In the long history of China, the story of Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu, has always been a topic of conversation. His bravery and invincibility in the world have made a legendary life. However, on the edge of the Wujiang River, this invincible overlord chose to kill himself instead of fleeing east across the river. For many years, people have believed that Xiang Yu gave up hope of life because he had no face to face Jiangdong's father. But is the truth of history really that simple?
In recent years, with the continuous excavation of historical materials and the deepening of research, scholars have a new interpretation of Xiang Yu's behavior along the Wujiang River. They believe that Xiang Yu's statement that he has no shame may actually be an ingenious lie. So, what shocking secret did Xiang Yu discover? Why would he rather die than cross the river to survive? How did this secret change our perception of Xiang Yu and that era?
In 209 BC, the first year of Qin II, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up, setting off a magnificent prelude to the fall of the Great Qin Empire. In this nationwide anti-Qin wave, a young man named Xiang Yu stood out and quickly rose to become the core figure of the anti-Qin coalition with his extraordinary military talent and outstanding leadership.
Xiang Yu was born in a famous family and is the grandson of Xiang Yan, a famous general of Chu State. He was well educated since childhood, but he was not interested in traditional reading and literacy. Xiang Yu once said to his uncle Xiang Liang: "Books are enough to remember names and surnames." This sentence fully demonstrates Xiang Yu's character traits. He is more enthusiastic about learning the art of war and tactics, and aspires to become a general who can "fight against 10,000 people".
After Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising, Xiang Yu followed his uncle Xiang Liang to participate in the anti-Qin cause. At first, Xiang Yu was just an ordinary soldier, but he was soon put to good use for his bravery and talent. In the Battle of Julu, Xiang Yu led the Chu army to break the main force of the Qin army, laying the foundation for the victory of the anti-Qin coalition army in one fell swoop. This battle not only demonstrated Xiang Yu's extraordinary military prowess, but also made him famous among the princes.
In 206 BC, Xiang Yu led his army into Xianyang, completely ending the rule of the Qin Dynasty. At this historic moment, Xiang Yu made a jaw-dropping decision: he rejected the opportunity to become the new emperor, and instead chose to divide the princes and establish the feudal system of "twenty kings". This decision reflects Xiang Yu's unique view of power, and he seems to be more inclined to be an "overlord" than an emperor.
However, Xiang Yu's sub-sealing plan was not recognized by everyone. In particular, he divided the Guanzhong region to three Qin generals, and sealed Liu Bang to the remote Bashu, which caused a lot of dissatisfaction. Liu Bang took the opportunity to unite with other princes and launched a war against Xiang Yu, which is known in history as "Chu and Han Fighting".
In the early days of the Chu-Han rivalry, Xiang Yu still maintained a strong advantage. In the Battle of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu defeated Liu Bang's army of 560,000 with 30,000 elite soldiers, creating a military miracle of winning more with less. This victory fully demonstrated Xiang Yu's military talent and personal charisma, and also brought his self-confidence to a peak.
However, Xiang Yu's brilliance did not last long. With Han Xin's defection to Liu Bang, the situation began to reverse. Han Xin's addition not only brought Liu Bang a strong military force, but more importantly, advanced strategic thinking. Under the command of Han Xin, the Han army gradually gained the upper hand, and Xiang Yu's advantage gradually disappeared.
In 203 BC, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang made a peace treaty in the chasm, using the chasm as the boundary and dividing the world into the middle. This seems to be a compromise that both parties can accept, but in fact, it has laid a hidden danger for Xiang Yu. Because Liu Bang did not plan to abide by the agreement, he quickly tore up the covenant and launched a full-scale attack on Xiang Yu.
In the face of Liu Bang's treachery, Xiang Yu was a little caught off guard. He originally thought that with his strength and prestige, he could coexist peacefully with Liu Bang. However, reality dealt him a heavy blow. Xiang Yu began to realize that in this new era, force alone is no longer enough to determine victory or defeat, and more political wisdom and strategic vision are needed.
As the battle situation continued to deteriorate, Xiang Yu's situation became more and more difficult. One by one, his former allies betrayed, and his former subordinates surrendered one after another. Even so, Xiang Yu still did not give up hope. He constantly adjusts his strategy in an attempt to turn the tide. However, fate seems to have stopped favoring the former overlord.
In the winter of 202 BC, the struggle between Chu and Han entered the final decisive stage. Liu Bang, aided by his advisor Zhang Liang and military genius Han Xin, adopted a series of elaborate strategies to besiege Xiang Yu and his remnants in the northwest of present-day Lingbi County, Anhui Province. This decisive battle, known as the "Battle of Xiaxia" by later generations, became a turning point in Xiang Yu's fate.
Liu Bang's siege strategy can be described as step-by-step, interlocking. First, he mobilized the forces of the princes of the Eight Directions to form a huge encirclement. According to the "Historical Records", the total strength of the Han army was as high as more than 400,000, and there were less than 100,000 left under Xiang Yu. This disparity in strength made Xiang Yu's situation more and more difficult.
Secondly, Liu Bang adopted the strategy of "besieging but not attacking". He was not in a hurry to launch a full-scale attack, but patiently waited for Xiang Yu's army to run out of food. This attrition tactic made full use of the advantages of the Han army, while also avoiding the possible losses caused by a head-to-head confrontation with Xiang Yu.
What's even more ingenious is that Liu Bang also sent people to sing Chu songs around the Chu army, which is the famous "embattled" strategy. This move not only shook the military spirit of the Chu army, but also gave Xiang Yu the illusion of being abandoned by his hometown, which greatly damaged his morale.
In the face of such a grim situation, Xiang Yu did not sit still. He developed a bold breakout plan. Xiang Yu knows that only by breaking the encirclement can he have a chance to regroup. He decided to lead the elite cavalry and break through at night.
Xiang Yu's breakthrough plan can be called exquisite. First of all, he ordered the whole army to hold a grand banquet at night and sing loudly in order to paralyze the vigilance of the Han army. Secondly, he chose the southwestern direction, where the Han army had the weakest defense, as the breakthrough point. In the end, he personally led 800 elite cavalry and distributed a breakthrough at dawn.
The process of breaking through is thrilling. Xiang Yu, with his superhuman martial arts and courage, fought his way through the encirclement of the Han army. According to the "Historical Records", Xiang Yu defeated several Han troops in a row during the breakthrough process, and his bravery is amazing.
However, after the breakthrough was successful, Xiang Yu found that there were only a few dozen horsemen left around him. Most of the soldiers who broke through with him were killed or separated in the fierce battle. This result not only shows Xiang Yu's personal bravery, but also reflects his shortcomings in organization and command as a commander.
It is worth noting that during the breakout, a widely circulated hiccup took place. It is said that when Xiang Yu broke out of the siege, he encountered a Han army general who wanted to intercept him. Xiang Yu shouted, and the general was so frightened that he abandoned his horse and fled. Although this story is difficult to verify, it vividly shows the image of Xiang Yu in the minds of the enemies at that time.
After breaking through, Xiang Yu did not immediately flee. He wandered for some time in the nearby mountains and forests, trying to find and rally the scattered Chu army. However, the general trend has turned, and the soldiers who once swore to follow him either died on the battlefield or surrendered to the Han army.
During this time, Xiang Yu also did something that was praised by future generations. He gave his beloved horse, Uhu, to a loyal subordinate and told him to flee on horseback. Xiang Yu explained: "The black horse can travel thousands of miles in a day, and if you ride it and escape, you will definitely be able to survive." This move not only reflects Xiang Yu's benevolence, but also shows that he has prepared for the worst.
In this way, Xiang Yu took the remaining dozens of cronies and began his journey to the east. His goal is to cross the Wujiang River and return to his hometown Jiangdong. However, fate seems to have already arranged for the former overlord. On the way to escape, Xiang Yu will face a major choice, which is not only related to his personal life and death, but also will affect the evaluation of him by future generations.
After Xiang Yu broke through from the siege, he fled east with the few dozen remaining cronies. This escape road is not only full of dangers, but also a special experience for Xiang Yu to understand the world and human nature. During this journey, Xiang Yu encounters a series of events that profoundly affect his way of thinking and final decisions.
On the first day of their escape, Xiang Yu and his entourage arrived in a remote village. Hungry, they decided to ask the villagers for help. Xiang Yu sent an entourage to investigate, hoping to get some food and a chance to rest. However, when the retinue returned, it brought surprising news.
The villagers were extremely enthusiastic, not only providing sumptuous food, but also offering to arrange accommodation for Xiang Yu and the others. This kind of enthusiasm should be comforting, but Xiang Yu smelled something unusual in it. He carefully inquired about the details of the entourage's conversations with the villagers, and found that the villagers were too friendly to the deserters, and showed unusual interest in Xiang Yu's whereabouts.
Xiang Yu immediately decided not to accept the kindness of the villagers, but to continue on his way. As it turned out, this decision saved their lives. It turned out that the village had been taken over by the Han army, and behind the enthusiasm of the villagers was an elaborate trap.
This experience made Xiang Yu realize that in troubled times, superficial kindness often hides danger. He began to be more cautious with everyone he met along the way, with every help.
On the third day of the escape, Xiang Yu and his party met an old farmer. The old farmer looked unpretentious and didn't seem to care about the arrival of Xiang Yu and the others. Xiang Yu decided to ask him about the nearby terrain and the best route to Jiangdong.
The old farmer enthusiastically pointed out a "shortcut" for Xiang Yu, claiming that this path would allow them to reach their destination more quickly while avoiding the pursuit of the Han army. Xiang Yu expressed his gratitude to the old farmer for his enthusiastic help and was preparing to move forward according to his guidance.
However, at this moment, an entourage questioned it. He noticed that the terrain described by the old farmer was somewhat different from what they had known before. Xiang Yu immediately became alert and decided to ask the old farmer in detail again. Under the skillful interrogation, the old farmer finally showed his feet and admitted that he was instructed by the Han army to deliberately mislead Xiang Yu and others into the ambush circle.
This experience brought Xiang Yu an even greater shock. He realizes that even the most harmless, seemingly harmless ordinary people, can become the eyes and tools of the enemy. This gave Xiang Yu a deeper understanding of human nature, and also made him more vigilant about his surroundings.
On the fifth day of the escape, Xiang Yu and his party came to a small town. In order to replenish supplies, Xiang Yu decided to venture into the town. In a liquor store, they overheard some shocking news.
It turned out that the Han army had already begun to spread rumors that Xiang Yu had died in battle during the breakout. What is even more surprising is that some generals who were once loyal to Xiang Yu are now actively surrendering to the Han army in order to protect themselves. Among them even included some of Xiang Yu's cronies who were once convinced.
These news were like a bolt from the blue, making Xiang Yu realize that the situation was more serious than he imagined. Not only the sinister external environment, but also the unpredictability of people's hearts made him feel deep disappointment and despair.
During this journey of escape, Xiang Yu experienced a series of events that gave him a new understanding of the world and human nature. He discovers that in an existential situation, former allies can become enemies, seemingly well-intentioned help can be deadly traps, and the most ordinary people can become tools of the enemy.
These discoveries deeply affected Xiang Yu's inner world. He began to question his past beliefs, and began to think about what he could believe and who he could rely on in such a world full of betrayal and deception. This change in heart laid the groundwork for his later major decision by the Wujiang River.
After several days of arduous escape, Xiang Yu finally led the remnants of his cronies to the bank of the Wujiang River. The Wujiang River, a river that meanders and flows in Chudi, has become a watershed in Xiang Yu's fate at this moment. Standing on the riverside, Xiang Yu is faced with a major choice related to life and death.
The scene by the Wujiang River can be described as dramatic. When Xiang Yu rushed to the river, there happened to be an old fisherman who was preparing to cross the river by boat. The fisherman recognized Xiang Yu and offered to take him across the river. The fisherman said, "If the king crosses the Wujiang River, he can also gather the stragglers and regroup." The Jiangdong region is vast enough to achieve hegemony. "
These words undoubtedly gave Xiang Yu a glimmer of hope. Jiangdong is where Xiang Yu's foundation is located, where there are his relatives, old tribes, and familiar terrain advantages. If we can cross the river, there may be a possibility of a comeback. However, Xiang Yu did not immediately accept the fisherman's suggestion.
At this time, the pursuers of the Han army had also arrived. They lined up not far from the riverbank, ready to attack at any moment. Xiang Yu looked back and saw a black Han army, their banners hunting in the wind, and their swords and guns flashing with cold light. This sense of oppression undoubtedly increased Xiang Yu's decision-making burden.
At this critical juncture, several of Xiang Yu's cronies also expressed their opinions. Some people were in favor of crossing the river, believing that as long as they returned to Jiangdong, they would be able to regather their troops and horses and deal with the Han army. Some people also suggested that it was better to take advantage of the cover of night and go up the river to look for other opportunities. Some people even suggested that it was better to surrender to the Han army in order to save their lives.
Faced with these different opinions, Xiang Yu fell into deep thought. His gaze wandered back and forth between the rolling waters of the Wujiang River and the Han army behind him. At this moment, Xiang Yu not only has to make a choice for his life and death, but also has to draw an end to the ending of the dispute between Chu and Han.
Just as everyone was waiting with bated breath for Xiang Yu's decision, an unexpected episode broke the tense atmosphere. A Han soldier suddenly rushed to the front line and shouted: "Xiang Yu, do you remember how you treated the prisoners of our Han army during the Battle of Qixia back then? This sentence was like a sharp blade, stabbing Xiang Yu's heart.
Xiang Yu remembered that in the Battle of Qixia, he had indeed ordered the execution of a group of Han prisoners. At the time, he thought it was a necessary means of war, but now it seems that this decision may have become a reason why he could not turn back.
This episode made Xiang Yu realize that even if he crossed the Wujiang River and returned to Jiangdong, it would be difficult to get rid of the shadow of the past. The relatives of the soldiers of the Han army who were killed by him, and the people who lost their homes because of him, may become an obstacle to his comeback.
At the same time, Xiang Yu also recalled the various encounters on the way to escape during this time. Those betrayals, deceptions, and ruthlessness made him deeply suspicious of rebuilding trust and rallying strength. He began to wonder if even if he returned to Koto, would he still be able to find truly loyal followers? Will it be possible to regain the glory of the past?
At this critical moment, Xiang Yu remembered his beloved concubine Yu Ji. When breaking through under the wall, in order not to drag Xiang Yu down, Yu Ji chose to kill herself. Yu Ji's loyalty and sacrifice were in stark contrast to the hot and cold world Xiang Yu saw on the way to escape. This may have also affected Xiang Yu's final decision.
After some careful consideration, Xiang Yu finally made his choice. He turned to the old fisherman and uttered the words that have been passed down through the ages: "I can't bear to cross the river." There are 8,000 children in Jiangdong, and they are all buried here today, can Jiangdong's fathers reply to me? "
This sentence not only expresses Xiang Yu's guilt about the past, but also reflects his thinking about the future. He chose not to cross the river, not because of cowardice, but because he realized that even if he fled back to Jiangdong, it would be difficult to rebuild the trust and prestige of the past.
Xiang Yu's decision is not only a choice of his own fate, but also a response to the entire era. It marked the substantial end of the struggle between Chu and Han, and also drew a tragic and philosophical end to Xiang Yu's life.
Xiang Yu's choice by the Wujiang River not only ended his personal life, but also drew an end to the struggle between Chu and Han. This historic event had far-reaching consequences at the time and for generations to come, and its significance went far beyond the fall of a hero.
First of all, Xiang Yu's death marked the complete end of the Chu-Han rivalry at the end of the Qin Dynasty. Since the fall of the Qin Dynasty, a large number of heroes have risen in China, among which the two major forces of Chu and Han are the most prominent. The battle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang lasted for many years, and the two sides came and went, and they were evenly matched. However, with Xiang Yu's self-slaughter by the Wujiang River, this protracted battle finally settled. The rule of the Han Dynasty was thus established, and a new page in Chinese history was opened.
After Xiang Yu's death, Liu Bang quickly unified the country. However, Liu Bang did not despise Xiang Yu because of this. On the contrary, he showed considerable respect for Xiang Yu. According to historical records, when Liu Bang learned of Xiang Yu's death, he couldn't help but sigh. He commented on Xiang Yu and said: "I fought with Yu, fifty-six, and won one of them, but Yu died." The world is unknown. These words not only reflect Liu Bang's recognition of Xiang Yu's ability, but also reflect his deep understanding of historical changes.
Xiang Yu's death also caused widespread repercussions among the people. Many people feel sorry for Xiang Yu's bravery and tragedy. In Xuzhou, Jiangsu, people built the tomb of Xiang Yu to commemorate Xiang Yu. Every year, many people come to pay their respects to this hero. This phenomenon has lasted for hundreds of years, and even continues to this day, reflecting the lofty status that Xiang Yu enjoys among the people.
From a political point of view, Xiang Yu's death provided a profound lesson for later rulers. Xiang Yu was powerful at first, but in the end, he ended up like this, and the political wisdom contained in it triggered in-depth thinking by future generations. For example, Dong Zhongshu, a minister during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, used Xiang Yu as an example to discuss the way to govern the country. He believes that the reason why Xiang Yu failed was because he was "willful and not virtuous", that is, he relied too much on force and ignored benevolence. This view had a profound impact on the political thinking of later generations.
At the military level, Xiang Yu's last battle also left valuable experience for future generations. Although Xiang Yu finally chose to kill himself, his breakthrough action in the siege of Qixia was still regarded as a classic example by later generations of military experts. Li Jing, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, once praised Xiang Yu's spirit of "dying without regret" in "Ode to the Heroes of Lingyan Pavilion". This indomitable fighting spirit has become an example for later generations of soldiers to follow.
Xiang Yu's death had an equally profound impact on literature and art. His tragic ending has become the creative material of countless literati and writers. Since the Han Dynasty, there have been a large number of poems describing Xiang Yu's deeds. For example, the Han Dynasty's "Song of the Fall", the Tang Dynasty Li Bai's "Wujiang Pavilion", the Song Dynasty Xin Qiji's "Breaking the Array, Giving Strong Words to Chen Tongfu to Send It", etc., all took Xiang Yu as the theme and created a well-known masterpiece. These works not only enrich the content of Chinese literature, but also deepen people's understanding of history.
On a philosophical level, Xiang Yu's ending provokes deep thinking about fate and heroism. His life was full of ups and downs, from the ups and downs to the final suicide, reflecting the impermanence of fate. This dramatic trajectory of life provided rich material for later philosophers to think about. For example, the Song Dynasty philosopher Zhou Dunyi once used Xiang Yu as an example to discuss the view that "heaven is blessed with good and evil and fornication".
Xiang Yu's death also had an impact on the political system of later generations. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, it learned the lessons of the turmoil at the end of the Qin Dynasty and implemented a series of reform measures. For example, the "rule of Huang Lao" implemented in the early Han Dynasty was to alleviate social contradictions and avoid the recurrence of rebellions like Xiang Yu. To a large extent, this policy orientation is a summary of the historical lessons of the Chu-Han struggle.
In general, Xiang Yu's death is not only the end of a hero, but also the end of an era. It marks the beginning of China's history from the unification of the Qin Dynasty, through a turbulent period of separation, to a new unification. This historical event has had a profound impact on many fields such as politics, military affairs, and culture, and has become an important node in the interpretation of ancient Chinese history.