Twenty-Five Histories Stories 365

Author: Guo Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Touch Dragon Speaks Zhao Taihou of Zhao State was ruling when the Qin State attacked Zhao. Zhao Taihou estimated that Zhao could not defeat Qin and sent someone to Qi to seek aid. The ruler of Qi proposed a condition for sending troops: Zhao Taihou's son, Chang'an Jun, must go to Qi as a hostage. After the messenger returned to Zhao, he reported this result to Zhao Taihou, who was furious. She loved Chang'an Jun so much that she thought it would be better to kill him than to send her "lifeblood" as a hostage. Therefore, no matter how the ministers persuaded her to prioritize the fate of the state, reminding her that the hostage would eventually return, she stubbornly refused. She even angrily said, "If anyone comes to persuade me again, I will spit in their face!"
In Zhao State, there was an elderly minister named Chu Long, who, upon hearing this, went to find Zhao Taihou. When Chu Long arrived, Zhao Taihou thought, "Here comes another person to persuade me to send my son as a hostage." She was displeased and awaited Chu Long's words, ready to erupt in anger. However, Chu Long did not mention the hostage issue. Instead, he chatted with the empress about daily life, expressing his apologies for his advanced age and inability to visit her often. Seeing that Chu Long was not there to persuade her, Zhao Taihou's mood improved immediately. After a while of talking, Chu Long asked the empress to agree to something: he wanted his favorite younger son to be appointed as a guard in the royal palace. The empress, interested in the topic of her sons, asked Chu Long, "Do men also love their sons as much as women do?" Chu Long replied, "Men love their sons even more than women do!"
Zhao Taihou disagreed, saying, "Women naturally love their sons more than men do." Chu Long countered, "I don't think so. For example, Your Majesty, you love your daughters even more." The empress quickly insisted, "No, no, I love my son Chang'an Jun more." Chu Long said, "I say you love your daughters more because you married one to Yan State, praying she would give birth to a son to inherit the throne. But with Chang'an Jun, you haven't thought about his future. You spoil him, giving him all the gold and treasures, yet you don't let him contribute to the state. Without any achievements or reputation, who will respect him in the future? What foundation does he have to become a ruler of a nation?"
Hearing this, Zhao Taihou finally understood Chu Long's true purpose. She found his words very reasonable and was convinced, agreeing to send her son as a hostage.
The Banquet at Hongmen Palace Chen Sheng and Wu Guang ignited the flames of the peasant uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty, but it was later Liu Bang and Xiang Yu who fanned those flames. In 206 BC, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the King of Western Chu, while Liu Bang was enfeoffed as the King of Han. Both were ambitious, wanting to dominate China. Initially, King Huai of Chu had promised all rebel forces, "Whoever first captures the Central Plains will become king." Xiang Yu was a brave but foolish man who cared only about attacking cities and seizing territory, ignoring this promise. Liu Bang, however, was a man of great cunning and never forgot the agreement with King Huai of Chu, always aiming to capture the Central Plains to become king.
As a result, while Xiang Yu was fighting desperately against the Qin army's main force, Liu Bang seized the opportunity to enter the Central Plains, captured Xianyang, and took Qin Zi Ying captive. Upon learning this, Xiang Yu, of course, could not let the matter rest and immediately led his army to the Central Plains. At this time, Liu Bang's forces were far inferior to Xiang Yu's. Seeing Xiang Yu's fierce advance, Liu Bang dared not confront him head-on and withdrew from Xianyang, adopting a humble posture.