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78-452: Liu Zhang may refer to: (NB: The 7th son of Liu Bang , Liu Chang (刘长) does not belong in this list, since the accepted reading of the given name in this case is not Zhang) Liu Bang Emperor Gaozu of Han (256 – 1 June 195 BC ), also known by his given name Liu Bang , was the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty , reigning from 202 to 195 BC. He

156-533: A banquet and invited all his old friends and townsfolk to join him. After some drinks, Liu Bang played the guqin and sang the Song of the Great Wind ( 大風歌 ). 大風起兮 雲飛揚 威加海內兮 歸故鄉， 安得猛士兮 守四方！ A great wind came forth the clouds rose on high Now that my might rules all within the seas, I have returned to my old village Where will I find brave men to guard the four corners of my land? Liu Bang

234-586: A better arrangement on Liu's behalf after bribing Xiang Yu through Xiang Bo. To Liu, Xiang Yu added Nanzheng , the surrounding rift valley region around the (then) middle Han River , and the title of "King of Han". Liu's army was escorted across the Qinling Mountains by a detachment of Xiang Yu's army. On Zhang Liang's advice, Liu burned the gallery roads behind him to prevent attack by Xiang Yu, and to reassure Xiang Yu that he would not return. From 206 to 202 BC, Liu Bang engaged Xiang Yu in

312-549: A ceasefire at the Treaty of Hong Canal (鴻溝和約), which divided China into east and west under their respective domains. In 203, while Xiang Yu was retreating eastward, Liu Bang, acting on the advice of Zhang Liang and Chen Ping , renounced the Treaty of Hong Canal and ordered an attack on Western Chu. He also requested assistance from Han Xin and Peng Yue to attack Xiang Yu simultaneously from three directions. However, Han Xin and Peng Yue did not mobilise their troops and Liu Bang

390-586: A desperate attempt to escape Xiang Yu's men, and it is only the repeated intervention of Xiahou Ying that secures the children's escape. After the disastrous defeat at Pengcheng, the strength of the Han forces decreased drastically. Many of the kings who had surrendered to Liu Bang earlier had also defected to Xiang Yu's side. Moreover, the states of Qi and Zhao , which were previously at war with Chu, also requested to make peace. Upon reaching Xiayi ( 下邑 ; east of present-day Dangshan County , Suzhou, Anhui ), which

468-431: A help in seeking military and political power. Retainers were usually not asked to perform domestic or productive work in the pre-Qin through early Han periods, but from the end of the early Han the retainers participated in production, particularly in the cultivation of land, and this tendency was more dominant at the end of Later Han and Three Kingdoms (220-280 CE) periods. During this time, retainers were treated in

546-550: A host again increased in the era of the Three Kingdoms (220-280 CE). There were two instances of men who kept more than a thousand retainers. This sudden increase is understandable: during the wars and disturbed periods of the Later Han and thereafter, every powerful person was ambitious to use his strength to acquire political power and tended to keep a large number of retainers who actually were his personal troops. From

624-495: A local into leading them to capture two of Liu Bang's family as hostages: his father Liu Taigong and wife Lü Zhi . One account states Liu Bang's mother was also captured. The Records of the Grand Historian recounts an event during this conflict, an event omitted from Liu Bang's own biography but present in the biography of Xiang Yu, where Liu Bang pushed his own children out of his carriage three times to lighten it in

702-459: A long period of time and ordered his guards to deny entry to everyone who tried to visit him. After several days, Fan Kuai barged into the chambers to see the emperor and the other subjects followed behind him. They saw Emperor Gaozu lying on his bed and attended to by a eunuch . Fan Kuai said, "How glorious it was when Your Majesty first led us to conquer the empire and how weary we are now. Your subjects are worried when they learn that Your Majesty

780-512: A power struggle – historically known as the Chu–Han contention – for supremacy over China, while simultaneously attacking and subjugating the other kingdoms. Liu Bang's migration into Nanzheng was far from pleasant – his followers were mostly from the Wu and Chu flatland regions and adapted poorly in the mountainous Bashu lands, and deserters grew on a daily basis. Liu Bang also grew temperamental, as he

858-402: A retainer would serve and provide personal services to his host, usually as advisors , clerks and bodyguards , but sometimes as dedicated lieutenants or mercenaries for more dangerous tasks such as espionage , assassination and warfare . Although the bond is one of social contract , a retainer was often free to come and go outside of duty without needing permission, and he could leave

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936-512: Is considered by traditional Chinese historiography to be one of the greatest emperors in history, credited with establishing the first Pax Sinica , one of China's longest golden ages. Liu Bang was among the few dynastic founders to have been born into a peasant family. He initially entered the Qin dynasty bureaucracy as a minor law enforcement officer in his home town in Pei County , within

1014-419: Is ill, but Your Majesty refuses to see us and prefers the company of a eunuch instead. Has Your Majesty forgotten the incident about Zhao Gao ?" The emperor laughed and got out of bed to meet his subjects. Emperor Gaozu's health deteriorated later so Empress Lü Zhi hired a famous physician to heal him. When Emperor Gaozu enquired about his condition, the physician told him that his illness could be cured, but

1092-599: Is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei . His life story has also been dramatized in numerous TV series and films (see Chu–Han Contention ). Retainers in early China (social group) Retainers typically stayed long-term at the residence of the employer, catered and provisioned by the host, and also obtained through him other benefits such as administrative power, reputation, upward mobility and social status. In return,

1170-575: The Chu–Han Contention , a civil war between various forces seeking to inherit the Qin's former supremacy over China. In 202 BC, Liu Bang emerged victorious following the Battle of Gaixia , unified most of China under his control, and established the Han dynasty, with himself as the emperor. During his reign, Liu Bang reduced taxes and corvée labour, promoted Confucianism , and suppressed revolts by

1248-468: The magistrate of the nearby Waihuang County and former retainer of Lord Xinling . Liu lived with Zhang Er for several months, until the latter went into hiding after the conquest of Chu by Qin . Liu returned to Pei County. His close friends at the county office, Xiao He and Cao Shen , hid his delinquent behaviour and helped him to be appointed as the local sheriff ( 亭長 ) at Sishui Pavilion ( 泗水亭 ). Liu Bang forged close relationships with most of

1326-588: The Chu army led by Cao Jiu near the Si River . Liu Bang's forces advanced further until they reached Guangwu ( 廣武 ). Chu forces led by Zhongli Mo were trapped by the Han army at the east of Xingyang. Following Han Xin's victory in the Battle of Wei River , the Chu army's morale fell and it ran short of supplies months later. Xiang Yu had no choice but to request to make peace with Liu Bang and released Liu's family members, who were held hostage by him. Chu and Han agreed to

1404-577: The Han troops deeper in their cups. Hearing of the fall of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu ordered the bulk of his forces to maintain the attack on Qi, while he personally led 30,000 crack troops to retake the capital. He encamped about ten miles from a city in present-day Xiao County , Anhui, and launched an attack on Pengcheng at dawn, and by noon had routed the unprepared Han army, driving them into the nearby Gu and Si Rivers, where over 100,000 men drowned or were killed by Chu soldiers. The remaining Han troops fled south to high ground, but were cornered by Chu forces by

1482-597: The King of Hán; Han Xin , the King of Chu; Peng Yue , the King of Liang; Ying Bu , the King of Huainan; Zhang Er, the King of Zhao; Wu Rui , the King of Changsha. However, later, the emperor became worried that the vassal kings might rebel against him because they, after all, had no blood relations with him. Han Xin and Peng Yue were (falsely) accused of treason, arrested and executed along with their families. Ying Bu and Zang Tu rebelled against him but were defeated and killed. Only Wu Rui and Zhang Er were left. The Xiongnu to

1560-418: The Qin regime and reducing the severity of certain penalties. In January to February 195 BC, after suppressing a rebellion by Ying Bu , he passed by Shandong , the birthplace of Confucius , and personally prepared for a ceremony to pay respect to the philosopher. In his later years, Emperor Gaozu favoured Consort Qi and neglected Empress Lü Zhi . He thought that Liu Ying , his heir apparent (born to

1638-543: The State of Chu (state) , all tried to have more and more retainers. A prince with such an enormous number of retainers under his command usually was powerful enough to control his own state. Sometimes a state did not even dare to fight with a neighboring state because the ruler had thousands of retainers. While the number of retainers kept by a master could be enormous, they must have varied greatly in personality and qualification; and of course their selection depended heavily on

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1716-469: The Sui River, where another 100,000 drowned, their corpses damming up the river. Liu Bang escaped the city with a handful of mounted bodyguards, heading to nearby Pei to collect his family. Xiang Yu also dispatched troops to Pei in an attempt to capture Liu Bang's family. His family had all fled, but Liu Bang encountered on the road his eldest daughter and second eldest son Liu Ying . The Chu army coerced

1794-487: The Wu River (near present-day He County , Chaohu City , Anhui ). He made a last stand and managed to slay several hundred Han soldiers before eventually committing suicide. In 202 BC, Liu Bang was enthroned as the emperor with support from his subjects even though he expressed reluctance to take the throne. He named his dynasty "Han", and was historically known as "Emperor Gaozu" (or "Emperor Gao"). He established

1872-490: The attitudes and disposition of the patron. In the pre-Qin time, the social status of a retainer was not an inferior one. A master, though much superior in political and social status as well as in wealth, had to treat his retainers politely. But guests did not all have the same status, nor were they all treated the same. As a rule, those who engaged in humble occupation and were looked down upon by society were also held in less respect as retainers. A man without special ability

1950-514: The border again. In 201 BC, Hán Xin (King of Hán) defected to the Xiongnu leader, Modu . In the following year, Emperor Gaozu led an army to attack the Xiongnu but was besieged and trapped by the enemy at the Battle of Baideng . Acting on Chen Ping 's advice, he bribed Modu's wife with gifts and got her to ask her husband to withdraw his forces. Modu did so. After returning to the capital, Emperor Gaozu, acting on advice from Liu Jing, initiated

2028-531: The border. Peasants responded by killing the Pei County magistrate and welcoming Liu's return. Liu became known as the self-styled "Duke of Pei" ( 沛公 ). In 208, the Qin empire faced rebellions that sought to restore the states conquered during the wars of unification . In Wu County , the uprising of Xiang Liang – a commoner and son of a Chu general – installed Xiong Xin as "King Huai II" ( 楚後懷王 ) of Chu. Liu joined Xiang Liang's uprising. After Xiang Liang

2106-551: The capital in Luoyang (later moved to Chang'an ) and instated his official spouse Lü Zhi as the empress and their son Liu Ying as the crown prince . The following year, Emperor Gaozu wanted to reward his subjects who had contributed to the founding of the Han Empire, but the process dragged on for a year because they could not agree on the distribution of the rewards. The emperor thought that Xiao He 's contributions were

2184-430: The central government would provide for them for a year. He also granted freedom to those who had sold themselves into slavery to avoid hunger during the wars. In 195 BC, the emperor issued two decrees: the first officialised the lowering of taxes and corvée; the second set the amount of tribute to be paid by the vassal kings to the imperial court in the 10th month of every year. The land tax on agricultural production

2262-479: The city. Liu Bang heeded Chen Ping 's suggestion to bribe Xiang Yu's men with 40,000 catties of gold for them to spread rumours that Fan Zeng had the intention of betraying Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu fell for the ruse and dismissed Fan Zeng. Later that year, while Xiang Yu was away suppressing the rebellion in Qi, Li Yiji advised Liu Bang to use the opportunity to attack Western Chu. Han forces conquered Chenggao and defeated

2340-513: The conquered state of Chu . During the political chaos following the death of Qin Shi Huang , who had been the first emperor in Chinese history , Liu renounced his civil service position and became a rebel leader, taking up arms against the Qin. He outmanoeuvred rival rebel leader Xiang Yu to invade the Qin heartland and forced the surrender of the Qin ruler Ziying in 206 BC. After

2418-406: The county to support him; the invitation was transmitted by Fan Kuai , Liu's brother-in-law. However, the magistrate changed his mind and rescinded the offer; he also ordered Xiao and Cao to be killed lest they open the gates for Liu, but they escaped and joined Liu. On Xiao's advice, Liu secured the aid of commoners from the county beside Pei through written appeals delivered by arrows fired across

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2496-411: The crown prince. The emperor was pleased to see that Liu Ying had their support so he dismissed the idea of changing his heir apparent. After establishing the Han dynasty, Emperor Gaozu appointed princes and vassal kings to help him govern the Han Empire and gave each of them a piece of land. There were seven vassal kings who were not related to the imperial clan: Zang Tu , the King of Yan; Han Xin ,

2574-480: The crown prince. Zhang Liang tried to dissuade him but was ignored, so he retired on the excuse that he was ill. Shusun Tong (the crown prince's tutor) and Zhou Chang also strongly objected to the emperor's decision to replace Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi. Zhou Chang said, "I am not good in arguing, but I know this is not right. If Your Majesty deposes the Crown Prince, I won't follow your orders any more." Zhou Chang

2652-541: The east, Liu Bang collected a force of 560,000 troops from his subordinate lands, and marched east to attack Western Chu . En route, he encountered Peng Yue , who joined his cause upon promise of a fiefdom in Wei. As opposed to combining forces, Liu Bang sent Peng Yue's 30,000 troops to pacify the surrounding area. Liu Bang's army entered Xiang Yu's capital of Pengcheng apparently unopposed, looting its valuables and taking its women, but discipline had become lax and each day found

2730-572: The emperor was displeased and he scolded the physician, "Isn't it Heaven's will that I managed to conquer this empire in simple clothing and with nothing but a sword? My life is determined by Heaven. It is useless even if Bian Que is here!" He refused to continue with the treatment and sent the physician away. Before his death, he said that Cao Shen could succeed Xiao He as the chancellor after Xiao died, and that Wang Ling could succeed Cao Shen. He also said that Wang Ling might be too young to perform his duties so Chen Ping could assist Wang, but Chen

2808-526: The empress), was too weak to be a ruler. Thus, he had the intention of replacing Liu Ying with another son, Liu Ruyi , who was born to Consort Qi. Lü Zhi became worried, so she asked Zhang Liang to help her son maintain his position. Zhang Liang recommended four reclusive wise men, the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang , to help Liu Ying. In 195 BC as Emperor Gaozu's health started to worsen, he desired even more to replace Liu Ying with Liu Ruyi as

2886-630: The end of the Early Han the retainers began to participate in production, particularly in the cultivation of land. This tendency was more dominant at the end of the Later Han and in the years of the Three Kingdoms. For example, a provincial governor sent ten of his retainers to build a house and plant orange trees. The family derived a profit worth several thousand rolls of silk from the produce yearly and became wealthy. They actually became tenants, who paid labor and earned remunerations. The host

2964-526: The fall of the Qin, Xiang Yu, as the de facto chief of the rebels, divided the former Qin empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms , with Liu Bang forced to accept control of the poor and remote region of Bashu (present-day Sichuan , Chongqing , and southern Shaanxi ), and assuming the title "King of Han". Within the year, Liu Bang broke out with his army and conquered the Three Qins , which started

3042-453: The flight of the Zhou court to Chengzhou (modern-day Luoyang) and the diminution of the court's relevance and power. The sovereign (king of Zhou) was merely a figurehead and the social hierarchy which formerly had depended on blood-relationship to the king of the Zhou was severely impacted by the move. The Spring and Autumn period led to a few states gaining power at the expense of many others,

3120-467: The former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms . He gave Guanzhong to three former Qin generals – Zhang Han , Sima Xin and Dong Yi – instead of to Liu. Liu received the isolated Bashu region ( Sichuan Basin and upper Han River valley), then a place used for exiling prisoners, as Xiang Yu claimed that Bashu was part of Guanzhong. Zhang Liang, who was leaving for his native state of Han , negotiated

3198-684: The future Princess Yuan of Lu . Liu was responsible for escorting a group of penal laborers to the construction site of the First Emperor's mausoleum at Mount Li . During the journey, some prisoners escaped; under Qin law, allowing prisoners to escape was punishable by death . Rather than face punishment, Liu freed the remaining prisoners and fled. Liu was joined by some of the grateful ex-prisoners, and he became their leader. They took over an abandoned stronghold on Mount Mangdang . Liu secretly remained in contact with some old friends, including Xiao He and Cao Shen in Pei County. According to

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3276-403: The government had difficulty in levying labor and military service from the retainers of powerful person. Under the protection of a master some guests engaged I robbery, murder, and other unlawful activities. It seems that there developed a sort of patron-client relationship. The host became more demanding and arrogant, while the retainers became more subservient. The number of retainers kept by

3354-438: The greatest, so he awarded Xiao the title "Marquis of Zan" and gave him the largest amount of food stores. Some of the others expressed objections because they thought that Xiao was not directly involved in battle so his contributions should not be considered the greatest. Emperor Gaozu replied that Xiao He should receive the highest credit because he planned their overall strategy in the war against Xiang Yu. He named Cao Shen as

3432-756: The latter no longer able to depend on central authority for legitimacy or protection. During the Warring States period, many rulers claimed the Mandate of Heaven to justify their conquest of other states and spread their influence. The number of retainers one was able to invest seems to have been a status symbol, and keeping retainers also served as a means to augment political power. A retainer could with his own ability and efforts acquire benefits and improve his social status. Therefore, there many noblemen kept retainers, and some of them, up to about three thousand retainers. This pre-Qin practice of keeping retainers

3510-518: The legend of the "Uprising of the Slaying of the White Serpent" ( Chinese : 斬白蛇起義 ), Liu's ascension to rulership was prophesied after becoming an outlaw. In the legend, a gigantic white serpent killed some of the outlaws with its poisonous breath; the serpent was killed by a drunk Liu during the night. The next morning, the outlaws encountered an old woman along the road; when asked why she

3588-410: The local county bureaucrats, and earned a small reputation in the district. While performing corvée labour in the Qin capital at Xianyang , he witnessed Qin Shi Huang undertaking an inspection tour; the royal procession impressed Liu. Liu's wife, Lü Zhi , was the daughter of Lü Wen ( 呂文 ), a wealthy and influential gentry from Shanfu County . After moving to Pei County, Lü Wen held a feast for

3666-514: The local elite. Xiao He , who helped to collect gifts from the guests, declared that a seat inside the hall required gifts worth at least a thousand coins. Liu attended the feast without money, and made an offer of ten thousand coins which Xiao He realized was not serious. Nonetheless, Lü had Liu seated beside him based on appearance alone. Lü, further impressed by Liu in conversation, offered his daughter in marriage. Liu and Lü Zhi were married and had two children, Liu Ying (the future Emperor Hui ) and

3744-462: The lords of non-Liu vassal states, among many other actions. He also initiated the policy of heqin , a system of arranged marriages between nobles, to maintain peace between the Han and the Xiongnu following the Han defeat at the Battle of Baideng in 200 BC. He died in 195 BC and was succeeded by his son Liu Ying . According to the Han imperial mythology, Liu Bang's ancestors were

3822-619: The mythical Emperor Yao and the Yellow Emperor . Many ancient Chinese noble families claimed descent from the Yellow Emperor to justify their right to rule . Liu Bang was born during the late years of the Warring States period ; his parents are only remembered as " Liu Taigong " and "Liu Ao" ( 劉媪 ; 'Old Madam Liu'). His family was from Zhongyang ( 中陽里 ) in the state of Chu . According to legend, Liu Bang

3900-428: The newly built supply routes from Xingyang , the Han army was running short of supplies. Liu Bang negotiated for an armistice with Xiang Yu and agreed to cede the lands east of Xingyang to Western Chu. Xiang Yu wanted to accept Liu Bang's offer, but Fan Zeng advised him to reject it and use the opportunity to destroy Liu Bang. Xiang Yu changed his mind, pressed the attack on Xingyang and besieged Liu Bang's forces inside

3978-524: The north had been a threat since the Qin dynasty. Qin Shi Huang had sent the general Meng Tian to oversee the defences on the Qin Empire's northern border and the construction of the Great Wall to repel the invaders. Meng Tian achieved success in deterring the Xiongnu from advancing beyond the border. However, after the Qin dynasty collapsed, the Xiongnu seized the opportunity to move south and raid

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4056-455: The person who made the greatest contributions in battle and rewarded him and the others accordingly. Emperor Gaozu disbanded his armies and allowed the soldiers to return home. He gave an order stating that the people who remained in Guanzhong were exempted from taxes and corvée for 12 years, while those who returned to their respective native territories were exempted for six years and that

4134-478: The policy of heqin , which involved sending noble ladies to marry the Xiongnu leaders and paying annual tribute to the Xiongnu in exchange for peace between the Han Empire and the Xiongnu. Gaozu is also recorded as having a male lover known as Jiru , who was said to have more access to the emperor than his own ministers. Emperor Gaozu was wounded by a stray arrow during the campaign against Ying Bu . He became seriously ill and remained in his inner chambers for

4212-474: The previously burnt gallery roads, drawing away the attention of the Three Qins. At the same time, Han Xin used the distraction to invade Guanzhong unexpectedly via Chencang , and quickly defeated Zhang Han in a surprise attack. Following that, Sima Xin and Dong Yi both surrendered to Liu Bang, and by August or September 205 the Three Qins became part of Liu's Kingdom of Han. With Xiang Yu occupied to

4290-419: The race with Xiang to seize the Guanzhong , arriving outside Xianyang. Ziying of Qin surrendered the city without resistance. Liu's occupation policies were informed by Fan Kuai – now his bodyguard – and Zhang Liang – his strategist. Troops were forbidden from mistreating the population and looting. The harsh Qin laws were abolished; murder, robbery, and burglary remained subject to strict punishments. Order

4368-401: The same manner as slaves, and slaves and retainers were expected to perform the same kind of menial work. Sun Bin 孫臏, the famous retainer in the residence of Tian Ji 田忌 in the Warring States period. Once, King Wei of Qi invited Tian Ji to a horse racing competition. Sun Bin suggested a strategy to Tian Ji to utilize his horses to the best advantage, and Tian won two out of three rounds in

4446-472: The service without noticing if he felt mistreated or disapproved of the behavior of his host. The practice of elites keeping retainers as private aids can be traced back at least to the Warring States period (ca. 476-221 BCE). Ancient Chinese social structure was changing during this time, the system of feudal states created by the Western Zhou dynasty underwent enormous changes after 771 BCE with

4524-462: The sinister plot. Embarrassed by Fan Kuai's accusation, Xiang Yu ordered the sword dance to stop and rewarded Fan Kuai for his bravery. Liu Bang escaped Xiang Yu's camp after pretending to go to the latrine, and then led his army westward. Xiang Yu then sacked Xianyang and burned the Epang Palace . After occupying Xianyang, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the "Hegemon-King of Western Chu" and split

4602-473: The states. Impressed and convinced, Liu Bang formally assigned Han Xin as the supreme commander of his army. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu's overbearing and arbitrary handling over the enfeoffments created much anger among the rebel leaders. Merely four months after Liu Bang's departure into Bashu, a rebellion broke out in the state of Qi in late 206, and Xiang Yu left Western Chu to suppress the revolt. Under Han Xin's advice, Liu Bang sent men to pretend trying to repair

4680-411: Was also considered inferior by his master and his fellow retainers. The status of retainers in the Later Han, and especially in the era of the Three Kingdoms, was markedly inferior; retainers were asked to engage in productive and menial labor and were treated more like slaves or servants. In pre-Qin times, the retainer seldom had definite obligations, and usually no routine work was assigned to him. He

4758-552: Was also qualified to assume the responsibilities of a chancellor all by himself. He also named Zhou Bo as a possible candidate for the role of Grand Commandant. He died in Changle Palace ( 長樂宮 ), Chang'an , on 1 June 195 BC and was succeeded by Liu Ying, who became historically known as Emperor Hui . The Song of the Great Wind is a song composed by Liu Bang in 195 BC when he visited his hometown in Pei County after suppressing Ying Bu 's rebellion. He prepared

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4836-427: Was conceived after Liu Ao encountered a jiaolong dragon during a rainstorm. According to records, the young Liu was outspoken, charismatic, generous, and forbearing, but he had little interest in education or work and frequently ran into trouble with the law; he was dependent on his brother for subsistence and his father called him "little rascal". Later, he became good friends with Zhang Er ( 張耳 ; d. 202 BC),

4914-417: Was continued in Qin times (BCE 221–207). Li Si 李斯 (BCE 280–208), the imperial chancellor, and Zhao Gao 赵高, the powerful eunuch, each kept a number of retainers. Having retainers was still very popular in Han times , the largest number of retainers reported for the Han was ca. one thousand. Under the protection of a powerful master a retainer usually was able to avoid the payment of taxes. Furthermore,

4992-628: Was crying she mysteriously disappeared after replying: "My child, the White Emperor 's son, has been slain by the son of the Red Emperor ." Liu's reputation grew among his followers, who became convinced of his destiny. In 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started the anti-Qin Dazexiang Uprising . The magistrate of Pei County considered joining the rebellion, and – on the advice of Xiao He and Cao Shen – invited Liu's group to

5070-471: Was defeated by Xiang Yu at Guling ( 固陵 ; south of present-day Taikang County , Zhoukou , Henan), and was forced to retreat and reinforce his defences. At the same time, he sent messengers to meet Han Xin and Peng Yue again, and promised to give them land and titles if they joined him in attacking Xiang Yu, and they finally agreed. Three months later in 202, Han forces led by Liu Bang, Han Xin and Peng Yue attacked Western Chu from three directions. The Chu army

5148-698: Was defended by his brother-in-law, Liu Bang reorganised his troops for a retreat. When he arrived at Yu (present-day Yucheng County , Shangqiu , Henan), he sent an envoy to meet Ying Bu , the King of Jiujiang, to appeal for support. Ying Bu, who held a grudge over Xiang Yu's unfair enfeoffment over the Eighteen Kingdoms , agreed to join Liu Bang and rebelled against Western Chu. Xiang Yu responded by sending Long Ju to attack Ying Bu. In 205 BC, Liu Bang named his son Liu Ying as his crown prince and ordered him to defend Yueyang . Shortly after, Han forces conquered Feiqiu ( 廢丘 ; present-day Xingping , Shaanxi), which

5226-506: Was expected to provide lodging, food, clothing and even carriages for his retainers and to treat them generously. Some of the most honored retainers were even given luxurious articles such as pearls and jade. Obviously only the wealthy nobles and officials could afford to support a large number of retainers. Prince Tian Wen 田文 (?-279 BCE) of Qi (state) 齐, Prince Zhao Sheng 趙勝 (?- 251 BCE) of Zhao (state) 趙, Prince Wei Wuji 魏無忌 (?-243 BCE) of Wei, and Chancellor Huang Xie 黄歇 (?-238 BCE) of

5304-732: Was expected to render occasional service according to his abilities when there was such a demand. When Prince Tian Wen 田文 wanted to send someone to collect his debts, he inquired of his retainers whether one of them was versed in accounting and competent for his job. Sometimes the mission was difficult or even dangerous. A retainer was expected to do what the master asked of him and even risk his life for him. Hundreds of retainers were ready to give up their lives to follow Prince Wei Wuji 魏無忌. In Han times, retainers served in various capacities. They were intelligent men who served as personal advisors to high officials. Others were engaged in physical and menial work. Some retainers served as bodyguards. It

5382-573: Was guarded by Zhang Han , who committed suicide after his defeat. On another front, Ying Bu was unable to defeat Long Ju so he gave up on Jiujiang and went to join Liu Bang. Liu Bang reorganised his army, which now included reinforcements from Guanzhong sent by Xiao He alongside Han Xin 's troops, and attacked Chu at Jing County ( 京縣 ; around present-day Xingyang , Zhengzhou , Henan) and Suoting ( 亭 ; near present-day Xingyang, Henan). He emerged victorious, and drove Xiang Yu's forces east of Xingyang. In 204 BC, after sustaining losses from Chu attacks on

5460-527: Was killed at the Battle of Dingtao, Huai II sent Xiang Yu – Xiang Liang's nephew – and minister Song Yi to lead an army to reinforce the Zhao state against the attacking Qin. Liu Bang was made "Marquis of Wu'an" ( 武安侯 ) and ordered to lead an army against Guanzhong in the Qin heartland. Huai II promised to grant rulership of Guanzhong as "King of Guanzhong" to whoever entered the region first. In 206, Liu won

5538-449: Was not uncommon to ask a retainer to assassinate an enemy. Under unusual conditions retainers were even asked to engage in robbery and other unlawful activities. As a rule, retainers were expected to share the suffering of their master and offer help in times of emergency or danger. Retainers also had obligations to defend the family of their master when it was attacked by bandits or enemies. The military services of retainers obviously were

5616-537: Was outspoken and had a stutter, which to some made his speech very amusing. The emperor laughed. After that, the Four Whiteheads of Mount Shang (also known as the Four Haos of Mount Shang) showed up in the court. Emperor Gaozu was surprised to see them because they had previously declined to join the civil service when he invited them. The four men promised to help Liu Ying in the future if he were to remain as

5694-439: Was persuaded by Xiang Bo , his uncle and a close friend of Zhang Liang, not to order the assassination during the banquet. Frustrated by the indecision, Fan Zeng ordered Xiang Zhuang , Xiang Yu's cousin, to perform and kill Liu during a sword dance , but this was stymied by Xiang Bo joining the dance and protecting Liu. Zhang Liang slipped away and summoned Fan Kuai, who arrived at the banquet in full armor and scolded Xiang Yu for

5772-486: Was quickly restored in the city, and Liu won the respect of the Guanzhong population. Xiao He ordered the collection of all legal documents in the Qin palace and government facilities for preservation. Xiang Yu disliked losing the race to Guanzhong . On the advice of Fan Zeng – his advisor – and Cao Wushang ( 曹無傷 ) – an informer from Liu's camp – Xiang Yu planned to hold a banquet in which to assassinate Liu. Xiang Yu

5850-505: Was reduced to a rate of 1/15 of crop yield. He also privatised the coinage. In his early days, Emperor Gaozu disliked reading and scorned Confucianism . After becoming the emperor, he still held the same attitudes towards Confucianism as he did before until he encountered the scholar Lu Jia . Lu wrote the Xinyu ( 新語 ), a 12-volume book which espoused the benefits of governing by moral virtue as opposed to using harsh and punitive laws (as it

5928-454: Was running low on supplies and Xiang Yu was trapped in Gaixia. Han Xin ordered his troops to sing Chu folk songs to create a false impression that the Chu homeland had fallen to Han forces. The Chu army's morale plummeted and many soldiers deserted. Xiang Yu attempted to break out of the siege, and after fighting out of repeated traps was left with only 28 men when he reached the northern bank of

6006-414: Was under the Qin dynasty). Lu Gu read each volume to the emperor after he finished writing it. The emperor was deeply impressed. Under Emperor Gaozu's reign, Confucianism flourished and gradually replaced Legalism (of Qin times) as the state ideology. Confucian scholars, including Lu Gu, were recruited to serve in the government. The emperor also reformed the legal system by relaxing some laws inherited from

6084-541: Was very unhappy with his own predicament. One night, rumour arrived that Xiao He also disappeared, and Liu Bang almost had a nervous breakdown. When Xiao He returned the following morning, Liu Bang furiously confronted him and demanded an explanation. Xiao He revealed that he was in a rush chasing back an extremely talented military strategist named Han Xin , who was then merely a low-ranking officer only recently recruited into Liu Bang's army. Xiao He then introduced Liu Bang to Han Xin, who laid out his strategic plan to conquer

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