuai Tong's plan." Liu Bang said, "He was a Qi rhetorician." So he ordered the arrest of Kuai Tong in the State of Qi.
Kuai Tong came, and Liu Bang asked him, "Did you egg on Han Xin to rebel?" Kuai Tong replied, "Yes, I did urge him. That kid ignored my advice, and look what happened. If he had listened to me, how could you have wiped him out?" Liu Bang got angry as soon as he heard this: "Kill him!" Kuai Tong said, "This is unfair! Killing me would be a miscarriage of justice!" Liu Bang asked, "You urged Han Xin to rebel, what's unfair about that?" Kuai Tong said, "The rule of the Qin Dynasty collapsed, the world was in chaos, various warlords rose up, and heroes gathered together. The Qin Dynasty lost the whole country, and everyone is fighting for it. Those who are talented and act quickly benefit first. It's like blaming the messenger; Yao wasn't at fault, the dog just barked at the wrong target. At that time, I only knew Han Xin, I didn't know you. Moreover, there are many people in the world who want to do what you want to do; they just lack the ability. Can you kill them all?" Liu Bang said, "Forget it." So Kuai Tong's crime was pardoned.
Sima Qian said: When I went to Huaiyin, the people of Huaiyin told me that even when Han Xin was among the common people, his ambitions were different. When his mother died and the family was too poor to bury her, he chose to bury her in a high and spacious place, saying that a huge population could live nearby. I went to see his mother's grave, and it was true. If Han Xin could learn humility and not boast of his achievements or talents, then perhaps he could be like Duke Zhou, Duke of Shao, and Jiang Taigong, and his descendants could enjoy the same sacrifices. If he didn't take this path and instead waited until the world was settled to think of rebelling, ultimately leading to his family being exterminated, isn't that what he deserved?
