What kind of person is Liu Bang?

What kind of person is Liu Bang in history? Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Western Han Dynasty

Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Western Han Dynasty, was born in the fifty-ninth year of King Nan of Zhou (256 BC) and died in the 59th year of King Nan of Zhou Dynasty (256 BC). In the twelfth year (195 BC), he was born in Fengyi, Peijun County (now Fengxian County, Jiangsu Province). His courtesy name was Ji, and some said his nickname was Liu Ji. He is the third among four brothers. During the Peasant War at the end of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu made him the king of Han. Therefore, when he defeated Xiang Yu and established the country, the country was named "Han". Because the capital was Chang'an, in order to distinguish it from the "Han" where Liu Xiu later established his capital in Luoyang, it was historically called "Han". Western Han Dynasty".

1. A young "rascal" becomes a hero

He does not like reading or working

Liu Bang has a bold personality and does not like reading very much, but he is very tolerant to others. . He also didn't like working in the fields, so he was often scolded by his father as a "rogue", saying that he was not as good at business as his brother, but Liu Bang still went his own way. When Liu Bang grew up, he passed the examination and became the pavilion chief of Surabaya. Over time, he became familiar with the officials in the county and became well-known in the local area.

Liu Bang has a big heart. On the way to send the serving people to Xianyang, he encountered Qin Shihuang's troops on patrol. Looking from a distance, Qin Shihuang was sitting in a beautifully decorated car with majesty and envy. He blurted out: "A real man should be like this!"

Married to Lu

Liu Bang's wife was Lu Gong's daughter, Lu Gong did not live in Pei County. , and later became enemies with people in his hometown, so he came to Peixian County with his family, because the then magistrate of Peixian County was a good friend of him. When he first arrived in Peixian County, many people heard about his relationship with the county magistrate, so people came to visit him and engage in flirting and flirting. Liu Bang heard about it and went to join in the fun. The person who hosted the guests at that time was Xiao He, who was the county registrar in Pei County. He announced a rule: Anyone whose gift money is less than one thousand yuan will sit down in the hall. Liu Bang didn't care about this at all. Although he didn't bring any money with him, he said to the person in charge of delivering the message: "I will give you 10,000 yuan!"

Lü Gong heard about it and hurried out to greet him personally. . As soon as he saw Liu Bang's majestic and unusual appearance, he liked it very much and invited him to take a seat at the table. This time Liu Bang not only had a free meal, but after he was full of wine and food, Lu Gong graciously kept him and offered to marry his daughter to him. Liu Bang was eager to get married, and after obtaining the consent of his parents, he married Lu. This was the famous Empress Lu in history. Emperor Hui of Han was her and Liu Bang's son, and their other child was Princess Lu Yuan.

Use of superstition

There are many superstitious legends about Liu Bang and other emperors in historical records. Once, Empress Lu and her daughter were weeding in the field, and an old man passing by asked them for some money. She ordered some water to drink, and after drinking the water she said flatteringly that both of them looked like noble people. When the old man left and Liu Bang came back, Empress Lu told Liu Bang what the old man said just now. Liu Bang was very happy when he heard it. He quickly caught up with the old man and asked him to look at his face. The old man said that the reason why he said that his wife and daughter looked noble was because of him, and Liu Bang's appearance was beyond words. Liu Bang was very happy when he heard this. He thanked the old man and went back.

Later, Liu Bang was ordered to escort the prisoners to serve in Lishan Mountain, but many people had already escaped on the way. Liu Bang was helpless. When he walked to Daze in Fengyi County to rest, Liu Bang drank He drank some wine, then loosened the ropes on the prisoners and let them escape for their lives. But a dozen people were unwilling to leave him alone and expressed their willingness to follow him. Liu Bang led everyone to flee. The man who was responsible for clearing the road came back and told him that there was a big snake blocking the road ahead and it was impossible to pass. Liu Bang was a little drunk and scolded: "We brave men are walking on the road, there is nothing to be afraid of!" Separating the crowd, he went to the front and saw a snake lying in the middle of the road. He drew his sword and cut the snake in half. After walking for a while, Liu Bang felt dizzy, so he lay down on the side of the road to rest and wait for the people behind him. After a while, the people behind him caught up and told him that he saw an old lady crying by the roadside and asked her why. She said someone had killed his son. Asked why he was killed, she said that his son was the son of the White Emperor. He had just turned into a snake, but was killed by the Red Emperor's son on the roadside, so she was so sad.

At that time, everyone thought that the old lady was lying, but the old lady suddenly disappeared. Liu Bang was secretly happy when he heard about it, and he would use this to improve his prestige and status in the future.

After that, Liu Bang led his people to flee everywhere, but Queen Lu could find him every time. Liu Bang was very surprised and asked his wife why. Queen Lu said that there were often colorful clouds hanging around where he was hiding, so it was easy to find him. . Liu Bang later asked his subordinates to spread this rumor widely, and many people believed it and wanted to join him. In fact, these rumors were basically deliberately fabricated by the emperor after he established the country, in order to prove that he was different and kingly.

Due to these legends, Liu Bang's local prestige gradually increased, and more and more people followed him. He was called the hero of Peizhong by the locals.

Pei Gong raised troops

In 209 BC, the peasant uprising broke out in the late Qin Dynasty. After Chen Sheng and Wu Guang led the rebel army to capture Chen (now Huaiyang, Henan), Chen Sheng established "Zhang Chu" "The regime was in open conflict with the Qin Dynasty. At this time, the county magistrate of Peixian County also wanted to respond and continue to control the power of Peixian County. Xiao He and Cao Shen were the main officials under the county magistrate at the time. They persuaded the county magistrate to call back the exiled people in the county, so as to increase the number of people in exile. Strength can also prevent future troubles. The county magistrate thought it was reasonable, so he asked Liu Bang's brother-in-law Fan Kuai to find Liu Bang, and Liu Bang led his people back. The county magistrate here regretted it again, fearing that it would be difficult to control Liu Bang when he came back, and that he might be killed by Liu Bang, which was tantamount to luring a wolf into the house. Therefore, he ordered the city gate to be closed and prepared to arrest Xiao He and Cao Shen. Xiao He and Cao Shen heard the news and fled outside the city. Liu Bang shot the letter into the city, encouraging the people in the city to rise up and kill the renegade county magistrate, and everyone defended their hometown together. The people were very dissatisfied with the county magistrate who was usually not very considerate of them. After killing the magistrate, they opened the city gate to welcome Liu Bang and elected him as Pei Gong to lead everyone in the uprising. Liu Bang obeyed public opinion, set up an altar, claimed to be the son of the Red Emperor, and led the people to raise the banner of anti-Qin. This year is already September of the first year of Qin II, and Liu Bang is forty-eight years old.

2. Competition in the Central Plains and dominance

The demise of Qin

There was another powerful force in the peasant war at the end of Qin. This was the descendant of the original nobles of Chu. Xiang Yu and his uncle Xiang Liang raised an army in Wuzhong (now Wuxian County, Jiangsu), and their strength soon reached nearly 10,000. At the same time, the descendants of other nobles from the six countries who were destroyed by Qin also raised armies and joined the ranks of destroying Qin.

After Chen Sheng was killed by the coachman Zhuang Jia, Xiang Liang supported King Chu Huai’s grandson Xin as King of Chu and made his capital Xuyi (now Xuyi, Jiangsu). Later, he and the Qin army led by Zhang Han The army launched fierce battles and won several victories at first. As a result, Xiang Liang became more arrogant and arrogant and could not listen to what others said. As a result, he was attacked by Zhang Han who had received reinforcements, and was defeated and killed. After Xiang Liang's death, Zhang Han felt that Chu would no longer pose a big threat, so he turned his main energy to Zhao. Zhao State was attacked and asked Chu State for help. After discussing with the generals, the King of Chu decided to divide his troops into two groups to reinforce Zhao State. One group was led by Song Yi and Xiang Yu to the north for direct rescue, while the other group was led by Liu Bang and headed west to Guanzhong to contain the Qin army and coordinate reinforcements from the north. The King of Chu and his generals made an agreement: Whoever enters Dingguan first will be the king of the world. But no one had much hope in becoming king, because the Qin army was still very powerful at that time, and the generals were unwilling to take the risk of marching westward to fight the Qin army. In order to avenge his uncle, Xiang Yu asked to go west to Guanzhong with Liu Bang, but everyone was unanimously opposed. Everyone felt that Xiang Yu was much crueler than Liu Bang, and he was young and inexperienced, while Liu Bang was an elder, generous, kind, and more prestigious. Therefore, it was finally decided to let Liu Bang lead the troops westward to Guanzhong.

In the beginning, Liu Bang did not go well, but after several battles, Liu Bang advanced westward step by step, and finally reached Bashang (now east of Xi'an) not far east of Xianyang. Prince Qin Seeing that the situation was over, Ying had no choice but to surrender the city and hand over the jade seal to Liu Bang. The Qin Dynasty was thus destroyed.

Based in Guanzhong

Liu Bang entered Xianyang City proudly and regarded himself as the "King of Guanzhong". Looking at the magnificent palace, Liu Bang became a little nostalgic and prepared to stay and enjoy it. His brother-in-law Fan Kuai advised him to pay attention to the fact that the world was not yet peaceful and not to forget Qin's mistakes.

Xiang Yu is eager to fight Liu Bang decisively, because a protracted war is not good for him: Liu Bang's food supply is smooth, but his food supply is often attacked by Peng Yue. In order to end the battle as soon as possible and force Liu Bang to surrender, Xiang Yu took Liu Bang's father, who had been captured, to the front of the two armies. He said to Liu Bang: "If you don't surrender, I will cook your father!"

Liu Bang knew that Xiang Yu was threatening him, so he simply acted like a rogue: "You and I were once 'brothers,' so my father is your father. If you must cook my father, then Please do it. But don't forget to leave a bowl of broth for me." Xiang Yu was so angry that he ordered Liu Bang's father to be killed on the spot. Xiang Bo next to him quickly advised: "General, it's hard to say who can win the world now. Besides, those who want to win the world don't care about the life and death of their families. Killing his relatives will not have any effect. On the contrary, it will increase the number of enemies on both sides." Hatred." After hearing this, Xiang Yu had no choice but to order people to take Liu Bang's father back.

Seeing that his plan failed, Xiang Yu came up with another plan. He asked Liu Bang to fight him alone. Liu Bang did not fall for his trick, but said: "You and I only compete with each other in wits, not courage." Then he scolded Xiang Yu for ten crimes: "First, you broke your promise and did not let me become the king of the world, but the king of Shuhan." Second, you killed the leader Song Yi and replaced him. Third, after you rescued Zhao, you marched into Guanzhong. Fourth, you burned the Afang Palace and enriched your own pocket. Fifth, you killed Prince Qin. Sixth, you killed the 200,000 surrendered soldiers of Qin. Seventh, you divided the princes and kings unfairly. Eighth, you drove Emperor Yi out of Pengcheng and took it as the capital. It is not fair in politics to kill your master with your ministers. Now I am leading the generals to kill you, a cruel traitor, so why should I have to fight with you alone?" After hearing this, Xiang Yu was so angry that he drew his bow and shot Liu Bang. Hit Liu Bang's chest.

The Chu and Han sides faced each other for more than ten months. Due to the support from Zhonghe and Shu, Liu Bang gradually gained the upper hand, while Xiang Yu lacked troops and food and grass, making it difficult to compete with the Han army. With the help of Duke Hou, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang made an armistice agreement: Chu and Han used the chasm (now the line between Xingyang, Zhongmu and Kaifeng in Henan) as the dividing line to divide the east and west. After the agreement was reached, Xiang Yu returned Liu Bang's father and wife.

The decisive battle at Gaixia

Xiang Yu led his troops back east, and Liu Bang also planned to lead his troops back to Guanzhong. Zhang Liang and Chen Ping tried their best to persuade Liu Bang to take the opportunity to kill Xiang Yu, because at this time, Xiang Yu's troops were out of food and food, and if he returned to Pengcheng, it would be like letting the tiger return to the mountain. After hearing this, Liu Bang quickly ordered the pursuit. At the same time, he sent people to order Han Xin and Peng Yue to gather quickly and attack Xiang Yu together.

In October 202 BC, Liu Bang caught up with Xiang Yu, but when they arrived at Guling (now Taikangxi, Henan), the armies of Han Xin and Peng Yue had not yet arrived. Xiang Yu violently counterattacked the Han army and defeated it. Liu Bang had no choice but to hold on and asked his adviser Zhang Liang if he had any good ideas. Zhang Liang said that if the land of Qi could be granted to Han Xin and the land of Peng Yueliang could be granted, then the two of them would definitely march into the army quickly. Liu Bang immediately sent people to promise Han Xin and Peng Yue that after defeating Xiang Yu, he would immediately grant them the title of King of Qi and King of Liang. Han Xin and Peng Yue soon received a reply: to march immediately. At the same time, Chu's Grand Sima Zhou Yin was also sent by Liu Bang to persuade him to surrender, and Huainan Wang Yingbu also came to join forces with his troops. The Han army gathered 300,000 reinforcements from all walks of life and fought against Xiang Yu at Gaixia. At night, the Han army besieging Xiang Yu sang the desolate song of Chu, making Xiang Yu think that the Han army had occupied all the Chu land. Desperate, Xiang Yu drank with his beloved Concubine Yu in the big tent. Taking advantage of the power of the wine, he sang: "Strengthen the mountain and the world is overwhelming, but the times are unfavorable and the glory will not fade away. What can be done if the glory does not fade away, what can be done if the glory is not dying!" "Yu Ji sang: "The Han soldiers have captured the territory, and the song of Chu is everywhere. The king is exhausted, how can I survive?" Yu Ji cried and committed suicide in front of Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu wiped away his tears. , Prancing Horse led eight hundred cavalry to break through the encirclement at night. The next morning, the Han army discovered that Xiang Yu had broken through, and Liu Bang ordered Guan Ying to lead his cavalry to pursue him quickly. After Xiang Yu crossed the Huaihe River, only a hundred people were left with him. When he arrived at Yinling (now northwest of Dingyuan, Anhui), he got lost and walked into the swamp. After coming out of Daze, Xiang Yu retreated eastward and was overtaken by Guan Ying's cavalry in Dongcheng (now southeast of Dingyuan, Anhui).

Xiang Yu only had twenty-eight followers. After three fierce battles with the Han army and killing hundreds of Han soldiers, Xiang Yu finally committed suicide with his sword. At this point, the Chu-Han War ended with Xiang Yu's defeat. Although Xiang Yu failed, he left behind rich literary materials for future generations. The drama "Farewell My Concubine" made people full of sympathy and admiration for this failed hero.

Proclaimed Emperor and Founded Han Dynasty

In the first month of 202 BC, Liu Bang fulfilled his previous promise and made Han Xin King of Chu and Peng Yue King of Yue. The ennobled Han Xin and Peng Yue, together with the original kings of Yan Zang Tu, Zhao Wang Zhang Ao and Changsha King Wu Rui, wrote to Liu Bang, asking him to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor. Liu Bang began to pretend to refuse, and Han Xin and others said: "Although the king was born in a poor family, he was able to lead the people to wipe out the violent Qin Dynasty, punish the unjust, and stabilize the world. His merits surpassed those of other kings. You are the emperor and you are expected by everyone." Liu Bang followed suit and said: " Since you all see it this way and think it is beneficial to the people of the world, then do as you say."

On the third day of February this year, Liu Bang held a grand summit ceremony in Sishuiyang, Dingtao, Shandong. , the country was named Han. At the same time, he named his wife Lu as the queen and his son Liu Ying as the prince.