As you were a supplicant who received a force from Chu they aren't all shaking in their boots because you don't like them. Running from overwhelming force might be circumspect. Ignoring completely directives and commands from the even greater force which gave you everything you have is not circumspect at allJin Shi wrote:
Maybe news of all Ma Su's anger against the Chuers finally reached the capital?
Also, fun fact: though everyone in the game says Ma Su is a failure in combat, he has never lost a battle he or his forces actually fought in. He just ran before the loss could occur, both against ridiculous odds.
Given all the evidence - Xiang Yu goes with cowardice rather than caution!