Xiang Yu was a native of Xiaxiang, whose courtesy name was Yu. When he first started his rebellion, he was only twenty-four years old. His uncle Xiang Liang and his great-uncle Xiang Yan both served as generals in the Chu state, only to be executed by the Qin general Wang Jian. The Xiang family were hereditary generals of Chu, enfeoffed in Xiang, hence their name.
When Xiang Yu was young, he wasn't a good student, and later he tried to learn swordsmanship but still couldn't master it. Xiang Liang was very angry about this. Xiang Yu said, "Studying only allows you to remember your own name. Learning swordsmanship can at most defeat one person; it's a waste of time. I want to learn how to defeat an army!" So Xiang Liang taught him military strategy. Xiang Yu was particularly pleased and picked it up quickly, but he was not willing to study seriously. Xiang Liang was a wanted man because of an incident in Liyang, so he asked the jailer Cao Jiu from Qixian Prison to write a letter to the jailer Sima Xin from Liyang Prison, pulling strings to settle the matter. Xiang Liang fled to the Wu territory with Xiang Yu to evade enemies because of a murder. Wu's elite flocked to Xiang Liang. Whenever there were major tasks or funerals in Wu, Xiang Liang oversaw all major events, using them as cover to secretly train his men, showcasing his strategic brilliance. During Qin Shi Huang's tour of Kuaiji, crossing the Zhejiang River, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu went to watch. Xiang Yu said, "That guy's a goner!" Xiang Liang quickly covered his mouth and said, "Shut your mouth! That's treason!" Xiang Liang thus found Xiang Yu very peculiar. Xiang Yu was over eight feet tall, possessed superhuman strength – he could lift cauldrons! – and exceptional talent. Even the Wu kids looked up to him.
And that's when all hell broke loose in Daze Township. In July of 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rose up in Daze Township.
In September, the governor of Kuaiji said to Xiang Liang, "Jiangxi's in open revolt! This is when the heavens want to destroy the Qin Dynasty! I heard that if you get in there first, or you'll get left behind. I want to lead a rebellion; why don't you and Huan Chu join me as generals?" At that time, Huan Chu was hiding in the swamp. Xiang Liang replied, "Huan Chu's whereabouts are unknown; only Xiang Yu knows where he is." Xiang Liang went out and instructed Xiang Yu to wait outside with a sword. He then returned and sat down with the governor, saying, "I want to invite Xiang Yu to come and call Huan Chu to receive orders." The governor agreed, and Xiang Liang called Xiang Yu in. After a moment, Xiang Liang gave Xiang Yu a subtle nod and whispered, "Now!" So Xiang Yu drew his sword and beheaded the governor. Xiang Liang took the governor's head and donned his seal and official attire. The entire governor's mansion was paralyzed with fear, and chaos erupted as Xiang Yu killed dozens of people with his sword. Xiang Liang then gathered some local officials he knew, laid out his case for rebellion, and mobilized the military forces in Wu territory. He sent people to recruit from the counties below and quickly amassed an army of eight thousand elite soldiers. Xiang Liang appointed some heroes from Wu territory as various officers. One person was not appointed, so he explained to Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang said, "During a certain funeral in the past, I sent you to do something, and you didn't do it well, so I didn't use you." Everyone prostrated themselves in submission. In this way, Xiang Liang became the governor of Kuaiji, Xiang Yu became his deputy, and then they set out to conquer the surrounding counties.
Zhao Ping, a man from Guangling, was raising an army for King Chen in the Guangling area, but to no avail. Hearing that King Chen had been defeated and fled, and that the Qin army was approaching, Ping quickly crossed the Yangtze River, forged King Chen's orders, appointed Xiang Liang as the King of Chu, and said, "We've pacified Jiangdong; quickly lead the troops west to fight the Qin army!"
Xiang Liang then led eight thousand troops across the Yangtze River and headed west. Hearing that Chen Ying had already taken Dongyang County, Xiang Liang sent someone to contact Chen Ying, hoping to advance west together. Chen Ying, a low-level official in Dongyang County known as an upstanding guy, was chosen as the leader by the young men of the county after they killed their county magistrate. Though he tried to refuse, they practically forced him into the role, and the number of his followers in the county reached twenty thousand. They even wanted to crown him king, but his mother advised against it, suggesting that it’d be smarter to find a powerful backer.
Chen Ying listened to his mother's advice and refrained from declaring himself king. Instead, he suggested hooking up with the powerful Xiang clan, known for their military prowess in Chu, to ensure success in their endeavors. The troops were handed over to Xiang Liang, who, after crossing the Huai River, was joined by Generals Ying Bu and Pu along with their armies. They ended up with an army of sixty to seventy thousand, stationed at Pengcheng.
So, Qin Jia had already installed Jing Ju as King of Chu, with the army stationed to the east of Pengcheng, to hold off Xiang Liang. Xiang Liang said to his officers, "King Chen was the first to rise up in rebellion, but now his whereabouts are unknown due to unfavorable battles. Now Qin Jia has betrayed King Chen and made Jing Ju king, which is against the natural order." Xiang Liang then attacked Qin Jia. Qin Jia's army was defeated and fled, with Xiang Liang pursuing them to Huling. Qin Jia resisted for another day, but eventually was killed in action, and his army surrendered. Jing Ju died on his way to escape in Liang territory. Xiang Liang had already absorbed Qin Jia's army and stationed them in Huling, preparing to lead them westward. Zhang Han's army arrived at Lixian, and Xiang Liang sent generals Zhu Jishi and Yu Fanjun to fight. As a result, Yu Fanjun died in battle, and Zhu Jishi's army was defeated, retreating to Huling. Xiang Liang then led his troops into Xue County and killed Zhu Jishi. Previously, Xiang Liang had sent Xiang Yu to lead another army to attack Xiangcheng, but despite a strong defense, the city was eventually captured, and Xiang Liang had the city's population massacred. After Xiang Yu captured Xiangcheng and returned to report to Xiang Liang, Xiang Liang learned that King Chen had already died. He then summoned all the generals to Xue County to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, Liu Bang had also risen up in rebellion in Pei County and was heading towards Xue County.
Fan Zeng, a 70-year-old from Chao County, was a homebody but renowned for his cunning plans. He urged Xiang Liang, saying, "Chen Sheng was doomed. When the Qin dynasty conquered the six states, Chu was the least guilty. Since King Huai of Chu went to Qin and never returned, the people of Chu have always missed him. As the Chu saying goes, 'Although Chu has three households, when Qin falls, it will be Chu's turn.' Now that Chen Sheng has rebelled and declared himself king without reinstating a Chu prince, his reign won't last long. Now that you have risen in Jiangdong, Chu's generals are flocking to you because your family has been generations of Chu generals and can put a Chu prince back on the throne." Xiang Liang found the grandson of King Huai of Chu in a shepherd's house and declared him King Huai of Chu, which was exactly what the people wanted. Chen Ying was appointed as the highest-ranking official in Chu and was granted five counties. He and King Huai built their capital in Xutai. Xiang Liang declared himself Lord Wuxin (meaning 'trustworthy warrior').
Months later, Xiang Liang led troops to attack Kang Fu, joining forces with Tian Rong and Sima Longqie of Qi to relieve Dong'e. They decisively defeated the Qin army at Dong'e. Tian Rong then led his troops back to Qi, ousting King Tian Jia. Tian Jia escaped to Chu. Tian Jia's younger brother, Tian Jiao, also fled to Zhao. Tian Jian, a former Qi general, remained in hiding in Zhao. Tian Rong then installed Tian Shi, son of Tian Dan, as King of Qi. Xiang Liang had already defeated the main force of the Qin army in Dong'e, so he pursued them. He repeatedly urged Qi to join forces for a westward advance. Tian Rong said, "Not until Chu and Zhao deal with Tian Jia, Tian Jiao, and Tian Jian will I send my troops." Xiang Liang replied, "Tian Jia was the king of Qi, and he sought refuge with me after his fall. I couldn't bring myself to kill him." Zhao, too, kept Tian Jiao and Tian Jian alive, hoping to use them as leverage against Qi. Therefore, in the end, Qi refused to send troops to help Chu. Xiang Liang then sent Liu Bang and Xiang Yu to lead another army to attack Chengyang, where they massacred the city's inhabitants. They then defeated the Qin army to the east of Puyang, forcing them to retreat to Puyang. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu then attacked Dingtao. When they could not take Dingtao, they withdrew their troops, pushed westward, and arrived at Yueqiu, where they defeated the Qin army, killing Li You. Their assault on Waihuang failed.
Xiang Liang left Dong'e and headed west. When he reached Dingtao, he beat the Qin army twice. They also killed Li You, which only puffed them up. Song Yi advised Xiang Liang, saying, "Winning too much makes soldiers soft, and that's how you lose. Your men are getting slack, and the Qin are getting stronger. I'm worried, boss." Xiang Liang did not listen to him. So he sent Song Yi to Qi as an envoy. On the way, he met Qi's envoy Gao Lingjun Xian. Song Yi asked him, "Are you going to see Tian Rong?" Gao Lingjun replied, "Yes." Song Yi said, "I'm betting Tian Rong's army is done for. Take it slow, or you'll be sorry." Indeed, the Qin reinforced Zhang Han, smashed the Chu army at Dingtao, and Xiang Liang was dead. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu hit Chenliu from Waihuang, but couldn't take it. They discussed and decided, "Xiang Liang's army's gone down, and our guys are scared." So they hightailed it east with Lu Chen's crew. Lu Chen's guys were east of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu's west, and Liu Bang's in Dangxian. Zhang Han wiped out Xiang Liang's army and figured the Chu were pushovers, so he crossed the Yellow River to attack Zhao State, defeating their army. King Zhao Xie, General Chen Yu, and Prime Minister Zhang Er—they all ran to Julu City. Zhang Han had Wang Li and She Jian surround Julu, while he set up shop south of the city and built a supply route. Chen Yu parked his tens of thousands north of Julu—that's what they called the Hebei army.
The Chu army was defeated in Dingtao, and King Huai, fearing for his safety, fled from Xutai to Pengcheng, where he gathered the armies of Xiang Yu and Lu Chen and took personal command. He appointed Lu Chen as the Grand Minister and his father Lu Qing as the Chief Minister. Liu Bang was appointed as the county head of Dang County and was created Marquis of Wu'an, putting him in charge of the county's army.
Initially, Song Yi encountered Gao Ling Jun, an envoy from the State of Qi, within the Chu army. Gao Ling Jun said to King Huai, "Song Yi predicted Lord Wuxin's defeat, and he was right! That kind of foresight shows real military genius." After hearing this, King Huai greatly appreciated Song Yi and appointed him as General. Xiang Yu was appointed as the Duke of Lu, serving as the deputy general, while Fan Zeng was appointed as the junior general. Together, they set out to rescue the State of Zhao. Song Yi was known as "Lord Qing, the Champion."
When the army reached Anyang, they stopped for forty-six days without moving. Xiang Yu said, "I hear the Qin are surrounding Zhao in Julu. We gotta get across the Yellow River fast – Chu attacks from the outside, Zhao from the inside, and we'll smash those Qin!"
Song Yi said, "No. That's like swatting flies with a cannon. Now that the State of Qin is attacking the State of Zhao, if Qin wins, their army will be exhausted, and we can take the opportunity to conquer Qin; if Qin loses, we can lead our troops west and definitely crush Qin. So it's better to let Qin and Zhao bleed each other dry first. I may not match you in hand-to-hand combat, but I'm far superior when it comes to strategy." Then Song Yi ordered the whole army, "Any soldier who's cowardly, greedy, or undisciplined will be executed!" He also sent his son Song Xiang to the State of Qi; he personally saw his son off to Wuyan, then threw a lavish banquet. At that time, the weather was cold, it was raining heavily, and the soldiers were cold and starving. Xiang Yu said, "We should go all out to attack the State of Qin, but we’re just sitting here. Now is the time of famine; the soldiers are eating taro and beans, and the army is starving. The generals are having a feast, not leading the troops to cross the river to the State of Zhao to eat and drink, and join forces with Zhao to attack Qin together, and yet he keeps talking about waiting for them to collapse! Qin is so powerful that attacking the newly established State of Zhao will definitely result in its capture. Once Zhao is taken, Qin will become even stronger, leaving us no chance to take advantage. Furthermore, the country's army has just been defeated, and the King of Chu is restless, entrusting all the national forces to the generals. The fate of the country depends on this battle. The general ignores his troops' needs and cares only for his own desires. He's no true servant of the state."
Xiang Yu went to see General Song Yi early in the morning, killed him in his tent, and then announced to the whole army: "Song Yi and the Qi State were in cahoots to overthrow the Chu State. The Chu King had me whack him." At that time, all the generals were too scared to say boo and no one dared to oppose. They all said, "The first to make a name for themselves fighting for Chu was your family, General. Now you have killed the rebel." So everyone together made Xiang Yu the acting General. Xiang Yu sent someone to chase and kill Song Yi's son, caught up with him in Qi, and killed him. Then he sent Huan Chu to report this to King Huai. King Huai then appointed Xiang Yu as the General, with General Dang Yang and General Pu under his command.
Xiang Yu wiped the floor with Qin's best, striking fear into the hearts of everyone in Chu, and other vassals also heard of his great name. He then sent General Dang Yang and General Pu with twenty thousand soldiers to rescue Julu. Things weren't going so well, and Chen Yu came to ask for reinforcements. Xiang Yu just took his whole army there, arrived at the river, sank the boats, smashed the pots, burned the houses to show them he meant business, and brought only three days' worth of food to tell the soldiers: "This is a one-way trip, lads. We're fighting to the death!"
Upon reaching Julu, they laid siege to Wang Li, fought multiple battles with the Qin army—a total of nine major battles—completely cutting off the Qin army's supply line, crushing the Qin army, killing Su Jiao, and capturing Wang Li. The one who wouldn't surrender torched himself. At that time, the strength of the Chu army was the strongest among all the vassal armies! A dozen or more armies were camped near Julu, but no one dared to make a move. When the Chu army went to war, the other generals could only watch from their tents. Every Chu soldier was a one-man army, their war cries were deafening, and the other soldiers were petrified.
After the Chu army defeated the Qin army, Xiang Yu summoned all the generals of the feudal lords. When these generals entered Xiang Yu's tent, they had to prostrate themselves before entering, and none dared to raise their heads to look at him. From then on, Xiang Yu became the supreme commander of the allied forces, and all the feudal lords listened to him.
Zhang Han's army was in Jiyuan, while Xiang Yu's army was in Zhangnan. The armies of Zhang Han and Xiang Yu faced off, but the war hadn't begun yet. The Qin army had suffered several consecutive defeats, prompting the Second Emperor of Qin to send someone to persuade Zhang Han to surrender. Zhang Han grew apprehensive and sent his chief of staff, Xin, to Xianyang to investigate the situation and seek guidance. When they arrived in Xianyang, they waited at the Sima Gate for three days, but Zhao Gao did not meet with them. Zhang Han grew suspicious of Zhao Gao's reliability. Xin was also worried, so he quickly led his men back to the camp, avoiding the original route. As a result, Zhao Gao did send someone to chase them, but they did not catch up. After Xin returned to the camp, he reported to Zhang Han, saying: "Zhao Gao's power is overwhelming now; we can't accomplish anything. If we win a battle now, Zhao Gao will definitely envy our achievements and be jealous; if we lose, we'll face death as well. General, you need to give this some serious thought!"
At the same time, Chen Yu also wrote a letter to Zhang Han, saying: "Bai Qi was a general of the Qin state back then; he went south to capture Yan and Ying, went north to defeat Ma Fu, conquered cities and territories, achieved great military feats, but in the end was bumped off by the King of Qin. Meng Tian was also a general of the Qin state; he attacked the Rong and Di tribes in the north, opened up thousands of miles of land in Yuzhong, but in the end was also killed by the King of Qin. Why? Because their contributions were too great, the Qin state could not reward them, so they could only use the law to execute them. General, you have served the Qin state for three years now, with losses of soldiers numbering in the tens of thousands, while more and more rebel lords are turning against Qin. Zhao Gao has always been good at flattery and sycophancy; now that the situation is critical, he is also afraid that the Second Emperor will kill him, so he wants to throw you under the bus to save his own skin and then find someone else to replace you. General, you have been fighting outside for many years, repeatedly suffering defeats; those with achievements will be killed, and those without achievements will also be killed. Moreover, the Qin Dynasty is destined to perish; everyone knows this. Now you cannot speak frankly in court, and outside you have become a general fighting a losing war, trying to save yourself alone— isn't this very sad? General, why don't you lead your troops to join forces with the rebels, attack Qin together, divide the land of Qin, and declare yourself king? Better to be a king than a corpse, wouldn't you say?" Zhang Han was indecisive and secretly sent someone to contact Xiang Yu, wanting to team up with him. Before they could finalize the agreement, Xiang Yu sent General Pu to lead the troops around the clock to cross the Sanhu. The army arrived at Zhangnan, fought against the Qin army, and defeated them twice. Xiang Yu led all the troops to attack the Qin army in the swamp, won a decisive victory, and crushed the Qin army.
Zhang Han sent someone to meet Xiang Yu to hash things out. Xiang Yu gathered his officers and said, "We're short on supplies, might as well say yes." The officers all replied, "Sounds good!" So Xiang Yu made an appointment with Zhang Han to meet at the Yin Xu south of the Huan River. Once the truce was made, Zhang Han met Xiang Yu and burst into tears, telling him about Zhao Gao's evil deeds. Xiang Yu then appointed Zhang Han as the Prince of Yong, keeping him in the Chu army. He also appointed Changshi Xin as the Chief General, leading the Qin army's advance troops. They arrived at Xin'an.
At this time, the vassal troops and officials stationed in Qin had gotten a raw deal. Now that the Qin army surrendered to the vassals, the soldiers and officials of the vassals, taking advantage of their victory, really mistreated many Qin soldiers. Many Qin soldiers privately discussed, "That Zhang and his lot tricked us into surrendering. If they can take down Qin, great. But if not, the vassals will drag us east, and Qin will wipe out our families." A few commanders overheard their plotting and reported it to Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu then summoned Qing Bu and Pu generals to discuss, "There are still many Qin soldiers, and they are not convinced. They will definitely not obey when we reach Guanzhong. It would be safer to just get rid of them and only bring Zhang Han, Changshi Xin, and Captain Yi into the Qin territory." So, under the cover of darkness, the Chu army wiped out the two hundred thousand plus Qin troops south of Xin'an.
They mopped up the Qin lands as they went. When they arrived at Hangu Pass, they found the pass was blocked by soldiers. Then they heard Liu Bang had already taken Xianyang. Enraged, Xiang Yu sent Dangyang Jun and his men to attack Hangu Pass. Xiang Yu later entered Guanzhong, west of Xixian. Liu Bang's army was camped at Bashang, and they hadn't yet met Xiang Yu. Liu Bang's Left Sima Cao Wushang sent someone to tell Xiang Yu, "Liu Bang's planning on being king of Guanzhong, making Ziyang his prime minister, and keeping all the loot for himself!" Xiang Yu was furious when he heard this, saying, "Tomorrow, we'll reward the troops, then wipe out Liu Bang!" At that time, Xiang Yu had four hundred thousand men at Hongmen, near Xinfeng; Liu Bang had a hundred thousand at Bashang. Fan Zeng advised Xiang Yu, "Back in Shandong, Liu Bang was all about the money and the women. But now he's inside, and he hasn't touched a single coin or woman – that tells me his sights are set much higher. I've seen the guy's aura – it's got that imperial vibe, all majestic and colorful! Hit him now, before he gets too strong!" Xiang Bo, Xiang Yu's uncle, was thick as thieves with Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang was with Liu Bang, so Xiang Bo hot-footed it to Liu Bang's camp in the dead of night, slipped Zhang Liang a warning, spilled the beans, and urged him to get out of there before it was too late. "Don't get yourself killed," he said.
Zhang Liang said, "I'm assisting Liu Bang on King Han's orders. Right now, Liu Bang is facing an emergency situation. Running away now would be disloyal, so I have to speak up." So Zhang Liang went in and told Liu Bang everything. Liu Bang was frightened and asked, "What are we gonna do?" Zhang Liang asked, "Who gave the King this idea?" Liu Bang said, "This guy Li Shiqi advised me to 'guard Hangu Pass, don't let other feudal lords in, and all of Qin's territory will be yours,' so I listened to him." Zhang Liang asked again, "Can your army beat Xiang Yu?" Liu Bang was silent for a moment and said, "No way, so what now?" Zhang Liang said, "I'll go see Xiang Bo and tell him Liu Bang wouldn't dare betray Xiang Yu." Liu Bang asked, "What's your deal with Xiang Bo?" Zhang Liang said, "We go way back from the Qin Dynasty. He killed a guy once, I saved his bacon. Things are dire, so I figured I'd let you know." Liu Bang asked, "Who's older, you or Xiang Bo?" Zhang Liang said, "He's older than me." Liu Bang said, "Go and invite him in. I gotta treat him like a big brother."
Zhang Liang went out and invited Xiang Bo in. Xiang Bo came in, and Liu Bang raised his wine cup to toast Xiang Bo, indicating that they should become relatives, and said, "Since I got to Guanzhong, I haven't lifted a finger. I just took a census, sealed up the treasury, and waited for you, General. I put troops at Hangu Pass to keep out bandits and troublemakers. I've been waiting for you, how could I possibly rebel! Tell Xiang Bo to tell Xiang Yu I wouldn't dream of betraying him!" Xiang Bo agreed. Then he said to Liu Bang, "You gotta apologize to Xiang Yu first thing tomorrow morning." Liu Bang said, "Okay." So Xiang Bo returned overnight, went back to the camp, and told Xiang Yu everything Liu Bang had said. He also said, "Liu Bang hasn't even taken Guanzhong yet, and you waltz in? He's already done the hard work, and now you're gonna attack him? That's messed up. You should treat him right." Xiang Yu agreed.
Early the next morning, Liu Bang took over a hundred horsemen to meet Xiang Yu. When they arrived at Hongmen, Liu Bang first thanked Xiang Yu, saying, "General and I fought side-by-side against the Qin. You fought in Hebei, while I fought in Henan. I never thought I would be the first to enter the pass and break through Qin, and still be able to meet you here. It is because of some schemers who have caused misunderstandings between us." Xiang Yu replied, "This was said by Pei's left-hand man, Cao Wushang; otherwise, why would I come here?" Xiang Yu had Liu Bang stay for drinks that day. Xiang Yu and Xiang Bo held court on the east, Fan Zeng sat in the south, while Liu Bang was placed in the north, with Zhang Liang attending to him in the west. Fan Zeng subtly flashed his jade pendant three times, but Xiang Yu remained silent. Fan Zeng stood up, went out to call Xiang Zhuang, and said to him, "The King is too soft-hearted. You go in and toast him. After toasting, get him to dance, and then kill Lord Pei while seated. Otherwise, we will all be captured by him." Xiang Zhuang went in to toast, and after toasting, he said, "The King and Lord Pei are drinking. There's nothing to do for fun in the army. Please allow me to dance with swords to liven up the atmosphere." Xiang Yu said, "Alright." Xiang Zhuang drew his sword to dance, and Xiang Bo also drew his sword to dance, always using their bodies to block Liu Bang. Xiang Zhuang never got a chance to strike.
At this time, Zhang Liang arrived at the entrance of the military camp and met Fan Kuai. Fan Kuai asked, "What's up?" Zhang Liang replied, "It's a bloody mess! Just now, Xiang Zhuang danced with his sword, and his target has always been Liu Bang." Fan Kuai said, "Things are dire! I’ll go and have it out with him!" Fan Kuai, sword and shield in hand, charged into the camp, bowling over the guards who tried to stop him. He rushed in, lifted the curtain, stood to the west, and glared at Xiang Yu, his hair standing on end, eyes blazing. Xiang Yu, holding his sword, knelt down and asked, "What's a tough guy like you doing here?" Zhang Liang responded, "This is Fan Kuai, Liu Bang's bodyguard." Xiang Yu said, "Brave warrior, have a drink." He tossed him a drink, then a roasted pig leg. After thanking him, Fan Kuai stood up and downed the drink in one gulp. Fan Kuai set his shield down, hacked into the pig leg with his sword, and ate. Xiang Yu asked, "Brave warrior, can you have another drink?" Fan Kuai replied, "Afraid of a drink? Hell no! I ain't afraid of dyin'! The King of Qin is a real piece of work, killing and punishing folks left and right. Everyone ditched him. King Huai and the generals agreed that whoever took Xianyang first would be crowned king. Liu Bang did it, but he didn't even touch anything, just locked up the palace, pulled his troops back, and waited for the king. So he put guards on the pass to stop any trouble. After all that work, no reward, and now this? Listening to some backstabbing weasels and trying to kill the guys who did all the work? That's just asking for trouble, just like what happened to Qin!" Xiang Yu had no reply and said, "Have a seat." Fan Kuai sat down with Zhang Liang. After sitting for a while, Liu Bang said he needed to take a leak and asked Fan Kuai to accompany him outside.
Liu Bang has already left, and Xiang Yu sent a lieutenant, Chen Ping, to call him back. Liu Bang said, "I've already left, and I haven't had a chance to say goodbye to Xiang Yu yet. What should I do?" Fan Kuai replied, "Big men don't sweat the small stuff. Right now, we’re like sitting ducks, and they’re the ones holding the knives. Why bother with farewells?" So Liu Bang left and asked Zhang Liang to stay and apologize to Xiang Yu. Zhang Liang asked, "What did Liu Bang bring?" Liu Bang said, "I brought a couple of jade discs to offer to Xiang Yu, and a pair of jade goblets for the general, but seeing the sour look on Xiang Yu's face and his men, I didn't dare to deliver them personally. Can you help me out?" Zhang Liang said, "Okay."
At that time, Xiang Yu's army was at Hongmen (the site of the banquet), while Liu Bang's army was at Bazi (where Liu Bang's troops were stationed), and the two armies were forty miles apart. Liu Bang ditched his chariot and horses, mounting his own steed and taking only four men—Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying, Jin Qiang, and Ji Xin—with swords and shields to sneak away from Lishan via the Zhiyang road. Liu Bang said to Zhang Liang, "From this road to our camp, it’s only about twenty miles. When I think it's about time, you can go in." After Liu Bang left, he quickly arrived at the camp. Zhang Liang went in to apologize, saying, "Liu Bang got a little too tipsy and didn't get a chance to say goodbye. He specially asked me to present this pair of white jade discs to thank you; this pair of jade goblets is to thank the general." Xiang Yu asked, "Where is Liu Bang?" Zhang Liang said, "I heard you wanted to see him, but he left alone and has already returned to the camp." Xiang Yu took the jade discs and placed them on the seat. The general took the jade goblets, placed them on the ground, drew his sword, and smashed them, saying, "Alas! This boy is not worthy of our plans. The one who can seize the world from Xiang Yu must be Liu Bang. We're all screwed!" Liu Bang returned to the camp and immediately killed Cao Wushang.
A few days later, Xiang Yu marched west on Xianyang, killed Qin's last prince, Ying, and burned down the Qin palaces. The fire raged for three months. After looting the treasures and women of the Qin Dynasty, he withdrew to the east. Someone advised Xiang Yu, "The terrain in Guanzhong is treacherous, surrounded by mountains, and the land is fertile. You could establish your capital here and proclaim yourself king." Seeing the Qin palace in ruins, Xiang Yu thought about returning home and said, "What's the point of getting rich and powerful if you can't go home and show it off?" The advisor replied, "They say we Chu folk are just monkeys in fancy hats—and it looks like they're right." Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu killed him.
Xiang Yu sent a message to King Huai, saying, "We had a deal, and it's time to settle up." King Huai agreed, so Xiang Yu honored him as the Righteous Emperor. Xiang Yu wanted to be king himself, so he first granted land to the generals who fought alongside him. He said, "When we first rebelled against the Qin, we did so under the banner of supporting the princes. But it was the efforts of all of you generals and myself that led to the ultimate destruction of the Qin Dynasty and the pacification of the world after three years of hardships in the wilderness. King Huai didn't really do much, but we should give him some land to rule as a king." All the generals agreed, so Xiang Yu carved up the empire and made his generals kings.
Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng thought that Liu Bang might eventually dominate the world; they'd seen it coming, and they were worried he might violate the agreement, causing other lords to rebel. So they secretly discussed, "Bashu's mountain passes are treacherous, and it's where all the relocated Qin people live." Xiang Yu said, "Bashu is also part of Guanzhong!" Therefore, Xiang Yu appointed Liu Bang as the King of Han, allowing him to rule over Bashu and Hanzhong, with the capital in Nanzheng. Xiang Yu divided the Guanzhong area into three parts, using Qin's surrendered generals to keep Liu Bang in check. He appointed Zhang Han as the King of Yong, ruling the area west of Xianyang, with the capital in Feiqiu. Zhang Han's top aide, Xin, used to be a jail warden in Liyang and had once helped Xiang Liang; military commander Dong Yi had previously persuaded Zhang Han to surrender to the Chu state. So Xiang Yu made Sima Xin the Border King, ruling the land east of Xianyang to the Yellow River, with his capital at Liyang, and appointed Dong Yi as the Dai King, ruling Shangjun from his capital at Gaonu.
Xiang Yu moved the King of Wei, Bao, to the west and made him the King of Western Wei, ruling Hedong from Pingyang. Shen Yang, a favorite of Zhang Er, had previously captured the Henan region and helped the Chu army cross the Yellow River. This led Xiang Yu to appoint Shen Yang as the King of Henan, with the capital at Luoyang. The King of Han, Cheng, remained in his original capital of Yangdi. The general Sima Ang of the Zhao kingdom pacified the Henan region and was a highly successful general. Consequently, Xiang Yu made Ang the King of Yin, ruling Henan from Chaoge. Xiang Yu moved the King of Zhao, Xie, to the Dai region, making him the King of Dai. The prime minister of Zhao, Zhang Er, was known for his wisdom and had followed Xiang Yu westward. Thus, Xiang Yu appointed Zhang Er as the King of Changshan, ruling parts of the Zhao kingdom from Xiangguo. Xiang Yu's general Ying Bu frequently won battles, so he made Ying Bu the King of Jiujiang, with the capital at Liu (now Shouxian, Anhui). Wu Rui led the Baiyue people to assist the nobles in battle and followed Xiang Yu westward. Therefore, Xiang Yu appointed Wu Rui as the King of Hengshan, with the capital at Zhu (now Zouxian, Shandong). Yi Di's chief minister, Gong Ao, led troops to attack Nanjun and won many victories. This earned him an appointment as the King of Linjiang, with the capital at Jiangling. Xiang Yu moved the King of Yan, Han Guang, to Liaodong, making him the King of Liaodong. The general Zang Tu of Yan followed the Chu army to rescue the Zhao kingdom and accompanied Xiang Yu westward. Consequently, Xiang Yu appointed Tu as the King of Yan, with the capital at Ji (now Beijing). Xiang Yu moved the King of Qi, Tian Shi, to Jiaodong, appointing him as the King of Jiaodong. The general Tian Du of Qi followed Gong Ao to rescue the Zhao kingdom and also accompanied Xiang Yu westward. Thus, Xiang Yu made Du the King of Qi, with the capital at Linzi. The grandson of King Jian of the fallen Qin kingdom, Tian An, captured several Jibei cities while Xiang Yu was crossing the river to rescue the Zhao kingdom. He led his army to surrender to Xiang Yu, so Xiang Yu appointed An as the King of Jibei, with the capital at Boyang. Tian Rong disobeyed Xiang Liang's orders multiple times and refused to lead troops to attack the Qin kingdom with the Chu army, so he received no reward. Chen Yu abandoned his seal and fled, not following Xiang Yu westward. However, Xiang Yu heard of his wisdom and contributions to the Zhao kingdom, so he gave him three neighboring counties. Mei Yan had outstanding military achievements and was appointed as the Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. Xiang Yu declared himself the King of Western Chu, ruling over nine counties with the capital at Pengcheng.
In April of 206 BC, after the various feudal lords had finished their military drills, they all returned to their respective fiefdoms. Xiang Yu drove Emperor Yi out of his fiefdom and ordered his relocation, saying, "In the old days, an emperor needed a vast territory, at least a thousand miles across, and had to reside upstream." He then had Emperor Yi moved to Chen County in Changsha. He pressured Emperor Yi to leave immediately, and his officials began to turn against him. Xiang Yu secretly instructed the Kings of Hengshan and Linjiang to kill Emperor Yi in the river. Han Wang Cheng, having achieved no military merit, was prevented by Xiang Yu from returning to his fiefdom. Instead, he was taken to Pengcheng, where he was demoted to marquis and later killed. Returning to his fiefdom, Zang Tu attacked Han Guang in Liaodong. When Han Guang resisted, Zang Tu killed him at Wuzhong and annexed his territory.
When Xiang Yu moved King Tian Shi of Qi to Jiaodong and installed Tian Du as the new king, Tian Rong blew a gasket. He refused to send the King of Qi to Jiaodong and instead raised an army to rebel against Chu, going after Tian Du. Tian Du escaped to the state of Chu. The King of Qi, Tian Shi, fearing Xiang Yu, fled to Jiaodong to set up shop. Tian Rong, livid, pursued and killed him in Jimo. Tian Rong then declared himself the King of Qi and immediately attacked the King of Jibei, Tian An, to annex the territories of the three Qi states. Tian Rong gave General Peng Yue a seal and sent him to rebel against Liang.
Chen Yu, working in the shadows, sent Zhang Tong and Xia Shuo to Tian Rong with this message: "Xiang Yu's got all the power, but he's a real jerk about it. He's placed the former vassal kings in desolate places while settling his followers in fertile lands, driving away their original masters. King Zhao is now living in the northern part of Dai. That ain't right. I’ve heard you’ve raised an army and refused to follow unjust actions. I hope you can support me with some troops to attack Changshan and restore King Zhao's territory. Let my country be your shield."
King Qi agreed and sent troops to support the Zhao state. Chen Yu mobilized the forces of three counties and, together with the Qi army, took Changshan. Zhang Er fled back to the Han state. Chen Yu welcomed the original King Zhao back to Dai, restoring the Zhao state. King Zhao then appointed Chen Yu as the King of Dai. Meanwhile, Liu Bang had mopped up the San Qin region. Xiang Yu, upon hearing that Liu Bang had taken control of Guanzhong and was preparing to advance eastward, and with Qi and Zhao rebelling again, flipped his lid. He appointed the former Wu magistrate Zheng Chang as the King of Han to keep Liu Bang in check. He also sent Xiao Gongjiao and others to attack Peng Yue, but Peng Yue wiped the floor with them.
Liu Bang sent Zhang Liang to pacify the Han state and wrote a letter to Xiang Yu, saying, "Things aren't going so well in Han. I only wish to get Guanzhong. If we can stick to our deal, I will stop here and not dare to move further east." He also informed Xiang Yu of the rebellion in Qi and Liang, saying, "Qi and Zhao are ganging up on Chu." Due to this, Xiang Yu had no intention of heading west and instead attacked Qi, even calling up Ying Bu, the King of Jiujang, for reinforcements. Ying Bu malingered and did not go, only sending a token force. Xiang Yu was pissed at Ying Bu for this.
In the winter of the second year of Han, Xiang Yu marched north to Chengyang, where Tian Rong also brought troops to fight. Tian Rong was defeated by Xiang Yu and fled to Pingyuan, where he was killed by the locals. Xiang Yu then continued north, torching Qi's cities and houses, slaughtering Tian Rong's surrendered troops, and capturing the elderly, women, and children of Qi. He pillaged and plundered along the way, causing great suffering to the people of Qi. The people of Qi finally revolted again. At this time, Tian Heng, the brother of Tian Rong, mustered tens of thousands of men to attack Chengyang again. Xiang Yu had to leave troops behind to besiege the city, fighting many battles but couldn't take Chengyang.
In the spring, the King of Han commanded a 56,000-strong army from five vassal states to the east to attack Chu. Hearing this, Xiang Yu immediately ordered his generals to attack Qi, while he personally led 30,000 elite troops south from Lu, via Huling.
In April, the Han army had already entered Pengcheng, looting the treasures and beauties of the city and partying it up every day. Xiang Yu then marched westward from Xia County, ambushed the Han army in the morning, advanced eastward, and arrived at Pengcheng. By noon, Xiang Yu had decisively defeated the Han army. The Han troops scattered in disarray, fleeing into valleys and the Si River, with tens of thousands of soldiers killed. The Han soldiers fled south to the mountains, and the Chu army pursued them to the Si River east of Lingbi. The Han army was trapped by the Chu forces, suffering countless casualties, and over 100,000 soldiers jumped into the Si River, blocking it. The Chu army surrounded the Han king on three sides. At this time, a ferocious northwest wind ripped through, uprooting trees, smashing houses, and whipping up a sandstorm that blotted out the sun, as if welcoming the Chu army. The Chu army fell into chaos, their lines broke, and the Han king fled with a handful of horsemen, hoping to return to Peixian and escape westward with his family. The Chu army pursued his family to Peixian, but they had already escaped. On the way, the Han king encountered Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan, so he let them ride together in the carriage. The Chu cavalry chased the Han king, and in a critical situation, he pushed Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan off the carriage. Teng Gong constantly rescued them from being thrown off and helped them back onto the carriage. This happened three times. Teng Gong said, "Even in such a critical situation, we cannot drive them off the carriage; how can we abandon them like this?" Ultimately, the Han king escaped. He did not find Taigong and Empress Lü. While searching for the Han king, Shen Shiqi ran between Taigong and Empress Lü, only to be captured by the Chu army. The Chu army took him back and reported the situation to Xiang Yu, who kept him in the army.
At that time, Lü Hou's brother, the Marquis of Zhou, served as a general of the Han army, stationed in Xiayi. The Han king secretly slipped away to join his brother, gradually gathering the scattered soldiers. By the time they reached Xingyang, all the defeated armies had come together. Xiao He also mobilized old men, boys, and the infirm from Guanzhong, all rushing to Xingyang, greatly strengthening the Han army. The Chu army rose up from Pengcheng, pressing their advantage and fighting at Xingyang, Nanjing, and Suo. The Han army defeated the Chu army, blocking their westward advance from Xingyang.
Xiang Yu went to rescue Pengcheng, chasing Liu Bang to Xingyang. Tian Heng also successfully regained the territory of Qi, appointing Tian Guang, the son of Tian Rong, as the King of Qi. Liu Bang lost the battle at Pengcheng, causing the other vassals to switch sides, allying with Chu. Liu Bang's army in Xingyang dug a canal to the Yellow River for transporting grain from Aocang. After three years of fighting, Xiang Yu repeatedly attacked Liu Bang's supply line, causing a shortage of food supplies. Liu Bang panicked and requested peace talks, offering to give Xiang Yu the land west of Xingyang.
Xiang Yu originally wanted to agree. However, Fan Zeng, the Marquis of Liyang, said, "Liu Bang's a pushover. If you let him go now, you'll regret it later!" Xiang Yu then followed Fan Zeng's advice and together they laid siege to Yingyang. Liu Bang was anxious, so he used Chen Ping's idea to drive a wedge between Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng. When Xiang Yu's envoy arrived, Liu Bang threw a huge spread to entertain the envoy. Upon seeing the envoy, Liu Bang pretended to be surprised and said, "I thought it was an envoy sent by Fan Zeng, but it turns out to be sent by Xiang Yu!" Then he withdrew the fine wine and dishes he had prepared, offering only some plain grub to Xiang Yu's envoy. The envoy reported the situation back to Xiang Yu, who began to suspect collusion between Fan Zeng and Liu Bang, gradually weakening Fan Zeng's power. Fan Zeng was very angry and said, "The game's almost over. You're on your own! I want to retire and go home." Xiang Yu agreed. Before Fan Zeng even reached Pengcheng, he got a nasty boil on his back and died. Liu Bang's general Ji Xin said to Liu Bang, "We're in deep trouble. Let me impersonate you to throw the Chu army off while you make a run for it." So, Liu Bang slipped out from the east gate of Yingyang at night, taking only two thousand soldiers. The Chu army surrounded them from all sides. Ji Xin sat on a fancy chariot, raised Liu Bang's military flag, and said, "The city's starved out, and the Han King's surrendered!" The Chu army cheered. Liu Bang also hightailed it out of there with a handful of horsemen from the west gate of the city, escaping to Chenggao. When Xiang Yu saw Ji Xin, he asked, "Where is Liu Bang?" Ji Xin replied, "The King of Han has already escaped." Xiang Yu then burned Ji Xin to death.
Liu Bang sent Inspector Zhou Ke, Lord Zong, and Wei Bao to garrison Yingyang. Zhou Ke and Lord Zong discussed, saying, "It's tough to defend a city with a king who betrays his own country." So they killed Wei Bao together. The Chu army broke through Yingyang City and captured Zhou Ke alive. Xiang Yu said to Zhou Ke, "You’ll be my general. I’ll make you Grand General and grant you a fief of thirty thousand households." Zhou Ke cursed, "If you don’t surrender to Liu Bang quickly, he’ll capture you right now. You’re no match for him!" Xiang Yu was furious, boiled Zhou Ke alive, and killed Lord Zong.
Liu Bang escaped from Yingyang, running south to Wancheng and Yexian. He teamed up with King Ying Bu of Jiujiang, raised an army, and returned to Chenggao to hold the city.
Four years later, Xiang Yu surrounded Chenggao with his troops. Liu Bang retreated again, taking only Teng Gong out of the north gate of Chenggao. They crossed the Yellow River, fled to Xiuwu, and linked up with Zhang Er and Han Xin’s forces. Other generals also escaped from Chenggao one after another, following Liu Bang. After capturing Chenggao, Xiang Yu wanted to push westward. Liu Bang sent troops to block him in Gongxian, preventing Xiang Yu from advancing.
At that time, Peng Yue crossed the Yellow River, defeated the Chu army in Dong'e, and killed the Chu general Xue Gong. Xiang Yu personally led his troops to attack Peng Yue. After Liu Bang received Han Xin’s army, he wanted to cross the Yellow River to Henan. Zheng Zhong persuaded Liu Bang to camp in Henan instead. Liu Bang sent Liu Jia to support Peng Yue, burning the Chu army’s grain and supplies. Xiang Yu defeated Liu Jia in the east, and Peng Yue also made a run for it. Liu Bang then crossed the Yellow River with his troops, recaptured Chenggao, and camped in Guangwu, living off the land. After pacifying the East Sea, Xiang Yu also marched westward, and a stalemate ensued for months as they faced off in Guangwu.
During this time, Peng Yue kept rebelling in Liang, cutting off Chu's supply lines, which gave Xiang Yu a headache. Xiang Yu set up a high table, tied Liu Bang's father, Liu Taigong, to it, and said to Liu Bang, "If you don't surrender quickly, I'll boil your dad!" Liu Bang replied, "Xiang Yu and I swore brotherhood before King Huai. He's my dad, and therefore your dad too! If you really want to cook my father, then let me have some of the broth!" Xiang Yu was furious and wanted to kill him. Xiang Bo said, "The situation is still uncertain, and when the fate of the world hangs in the balance, who's got time for family? Even if you kill him, it will only cause more trouble!" Xiang Yu listened to his advice.
The Chu and Han armies were locked in a stalemate for what seemed like forever. The common people suffered greatly, with men being drafted to fight, and the elderly and children exhausted from constantly transporting food. Xiang Yu said to Liu Bang, "This whole mess has been going on for years, all because of us two! Why don't we have a duel to determine a winner, so that the common people no longer suffer?" Liu Bang politely declined, saying, "I'm a brains guy, not a brawn guy." Xiang Yu then sent a strong man to challenge. On Liu Bang's side, there was a skilled horse archer named Lou Fan. The Chu army sent three challengers, and Lou Fan picked them off one by one.
Xiang Yu was furious and personally put on armor, wielding a spear to challenge. Just as Lou Fan was about to shoot him, Xiang Yu roared angrily, terrifying Lou Fan; his hands shook so badly he couldn't even nock an arrow, and he ran back to camp, never to return. Liu Bang sent someone to inquire, only to find out that it was Xiang Yu, and that scared the hell out of them. So Xiang Yu and Liu Bang met near Guangwu to talk. Liu Bang gave Xiang Yu a dressing-down, and Xiang Yu, furious, wanted to attack right then and there, but Liu Bang wouldn't have it. Then Xiang Yu, sneaky as ever, let fly an arrow and winged Liu Bang. Injured, Liu Bang hurriedly fled back to Chenggao.
Xiang Yu heard that Han Xin had already taken Hebei, defeated the states of Qi and Zhao, and was preparing to stop the state of Chu, so he sent Long Qie to intercept Han Xin. Han Xin fought with Long Qie, and the cavalry general under Han Xin, Guan Ying, defeated the Chu army, and Long Qie was killed. Han Xin seized the chance to crown himself King of Qi. When Xiang Yu heard Long Qie had lost, he freaked out and sent the Xutai man Wu She to persuade Han Xin to surrender, but Han Xin just ignored him. At this time, Peng Yue rebelled again, took Liangdi, and cut off the Chu army's food supply. Xiang Yu told Hai Chunhou, Grand Marshal Cao Jiong, and others, "Hold Chenggao! If the Han army attacks, don't engage – don't let 'em get east! I'll wipe out Peng Yue in 15 days, grab Liangdi, and be right back." After that, Xiang Yu went east to attack Chenliu and Waihuang. Waihuang County held out for a few days, then surrendered. Xiang Yu blew a gasket and ordered every man over 15 to the east side of the city – he was gonna kill 'em all. The son of the Waihuang County magistrate, who was only thirteen years old, ran to Xiang Yu and pleaded, "Hey! Peng Yue muscled in on Waihuang, that's why we surrendered! We were waiting for you, Your Majesty! If you kill everyone, nobody’s gonna trust you! Every town east of here will be scared stiff – no one will ever surrender again!" Xiang Yu thought he made sense, so he pardoned those in Waihuang who were about to be killed. Xiang Yu marched east to Suiyang, and word of his mercy spread – towns surrendered left and right.
The Han army kept goading the Chu army into a fight, but the Chu army wouldn't bite. The Han army even sent guys to rub it in. After five or six days, the Grand Marshal of the Chu army finally snapped and led his troops across the Sishui River. When half of the Chu soldiers crossed the river, the Han army launched an attack, crushing the Chu army and looting a mountain of Chu loot. Grand Marshal Juang, Changshi Yi, and Prince Xin all committed suicide on the Sishui River. Grand Marshal Juang was a jailer in Qixian County, and Changshi Yi was also a jailer in Liyang County. Both had helped Xiang Liang, so Xiang Yu trusted them implicitly. At that time, Xiang Yu was in Suiyang. When he heard Haichunhou's army had been wiped out, he led his troops back. The Han army was besieging Zhongli Mo in the east of Xingyang. When Xiang Yu arrived, the Han army, spooked by Xiang Yu's arrival, scattered to the hills. The Han army was feasting while Xiang Yu's troops were starving. The Han king sent Lu Jia to plead with Xiang Yu to free Taigong, but Xiang Yu wouldn't budge. The Han king sent Hou Gong to persuade Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu finally agreed to split the country down the middle, using the Hong Canal as the dividing line. West of the Hong Canal went to Han, east to Chu. The army roared "Huzzah!" The Han king made Hou Gong the Pingguo Jun. Hou Gong refused to see anyone else, saying, "He's the slickest talker in the land; wherever he sets up shop, it'll be the bee's knees. That's why he's the Pingguo Jun." With the deal done, Xiang Yu pulled his troops back.
Liu Bang wanted to return to his hometown, but Zhang Liang and Chen Ping advised him, saying, "We have already occupied most of the country, and other princes have also joined us. The Chu army is running out of food and supplies; this is our chance to wipe them out. If we give up the attack now, we’d be asking for trouble!" Liu Bang listened to their advice.
In 205 BC, Liu Bang chased Xiang Yu to the south of Yangxia, a strategically important location, where he stationed his troops and agreed to meet with Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, and Peng Yue, the Marquis of Jiacheng, to encircle the Chu army. When they reached Guling, Han Xin and Peng Yue's armies did not arrive. The Chu army ambushed and routed the Han forces. Liu Bang retreated to his camp, dug deep trenches to defend, and then asked Zhang Liang, "What should we do if the princes do not keep their promises?" Zhang Liang replied, "The Chu army will soon be defeated, and Han Xin and Peng Yue have not yet received their territories, so it’s normal for them not to come. If you can promise to share the world with them, you can summon them now. If not, the situation will be difficult. You can give Han Xin the lands east of Chen, all the way to the coast, and give Peng Yue the territories north of Suiyang, extending to Gucheng, so they can fight separately, making it easier to defeat the Chu state." Liu Bang said, "Okay!" So he sent messengers to tell Han Xin and Peng Yue, "Let's work together to defeat the Chu state. After we defeat Chu, the lands east of Chen will be given to you, King Qi, and the territories north of Suiyang will be given to you, Marquis Peng." When the messengers arrived, Han Xin and Peng Yue both replied, "We will set out with our troops immediately!" Han Xin set out from the state of Qi, while Liu Jia's army set out from Shouchun. They acted together, captured Chengfu, and arrived at Gaixia. The Grand Marshal of Chu, Zhou Yin, defected, leading the armies of Shu County and six other counties. He joined forces with Liu Jia and Peng Yue at Gaixia to attack Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu's army camped at Gaixia, with few troops and no food left. The Han army and troops from various warlords surrounded them. That night, Xiang Yu heard the Han army singing Chu songs from all sides. He was shocked and said, "Have the Han already taken all of Chu? Why are there so many Chu songs being sung?" Xiang Yu got up that night and drank in his tent. By his side was a beautiful lover named Yu Ji, who always accompanied him; there was also a steed named Zui, which he often rode. Xiang Yu sang a sorrowful song and composed a poem: "My strength could move mountains, my spirit could shake the world, but fortune's against me, my steed stands still. My steed stands still, what can I do? My Yu, my Yu, what can I do for you?" After singing a few times, Yu Ji followed along. Xiang Yu burst into tears, and the people around him also cried; no one dared to look up at him.
Xiang Yu mounted his horse, took over eight hundred men, and slashed their way out under the cover of darkness, fleeing south. At dawn, the Han army discovered that Xiang Yu had escaped and quickly sent General Guan Ying with five thousand cavalry to pursue. Xiang Yu crossed the Huai River, with only over a hundred cavalry left. When he reached Yinling, Xiang Yu lost his way and asked an old farmer, who lied to him saying, "Go left." This led his troops straight into a swamp. Therefore, the Han army quickly caught up.
Xiang Yu headed east again with his troops, arriving at the eastern city with only twenty-eight cavalry left. Thousands of Han troops were on their tail. Xiang Yu knew he couldn't escape this time, so he said to the remaining cavalry, "I've been leading troops for eight years, fought seventy-plus battles, and won every single one. I even unified most of the country! But now I find myself in this situation; it's fate, not my fighting skills. Today, we fight to the death! I'll get us through this, win three battles, carve a path to freedom, kill some generals, grab their flags, and prove it's fate, not our lack of skill!"
Xiang Yu then divided the remaining cavalry into four teams and sent them charging in four directions. The Han troops surrounded them. Xiang Yu said to the cavalry, "I'll capture an enemy general for you!" He ordered the four teams to attack from all sides and agreed to meet up at three pre-arranged spots in Shandong. With a loud shout, Xiang Yu charged down, scattering the Han troops and killing a Han general. At that moment, Chiqi, their cavalry commander, chased after Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu roared in anger, scaring Chiqi back several miles before he could regroup with his men at the three locations. The Han army, clueless about where he was, split into three groups and surrounded him again. Xiang Yu charged out once more, killing another Han captain and hundreds of soldiers, regrouping with his cavalry with only two horses lost. Xiang Yu asked his cavalry, "How'd it go?" The cavalry all replied, "Exactly as you said, boss!"
Xiang Yu wanted to cross the Wu River and escape to the east. The ferryman of the Wu River had prepared a boat for him and was waiting. He said to Xiang Yu, "Jiangdong, though small, still boasts thousands of square miles and tens of thousands of soldiers, which is enough for you to become a king. I hope you will cross the river quickly. Right now, I am the only one with a boat. If the Han army comes, you won't be able to pass." Xiang Yu smiled and said, "If Heaven wills it, what's the point of running? Besides, when I and 8,000 young men from Jiangdong crossed west, none returned. Even if the people of Jiangdong pity me and support me as king, how can I face them? Even if they didn't say anything, I couldn't live with myself!"
Then Xiang Yu said to the ferryman, "I know you are a good person. I have ridden this horse for five years, unbeatable in all directions, able to run a thousand miles in a day. I can't bear to kill it, so I'm giving it to you." Xiang Yu then ordered all the cavalry to dismount and fight the Han army on foot with short weapons. Xiang Yu alone killed hundreds of Han soldiers and sustained more than ten injuries. He saw the Han general Lü Matong and asked, "Aren't you my old friend?" Lü Matong recognized him and pointed to Wang Yi, saying, "This is Xiang Yu!" Xiang Yu said, "I heard that the Han king has put a bounty on my head, offering a thousand gold and land to thousands of households. Let me fulfill that for you." After saying that, he took his own life. Wang Yi took his head, and the other cavalrymen scrambled for Xiang Yu's body, resulting in a brawl that left dozens dead. In the end, Langzhong Yang Xi, General Lü Matong, Langzhong Lü Sheng, and Yang Wu each received a part of Xiang Yu's body. The five of them gathered Xiang Yu's body, confirming it was indeed him. Therefore, the Han king divided Xiang Yu's territory among these five people: Lü Matong was made Marquis of Zhongshui, Wang Yi Marquis of Duyan, Yang Xi Marquis of Chiquan, Yang Wu Marquis of Wufang, and Lü Sheng Marquis of Nieyang.
After Xiang Yu died, the Chu lands surrendered to the Han Dynasty; only the Lu region did not surrender. The Han Dynasty then gathered the national army to try to slaughter the city, but the people of Lu stood by their principles and died for Xiang Yu. The Han king then paraded Xiang Yu's head before the people, and only then did the elders of Lu surrender. Originally, King Huai of Chu made Xiang Yu the Duke of Lu, and when he died, the Lu region finally surrendered, so Xiang Yu was buried in Gu Cheng with the honors due a Duke. The Han king personally mourned him and wept as he left.
The other relatives of Xiang Yu's family were not killed by the Han king. Xiang Bo was also made Lord Sheyang. Lords Tao, Pinggao, and Xuanwu were all relatives of Xiang Yu, and the Han king gave them the Liu surname.
Sima Qian said: I heard Zhou Sheng say, "Shun had double pupils," and I also heard that Xiang Yu had double pupils. Was Xiang Yu a descendant of Shun? How could he be so brutal and tyrannical! The Qin Dynasty lost the hearts of the people, and Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were the first to rebel. Heroes rose one after another, too many to count. However, Xiang Yu originally had nothing, but rose from the ranks of commoners, leading five vassals to overthrow the Qin Dynasty in three years, dividing the world among the vassals, with Xiang Yu calling the shots, known as the "Overlord." Although his position did not last long, such a situation had not occurred in recent history.
When Xiang Yu abandoned Guanzhong, disregarding the puppet emperor Yi and declaring himself king, the vassals resented him and began to betray him, which proved disastrous. He thought his achievements were great, trusting his own smarts, without learning from the experiences of ancient times, believing he could conquer the world with force alone. As a result, his kingdom fell in five years, and he died in Dongcheng, never admitting his mistakes or learning from them, which was truly outrageous! He even said, "Heaven wants to destroy me, not because of my military mistakes," which is ridiculous!
