On February 13, 1985, Ji Zhengshan published an academic paper "Where did Xiang Yu die?" in Guangming Daily. " pointed out that Xiang Yu did not kill himself in Wujiang River, but died in Dongcheng (about 300 miles away from Wujiang River), which is now in Dingyuan County, Anhui Province. Ji Zhengshan's views have been affirmed and supported by literary and historical figures such as Feng Qiyong, Han Zhaoqi, and Bian Xiaoxuan. This is the earliest in China and the first time in history that someone has put forward the idea that Xiang Yu will not die in Wujiang; it caused a stir in the historians, including dozens of newspapers and magazines such as Xinhua Digest, Yangcheng Evening News, Wenhui Daily, and Digest Weekly, as well as radio stations. The TV station will reprint or report it.
Attachment: Ji Zhengshan, original text of "Guangming Daily" on February 13, 1985:
It has been two thousand years since the publication of "Tai Shi Gong Shu". As this masterpiece spreads, it seems certain that Xiang Yu committed suicide in Wujiang River. In fact, this is a historical error. Xiang Yu's real place of martyrdom was not in Wujiang but in Dongcheng, which is now southeast of Dingyuan, Anhui (about three hundred miles away from Wujiang).
The commentary in "Historical Records of Xiang Yu" once pointed out: King Xiang "died in Dongcheng in the fifth year of his death." It's just that most people don't pay attention to this. Regarding the historical fact that Xiang Yu died in Dongcheng, the record in "Historical Records: The Benji of Emperor Gaozu" is more clear: "In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty... the cavalry general Guan Ying chased Xiang Yu to Dongcheng and beheaded 80,000 people, thus briefly defining the Chu territory." "Hanshu· "Guan Ying Zhuan" also records: "When Xiang Ji was defeated and fell down, Ying and the imperial censor drove his chariots and horses to the east city and defeated him. Five of the generals killed Xiang Ji, and all of them were given titles. "So, why did Sima Qian have a vivid description in "Historical Records": "So King Xiang wanted to cross the Wujiang River eastward, and the Wujiang Pavilion was waiting for him with a boat"?
I think "King Xiang wanted to cross the eastward." The section "Crossing the Wujiang River" is a folk rumor for three reasons. 1. From the perspective of the incident itself, when King Xiang Gaixia was besieged, his troops were exhausted. "When they arrived at the east city, there were twenty-eight cavalry." And "the Han army was surrounded by a heavy siege." At that time, Xiang Yu himself had "extended himself." Can't escape." So, how could he suddenly reach the Wujiang River three hundred miles away? Besides, Xiang Yu's defeat at Gaixia also took a turn for the worse. Even if the chief of the Wujiang Pavilion had the intention to save his country, how could he have anticipated that things would go wrong and sailed in advance to wait? Second, the entire structure of "Historical Records of Xiang Yu" is rigorous and meticulous in narrative. Especially in the description of the war, since Sima Qian once traveled to famous mountains and rivers, the geographical situation when the two sides crossed rivers and cut off passes and captured passes can be seen in the twists and turns, giving people a clear sense of order and mountains and rivers. Let’s take a look at King Xiang’s whereabouts after Gaixia’s defeat: Under the wall, the soldiers were few and all they had eaten (Night Song is Generous)) - he broke the siege and galloped southward (Zhiye) - crossed the Huaihe River, with more than a hundred of his followers (Pingming) - When they arrived at Yinling, they lost their way (morning fog) - fell into Daze, and the Han Dynasty pursued them - to the east city, there were twenty-eight riders. So, what happened after Dongcheng? Why was there nothing explained in the Three Hundred Miles Battlefield, and the plot was relaxed? Sima Qian only said: "So King Xiang wanted to cross the Wujiang River eastward," and by coincidence - the word "desire" will happen in Wujiang A folk legend is blended with the real bloody battle in Dongcheng. This is the reason why experts and scholars in the Jianghuai area have repeatedly questioned and made various assumptions and misunderstandings over the years. 3. Xiang Yu rose up in Wuzhong and "crossed the river to the west with eight thousand people from Jiangdong." During the southern and northern wars, the children of Wuzhong and the elders from Jiangdong established a relationship with Xiang Yu. Therefore, after his death, there was a legend that "King Xiang wanted to cross the Wujiang River eastward, and the Wujiang Pavilion was waiting for him with a boat." Sima Qian had traveled here before, so he naturally had ample opportunities to pick up these folk rumors to improve the image of this hero. It is very natural.
In fact, there have always been historical records to prove that Xiang Yu "died in Dongcheng" (now southeast of Dingyuan, Anhui). The tomb of Princess Yu, which is several feet high, still exists today. "Dingyuan County Chronicle" records: "The tomb of Princess Yu is the Yudun, sixty miles south of the county, near Dongcheng." In Yinling and Dongcheng, the "Dingyuan County Chronicle" records: More clearly: "Yinling City is sixty miles northwest of the county, south of Enxie Mountain, and two miles around. The old site still exists... Yu Kuai encircled Nanshan and galloped, and the Han cavalry general Guan Ying chased Yu across the Huaihe River, and Yu passed Yinling and lost his way. "This is Dongcheng, fifty miles southeast of the county. Xiang Yu lost his way to Yinling, and the Han Dynasty pursued him, and he returned to Dongcheng."
This is what Xiang Yu left in Dingyuan County before his martyrdom. In addition to the Yin Ling and Dongcheng, there are still more than ten relics left today. From Bawangzhai (where it is said that King Xiang lost his way) to Liuhuiqiao (where it is said that the Han army chased Xiang Yu), from Xiamapu to Xiyudun, they formed a complete route for King Xiang to deal with the Han army in this land.