The Great Conqueror’s Concubine (1994) directed by Stephen Shin and Wei Handao.
When Qin Shi Huang (B.C. 259-210) died, his youngest son, Ying Huhai, killed his older brother, Fusu, and ascended to the throne. The people, who had suffered under the oppressive rule of the emperor, hoped for new changes and reforms, but Huhai rebuilt the pleasure palace and intensified the punishments. As Huhai indulged in all the pleasures of the world, a rebellion erupted in the Qin Dynasty (B.C. 250-207).
In 209 BCE (the first year of King Huhai’s reign), a rebellion led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang broke out, leading to many military leaders rising in revolt across China. Xiang Liang, who was Huhai’s uncle, rallied his forces to support the rebellion.
As a nobleman from a family of warriors who had served the Chu Kingdom for generations, Xiang Liang raised the banner of restoring the Chu Kingdom and began recruiting troops for the righteous cause.
Although Xiang Liang was captured by the Qin forces after the downfall of the Chu Kingdom and imprisoned in Lixiang, he was eventually freed with the help of Sima Xin, a prison guard.
While in hiding in Wu (modern-day Suzhou in Jiangsu Province), Xiang Yu, Xiang Liang’s nephew, gained people’s respect and gathered a following. It was during this time that he formed a relationship with Yu Ji, building his power base.
Unlike Liu Bang, who had many concubines, Xiang Yu only had eyes for Yu Ji.
The Great Conqueror’s Concubine
In 208 BCE (the second year of King Huhai’s reign), Xiang Liang’s growing forces achieved victories against the Qin army in various locations where the rebellion was active.
Under Xiang Liang’s command, Fan Zeng (278-204 BCE) proposed a strategy to enthrone Xiong Xin as the King of Chu, using the discontent caused by the rebellion led by Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.
As the momentum of the rebellion grew, and it became difficult to gather troops, Zhang Han mobilized all the prisoners from Lushan to join his forces. Lushan, where the tomb of King Huai of Chu was located, was where Yu Bang initially gathered his strength.
Yu Bang, while serving as the overseer of the construction of the Lushan tomb, incited a rebellion by killing a general of the Qin army and rallying the prisoners, but due to a shortage of weapons and supplies, he joined forces with Xiang Yu.
As Xiang Liang achieved several significant victories against the Qin army from Dong’a to Dingtao, he grew increasingly arrogant. However, his arrogance led to his downfall when he underestimated Zhang Han and fell in battle.
After Xiang Liang’s death, Xiang Yu appointed Fan Zeng as his advisor. Following a failed attack on Chenliu, Xiang Yu and Yu Bang retreated to Pengcheng to reorganize their forces.
When Zhang Han launched an attack, Xiang Yu appointed Song Yi and Xiang Bang as his chief generals. However, when Song Yi hesitated to take action upon reaching Anyang, Xiang Yu accused him of planning to betray Chu by colluding with Qi and killed him.
In 207 BCE (the third year of King Huhai’s reign), Xiang Yu achieved a major victory by repelling the Qin army at Julu (modern-day Hebei Province) and subsequently captured the royal palace in Xianyang after conquering Hangu Pass and Guanzhong.
Following the defeat at Julu, the state of Qin disappeared from history. Xiang Yu, who made Pengcheng his capital, proclaimed himself as the Hegemon King of Western Chu.
Using suspicions surrounding the death of King Huai to his advantage, Yu Bang rallied the princes of various states and attacked Pengcheng.
In the Battle of Guangwu Mountain in 203 BCE, Xiang Yu’s counterattack forced Yu Bang to seek a peace treaty to avoid defeat. However, disregarding the strategy to have Yu Bang killed, Xiang Yu found himself surrounded and perished in the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BCE.
Unusually, Sima Qian, in his “Records of the Grand Historian,” placed Xiang Yu ahead of Yu Bang, praising him for his accomplishments.
Xiang Yu’s legacy is immortalized in the renowned Chinese opera “Farewell My Concubine,” where he is portrayed as a central character.
Written by : nomadsirius
‘Sirius’ is the brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Greek word Seirios, meaning ‘glowing’ or ‘scorching’. Imagining Sirius rising just before sunrise, I begin the classic ‘Nomad’ journey. To let the West know the essence of Oriental culture, I am planning to publish 333 e-books and a Fantasy in English.
On Making All Things Equal
All things are essentially one. East and West can no longer be kept apart
A discerning mind is a fixed mind. It divides and confronts the world. The heart given by Heaven is an open mind. Embracing the world, there is no contention.
