The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

"Brother, are you perhaps a professional storyteller?"

"Who has ever survived being surrounded by Tartar cavalry? Even Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Western Chu, couldn't have escaped this fate."

The beggar questioned without hesitation.

Just kidding!

In the past, on the battlefield, it often took two or three border soldiers to kill a single Tatar cavalryman.

Hundreds of cavalrymen?

That would truly require a tyrant like himself to achieve it!

"Whether it's true or not, you can go and investigate outside the Great Wall yourself to verify it. Anyway, even if we tell you, you might not believe us."

"We've had our drinks, asked what we needed to ask, and said what we needed to say. Your brothers are all waiting for you, and I have things to do too. Go on your way."

Liu Bang was too lazy to waste any more time arguing with him, mainly because the news Xiao He brought had truly shocked him beyond measure.

Remember when Xiang Yu launched a sudden attack outside the Great Wall, which directly caused the Manchu army to collapse?

Why did it suddenly become so weak?

"Fine, fine, I'm too lazy to listen to your bragging. Whether it's true or not, I'll see for myself!"

"But let me make this clear: if it turns out that everything you've said is a lie, then of course we brothers will fight the Tartars, but before that, we'll wipe you out first!"

Seeing this, the beggar knew that the two were about to discuss something that could not be known to outsiders.

He wisely got up and left, taking with him the last half-pot of wine on the table as he went.

Xiao He waited silently until he was far away before entering the house and bowing slowly.

"Your Majesty has not failed in your trust. During this period of time, all the people within sight within dozens of miles have been settled and made safe."

"I also met the old shopkeeper whom His Majesty entrusted to me. He arrived just in time. Although the misunderstanding caused some delay, it gave Han Xin more time to prepare."

"Everything was originally going according to His Majesty's plan, but the confrontation the other day was truly beyond my expectations, as well as Han Xin's expectations."

"When Xiang Ji led his troops to charge, the scene at the beginning was almost identical to that battle outside the pass, and almost instantly tore a gap in the Manchu army."

"But he charged too fast, so much so that the troops behind him could not keep up and could not provide support."

"If he hadn't been exceptionally brave, and if Han Xin hadn't quickly arranged for backup, he probably wouldn't have just been injured."

In just a few words, Liu Bang understood what had happened the day before.

Xiang Yu may have been incredibly brave, but if he didn't have enough elite troops to follow him and was surrounded by enemy forces, he would have been outnumbered and outmatched.

"Are you badly injured?"

This is his biggest concern.

Every step in this process must be flawless.

He believed in Han Xin's ability to rapidly build up an army, but there wasn't enough time, and the surrounding population was already small.

There is a limit to the number of soldiers Han Xin can recruit.

The sheer number of soldiers was insufficient to allow him to fully utilize his abilities, and the training time was also insufficient to ensure that the individual soldiers' skills could match those of the Qing army.

If Xiang Yu were to be removed, it would be hard to say whether things would proceed as planned.

"It wasn't serious, just a sprain in his thigh and shoulder. Before I came back, he was still yelling that he would definitely teach those Tartars a lesson next time."

"But if he was like this even when he was at his peak, can he really do better next time?"

Xiang Yu's injuries were indeed not serious. After pulling out the broken arrows, he didn't utter a sound and remained as energetic as ever.

But Xiao He did not feel relieved at all.

The significance behind this event far outweighs the severity of Xiang Yu's injuries.

"Indeed, if Xiang Yu cannot defeat and break the Qing army's battle formation as he wishes, it will be difficult for Han Xin to put enough pressure on them."

"If the Qing army does not retreat, it will be difficult to annihilate them even if they are attacked from both sides on this vast plain."

Liu Bang murmured.

"Han Xin said the same thing. He suggested that if they were not confident of annihilating them all, they could let a portion of the Qing army pass through first."

Release some, kill others.

After solving one part, we can then focus our efforts on dealing with the remaining half.

Doing so is tantamount to spreading the pressure, at the cost of countless ordinary people.

"Tell him to stop giving his father such terrible ideas!"

"He promised you that as long as you could establish an encirclement, you could annihilate the Qing army. What? You've changed your mind now?"

"Send someone to tell him that no matter what methods he uses, the line of defense he is on is the bottom line, and we must not allow any Tartar to break through it!"

"If he can't even do this much, then let alone the title of 'God of War,' he's not even worthy of being called a coward!"

Liu Bang rejected it without hesitation.

He even sent some Qing troops over there. How dare he not fly to the heavens?

"Your Majesty, in fact, doing this, even if it means abandoning some of the people, would also be beneficial to us."

"The outcome of the battle between Li Zicheng and the Ming court has been decided. We also need a force to mediate and at least prevent Li Zicheng from becoming too powerful so quickly."

"Otherwise, even if we wipe out the Qing army, we will be under great pressure."

Xiao He quickly offered some advice.

After Han Xin made this suggestion, he understood it very well.

As long as the number of Qing troops released is within control, it can be considered a brilliant move.

"Xiao He, you have probably already forgotten."

Seeing his sincere and earnest persuasion, Liu Bang couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.

"Back when you and your grandfather were watching dogs fight at the village entrance, and freeloading off the villagers, were we some big shots back then?"

"We are just ordinary people, so why do you think of yourself as so noble?"

"You keep talking about abandoning some people, but have you ever considered those people who were abandoned?"

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. You civil officials say this all the time, but it's just empty talk, isn't it?"

And what about loving the people like one's own children?

Every single day, whenever something happens, someone immediately jumps out and says, "Your Majesty, you must love your people like your own children and be a benevolent ruler."

So the people you're talking about are just yourselves?

"If you have forgotten our original aspirations, then let's put aside the position of prime minister for now and go back to Pei County to think it over."

"Think about how we got to where we are today step by step, and think about those people who were abandoned. Did they really deserve to be abandoned?"

The more he spoke, the angrier Liu Bang became.

He even regretted bringing Xiao He instead of Zhang Liang.

At least Zhang Liang could give him reasonable advice in this situation, and he wouldn't consider the possibility of abandoning the people!

"I understand."

"Han Xin also anticipated that His Majesty might not be willing."

"Therefore, he also gave a second option, but in that case, His Majesty would inevitably have to lead the troops personally."