After news of Han Xin's death spread, one person panicked: Ying Bu.
Ying Bu was also one of the leaders of the rebellion at the end of the Qin Dynasty. He later followed Xiang Yu and achieved great military exploits. During the Chu-Han Contention, he was bribed by Liu Bang, and after the Han Dynasty was established, he was enfeoffed as the King of Huainan. After Han Xin was executed, Peng Yue was also killed for rebelling. Liu Bang even ordered Peng Yue to be chopped into meat paste, packed into bags, and distributed to each feudal king as a warning. Only then did Ying Bu realize that Liu Bang intended to eliminate all the key meritorious officials to prevent future trouble. Filled with fear, he immediately ordered his household to strengthen defenses, reorganize the army, and closely monitor the movements of other feudal states.
One day, Ying Bu's favorite concubine fell ill and went to a physician's home for treatment. Across from the physician's house lived the Attendant-in-Ordinary Ben He, who sought to curry favor with Ying Bu. He bought many gifts and visited the concubine at the physician's home several times, eventually becoming familiar with her. While chatting with Ying Bu, the concubine mentioned Ben He, praising him as a very good person. Ying Bu angrily demanded to know how she had met Ben He, and the concubine explained the visits. Furious, Ying Bu suspected an illicit relationship and ordered Ben He's arrest. Upon hearing this, Ben He turned pale with fear and hid at home, which only confirmed Ying Bu's suspicions, making him vow to capture Ben He. Unable to explain himself, Ben He decided to go all the way and rode a carriage to Chang'an, intending to accuse Ying Bu of gathering troops to rebel before Emperor Gaozu of Han. Ying Bu quickly sent soldiers to pursue Ben He but failed to catch him. Before Emperor Gaozu, Ben He listed signs of Ying Bu's potential rebellion. Emperor Gaozu was hesitant, as there was no solid evidence, and rashly arresting Ying Bu might cause misunderstandings or even trigger a revolt. Prime Minister Xiao He advised, "I believe the King of Huainan would not do such a thing. Perhaps Ben He bears a grudge against him and is slandering him. Your Majesty could first imprison Ben He and observe the King of Huainan's reaction." When Ying Bu saw that Ben He had not returned and could not learn of the court's movements, he only heard that Emperor Gaozu had sent someone to investigate him. Believing his troop-gathering had been exposed, he hastily executed Ben He's entire family and then raised a rebellion. When the envoy saw that the King of Huainan had indeed rebelled, he hurried back to report to Emperor Gaozu.
Emperor Gaozu of Han released Ben He and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Qisi, then asked the assembly how to handle the matter of the King of Huainan. Most generals advocated sending troops to punish and kill Ying Bu, but the retainer of Marquis Teng, Lord Ruyin, named Xue Gong, said to Liu Bang: "The King of Huainan's rebellion is only to be expected. Initially, Your Majesty enfeoffed the three men Han Xin, Peng Yue, and Ying Bu; now that Han Xin and Peng Yue are both dead, Ying Bu naturally fears that Your Majesty will also kill him, which is why he chose to rebel." Liu Bang then asked Xue Gong for a strategy, and Xue Gong replied: "If Ying Bu were wise, Your Majesty would need to worry about the safety of the Han dynasty, but Ying Bu will definitely choose a course of action that works against his own interests, so Your Majesty can rest assured." Liu Bang was puzzled, and Xue Gong continued: "After rebelling, Ying Bu will first attack the state of Wu, seize Xia Cai and the state of Yue, then move his heavy treasures and gold and silver to Yue, and hide himself in Changsha; from this perspective, his actions will have no impact on the Han dynasty. Ying Bu was once a laborer doing hard service at Mount Li, with no grand ambitions; as long as he can secure a comfortable life, he is content, and he does not think of doing good deeds for the people of the world. The fundamental purpose of his rebellion is to place himself in a safe position." Upon hearing this, Liu Bang could not help but exclaim in praise, and Xue Gong was thus enfeoffed as Marquis of a thousand households. The title of King of Huainan was abolished, and Liu Bang instead enfeoffed his son Liu Chang as the new King of Huainan.
In 196 BCE, Liu Bang personally led an expedition against Ying Bu, engaging in a major battle with him at Ji County. The Han army repeatedly inflicted heavy losses on Ying Bu's forces, and his counterattacks were consistently ineffective. The Han army drove Ying Bu south of the Yangtze River, where he was eventually tricked into going to Poyang and was killed in a local resident's home.
The Han army achieved a great victory, but Liu Bang was unfortunately struck by an arrow in the chest during the battle and took quite some time to recover. As the army passed through his hometown of Pei County on the way back to Chang'an, Liu Bang, reflecting on his great achievements, decided to visit his fellow villagers. The army camped there, and Liu Bang feasted and drank joyfully with the villagers for over ten days, sharing laughter and stories. During this time, inspired by the occasion, he composed and sang a poem.
The wind rises, clouds scatter.
My might shakes the four seas, I return to my homeland.
Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners?
This is the famous "Song of the Great Wind" that would be remembered by later generations. As Liu Bang sang, he reflected on the past. He thought back to how he had fought battles far and wide, finally achieving his grand enterprise, yet fewer and fewer of those who had followed him remained; some were a menace if left alive and had to be killed. Now, how many truly loyal people were left? And where could he find those who would help safeguard the Liu family's rule? With these thoughts, Liu Bang's emotions surged within him.