Background information
用英语讲项羽和楚汉之争的历史事件，讨论项羽巨鹿之战的选择。
巨鹿之战 The Battle of Julu
陈胜起义后，项梁、项羽和刘邦相继在吴中（今江苏苏州）、沛县聚众起义。
On the uprising of Chen Sheng, Xiang Liang and his nephew Xiang Yu rose up in Wu Zhong (modern Suzhou, Jiangsu Province), together with Liu Bang in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province).
项梁，项羽叔侄成为当时农民起义军的领袖。
At that time, Xiangs became two important leaders of the peasants.
可就在这时，秦将章邯突袭项梁军于定陶（今属山东），项梁战死，起义军大败。
When Qin general, Zhang Han launched a sudden attack on Xiang Liang at Dingtao (in modern Shandong Province), Xiang Liang was killed in the battle, and the insurrectionary army suffered an utter defeat.
定陶之战后，章邯移师北上，攻打赵国。
After the success, Zhang Han ledhis troops northward to attack the state of Zhao.
赵王歇被迫放弃都城邯郸（现河北省邯郸市），退守巨鹿（今河北邢台）。
The Prince Xie of Zhao was compelled to abandon the capital Handan (in modern city of Handan in Hebei), and retreated to Julu (in modern Xingtai, Hebei).
章邯乘胜追击，命王离围困巨鹿（今邢台)。
Zhang Han followed up the victory with a hot pursuit, ordering the generalWang Li, his assistant, to besiege the city.
赵主派人向各地求援。
King of Zhao sent for reinforcements throughout the country.
楚怀王命宋义为上将、项羽为次将率兵北上救赵。
Prince of Chu, sent Xiang Yu as the second-in-command to Song Yi in an expeditionary force to relieve Zhao.
大军抵达安阳后宋义即畏缩不前，一连驻扎了46天。
After arriving at Anyang (in modern Henan Province), Song Yi didn't proceed any further for forty-six days fear of Qin.
项羽劝他迅速进兵，同赵军里应外合，一举击败秦军。
Xiang Yu persuaded him to move, collaborating with the Zhao army to conquer the Qin forces at one stroke.
宋义却想保存实力，乘秦、赵相斗，坐收渔利，故拒绝了项羽的建议。
However, Song intended to save strength, waiting for Qin and Zhao forces to tear out each other, so refused Xiang's proposal.
后项羽杀宋义，诸将拥戴其为将军。楚怀王见事已如此，便命项羽率军救赵。
Xiang took extreme measures and assassinated Song later. The other generals offered Song's command to him, and Prince Huai of Chu was forced to approve it.
各路反秦义军来救援赵者都筑垒壁守，不敢与秦军接战。唯有项羽决心与秦军决一雌雄。
The relief forces sent by other rebel principalities built fortresses and fortifications, but dared not engage in warfare with Qin army, while Xiang Yu was an exception ,who decided to fight it out with Qin.
他亲自率楚军渡河，并下令全军破釜沉舟，规定每人只带三日口粮，以显示与秦军决一死战尚决心。
He led his troops cross the river, having all the boats and cooking vessels destroyed and ordered his soldiers to carry enough grain rations for only three days to make it clear that no one could return unless they won.
项羽指挥楚军连续作战，九战九捷，大破秦军，解了巨鹿之围。
He directed his forces to launch successive attacks on Qin. After nine engagements, the imperial army was routed. The siege of Julu was released eventually.
这场大战的胜利，基本上消灭了秦王朝赖以存在的军队，扭转了整个战局，为最后推翻秦王朝的反动统治创造了极有利的条件。
This victory virtually annihilated the military strength of the Qin Dynasty, turned the war situations and created a favorable condition for overthrowing the reactive rule of Qin.
