188 Han Xin

A7.33|34|35

At this time, Peng Yue repeatedly counterattacked the Chu army in Liangdi, cutting off the route for the Chu army to transport food, and King Xiang was very worried about this. He prepared a high table, put Taigong on it, and warned the King of Han: "If you don't surrender quickly, I will cook and kill Taigong." The King of Han said: "You and I both face north and obey King Huai. We have said that we are brothers. My father is your father. If you must cook and kill your own father, please give me a cup of meat soup." King Xiang was very angry and wanted to cook and kill Taigong. Xiang Bo said: "The situation in the world is still unclear, and those who fight for the world will not take care of their families. Even if he is killed, it will not be good, but will only add to the disaster." King Xiang listened to Xiang Bo's advice.

The Chu and Han armies were in a stalemate for a long time, and the young and strong were exhausted from marching and fighting, and the old and weak were exhausted from transporting supplies. King Xiang said to the King of Han: "The world has been in chaos for many years, just because of the two of us. I would like to challenge the King of Han to a duel, so as not to let the people of the world suffer in vain." The King of Han smiled and declined, saying: "I would rather compete in wisdom than strength." King Xiang ordered his warriors to go out and challenge. The Han army had a man named Lou Fan who was good at riding and archery. The Chu army challenged him three times in a row, and Lou Fan shot the warriors who came to challenge him to death. King Xiang was very angry, so he personally put on armor and took up a long halberd to challenge. Lou Fan wanted to shoot, but King Xiang stared at him and scolded him. Lou Fan dared not look directly at him, dared not shoot an arrow, and ran into the camp and never dared to come out again. The King of Han sent someone to secretly inquire, and only then did he know that it was King Xiang. The King of Han was shocked. So King Xiang approached the King of Han's camp and talked to him across the Guangwu Stream. The King of Han listed King Xiang's crimes, and King Xiang was very angry and wanted to fight. The King of Han disagreed, and the archers in the ambushed in King Xiang's army shot King Han. The King of Han was injured and fled back to Chenggao. 

When King Xiang heard that the Marquis of Huaiyin had conquered Hebei, defeated the armies of Qi and Zhao, and wanted to attack the Chu army, he sent Long Qie to fight. Han Xin the Marquis of Huaiyin fought with Long Qie, and the cavalry general Guan Ying attacked Long Qie, defeated the Chu army, and killed Long Qie. Han Xin took the opportunity to establish himself as the King of Qi. When King Xiang heard that Long Qie's army was defeated, he was afraid and sent Wu She, a native of Xutai, to persuade the Marquis of Huaiyin. The Marquis of Huaiyin did not listen. At this time, Peng Yue rebelled against the Chu army again, conquered Liangdi, and cut off the food supply of the Chu army. King Xiang said to Cao Jiu, Marquis Haichun the Grand Marshal, and others: "Be careful to defend Chenggao. Even if the Han army wants to challenge, don't fight with them. Just don't let them go east. I will kill Peng Yue within fifteen days, pacify Liangdi, and then come back to meet the general." So King Xiang marched eastward, attacking Chenliu and Waihuang along the way.

当此时，彭越数反梁地，绝楚粮食，项王患之。为高俎，置太公其上，告汉王曰：“今不急下，吾烹太公。”汉王曰：“吾与项羽俱北面受命怀王，曰‘约为兄弟’，吾翁即若翁，必欲烹而翁，则幸分我一桮羹。”项王怒，欲杀之。项伯曰：“天下事未可知，且为天下者不顾家，虽杀之无益，祇益祸耳。”项王从之。

楚汉久相持未决，丁壮苦军旅，老弱罢转漕。项王谓汉王曰：“天下匈匈数岁者，徒以吾两人耳，愿与汉王挑战决雌雄，毋徒苦天下之民父子为也。”汉王笑谢曰：“吾宁斗智，不能斗力。”项王令壮士出挑战。汉有善骑射者楼烦，楚挑战三合，楼烦辄射杀之。项王大怒，乃自被甲持戟挑战。楼烦欲射之，项王瞋目叱之，楼烦目不敢视，手不敢发，遂走还入壁，不敢复出。汉王使人间问之，乃项王也。汉王大惊。于是项王乃即汉王相与临广武间而语。汉王数之，项王怒，欲一战。汉王不听，项王伏弩射中汉王。汉王伤，走入成皋。

项王闻淮阴侯已举河北，破齐、赵，且欲击楚，乃使龙且往击之。淮阴侯与战，骑将灌婴击之，大破楚军，杀龙且。韩信因自立为齐王。项王闻龙且军破，则恐，使盱台人武濊涉往说淮阴侯。淮阴侯弗听。是时，彭越复反，下梁地，绝楚粮。项王乃谓海春侯大司马曹咎等曰：“谨守成皋，则汉欲挑战，慎勿与战，毋令得东而已。我十五日必诛彭越，定梁地，复从将军。”乃东，行击陈留、外黄。