Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 11-13-04 22:13
Chinese stories - Han Xin (娯怣 ? to 196BC)
Han Xin was from the county of Huaiyin (熖堿鉷 in the southeast of present
day Huaiyin county in Jiangsu province 峕慼徣). His father died when Han
Xin was only a little boy and his family was very poor. Han Xin did not
want to become a farmer and he did not possess the skill to be a businessman.
He could not become an official as he had little education. He just did
nothing but loitering around. It was due to his incapacity to support his
mother that she died soon after. Han Xin was so poor that he had to beg
for food from friends he knew.
The military officer in the city of Nanchang (撿徆 present day Nan Chang
city in Jiangxi province 峕惣徣) was a friend of Han Xin. Taking advantage
of his friendship, Han Xin, frequently had dinner in the officer's house.
The officer did not mind because Han Xin was a friend. However, the wife
of the officer did not like Han Xin regularly having dinner in their place.
She purposely changed the time for having dinner. She served dinner at odd
times and Han Xin very often missed the dinner. Eventually, Han Xin discovered
that he was not welcomed in their place. So Han Xin did not go there for
free dinner.
Since he had nothing to do and had no means to support himself, Han Xin
went fishing in the river in the outskirts of the town of Huaiyin. There
were many women came to the river to wash their clothing. One old women
felt pity on him and provided him with food, three meals a day. For over
a month the old lady gave him food. One day, Han Xin told the old lady that
he was very grateful to her for supporting him. He promised that he would
reward her when he became rich. On hearing this the old lady scolded Han
Xin, "I feel pity on you that is why I give you food. A young man like cannot
even support yourself let alone of thinking of rewarding me. If you are
really a man do something for yourself." Han Xin thought that the old lady
was right.
Han Xin was very fond of carrying his sword wherever he went. One day, he
caught a few fish. He decided to sell them in the town. There were a few
undesirable young men in town. Seeing Han Xin carrying a sword and a few
fish, one of them made fun of Han Xin. He came to Han Xin and challenged
him saying, "You are carrying a sword. So you must be a brave man. If you
are not afraid to died, use your sword and stab me. If you are afraid to
die then crawl under my legs." There were many people looking at the young
man and Han Xin. They were all watching what Han xin had to do. After some
hesitation Han Xin crawled under the young man's crotched legs. The action
was a disgraceful-disgrace. The people watching Han Xin were all burst out
laughing. They all said that Han Xin was a timid and a coward young man.
Having learned the lessons from the old lady and the bad young man Han Xin
thought that he should do something about his life.
It was during the period of the Qin Dynasty (恅挬 221BC to 207BC). The people
suffered greatly under the Qin Government and they organized themselves
into armed bands to rebel against the Qin Government. Han Xin joined the
band that organized by Xiang Liang (崁椑), who was a descendant of the former
state of Chu (慯殸). Soon after another armed band organized by Liu Bang
(棲朚) joined Xiang Liang's group. The allied groups grew into a large army.
Han Xin was only a junior officer. When Xiang Liang died in the battle his
nephew Xiang Yu (崁塇) became the leader of the band. However, Han Xin remained
as a junior officer and he was not happy.
In 206BC, the Qin Dynasty was destroyed by the forces of Xiang Yu and Liu
Bang.
Han Xin continued to serve as a junior officer in the army under the command
of Xiang Yu. After the destruction of the Qin Government Xiang Yu became
the ruler of the land. He bestowed upon Liu Bang the Prince of Han (娍墹
) and transferred Liu Bang to Hanzhong (娍拞 present day Nanzheng county
撿揂鉷 in Shaanxi province 铦惣徣).
Since he was not being promoted in Xiang Yu's army Han Xin defected to Liu
Bang. While he was in Hanzhong he met Xiao He (錔壗), the Prime Minster
of Liu Bang. Han Xin and Xiao He often had long discussion on current affairs.
They agreed that sooner or later Xiang Yu would have war with Liu Bang.
In spite of the fact that Han Xin was a good military strategist Liu Bang
appointed Han Xin as an officer in charge of provision which was a junior
post in the army. Han Xin was disappointed.
One day in the late afternoon, Han Xin decided to leave Hanzhong for good.
He packed his belongings and rode off with a horse. After work, Xiao He
heard that Han Xin had left through the east gate of the city. Xiao He was
in panic and immediately he rode and tried to call Han Xin to come back.
Xiao He pursued Han Xin throughout the night. Eventually he got up with
Han Xin. Xiao He persuaded Han Xin to return to Hanzhong.
On hearing that Xiao He was chasing after Han Xin in the middle of the night,
Liu Bang was not happy. Finally, Xiao He and Han Xin returned to the city.
The next day, when Liu Bang met Xiao He, he told him that, " Many officers
had left Hanzhong why Prime Minister did not care. Why Han Xin, a junior
officer, has caused you such a great stir." Xiao He replied that, "Han Xin
is a great military strategist. There is no second one like Han Xin in the
country 殸巑柍櫾 (Guo Shi Wu Shuang). You need him to fight a war with Xiang
Yu."
Soon after, a civil war broke out between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. Han Xin
was appointed by Liu Bang as the commander-in-chief of the Han armed forces.
The war lasted until 202BC and Han Xin assisted Liu Bang in winning the
civil war against Xiang Yu. Eventually, Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty
206BC to 220AD) and became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. Han Xin
was rewarded the title of "戝洅孯 The Great General" and later rewarded
him another title " The Marquis of Huaiyin 熖堿岒."
Han Xin told one of his house keepers to go to his hometown and gave a few
pieces of gold to the old lady who gave him food when he was fishing in
the river when he was young.
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (揂塱尦)
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