Victory and Unity: The Han Dynasty’s Triumph
In the winter of the fifth year, during the tenth month, the King of Han pursued Xiang Yu southward to Yangxia, where he halted his troops and planned a coalition with King Qi Xin and the Prime Minister of Wei to strike against the Chu forces. Arriving at Guling, the coalition failed to materialize. The Chu forces attacked the Han army, inflicting a devastating defeat. The Han King retreated behind fortified walls and deep trenches, seeking counsel from Zhang Liang on their predicament.
“None of the vassal lords are coming to our aid, what shall we do?” asked the King.
Zhang Liang replied calmly, “The Chu army is exhausted from their recent victories and has yet to consolidate their gains. They will not advance further than Guling. Your Majesty, if you can unite with them to govern the realm, they will surely pledge allegiance. King Qi Xin’s ascension was not your intention; he himself lacks steadfast support. Peng Yue originally pacified the lands of Liang due to his association with Wei Bao. Now that Wei Bao has passed, Peng Yue also seeks your favor. However, your delay in granting him a title has left him wavering. If you can grant him everything north of Suiyang to Gucheng and allow him to govern the lands east of Chen and bolster the seas alongside King Qi Xin, whose family resides in Chu and desires to reclaim their ancestral home, then you can offer up these territories to appease both parties. This will divide the Chu forces and make them easier to scatter.”
Upon hearing this advice, the Han King dispatched envoys to summon Han Xin and Peng Yue. Upon their arrival, both commanders brought their troops to aid the King. In the eleventh month, Liu Jia entered Chu territory and besieged Shou Chun. Meanwhile, Han also sent emissaries to persuade the Grand Marshal of Chu, Zhou Yin, to defect. Zhou Yin betrayed Chu, bringing with him troops from Shu and Jiujiang to join forces with Liu Jia, all converging at the Battle of Yuge. By the twelfth month, they had surrounded Xiang Yu at Gaixia.
Under the cover of night, Xiang Yu heard Chu songs from all directions, realizing that the Han forces had gained control of all Chu territories. With only a few hundred horsemen, Xiang Yu fled, resulting in a catastrophic defeat for his army. Guan Ying pursued and killed Xiang Yu in Dongcheng. With Chu territories fully subdued, only Lu remained defiant. The Han King rallied troops from all over the realm, intending to annihilate Lu. However, out of respect for Lu’s adherence to principles of righteousness and honor, the Han King displayed Xiang Yu’s head to his father and brothers, prompting Lu to surrender.
Originally, King Huai of Chu had enfeoffed Xiang Yu as Duke of Lu. Even in death, Lu staunchly defended Xiang Yu, which led to his burial in Gucheng by the Han King. After the mourning rites, the King departed in tears. He ennobled Xiang Bo and three others as marquises and bestowed upon them the surname Liu. The people previously under Chu’s rule all returned to the Han King.
Upon his return to Dingtang, the Han King swiftly moved to seize King Qi Xin’s camp in pursuit. Initially, the King of Chu near the Jiang River had died, and his son Weisi succeeded him as King, but he refused to surrender. Han dispatched Lu Wan and Liu Jia to attack and subdue Weisi. In the spring of the first month, the King honored his elder brother with the posthumous title of Marquis Wu’ai. He issued a decree, “With Chu territories now under control and the demise of Emperor Yi, the goal is to establish stable governance. King Qi Xin has become accustomed to Chu customs and is therefore appointed as King of Chu, ruling north of the Huai River with his capital at Xiaopu. The Prime Minister of Wei, Duke Peng Yue, has diligently served the people of Wei, humbly leading his soldiers. He has repeatedly achieved victories against larger Chu armies, and therefore, due to his connection with Wei, he is appointed as King of Liang with his capital at Dingtang.”
Continuing the decree, “After eight years of continuous warfare and immense suffering for the people, now that the affairs of the realm are settled, a general amnesty is declared for all those who risked their lives in service.” Consequently, the vassal lords submitted memorials, stating, “King Han Xin, King Han Xin, King Huainan Ying Bu, King of Liang Peng Yue, Former Hengshan King Wu Rui, King Zhao Zhang Ao, King Yan Zang Tumei died and paid homage to the great King Han Your Majesty: At the beginning, the Qin Dynasty was defeated, and the world was wiped out. The great king first got the king of Qin and settled Guanzhong, and the most successful in the world. Life and death are determined, and the battle is won, saving defeat, continuing, and peace for the people, merit and virtue are thick. Moreover, for the vassal kings who have made contributions to the world, they will be able to establish the social sacrifice. The land is divided and the title is comparable. The loss of the upper and lower levels, the great king’s merits and virtues are not available for the future. Maesdie bowed down again to the Emperor’s title.” said: “My family has been virtuous, the virtual word has the name, the empty word has no real name, it is not taken.” Now, the vassal king is recommended to high king, which is more suitable for the population. The general king and the long-term king of the long-term king of the South in the threes and the three hundred people, and the broad name of the son-in-law Jisi Sujuan, the saint and the ruff of the sixteen day, and the Luo Yuan. Zhao said: “The king of the king of the king of the king of the king of the king of the king of the king of the king