What is history: it is the echo of the past to the future, the reflection of the future on the past. - Hugo
There is a sentence in Sima Guang's Zizhi Tongjian: "The reason why Han has won the world is that most of them believe in the merits." "Letter, that is, Han Xin, is listed alongside Xiao He and Zhang Liang as the Three Masters of the Early Han Dynasty.
In his early years, Han Xin's family was poor and he often sent food from people. At the end of Qin, he participated in the anti-Qin struggle and defected to Xiang Yu, but was later recommended by Xiahou Bao to worship Su Duwei and was not reused. Xiao He raised Han Xin to Liu Bang, so Liu Bang worshiped Han Xin as a general. Han Xin analyzed the situation between Chu and Han to Liu Bang, and raised an army to the east, so that the Three Qin could be captured. Liu Bang adopted this suggestion, immediately made arrangements, and soon occupied Guanzhong. In the Chu-Han War, Han Xin exerted outstanding military talent. He pacified the State of Wei and defeated Dai and Zhao in a battle. After that, he went north to surrender to the Yan kingdom. In the fourth year of the Han Dynasty, Han Xin was worshipped as Xiang Guo, led his troops to attack Qi, captured Linzi, and annihilated the dragon at Weishui and led the 200,000 Chu troops who aided Qi. Therefore, Liu Bang sent Zhang Liangli Han Xin as the King of Qi, and in October of the following year, he ordered Han Xin to surround and annihilate the Chu army, forcing Xiang Yu to kill himself. Liu Bang commented on Han Xin: "The battle will be won, the attack will be won, and I am not as good as Han Xin." Han Xin was praised by Xiao He as "the unparalleled warrior of the country" and was worshipped by posterity as "soldier immortal" and "god of war".
However, after Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, the meritorious Han Xin was soon relieved of his military power and relocated to the Chu Dynasty. Accused of plotting against him and demoting him to the Marquis of Huaiyin, Hou Lühou conspired with Xiao He of Xiangguo to deceive him into the Changle Palace under the pretext of Han Xin's rebellion, beheaded him in the bell chamber, and destroyed his three clans, becoming the most miserable of the three masters of the early Han Dynasty.
Why did Han Xin end up in tragedy? What exactly did Han Xin's actions lead to his tragic end?
First, ask for credit to kill Li. In the third year of Emperor Han Gao,when Han Xin was preparing to attack the State of Qi, before he crossed the Yellow River from the plain crossing, he heard that Li Shiqi had persuaded the State of Qi to surrender, and he wanted to stop advancing. The debater Pu Chu advised Han Xin to take advantage of the victory and pursue it, and asked for merit and reward. Han Xin felt that Ku Che's words were reasonable, and immediately led his army across the Yellow River to raid the qi state's army. As a result, Qi Wang Tian Guang and Xiang Guo Tian Became angry and killed Li Zhiqi. Han Xin's actions directly led to Li Shiqi's tragic death. In the end, it was because Han Xin had the idea of greed.
Second, please seal the King of Qi. After pacifying the State of Qi, Han Xin wrote to Liu Bang asking to act as the Prince of Qi to fu the State of Qi. When Liu Bang found out, he scolded Han Xin and said, "I am trapped here, and I am thinking of you to help me, but you want to establish yourself as king!" Zhang Liang and Chen Ping hurriedly stepped on Liu Bang's feet, and then whispered in his ear: The Han army is currently in an unfavorable situation, can it still prohibit Han Xin from establishing himself as king? It is better to take advantage of the situation to establish him as the king of Qi, treat him well, and let him defend the country of Qi on his own. Otherwise, there could be a mutiny. Liu Bang also woke up at this time, and took the opportunity to change his mouth and scolded: The eldest husband has pacified the princely states, that is, the real princes, why should he be an acting king! Han Xin's self-nomination as a false king of Qi was unwise and had sown the bane of being killed.
Third, passively watch the battle. Liu Bang had agreed with Peng Yue and Han Xin to take advantage of the victory to pursue and attack Xiang Yu, but when Liu Bang led his troops to pursue Xiang Yu, neither Peng Yue nor Han Xin came according to the agreement, resulting in Liu Bang's defeat. It was not until Liu Bang divided Peng Yue and Han Xin according to Zhang Liang's wishes, and specially divided Chu Land to him according to Han Xin's intentions, that he exchanged these two men for war, and finally defeated Xiang Yu. As for the current passive spectator of Han Xin's great enemy and the request for merit and reward, Liu Bang already had the heart to kill Han Xin, but he was just unable to reach it.
Fourth, misconduct in words and deeds. Han Xin was deprived of his military power and returned to the Chu state as king of Chu, but he did not understand Taoguang to cultivate obscurity, and his words and deeds were improper, and he gave people truth. In fengguo, he inspected the counties under his jurisdiction and mobilized troops as his guard of honor. According to the Han law, the armies of the princely states are under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, and the monarchs of the princely states have no right to mobilize the army. After being renamed Marquis of Huaiyin, Han Xin repeatedly claimed to be ill and did not participate in pilgrimages and travel with attendants. He was always unhappy at home on weekdays, and was ashamed to be in the same position as his former subordinates Zhou Bo and the general Dou Bao.
Chen Feng was an old subordinate of Han Xin, and after being appointed to command the army of zhao and dai guo, he went to meet Han Xin and resign. Han Xin shook his hand, retreated from his followers, walked with him in the courtyard, and suddenly looked up at the sky and sighed: Can I say a few words to you? Chen Feng said: General, you should give instructions, and I will obey them. Han Xin said: You are in a position that concentrates the elite soldiers of the world, and you are your majesty's favored minister. If anyone says that you have rebelled, Your Majesty will certainly not believe it; but if anyone says it again, Your Majesty will be suspicious; and when there is a third time someone says, Your Majesty will certainly be angry and personally lead an army to attack you. If one day you are forced to rebel, please let me make an internal response for you, then the world can seek it.
After Chen Feng's rebellion, Han Xin pretended to be ill and did not accompany Liu Bang to send troops. As a result, Han Xin's brother wrote to report that Han Xin planned to rebel. After Lü Hou received the news, he consulted with Xiao He of xiangguo, pretending that Chen Feng's rebellion had been quelled, and according to the regulations, the crown prince would summon the marquises and his courtiers to hold a congratulatory gift. Xiao He deceived Han Xin again, saying: Although you are sick, you should also stand up and congratulate him. When Han Xin came to the imperial court, Lü Hou sent samurai to tie him up and behead him in the bell room of changle palace. Before beheading, Han Xin sighed and said, "I really regret that I didn't use Kutche's plan to fall for children and women. Lü Hou then ordered that all three hanxin clans be killed.
After Han Xin's death, what was Liu Bang's attitude? After Liu Bang heard the news of Han Xin's death, he "rejoiced and pitied him." The reason for the happiness is that the existence of Han Xin has always been a threat to Liu Bang, and Liu Bang has always felt like he is being persecuted like a man, and now he finally does not have to worry; the pity is that Han Xin's merit is indeed too great, and he is a rare military wizard.