Feast at Hong Gate - Background

Background

Further information: Chu–Han Contention#Background

Between 209 BC and 206 BC, rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin Dynasty. Some of these insurgent forces claimed to be restoring the former six states that were annexed by the Qin state in a series of wars from 230 BC to 221 BC. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were two prominent leaders who emerged from among the rebels. In 208 BC Xiang Yu and his uncle Xiang Liang installed King Huai II as a nominal ruler of the Chu state while the Xiangs were actually the ones in power. In late 208 BC Xiang Liang was killed in action at the Battle of Dingtao so the Chu military came under King Huai II's control. King Huai II sent Xiang Yu and Liu Bang to lead two separate forces to attack the Qin heartland of Guanzhong, promising that whoever entered that region first would be granted the title of "King of Guanzhong".

In late 207 BC, Liu Bang's rebel army conquered Wu Pass (武關) and seized control of Guanzhong and the Qin capital Xianyang. The last Qin emperor, Ziying, surrendered to Liu Bang, marking the end of the Qin Dynasty. After occupying Xianyang, Liu Bang gave strict orders to his men, forbidding them from looting and pillaging the city and harming the people in any way. Liu Bang also sent troops to garrison at Hangu Pass to block Xiang Yu from entering Guanzhong. Around that time Xiang Yu's force had just defeated a Qin army led by Zhang Han at the Battle of Julu. When Xiang Yu arrived at Hangu Pass, he was displeased to hear that Liu Bang had already occupied Guanzhong, so he attacked and conquered the pass, pushing on to west of Xishui (戲水). Liu Bang and his army was based in Bashang (霸上) then. The strengths of Xiang Yu and Liu Bang's forces then were estimated to be 400,000 and 100,000 respectively.

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