A8.51|52|53
Xiang Yu lifted the siege and returned eastward. The King of Han was going to lead his troops back westward but adopted the strategy of Liu Hou and Chen Ping, instead he pursued Xiang Yu to the south of Yangxia, where he stayed, waiting for Han Xin, the King of Qi, and Peng Yue, the Marquis Jiancheng, to meet at a time they all agreed, to attack the Chu army. The King of Han came to Guling, but Han Xin and Peng Yue did not come to meet. The Chu army attacked the Han army and defeated it. The King of Han backed into the camp again and dug deep trenches to defend. The King of Han adopted Zhang Liang's strategy, and at this time Han Xin and Peng Yue came to meet. When Liu Jia entered Chu and besieged Shouchun, the King of Han was defeated in Guling, so he sent an envoy to summon the Grand Marshal Zhou Yin to mobilize all the troops in Jiujiang to welcome Ying Bu, and together they slaughtered Chengfu. Shui He, Liu Jia and the princes of Qi and Liang, all met at Gaixia. The King of Han named Ying Bu the King of Huainan.
In the fifth year (202 BC), Emperor Gaozu (King of Han) and the armies of the princes attacked the Chu army together and fought a decisive battle with Xiang Yu at Gaixia. Marquis Huaiyin led 300 thousand soldiers alone in the front, General Kong was on the left wing, General Fei was on the right wing, the Emperor was in the rear, and Marquis Jiang and General Chai were behind the Emperor. Xiang Yu's soldiers were about 100 thousand. Huaiyin took the lead in fighting Xiang Yu, but not successful, then retreated. General Kong and General Fei attacked, and the Chu army was not the favored. Huaiyin took the chance to attack again and defeated Xiang Yu at Gaixia. Xiang Yu's soldiers heard the Han soldiers singing Chu songs and thought that the Han army had occupied all Chu land. Xiang Yu was defeated and fled, that’s when the Chu army was really defeated. The King of Han sent the cavalry general Guan Ying to chase Xiang Yu in Dongcheng, beheaded 80 thousand people, and finally brought rough pacification to Chu lands. But the people of Lu County held on for Chu and could not be captured. The King of Han led the armies of the princes to the north and showed Xiang Yu's head to the people of Lu County, and the people of Lu County then surrendered. So the King of Han buried Xiang Yu in Gucheng with the title of Duke of Lu. The King of Han returned to Dingtao, drove into the camp of the King of Qi, and seized his military power.
In the first month of the year, the princes and generals jointly requested to honor the King of Han as the emperor. The King of Han said: "I heard that the title of emperor is only for virtuous people. It is unrealistic and does not fit me. I dare not take the throne of emperor." All the ministers said: "Your Majesty came from a humble background, killed the tyrants and pacified the world. Those who have made contributions are given land and are made princes. If Your Majesty does not claim the title of emperor, everyone will have doubts about their titles. We risk our lives to ask Your Majesty to be the emperor." The King of Han declined three times, but there was no other way, so he said: "If you all think it is beneficial to the country, so be it!" On the Jiawu day, north of Fanshui, the King of Han ascended the throne of the emperor.
项羽解而东归。汉王欲引而西归，用留侯、陈平计，乃进兵追项羽，至阳夏南止军，与齐王信、建成侯彭越期会而击楚军。至固陵，不会。楚击汉军，大破之。汉王复入壁，深堑而守之。用张良计，于是韩信、彭越皆往。及刘贾入楚地，围寿春，汉王败固陵，乃使使者召大司马周殷举九江兵而迎之武王，行屠城父，随何、刘贾、齐梁诸侯皆大会垓下。立武王布为淮南王。
五年，高祖与诸侯兵共击楚军，与项羽决胜垓下。淮阴侯将三十万自当之，孔将军居左，费将军居右，皇帝在后，绛侯、柴将军在皇帝后。项羽之卒可十万。淮阴先合，不利，卻。孔将军、费将军纵，楚兵不利，淮阴侯复乘之，大败垓下。项羽卒闻汉军之楚歌，以为汉尽得楚地，项羽乃败而走，是以兵大败。使骑将灌婴追杀项羽东城，斩首八万，遂略定楚地。鲁为楚坚守不下。汉王引诸侯兵北，示鲁父老项羽头，鲁乃降。遂以鲁公号葬项羽谷城。还至定陶，驰入齐王壁，夺其军。
正月，诸侯及将相相与共请尊汉王为皇帝。汉王曰：“吾闻帝贤者有也，空言虚语，非所守也，吾不敢当帝位。”群臣皆曰：“大王起微细，诛暴逆，平定四海，有功者辄裂地而封为王侯。大王不尊号，皆疑不信。臣等以死守之。”汉王三让，不得已，曰：“诸君必以为便，便国家。”甲午，乃即皇帝位氾水之阳。
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