China's Imperial Past: Liu Bang, Xiang Yu and the battle for control of China

After the rebels Liu Bang and Xiang Yu had combined their forces and succeeded in bringing down the Qin dynasty, it was only a matter of time before they would turn against one another. Liu had won the race to capture the capital of the Qin dynasty, but when Xiang Yu showed up, he retreated and relinquished all the treasures to the latter in order to avoid conflict. Xiang Yu, who retained governance of the best areas in the conquered territory, rewarded Liu by granting him land, but a much smaller area than had been promised to whoever would conquer the Qin capital.

Patience is a virtue

Liu Bang swallowed his pride and accepted Xiang's offer, knowing that Xiang Yu's cockiness and abrasiveness would eventually catch up with him. Liu abolished some of the stringent laws and inhumane penal practices of the Qin dynasty and set out to improve the living conditions of his subordinates. In this way, and by recruiting new talented men, Liu made sure that he would have access to a strong army if the need for one ever came up. His genius was in the fact that Liu was not intimidated by men who were stronger and more talented than him - quite the contrary, he aimed to find people whom he could learn from to his service.

High stakes

Xiang Yu, who was brave and possessed high military skills, had also an arrogant and overbearing personality, which is highlighted in the story about his encounter with one of his officers. The officer had the prenotion of suggesting to Xiang Yu that he make the old Qin capital his capital also because of its strategic advantages. Xiang Yu did not listen to the advice, saying that he wanted to return east to his hometown and bathe in the glory and admiration elicited in his people by his victorious journey. He said that it is not in his style to walk around in silk and walk around in the dark without anyone seeing his splendorous apparel. In 205 BCE, when the king of Chu was assassinated, Xiang Yu was accused of having planned the deed and took control of the state. Liu Bang saw this as an opportunity to tarnish Xiang's reputation and turned to several smaller states for allies in his plan for revenge.

The civil war known as the Chu-Han War began. Even though Liu had succeeded in convincing many of Xiang Yu's old allies to defect and he had several outstanding generals under him, Xiang Yu's military skills still helped to bring him many victories.

Xiang Yu took Liu Bang's family hostage and threatened to boil Liu's father alive if he did not surrender. To this dismaying threat Liu only retorted by asking Xiang to bring him a cupful of the soup. Fortunately Xiang did not carry out his sinister plan.

By 202 BCE Xiang Yu's luck in war had turned. Revolts among the vassals on his own territory kept him from annihilating Liu Bang's troops completely. The two sides decided to call a truce and start negotiations. Peace was declared and new boundaries were drawn. At the end of the negotiations the naive Xiang Yu freed Liu Bang's family, only to have his home-bound troops be ambushed and destroyed by Liu. According to legend, after Xiang Yu and a few of his most trusted men withdrew and set up camp, they heard Chu state songs being bellowed out from afar. Xiang's heart was heavy with the thought of so many of his fellowmen falling in front of the enemy. This event is at the root of the Chinese saying si mian chu ge meaning "besieged on all sides."

What legends are made of

Xiang Yu intended to cross the river at Wujiang in modern Chaohu (Image: Wikipedia)

The following morning Xiang Yu and his men barged through the enemy lines. The cavalry pursued them, until he was left with only two men. Xiang told his men to flee and rode to the Wu Jiang river, where a boat was waiting for him. Despite the boatman's attempts to persuade Xiang to step on board, he firmly refused saying that he could not bear to save himself and travel home to see the faces of the families of all the men who had lost their lives.

The story goes on to tell that Xiang Yu encountered a friend who had defected to the enemy's side. Being well aware that a large reward was being offered for his head, he took a knife and killed himself. Xiang Yu was dead at the age of 30, the year was 202 BCE. The civil war was over and Liu Bang had become through treachery the uncontested ruler of the whole of China. Liu Bang (256 – 195 BCE) assumed the name of Han Gaozu and the Han dynasty was born. He was the first commoner ever to rule China.