Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were dead – but the flame they lit could not be extinguished. Across the land, rebellions erupted anew. Heroes like Xiang Yu and Liu Bang would rise from this chaos, ultimately toppling the Qin dynasty within three years.
The Wu Uprising: Eight Thousand Sons of Wu
Following the Dazexiang Uprising led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, rebellion swept across the land. In Wu (modern Suzhou), Xiang Liang and his nephew Xiang Yu – a bold youth in his twenties – rose in response. They assassinated the governor of Kuaiji Commandery and seized control of the region. Local youths, drawn to Xiang Yu’s charisma and martial prowess, flocked to their banner. Within days, they assembled an army of 8,000 men – known forever after as the “Eight Thousand Sons of Wu.”
Crossing the Yangtze River, they captured Guangling (modern Yangzhou), then pushed north across the Huai River. Along the way, regional heroes like Ji Bu, Zhongli Mei, Yu Ziqi, Ying Bu, and Pu Jiangjun joined their cause. By the time they reached Xiapi (in Jiangsu), their force had swelled to 60,000–70,000 strong. Victorious and confident, they halted at Xuecheng (in modern Zaozhuang, Shandong) to plan their next move.
The Arrival of Liu Bang: From Fugitive to Leader
At this critical juncture, a man named Liu Bang arrived from Feng Township (west of Pei County, Jiangsu) with over a hundred followers to pledge allegiance to Xiang Liang.
Liu Bang, born in Pei County, had once served as a Siting Tingzhang – a minor Qin official responsible for local order and conscription. He had escorted laborers to the imperial capital and witnessed Qin Shi Huang’s grand processions, famously remarking, “A true man should live like that!”
On one such mission to Mount Li, desertions plagued his column. Realizing his men faced certain death or lifelong slavery, Liu Bang made a fateful decision: he freed them all. Moved by his mercy, a dozen loyal followers chose to stay with him.
That night, drunk and wandering through marshlands, Liu Bang encountered a giant white snake blocking the path. Undeterred, he drew his sword and cleaved it in two. Later, rumors spread that an old woman wept at the site, saying,”My son, the White Emperor’s child, was slain by the Red Emperor’s son.” This omen – interpreted as divine sanction for Liu Bang’s destiny – bolstered his reputation as a “Son of Heaven.”
He took refuge in the Mangdang Mountains (on the Jiangsu-Henan border), where outlaws and desperate men gathered under his banner. When Chen Sheng’s uprising inspired revolt in Pei County, local officials Xiao He and Cao Shen sent Fan Kuai – Liu Bang’s brother-in-law and a dog butcher – to summon him back. The townspeople had already killed the county magistrate and opened the gates. At age 48, Liu Bang was proclaimed “Duke of Pei” (Pei Gong).
He raised red banners – symbolizing the Red Emperor – and recruited thousands from his homeland. After briefly losing control of Feng Township to a traitor, he sought aid elsewhere – and met Zhang Liang, who was also seeking a rebel cause.
Alliance at Xuecheng: Strategy and Sovereignty
Impressed by each other, Liu Bang treated Zhang Liang as a mentor, and together they journeyed to Xuecheng to join Xiang Liang. Recognizing Liu Bang’s potential, Xiang Liang granted him 5,000 troops and ten officers. With this support, Liu Bang reclaimed Feng, fortified it as Feng County, and returned to Xuecheng for a crucial war council.
By now, the original leaders – Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Zhou Wen – were dead. The old Six Warring States’ nobles had declared themselves kings but pursued selfish agendas, fracturing the anti-Qin coalition. Meanwhile, Qin generals Zhang Han and Li You were methodically crushing isolated rebel bands.
In this crisis, Xiang Liang convened a summit at Xuecheng to reorganize the resistance.
The Restoration of the Chu King
During the meeting, Xiang Liang proposed appointing a new King of Chu to unify the southern rebels. As debate unfolded, an elderly strategist named Fan Zeng – aged seventy – arrived unannounced. Revered for his wisdom, he advised:”Qin wronged Chu most deeply. The people still mourn King Huai, who died betrayed in Qin. If you install his grandson as king, the hearts of Chu will follow you.”
The counsel resonated. Scouts soon found Sun Xin, a thirteen-year-old shepherd and grandson of the late King Huai of Chu. He was enthroned as King Huai II of Chu – a symbolic restoration meant to rally popular loyalty.
Seizing the moment, Zhang Liang petitioned Xiang Liang: “All former states now have kings – except Han. Among the Han princes, Hengyang Jun Han Cheng is the most virtuous. Appoint him king, and Han will stand with Chu against Qin.” Xiang Liang agreed, appointing Zhang Liang as Chancellor (Situ) of Han, and sending him west to reestablish the Han state. Thus, Zhang Liang parted ways with Liu Bang.
Victories, Hubris, and Disaster
With King Huai II on the throne, rebel morale soared. Xiang Liang dispatched Zhang Liang to reclaim Han territories while leading the main army himself. He crushed Qin forces at Dong’a (northeast of Yanggu, Shandong) and pursued Zhang Han relentlessly. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang jointly attacked Chengyang (northeast of Heze), slaughtering Qin troops before advancing westward.
At Puyang, they confronted Li You – son of Chancellor Li Si and the general who had defeated Wu Guang at Xingyang. In battle, Xiang Yu slew Li You, dealing a major blow to Qin’s command structure.
Back in Xianyang, Zhao Gao exploited Li You’s death to accuse Li Si of treason. The weak-minded Qin Er Shi ordered the entire Li family exterminated. Zhao Gao seized the chancellorship, tightening his grip on the crumbling regime.
Flush with victory, Xiang Liang grew overconfident. After capturing Dingtao (south of Heze), he relaxed his guard during a rainy lull, feasting in his tent. But Zhang Han – a seasoned tactician – launched a surprise night assault. The Chu army, caught unprepared, was annihilated. Xiang Liang was killed.
Retreat and Regroup: The Road to Pengcheng
News of Xiang Liang’s death shattered the rebel camp. Xiang Yu and his Eight Thousand Sons wept openly; Liu Bang and others mourned deeply. On Liu Bang’s suggestion, the surviving leaders withdrew to Pengcheng (modern Xuzhou) to regroup under King Huai II’s authority.
But Zhang Han, believing the Chu threat neutralized, turned north to crush the newly declared Kingdom of Zhao. Seeing an opportunity, King Huai II issued a bold decree: while one army would relieve Zhao in the north, another would march directly west to attack Xianyang – the Qin heartland.
Thus, the stage was set for the final act: the race to the Qin capital, and the rise of two titans – Xiang Yu and Liu Bang – whose rivalry would shape China’s next dynasty.
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