生平經歷

早期

英布年輕時，有位客人給他看相說：「當在受刑之後稱王。」後因為犯法而受黥刑（與紋面不同），所以又稱黥布。英布愉快地笑著說：「有人看了我的面相，說我當在受刑之後稱王，現在大概是這種情形吧？」英布後來被帶到驪山當役徒，修築秦始皇陵墓，驪山刑徒有數十萬人，英布專門和罪犯的頭目、英雄豪傑來往，其後帶領一些人逃到其它地方成為盜賊。

秦末時期

秦末，陳勝、吳廣發動大澤之變，反抗秦朝，英布去約番君（番陽縣令）吳芮一同舉兵，番君被說服，於是加入起義行列，還把女兒嫁給英布，聚集了幾千人。

在陳勝敗死於秦朝章邯之手後，英布帶兵北上攻打秦左、右校的軍隊，在清波打敗了他們，就帶兵向東挺進。聽說項梁平定了會稽，渡過長江向西進發，陳嬰因為項氏世世代代做楚國的將軍，就帶領著自己的軍隊歸屬了項梁，向南渡過淮河，于是英布、蒲將軍也歸附項梁。項梁率師渡過淮河向西進發，攻打景駒、秦嘉等人的戰鬥中，英布驍勇善戰，總是列于眾軍之首。立熊心為後楚懷王時，英布成為楚的當陽君。

項梁在定陶之役戰死後，楚國遷都到彭城，將領們和英布也都聚集在彭城守衛。正當這時，秦軍加緊圍攻趙國，英布便隨宋義、項羽北上救趙，項羽刺殺宋義，發動兵變，英布歸項羽指揮。在前207年的鉅鹿之戰中，項羽命令英布先行率兵渡河攻擊秦軍，小勝數仗後，項羽帶領其餘楚軍跟諸侯聯軍投入戰場，擊破秦軍主力。諸侯軍隊服從項羽的原因，英布以少勝多也居一大功。

秦將章邯投降後，英布等人奉項羽之命在新安（今河南義馬內）坑殺秦降兵二十餘萬人。在項羽進軍咸陽的過程中，英布經常擔任先鋒。到達函谷關，項羽不得入，又派英布等人，先從隱蔽的小道，打敗了守關的劉邦軍隊，才得以進關，一直到達咸陽。

項羽時期

前206年，項羽分封天下十八路諸侯時，因為英布經常擔任軍隊前鋒，便立英布為九江王，以六為都。同年項羽尊後楚懷王為楚義帝後，暗中命令英布等人暗殺前往長沙途中的義帝。

前205年，田齊公族田榮背叛楚國，自立為齊王，項羽前往攻打齊國，向英布徵調軍隊，英布託辭病重不能前往，只派將領帶著幾千人前去。劉邦在彭城打敗楚軍，英布又託辭病重不去輔佐楚國。項羽因此怨恨英布，屢次派使者前去責備英布，並召他前往，英布越發恐慌，不敢前往。項羽正為北方的齊國、趙國擔心，西邊又憂患劉邦起兵，知交的只有英布，又推重英布的才能，打算親近任用他，所以沒有攻打。

劉邦在彭城大敗後，派隨何成功遊說英布反叛項羽。這時，楚國的使者也在淮南，正迫不及待地催促英布出兵，住在賓館裡。隨何徑直闖進去，坐在楚國使者的上席，說：「九江王已歸附漢王，楚國憑什麼讓他出兵？」英布顯出吃驚的樣子。楚國使者站起來要走。隨何趁機勸英布說：「大事已成，就可以殺死楚國的使者，不能讓他回去，我們趕快向漢靠攏，協同作戰。」英布說：「就按照你的指教，出兵攻打楚國罷了。」于是殺掉使者，出兵攻打楚國。項羽對此反應激烈，派出項聲、龍且進攻英布。戰爭持續了幾個月，龍且、項聲在淮南的戰役中，打敗了英布的軍隊。英布想帶兵撤退到漢國，又怕楚軍攔截殺掉他，所以，和隨何從隱蔽的小道逃歸漢國。

英布到時，劉邦召見英布，但是劉邦完全沒有作好談話的準備，無禮地坐在床上，由美人洗腳。英布見狀，怒火燃胸，後悔前來，想要自殺，英布到劉邦為他準備的賓館，見到帳幔、用器、飲食、侍從官員一如劉邦那麼豪華，英布又喜出望外，又打消死意。于是英布就派人返回九江。這時項羽已經派項伯收編了英布的部隊，殺盡了英布的妻子兒女。英布派去的人找到不少當時英布的寵臣故友，帶著幾千人馬回到漢國。劉邦又給英布增加了兵力一道北上，到成皋招兵買馬，他的勢力又回復了一些。

前203年七月，劉邦封英布為淮南王。英布又派人進入九江，奪得了好幾個縣。前202年，英布和劉賈進入九江，誘降楚國大司馬周殷，周殷反叛楚國後，以舒城的兵力攻占六縣並進行屠城，調動九江的軍隊迎接英布；英布將幾支軍隊合併，在城父屠城，隨後到垓下會合其他漢軍打敗項羽，項羽拒絕了烏江亭亭長的建議，自刎而亡。

漢高祖時期

項羽死後，漢王劉邦稱帝，淮南王英布成為異姓諸侯王之一。治下的地區包括九江、廬江、衡山、豫章等郡。前201年，英布到陳縣朝見劉邦。次年，到洛陽朝見。前199年到長安朝見。其後英布眼見消滅異姓王風潮中韓信、彭越被呂雉誅殺，心中不安。呂雉誅殺彭越後，把他的屍首處以酼刑，剁成了肉醬，又把肉醬裝好分別賜給諸侯。送到淮南，英布正在打獵，看到肉醬，特別害怕，暗中使人部署，集結軍隊，守候並偵察鄰郡的意外緊急事變。

一次，英布為生病的寵幸小妾求醫時，醫師的家和淮南中大夫（侍中）賁赫家住對門，因此愛妾多次去醫師家治療，賁赫認為自己是侍中，想要巴結她，就送去了豐厚的禮物，還隨著愛妾在醫師家飲酒。愛妾侍奉英布時，不慌不忙地稱讚賁赫是忠厚老實的人。英布生氣地說：「你怎麼知道的呢？」愛妾就把與賁赫來往的情況全都告訴他。英布卻更懷疑她和賁赫通姦，召見賁赫。賁赫驚懼，藉口有病不去。英布更加惱怒，就要逮捕賁赫。賁赫打算控告英布叛變，就坐著驛車前往長安。英布派人追趕，沒趕上。賁赫到了長安，上書告變，說英有造反的跡像，可以在叛亂之前誅殺他。劉邦看了他的報告，對蕭何商量，蕭何說：「英布不應該造反，恐怕是這個人因怨誣陷他。請把賁赫關押起來，派人暗中驗証淮南王。」英布見賁赫畏罪潛逃，上書言變，本來已經懷疑他會說出自己暗中布署的情況，劉邦的使臣又取得了許多不利英布的證據，英布就族滅賁赫的全家，起兵造反。英布造反的消息傳到長安，劉邦大怒，立即釋放了賁赫，封賁赫做了將軍。

滕公夏侯嬰推薦故楚令尹薛公，來商討平定英布的事。薛公向劉邦說：「英布之造反並不值得奇怪。倘使英布採用上計，那麼山東（崤函以東）之地就不是漢朝所能保有；若用中計，那麼雙方勝負難見分曉；若為下計，那麼漢可以高枕無憂了。上計就是東取吳，西取楚，合併齊，拿下魯，並傳檄燕、趙使他們各安其國，這樣山東就不是漢朝所有了。中計就是東取吳，西取楚，合併韓國，拿下魏國，並奪取敖倉之粟，堵住成皋，這雙方勝負就難見分曉。下策就是：東取吳，西取下蔡，把輜重歸於越，而本人往長沙，這樣陛下就可安枕無憂了。」劉邦問：「那英布會採取哪種策略？」薛公答說：「必取下策！英布及其手下皆為驪山亡命刑徒出身，有生之年取得這樣的地位，因而不會為子孫後代及百姓考慮，故而會出下計。」

劉邦病重，本不欲御駕親征，欲使太子劉盈代為出征。太子之門客商山四皓力陳利害，勸太子勿出征。呂后因此泣諫劉邦勿令太子出征，樊噲闖宮，劉邦無奈只好抱病率軍親征，撤除英布封爵，改封劉長為淮南王。英布初以為劉邦年事已高必不能親征，而所慮者韓信、彭越等皆已死。起兵果如薛公所言，出兵東擊荊國，荊王劉賈逃亡富陵，被英布軍所殺。英布合併荊國部隊，渡過淮河，與楚軍戰于徐（今安徽泗縣）、僮（今安徽宿縣）間。楚兵戰略失當，為三軍，結果英布敗其一軍，另二軍皆散走。英布攻打楚國境內下蔡縣的時候，下蔡亭長責罵英布：「陛下封你在東南為淮南王，難道還不能滿足你們這些受黥刑的強盜胃口嗎？為何還要造反？」

英布遂率軍西向，前196年十月與漢軍會戰于蘄。英布士兵非常精銳，劉邦駐兵於庸城，望英布之布陣如項羽一般，劉邦對此感到憤怒。劉邦于兩軍對壘時遙對英布曰：「何苦造反呢？」英布答曰：「我想當皇帝罷了！」。兩軍遂戰，結果英布戰敗而走。而齊相國曹參率領齊軍也趕到，對淮南軍進行夾擊，淮南軍隊接連失利。劉邦遣別將追擊，大敗英布于洮水南、北，于是英布僅帶數百人渡江南。長沙王吳臣是英布的妻舅，寫信偽稱要與其一起逃亡到越國。英布相信吳臣，于是跟隨使者到番陽，隨即被番陽人在茲鄉百姓的農舍之中刺殺。

部下

• 賁赫，英布中大夫，英布懷疑與其妾私通，欲將之殺害，賁赫逃往劉邦處指英布密謀造反。

• 肥銖，英布副將，被灌嬰打敗。

• 朱建，英布國相，英布欲反，極力諫諍。

影視形象

• 電影《西楚霸王》（1994年）：由張利華飾演英布。

• 中國電視劇《漢劉邦》（1998年）：由董子午飾演英布。

• 香港電視劇《楚漢驕雄》（2004年）：由王俊棠飾演英布。

• 中國電視劇《楚漢風雲》（2005年）：由郭明翰飾演英布。

• 中國電視劇《大風歌》（2010年）：由李寶成飾演英布。

• 中國電視劇《楚漢爭雄》（2011年）：由鄭仕明飾演英布。

• 中國電視劇《楚漢傳奇》（2012年）：由胡東飾演英布。

• 杭州玄機科技信息技術有限公司製作的中國大陸三維武俠動畫《秦時明月》第五季君臨天下第24集（2015年）：由張欣擔任英布的配音員。

Life

Early life

Ying Bu was born in a family of commoners. In his childhood, a fortune teller once told him that he would become a convict first before becoming a king later. When he became older, Ying Bu committed a crime and under the laws of the Qin dynasty, he was sentenced to qing (黥; a form of punishment which involved branding a criminal by tattooing his face), but he laughed and said, "A fortune teller once told me that I would be convicted before becoming a king. Isn't it so?" He was scorned at by others when they heard him. Ying Bu was later sent to Mount Li to do hard labour by constructing Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. He befriended many fellow convicts and later escaped with them, and became the leader of a bandit gang.

Uprising against Qin

In 209 BC, when Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started the Dazexiang Uprising to overthrow the Qin dynasty, Ying Bu joined rebel leader Wu Rui, his father-in-law, and rallied several thousand men. After the uprising was crushed by the Qin general Zhang Han, Ying Bu led his followers north to attack the Qin left and right flanks and defeated the enemy at Qingbo (清波; southwest of present-day Xincai County, Henan), and then moved east. When Ying Bu learnt that Xiang Liang had amassed a large rebel force in Kuaiji (then still centered on present-day Suzhou, not Shaoxing), he led his own followers to join Xiang Liang too.

Ying Bu fought bravely in battle and assisted Xiang Liang in defeating other insurgent leaders such as Jing Ju and Qin Jia (秦嘉). In the summer of 208 BC, Xiang Liang installed King Huai II on the throne of the Chu state, but the king was actually a figurehead used by Xiang Liang to rally more supporters in the name of restoring Chu. King Huai II granted Ying Bu the title of "Lord Dangyang" (當陽君). Xiang Liang was killed in action against Qin forces at the Battle of Dingtao in the winter of 208 BC, and King Huai II moved his capital to Pengcheng (彭城; present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu). Ying Bu and other Chu generals were stationed in Pengcheng.

At the time, Qin forces were attacking another insurgent state, Zhao. The Zhao king Zhao Xie (趙歇) requested aid from Chu. King Huai II ordered Song Yi, Xiang Yu (Xiang Liang's nephew) and Fan Zeng to lead an army to rescue Zhao Xie. Xiang Yu accused Song Yi of treason, killed the latter and took control of the army. Ying Bu was originally under Song Yi, so he became Xiang Yu's subordinate after King Huai II approved Xiang Yu's command. In 207 BC, Chu forces led by Xiang Yu, Ying Bu and others defeated a larger Qin army led by Zhang Han at the Battle of Julu. After the battle, at Xin'an (新安; in present-day Yima, Henan), Xiang Yu had Ying Bu oversee the execution of Zhang Han's 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers by burying them alive.

After his victory at Julu, Xiang Yu led his forces towards Guanzhong (the heartland of the Qin dynasty) and prepared for an invasion. In the winter of 207 BC, the last Qin emperor Ziying surrendered to Liu Bang in Xianyang (the Qin capital), bringing an end to the Qin dynasty. Xiang Yu later occupied Xianyang and divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms, each ruled by a vassal king. Ying Bu was named "King of Jiujiang" (九江王).

Chu–Han Contention

In the fourth lunar month of 206 BC, the rulers of the Eighteen Kingdoms returned to their respective domains. Xiang Yu ostensibly promoted King Huai II of Chu to a more honorific title of "Emperor Yi of Chu", and moved him to Changsha, effectively sending the puppet ruler into exile. Xiang Yu then secretly ordered Ying Bu to kill Emperor Yi, and Ying Bu intercepted the emperor at Chen County (郴縣; present-day Chenzhou, Hunan) and killed him.

In 205 BC, Tian Rong (田榮) started a rebellion in Qi so Xiang Yu led an army to attack him. Xiang Yu requested reinforcements from Ying Bu, but the latter claimed that he was ill and instead sent his subordinates and a few thousand troops to assist Xiang Yu. At the same time, Liu Bang (King of Han) formed an alliance with five other kings and took advantage of Xiang Yu's absence to attack and seize the latter's capital Pengcheng (彭城; present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu). When Xiang Yu asked help from Ying Bu, the latter claimed that he was ill again and refused to aid Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu was displeased with Ying Bu and sent a messenger to summon the latter but Ying Bu became afraid and refused to go. Xiang Yu did not attack Ying Bu because he faced the threats of Qi and Zhao, and Liu Bang in the west, and also because he felt that Ying Bu was a talent and wanted the latter to remain on his side.

In late 205 BC, Xiang Yu defeated Liu Bang at the Battle of Pengcheng and Liu was forced to retreat to Yu (虞). Liu Bang told his followers, "People like you are not worthy to discuss great plans with me." One of Liu Bang's advisors, Sui He (隨何), asked why, and Liu Bang replied, "Who can help me go to Huainan and persuade (Ying Bu) to betray Chu, and keep Xiang Yu occupied in Qi for several months, then I can easily take control of the empire." Sui He volunteered for the mission and brought 20 escorts to Huainan. Three days after reaching his destination, Sui He had yet to see Ying Bu, so he said to Ying Bu's advisor, "The king refuses to see me because Chu is powerful and Han is weak. This is exactly the reason why I'm here. Why don't you allow me to meet him first? If what I've said is true, then that's what he wishes to hear. If what I've said is false, then me and my 20 men are willing to die in Huainan to prove that your king is against Han and loyal to Chu." The advisor relayed Sui He's message to Ying Bu, and Ying agreed to meet Sui He.

Sui He said, "The King of Han sends me to deliver a message to you. I'm curious why you're so close to Chu." Ying Bu responded that he had all along been serving Xiang Yu. Sui He said, "Both you and Xiang Yu are vassal kings. You're willing to be subservient to him because you feel that Chu is powerful and can be relied on. When Xiang Yu was attacking Qi, he fought ahead of his men. You should personally lead Huainan's forces and fight as Chu's vanguard. Yet now you only send 4,000 men to assist Chu, is this what a subordinate should do? When the King of Han was attacking Chu's capital Pengcheng, you should lead your men to help Xiang Yu and fight with the King of Han day and night. You have a large army but you don't send troops to help and would rather stand by and watch. Is this what a subordinate should do? You are subordinate to Chu in name, but actually you rely on yourself. I feel that this won't be good for you. You refuse to betray Chu because you think that Han is weak. However, although Chu is powerful, Xiang Yu has lost the people's trust when he broke his promises and murdered Emperor Yi, and now he still thinks that his state is strong and he can win any battle. The King of Han is recruiting other vassal lords, and garrisoning in Chenggao and Xingyang. His supply routes from Shu avoid deep trenches and are well defended. When Chu recall its forces, it is separated by Liang in between and is 800-900 li within enemy territory. Now Chu is unable to fight well and is exhausted. Its old and weak soldiers are transporting supplies over great distances. When Chu forces reach Xingyang and Chenggao, Han forces only need to put up a firm defence. In this way, Chu forces can neither advance by attacking nor retreat. Therefore, I say that Chu is unreliable. If Chu wins Han, other vassal states will help each other for fear of Chu. As such, we can see that if Chu becomes more powerful, it will invite hostility from many sides. It's obvious that Chu is worse than Han. I'm puzzled as to why you choose to depend on Chu, which is at stake, instead of Han, which has nothing to lose. I don't think that Huainan's forces are sufficient to resist Chu, but if you betray Chu, Xiang Yu will be held up in Qi for several months, and Han has higher chances of taking over the empire. I sincerely hope you can join the King of Han. He'll grant you a fief larger than the current Huainan you have. As such, he sends me to present this plan to you and hope that you'll consider it." Ying Bu agreed but he kept silent about his defection.

At the same time, Xiang Yu had sent a messenger to Huainan to request reinforcements from Ying Bu. Sui He called for the messenger and declared, "The King of Jiujiang has already joined Han. Why does he need to send troops to help Chu?" Ying Bu was startled. The Chu messenger was surprised and left. Sui He then said to Ying Bu, "It's now a fact (that you've joined Han), so you should kill the Chu messenger and stop him from returning to Chu. You should also ally with Han as soon as possible.", and Ying Bu heeded his advice.

When Xiang Yu learnt that Ying Bu had turned against him, he sent Xiang Sheng (項聲) and Long Ju to attack Huainan while he remained behind to attack Xiayi (下邑). Months later Long Ju defeated Ying Bu and conquered Jiujiang. Ying Bu was afraid that he would be killed so he fled to Han territory.

Ying Bu wanted to meet Liu Bang after he arrived in Han. Liu Bang was sitting on his bed and washing his feet when Ying Bu came to see him. Ying Bu was furious because he felt that Liu Bang was treating him with contempt, and he regretted joining Han and wanted to commit suicide. When Ying Bu was shown to his living quarters, he was surprised to see that everything was similar to Liu Bang's and he was delighted. He then sent his men to Jiujiang and learnt that Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo had taken control of his former troops and killed his family. His men also found several of his former followers and brought them back to Han. Liu Bang put Ying Bu in command of some troops.

In 203 BC, Liu Bang instated Ying Bu as "King of Huainan" (淮南王). Later that year, Ying Bu led an army to attack Jiujiang and conquered many cities. He entered Jiujiang together with Liu Gu (劉賈) and persuaded Zhou Yin (周殷) to defect from Chu to Han. Ying Bu and Zhou Yin led their armies to join Liu Bang in attacking Xiang Yu and eventually defeated Xiang at the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC. Xiang Yu committed suicide and the rest of Chu surrendered to Han.

Following his victory in the Chu–Han Contention, Liu Bang was proclaimed "Emperor" and became historically known as "Emperor Gaozu of Han" after establishing the Han dynasty. Ying Bu became a vassal king of the Han dynasty, under the title King of Huainan (淮南王), with his capital at Lu (六; present-day Lu'an, Anhui), and the commanderies of Jiujiang (九江), Lushan (廬山), Hengshan (衡山) and Yuzhang (豫章) under his control.

Rebellion against Han

In 196 BC, Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin (淮陰侯), was executed on Empress Lü Zhi's order. Ying Bu became uneasy when he learnt of this. In the summer of that year, Peng Yue, the King of Liang (梁王), suffered a similar fate, and his corpse was minced into pieces and the gory parts distributed to various nobles and vassal kings. Ying Bu was terrified and was worried that he would end up like Han Xin and Peng Yue, so he started gathering his forces and paying closer attention to happenings in the nearby areas.

One of Ying Bu's favourite concubines fell sick and was sent for medical treatment. The physician who attended to her was a neighbour of a palace official called Ben He (賁赫). As Ying Bu's concubine often visited the physician, Ben He used the opportunity to get close to her and offered her expensive gifts, and they had drinks at the physician's house. When the concubine returned home she praised Ben He in front of Ying Bu, saying that Ben He was a warm hearted man. Ying Bu asked her how she knew Ben He, and she told him everything. Ying Bu began to suspect that Ben He was having an affair with his concubine. Ben He became afraid when he heard that Ying Bu suspected him so he feigned illness and remained at home. Ying Bu became more angry and wanted to arrest Ben He. In desperation, Ben He accused Ying Bu of plotting a rebellion and fled to the capital Chang'an. Ying Bu sent his men to pursue Ben He but could not catch up with the latter. Upon reaching Chang'an, Ben He claimed that Ying Bu was showing signs of plotting a rebellion and urged the Han imperial court to send an army to launch a preemptive attack on Ying Bu. Emperor Gaozu discussed with his chancellor Xiao He, and the latter commented, "Ying Bu wouldn't do this. I believe that his enemies are trying to frame him. Please put Ben He under custody first and then send people to investigate Ying Bu." When Ying Bu saw that Ben He had escaped and accused him of plotting a rebellion, he suspected that Ben He had already revealed what he had been secretly planning to do. Besides, the Han imperial court had sent people to investigate, so Ying Bu decided to proceed with his plan. He killed Ben He's family and started a rebellion. When news of Ying Bu's revolt reached Chang'an, Emperor Gaozu pardoned Ben He and appointed him as a general.

Gaozu summoned his subjects to discuss on how to deal with Ying Bu and they urged the emperor to send an army to attack Ying Bu and destroy him. Xiahou Ying consulted Xue Gong (薛公), a former lingyin of Chu, and asked him, "The emperor granted him a fief and the title of a vassal king, allowing him to enjoy luxuries and rule over thousands, why does he still want to rebel?" Xue Gong replied, "Peng Yue and Han Xin were executed in the past two years. The three of them contributed heavily to the dynasty's founding and are almost equal to each other. Ying Bu feared that he would experience the same fate (as Han Xin and Peng Yue) so he rebelled." Xiahou Ying then recommended Xue Gong to Emperor Gaozu. Xue Gong analysed to the emperor that Ying Bu would make three possible moves: 1. Attack and capture Wu, Chu, Qi, Lu, Yan and Zhao, and the Han dynasty would lose the Shandong region as a result; 2. Attack and capture Wu, Chu, Han, Wei, rely on supplies from Aoyu to block Chenggao, the outcome of this move was uncertain; 3. Attack Wu, Xiacai, return to Yue and Changsha, there was nothing to worry if Ying Bu made this move. Xue Gong predicted that Ying Bu would take the third option because Ying Bu was a convict and he attained his kingly status through his own efforts, and everything he did was for personal gain and he did not care about the people and his descendants. Gaozu put Xue Gong in charge of 1,000 households and installed his son Liu Chang (劉長) as "Prince of Huainan" to replace Ying Bu. Gaozu then personally led an army to suppress Ying Bu's rebellion.

Before Ying Bu rebelled, he told his men, "The emperor is old and hates going to war. He'll definitely not come. Even if he sends any of his generals, among them only Han Xin and Peng Yue are dangerous, but since both of them are already dead there's nothing to fear." Ying Bu moved east to attack Jing (荊) and in Fuling (富陵) he defeated and killed Liu Gu (劉賈), Prince of Jing (荊王). He then crossed the Huai River to attack Chu. Chu sent its forces to intercept Ying Bu between Xu (徐) and Tong (僮), with three armies ready to come to each other's aid if any came under attack. Someone warned the Chu commanders, "Ying Bu is versed in warfare and the people have long feared him. Chu forces are fighting on their own territory and are easily scattered. Now the army is divided into three forces, if one is defeated the other two would follow suit. How is it possible for them to help each other?" The warning was ignored. Ying Bu later really did defeat one army and the other two dispersed.

Ying Bu then advanced west and encountered the Han army led by Emperor Gaozu in Qixi (蕲西; south of present-day Su County, Anhui) and they battled at Zhui (甀). Ying Bu's army was well-trained so Gaozu had to retreat to Yongcheng (庸城). From a distance, Gaozu saw that Ying Bu's forces were deployed like Xiang Yu's and he hated that. Gaozu asked Ying Bu, "Why do you want to rebel?", to which Ying Bu replied, "I want to be the emperor." Gaozu was furious and scolded Ying Bu, and launched an attack. Ying Bu was defeated and retreated back across the Huai River. At times he halted and turned back to resist the Han forces but failed. Ying Bu was eventually left with around 100 men and they retreated to south of the Yangtze River.

Ying Bu was Wu Rui's son-in-law, so Wu Hui (吳回; Wu Rui's grandson), King Ai of Changsha (長沙哀王), sent a messenger to Ying Bu, lying that he would help Ying Bu escape to Nanyue. Ying Bu believed Wu Hui and followed the messenger to Poyang (番陽), where he was killed by peasants in Zi Village (茲鄉).

Legacy

Ying Bu is sometimes venerated as a door god in Chinese and Taoist temples, usually partnered with Peng Yue. He is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei. He is also featured under the name "Qing Bu" as a playable character of the "Muscleman" class in the action role-playing game Prince of Qin.