After the uprising led by Chen Sheng and
Wu Guang failed, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu continued to lead farmers against Qin Dynasty.
In 207 BC, Xiang Yu with a small force routed the main body of Qin army at Julu
- southwest of today's Pingxiang in Hebei province. At the same time, Liu Bang's
farmer army pressed on toward Xiangyang, and forced the abdication of the second
Qin emperor.
Xiang Yu then proclaimed himself the King of Western Chu, and made Liu Bang the
King of Han. From 206 BC, Xiang and Liu Bang fought for rule of the empire for nearly
four years, in what historians call "the War between Chu and Han". At the beginning
of the war, Xiang Yu had an army of 400,000, whereas Liu Bang's forces numbered
only 100,000. But Liu Bang won the support of the common people by abolishing the
draconian laws and derees of Qin Dynasty, and enforcing strict discipline on his
troops. In addtion, he had the assistance of able official like Xiao He, Zhang Liang
and Han Xin. Occupying the rich and fertile central Shaanxi plain. Han army led
by Liu Bang gradually grew stronger. Xiang Yu, in contrast, was arrogant, and his
army was lawless. Wherever they went they lost the support of people.
In 202 BC, Han army besieged the Chu army in Gaixia - in today's Anhui province.
At a night, Xiang Yu heard Chu songs singing from Han army's camps on all sides.
Greatly astonished, he thought that Chu regions had already been occupied by Han
army. He sadly bid farewell to his favorite Concubine Yuji and escaped the encirclement
with a small force, but was trapped at the Wujiang River - in the northeast of today's
Hexian county, Anhui province, and committed suicide.
Liu Bang then established Han Dynasty, with Chang'an - in the northeast of today's
Xi'an, as the capital. It is historically called Western Han Dynasty, and Liu Bang
is known as Hangaozu.
Reference data
Chu River and Han Boundary
The four-year war between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang had a great impact on later generations.
It even finds an echo in Chinese Chess. On the chessboard. the blank area between
the positions of the opponents is called "Chu River and Han Boundary", which reminds
people who play chess that they are engaging in a kind of war between Chu and Han.
The Hongmen Banquet
In 206 BC, Liu Bang conquered the capital of Qin, Xianyang, soon Xiang Yu's army
of 400,000 soldiers were stationed at Hongmen (east of today's Lintong, Shaanxi
province) and were going to attack Liu Bang. After the mediation of Xiang Bo, Xiang
Yu's uncle, Liu Bang met Xiang Ye at Hongmen in person. In the banquet, Fan Zeng,
a Xiang Yu's military advisor, commanded Xiang Zhuang to pratice his sword as entertainments,
but indeed, he would kill Liu Bang unexpectly. Xiang Bo learned the intention of
Ziang Zhuang, then joined the sword pratice and protected Liu Bang. At the critical
moment, a general of Xiang Yu, Fan Kuai appeared and helped Liu Bang to escape.
Nowaday, people used this set phrase hongmen to indicate a banquet given
with ill pruposes, teasing the opponents to be cheated and to achieve his own goal.
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