Xiang Yu

  • The Spark That Lit the Empire Ablaze [Western Han]

    This article records the Dazexiang Uprising, China’s first peasant rebellion. Trapped by rain and facing death for tardiness, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang led 900 conscripts to revolt against Qin’s tyranny. Though their regime fell quickly, they ignited a nationwide flame that paved the way for Liu Bang and Xiang Yu to topple the…

  • Learning to Defeat Ten Thousand [Western Han]

    This article introduces Xiang Yu’s early ambition to “defeat ten thousand men” and his bold remark to replace Qin Shi Huang. It covers Qin’s frontier projects, the emperor’s death, and the secret coup by Zhao Gao, Li Si, and Huhai. Their tyranny soon ignited rebellions that ended the Qin Dynasty.

  • The hidden politics behind Sun Ce’s execution of Xu Gong [Three Kingdoms]

    The assassination of Sun Ce, the “Little Conqueror” of Jiangdong, is often attributed to a simple act of vengeance: his killing of Xu Gong, the former Administrator of Wu Commandery, led to retaliation by Xu’s loyal retainers.

  • Why did Sun Ce execute Yu Ji? [Three Kingdoms]

    The execution of Yu Ji, the so-called “living immortal” of Jiangdong, by the young warlord Sun Ce stands as one of the most enigmatic and symbolically rich episodes in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. While the novel dramatizes the event with supernatural overtones—ghostly apparitions, cursed mirrors, and divine retribution—the historical roots reveal a more…

  • Why did Xun Yu choose Cao Cao? [Three Kingdoms]

    The most renowned strategists of the Three Kingdoms period include core figures such as Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and Jia Xu. They were celebrated for their outstanding strategic planning, military tactics, and political acumen, playing a decisive role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Three Kingdoms.

  • The guerrilla tactics of Peng Yue [Three Kingdoms]

    Li Jue was originally a general under Dong Zhuo. After Dong Zhuo was killed by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, he declared independence and, following the strategy of his advisor Jia Xu, attacked the capital city of Chang’an. Today, let’s discuss how Li Jue defeated Lü Bu and successfully captured Chang’an.