Zhang Liang, his ancestors were Han. His grandfather and father both served as prime ministers, serving the Han king for generations. When his father died, Zhang Liang was still young and did not serve as an official in Han. After the fall of Han, leaving his younger brother and over three hundred servants unburied, he used all his family's assets to find an assassin, intending to get revenge for Han's destruction, as his ancestors had served Han for five generations. Zhang Liang once studied etiquette in Huaiyang, and later went to see Cang Hai Jun, obtaining a super strong guy who could lift a 120-pound iron mace. When Qin Shi Huang was on an eastern tour, Zhang Liang and the assassin ambushed him at Bolangsha, but failed to hit him, only hitting Qin Shi Huang's escort carriage. Qin Shi Huang was furious and ordered a nationwide hunt for the assassin. Because of this, Zhang Liang disappeared, changed his name, and hid out in Xiapi.
One day, Zhang Liang was wandering around on a bridge in Xiapi when he met an old man wearing coarse clothes. The old man walked up to Zhang Liang, deliberately threw his shoes under the bridge, and then pointed at Zhang Liang, saying, "Hey, kid! Pick up my shoes!" Zhang Liang was furious, but the old man's age stayed his hand. He picked up the shoes. The old man then said, "Put them on for me!" Zhang Liang had to kneel down and put the shoes on for him. The old man put on the shoes, smiled, and walked away. Zhang Liang was very surprised and watched the old man leave. After walking a distance, the old man turned back and said, "You can still be taught. Five days from now at dawn, come here to see me." Zhang Liang found it strange but knelt down and agreed. Five days later at dawn, Zhang Liang went, but the old man had already arrived and angrily said, "You are late for an appointment with an old man. What gives?" Then he said, "Come earlier in five days." When the rooster crowed five days later, Zhang Liang went, but the old man had arrived first again and angrily said, "You are late again. Why are you late?" Then he said, "Come even earlier in five days." Five days later, Zhang Liang went in the middle of the night. After a while, the old man also arrived, happily saying, "That's more like it!" He produced a book, saying, "Read this, and you'll be a teacher to emperors. In ten years you'll rise; thirteen years from now, find me at the foot of Mount Gu in Jibei, marked by a yellow stone." With that, he walked away, saying nothing more and never appearing again. The next day, Zhang Liang looked and saw that the book was "The Book of the Tai Gong." Zhang Liang found it miraculous and frequently studied and memorized the book.
In Xiapi, Zhang Liang hung out with a rough crowd. Xiang Bo was a notorious killer and often sought refuge with Zhang Liang.
Ten years later, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in rebellion, and Zhang Liang also gathered more than a hundred young men. At that time, Jing Ju declared himself a pretender to the Chu throne near Liuxian. Zhang Liang wanted to join him, but he met Liu Bang on the way. Liu Bang was leading several thousand troops attacking areas west of Xiapi, and Zhang Liang followed him. Liu Bang appointed Zhang Liang as the guy in charge of the horses. Zhang Liang often advised Liu Bang using the Tai Gong's military strategies, and Liu Bang greatly appreciated him, often adopting his suggestions. Zhang Liang shared these strategies with others, but they ignored him. Zhang Liang himself said, "Liu Bang is probably destined for greatness!" So he continued to follow Liu Bang and did not go to see Jing Ju.
Later, when Liu Bang arrived in Xue County, he met Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang installed the Chu king. Zhang Liang advised Xiang Liang, "You've already installed the Chu king, and Prince Hengyang Jun Cheng Xian of Han is also suitable to be made king; that'll bring in more allies." Xiang Liang sent Zhang Liang to find Cheng Xian and made him the King of Han. Xiang Liang appointed Zhang Liang as the Han representative, and together with the King of Han, they led over a thousand troops to the west to attack the Han territory, capturing several cities. However, the Qin army quickly recaptured them, and they fought a guerrilla war in the Yingchuan area.
When Liu Bang went south from Luoyang to Hanyuan Pass, Zhang Liang followed Liu Bang with his army, took over a dozen Han cities, and defeated Yang Xiong's army. Liu Bang left Han Wang Cheng to guard Yangdi, and together with Zhang Liang, they marched south, seized Wancheng, and then headed west into Wuguan. Liu Bang wanted to use 20,000 troops to attack the Qin army's camp at Yaxia. Zhang Liang advised him, saying, "The Qin army's still strong; don't underestimate them. I hear those Qin generals, Tuzhezi and Jia Shu, are easily bought. I hope Liu Bang will camp first, send someone to prepare food for 50,000 people, and plant extra flags on the hills to create a diversion, letting Li Shiqi take treasures to bribe the Qin generals." The Qin general defected and wanted to attack Xianyang with Liu Bang. Liu Bang was considering agreeing. Zhang Liang said, "It's just the general; his men might not follow suit. If they don't listen to him, it will be very dangerous. Better to hit 'em before they're ready." Liu Bang led the troops to attack the Qin army and won a great victory. Chasing to Lantian, they fought again, and the Qin army was completely defeated. They reached Xianyang, and Qin's Prince Ying surrendered to Liu Bang.
Liu Bang entered the Qin Palace – wow! Palaces, tents, horses, treasures, women… thousands upon thousands! It was mind-boggling! He wanted to stay. Fan Kuai advised him to leave quickly, but Liu Bang didn't listen. Zhang Liang said, "The Qin Dynasty is so evil; it's because of them that you have come this far today. You are here to eliminate the villains for the world; you should dress more modestly. Celebrating like this right after conquering Qin? That's like helping the enemy! There’s a saying: harsh words may sting, but they can save your hide. I hope you can listen to Fan Kuai." Finally, Liu Bang and his army returned to Bawang.
Xiang Yu was at Hongmen, plotting against Liu Bang. Xiang Bo hotfooted it to Liu Bang's camp in the dead of night, slipped Zhang Liang a secret meeting, and tried to get him to bolt. Zhang Liang said, "I was sent by the Han Kingdom to bring Liu Bang here. Things are hairy; now's not the time to run." Then he told Liu Bang about this. Liu Bang was shocked and asked, "What're we gonna do?" Zhang Liang asked, "You really wanna cross Xiang Yu?" Liu Bang said, "My guys taught me to guard Hangu Pass, not to let other feudal lords in; we'll split the Qin loot, that's why I did this." Zhang Liang asked again, "Think you can take Xiang Yu?" Liu Bang was silent for a long time and said, "No way! So what do we do?" Zhang Liang urged Liu Bang to meet Xiang Bo. Xiang Bo met Liu Bang, they got smashed, toasted each other, and even became family. Liu Bang asked Xiang Bo to tell Xiang Yu that he did not intend to betray him, saying, "I was guarding Hangu Pass to keep other bandits out." We'll get to Xiang Yu's side of things later.
In January of 206 BC, Liu Bang was appointed as the King of Han, ruling over the Ba Shu region. The Han King showered Zhang Liang with over a hundred catties of gold and two bushels of pearls, which Zhang Liang promptly gave to Xiang Bo. The Han King also had Zhang Liang sweeten the pot for Xiang Bo to get him Han Zhong. Xiang Yu agreed, and Han Zhong was obtained. When the Han King headed to his new kingdom, Zhang Liang saw him off to Baozhong, then went back to Han. Zhang Liang advised the King of Han, "Why not torch the trails behind you? That'll show everyone you're not turning back, and keep Xiang Yu off your back." So he let Zhang Liang go back. After Zhang Liang left, the paths were burned.
Zhang Liang returned to Han because Han King Cheng was detained by Xiang Yu in Chu and was being moved east. Zhang Liang told Xiang Yu, "The Han king has destroyed the mountain passes and has no intention of returning." He also informed Xiang Yu about the rebellion of King Tian Rong of Qi. Xiang Yu no longer worried about Liu Bang attacking from the west, so he led his troops north to attack Qi.
Surprisingly, Xiang Yu refused to let the Han King go and instead enfeoffed him as a marquis, but eventually killed him in Pengcheng. Han Xin fled and secretly returned to Liu Bang. By then, Liu Bang had already pacified the Three Qins region. Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as the Marquis of Chengxin and led his troops east to fight the Chu army. In Pengcheng, the Han army was routed.
Upon reaching Xiayi, Liu Bang dismounted and sat on the saddle, asking everyone, "I'm thinking of giving up the land east of Hangu Pass. Who's with me?" Han Xin stepped forward and said, "King Ying Bu of Jiujiang is a renowned general from Chu who has a grudge with Xiang Yu; Peng Yue and King Tian Rong of Qi have rebelled in Liang. We can contact these two immediately. Of Han King's generals, only Han Xin could command an entire front. If we really need to abandon some areas, then give them to these three to beat Chu." After hearing this, Liu Bang sent Su He to persuade King Ying Bu of Jiujiang and also contacted Peng Yue. Later, when King Bao of Wei rebelled, Liu Bang sent Han Xin to defeat him, subsequently capturing Yan, Dai, Qi, and Zhao. In the end, those three were the ones who took down Chu.
Zhang Liang wasn't in great shape and never had a big military role. He mainly provided strategic advice and often followed Liu Bang closely.
Three years into the Han dynasty, Xiang Yu besieged Liu Bang in Xingyang. Liu Bang, freaked out, discussed with Li Shiqi how to weaken the power of the Chu state. Li Shiqi said: "In the past, King Tang defeated Jie and sealed Jie's descendants in the Qi state; King Wu defeated Zhou and also sealed Zhou's descendants in the Song state. The Qin were total jerks. They invaded everyone, wiped out the Six States, and left their descendants with nothing. If you reinstate the Six States' royal families and give 'em your seal, they'll all love you and join your side. That'll make you look good, and then the Chu will be groveling at your feet." Liu Bang said, "Great! Get that seal made, and get Li Shiqi to use it!"
Zhang Liang had not arrived yet, and Liu Bang was eating. Zhang Liang came in, and Liu Bang said, "Zhang Liang, you’re here! I've got a plan to take down Xiang Yu." He then explained Li Shiqi's suggestion in detail and asked Zhang Liang, "What do you think?"
Zhang Liang said, "Your Highness, who gave you this idea? In my opinion, you're going to botch this!" Liu Bang asked, "Why?" Zhang Liang replied, "Let me analyze it for you with chopsticks." He continued, "After Shang Tang defeated Jie, he still granted Jie's descendants a fiefdom in the Qi State because he could control Jie's life and death. Can Your Highness control Xiang Yu's life and death now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the first problem with your plan. After King Wu defeated King Zhou, he installed King Zhou's descendants in the Song State because he had King Zhou killed. Can Your Highness do the same with Xiang Yu?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the second reason this won't work. After King Wu destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he still honored the tomb of Shang Rong, released Ji Zi, and respected Bi Gan's tomb. Can Your Highness honor the saints' tombs and the wise men's shrines now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the third reason it won't work. King Wu also distributed food from Ju Bridge and money from Lu Terrace to the poor. Can Your Highness take money from the treasury and distribute it to the poor now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the fourth reason it won't work. After the Shang Dynasty's affairs ended, King Wu stopped fighting, turned the weapons upside down, covered them with tiger skins, and showed the world that he would no longer use force. Can Your Highness cease hostilities and promote learning now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the fifth reason it won't work. King Wu also placed horses south of Mount Hua to show that he would no longer use force. Can Your Highness leave horses unused now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the sixth reason it won't work. King Wu also placed cattle under the shade of peach trees in Taolin to show that he would no longer collect taxes. Can Your Highness let the cattle graze and stop collecting taxes now?" Liu Bang said, "No." Zhang Liang said, "That's the seventh reason it won't work. Now ambitious scholars everywhere leave their relatives, abandon their graves, and old friends, following Your Highness just hoping to find a place to settle down. If you restore the six states and establish Han, Wei, Yan, Zhao, Qi, and Chu, all these scholars will go back to serve their monarchs and return to their relatives, old friends, and graves. So, who will you be fighting for the empire then? That's the eighth reason it won't work."
Besides, Chu has not weakened at present. If those six states get back on their feet, they'll definitely gang up on you again. How are you supposed to conquer them, Your Majesty? If you go ahead with this, you're cooked!
Liu Bang put down his chopsticks, spat out the food in his mouth, and cursed, "You smarty-pants, you almost ruined my big plan!" Then he immediately ordered the seal's cancellation. In 203 BC, after Han Xin defeated the Qi State, he sought to proclaim himself as the Qi King, infuriating Liu Bang. Zhang Liang suggested a plan, so Liu Bang sent him to deliver the Qi King's seal to Han Xin (Huaiyinhou Zhuan). That autumn, Liu Bang chased Xiang Yu to the south of Yangxia; the battle was a disaster, and they had to camp in Guling, as the expected reinforcements never showed. Zhang Liang came up with another idea, which Liu Bang adopted, and as a result, the allied forces all arrived (Xiang Yu Benji). In January of 201 BC, Liu Bang began to reward his deserving officers. Zhang Liang had never been on the battlefield, but Liu Bang said, "You've been calling the shots from afar, winning battles without even lifting a sword; that's your merit! Choose your own land for three thousand households!" Zhang Liang replied, "It was fate that brought us together when I raised my banner in Peixian and later met you in Liuxian. Heaven clearly intended for us to work together. Fortunately, your strategies have all been successful, so Liuxian is more than enough for me; I wouldn't dream of asking for more." So Liu Bang granted Zhang Liang the title of Liuhou, along with Xiao He and others.
Liu Bang had already made lords of more than twenty meritorious ministers, and the rest were always squabbling over credit, holding up the whole process. Looking down from a covered walkway (fudao) in the South Palace (nangong) of Luoyang, Liu Bang saw the generals sitting in small clusters on the sand talking. Liu Bang asked, "What are they talking about?" Zhang Liang said, "Your Highness, don't you know? They are plotting a rebellion!" Liu Bang said, "The world is almost at peace; why would they rebel?" Zhang Liang said, "Your Highness, you rose from the common people and relied on these generals to conquer the world. Now that you are Emperor, you have given titles to your old friends like Xiao He and Cao Shen, while those you killed were your former enemies. These military officers now feel there isn't enough to go around; they fear that you won't be able to reward them all, and they are worried that you'll dig up their old sins and come down on them, so they have gathered together to plot a rebellion." Liu Bang became anxious upon hearing this. "What should we do?" Zhang Liang said, "Your Highness, who was the person you hated the most in the past, and who did everyone know you hated the most?" Liu Bang said, "Yong Chi; he always used to make things difficult for me and humiliate me. I wanted to kill him, but because of his great merit, I couldn't bring myself to do it." Zhang Liang said, "Now, quickly make Yong Chi a marquis first; show it to the other ministers. When they see that Yong Chi has been ennobled as a marquis, they will feel at ease." So Liu Bang held a banquet, made Yong Chi the Marquis of Wufang, and then urged the Prime Minister and the censorate to quickly determine the merits and rewards. After the ministers dispersed, they were all very happy, saying, "If even Yong Chi got a title, what have we got to worry about?" Liu Jing suggested to Gaozu to build the capital in Guanzhong, but Gaozu hesitated a bit. At that time, most of the ministers around him were from Shandong, and they all advised Gaozu to establish the capital in Luoyang, saying, "They argued that Luoyang, protected by the Yellow River to the west and the mountains of Chenggao and Yumeng to the east, was naturally defensible."
Zhang Liang (Liu Hou) said, "Although Luoyang is a strategically important location, the area is a mere few hundred square miles, the land is barren, and it is easily attacked from all sides, making it fundamentally unsuitable as the capital of a country. Guanzhong is different, with Mount Xiaohan on the left, Longshan and Shushan on the right, vast and fertile plains stretching for a thousand miles, the wealthy and fertile region of Bashu in the south, and fertile pastures in the north, with natural barriers on three sides, only needing to face east to defend against feudal lords. If the princes are stable, the rivers can transport goods to Guanzhong, supplying the capital in the west; if the princes rebel, they can also flow downstream for easy transportation of goods. This is what is called 'a thousand-mile golden city, a land of plenty,' and Liu Jing's suggestion is correct!" So Gaozu immediately ordered the capital moved to Guanzhong.
Zhang Liang followed Gaozu into Guanzhong. Zhang Liang was in poor health, often sick, so he began to practice qigong, not eating grains, and remained secluded for over a year.
Later, Gaozu wanted to depose the crown prince and make Zhao Wang Ruyi, the son of Lady Qi, the crown prince. Many officials strongly urged him against it, but they could not stop Gaozu. Empress Lü was terrified and at her wit's end. Someone told Empress Lü, "Zhang Liang is very good at strategizing; the emperor places great trust in him." Empress Lü sent Marquis Chenghou Lü Ze to find Zhang Liang and said, "You've always been the Emperor's go-to guy. Now he's thinking about dumping the crown prince – you still sleeping okay?"
Zhang Liang said, "In the past, the emperor was always in a jam, thanks to my strategies. Now that the world is stable, the emperor wants to change the crown prince because of favoritism. It's just family stuff, you know? A hundred of us couldn't change his mind." Lv Ze insisted on getting an idea from Zhang Liang, who said, "Just talking won't cut it. I know the emperor can't find four people in the world right now. These four are all elderly and feel that the emperor is arrogant and rude, so they've hidden in the mountains and refuse to serve as ministers of the Han Dynasty again. However, the emperor values these four greatly. If you are willing to throw money at the problem, have the crown prince write a humble letter, send a fancy carriage to fetch them, and send a silver-tongued orator to sincerely invite them, they will definitely come. Once they arrive, treat them as honored guests, and bring them to the palace often to see the emperor. The emperor will be curious and ask about them. If the emperor sees how wise they are, it'll strengthen his position." So Empress Lv sent Lv Ze to bring the crown prince's letter and a mountain of gifts to welcome those four people. After they arrived, they stayed at Jiancheng's house.
In 196 BC, King Xiang of Chu rebelled, and the Emperor took a turn for the worse, wanting the Crown Prince to lead the troops into battle. Four ministers whispered to each other privately, "Sending the Crown Prince is a recipe for disaster! It's too dangerous for him to lead the troops!" Then they went to see Marquis Jiancheng and said, "If the Crown Prince leads the troops and succeeds, his position won't necessarily improve; if he comes back empty-handed, he's toast. Besides, the generals under the Crown Prince are all former great generals who followed the Emperor in conquering the world. Now letting the Crown Prince command them is like putting a lamb in charge of a pack of wolves. Those generals definitely won't give their all; failure is certain. You know what they say, 'like mother, like son.' Lady Qi serves the Emperor every day, and Prince Zhao Ruyi is always by the Emperor's side. The Emperor has said, 'He'll never let an incompetent son overshadow his favorite,' which clearly means they want to depose the Crown Prince! Look at you, why don't you hurry to get Empress Lü to bend the Emperor's ear: 'King Xiang is a fearsome warrior. Sending the Crown Prince to command those old soldiers – it's like sending a lamb to slaughter! They'll never fight hard, and Xiang will just march right on through. The Emperor, even sick, still commands from his carriage – that's the only way to keep them in line. He's doing all this for his wife and son!'"
That night, Lv Ze went to see Empress Lü, who then made a tearful plea to the emperor according to the wishes of the four ministers. The emperor said, "I originally thought that boy (the crown prince) is indeed not suitable to lead troops, but since you all say so, then I will go myself." So the emperor personally led the troops to the east, while the ministers stayed behind to guard the capital and escorted the emperor to Bashang. Zhang Liang (Marquis of Liu) fell ill, endured the pain, and when he reached Quyou, he met the emperor and said, "I should have gone with you, but the illness is too severe. Those Chu soldiers were no joke; I hope the emperor will not confront them head-on." He then advised the emperor, "Put the crown prince in charge of the Guanzhong army." The emperor said, "Even sick, Zifang (Zhang Liang) had to throw his weight behind the crown prince." At that time, Shusun Tong was the Grand Tutor, and Zhang Liang served as the Junior Tutor.
However, the issue of the crown prince's suitability would again come to the fore. In the twelfth year of Emperor Wu of Han, after returning from defeating the Xiongnu army, the emperor's health deteriorated, and his desire to depose the crown prince intensified. Zhang Liang advised against it, but the emperor did not listen and stopped handling state affairs due to his illness. Shusun Tong, the Grand Tutor, was formidable, using history and logic to argue his case, swearing to protect the crown prince, come what may. He agreed, but secretly, he still planned to get rid of the crown prince.
At a lavish banquet set up amongst the stunning scenery of Yanshan, the prince was also present to serve. By the prince's side were four old gentlemen, all in their eighties, with white beards and eyebrows, dressed very elegantly. The emperor found it strange and asked, "Who are these four gentlemen?" The four old men stepped forward and answered, each reporting their names as Dongyuangong, Jiaolixiansheng, Qilij, and Xiahuangong. The emperor was taken aback and said, "I have been looking for you for several years; you have been avoiding me. How come you are now by my son's side?" The four old men all said, "Your Majesty, you disrespect scholars and have a foul mouth. We, as upright individuals, cannot tolerate your insults, so we hid. We heard that the prince is benevolent, righteous, and filial, respects and cares for scholars. People everywhere would do anything for him, so we came." The emperor said, "Please assist the prince well."
After the four old men wished the prince a happy birthday, they took their leave. The emperor watched them leave, then called Lady Qi over and pointed to the backs of the four old men, saying, "I originally wanted to depose the prince, but with these four supporting him, his power has already formed and is difficult to shake. Empress Lu is the true ruler!" Lady Qi cried, and the emperor said, "Dance a Chu dance for me, and I will sing you a Chu song." The emperor sang:
"The swan soars high, a thousand miles in a single flight. Its wings are strong, it spans the four seas. Spanning the four seas, what can stop it? Though nets and snares may lie, where can they reach?"
After singing a few times, Lady Qi cried even harder, and the emperor got up and left, and the banquet dispersed. In the end, the prince remained, all thanks to Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang, also known as Liuhou, first followed Liu Bang in his campaign against Dai. He set up an ambush in Mayi with a brilliant strategy. Later, Xiao He became the Prime Minister. He often chatted with Liu Bang about important matters, but these matters weren't directly relevant to the fate of the empire, so they were not recorded. Zhang Liang said, "My family has been assisting the Han Kingdom for generations. After the Han Kingdom was destroyed, I did not hesitate to give up my vast fortune to seek revenge for the Han Kingdom, resist the powerful Qin Kingdom, and shock the world. Now, relying on my eloquence, I have become the emperor's teacher, been appointed as a marquis of ten thousand households, and ranked among the nobles. This is already the highest achievement that common people can reach; it is enough! I want to let go of the worldly troubles and follow the immortal Red Pine." So he began to learn fasting, practice Daoist health cultivation methods, and aspire to achieve immortality through ascetic practices.
Later, Liu Bang died, and Empress Lü highly valued Zhang Liang, forcing him to eat, saying, "Don't be so hard on yourself; life's too short!" Zhang Liang had no choice but to reluctantly comply and start eating. Eight years later, Zhang Liang died and was posthumously named Marquis Wen Cheng. His son Zhang Buyi inherited the title.
The old man Zhang Liang met under the bridge in Peixian County gave him a book of the Taigong Art of War. Thirteen years later, when Liu Bang passed through Jibei with his troops, Zhang Liang indeed found the yellow stone under Gu Cheng Mountain, enshrined it, and regularly paid his respects. After Zhang Liang's death, he was buried together with the yellow stone. On the ancestral worship days, his descendants would go to worship the yellow stone.
Zhang Liang's son, Zhang Buyi, was stripped of his title in the fifth year of Emperor Han Wen for committing an act of disrespect toward his father’s legacy.
Sima Qian said: Many scholars say that there are no ghosts and gods, but in reality, there is some kind of mysterious power that exists. The incident where Zhang Liang met the old man who gave him a book is pretty wild. Liu Bang was in trouble several times, and it was Zhang Liang who helped him resolve it. That's gotta be fate, right? Liu Bang once said, "I'm no match for Zhang Liang when it comes to strategy." I think Zhang Liang, with his amazing and ingenious strategies, is an absolute genius, but after seeing his portrait, I found that he could pass for a beautiful woman. Just as Confucius said, "You can't judge a person by their looks." That's Zhang Liang for you.
