Xiao He (?–193 BCE) was a prominent statesman in the early Western Han dynasty. He was born in Zhongyang Village, Fengyi, Pei County (in present-day Feng County, Jiangsu). During the Qin dynasty, he served as a low-ranking clerk in the Pei County government.
At the end of the Qin dynasty, Xiao He joined Liu Bang’s rebellion. When the rebel forces captured Xianyang – the Qin capital – in 207 BCE, Xiao He took the crucial step of securing the archives of the Qin Chancellor’s office, including maps, population registers, and administrative records. This allowed Liu Bang’s faction to gain comprehensive knowledge of the empire’s geography, strategic strongholds, household registrations, and socio-economic conditions – intelligence vital for future governance.
On the eve of the Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BCE), Xiao He famously recognized Han Xin’s extraordinary military talent and strongly recommended him to Liu Bang, who appointed Han Xin as Grand General. During the war, Xiao He remained in Guanzhong as Chancellor, efficiently managing logistics, conscripting troops, and supplying provisions that sustained Liu Bang’s campaigns.
After Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty and became Emperor Gaozu in 202 BCE, he enfeoffed Xiao He as the Marquis of Zan and ranked him first among all ministers – a testament to his indispensable contributions. Xiao He also played a key role in establishing the Han legal system, drafting the Nine Chapters of Law (Jiu Zhang Lü), though this code has not survived intact.
Xiao He’s discernment in identifying and promoting Han Xin was instrumental in the Han’s ultimate victory. However, after the empire was stabilized, fearing Han Xin might rebel, Xiao He devised a scheme at Empress Lü’s request to lure Han Xin into the Changle Palace, where he was executed in 196 BCE.
This dramatic turn gave rise to the famous Chinese saying: “It was Xiao He who made Han Xin – and it was Xiao He who destroyed him” (Cheng ye Xiao He, bai ye Xiao He), symbolizing how the same person can be both the architect of one’s rise and downfall.
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