Disciplining Emperor Gaozu of Han

Chapter 8 Liu Bang's Dark History

Last year, in the first year of the reign of King Han, Xiang Yu led an army of 400,000 allied princes into Guanzhong, where he enfeoffed eighteen princes. Then, at Xixia, he ordered the princes to return to their respective states. He himself led his army eastward, established his capital at Pengcheng, and founded the State of Chu.

Not long after, Tian Rong, dissatisfied that Xiang Yu had not granted him a fiefdom, raised his banner in rebellion in Qi. Xiang Yu was furious and personally led a large army to suppress the rebellion, leaving him no time to attend to other matters.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as general, openly repaired the plank road while secretly crossing Chencang, pacified the Three Qin regions, seized the troops of the five vassal states, and led an army of 560,000 eastward. Taking advantage of the vulnerability of Pengcheng, he captured Pengcheng in one fell swoop.

Pengcheng was Xiang Yu's capital. Its capture by Liu Bang would certainly be a devastating blow to Xiang Yu. Liu Bang was overjoyed and accepted Xiang Yu's beauties and treasures. He held lavish banquets every day to celebrate the defeat of Xiang Yu.

When Xiang Yu received news of the fall of Pengcheng in Qi, he remained completely calm and ordered his main force to continue the attack. He personally led 30,000 elite cavalry from southern Shandong out of Huling and west into Xiao County, attacking from the rear.

Liu Bang could never have imagined that the fall of Pengcheng would not only fail to cripple Xiang Yu, but that Xiang Yu would also launch a swift counterattack. When he received the news, he was drunk and could hardly believe it. After confirming it repeatedly, he had no choice but to accept it and hastily prepared for battle.

The two armies fought a great battle east of Lingbi.

Xiang Yu, with 30,000 elite cavalry, decisively defeated Liu Bang's army of 560,000, causing rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.

Hundreds of thousands of Han soldiers were driven into the Sui River by Xiang Yu and drowned. Their bodies piled up layer upon layer, causing the Sui River to stop flowing.

This is a famous historical example of a smaller force defeating a larger one: the Battle of Pengcheng!

Seeing that all was lost, Liu Bang, with several dozen elite cavalrymen as his guards, fled Pengcheng and headed straight for Pei County. Pei County was Liu Bang's hometown, and he knew it like the back of his hand. Relying on his familiarity with the terrain of Pei County, he successfully shook off his pursuers. He encountered Liu Ying and his sister by the roadside and took them with him as they fled.

At this time, Liu Ying and his brother were homeless, and Empress Lü had fallen into Xiang Yu's hands.

Liu Bang's capture of Pengcheng thoroughly enraged Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu not only sent men to hunt down Liu Bang, but also ordered Zhongli Mo to lead an army to Pei County to arrest Liu Bang's family.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Taigong rushed to inform Empress Lü. At that time, Empress Lü was working in the fields with Liu Le, and she was so startled that she dropped her plow on the ground.

Empress Lü was indeed Empress Lü; she quickly calmed down and decided that she and Liu Taigong would lure away Zhongli Mo's pursuers so that Liu Le could find Liu Ying, who was hunting, and escape with him.

Old Man Liu objected: "I'm an old man, how could I possibly do this?"

Empress Lü was furious. She put her left hand on her hip, pointed her right finger at Liu Taigong's nose, and began to berate him: "You old fool, have you lost your manhood? So cowardly and ignorant, you're not even as good as a woman like me! Le'er and Ying'er are your Liu family's offspring!"

Old Master Liu was so ashamed he wanted to disappear. His face turned bright red, and he covered his face with his sleeve, pleading, "Please don't scold me! Please don't scold me! I'll do as you say! I'll do whatever you say!"

To increase their chances of success, Empress Lü decided to bring Liu Taigong's wife along. The three of them worked together to successfully lure away Zhongli Mo's pursuers, but ended up in Xiang Yu's hands. After a series of near-death experiences, they miraculously survived.

Liu Le hid himself and, seeing that Empress Lü had successfully lured Zhongli Mo and the others away, quietly slipped out and found Liu Ying, who was hunting, and told him what had happened. Liu Ying was extremely anxious and cried out that he wanted to go and save Empress Lü.

Given the small size of the siblings, going there would be like walking into a trap. Liu Le went to great lengths to persuade Liu Ying.

Using their familiarity with the terrain, the siblings successfully evaded their pursuers. Several times, they narrowly escaped their pursuers, barely escaping with their lives. Upon returning to Zhongyang Village, they found it reduced to ashes, its inhabitants murdered, and corpses strewn everywhere.

All their familiar relatives have disappeared.

Left with no other choice, the siblings had to hide and evade capture. When thirsty, they would drink some cold water; when hungry, Liu Le would pick some wild fruit, or Liu Ying would hunt some small animals to barely fill their stomachs.

Unwilling to give up after failing to capture Liu Ying and her brother, Zhongli Mo led his men to search everywhere. With nowhere else to turn, the siblings decided to take a risk and try their luck on the main road, hoping to find a kind person who could help them escape Pei County.

They were young and never thought that doing so was dangerous, or that if they encountered bad people, their fate would be terrible.

The siblings walked along the main road for half a day without encountering a single ghost, let alone a human, and were quite disappointed.

Just then, a tall carriage sped by like lightning, carrying two people: Xiahou Ying and Liu Bang.

Liu Bang had barely shaken off his pursuers when he ran into Zhongli Mo. Zhongli Mo, not wanting to miss the chance to capture Liu Bang alive, ordered his men to continue searching for Liu Ying and his siblings, while he personally led his troops to pursue and kill Liu Bang.

Upon seeing the car approaching, Liu Ying and her brother were both delighted and frightened, and quickly hid in the bushes to observe the situation.

Liu Le, with his sharp eyes, recognized Liu Bang and Xiahou Ying. Overjoyed, he emerged from the bushes, jumping and shouting, "Father..."

Xiahou Ying was busy driving the carriage and naturally didn't have time to look at the two siblings. He drove the carriage past them in a flash.

Liu Bang, being chased like a dog and terrified, only glanced at the brother and sister, not recognizing them, and cursed, "Whose brat is this, trying to claim kinship with someone else? His parents must be no good, they haven't raised him properly!"

Watching the departing carriage, Liu Le was disappointed yet unwilling to give up. He then shouted, "Father, I am Liu Le! I am Liu Le!"

"Who is Liu Le?" Liu Bang felt a vague sense of familiarity, but couldn't quite place him.

It had been four years since Liu Bang left Pei County with his meager forces to vie for supremacy. In those four years, Liu Bang had not seen Liu Le and her siblings at all, and his memories of Liu Le had become hazy.

"Liu Le?" Xiahou Ying heard this and suddenly remembered, reminding him, "King of Han, Liu Le is your daughter?"

"Is it her?" Liu Bang then remembered that he had a daughter in Pei County. He turned his head and saw that the little girl's face from back then finally matched the face in his memory.

Xiahou Ying pulled on the reins, and the horse stopped, bringing the carriage to a halt.

"What are you doing?" Liu Bang shouted.

"King of Han, look how panicked Liu Le is. It seems Xiang Yu has already taken action against your family. If you don't take her with you, you're in grave danger." Xiahou Ying turned the carriage around and headed back.

"Why do you care about her?" Liu Bang roared. "Don't worry about her! Let's escape!"

"Huh...that's..." Xiahou Ying's eyes widened suddenly as he looked at Liu Ying: "King of Han, that's your eldest son, Liu Ying. He's grown so big already?"

"Liu... Ying'er?" Liu Bang looked at Liu Ying beside Liu Le, rubbed his eyes frantically, and tried hard to remember. Finally, the baby's face matched the one he remembered.

Liu Le was overjoyed to see the returning carriage. Pointing to Liu Bang, he introduced him to Liu Ying: "Brother, look, that's Father! Father is a great hero. He wielded a three-foot sword, killed the tyrannical Qin, and brought peace to the world!"

"That is... Father?" Liu Ying looked at Liu Bang timidly, feeling both an urge to be close to Liu Bang and a fear that Liu Bang would not acknowledge him.

Because four years ago, when Liu Bang led his army away from Pei County, Liu Ying was only three years old. This is the traditional Chinese age reckoning; if calculated using modern reckoning, he would be two years old. At that time, Liu Ying had no memory of Liu Bang.

From as far back as he could remember, Liu Ying asked Empress Lü, "Mother, why do I have no father?"

Empress Lü would say, "Your father was a great hero; he wielded a three-foot sword, killed the tyrannical Qin, and brought peace to the world!"

In Liu Ying's young mind, Liu Bang's image was incredibly majestic, and he always longed to recognize Liu Bang as soon as possible.

This was the first time Liu Ying had seen Liu Bang since he could remember. He was filled with trepidation, both hoping to recognize Liu Bang and fearing him.

Liu Bang was pleased to hear Liu Le praising him and did not stop Xiahou Ying. As soon as Xiahou Ying stopped the carriage, Liu Le and his sister rushed to the carriage. Liu Bang bent down and reached out to pull the two siblings onto the carriage.

Finally meeting Liu Bang, Liu Ying and her brother were overjoyed. Liu Ying stood to Liu Bang's right, holding his right arm with both hands, her face full of admiration. Liu Le stood to Liu Bang's left, holding his left arm, his face full of excitement, his eyes filled with admiration.

With the addition of the siblings, the carriage slowed down a bit, and Liu Bang, in order to escape, kicked the siblings off the carriage.

The young Liu Ying's hopes for Liu Bang were shattered. Unable to accept such a heavy blow, he died before he could catch his breath, and only then did Wang Yue take over his body.

To save his own life, Liu Bang kicked Liu Ying and her brother off the chariot, and not just once or twice, but multiple times; Empress Lü was willing to risk her life for the safety of Liu Le and Liu Ying. It goes without saying who she should protect.

Therefore, Liu Ying resolutely defended Empress Lü.