Xiang Yu gave Liu Bang time to catch his breath, so Liu Bang did not even return to Guanzhong, but stayed to defend the strategic stronghold of Xingyang.
The Feudal Lords throughout All Under Heaven finally saw the situation clearly. The position of Sovereign of All Under Heaven would fall to either Han or Chu, and everyone could only choose between the two.
Qi State had originally been powerful as well, but after the King of Qi finished killing the nobles, a large-scale civil war broke out, and the state's strength plummeted.
With Xiang Yu fanning the flames, Qi State was badly depleted, though the King of Qi remained full of fighting spirit. Of course, he had foreseen this outcome.
Although he no longer had the strength to contend for supremacy over All Under Heaven, harassing the Chu Army's rear was still no problem. When Xiang Yu attacked, he would slip back into a city and hold fast; once Xiang Yu left, he would harass the Chu Army's rear again.
With this in mind, the King of Qi dispatched an envoy to Liu Bang, first notifying Lü Ze. Lü Ze was overjoyed. If they could truly form an alliance, this would be a tremendous source of support for him. There were only a scant few people whose ties to the Lü Clan could actually be verified, so naturally they ought to stand together.
Moreover, as the smoke of war cleared over Xiangying, word spread that Empress Lü and Liu Ying had not died, but were merely being held in Xiangying by Xiang Yu, with the treatment due to Princes and Lords.
Since Xiang Yu was not killing them now, they could find an opportunity later to exchange for Lü Zhi and Liu Ying. Even if it cost his entire fortune,