The former emperor's master and current crown prince Zhang Liang and Zhang Zifang's obsession with Taoism and almost obsessiveness soon became a hot topic in the streets of Luoyang as an anecdote;
Not long after, three more pieces of big news about Chu King Han Xin spread like wildfire, ushering in a new wave of material discussions.
Although the characters involved in these three anecdotes are different, they all convey the same signal, that is -
The King of Chu, who returned home in glory, was a good man and a true hero who repaid evil with kindness and was magnanimous.
***
The Chu State under the rule of Han Xin had a vast feudal territory, spanning Chenjun, Xuejun, Donghai, Kuaiji and other counties, covering the vast areas of the original Eastern and Western Chu, which greatly exceeded the territory of the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
The capital of the new Chu State was Xiapi, the ancient capital.
Xiapi is located in the lower reaches of the Huai River, close to the Yellow Sea, with fertile soil, and is surrounded by Sishui, Yishui and Wushui rivers. Water transportation is extremely convenient, as well as fishing and hunting.
In addition, Xiapi is located at the junction of Eastern and Western Chu. It can reach the Huai River in the south, Qilu in the north, and is less than a hundred miles away from Pengcheng in the west. It is an extremely important strategic location. It is said that if you want to capture Huaibei, you must fight for it. Xia Pi.
The King of Chu, Han Xin, who returned to his hometown in honor, did not stay in the bustling Xiapi City permanently, but immediately went to Huaiyin County, where he lived when he was young.
Han Xin went to Huaiyin County to find three people;
Of these three people, one is a middle-aged official, one is a young gangster, and the third is an old woman.
He became famous all over the world in one fell swoop, and the person the new King of Chu was looking for was easily found.
***
More than 20 years ago, the Qin Dynasty destroyed the six kingdoms, and its power was like a violent wind and rain, swallowing up the mountains and rivers, destroying all the noble families of the six kingdoms overnight.
From then on, those hereditary aristocrats in the pre-Qin Dynasty and the golden branches and jade leaves of the famous families became anonymous and drifted in the wind, like trees without roots or water without a source.
Among them, there are those who are stubborn and unyielding, such as the middle-aged Zhang Liang, who spent all his family wealth and plotted to assassinate the First Emperor, trying to bring down the Eternal One who was at the height of his power, and use the hatred of his country's enemies to his family;
There are also many people who are discouraged and follow the crowd, such as Han Xin, a young man wandering in Huaiyin County.
Han Xin's origin has long been unknown. He was born around the time of the fall of Korea. Since "Han" is the surname of the Korean royal family, Liu Ji and others have always guessed that he must be a descendant of the Korean clan. However, he has always remained silent and has not told anyone. Disclose one's life experience and origins.
Although he didn't say it, Han Xin's behavior was full of aristocratic habits, especially when he was younger.
At that time, Han Xin was the most idle boy in Huaiyin County.
He was young and handsome and came from a poor family. His parents were missing and he had no brothers or sisters. He walked alone all day long, like a lone wolf.
He did not work as a farmer, as a merchant, or as an official. He just wandered the streets alone every day and ate from hundreds of families, but he never forgot to wear an inexplicable bronze sword on his waist.
The blade of this sword is no longer new, but the sharpening marks are still vaguely visible. The cold light shines and the edge is still there. However, the black silk-wrapped scabbard has long been mottled and fallen off, full of traces of time.
An ancient sword that had been placed in someone's temple, and a young man of unknown origin. This is a typical configuration of the children of a down-and-out noble. After the Six Kingdoms were destroyed, such old princes and grandsons can be seen everywhere, and people are not surprised. , allowing him to come to his home for meals and food.
However, there are also skills involved in hosting meals. For example, the people you disturb must change frequently, and you cannot eat and drink at a certain house for too long, so as not to annoy others.
Han Xin didn't understand this. He went to Nanchang's pavilion chief's house for dinner every day for several months. Finally one day, the pavilion chief's family started dinner early without Han Xin's back, and stopped inviting him to dine with him. Shut out.
He remembered this lesson sensitively and reservedly, and has never been to the pavilion chief's home since then, until today.
This pavilion chief was the first person Han Xin, the new king of Chu, was looking for.
***
In Huaiyin County at that time, the pavilion chief was far from the only one who dared to look down on Han Xin, a poor boy.
Another day, Han Xin, armed with a sword, was strolling in the market as usual, but was blocked by a reckless young man.
The young man looked mockingly at the bronze sword he wore on his waist and said provocatively,
"Even though you are tall and carry a sword all day long, you can only pretend, but you are a useless coward."
The street market was extremely lively, and more and more people gathered to watch, all waiting to see a good show.
Han Xin didn't want to be troublesome, so he turned to one side and wanted to leave quickly from the provocative young man, but he grabbed him by the collar of his clothes and said loudly with a joking face,
"Coward, if you want to be brave, just stab me. Otherwise, you have to get under my crotch."
Han Xin stopped and could no longer hear the laughter of the spectators. He could only stare intently at the bad boy's face, as if he wanted to carve his appearance into his mind.
No one knew what he was thinking at that moment. Everyone only saw this young man who was full of arrogance all day long, slowly bent down, crawled on the ground, and got under the young man's crotch.
As he crawled, the scabbard of the long sword hit the dirt, making a dull clanking sound, like a twilight, helpless veteran.
The crowd laughed and dispersed. What they said was the cowardice and incompetence of the showy boy. Han Xin got up from the ground, patted the dirt with his palms facing each other, and continued walking on his way as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, he understood the power of patience. It is said that King Wen was restrained and performed the Book of Changes, and Zhongniu performed the Spring and Autumn Period. And his idol Sun Bin, with a crippled body with no legs, wrote works that made countless strong men The art of war is frightening.
After this humiliation, Han Xin felt that he was one step closer to the sages in his mind. If he suffered the same suffering as them, could he become as powerful as them?
This evil young man who had humiliated him was the second person he was looking for.
***
And this third person had brought him countless warm memories during his wandering life in Huaiyin.
There are many streams in Huaiyin, and young people who have nothing to do and never have enough to eat often go to the river outside the city to fish and bake.
He remembered that there was a kind-faced old woman who always washed the silk floss just spun at home under the big tree where Han Xin fished.
Whenever the sun rises high and the cicadas chirp loudly, the wandering mother will stuff the rough food she brings with her into the hands of the hungry and down-and-out young man.
Young Han Xin always devoured his food, his mouth full, and he never forgot to thank his mother.
"Old man, if I become successful one day, I will definitely repay you well."
But the old woman always said to him with a slightly sullen expression of feeling sorry for his misfortune and angry at him,
“When a man is alive, the most important thing is to be able to support himself.
I see that you are the descendant of a dilapidated prince of I don’t know whose family you are. It’s so pitiful, but you don’t want any reward. "
A few years later, Han Xin, who had learned patience and waiting, finally got his chance in life. Chen and Wu rose up, and all the heroes in the world responded. Old friends from the six countries heard the news, and Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu led eight thousand people from Jiangdong to cross the river and go north.
When Xiang Liang's army passed through Huaiyin County, young Han Xin took his bronze sword and resolutely surrendered to the army. He never returned to his hometown again.
It was also in Xiang Liangjun that he met a close friend of similar age, Zhong Lihuan.
And this floating mother who showed kindness without seeking repayment was the third person the King of Chu was looking for.
