In 197 BC, Chen Xi rebelled, and Gaozu Liu Bang personally led an army to conquest, while in Chang'an City, Han Xin, who had always been suspicious and difficult to make a decision, was eventually murdered by Empress Lü and Xiao Hehe.
After Han Gaozuping rebelled and returned to Beijing, when he heard that Han Xin was dead, he was both happy and pitiful, and asked Lü Yan, "What did Han Xin say before he died?" Lü Yan said to Gao Zu, and Han Xin sneered before he died, "I don't need to say anything about it!" Liu Bang suddenly realized that when he was fighting with Xiang Yu, Qu Tong had actually instigated Han Xin to betray him. Liu Bang was naturally furious and immediately ordered someone to summon Pu Tong and prepare to cook him to death.
So, what exactly is this Putong doing? Pu Tong, also known as Pu Che, was a native of Fanyang County and had served as Han Xin's counselor. During the Chu-Han war, Han Xin led troops to pacify the State of Qi, and Liu Bang sent Zhang Liang to the State of Qi to make Han Xin the King of Qi in order to win Han Xin over; at the same time, Xiang Yu also sent Wu Shi to persuade Han Xin to unite with him and divide the world equally.
At that time, the situation was already very obvious, and Han Xin was a team that played a pivotal role in the trend of the world. If he unites with Liu Bang, Xiang Yu will perish; if he unites with Xiang Yu, Liu Bang will be eliminated; or if Han Xin stands on his own, the world will be three-legged.
In this regard, Ku Tong knew this, so he wanted to persuade Han Xin to betray Liu Bang. He said, "Now the fate of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu is in your hands. If you help the King of Han, the King of Han will win, and if you unite with the King of Chu, the King of Chu will succeed... Now for your sake, it is better to let both sides get the benefits, coexist, divide the world, stand on their feet, and no one will dare to attack first. ”
However, Han Xin, mindful of Liu Bang's kindness, finally rejected Qu Tong's suggestion, joined forces with Liu Bang to defeat Xiang Yu, and pushed Liu Bang to the position of co-lord of the world, while he himself became the King of Chu. However, because Hetong lobbied Han Xin to become unable to stand on his own, he knew that he could not stand on his own, so he pretended to be a madman and became a wizard.
Han Xin did not fail Liu Bang, but fled south to the fate of the bird and hid his bow.
Soon after, Pu Tong was escorted to Liu Bang, who angrily questioned Him why he had instigated Han Xin to betray him. Perhaps it was only then that Liu Bang understood in his heart that after the establishment of the Western Han Dynasty, Han Xin's various behaviors may have been caused by his failure to listen to Pu Tong's advice at that time, and the initiator of all this was this crazy person in front of him.
In the face of His Majesty the Emperor, who was about to erupt at any moment, Pu Tong said unhurriedly: Dogs always bark at people other than their masters. At that time, I only knew that there was Qi Wang Hanxin, but I didn't know that there was you. Moreover, the Qin Dynasty lost the throne, and the people of the world went to grab it together, and the talented people got it first. The world is in chaos, people are scrambling to do what you do, but the ability is not enough, can you kill them all?
In short, Pu Tong is telling Liu Bang that when the world is in strife, there are more people who are their masters, and Liu Bang can you kill them all?
Liu Bang heard this and thought that Pu Tong's words were reasonable. At this time, even if you kill Pu Tong, many things are doomed to be irreparable, so you will let Ku Tong have a way to live!