July 15, 202 BCE.
Han's offensive on all four sides had suppressed Northern Chu for nearly a month.
On June 21, Xiang An had led his troops in an attempt to break out from the more weakly defended southern side, but Liu Ji, stationed to the east, had immediately forced them back.
Then, Ying Bu's army, after a long march, joined up with Lu Wan's forces.
From that point on, Xiang An was trapped on all sides, with no possibility of escape.
The Han Army had driven Northern Chu's forces west of the Sishui River. Across the river, they could see the Dingtao Mao Plain outside Huling City.
Xiang An stood before the formation, staring at the Han Army across from him through his mask.
He could no longer show any more emotion.
He understood that this was his end.
The end of Northern Chu.
"Fourth Uncle." Xiang An removed his mask. Two clear tears ran down his expressionless face, carving trails through the grime. "I'm sorry. I couldn't lead you to victory."
"No one will blame you for that." Xiang Lu looked at the weeping Xiang An, his heart twisting like a knife.
He reached out and wiped away the two trails of tears from Xiang An's face.
Xiang An put his mask back on and walked to the very front of the formation. He raised his Great Pi and pointed it ahead.
There stood Han's upper ranks.
Liu Ji, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin were all there.
"Northern Chu—soldiers!!!" Xiang An roared, his voice filled with desolation.
"Here!!!" Even at the end of the road, Northern Chu's soldiers still answered Xiang An's call in loud voices.
"Follow this king—"
"Break—through the formation!!!!"
Xiang An's roar was heart-rending.
"Kill!!!!"
"Kill!!!!"
With their final resolve, Northern Chu launched