Chapter 379: Stalemate 02

  Liu Shanhe's inauguration ceremony was very grand. On the large square in front of the county government, he ordered a large table to be set up, on which were placed offerings such as dogs, pigs, cattle and sheep. At the same time, incense burners were also placed on it, making the entire altar shrouded in smoke. On both sides, countless red flags were arranged, all of which were decided by Liu Shanhe himself to be made red. This matter can be traced back to his having heard a legend about the son of the Red Emperor killing the son of the White Emperor.

  Liu Shanhe was well aware that to truly unite people around him, relying solely on his so-called leadership charm was far from enough. A very important point was that he had to make people have a sense of reverence for him in their hearts. So, he couldn't help but think of the time when he led the uprising against the White Snake. Not long after, the legend of "the Red Emperor's son killing the White Emperor's son" began to spread widely. At the time, Liu Sen just smiled when he heard the legend and didn't pay much attention to it. But now, he thought this was a great opportunity to borrow from. If he made all his flags red, people would naturally think: "Why did Liu Bang make his banner red? There must be some secret behind it!" And then, people would definitely investigate, and the more they investigated, the higher Liu Shanhe's status and influence among the people would rise.

  Thus, amidst the cheers of the crowd, Liu Shanhe donned a deep red cloak and stepped up onto the altar with an air of majesty. Following protocol, he first paid homage to the Yellow Emperor, then to Chiyou, and finally, facing all those present, read out his inaugural declaration. The declaration stated:

  "Fellow fathers and villagers, fellow comrades! I, Liu Bang, was born in a chaotic era and refused to be driven by the brutal Qin dynasty. Therefore, during this great upheaval, with winds rising and clouds gathering, I rose up in arms against the Qin. From the time I started my uprising at Mangdang until now, it has been two years and three months! Since I, Liu Bang, took up arms, I have received strong support from all of you brothers and fellow villagers, especially during the attack on Pei County's city walls, not a single soldier was lost, no blood was shed, and we entered the city smoothly. This is inseparable from the great support of all the fathers and villagers! Here, I, Liu Bang, express my deepest gratitude to the fathers who supported our righteous army!!" Having said this, Liu Bang bowed deeply to the surrounding crowd.

  ……

  It should be said that Liu Shanhe's inauguration ceremony was very successful. Afterwards, Liu Shanhe also appointed related positions, of course, those important positions were naturally held by people who had the closest personal relationship with him, such as Liu Bang appointing Xiao He as Chancellor, Cao Shen as Zhongyu, Fan Kuai as Sheren, Xiahou Ying as Taipu, and Ren Ao as Mengke.

  In the evening, the whole county government was even more bustling with joy and excitement. Everyone gathered together, drinking and celebrating the fact that the righteous army had finally attacked Pei County and gained its first base of operations. After downing three bowls of wine, Liu Shanhe raised his cup high, just like he did on that rainy night when he incited the prisoners to rise up after letting them escape.

  Liu Bang held up his wine cup and said loudly, "Ah, we did it, everyone! From the time I started the uprising in Mangdang, I have always received your support. Today, we launched a surprise attack on Pei County, and thanks to our strategy, not a single soldier was injured or killed. This is all thanks to the great support of you, our elders! And after entering the city, you have shown me such kindness and elected me as the Lord of Pei. I, Liu Bang, am truly grateful and will never forget this. Come, let me toast you all with a cup of wine!" With that, Liu Bang downed his cup in one gulp. The crowd naturally followed suit, finishing their cups in one swallow. For a time, the celebratory atmosphere at the county government office reached its peak.

  At this time, Liu Shanhe ordered his soldiers to refill everyone's wine again, and then toasted one by one to all the people. When he came to an old man, the old man was so excited that he held the wine bowl in both hands and said to Liu Shanhe: "The Marquis of Pei is indeed a righteous and just lord! It is precisely because of the Marquis of Pei that our people in Pei County have been spared from the disaster of war. His merits are truly immeasurable, his merits are truly immeasurable! Haha haha haha~~~~~~"

  It should be said that the old man was still very good at speaking, on the one hand, his few words expressed the voice of the people, and also did not boast. On the other hand, those words also touched Liu Shanhe's heart. Who wouldn't want to hear such words? However, Liu Shanhe had to pretend to be humble: "Where, where, ashamed, ashamed!" In this way, Liu Shanhe toasted with everyone in the midst of the crowd's congratulations and exceptionally warm atmosphere. By the end, he was naturally drunk beyond drunkenness, and even forgot how people walked in space.

  However, there was one thing he didn't forget. That is, when Lv Wei helped him take off his shoes and socks to wash his feet, he finally sobered up from his drunkenness. Under the influence of alcohol, he couldn't help but stare at Lv Wei with eyes that wouldn't blink. At first, Lv Wei hadn't realized Liu Shanhe's gaze was filled with animalistic desire, and she just continued to wash his feet seriously. But later, she started to feel something was off, so she lifted her head up and saw the gaze in Liu Shanhe's eyes, which was like a volcanic eruption...

  Lü Zhi's face immediately turned red. It should be known that tonight, Lü Zhi had also drunk a lot of wine. Some of the wine was what she drank on behalf of Liu Shanhe; while some of it was what she actively drank with some respected elderly people or those who had made great contributions, such as Fan Kuai. So her complexion was not inferior to Liu Shanhe's at all, and it was also red. However, Lü Zhi, who showed a hint of intoxication, unexpectedly stirred up Liu Shanhe's masculine passion even more. He couldn't bear it anymore, didn't even wipe his feet, and suddenly swept Lü Zhi off her waist, throwing her onto the bed. Then he hastily undressed and unfastened his belt, and in Lü Zhi's half-pushing and half-laughing voice, he fully vented his wild joy on Lü Zhi's body...

  And Lü Zhi? She was overjoyed that her husband had finally taken the first step towards success. At last, she thought, her suffering had not been in vain; at last, the year she spent in prison had not been wasted. Now, her husband had become the highest official in Pei County, and she had transformed into the county magistrate's wife. Previously, she was just a fugitive's wife, someone people avoided or feared. A sense of vicissitudes arose in Lü Zhi's heart. However, no matter what, her husband had successfully taken the first step, although she didn't know what lay ahead on their path. Nevertheless, her heart was filled with boundless passion and longing for the future...

  On her own body, Liu Shanhe was panting and moving, while she, Lü Yu, was enjoying it at the same time, but in her mind, she couldn't help but think of the prophecy her father had made about her husband: This person has a strange face, and will surely have great wealth and honor in the future!

  She also remembered the old man with white beard she met in her field that day, who was so surprised by her face that he didn't dare to say anything. It seems that entrusting her life to this person is correct!

  At last, she suddenly felt the person on her body - her husband Liu Bang began to move rapidly, faster and faster, and she herself felt more and more unable to hold on. Finally, amidst the cries of the two people, her mind went blank, knowing nothing.

  The next day, the sun was shining brightly. Although Liu Shanhe had drunk too much the night before, he didn't oversleep. Now that Pei County was just established and it was a busy time, how could he sleep well as the newly appointed Magistrate of Pei? He was now the top leader of Pei County's military and government affairs. Although there were people helping him with various tasks, without him, the main person in charge, nothing could be done.

  But what surprised Liu Shanhe was that his wife, Lü Yu, had already gotten up and was busy running around the house! Liu Shanhe felt deeply moved and thought to himself that his wife was indeed capable. If he achieved great things in the future, his wife's contributions would be invaluable!

  After washing his face, Lü Zhi had already brought up the dishes. Looking at Lü Zhi's busy forehead with dense sweat, Liu Shanhe felt a strange feeling in his heart. After finishing breakfast, Liu Shanhe ordered someone to invite Xiao He and others to come and discuss the matter, while he himself held a bowl of fragrant tea and walked back and forth alone in the courtyard. It seemed leisurely, but actually, his mind was surging with waves!

  Last night at the wine party, he was already drunk and had Mrs. Lü Zhi personally bring a cup to toast Xiao He's wine. Liu Shanhe knew that this time, in order to take down Pei County so smoothly, Xiao He's plan played the most important role. Think about it, when you have troops stationed outside the county city walls but can't think of a way to attack, it was Xiao He who suggested using this inside-outside combination method, which led to the success of the big event. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? And this battle is very important for Liu Shanhe's next step in development. If you can't even take down such a small county city at your own doorstep, or if you do take it down but suffer heavy losses and damage to your troops, that would be very unfavorable for your long-term development. But the scene of taking down Pei County a few days ago made Liu Shanhe feel like he was under the auspices of good luck. Perhaps a successful beginning has already arrived. And the one who created this situation is naturally Xiao He's plan. The entire event unfolded almost exactly as expected, truly worthy of being called a divine move. If Xiao He hadn't stepped forward and come up with such an excellent plan at that time, it's hard to say how the war would have turned out.

  So, from any point of view, the first credit for capturing Pei County should go to Xiao He. Moreover, when Xiao He himself was in trouble, he helped several times and was indeed a good friend. Now that he has surrendered to his own camp, it is only right to make good use of him! However...

  Another thing that made him feel a bit of a headache was the matter of Fan Kuai. To be sure, although Xiao He's achievements were unmatched, Fan Kuai's contributions were also not small. If one were to carefully consider it, he should be considered the second person after Xiao He. Because even if Xiao He's strategy was excellent, fierce, and perfect, but without a good executor, it would still be useless. This point, Liu Bang couldn't help but understand in his heart.

  He certainly still remembers that at the beginning, Xiang Yu said that this plan needed a brave and fierce person to infiltrate into the city, and only then could it be successful. And afterwards, looking back on the development of the whole event, it was indeed so. Because after Xiang Yu's letter was shot into the city, whether it would take effect, whether it could win over the hearts of the soldiers and civilians defending the city, in short, whether it could play its role, this person who infiltrated into the city was the key to success.

  In this matter, Fan Kuai was naturally very proactive and enthusiastic. He was the first to jump out and ask to enter the city, and he completed his task exceptionally well. According to later accounts, after entering the city, Fan Kuai seized a silk banner, selected an elderly man to read it aloud to the crowd, then stirred up the masses with passionate rhetoric, and finally led the mobilized soldiers and civilians in a charge into the county government office, where he personally beheaded the County Magistrate with one stroke of his sword. This series of actions was truly well-planned and executed seamlessly. When Liu Bang saw Fan Kuai holding the County Magistrate's head and opening the city gate, he couldn't help but feel that this guy was lovably enthusiastic!

  However, last night, with the help of wine, Fan Zeng came to ask for credit: "Third brother, who do you think is the first achievement in taking down Pei City?" The implication was that this first achievement was none other than himself. At that time, Liu Bang had just ordered his wife Lü Zhi to toast Xiao He with wine, and naturally he already knew in his heart who was the first achievement. However, he wouldn't be foolish enough to tell Fan Zeng the truth, so after glancing at Fan Zeng's face a few times, he smiled and said: "Haha, brother, taking Pei City, the first achievement is naturally yours! No one will compete with you for this achievement, you can rest assured, haha!"

  Actually, Fan Zeng is a straightforward person with no ulterior motives. He was one of my closest brothers back in the day and we shared a deep bond. However, when it comes to interests, even if you're close brothers or even father and son, things can get complicated. Throughout history, many brothers and even fathers and sons have turned against each other over interests, so once interests are involved, it's a matter of life and death that requires careful consideration.

  Nature, Fan Kuai's dispute over merit is not a problem for Liu Shanhe. After all, Fan Kuai is a straightforward person who sees the big picture and would not resent himself for not being the first to achieve success. However, such things will definitely happen more often in the future and will be even more complicated. This is truly a test for Liu Shanhe. It's worth noting that many people did not fall on the battlefield but were killed after victory in the scramble for interests. This is a bloody lesson, and Liu Shanhe would never let it happen to himself.

  Liu Shanhe couldn't help but laugh at this. He still remembered telling Fan Qiang, "Third Brother will not treat you unfairly." Fan Qiang opened his half-closed drunken eyes, breathed out wine fumes, and with a tilted gaze said to Liu Shanhe, "Ah, I'm saying Third Brother, since...since owing Fan Qiang one for the great achievement, then what do you plan on doing to thank me?"

  "Oh, how can I thank you? Hehe, hehe, this is easy to say, this is easy to say! Hmm, I'll just make you a general! General, what do you think?" Liu Shanhe was also somewhat drunk, but in his heart, he was clear-headed. No matter how good of brothers they were before, when it came to rewards and promotions, no one could be let off easily!

  "Ah, General? General? Alright, alright, General! Alright! Third Brother, in the future when you go to battle and conquer cities, you won't be able to leave me, Fan Qiang, behind!" Fan Qiang said with a drunken swagger.

  "Ah, that's it, I'll have plenty of battles to fight in the future, and I won't be able to leave you behind, brother! Hahaha~~~~~" Liu Shanhe said with a smile, and then continued to ask Fan Qiang: "Brother, how is it? Is this general position still working?"

  "General? General? Ah, it's okay, it's okay! Hahaha～～～" It seems that Fan Kuai is still very satisfied with Liu Shanhe conferring the title of general on himself, and his face is smiling like a flower. Liu Shanhe knows that for himself, conferring what person to do what official position is just like giving himself a name, but for others, it's risking their lives to advance their own careers!

  Just then, Liu Shanhe found that his younger sister-in-law, Lü Hu, came to his side with a wine jar and said, "Brother-in-law, I'll fill you up!"

  It seems that his own righteous army has taken down Pei City, and the entire Lü family, including his father-in-law, now looks at him with new eyes. His younger sister-in-law is even more enthusiastic, with a gaze full of admiration. Lü Zhi naturally knew why her sister married Liu Bang - it was because their father believed in Liu's auspicious appearance, saying that he would definitely have great wealth and honor in the future. Later, when Liu Bang hid in Mount Mangdang to avoid punishment, and his sister was taken away by the county magistrate for questioning, his whole family, including his father, were sighing with worry all day long. His father had nothing to say, although he didn't utter a word of regret - after all, his daughter had been sent into Liu Bang's hands by him, and now that she had fallen into trouble, what could he do?