After the rebels entered the city, everyone hurried to the top of the city to meet Cao Shen's family. Fortunately, his family members were all intact, and Cao Shen was very happy. Liu Ji then led everyone to the Peixian government office, and then ordered the release of all prisoners, posted notices to calm the people, and reorganized the Qin army. On the same day, three old heroes were summoned to discuss important matters. The talented people in Peixian County spoke one after another: "A country cannot be without a king for a day, and a city cannot be without an owner for a day. Now the world is in chaos, and heroes have risen together. If the leader has no reputation, The cause of anti-Qin will not succeed. Liu Tingzhang has a great reputation and should be the parent official of Peixian County, and then lead everyone to fight against Qin." After hearing this, Liu Ji firmly refused and said: "No, no, I am just a Sishui Ting. How can a small pavilion chief in our country have such a big responsibility?" Xiao He said seriously: "Although Ting Chang Liu is only a pavilion chief in Qin State, he is well-known in Surabaya in Enbu Township, he is generous and kind, and has the demeanor of an elder. He can lead us to raise troops!" Liu Jidao said: "Now is the time of trouble. If the leader has no brains, it will be difficult to achieve great success. I, Liu Jicai, have little virtue, how can I take on the important task of leader?" He firmly refused and refused to accept it. Everyone is so bored.
That night, Xiao He led all the brothers to invite Liu Ji to the Bajiao Pavilion in the back garden of the county house for drinking. Everyone came to the pavilion and sat down. When Liu Ji saw the scenery, he suddenly remembered that his father-in-law met and gave him a daughter, so he said to everyone: "It was in this small pavilion that my father-in-law betrothed Lu Pheasant to me." Xiao He Then he said: "Lv Gong knows people very well. He knows that you are not an ordinary person. Now your act of righteousness is of great importance. Please don't let him down!" Liu Ji said with a smile: "That was the one-sided statement of my father-in-law, not What ability do I have? I think Mr. Xiao has a reputation far and wide and is supported by the people. It is very suitable for him to serve as Peiling. It is better to ask you to be our leader!" Xiao He said: "This is wrong. I, Xiao He, am just a literary scholar. Officer, it’s okay to help you think of ideas, but how can I be the commander-in-chief of the army? Commanders have been heroes since ancient times! The so-called heroes have the ambition to embrace the universe and breathe in the energy of heaven and earth. I have long seen that Liu Tingchang is not an ordinary person. He is indeed a hero. A hero should take advantage of the moment and act according to the opportunity, and you happen to have a group of loyal people under your command. As the saying goes, 'the stars surround the moon, and the sea embraces all rivers.' As long as we start from now on, we advocate the way of Tang and Wu , set up the banner of benevolence, re-establish the army of justice, and aim at the aspirations of the people. Nothing is impossible! The right way is held high by a swan, and it relies on its wings. And now that you are leading this group of brothers, you are our support. Therefore, as long as you lead the people and attack with a sonorous voice, great things will surely succeed!"
As soon as Xiao He finished speaking, everyone said in unison: "What Mr. Xiao said is absolutely true. Please take this important task as Pavilion Chief Liu!" Liu Ji then looked at everyone affectionately, cupped his hands and said: "Brothers, please listen to me. , now is the time of chaos, I am not afraid of death. If the uprising fails, everyone will be pissed off because of me. Even if I die, I, Liu Ji, can't do anything to everyone!" Xiao He said: "Since ancient times, who has done great things without death? But as long as you accept your loyal advice, pool your wisdom, put people first, put the people first, and save the common people with the belief of suffering on behalf of the people and punishing the people for their crimes, we will be able to conquer all cities and forts. Moreover, Chief Liu Ting He is a generous man, and his virtues have spread all over the countryside. After today's incident, he will definitely go to war and make great achievements. Please stop refusing, please accept everyone's support quickly, otherwise you will colden everyone's hearts!" Liu Ji pondered for a long time! , still said: "This matter needs to be discussed in the long term." Everyone had to disperse in disappointment.
The next day, Xiao He once again led the crowd to visit Liu Ji, and everyone unanimously insisted that Liu Ji serve as Peiling. Liu Ji still said: "Revolting against Qin is a very important matter. I hope everyone will treat it with caution, otherwise it will be a complete defeat!" The three elders said together: "We heard that there are many weird things behind the pavilion chief. These are all What a good omen! As the commander-in-chief, great things will definitely succeed. Please don't refuse again!" Liu Ji said with a smile: "What weird things are all nonsense, I don't believe it!" After that, he turned and left. When everyone saw that Liu Ji refused to agree, they asked Xiao He what to do. Xiao He was pacing back and forth, and suddenly he had a plan in his mind and said: "I have a way, it depends on heaven!" Everyone hurriedly asked what the way was. Xiao He said: "Invite the best diviners in the city and do a divination in public to see who is the most suitable person to serve as the county magistrate?" Cao Shen was about to speak when Xiao He gave him a look, and Cao Shen understood what it meant. .
Xiao He then sent people to the street to ask for fortune-telling. The person sent explained Xiao He's intention first, and after understanding it, the diviner came to the Peixian Hall. Xiao He and others invited Liu Ji again and asked the diviner to divine in public. After the divination, the diviner said: "It is most auspicious for Liu Tingzhang to take the lead." Xiao He then confidently said: "Liu Tingzhang, God's will is like this, do you still want to refuse?" Liu Ji couldn't shirk anymore this time, so he could only agree. down. Everyone then laughed happily.
At that time, Fan Kuai pushed Liu Ji to sit down in the lobby, and then said: "Now that my brother has served as the magistrate of Peixian County, we should pay homage!" So he took the lead and knelt down, and everyone followed Fan Kuai in doing so. Xiao He said loudly: "From now on, we are willing to obey County Magistrate Liu's orders, work together in the same boat, and go through hardships and dangers together, even if we go through fire and water, we will do it!" Everyone repeated what they just said, and the loud and high tenor voice was in Pei's voice. The county hall rang like a bell, and the sound seemed like a buzzing funeral knell to bury the Qin Empire. According to the custom of Chu people, the county magistrate is called the county magistrate, and also called the public, so people respectfully call Liu Ji "Pei Gong". The title "Pei Gong" became synonymous with Liu Ji and became famous everywhere. From then on, Liu Ji served as the leader of the Feng and Pei uprisings at the age of 48.
After Liu Ji became the Duke of Pei, he named Xiao He the county magistrate and Cao Shen the county lieutenant. They were both civil and military, just like the assistant on the left and the bi on the right. Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo, and Ji Xin were appointed as generals and followed him with the post of Shiren. Xia Houying was the servant and was in charge of the fleet and cavalry. He appointed Ao as censor and supervised all officials. Pei Gong gave the newly recruited sergeants to Cao Shen and others to be responsible for training, and the rest were assigned positions according to their abilities. The color of military flags and military uniforms is also set to red, mainly because the south in Bagua belongs to fire and the west belongs to gold. Fire can overcome metal, that is, the Chu people in the south can destroy the Qin people in the west. This also corresponds to the rumor that Liu Ji killed the snake, the Red Emperor's son killed the White Emperor, that is, Liu Ji is the incarnation of the Red Emperor's son, so red is designated as Advocate color.
Pei Gong also selected a day to hold a large-scale public sacrifice in the government hall, and at the same time vowed to revolt. The object of sacrifice is Chi You, because Chi You is the god of the south, known as the God of War, and is in charge of the heaven and earth in the south, so he must be worshiped first. On the day of the swearing-in, Pei Gong, wearing a red war robe and a bamboo skin crown woven by himself, came down to the palace surrounded by people. Xiao He, Cao Shen, Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo, Xia Houying, Ji Xin and others followed closely behind him. . Two red banners have been erected in the hall. One side has the character "Chu" written on it, and the other side has the character "Liu" written on it, which means that this team is the Chu army led by Liu Ji. There is a large rectangular sacrificial table under the banner, with a portrait of Chi You placed on it. Live cattle and sheep are displayed in front, as well as sacrifices and utensils such as grains, round tripods, and square statues. There are also bands on both sides. After the sacrifice began, the music started playing together, and the musicians played the ancient music "Da Wu". The sound was rich, loud, rough and bold, and it was extremely inspiring. Pei Gong killed the animals and took their blood in front of the altar. He first sacrificed flags and drums, then burned incense to worship Chi You, and then said loudly:
I, Liu Ji, was just a pavilion chief, escorting three hundred warriors to Xianyang. However, when I reached Daze, Fengxi, I found someone fleeing. I caught the fleeing man at that time, and according to Qin law, I wanted to behead him, but I couldn't do it! Because they were all forcibly convicted, they actually committed no crime. I saw the prisoners howling with hunger, crying, and miserable, so I let them go privately. At that time, some people asked me what I should do, so I told them that I would also fly away from now on. why? Just to avoid being caught by the government! Some people also said that Mangdang Mountain is a good place, so we headed there. But before they had gone far, they encountered a big python blocking the way. I was so angry that I mistook the big python for the cruel Qin State, so I cut it into two pieces with the help of wine. From then on, we walked to Mangdang Mountain to avoid disaster.
In the years that followed, whenever I thought that all of you brothers were fugitives and bandits, I couldn't help but feel filled with emotion. When would we be able to make a difference? Later, the opportunity finally came. Chen Wangsheng was really a born rebel. He was not afraid of danger, stood up, and launched a mutiny in Daze Township that shocked the world. For a time, the situation was turbulent, and heroes from all over the world gathered to respond. What is deplorable is that the Qin State has already dispatched tiger and wolf warriors. Their rebel army has defeated Hangu Pass, and its decrees have spread all over the world. In this critical moment, if we do not raise troops today and do not take action tomorrow, we will sit and wait for the killing and annihilation of Qin. After today's incident, all the heroes and elders mistakenly believed that I, Liu Ji, was not an ordinary person, so they just put the burden of resisting Qin on my shoulders. This made me go beyond my duty and reluctantly take charge of military affairs. Although I don't have the talents of Yi Yin and Lu Wang, I still have the ambition of Shang Tang and King Wu! Now that the world is in chaos, I have no choice but to accept your trust and rectify the rebel army, and then go to the front line to fight against Qin!
At the beginning of this, I solemnly swear to the wise ancient wise king: Today, I will lead all my colleagues and lofty ideals to destroy the cruel Qin State! If I, Liu Ji, dare to have double-minded or unkind thoughts, then please ask Xianjun’s spirit in heaven to severely punish me! In the future, if any of your colleagues disobeys orders, please punish him severely! However, there are many unforeseen consequences when raising troops to rebel against Qin; it is difficult to start a business, and disasters often follow. I once again prayed to the high-altitude gods: They must be aware of everything. Whenever our generation encounters any disaster, it must protect us and save us from danger! Liu Ji bowed his head and bowed a hundred times, thus discreetly informing him. "
After Pei Gong said the oath, he led everyone to pick up the blood wine and drink it all in one gulp. The public sacrifice and oath-taking ceremony ended here. Suddenly someone said loudly: "It is indeed an honor for Pei people to have such an ambitious son-in-law!" Everyone turned around and saw that it was Lu Gong, Pei Gong's father-in-law. Lu Gong said to Liu Jida: "Now that everyone has elected a good son-in-law to be the county magistrate, I am the first to congratulate you! But since ancient times, great things need to be united as one. Why don't you seven leaders become brothers? As the saying goes, 'Everyone has one heart' , Loess turns into gold!'" As soon as Lu Gong finished speaking, everyone said happily: "What Mr. Lu said is absolutely true, we should sworn sworn brothers." They burned incense and made sworn vows. According to their age, Liu Ji is the oldest and becomes the eldest brother, followed by Xiao He, followed by Cao Shen, Ji Xin, Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo, Xia Houying and Ren Ao. Lu Gong said to Pei Gong again: "My good son-in-law did not have a formal name before. I will give you a name now. I wish you success in your career." Liu Jixi said: "Please give me a name from my father-in-law." Lu Gong said: "You will be called Liu Bang. , Liu Bang is homophonic to Liu Bang, which means Six Kingdoms. I hope that my virtuous son-in-law will not forget the sufferings of the people of the Six Kingdoms, and will do something for them to eliminate violence and bring peace to the people in the future, and his name will go down in history!" Pei Gong was very happy, and he quickly thanked his father-in-law for the gift. Due to the grace of his name, Liu Ji had a formal name - Liu Bang from then on.
The next day, all the young men in Peixian County bravely joined the rebel army. Peng Zu, Cao Wushang, Sun Chi, Leng Er, Feng Wuze, Xu Li and others all joined the army at this time. The one who gave Lu Pheasant a horse Shanfusheng also came. Pei Gong was very happy and met everyone one by one. After the troops gathered together, Pei Gong summoned everyone and said: "Brothers, once we raise troops, we must act according to the rules. Are you willing to obey my order?" Everyone said together: "We are willing to obey Pei Gong's order. From now on, we will go through fire and water. Don't hesitate!" Pei Gong was very happy, so he arranged tasks for everyone, and then stepped up their training.
In the following time, children from neighboring villages came to Pei County in an endless stream to join the army. Red flags were waved everywhere in the city, and the swords and halberds were bright, showing a lively atmosphere. Every day on the school grounds, you can see Cao Shen wielding a sword and Fan Kuai wielding a yue, and everyone would practice together. Blacksmiths all over the city are working day and night to build weapons and purchase armor. Everyone is high-spirited and full of fighting spirit. People at that time called Liu Ji, Xiao He, Cao Shen, Ji Xin, Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo, Xia Houying and Ren Ao the "Eight Heroes of Peixian County". There is a poem that says:
There are few west winds and moonlight shadows, and the wine in the high hall is very strange.
The Eight Talents will be prosperous, and all lanes will be blessed with grace.
Fan Li conspired with Wu to end the feud, and Xiao He assisted the Han Dynasty to establish its foundation.
Winning people has been a glorious career since ancient times. How can the king's affairs be discussed in the period of time?
