Execution without prosecution is an act of overstepping one's authority.
This crime is indeed not a small one. Xiang Bo and others looked like they were watching a good show, waiting for this irritable little old man to make an attack.
Unexpectedly, Fan Zeng was not furious. Instead, he pondered a little and suddenly said: "Overlord, I have something to say and I want to talk to you alone."
Xiang Yu was startled for a moment, but still nodded, "Okay!"
With that said, Xiang Yu turned around and Fan Zeng followed closely.
Uncle Xiang and the others wanted to follow, but they heard Xiang Yu say in a deep voice: "You don't have to come over."
When they arrived at the king's tent, Xiang Yu waved his hand and even Yu Ji was driven out, leaving only two people sitting opposite each other.
Xiang Yu took the initiative and said: "Father, I don't mean to blame, but there are always people whispering in my ears, I..."
Fan Zeng smiled and shook his head, "Your Majesty, there is no need to say more, I know."
As he spoke, he took a can of fine wine from the side and poured a large bowl for Xiang Yu and himself. With the wine in his belly, Fan Zeng suddenly said: "Overlord, are you afraid?"
Afraid?
The Overlord of Chu is rampant in the world and is invincible. What else is there to be afraid of?
It's just you, old man, who is confused.
Xiang Yu didn't bother to answer.
Fan Zeng took another sip of wine and then asked: "Since the overlord is not afraid, why don't you dare to fight to the death and capture Xingyang?"
Xiang Yu was startled, raised his head suddenly, looked at Fan Zeng in surprise, and said after a long time: "Liu Ji is well guarded, the soldiers in the city are full of life, there are sufficient weapons, and there is a food supply in Aocang. It will be difficult to capture it in a hurry."
"Is it difficult to capture it, or is it impossible to capture it?"
Xiang Yu paused and said in a deep voice: "If we want to capture Xingyang, I'm afraid it will cost tens of thousands of elites and damage our vitality, which will be detrimental to the future!"
Fan Zeng's smile did not diminish, and he suddenly said quietly: "Aren't you still afraid of death?"
Xiang Yu was suddenly frightened and looked at Fan Zeng stupidly, "Well, that is my descendant from Jiangdong, the essence of the Xiang family. If it is lost at the foot of Xingyang City, how can we go on to pacify the world?"
"Hahaha!" Fan Zeng laughed loudly, "Overlord, overlord! You are so confused! It was because Liu Ji saw your thoughts that he personally took up residence in Xingyang and confronted you with inferior troops and horses, consuming the essence of Chu and letting You have no time to care about him!"
Xiang Yu frowned and murmured: "Indeed, he uses his body as bait, and he cannot swallow it or throw it away. I am in a very difficult position."
Fan Zeng leaned forward, leaned close to Xiang Yu's ear, and said quietly: "Overlord, if you can't even take down Xingyang, where will your world be?"
"ah!"
Xiang Yu roared, "Father, if you do this, you will lose many Jiangdong disciples!"
"Hahaha!"
Fan Zeng laughed again, "Overlord, this is your second mistake. You are burdened by your fame! How can you win if you don't dare to kill people?"
Xiang Yu was stunned. He wanted to refute, but couldn't find a reason. He even believed Fan Zeng's words.
"Overlord, since you raised your army, you have been victorious in every attack. Julu defeated Zhang Han, Pengcheng defeated Liu Ji... Have you ever thought about the losses?"
Xiang Yu shook his head silently.
Fan Zeng added: "Then why did the attack on Xingyang last for several months and lose troops and generals, but the overlord hesitated to move forward, worrying about gains and losses?"
Without waiting for Xiang Yu's answer, Fan Zeng continued: "Because the Overlord has concerns in his heart, you are the best general in the world and no one can beat him. So you must be invincible. Not only must you win, but you must also win beautifully and without losing anything." Too many soldiers and horses... because of heavy casualties, it will also affect your reputation. If you can't even accept a miserable victory, how can you win a big victory?"
"Then Liu Ji is not an ordinary person. The counselors and generals around him are also rare talents. They defend the city and try their best not to make big mistakes in order to consume the Chu army. However, the king is reluctant to consume it, which is why he is in a dilemma today. The point!”
"The overlord could not advance even an inch, but Han Xin was able to capture the city and territory. The Han army had obtained the food in Guanzhong, and he was plotting to retake Poyang with the warriors of Yan and Zhao, Yingbu Wu Rui, Peng Yue was in Juyeze, and the Qi State had evil intentions... The king looked around him , everyone in the world is an enemy, but at this time, you have no courage to risk everything, I would like to ask the king, do you want to be defeated by Liu Ji?"
"ah!"
Xiang Yu couldn't help but let out a low cry, and when he looked at his temples, he was already sweating.
Fan Zeng's conclusion was straight to the point, and it was no different from Zhang Liang's plan in Xiayi.
An army that cannot bear sacrifices is definitely not a truly strong army.
It’s not that we don’t care about human lives, but that for some battles, human lives must be taken to fill it.
If you prepare for the worst, you may still get relatively good results.
But if you dare not sacrifice, always look forward and backward, and hesitate, you will often suffer greater losses and even be completely defeated.
This is the truth of living toward death.
Julu Pengcheng, two battles pushed Xiang Yu to an unprecedented height, and also caused him to lose the courage to make a desperate move.
"Father, you made it very clear, what should we do next?"
Xiang Yu was just like a child in the first few years, asking Fan Zeng for advice.
Fan Zeng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Overlord, how can I know, my old minister, whether Liu Ji did something meticulous when he released the prisoners? I can clearly see the methods he used. It is nothing more than to reduce the morale of the army and destroy morale. Let him If you continue to do this, your Majesty may not have the courage to fight to the death."
"I will be a villain and kill them all. If there is any resentment in the military camp, they will all come against me alone. The overlord can mobilize elite soldiers and generals to quickly capture Xingyang regardless of sacrifices. As long as Liu Ji is destroyed, everything will be over." It's easy to say, if Liu Ji can't be killed..."
When Fan Zeng said this, he paused.
After a long time, Fan Zengcai smiled bitterly and said, "Old minister, I don't know anymore."
With that said, Fan Zeng raised his wine bowl and drank heavily.
Perhaps he drank too much, and Fan Zeng coughed loudly, as if he wanted to cough out his lungs.
Xiang Yu hurried over and stood behind Fan Zeng, holding his back with his hands.
"Yafu!"
Fan Zeng waved his hand, "Your Majesty, I am over seventy years old. I have no other aspirations. I only hope that the overlord will flatten the world and achieve great things. At this point, we must not hesitate. If we are too late, things will change!"
Fan Zeng urged again, Xiang Yu's face gradually became resolute, he clenched his fists and nodded vigorously.
"Don't worry, Yafu, I know what to do!"
On the Chu camp side, they mobilized nervously, building ordnance day and night, and the number of soldiers and horses attacking the corridors also tripled!
The corridor was broken through several times, and Zhou Bo, Xia Houying, and Fan Kuai, all the old brothers from Peixian County, all risked their lives.
The soldiers and horses brought by Liu Ying were also sent up. Liu Bang had to personally supervise the battle every day and go into battle to kill the enemy.
"Shu Ru mistook me! Shu Ru mistook me!"
When Liu Bang came back from the corridor, Bo Ji quickly helped him check his wounds and bandage them. Liu Bang frowned and cursed.
What a clever plan, why does Chu Ying seem to have taken the wrong medicine?
"Father, you obviously came up with this plan, why should you blame others?" Liu Ying said disdainfully.
"What's wrong with me? Don't they know how to stop me? How could such a clever plan be implemented like this? It's naturally their fault! Isn't it still my fault?"
Liu Ying rolled her eyes, "You are truly worthy of being a king! Forever holy!"
Liu Bang hummed helplessly: "Stop talking nonsense, go ask Mr. Zifang and Chen Ping quickly. If they don't do anything, you can ascend the throne in advance."
Liu Ying took a deep breath and said, "Father, I have already asked. Master thinks this method is effective."
"Then why is it still like this?"
"We underestimated Fan Zeng's position in Xiang Yu's heart!"
Liu Bang frowned and quickly waved his hand to ask Bo Ji to step back. Then he whispered, "Ying, do you have any ideas?"
Liu Ying nodded, but then shook her head.
Although there is a strategy, the effect is hard to say...
In the Chu camp, they attacked the city and corridors for days and lost more than 3,000 people. Xiang Yu couldn't help but feel agitated. Even Yu Ji's gentle singing voice couldn't calm his mood.
Xiang Yu came out, Xiang Yu looked in the direction of Xingyang, and said with a ferocious face: "Liu Ji, Liu Ji, I am afraid, aren't you afraid? I don't believe it! I don't believe there is someone more brave and fearless than me in this world! I don't believe it!"
At this moment, someone suddenly tipped off and a carefully crafted secret letter arrived.
Xiang Yu quickly took it, and it was sent by the loyal pangolin.
"Of the generals under the command of the King of Han, Han Xin was determined to be self-reliant and was planning to use troops against the Zhao Dynasty to seize all the land of the Three Jin Dynasties and make him king. Cao Shen and others, relying on their merits, also wanted to be crowned kings. Xiao He raised his sights in Guanzhong, but from time to time he cut down on food and grass... …”
Xiang Yu looked at it with a smile on his lips, and his annoyance disappeared.
