My father, Fan Zeng, was always curious about tricks and offered five great tricks to Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu. Why were they all full of surprises?

"Historical Records" says that Fan Zeng "has a simple home and a curious mind", and "Hanshu" says that Fan Zeng "has a simple and curious mind". Both historical records think that Fan Zeng is "good" rather than "good", that is, Fan Zeng He just "likes" strange tricks, not "specializes" in strange tricks. With just one word difference, we know that Fan Zeng is not a strange person like Zhang Liang, Han Xin, and Chen Ping, but a stranger like Li Shiqi and Chen Ping. Yu, Lu Jia, Liu Jing, and Kuai Tong were all well-educated people.

Although Fan Zeng was just a "hobby" and not a "specialist" in clever tactics, he still had some clever tricks on the issues of resisting the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. After supporting the Chu royal family, he followed the wishes of the people. It is comparable to Cao Cao's "taking the emperor to give orders to the princes", and comparable to Zhang Er and Chen Yu's plan for Chen Sheng, "after establishing the six kingdoms, they will build a party for themselves and benefit Qin's enemies".

Strive to defeat Pei Gong Liu Bang to avoid future troubles. Liu Bang's desires and abilities are not inferior to Xiang Yu's. If Liu Bang is not eliminated before Liu Bang becomes too big, there will be no chance in the future.

Xiang Zhuang danced with the sword, aiming at Pei Gong. At the Hongmen Banquet, Xiang Yu agreed with Xiang Bo's plan to treat Liu Bang softly and refused to take action against Liu Bang, so Fan Zeng encouraged Xiang Zhuang to take advantage of the sword dance to assassinate Liu Bang.

Drive Liu Bang to Bashu, and use Sanqin generals to stay in Guanzhong, Shaanxi to stop Liu Bang. Both Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng knew that Liu Bang's ability was inferior to that of Liu Bang, so they could not fight against Liu Bang without certain methods. Therefore, they used the excuse that "Bashu is also located in Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province", and made Liu Bang the king of Bashu, and divided Guanzhong, Shaanxi Province into three parts. Three Qin surrendered generals Zhang Han, Dong Yi and Sima Xin were sent to garrison to prevent Liu Bang from leaving the country.

Reject Liu Bang's peace proposal, strike while the iron is hot, and rush to attack Xingyang to avoid future troubles forever. During the battle between Chu and Han, Liu Bang used it as bait to raise Xiang Yu's army in Xingyang, and then divided his troops with Han Xin and other famous generals to fight on two fronts, one in the south and one in the north. Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng saw through Liu Bang's thoughts, biting Liu Bang and not letting go. They kept attacking Liu Bang's corridor, causing Liu Bang to stop eating in Xingyang City. When Liu Bang had no other options, they actively sought an alliance. Xiang Yu originally wanted to agree, but Fan Zeng gave it to him. Otherwise, Fan Zeng felt that he could defeat Liu Bang in one fell swoop.

Fan Zeng's five great tricks are indeed wonderful, but they also have great safety risks.

The first plan lays a hidden security risk for how to solve the status problem of King Xiong Xin of Chu Huai in the future; the second and third plans, if successful, will make Xiang Yu lose his credibility, and if Liu Bang dies, Xiang Yu may not necessarily be able to exploit the world as a "general of princes"; the fourth plan is to give people a handle, giving Liu Bangdong an excuse to fight for the world, and at the same time increasing the fighting spirit of the Han soldiers; the fifth plan is to make Xiang Yu Losing the good opportunity to be respected as a monarch by Liu Bang, once Liu Bang's golden cicada escapes from his shell, it will be the time for Liu Bang to start over.

Time has also verified that among these five strategies, Xiang Yu did not listen to the two strategies that he never adopted. Instead, Xiang Yu had to settle the "courtier status" with Liu Bang, which was a huge advantage. He had the "courtier status" with Liu Bang. Only then can Xiang Yu exploit the world as a "general of princes". Otherwise, if Liu Bang resists and cooperates with Tian Rong of Qi State in Guanzhong, Shaanxi, Han Guang, King of Yan, and Junfa Peng Yue to resist Xiang Yu's exploitation of the world, Xiang Yu can still Is there any smooth exploitation under the sun?

In addition, Fan Zeng’s status and social status in Xiang’s army may also be very different from what we expected.

Is Fan Zeng allied with the Xiang family, or with Xiong Xin, King Huai of Chu?

Is the "Yafu" logo on Fan Zeng's back the honorific title given to him by Xiang Yu, or a nickname for Fan Zeng?

As mentioned before, Fan Zeng thought that his clever plan to establish Xiong Xin, a descendant of the Chu royal family, as king was actually digging a hole for the Xiang family.

Xiang Liang originated from Wucheng. After killing Yin Tong, the prefect of Kuaiji, Xiang Liang did not immediately come up with the pretense of rebelling against Qin. Instead, he held Yin Tong's seal in his hand and became the prefect of Kuaiji independently. He made Xiang Yu a partial general and attacked counties outside the city in the name of Qin's governor. After Zhao Ping fulfilled the king's edict and worshiped him as the Shangzhu of Chu, Xiang Liang led his army across the Huai River and used the guise of Chu to rebel against Qin. . In other words, when he first started his career, Xiang Liang was on the fence between Qin and Chu. He did not decide to turn to Chu until the temptation given to him by Chu was higher.

After Jingju became independent and became King Wen of Chu, Xiang Liang, a conspirator who was forced to worship Chu Shangzhu, used "Jingju's rebellion and immorality" as an excuse to knock down Jingju. As soon as Ju died, Xiang Liang gathered "other generals" such as Chen Ying, Liu Bang, Lu Chen, Yingbu, and Pu to deliberate. Everyone knew what was discussed, and naturally it was Xiang Liang's independence as King Wen of Chu.

At that moment, Fan Zeng, who had always been at home, came out to persuade Xiang Liang and suggested that Xiong Xin, the grandson of Prince Chu Wei, be made king to prevent Chen Sheng's mistakes from happening again.

What happened after that was very interesting. Xiang Liang, Fan Zeng, Liu Bang and others supported Xiong Xin as king, and Fan Zeng disappeared from historical records. The soldiers who followed Xiang Yu and Lu Chen worshiped Song Yi as the general who went north to save Zhao. Fan Zengcai happened again in historical records. The true identity of the "last general" who went north to save Zhao was revealed. Song Yi was undoubtedly Chu Huai If Wang Xiong likes people, will Fan Zeng be the same person as Chu Huai and Wang Xiong likes? Xiang Yu once wanted to march westward with Liu Bang, but his appeal was rejected by the veterans of King Wei of Chu. Could Fan Zeng be one of the veterans of King Wei of Chu?

Later, Chen Ping used a stratagem to instigate a relationship between Zhong Liwan, Fan Zeng and other "hard-nosed ministers" and the overlord Xiang Yu. Fan Zeng reacted greatly and immediately resorted to resigning, but Xiang Yu did not recover. Why did Xiang Yu firmly believe that Fan Zeng, who once thought he could defeat Liu Bang, would collude with Liu Bang secretly? I thought the reason was in this account from the west:

Dong Gongzhe, the third old man in Xincheng, said that the king of Han died in Yidi. When the king of Han heard this, he cried bitterly. Then he went to mourn for the Righteous Emperor for three days. He sent a special envoy to tell the princes and states: "The emperor of the world has established the Righteous Emperor, and he will do it in the north. Now Xiang Yu has killed the Righteous Emperor in the south of the Yangtze River, which is a great rebellion. I have done my best to attend the funeral, and the princes and states are all in peace. I have sent troops outside the pass. Recruit the Sanhe soldiers and float down to Hanyang in the south, hoping to attack Chu from the other princes and kill the Righteous Emperor."

Whether it is true or false, Liu Bang is indeed the only one who has made himself known as King Xiong of Chu Huai. Liu Bang is also the only vassal state that has the ability to defeat Xiang Yu and avenge King Chu Huai. If Fan Zeng's heart is always towards the Chu royal family and King Chu Huai, Fan Zeng and Liu Bang collude in private, that is, It’s not difficult to answer. Didn't Zhang Liang, who supported and assisted Han Wangcheng, also take advantage of Liu Bang's beauty to beg for his life from Xiang Yu?

Finally, let’s talk about the “Yafu” logo on Fan Zeng’s back. I think "Yafu" may be a nickname, not Xiang Yu's honorific title for Fan Zeng.

King Xiang and Bo Xiang sat facing east, and Yafu sat facing south. The sub-father is Fan Zeng.

This is also the first time that Fan Zeng is regarded as the "sub-father". It is not said here that Fan Zeng is Xiang Yu's "sub-father". In the same "Historical Records", Fan Zeng was also called "Yafu" by the creator Sima Qian, King of Han Liu Bang, and Prime Minister Chen Ping.

Creator: Yafu persuaded Xiang Yu to attack Pei Gong. / Therefore, Xiang Yu is suspicious of Ya's father. At this time, Yafu persuaded Xiang Yu to go to Xingyang. When he saw the doubts, Yafu became angry and resigned.../ Yafu was subjected to a jade fight, put it on the ground, drew his sword and smashed it.../When Yafu heard that King Xiang was suspicious, he became angry: "The great events in the world have been settled, and the monarch has done this for himself! Please return the bones!"

The King of Han: Seeing the special envoy, he was surprised and said: "I think Yafu's special envoy is the anti-King Xiang envoy."/ said. : "I have a pair of white jade to offer to King Xiang, and a pair of jade to fight with my father, but I will be angry with him and am afraid to offer it. Please offer them to me."

Prime Minister Chen: "... Gu There are those who can cause chaos in Chu. King Xiang’s skeletal ministers Yafu, Zhongli Mei, Long Qie, and Zhou Yin are subordinates, but a few people can hear it..."

Thus, I suspect that "Yafu" is not Xiang Yu's honorific title for Fan Zeng is actually a symbol of Fan Zeng. It is similar to the "tattoo cloth" on Ying Bu's body label, which is just a nickname.

If "Yafu" is a nickname, how should the word "Yafu" be interpreted?

I mentioned earlier that Fan Zeng "simply lives at home". Fan Zeng, who has lived for more than seventy years, is quite talented. Isn't it strange that he "simply lives at home" and does not start a career? ? Liu Bang's counselor Li Shiqi is somewhat similar to Fan Zeng. Li Shiqi did not go down the mountain until he was over 60 years old. However, there is an explanation in historical records for why Li Shiqi did not go down the mountain until he was over 60 years old. He is a well-educated man, eight feet tall, and has always looked down on others. He is called a "fanatic", that is, he is not well-known, so he rarely has a good opportunity to do something in his career. Similar to Li Shiqi, Han Xin cannot The reason why he was recommended as an official was because Han Xin was "poor and incompetent". What is the reason for Fan Zeng’s “simple home furnishing”? The answer is really hidden in the word "Yafu".

In addition to meaning "second best", "Ya" also means "ugly". "Father" also means "old man" in "Historical Records". The old man who drank water and the peasant who tricked Xiang Yu into going to the left are also called "father", so I guess that "Yafu" may mean "ugly old man". It may be because of his ugly appearance that Fan Zengcai has always been You can't go out and start a career.