187 Ji Xin

A7.29…32

Ji Xin, a general of Han, advised the King of Han: "The situation is very critical. Please let me pretend to be the king and deceive the Chu army, so that the king can take the opportunity to escape." So the King of Han released two thousand women in armor from the east gate of Xingyang at night, and the Chu army surrounded them from all sides. Ji Xin rode in a carriage with yellow umbrella and left banner (signs of royalty). He said: "The food in the city has been eaten up, and the King of Han will surrender." The soldiers of the Chu army shouted hooray. At this time, the King of Han and dozens of cavalrymen left the city from the west gate and fled to Chenggao. King Xiang saw Ji Xin and asked him: "Where is the King of Han?" Ji Xin said: "The King of Han has left the city." King Xiang burned Ji Xin alive.

The King of Han sent the imperial censor Zhou Ke, Cong Gong, and Wei Bao to garrison Xingyang. Zhou Ke and Cong Gong discussed and said: "Wei Bao is the king of a rebellious country. It is difficult to defend the city with him." So the two killed Wei Bao together. The Chu army captured Xingyang City and captured Zhou Ke alive. King Xiang said to Zhou Ke: "Be my general, I will make you the general and the chief of 30 thousand households." Zhou Ke cursed: "If you don't surrender to the King of Han quickly, the King of Han will capture you. You are no match for the King of Han!" King Xiang was very angry and cooked Zhou Ke and killed Cong Gong.

After the King of Han escaped from Xingyang, he passed through Wan County and Ye County in the south, recruited Ying Bu the King of Jiujiang to surrender, gathered the scattered soldiers along the way, and entered Chenggao, and made stronger defense. In the fourth year of the Han Dynasty (203 BC), King Xiang marched to besiege Chenggao. The King of Han fled, and he went out of the north gate of Chenggao alone with Teng Gong, crossed the Yellow River and fled to Xiuwu, and came to the military camp of Zhang Er and Han Xin. The generals fled Chenggao one after another and followed the King of Han. The Chu army finally captured Chenggao and wanted to march westward. The King of Han sent troops to resist in Gong, preventing it from advancing westward.

At this time, Peng Yue crossed the Yellow River and attacked the Chu army in Dong'e, killing the Chu general Xue Gong. King Xiang then personally went east to attack Peng Yue. The King of Han obtained the army of Marquis Huaiyin and wanted to cross the Yellow River to the south. Zheng Zhong dissuaded the King of Han, and the King of Han stayed in Henei to build a camp. The King of Han sent Liu Jia to lead the army to assist Peng Yue and burn the supplies gathered by the Chu army. King Xiang went east to defeat the Han army, and Peng Yue fled. The King of Han led his army across the Yellow River, recaptured Chenggao, and stationed in Guangwu, obtaining the food supplies in Ao Cang. King Xiang headed west after pacifying Donghai, and stationed against the Han army in Guangwu. The two armies fought for several months.

汉将纪信说汉王曰：“事已急矣，请为王诳楚为王，王可以间出。”于是汉王夜出女子荥阳东门被甲二千人，楚兵四面击之。纪信乘黄屋车，傅左纛，曰：“城中食尽，汉王降。”楚军皆呼万岁。汉王亦与数十骑从城西门出，走成皋。项王见纪信，问：“汉王安在？”曰：“汉王已出矣。”项王烧杀纪信。

汉王使御史大夫周苛、枞公、魏豹守荥阳。周苛、枞公谋曰：“反国之王，难与守城。”乃共杀魏豹。楚下荥阳城，生得周苛。项王谓周苛曰：“为我将，我以公为上将军，封三万户。”周苛骂曰：“若不趣降汉，汉今虏若，若非汉敌也。”项王怒，烹周苛，并杀枞公。

汉王之出荥阳，南走宛、叶，得九江王布，行收兵，复入保成皋。汉之四年，项王进兵围成皋。汉王逃，独与滕公出成皋北门，渡河走脩武，从张耳、韩信军。诸将稍稍得出成皋，从汉王。楚遂拔成皋，欲西。汉使兵距之巩，令其不得西。

是时，彭越渡河击楚东阿，杀楚将军薛公。项王乃自东击彭越。汉王得淮阴侯兵，欲渡河南。郑忠说汉王，乃止壁河内。使刘贾将兵佐彭越，烧楚积聚。项王东击破之，走彭越。汉王则引兵渡河，复取成皋，军广武，就敖仓食。项王已定东海来，西，与汉俱临广武而军，相守数月。