The sixth day of the sixth month.
The Northern Chu army marched east, intending to suppress the Han Army. Meanwhile, one force of the Han Army led by Liu Ji joined up with Ying Bu in the southeast, tightly surrounding Xiang Yu, King of Western Chu, at Gaixia.
"Strength enough to uproot mountains, spirit enough to overshadow the world, Yet the times were against me, and Wu Zhui would not move.
If Wu Zhui would not move, what could I do?
Yu, oh Yu, what was to become of you?"
Xiang Yu had already been driven into a desperate situation.
Yet even at this point, Xiang Yu still led a small force through the Han Army's layers of encirclement and fled southeast, toward the river.
He fled to Wu River Pavilion, west of the river.
All along the way, the pursuing troops Liu Ji had sent remained close on his heels.
"Your Majesty!"
By the riverbank, a boatman shouted.
He was the chief of Wu River Pavilion.
"Your Majesty, get aboard!"
His eyes full of anxiety, the pavilion chief shouted at Xiang Yu atop Wu Zhui's back, "Though Jiangdong has only a thousand li of land and not many people, it can still serve as the foundation for Your Majesty to rise again!"
"Your Majesty, board the boat quickly. Let us return to Jiangdong. I alone have a boat capable of crossing the river; I have already destroyed all the others. Once the Han Army arrives, they will have no way to cross!"
Xiang Yu froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Cross the river?"
"No need."
He sighed to the pavilion chief.
"The eight thousand sons of Jiangdong crossed this Wu River with me and marched westward. Now, not a single one has returned. Even if I cross the river,