In 207 B.C., a seemingly ordinary day, it left a strong mark in Chinese history. Outside the city of Xianyang, a man who was once just a local official is waiting for the end of an empire. He is Liu Bang, a "scoundrel" who was still living in the township a few years ago. However, at this moment, he is about to accept the surrender of Prince Ying of Qin and completely end the rule of the Qin Dynasty.
The scene was incredible. The Qin Dynasty, a powerful empire that unified China, would bow to a former gangster? How did Liu Bang complete such an amazing counterattack in just a few years? What exactly did he go through? What kind of opportunities and abilities allowed him to stand out in the turbulent times and finally stand on the ruins of the empire?
Liu Bang's rise to prominence is full of legends and dramatic turns. From an obscure official to the terminator of the empire, what are the twists and turns in this bizarre story? Let's step into history together and uncover the mystery of this amazing counterattack.
In Chinese history, there are few people whose life trajectory has been as ups and downs as Liu Bang. His story begins with a once-prominent family.
The roots of the Liu family can be traced back to the Jin Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period. Liu Bang's ancestors were powerful generals under the command of Duke Wen of Jin and made great contributions to the Jin state. This feat earned the Liu family a prominent status, allowing them to maintain their status as scholars from the middle of the Spring and Autumn Period to the early Warring States period.
However, the wheel of history did not favor the Liu family for long. As the Jin State was divided among the Han, Zhao, and Wei families, Liu Bang's ancestors were assigned to the Wei State. Although this change did not immediately lead to the loss of the family's status, it did set the stage for its future decline.
In Liu Bang's grandfather's generation, the fate of the family took a turn again. At that time, Liu Bang's grandfather was assigned to Feng County and Pei County as an official, and even served as a local county magistrate. This was supposed to be a sign of the family's prosperity, but it unexpectedly became the beginning of decline.
During the tenure of Liu Bang's grandfather, a war broke out between the states of Chu and Wei. The war spread to Feng County and Pei County, and eventually these two places fell into the hands of the Chu State. What followed was another change in the identity of the Liu family - they changed from Wei to Chu.
The tricks of fate don't stop there. When Qin Shi Huang swept through the six countries and unified the world, the state of Chu could not escape the fate of destruction. As a result, the Liu family changed their court again and became the subjects of the Qin Dynasty.
This frequent change of dynasties undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the status of the Liu family. In Liu Bang's father's generation, the prominence of the family has become a thing of the past, but they still retain some family background. This makes Liu Bang's youth not rich, but not impoverished.
The young Liu Bang lives in such a family that has turned from prosperity to decline. He inherited some of the good qualities of his ancestors, such as courage and sociability. At the same time, the reality of his family has also shaped his maverick and informal character.
Liu Bang traveled extensively as a young man, and this experience laid the foundation for his future career. Legend has it that he once went to Wei in the hope of meeting Xinlingjun, whom he had admired for a long time. Although he did not make it, this trip allowed him to meet Zhang Er, an important ally in the future, and laid the groundwork for his future rise.
After returning to his hometown, Liu Bang passed the imperial examination and became a pavilion chief, which is equivalent to today's director of the grassroots police station. Although this job is not prominent, it has given Liu Bang the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and accumulate rich interpersonal relationships.
It was in this position that Liu Bang gradually revealed his talents. He is good at handling all kinds of disputes and has a lot of prestige in the local area. At the same time, he also got acquainted with a group of loyal followers, such as Xiao He, Fan Hao and others, who later became his right-hand men.
However, Liu Bang's behavior often did not conform to the norms of traditional etiquette. He frequented the local tavern and had close contacts with the most important people. Although this behavior made him a "gangster" in the eyes of some people, it also won him the favor of many grassroots people.
It is worth mentioning that it was this informal character that allowed Liu Bang to quickly gain the support of the people in the future uprising. He was able to mingle with ordinary people, and this affinity became one of the important factors in his later success.
In this way, Liu Bang spent the first thirty years of his life in Pei County. On the surface, he is just a petty official who does not do his job, a local gangster. But in reality, this period laid an important foundation for his later rise. He has accumulated a wealth of interpersonal relationships, honed his ability to deal with complex affairs, and more importantly, he has gained a deep understanding of the lives of the people at the bottom.
At that time, Liu Bang may not have imagined that just a few years later, he would stand under the city of Xianyang and accept the surrender of an empire. And the beginning of all this was when Qin Shi Huang died and the world was in chaos.
In 210 B.C., news that would have changed the course of Chinese history spread like thunder throughout the empire: Qin Shi Huang had died. The iron-fisted monarch who unified the Six Kingdoms and founded the Great Qin Empire passed away on his fifth tour. The news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up earth-shattering waves.
The sudden death of Qin Shi Huang brought great turmoil to the newly established empire. Under the manipulation of the eunuch Zhao Gao and the prime minister Li Si, Qin II Hu Hai ascended the throne. However, instead of inheriting his father's talents, the young emperor indulged in lustful dogs.
After Hu Hai ascended the throne, the rule of the Qin Dynasty began to go to extremes. At the instigation of Zhao Gao, Hu Hai wantonly abused his punishment and executed ministers at every turn. He continued the tyranny of Qin Shi Huang and continued to levy and send people to build Afang Palace, which increased the burden on the people. To make matters worse, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall to continue, which undoubtedly weighed on another mountain of the already exhausted people.
It is under this repressive rule that the people's grievances are growing day by day. Finally, in 209 B.C., a seemingly trivial episode completely detonated the long-accumulated public resentment.
In the autumn of that year, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang led 900 prisoners to Yuyang. The way was delayed due to heavy rain, and according to Qin law, they would face the punishment of death. In this desperate situation, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang decided to take a risk and launch an uprising. They shouted the slogan "The prince will have a kind of Xiangning", which instantly ignited the anger in the hearts of the people.
The news of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising spread like a spark to the whole country. All localities responded one after another, setting off a vigorous anti-Qin wave. Although the revolt was eventually suppressed by the Qin dynasty, its impact was far-reaching. Not only did it shake the foundation of the Qin Dynasty's rule, but more importantly, it proved to the world that the Qin Dynasty was not invincible.
It was in this context that Liu Bang ushered in a turning point in his life.
At that time, Liu Bang was still a small official in Pei County. After the news of the uprising reached Pei County, the local county commander planned to follow the example of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang and raise troops to revolt. He gathered local heroes, including Liu Bang. However, at the critical moment of the uprising, the county order hesitated and did not dare to act.
At this time, Liu Bang showed his extraordinary courage and leadership skills. He decisively took over the leadership, led the people to break through the county seat, and killed the hesitant county commander. This move not only showed Liu Bang's courage, but also won the support of everyone.
Liu Bang's uprising, although small in scale, was an important beginning of his rise. He soon demonstrated exceptional organizational skills and military prowess. In a short period of time, he gathered a large number of followers, many of whom later became his right-hand men, such as Xiao He and Cao Shen.
It is worth mentioning that Liu Bang showed superb political wisdom in the early days of the uprising. He knew the importance of the people's will, so after occupying Peixian, he did not plunder like other rebel armies, but strictly restrained his subordinates and protected the people. This move won the support of the local people and laid a solid mass foundation for his future development.
At the same time, the rule of the Qin dynasty was rapidly collapsing. Uprisings broke out one after another, and the Qin Dynasty's army was exhausted and could not be effectively suppressed. To make matters worse, Qin II Hu Hai was still indulging in pleasure and turning a blind eye to the empire's crises.
In such an environment, Liu Bang's power began to grow rapidly. He uses his local influence to constantly attract new forces. Soon, he grew from a local official to an anti-Qin force that should not be underestimated.
However, Liu Bang was not the only leader in this anti-Qin wave. In Chudi, another general named Xiang Yu is also rising rapidly. Xiang Yu was born in a famous family, with a prominent family background and outstanding military talents. He soon became a prominent figure among the anti-Qin forces.
In this way, the political pattern of the late Qin Dynasty gradually became clear: the civilian forces represented by Liu Bang and the aristocratic forces led by Xiang Yu began to stand out in this anti-Qin tide.
For Liu Bang, the troubled times at the end of Qin were both challenges and opportunities. It provided a stage for this ordinary man to make the most of his talents. And whether Liu Bang can seize this opportunity and stand out in the crowd depends on his next performance.
As the anti-Qin forces continued to grow, a new political pattern was taking shape. And this also laid the groundwork for Liu Bang's later rise.
By 206 BC, the Qin dynasty's rule was already shaky. In this anti-Qin wave, two characters gradually came to the fore: one was Xiang Yu, who was born in a famous family, and the other was Liu Bang, who rose from the common people. These two people, one representing the traditional aristocratic forces and the other representing the emerging civilian forces, will determine the future direction of China.
At this critical juncture, a meeting that could change the course of history is about to take place. This is the famous Hongmen Banquet, a game full of scheming, wisdom and courage.
The cause of the incident goes back not so long ago. At that time, in order to motivate the princes from all walks of life to attack the Qin State, King Chu Huai once ordered "the first to enter the customs Wang Zhi". Liu Bang seized this opportunity and took the lead in attacking Guanzhong and occupying Xianyang, the capital of the Qin Dynasty. This move made Xiang Yu very unhappy.
Xiang Yu led the army to Hongmen, only 40 miles away from Liu Bang's station. The situation is on the verge of eruption. Liu Bang knew that his military strength was inferior to Xiang Yu, and if he fought hard, he would definitely lose. So, he decided to go to Xiang Yu's camp in person to "explain".
This decision can be said to be extremely risky. Xiang Yu's camp is like a tiger's den, and Liu Bang's trip is tantamount to throwing himself into a net. However, Liu Bang still resolutely went. This kind of courage has to be admired.
When Liu Bang came to Xiang Yu's camp, Xiang Yu was holding a banquet. At the banquet, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Xiang Yu's advisor Fan Zeng repeatedly hinted that Xiang Yu would get rid of Liu Bang, but Xiang Yu was slow to make up his mind.
At this critical moment, Liu Bang showed his extraordinary adaptability and political wisdom. He first explained to Xiang Yu the reason why he entered the customs first, saying that it was just to complete the order of King Chu Huai, and he had no second thoughts. Then, he showed his respect and awe for Xiang Yu, calling Xiang Yu the "Eastern Emperor", and he was willing to be subordinate to him.
These words skillfully dissipated Xiang Yu's anger and gave Xiang Yu a sense of superiority. Xiang Yu began to soften his attitude towards Liu Bang.
However, the crisis did not end there. Xiang Yu's confidant Xiang Zhuang proposed to cheer up Liu Bang's sword dance, but in fact he intended to take the opportunity to assassinate Liu Bang. Just when Xiang Zhuang Wujian approached Liu Bang, Liu Bang's subordinate Fan Hao arrived in time to resolve the crisis.
Fan Xu's arrival can be said to have given Liu Bang a reassurance. Not only did he bring support, but more importantly, his appearance disrupted Xiang Yu's plan. Fan Xu's rudeness and straightforwardness made Xiang Yu feel that Liu Bang's side was not malicious.
In this thrilling game, Liu Bang showed outstanding political wisdom and adaptability. He not only succeeded in defusing Xiang Yu's anger, but also skillfully avoided Xiang Zhuang's assassination. What's more, through this meeting, he successfully made Xiang Yu let his guard down.
After the Hongmen banquet, Liu Bang hurriedly left at night. This departure not only saved his life, but also won valuable time for future development.
After the Hongmen banquet, the contradiction between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang was not really resolved, but deepened. Although Xiang Yu did not kill Liu Bang on the spot, he did not give up his suspicion of Liu Bang. He soon led his army into Guanzhong and drove Liu Bang out of Xianyang.
However, Liu Bang did not admit defeat. He took advantage of the time won by the Hongmen Banquet to quickly reorganize the army and accumulate strength. He set his sights on the land of Bashu (present-day Sichuan), which was an ideal base for the terrain to be difficult to defend and difficult to attack.
Liu Bang's decision can be said to be far-sighted. Bashu is not only strategically located, but also rich in products. After Liu Bang gained a foothold here, he quickly built a powerful army. This laid a solid foundation for his decisive battle with Xiang Yu in the future.
The Hongmen Banquet can be said to be an important turning point on the road to Liu Bang's rise. In this dangerous game, Liu Bang not only showed extraordinary courage and wisdom, but more importantly, he seized this opportunity to win a respite for himself.
This banquet also fully demonstrated Liu Bang's political talent. He is a good judge of the situation, knows how to remain humble in the face of strong enemies, and at the same time is able to deal with it calmly in critical moments. These qualities are the key factors for him to be able to achieve great things in the future.
After the Hongmen banquet, the prelude to the dispute between Chu and Han officially began. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, two former allies, are now irreconcilable rivals. Their contest will determine who will eventually unify the world and establish a new empire.
For Liu Bang, the experience of Hongmen Banquet undoubtedly made him more aware of his situation and the strength of his opponent. This experience also made him realize that in order to win in this power game, force alone is far from enough. He needs more intelligence, greater strategic vision, and stronger allies.
After the Hongmen banquet, the contradiction between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu became public, and the battle between Chu and Han officially began. The war, which lasted for four years, not only determined who would become China's new ruler, but also shaped Liu Bang's image as a politician and military strategist.
At the beginning of the war, Liu Bang was at a clear disadvantage. Xiang Yu not only has a strong military, but also occupies a geographical advantage. He took control of the hinterland of the Central Plains, while Liu Bang was forced to retreat to Bashu. However, Liu Bang was not discouraged. He knows that winning this contest requires not only courage, but also wisdom and patience.
Liu Bang's operation in Bashu can be said to be painstaking. He first appointed a magistrate as a magistrate and stabilized the local order. At the same time, he vigorously developed agricultural production and accumulated grain and grass. These measures laid a solid material foundation for his later counteroffensive.
In 205 BC, Liu Bang decided to launch a counteroffensive. He first captured Hanzhong, a strategic location that controlled the main road to Guanzhong. This victory not only expanded Liu Bang's sphere of influence, but also provided a favorable springboard for his subsequent actions.
In the next two years, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu launched a fierce tug-of-war in the Central Plains. The two sides have come and gone, and the battle is extremely fierce. In the process, Liu Bang showed outstanding military talent and flexible strategic thinking.
A typical example is the Battle of Pengcheng. In this battle, although Liu Bang suffered a crushing defeat, he did not lose his fighting spirit. Instead, he quickly summed up his lessons and adjusted his strategy. He realized that it was not wise to confront Xiang Yu head-on, so he changed his tactics and adopted the strategy of encircling Wei to save Zhao.
Liu Bang began to attack Xiang Yu's lair, Pengcheng, forcing Xiang Yu to return to the rescue. This strategy has achieved remarkable results, not only dispersing Xiang Yu's forces, but also disrupting Xiang Yu's deployment.
In addition to military battles, Liu Bang also showed superb skills in politics. He is good at winning people's hearts, and often treats generals with courtesy. This tolerant attitude made many generals who were originally loyal to Xiang Yu turn to him. The most famous of these is Han Shin.
Han Xin was originally a young general under Xiang Yu, but defected to Liu Bang because he was not reused. Liu Banghui not only reused Han Xin, but also made him a general. The addition of Han Xin greatly enhanced the military strength of Liu Bang's side.
In 204 BC, Liu Bang ushered in another important ally, Peng Yue. Peng Yue was originally a general of the Liang State, and under Liu Bang's struggle, he led the army to join the Han army. Peng Yue's accession greatly increased Liu Bang's power in the area north of the Huai River.
With these right-hand men, Liu Bang's military operations began to get on track. He adopted the strategy of "uniting Qi to attack Chu", that is, uniting Qi and jointly dealing with Xiang Yu. This strategy has achieved remarkable results, greatly weakening Xiang Yu's strength.
In 203 BC, Liu Bang performed another trick. He sent Lu Jia as an envoy to the state of Qi and successfully persuaded the state of Qi to withdraw from the Chu-Han alliance. This diplomatic victory put Xiang Yu in a situation of isolation and helplessness.
In the same year, Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu near Pengcheng, forcing Xiang Yu to retreat. This battle is known as the "Battle of Pengcheng" and was a turning point in the struggle between Chu and Han. After this battle, the balance of power between the two sides changed radically, and Liu Bang began to gain the upper hand.
In the battle of Qixia, Liu Bang once again showed excellent strategic vision. He adopted the strategy of "embattled" and used psychological tactics to disintegrate the morale of Xiang Yu's army. In the end, Xiang Yu was defeated and killed himself, and the battle between Chu and Han ended with Liu Bang's victory.
The victory of the Chu and Han Dynasty not only marked the completion of Liu Bang's transformation from a minor official to the founder of the empire, but also fully demonstrated his all-round talent as a politician and military strategist. In this four-year contest, Liu Bang showed excellent strategic vision, flexible tactical use, and superb political skills.
It is worth noting that Liu Bang's success did not rely solely on force. He is good at winning people's hearts and knows how to use people. Whether it was Han Xin, Peng Yue, or many other generals who took refuge in him, they all played an important role in this war. Liu Bang's skill in employing people can be said to be one of the key factors for him to achieve the final victory.
At the same time, Liu Bang also showed outstanding diplomatic skills. He succeeded in dividing Xiang Yu's allies and isolating Xiang Yu, which largely determined the course of the war. This comprehensive strategy of combining military, politics, and diplomacy is the key to Liu Bang's final victory over Xiang Yu.
The victory of the Chu and Han wars laid the foundation for Liu Bang to establish the Han Dynasty. However, the unification of the country is only the first step. How to consolidate political power and how to govern a country that has just experienced a long period of war are all new challenges facing Liu Bang.
In 202 BC, the Chu-Han rivalry ended with Liu Bang's victory. Liu Bang ascended the throne as emperor and established the Han Dynasty, known as Han Gaozu in history. However, for Liu Bang, fighting the country is only the first step, and how to defend the country and govern this country that has just experienced a long period of war is the real challenge.
Liu Bang knew that in order to consolidate his power, he first needed to appease the people. He took a series of measures to alleviate the suffering of the people. The most famous of these is the "Three Chapters of the Covenant". The three chapters of the law are simple and straightforward: death to the murderer, death to the wounded, and attribution to the crime. This simplification of the law not only makes it easier for the people to understand and abide by, but also reflects Liu Bang's concern for the people's livelihood.
In terms of the political system, Liu Bang carried out a series of reforms. He adopted a centralized system and established three princes and nine secretaries to strengthen the central government's control over the localities. At the same time, he also implemented a parallel system of county and feudal systems. This practice not only retains the advantages of the feudal system, but also avoids the hidden danger of the princes sitting on the throne.
Liu Bang also attaches great importance to the selection of talents. He has repeatedly issued edicts to seek talents and recruit talents extensively. For example, he appointed Xiao He as prime minister, Zhang Liang as a strategist, and Han Xin as a general. These talents played an important role in the establishment and development of the Han Dynasty.
On the economic front, Liu Bang took a series of measures to restore and develop production. He encouraged agricultural production and lightened the burden on peasants. At the same time, he also attached great importance to water conservancy construction, such as the construction of the Ling Canal, which connected the Xiang River and the Li River, and promoted the transportation and economic development of the north and the south.
However, Liu Bang's reign was not without its challenges. In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, he faced many challenges. The most serious of these was the rebellion of the princes. In 200 BC, Chen Xuan, Peng Yue and others rebelled successively. Liu Bang personally led the army to quell the rebellion, showing outstanding military talent.
In addition to internal rebellion, external threats are also issues that Liu Bang must face. The greatest threat came from the Xiongnu in the north. In 200 B.C., the Xiongnu Mao Dunshan Yu led a large army to the south and approached Pingcheng (now Datong, Shanxi). Liu Bang personally led his army north to meet the enemy, but was besieged for seven days in the Battle of Pingcheng.
This crisis made Liu Bang realize that it was difficult to solve the Xiongnu problem by force alone. As a result, he adopted a policy of "harmony" and maintained peaceful relations with the Xiongnu through marriage. Although this method was considered humiliating by some at the time, it effectively maintained the tranquility of the frontier and bought time for the development of the Han Dynasty.
In terms of culture and education, Liu Bang has also made a difference. He attaches great importance to Confucianism, but does not stick to the words of one family. He once said, "I want to love the people, but what can I do? This shows that he has a thirsty attitude. He also encouraged literary creation, such as the famous "Song of the Great Wind" as his work.
Liu Bang's way of ruling also reflects his political wisdom. He was a good listener to different opinions and often discussed state affairs with his ministers. For example, when discussing whether to move the capital, he humbly listened to the opinions of his ministers and finally decided to make the capital Chang'an. This practice of pooling wisdom effectively avoids the drawbacks of arbitrariness.
However, there were some problems with Liu Bang's rule. For example, in his later years, he was suspicious and suspicious of heroes. Han Xin, Peng Yue and others were killed one after another, which not only lost talents, but also shook the foundation of rule to a certain extent.
In addition, Liu Bang also faces follow-up problems. His eldest son, Liu Ying, had a weak personality and was not suitable to inherit the throne. Liu Bang once wanted to make his second son Liu Ruyi the crown prince, but he gave up under the strong opposition of Empress Lü. This problem was not completely solved until Liu Bang's death, which laid a hidden danger for the future dictatorship of Empress Lu.
In 195 BC, Liu Bang died in Changle Palace at the age of 63. He reigned for 12 years and laid a solid foundation for the establishment and development of the Han Dynasty. Many of the policies and systems he adopted, such as the county system, the emphasis on agriculture and the suppression of commerce, and the neglect of taxation, have had a profound impact on later generations.
Liu Bang's life, from an ordinary pavilion chief to the founder of the empire, has experienced many hardships and tests. His success lies not only in his military talent, but also in his political wisdom and way of governing the country. He is good at summarizing lessons learned and is able to adjust strategies according to the actual situation. This pragmatic attitude has enabled him to always maintain an advantage in a complex political environment.
Liu Bang's reign laid the foundation for the development of the Han Dynasty. After him, the Han Dynasty experienced the reign of Wenjing, the prosperity of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and eventually developed into a powerful empire on a par with the Roman Empire. Although Liu Bang's reign was not perfect, his political wisdom and way of governing the country undoubtedly provided valuable experience and lessons for future generations.