Only when Liu Bang returned with his army did he learn that the King of Qi had been beating the domestic nobles into submission and had also cut Xiang Yu's supply route from behind. This had so infuriated Xiang Yu that he could only go fight the King of Qi first, leaving the newly captured Xingyang somewhat undermanned.
Liu Bang immediately perked up. He might not be able to beat Xiang Yu, but could he not beat the rest of them?
Moreover, the soldiers Han Xin had trained were truly excellent to command. Xingyang, which had taken Xiang Yu more than half a year to capture, fell to Liu Bang again in barely over a month. This strategic stronghold returned to Liu Bang's hands.
Xiang Yu reached Qi Land and easily defeated the King of Qi's army, only for the King of Qi to retreat into a great city once more, refusing to surrender even unto death.
Helplessly, Xiang Yu discovered that despite winning countless battles, neither his territory nor his strength had increased at all. Instead, his troops kept dwindling.
Since he had always been winning, he had suffered no sudden, massive casualties, but battle after battle still whittled his soldiers away.
Xiang Yu was somewhat bewildered. Why was this happening?
If he could win battles, why could he not win All Under Heaven?
After contacting the feudal lords, Luo Yi returned to Liu Bang's side and learned of Liu Bang's earlier visit to Han Xin's camp. It left him somewhat helpless.
Liu Bang never faltered over major matters, but sometimes he still acted with the habits of the ruffian he had once been. Doing this too often would drive ruler and subject apart in heart and purpose, especially with someone as mindful of kindness as Han Xin. It