Han Xin, the founding hero of the Western Han Dynasty, was full of legends throughout his life. His unique views on the issue of the king, and his real motive for proposing the kingship, was it a strategy to take advantage of the situation, or a deliberate strategic choice?
In the historical torrent of that era, Han Xin's views and requirements were extremely forward-looking, as if they surpassed ordinary people's strategic thinking. What drove him to be so adamant about the title of king, and is there a deep sense of foresight that we don't know about?
At this time, in the tent of the Han army, a middle-aged officer, dressed in military uniform, was in high spirits, and was studying the map intently. He is the commander of the Northern Expedition to the Three Qins - Han Xin, the newly appointed general of the Han Dynasty.
As an outstanding talent in the Chu-Han War, he was well versed in the art of war, good at using strange strategies, and became famous in the first battle. For this operation, he has made a detailed plan. "For 30 years, sweep 800 miles, and establish an immortal honor. When the King of Han entrusted him with a heavy task, such bold words surged in his heart. He slowly rolled up the map, and his eyes became more determined: "On this expedition, I will let King Han see the real military wizard!" ”
In February 207 BC, Xiang Yu divided the princes of various provinces. By April, the princes began to return to their respective countries to take up their posts. On the occasion of June, thanks to the recommendation of his adviser Xiao He, Liu Bang, the king of Han, appointed Han Xin as a general and treated him sincerely. Han Xin, a descendant of the Chu State, was deeply excited by this, and immediately explained to the Han King the situation in the world at that time, and proposed a strategy aimed at stabilizing internal affairs, eliminating external troubles, and regaining the Sanqin region. Seeing that he was a commoner but possessed extraordinary strategy, Liu Bang happily took his advice and ordered him to lead his army to the north. In August, Han Xin led the Han army to be unstoppable, and successively conquered Yong, Xihe, Beidi and other regions. In the turbulent times at the end of the Qin Dynasty, the king of Sai, Sima Xin, the king of Zhai, Dong Peng and others surrendered one after another. Then, Han Xin successively defeated opponents such as Zhang Han and Wei Wangbao, and pacified the entire Sanqin region in one fell swoop!
In the land of Sanqin, the mountains and rivers are dangerous, and the people are fierce. Being able to completely defeat this strategic location in just a few months shows Han Shin's outstanding military talent. For more than a year after that, Han Xin continued to lead the Han army to successive victories in the northern battlefield. With his help, the allied forces of the various princes of the Han army gradually rose to parity with Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu. Seeking the seal is not taking advantage of people's dangers, but internal and external troubles, and the situation of the Han King is not optimistic.
In February 203 BC, shortly after Han Xin led the Han army to a great victory over Qi, the news came out that he had asked the king of Han to be crowned! As soon as this incident came out, it immediately sparked heated discussions. "The King of Han is now besieged in Xingyang City by heavy Chu troops, and he has no power to be distracted at all. Isn't Han Xin's move taking advantage of the situation and taking advantage of the danger of others? Many of the counsellors and courtiers made such accusations.
However, is this really the case? Let's take a look at the timing first. According to historical records, the Han king was "besieged" by the Chu army twice in Xingyang, once in the third year of four years ago, and once in the four years of the year before Han Xin's request for seal. And Han Xin's request for the title of king was in February of the fourth year after Xia Qi, and it had been seven months since the last time the king of Han left Xingyang. It can be seen that Han Xin's request for sealing was not at the most difficult time for the Han king.
After the next Qi, the two armies of Chu and Han were already evenly matched. The territory occupied by the Han army was expanding day by day, which relieved Xingyang's worries to a certain extent. Considering the strategic situation at that time, Han Xin's request for sealing was by no means a coercive move.
Why, then, did Shin insist on being crowned king? In order to suppress the Qi State and help the Chu and Han Wars, Han Xin's request to the Han King was very clear: "The customs of the Qi State are repeated, and the south borders on Western Chu, and if a false king is not set up to suppress it, then it will be difficult to stabilize the situation." If the king of Han really confers the throne of the false king, the minister vows to do his best to help His Majesty defeat the enemy army and complete the great cause of unification. The clear logic expresses Han Xin's motivation for seeking the seal. The state of Qi has always been capricious and unpredictable. It is adjacent to the strong enemy Western Chu in the south, and once it falls to the enemy, it will inevitably pose a serious threat to the northern defense of the Han army. Therefore, Han Xin wanted to take the town as the king of Qi.