Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 85): Reincarnation

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang

Annals of Han Book 2 Scroll 10 (continued)

The 3rd year of the Emperor Gaozu (204 B.C. continued)

The King of Han managed to sneak out through the Yu Gate of Chenggao with only Duke of Teng(Xiahou Ying) on a wagon. They headed north and crossed the Yellow River, eventually staying at an inn in a town called Small Xiuwu. In the early morning, they infiltrated the Zhao army’s camp, posing as Han envoys. Zhang Er and Han Xin were still asleep when the King of Han entered their sleeping quarters and seized their commander seals and tallies. He then used the tallies to summon all the officers for a meeting and announced a reorganization of command.

When Zhang Er and Han Xin woke up, they were stunned to hear of the King of Han’s presence. The King of Han took command of the army from them, sending Zhang Er to travel throughout Zhao to strengthen its defenses. He promoted Han Xin to Chancellor of Zhao and tasked him with leading a campaign against the Kingdom of Qi, using the forces Zhang Er had left behind. Before long, the other Han generals who had fled Chenggao reunited with the King of Han. Meanwhile, the Chu army captured Chenggao and advanced further west, but the King of Han dispatched troops to hold Gong County and halt their progress.

In July, during the autumn, a meteor was sighted near Uranus. 

The King of Linjiang, Gong Ao, passed away, and his son Gong Wei succeeded him.

The King of Han, now in control of the troops previously commanded by Han Xin, regained his confidence and morale. He led his forces to the bank of the Yellow River, setting up camp at the town of Small Xiuwu with plans to move south and engage the Chu army. However, Zheng Zhong, one of his advisers, advised him to focus on building fortifications and digging trenches rather than engaging in direct combat. The King of Han followed this counsel. He ordered Generals Liu Jia and Lu Wan to lead twenty thousand soldiers and several hundred cavalry across the Yellow River at Baima crossing. They entered Chu territory to support General Peng Yue in burning the Chu army’s grain storage and disrupting Xiang Yu‘s supply lines. When the Chu forces retaliated, Liu Jia held firm behind the defensive walls, refusing to engage in open battle. He coordinated with General Peng Yue’s forces, ensuring mutual protection.

General Peng Yue continued his campaign, conquering more of the Kingdom of Wei, capturing seventeen cities, including Suiyang and Waihuang. In September, Xiang Yu instructed his Grand Marshal, Cao Jiu, saying: “Defend the city of Chenggao carefully. Be cautious, and do not engage in battle with the King of Han if he challenges you. Preventing them from advancing further east will be sufficient. I will resolve the issues in the Kingdom of Wei and return in fifteen days.” Xiang Yu then led his troops eastward, recapturing the cities of Chenliu, Waihuang, and Suiyang.

The King of Han was considering abandoning the territory east of Chenggao and focusing on defending against Chu’s aggression along the line between Gong County and Luoyang. Li Yiji, however, offered him a different perspective: “I’ve heard it said, ‘He who knows the mandate of Heaven will be enthroned as a king.’ For a king, the people are his Heaven. For the people, food is their Heaven. Ao’cang is the nation’s hub for food transportation, and I have learned that a large stockpile of grain remains stored underground there. After the Chu army seized Xingyang, they did not guard Ao’cang steadfastly, moving east and leaving only a small detachment to defend Chenggao. This presents a golden opportunity for the Kingdom of Han. I believe it would be a grave mistake to hold back and rob ourselves of the chance to exploit Chu‘s error.”

“Currently, two dominant forces cannot coexist. The ongoing seesaw conflict between Chu and Han has left the country in turmoil. Farmers have abandoned their fields, and women have stopped working their looms. I urge Your Majesty to move swiftly to retake Xingyang. By doing so, we can access the grain stores in Ao’cang, secure the strategic pass at Chenggao, control the roads through Taihang mountains, hold up Feihu Pass and defend Baima crossing. If we demonstrate that we have secured a stronger position, the people will know whom to side with.”

The King of Han took Li Yiji‘s advice and began planning actions to reclaim Ao’cang.

Li Yiji also advised the King of Han: “The Kingdoms of Yan and Zhao have been settled, but the Kingdom of Qi remains unresolved. The Tian clan is powerful, backed by the ocean and Mount Tai, with the Yellow River and Ji River as natural barriers. They neighbor Chu to the south and are unreliable. Conquering Qi would take months, even with tens of thousands of troops. I volunteer to deliver Your Majesty’s edict to the King of Qi and persuade him to become your vassal in the east.”

The King of Han approved the plan and sent Li Yiji as an ambassador to Qi. When Li Yiji met with the King of Qi, he asked, “Do you know who will take over the country?” The King of Qi responded, “I don’t know. Who will it be?” Li Yiji answered, “The Kingdom of Han.”

The King of Qi asked, “Why do you say that, Professor?” 

Li Yiji explained: “The King of Han was the first to enter Xianyang. Xiang Yu broke his agreement, making him only the King of Hanzhong. Xiang Yu then drove the Honorary Emperor into exile and later killed him. Upon hearing this, the King of Han rallied his troops from Shu and Hanzhong, conquered the Three Kingdoms of Qin, and came out of the Hangu Pass to look into what happened to Honorary Emperor. He called on all forces in the country to take action, reinstated the descendants of former monarchs, rewarded generals who surrendered by making them marquises, and distributed land to those who helped his cause. He shared the benefits widely, attracting the best and brightest from across the country to his side.”

“In contrast, Xiang Yu has earned a bad reputation for breaching agreements and murdering the Honorary Emperor. He keeps no record of those who have achieved great feats for him, shows no forgiveness to those who have erred, offers no rewards to those who have won battles for him, and grants no fiefdoms to those who have conquered cities for him. No significant promotions come to those outside the Xiang family. Talented individuals across the country resent him, refuse to work for him, and are abandoning him in droves. Just from these facts, we can infer that the country will belong to the King of Han.”

“The King of Han mobilized the commanderies of Shu and Hanzhong and launched a campaign to retake the Three Kingdoms of Qin. He crossed the Yellow River from the west and conquered the Kingdom of Wei in the north. He passed through Jingjing Pass and killed Lord Cheng’an. These victories are surely blessed by Heaven, as they are beyond human effort alone. Now, he possesses the grain of Ao’cang, controls the strategic pass at Chenggao, guards Baima Crossing, holds the roads along the slopes of Taihang Mountains and seizes Feihu Pass.”

“The last kingdom to join his campaign will be the first to fall. Your Majesty must submit to the King of Han quickly if the Kingdom of Qi is to survive. Otherwise, your kingdom is in grave danger as we speak.”

The King of Qi, aware that Han Xin was advancing eastward to invade his kingdom, ordered Generals Hua Wushang and Tian Jie to lead a large force to Lixia county to counter Han Xin’s advance. However, after taking Li Yiji‘s lobbying to heart, he sent an envoy to the King of Han, seeking a truce. He ordered the troops at Lixia to stand down and began spending his days wining and dining with Li Yiji.

Meanwhile, Han Xin led his army eastward, halting just before crossing the Pingyuan Crossing. Upon hearing that Li Yiji had successfully persuaded the King of Qi to submit to the authority of the King of Han, Han Xin was about to call off the campaign. However, a contrarian, Kuai Che intervened, arguing, “General Han’s raid on the Kingdom of Qi was authorized by an edict from the King of Han. Even though the King of Han sent an ambassador to Qi, has he issued a new edict to stop your campaign? Why are you hesitating? Li Yiji is merely a scholar. With his words, he convinced seventy or so cities in Qi to yield to the Kingdom of Han, just by leaning on a wagon rail and speaking with his four-inch tongue. Your honor commands tens of thousands of soldiers. You conquered fifty cities in Zhao after more than a year of hard fighting. You’ve served as grand marshal for several years—would it be acceptable if your merits paled in comparison to those of a petty Confucianist?”

Convinced by Kuai Che’s reasoning, Han Xin resumed the campaign and crossed the Yellow River.