198 The First in Guanzhong is the King

A8.14…18

Xiang Liang once again defeated the Qin army, showing arrogance.  He refused to listen to Song Yi's advice. Qin sent Zhang Yi reinforcement with soldiers, attacking Xiang Liang quietly at night, caputured Dingtao, and Xiang Liang died. Pei Gong and Xiang Yu attacked Chen Liu, but upon hearing that Xiang Liang had died, they led their troops to join General Lü to the east. Lü Chen's army was stationed in the east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu's army in the west of Pengcheng, and Pei Gong's army in Dang.

Zhang Han had already defeated the Xiang Liang army, he thought that the Chu army was not worth to worry about, so he crossed the Yellow River and launched a northern attack on Zhao, and he defeated Zhao. At that time, Zhao Xie was the king, and the Qin general Wang Li besieged the city of Julucheng, which was known as the army of Hebei.

In the third year of Qin the Second, King Huai of Chu saw that the Xiang Liang army had been defeated, and he got scared. So he moved the capital to Pengcheng from Xutai, and appointed Lü Chen and Xiang Yu's army to defend themselves. Pei Gong was appointed as the magistrate of Dang County, conferred the title of Marquis of Wu'an, and appointed as the general of Dang County. Xiang Yu was conferred the title of Marquis of Chang'an and given the title of Duke of Lu. Lü Chen was the Minister of Works, and his father Lü Qing was the Commander in Chief.

Zhao Shu asked for help. King Huai appointed Song Yi as the superior general, Xiang Yu as the second general, Fan Zeng as the last general, and to rescue Zhao in the north. Duke Pei was to march to the west border. An agreement was made between the generals, whoever enters Guanzhong first becomes the King.

At that time, the Qin army was strong, the Generals had no interest to enter the pass first,  so often took the advantage of the victory to drive north. Only Xiang Yu resented Qin for defeating Xiang Liang's army, and was willing to join Pei Gong in entering the western border. The old generals of King Huai all said, "Xiang Yu is a fierce cunning thief. Xiang Yu tried to attack Xiangcheng, leaving no trace of it, he killed all and all he passed through were destroyed. Moreover, Chu advanced a few times before, and both the former King of Chen and Xiang Liang were all defeated. It would be better to send elders who support righteousness and inform Qin fathers and brothers. They have been suffering from his master for a long time, and now they really have obtained the elders to come, without invasion or violence, and it should be easily taken down. Now Xiang Yu is fierce, he cannot be sent. Only Duke Pei is lenient towards the elders, so he can be sent." Then Xiang Yu wasn’t sent, but Duke Pei was sent to the west. Gathering the scattered soldiers from King Chen and Xiang Liang, Pei Gong arrived at Chengyang from Dang County, confronted the Qin army in Gangli, and then defeated the two armies of Wei. The Chu army sent troops to attack Wang Li and defeated him.

项梁再破秦军，有骄色。宋义谏，不听。秦益章邯兵，夜衔枚击项梁，大破之定陶，项梁死。沛公与项羽方攻陈留，闻项梁死，引兵与吕将军俱东。吕臣军彭城东，项羽军彭城西，沛公军砀。

章邯已破项梁军，则以为楚地兵不足忧，乃渡河，北击赵，大破之。当是之时，赵歇为王，秦将王离围之钜鹿城，此所谓河北之军也。

秦二世三年，楚怀王见项梁军破，恐，徙盱台都彭城，并吕臣、项羽军自将之。以沛公为砀郡长，封为武安侯，将砀郡兵。封项羽为长安侯，号为鲁公。吕臣为司徒，其父吕青为令尹。

赵数请救，怀王乃以宋义为上将军，项羽为次将，范增为末将，北救赵。令沛公西略地入关。与诸将约，先入定关中者王之。

当是时，秦兵强，常乘胜逐北，诸将莫利先入关。独项羽怨秦破项梁军，奋，愿与沛公西入关。怀王诸老将皆曰：“项羽为人僄悍猾贼。项羽尝攻襄城，襄城无遗类，皆阬之，诸所过无不残灭。且楚数进取，前陈王、项梁皆败。不如更遣长者扶义而西，告谕秦父兄。秦父兄苦其主久矣，今诚得长者往，毋侵暴，宜可下。今项羽僄悍，今不可遣。独沛公素宽大长者，可遣。”卒不许项羽，而遣沛公西略地，收陈王、项梁散卒。乃道砀至成阳，与杠里秦军夹壁，破魏二军。楚军出兵击王离，大破之。