Disciplining Emperor Gaozu of Han

Inside the palace of King Dongyang.

After finishing his physical exercise, Liu Bang felt refreshed and his face was flushed. He rested his head on Lady Qi's long, white legs and enjoyed himself immensely.

"King of Han, do you really intend to make Liu Ying the crown prince?" Lady Qi gently stroked Liu Bang's cheeks with both hands, looking very worried.

"Don't worry about it," Liu Bang shook his head. "I gave him only a month to destroy Zhang Han; that's impossible."

"What if he actually finishes it?" Lady Qi was still worried.

"Impossible!" Liu Bang refused to believe it. "That's Zhang Han, a fine general, skilled in battle. I've been besieging him for almost a year, and I still can't do anything about it."

"Zhang Han is a good general? He has so many men but he can't defeat Xiang Yu's fifty thousand men." Lady Qi looked down on Zhang Han.

"Shut up," Liu Bang snapped.

"What? You dare tell me to shut up?" Lady Qi was furious.

"I can tolerate your nonsense in other matters, but not in important ones." Liu Bang said with a serious face, "Zhang Han's defeat at the hands of Xiang Yu was for other reasons, not because Zhang Han was incompetent."

"What's the reason? King Han, tell me." Lady Qi asked curiously.

"This is a long story, involving many aspects, and cannot be explained in a short time. Just know that Zhang Han is a capable fighter. Ying'er, although intelligent, is still young and has no experience in battle. It is impossible for her to defeat Zhang Han within a month." Liu Bang was full of confidence.

"Now I can rest assured." Lady Qi's worries were relieved.

"The matter of the crown prince cannot be rushed. Once one is chosen, it will be difficult to change him. I need to see which of my sons is the most virtuous." Liu Bang has no plans to appoint a crown prince at present.

"Lixian? Excellent, my child is sure to be the most virtuous." Lady Qi smiled radiantly.

"I dare to inform the King of Han: The prince has come to present the captives." Tian strode in and greeted Liu Bang with clasped hands.

"Alright, let him in. Hmm? Present prisoners? What prisoners?" Liu Bang realized as soon as he spoke that Liu Ying was presenting prisoners.

"King of Han, didn't you send a prince to destroy Zhang Han? Of course, it's to surrender Zhang Han." Tian was extremely surprised.

"Zhang Han? Tian, ​​how dare you deceive me!" Liu Bang grabbed the brocade shoe with his right hand and slammed it heavily at Tian, ​​cursing, "I rescued you from a pile of corpses back then, and you dare to lie to me."

"Tian, ​​you have no conscience at all," Lady Qi chimed in.

"Your Majesty, such a momentous matter, how could I dare to speak carelessly?" Tian Du was almost in tears, his face contorted with distress. "Your Majesty, it's true. The prince has already brought Zhang Han into the palace."

"You still dare to lie to me? Ying'er has only been gone for a few days? In just two days, he can destroy Zhang Han?" Liu Bang would never believe it.

Liu Bang had been holding Zhang Han captive for nearly a year, unable to subdue him. To expect him to believe that Liu Ying would bring Zhang Han to him as a prisoner in just two days was like asking him to believe that pigs could fly rather than believe it was true.

"King Han, whether it's true or false, why don't you go and see for yourself?" Tian stomped his right foot heavily on the ground.

"I'll go check it out. If you dare to lie to me, I'll beat you to death." Liu Bang sat up abruptly.

Tian picked up the brocade shoes and handed them over. Liu Bang took them, slipped them on, and quickly walked out.

Lady Qi followed quickly behind.

"That's Zhang Han?" Lady Qi looked at the unrecognizable Zhang Han and couldn't believe it. She smiled contemptuously and said, "Liu Ying is incredibly audacious. He actually hired someone to impersonate Zhang Han to deceive the King of Han. Your Majesty, you must not let him get away with this."

"Zhang...Han?" Liu Bang rubbed his eyes incessantly with his right hand, almost popping his eyeballs out, staring intently at Zhang Han: "It really is Zhang Han! How is this possible?"

Liu Bang had fought with Zhang Han before, so he naturally recognized Zhang Han, even though Zhang Han had long lost his former heroic spirit.

He absolutely couldn't believe it was true.

"Is it really Zhang Han? How could Zhang Han be such a person?" Lady Qi was both incredulous and astonished upon hearing Liu Bang's words. The once-renowned general looked like a skeleton.

"Zhang Han greets the King of Han." Liu Ying did not tie Zhang Han up, but simply let him walk in front. When Zhang Han saw Liu Bang come out, he clasped his hands in a salute, very casually.

"Zhang Han, how were you captured?" Liu Bang scratched his forehead with his right hand, as if trying to dig the answer out of his brain.

"I dare to tell the King of Han: I was scolded by the prince and had no choice but to submit," Zhang Han replied.

"Insults? You surrendered?" Liu Bang didn't believe it and sneered, "What kind of insults could make you surrender?"

"It is all my fault," Zhang Han said, his face somber.

"A sin? How could I not have thought of that?" Liu Bang slapped his face hard with his right hand.

Among the people of the Three Qin regions, Zhang Han was the most principled. Precisely because of his principled nature, everything he experienced was considered a crime. Moreover, each of these crimes was potentially fatal. If used properly, they could be used to humiliate Zhang Han to the point of having no place to hide, forcing him to surrender.

"Zhang Han is shameless. I beg the King of Han to grant me death." Zhang Han had no interest in life and had long been determined to die. Even as a prisoner, he still wanted to end his life.

"Zhang Han, although you have held out in Feiqiu for nearly a year, preventing me from concentrating my full strength against Xiang Yu, I originally intended to punish you. However, considering you are also a heroic figure, I will grant your request." Liu Bang pondered for a moment: "How do you wish to die?"

"I leave it to the King of Han to decide." Zhang Han was extremely grateful, and once again clasped his hands in a salute, bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

"A hero like you deserves a proper burial. And you shouldn't be forced to commit suicide by someone else," Liu Bang said after thinking for a moment.

"Thank you, King Han!" Zhang Han bowed again, with utmost respect.

"Zhang Han, are you really that eager to die?" Liu Ying asked, looking at Zhang Han.

"Living is torture for me, I'd rather die." Zhang Han's will to die was extremely firm.

"Don't you want to see what happens to Sima Xin and Dong Yi?" Liu Ying asked.

"You two traitors!" Zhang Han's eyes blazed with fury. "You may want to, but you might not be able to get what you want."

"As long as you live, anything is possible." Liu Ying was full of confidence: "If the King of Han wants to conquer the world, he will definitely not spare Sima Xin and Dong Yi. They are destined to die."

"Thank you for the reminder, Prince." Zhang Han bowed to Liu Ying, then to Liu Bang: "Zhang Han is fickle. He doesn't want to die anymore and wants to see the fate of the two traitors with his own eyes. I beg Your Majesty to grant his request."

"If it were anyone else, would I give you a second chance? But you, I can grant your wish." Liu Bang gazed at Zhang Han and nodded heavily. "You are a hero, so I'll put you in a very special place. Come on, I'll personally escort you there."

"Where is it?" Zhang Han asked curiously.

"Please." Liu Bang did not answer, but stepped aside to invite him.

"Thank you, King Han," Zhang Han said.

Liu Ying glanced at Liu Bang with some surprise. Liu Bang was rude to his subordinates, treating his generals like children. Sometimes, he would even beat and kick them. His respectful treatment of Zhang Han was truly unexpected for Liu Ying.

On second thought, it makes sense. Zhang Han's current predicament is not his fault, but simply a matter of bad luck.

Regardless, Zhang Han was a heroic figure who deserved Liu Bang's respect.

Led by Liu Bang, the group left the palace and headed straight for the south of Liyang City. They arrived at their destination quickly.

There is a high and thick wall here, guarded by Han soldiers, with strict security.

There is a plaque at the main entrance with the three characters "Liyang Prison" written on it.

"Liyang Prison was an extremely important prison in the Qin state, specifically for detaining important criminals. Xiang Yu and his nephew were imprisoned here after they were arrested. At that time, Sima Xin, that scoundrel, was still a prison clerk." Liu Bang pointed to the plaque and explained to Zhang Han, "I'll imprison you here too."

"Thank you, King Han." Liyang Prison holds many important criminals, so the fact that they have placed Zhang Han here shows that they regard him as someone important, and Zhang Han is grateful.

Liu Ying looked around and saw that Liyang Prison occupied a considerable area, covering several acres. Moreover, it was entirely constructed of hard stone, and the windows were reinforced with iron bars.

That is why it was not destroyed when Xiang Yu massacred Guanzhong last year, and Liu Bang used it to imprison important criminals after he pacified the Three Qin.

Upon entering the prison, one finds it entirely constructed of stone, making it extremely sturdy and impossible to escape.

"This cell, numbered A-B, is the one where Xiang Yu was imprisoned. It's yours now," Liu Bang said to Zhang Han as he led his entourage to cell A-B.

~~~~~~

"I dare to request that the King of Han appoint Liu Ying as the Crown Prince!" Xiao He pleaded.

"Please, King of Han, establish Liu Ying as the Crown Prince." Xiahou Ying greeted him.

"Granted!" Liu Bang agreed.

(End of the book)