Translation
Pei Gong (Liu Bang)’s army was stationed at Bashang and could not meet Xiang Yu. Liu Bang's left Sima Cao Wushang sent someone to tell Xiang Yu: "Liu Bang wants to occupy Guanzhong and become king. He will make Ziying his prime minister, and all the pearls and treasures owned by the prime minister will be his own." (Hearing this) said very angrily: "Tomorrow we will reward the soldiers with wine and meat to defeat Liu Bang's army." At this time, Xiang Yu's army numbered 400,000 and was stationed at Hongmen, Xinfeng County; Liu Bang's army numbered ten Thousands of people were stationed at Bashang. Fan Zeng advised Xiang Yu: "When Liu Bang was in Shandong, he was greedy for money and favored beautiful women. Now that he has entered Guanzhong, he doesn't need any money and doesn't get close to any women. This (shows) that his ambition is not small. I asked people to see him. The clouds there are all in the shape of dragons and tigers, and they become colorful. This is the cloud Qi of the emperor. (You) attack (him) quickly, don't miss the opportunity!"
Zuo Junxiang of Chu State. This person, Bo, is Xiang Yu's uncle. He is usually friendly with Liuhou Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang followed Liu Bang at this time. Xiang Bo rode a horse that night and rushed to Liu Bang's army. He met Zhang Liang privately and told Zhang Liang everything in detail. He wanted Zhang Liang to leave Liu Bang with him and said, "If you don't follow me, you will be killed." "Kill." Zhang Liang said: "I escort Pei Gong (into the pass) on behalf of the King of Han. Pei Gong is in danger now. It is unethical for (me) to run away. (I) have to tell (him)." Zhang Liang went in. , (tell the situation) to Liu Bang in detail. Liu Bang was shocked and said: "How to deal with this matter?" Zhang Liang said: "Who proposed this strategy for the king?" (Liu Bang) replied: "The ignorant people advised me: 'Guard Hangu Pass' , don't let the princes come in, you can be king of all the territory of Qin. "So (I) listened to his words." Zhang Liang said: "Is it estimated that the king's army can resist King Xiang's army?" He was silent (for a while) and said: "I am not as good as others, what will I do?" Zhang Liang said: "Please (let me) tell Uncle Xiang that Pei Gong does not dare to betray King Xiang." Liu Bang said: "How can you and Uncle Xiang Are we friends?" Zhang Liang said: "In the Qin Dynasty, Uncle Xiang and I were friends. Uncle Xiang killed someone and I saved him. Now there is an emergency, so it is fortunate that he came to tell me." Liu Bang said: "Who is older and younger in your age?" Zhang Liang said: "He is older than me." Liu Bang said: "Invite him in for me. I have to treat him with the courtesy I would treat an elder brother." Zhang Liang went out and invited Xiang Bo. Xiang Bo came in immediately to see Liu Bang. Liu Bang offered a glass of wine to bless Xiang Bo, (and) agreed to be his in-laws, and said: "When I entered Guanzhong, I did not dare to touch even the smallest property. The registration officials and the people sealed the treasury (where property was stored), so that Waiting for the general (arrival). So the reason for sending officers and soldiers to guard Hangu Pass is to guard against the entry and exit of other thieves and unexpected changes. How dare you rebel (to King Xiang!) ) explained in detail, I dare not be ungrateful." Xiang Bo agreed and said to Liu Bang: "You have to come early tomorrow to apologize to King Xiang." Liu Bang said, "Okay." So Xiang Bo left overnight. , returned to the (Xiang Yu) military camp and reported Liu Bang's words to King Xiang in detail. He took the opportunity and said, "How dare you come in if Liu Bang doesn't break through Guanzhong first? It's unkind to attack someone now (you) who has made great achievements. Why don't you take the opportunity to entertain him in a friendly way." King Xiang agreed.
Liu Bang led more than a hundred horses to see Xiang Yu the next day. When he arrived at Hongmen, he apologized and said: "The general and I worked together to attack Qin. The general fought to the north of the Yellow River. I fought to the south of the Yellow River. However, I did not expect that I would be able to enter the pass first and conquer the Qin State, and see the general here again. Now there are rumors about villains, which has created a gap between the general and me..." Xiang Yu said: "This is your Zuo Sima Cao Wu. Otherwise, how could I be like this?" Xiang Yu asked Liu Bang to drink with him that day. Xiang Yu and Xiang Bo sat facing the east; Yayou sat facing the south - Yafu was Fan Zeng; Liu Bang sat facing the north; Zhang Liang sat with them facing the west. Fan Zeng winked at Xiang Yu many times and raised the jade he was wearing to signal Xiang Yu many times, but Xiang Yu silently did not respond. Fan Zeng stood up, went out to summon Xiang Zhuang, and said to Xiang Zhuang: "The king is too soft-hearted to bear to do anything. You go in and propose a toast. After the toast, he asks for a sword dance to cheer him up, and knocks Liu Bang down on his seat." , kill him. Otherwise, you will all be captured by him!" Xiang Zhuang went in to toast. After the toast, he said: "The king is drinking with Pei Gong. There is nothing in the camp for entertainment. Please let me dance with my sword to entertain." Xiang Yu said, "Okay." Xiang Zhuang pulled out his sword and started dancing. Xiang Bo also drew his sword and danced, often using his own body to cover Liu Bang. Xiang Zhuang finally did not get the chance to assassinate Liu Bang.
So Zhang Liang went to see Fan Kuai outside the military gate. Fan Kuai said: "How are things today?" Zhang Liang said: "It is very critical! Now Xiang Zhuang is dancing with his sword, and his intention is always on Pei Gong." Fan Kuai said: "This is too urgent! Please let me go in and talk to them Fight hard." Fan Kuai entered the military gate with his sword and shield. The soldiers guarding the military gate crossed their halberds to prevent him from entering. Fan Kuai raised his shield and hit it sideways, causing the guard to fall to the ground. Fan Kuai went in, opened the curtain and stood facing west, staring at Xiang Yu, his hair stood up and his eyes were about to burst. Xiang Yu knelt down, holding the hilt of his sword in his hand, and asked, "What is this guest for?" Zhang Liang said, "He is Fan Kuai, Pei Gong's guard." Xiang Yu said, "Strong man! - Give him a glass of wine.
"(The people on the left and right) gave him a large glass of wine. Fan Kuai thanked him, stood up, and became thirsty for the wine. Xiang Yu said: "Give him a pig leg as a reward. "(The people on the left and right) gave him a half-cooked pig's leg. Fan Kuai turned his shield on the ground, put the pig's leg on the shield, drew his sword, cut it and ate it. Xiang Yu said: "Strong man! Can I drink again? Fan Kuai said: "I'm not afraid of death, but a glass of wine is not worth turning down!" The King of Qin had a heart as ferocious as a tiger or a wolf. He was afraid that he would not be able to kill all the people, and he was afraid that he would not be able to punish people with all the torture. (Therefore) the people all over the world betrayed him. King Huai once made an agreement with the generals: first defeat the Qin army and enter Xianyang. He did not dare to occupy or use any of it. He closed the official offices and retreated to station in Bashang to wait for the arrival of the king. He specially sent soldiers to guard Hangu Pass for preparedness. The comings and goings of other thieves and unexpected events. For such hard work and meritorious service, without being rewarded by a title, instead one listens to the villain's slander and wants to kill the meritorious people. This is the successor of the destroyed Qin State! I personally think that the king should not (should) adopt such an approach." Xiang Yu had no words to answer and said, "Sit down. " Fan Kuai sat down next to Zhang Liang. After sitting for a while, Liu Bang got up and went to the toilet, and called Fan Kuai (together) to go out.
Liu Bang had already gone out, and Xiang Yu sent Captain Chen Ping to call Liu Bang (to come back) ). Liu Bang (to Fan Kuai) said: "I just came out without saying goodbye. What should I do? Fan Kuai said: "When doing big things, you don't need to worry about the details. When doing big things, you don't need to pay attention to small courtesy." Now people are like meat knives and chopping boards, and we are fish and meat, so why do we say goodbye? So he left. He asked Zhang Liang to stay and say goodbye (to Xiang Yu). Zhang Liang asked: "What (gifts) did the king bring when he came?" "(Liu Bang) said: "I will take a pair of white jade bis to present to King Xiang, and a pair of jade wine cups to give to Fan Zeng. Just when they are angry and dare not offer it, you can offer it for me. Zhang Liang said: "I obey." "At this time, Xiang Yu's army was stationed at Hongmen, and Liu Bang's army was stationed at Bashang, forty miles apart. Liu Bang left his chariots, men and horses behind, left here, rode alone, and ran on foot with his sword and shield. The following four people, including Fan Kuai, Xia Houying, Jin Qiang and Ji Xin, followed the foot of Lishan Mountain and took a small road to escape. Just twenty miles. Please wait until I arrive at the military camp before you go in (to see King Xiang). "
Liu Bang had already left and (presumably) took a small road back to the army. Zhang Liang went in to say goodbye and said: "Pei Gong cannot drink more. He is already drunk and cannot (come) to say goodbye. I would like to offer a pair of white jade jade to the king and a pair of jade cups to the general. Xiang Yu said, "Where is Pei Gong?" Zhang Liang said: "I heard that the king wanted to blame him, so he left (Hongmen) alone and returned to the army." Xiang Yu accepted the white jade jade and placed it on his seat. Fan Zeng accepted the jade cup and threw it on the ground. He drew his sword and chopped it into pieces, saying, "Alas!" This kid is not worthy of pursuing a great career with his mother! The one who took away King Xiang’s world must be Pei Gong. We, the people, will be captured by him! ”
Content gist
The seventh paragraph of this article can be divided into three parts: pre-banquet, banquet, and post-banquet according to the process of "Hongmen Banquet".
The first part (paragraphs 1 and 2) before the banquet. It mainly writes about the locations of Liu and Xiang's armies before the banquet, the comparison of forces, the origin of the incident, and the behind-the-scenes activities of both parties: First, Cao Wushang's informant. . This is the "trigger" of the conflict. Second, Fan Zeng analyzed Liu Bang's previous and subsequent situations, indicating that he had "the spirit of the emperor" and advised Xiang Yu to "attack suddenly and miss", which added fuel to the fire and intensified the conflict. Third, Xiang Bo visited Zhang Liang at night, and the tense situation began to change. Fourth, Zhang Liang discussed countermeasures with Liu Bang and won over Xiang Bo. Xiang Bo was bribed to intercede for Liu Bang and "cover Pei Gong with his body." Leave a foreshadowing. Fifth, Xiang Bo persuades Xiang Yu not to attack Liu Bang.
This part describes the situation from tense to gradually relaxing, and then moves to the next thrilling struggle scene at the Hongmen Banquet, and sets the stage for the following. Foreshadowing.
The second part (paragraphs 3 and 4) describes the sharp struggle between the two parties at the Hongmen Banquet.
Liu Bang arrives at Xiang Yu. Although Xiang Yu held a banquet to entertain Liu Bang, the host and guest had their own plans, and the fight was tense and unpredictable.
< p>Three incidents: The first one is "Fan Zeng counted the kings of Xiang and held up the jade ornaments he wore to show the number three", implying that Xiang Yu started to kill Liu Bang, and the atmosphere became tense. The second incident was when Fan Zeng saw that Xiang Yu "reacted silently" and called Xiang Zhuang to do so. On the pretext of dancing with a sword, he took the opportunity to assassinate Liu Bang. The situation was extremely serious. Three times, Fan Kuai knocked down the guard and entered the tent, glared at Xiang Yu, and reprimanded him. The plot reached its climax and the tension reached its extreme.Three falls: In the first fall, Xiang Yu was not angry at Fan Kuai for breaking into the tent. In the second fall, Xiang Yu asked Fan Kuai to drink wine and give him a pig shoulder. After being scolded by him, he gave Liu Bang a seat. "Going to the toilet" is a real escape.
This part of the article mainly writes about the four events of Liu Gang's apology, Fan Zengjue, Xiangzhuang's sword dance, and Fan Kuai's break-in, which reflects both Liu and Xiang's actions. The contradictions within Xiang Yu also reflect the contradictions between Fan Zeng and Xiang Yu about whether to kill Liu Bang, and Xiang Zhuang and Xiang Bo about "killing Liu" and "defending Liu". These two contradictions are intricately intertwined, with tensions and relaxations, and ups and downs, which are artificial. It's thrilling.
The third part (paragraphs 5, 6, and 7) writes about Liu Bang's escape, and Zhang Liang goes to Xie to kill the traitor.
This is the end and epilogue of the episode. The article not only writes that Xiang Yu failed in the fight at the Hongmen Banquet and missed the opportunity to eliminate Liu Bang, but also deepened the conflict between him and Fan Zeng, laying the foundation for his final complete failure and suicide in Wujiang River. And Liu Bang killed Cao Wushang, and the internal unity became more unified.
The full text takes "Hongmen Banquet" as the center, and "kill or not kill Liu Bang" as the clue, unfolding the storyline in chronological order, starting with Xiang Yu's attempt to attack Liu Bang and ending with Liu Bang being released; ending with Cao Wushang It begins with the secret report and ends with Cao Wushang being killed; it begins with Fan Zeng persuading Xiang Yu and ends with Fan Zeng angrily scolding Xiang Yu. The contradictions are complex, and there are ups and downs. Although it is an excerpt, it has a rigorous structure and close echoes. It is a touching and complete story.