Liu Bang himself was quite carefree, viewing matters of life and death lightly, and not caring much about these things.
He blew on his hands, rubbing them together, and looked at the soldiers around him.
Seeing that Liu Bang, as the Emperor, didn't care, the surrounding soldiers also stopped caring much.
They were like stones scattered casually on the ground, while Liu Bang, such a noble Emperor, ought to be like the exalted jade pendant hanging in the sky.
At this moment, they were all trapped here together.
If the Emperor didn't care about his own life or death, what did these stones have to care about?
To repay the country with their lives was enough.
Night slowly descended, and a thin mist enveloped the high mountains; everyone's faces bore traces of sighs and longing, for even if they were prepared to die, who would be willing to die if they could live?
No one would be willing.
"Your Majesty."
Beside Liu Bang, a soldier quietly said, "It's cold and dewy now; we can still bear it, but how can those Barbarians bear it? They must have returned to their large tents by now, so why don't we take this opportunity to break through the encirclement?"
He looked around, whispering, "A small group of us brothers will protect Your Majesty and go in one direction, and we'll find someone to wear Your Majesty's robes and go in another direction; by doing this, Your Majesty can escape."
"Once you're outside, you won't be constrained by the Barbarians; you can muster troops and generals, and then come back to rescue us?"
The soldier's words received approval from many around him; in their view, it was perfectly normal for Liu Bang, as the Emperor, to flee first; he had already endured with them, these commoners, for such a long time.
It was enough.
They were also willing to repay this recognition with their lives.
Liu Bang, however, waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "What's the rush?"
"When I was first surrounded, the surrounding prefectures and counties already knew about this, and they sent the message back. As I see it, our reinforcements will arrive in less than half a month."
"We just need to wait another half a month."
He stroked his chin, pondering the matter.
"Of course, it might be reinforcements, or perhaps envoys will come to bribe those Barbarians and make them retreat; both methods can save me."
"It's just... I think, with that fellow around, bribing probably won't work."
Liu Bang smacked his lips, saying helplessly, "Otherwise, those fellows would say I have no imperial demeanor and have disgraced the Emperor of the Central Plains."
"Otherwise, I would have done something like that a long time ago; we could have left on the seventh day."
The soldiers beside him looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
There's such a method?
A soldier couldn't help but whisper, "Your Majesty, is face really that important?"
Sometimes, only those pushed to a dead end realize that face means nothing; it's not as important as life.
Liu Bang burst out laughing upon hearing the soldier's words. He picked up a flask of wine and poured it directly into his mouth: "What imperial face? That thing is nothing!"
He chuckled, "Only that group of people would think it's important."
"How long can our provisions last?"
A soldier immediately replied, "Your Majesty, they can last for about ten more days."
Liu Bang stroked his chin, then looked at the soldier: "Go, prepare all the valuables we brought with us this time, and also find all my imperial carriages, daily necessities, and everything else."
"Aren't these all gold and silver?"
He chuckled, "Let's wait for that group for six more days. If they still don't come, we'll give these valuables to those Barbarians, bribe their high-ranking officials, and then we'll slip away while they retreat!"
Liu Bang showed no imperial bearing or arrogance; instead, he was like an ordinary Qian Shou, very carefree and at ease.
Gold and silver? Reputation? Face?
None are as important as life.
Just live first!
As the few of them were busy, a sudden blaze erupted not far away!
The fire soared into the sky, seemingly intending to cover and engulf everything, burning it all to ashes. Shouts of battle instantly shook the heavens, causing everyone humbly trapped in Baiden to look at each other in dismay.
"Your Majesty!"
A sharp-eyed soldier suddenly spoke, his voice filled with surprise.
"Look at that banner!"
Banner?
Liu Bang stood on high ground, gazing into the distance, watching the banner fluttering amidst the flames. Countless plumes of smoke rose, and everything seemed like chestnuts in the fire of war.
Amidst the chaos of war, only one tall banner stood there.
It bore a character.
"Han"
Liu Bang let out a long sigh, releasing all the suppression, complexity, helplessness, and exhaustion in his heart as if it were a mere fart.
"The reinforcements have arrived."
He silently stood there, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking at the banner in the distance.
In fact, was Liu Bang not afraid earlier?
No, he was afraid.
No one can face death openly and without any fear; this is human nature.
But some people are naturally divine because they can overcome this fear and dread, and then transform it into the source of all motivation.
Like Liu Bang.
He overcame fear and dread, overcame everything, transforming everything into a spring of "optimism," and then lived a carefree and unrestrained life.
At this moment, amidst the flames and crowds in the distance, another banner rose high.
The character written on it was equally simple.
"Chen"
The soldier exclaimed again, "This is Guandu Marquis's banner! Guandu Marquis has arrived!"
Yes! Guandu Marquis has arrived!
Immediately, this news spread throughout Baiden, and countless soldiers gathered, excitedly looking at the banners amidst the chaotic warfare in the distance.
Those two towering banners were like a great sun.
It illuminated everyone's hearts.
At this moment, both the banner and Chen Cheng had become the saviors in the hearts of these soldiers. Although Liu Bang had previously spoken of bribing the high-ranking Barbarians with heavy gold, who knew if that would succeed?
The valuables they carried were not many.
They could also obtain these valuables by slaughtering them.
But now...
Guandu Marquis has arrived.
They have survived!
Liu Bang merely stood on the high ground, letting the soldiers around him exult. His eyes observed everything below the mountain, a sigh flashing through his heart: Did he really have to begin this?
Since ancient times, no achievement surpasses rescuing the Emperor.
The last time Chen Cheng rescued him, he glossed over it, only granting him the position of a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households and adding a little more land for sustenance, nothing more. But this time... could he still get away with it?
Or rather, even if he could get away with it, could he "continue to get away with it"?
What kind of principle is it to not reward merit?
There is no such principle; this would not only chill the hearts of meritorious officials but also lead to endless disasters. What if Guandu Marquis bore a grudge?
Moreover...
The most important thing was that Han Xin was enfeoffed as a King.
If Han Xin could be enfeoffed as a King, why couldn't Guandu Marquis be enfeoffed as a King?
This was the importance of precedent.
If there were no Kings of different surnames in the world now, then even if he talked himself blue in the face, Liu Bang would have a reason not to enfeoff Guandu Marquis Chen Cheng as a King. But the problem now was that there was already a King of Qi in the world!
This was the biggest problem.
Thinking of this, Liu Bang laughed wryly.
Forget it, why think so much?
Not rewarding merit was not his character, nor did it align with current interests. Since that was the case, if he was to be enfeoffed as a King, then so be it. What was the big deal?
At worst, he could just remove the King title later, couldn't he?
Liu Bang's character was precisely like this; he never sought discomfort for himself, nor did he ever seek distress.
The shouts of battle in the distance continued, but the sound gradually became much fainter, as if the war was about to end. The soldiers had already prepared themselves and were waiting.
"Dong--"
"Dong--"
"Dong--"
The war drums thundered.
Liu Bang flipped onto his horse, smiling at the soldiers behind him: "Those who help themselves receive help from Heaven!"
"Now that Guandu Marquis has led his troops to rescue us, how can we just stand by and watch? Have we lost our courage and been frightened out of our wits by the Xiongnu?"
Liu Bang waved his hand, his expression solemn: "By my imperial decree! The army will break through and rendezvous with Guandu Marquis!"
The soldiers behind him immediately responded.
... ....
Down the mountain
The Xiongnu Chanyu looked at the man on horseback before him, whose expression was indifferent, his face still stained with a little blood—the blood of the Xiongnu wolf riders who had just been killed, splattered onto his cheek.
He stared intently at Chen Cheng before him.
How could there be such a brave person? Who exactly was this person?!
Didn't they say that the only capable warrior in the Han was the Military Immortal Han Xin?
Could this person be Han Xin?
He gritted his teeth, looking at Chen Cheng, and asked, "Are you Han Xin?"
The surrounding soldiers immediately scoffed. The vice-general beside Chen Cheng was furious. He spurred his horse forward and said coldly to the man, "This is our Great Han's Guandu Marquis!"
Guandu Marquis?
Who was that?
The Xiongnu Chanyu had only recently ascended the throne, so he wasn't too familiar with the structure of the Great Han. He had only vaguely heard his subordinates mention the Han's Military Immortal before he came, which was why he had some impression of Han Xin.
Meanwhile, the merchant beside him, whom he had used as a guide, suddenly turned extremely pale.
He whispered, "Great King, this is Guandu Marquis!"
"In the past, Huaiyin Marquis was merely a small soldier under the King of Chu, while this Guandu Marquis, during the Chu-Han Contention, once single-handedly repelled the Hegemon King's army at Yingyang, and then personally slew Xiang Yu."
"Even the incomparably valiant Hegemon King was no match for this one."
"He returned in utter defeat."
The mention of Han Xin in these words was merely an aside, intended to let the Xiongnu Chanyu know how formidable the person before him truly was.
That Han Xin was merely a small soldier under the King of Chu, and he was already so formidable. Then imagine how formidable the Hegemon King of Chu was? Yet, such a formidable Hegemon King of Chu was slain single-handedly by this man!
As expected, when the Xiongnu Chanyu heard this, a look of horror and fear instantly flashed across his face.
"This person is actually so brave?"
His eyes flickered, then he gritted his teeth and looked at Chen Cheng: "You just wait for this King!"
After saying this, he quickly led his remaining battered troops and fled.
Chen Cheng did not pursue.
His purpose in coming to Baiden this time was merely to relieve Liu Bang's siege at Baiden, and his most important task at this moment was to ensure Liu Bang's safety.
As for pursuing the Xiongnu?
A hint of ruthless smile flashed in Chen Cheng's eyes, a smile filled with killing intent.
He believed that Liu Bang, besieged in Baiden, must have wanted to slay the Xiongnu even more than he did! But the Central Plains had only just settled down, and it was truly not advisable to start another war.
At this moment, a contingent of troops slowly approached from the distance, raising dust wherever they passed.
The leader wore a simple robe, but his brows were filled with an imperial aura; it was none other than Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang!
Chen Cheng dismounted and bowed, saying, "Your subject arrived late to rescue Your Majesty; I hope Your Majesty will pardon me!"
Before the words of pardon had even fallen to the ground, Liu Bang had already dismounted, his face showing a carefree and relieved expression: "What pardon are you talking about? If it weren't for you, I would probably have died here in Baiden this time."
He waved his hand, very unrestrained and casual.
"Alright, let's hurry back to the capital. This place, Baiden, is indeed desolate. I've suffered a long time here."
Looking at the uninhibited Liu Bang, Chen Cheng was also somewhat helpless, but he still beckoned the soldiers beside him and said he would prepare Liu Bang's imperial carriage, but he was again stopped by Liu Bang.
The reason for stopping was very simple.
Just one sentence.
"What's with such a grand display? I'm not returning home in glory; I was besieged here and rescued by someone."
"This matter is not for outsiders to know."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Book of Han, Annals of Emperor Gaozu": "In the sixth year of Gaozu's reign, the world was at peace. The Xiongnu encroached upon our borders, and Gaozu led troops to confront them, but was trapped at Baiden. At that time, Guandu Marquis, being valiant, led troops to his aid."
"Upon seeing the Emperor, the Emperor said: 'If not for Le Zhi, I would have been buried here at this moment.'"
"Later, Guandu Marquis ordered his soldiers to prepare the imperial carriage, but the Emperor laughed and said: 'I am not returning in splendid robes, but as a prisoner. This matter is not for outsiders to know!'"
"Thus, he traveled lightly and returned to the imperial capital."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Chang'an City, Weiyang Palace
Liu Bang sat in Weiyang Palace, his expression indifferent. While eating, he said to Lü Zhi beside him, "I'm preparing to enfeoff Chen Cheng as a King."
Lü Zhi's expression changed, but then she sighed deeply.
"Indeed, that should be the case."
A hint of calculation flashed in her brows: "Only the King of Qi and Guandu Marquis will become Kings in the world. This might also be an incentive for the King of Qi; recently, the King of Qi has become increasingly restless."
"Perhaps..."
Liu Bang waved his hand and said directly, "That fellow Han Xin has no other intentions; he just wants to show off."
He pouted, "Actually, he's also restless now, thinking of taking off his King title, but he can't back down; he doesn't have an excuse."
"You'll see, after I enfeoff Guandu Marquis as a King this time, that kid will have an excuse."
"Within two months, he will certainly come to the imperial capital to request the abolition of his King title!