Zhang Liang (Zifang)

Zhang Liang was born in the state of Hann to a family that had served the Hann kings for many generations. While Zhang Liang still very young, the Kingdom of Qin invaded the state of Hann and conquered it, killing its king. When Zhang Liang grew to manhood, he wished to avenge the destruction of Hann, and attempted an assassination of the First Emperor with another man. While the Emperor was progressing through the Empire, Zhang Liang and his accomplice attacked the entourage of the First Emperor. Their attempt failed, however, as they attacked the wrong carriage, and were forced to flee without having succeeded in their objective. After the attempt, to safeguard his life, Zhang Liang went into exile in Xiapei, where he met a wise old man who put Zhang Liang through a series of trials. After completing all the tasks the old man set him to, Zhang Liang was given the book The Grand Duke's Art of War and told him that he would become a teacher of kings. Zhang Liang spent many hours pouring over the knowledge inside the book.

Zhang Liang traveled around Xiapei, and eventually met Xiang Bo, who was also in hiding after killing a man. Xiang Bo was a son of the famous Chu general Xiang Yan, and the two had much in common and became great friends. When Chen She revolted, Zhang Liang gathered up some men and went to Jing Ju in Liu to serve under him. While in Chu, Zhang Liang often expounded upon The Grand Duke's Art of War to others, but found only Liu Bang listened, so he chose to follow him. Liu Bang, in return for Zhang Liang's service and soldiers, gave him the position of cavalry general.

While in Liu Bang's service, Zhang Liang came in contact with Xiang Bo's brother and the leader of the Chu Armies, Xiang Liang. He convinced him to set up Hann Cheng, a survivor of the Hann Royal Line, as the King of Hann. Once this was accomplished, Zhang Liang took his leave of Chu and went back to Hann to serve his homeland. Hann Cheng was unable to take and hold any land, however, and Zhang Liang roamed the land with his army. He met up once more with Liu Bang, and Liu Bang ordered Hann Cheng to stay behind and guard Yangdi while Zhang Liang marched with him southward. Using a plan suggested by Zhang Liang, Liu Bang was able to get the Qin general guarding Mt. Yao to ease his defenses so that the Chu army could attack and massacre the garrison with little difficulty. Soon afterward, Liu Bang took the Capital of Qin and accepted the surrender of Ying Ziying, the new King of Qin.

Liu Bang dispatched soldiers to Hanggu Pass, and they refused entry into the Kingdom of Qin to the other Chu army in the field under the command of Xiang Yu. After Zhang Liang made him realize he would never be able to confront Xiang Yu and win, he had his men withdraw from the pass and allowed Xiang Yu to enter Qin. Xiang Yu scheduled a banquet at Hongmen, but he and his advisors planned to kill Liu Bang at the banquet, for they were fearful of his ambitions. Xiang Bo, who was the uncle of Xiang Yu, came to Zhang Liang and informed him of the plot to kill Liu Bang, telling Zhang Liang to flee back to Hann and save himself. Zhang Liang refused to abandon Liu Bang and instead informed him of the plot. Xiang Bo dined with them, and together Liu Bang and Zhang Liang convinced him to speak on Liu Bang's behalf with Xiang Yu. When he returned to Xiang Yu, he informed him that Liu Bang was not a rebel and had the greatest respect for Xiang Yu. Yu decided to let him live, but at the banquet, Xiang Yu's chief advisor still attempted to kill Liu Bang. Thinking quickly, Zhang Liang arranged to get him out of the tent and then away from the camp so he would not be killed.

After the Qin capital was burned, Xiang Yu made Liu Bang King of Han, going back on an earlier promise that would have resulted in Liu Bang becoming King of Qin. Zhang Liang, aware that Xiang Yu thought Liu Bang may try to take Qin by force, suggested that they burn the wooden roadway leading to Han behind them to show that he had no intention of returning to take Qin for himself. Liu Bang agreed, and as Zhang Liang left him to return to Hann, he burned the roadway himself.

Zhang Liang returned to Hann to find that Xiang Yu had moved Hann Cheng to Chu's capital of Peng Cheng. Zhang Liang reported to Xiang Yu the destruction of the roadway and gave him information he had received that Tian Rong of Qi was planning revolt. Xiang Yu, believing that the west was safe now, prepared to march to Qi. Hann Cheng, however, was not allowed to leave Peng Chang, and was eventually demoted to Marquis and then murdered at Xiang Yu's instigation.

Without a King to serve any longer, Zhang Liang returned to the side of Liu Bang, who had managed to march into Qin despite the destruction of the wooden roadway and conquer the region for himself while Xiang Yu was busy in Qi. Liu Bang launched an invasion of Chu, and Zhang Liang accompanied his armies, assisting Liu Bang when he took the Capital of Chu from Xiang Yu. Eventually, however, Xiang Yu drove Liu Bang from the city. After the defeat, Liu Bang asked Zhang Liang who he could trust to help him defeat Xiang Yu. Zhang Liang suggested using Qing Bu, Peng Yue, and Han Xin to aid him in his war. Liu Bang agreed, and sent envoys to both Peng Yue and Qing Bu, while ordering Han Xin to raise an army and attack Zhao. After the envoys departed, Zhang Liang became ill, and was forced away from the frontlines and Liu Bang to try and recover. While he was away, Liu Bang was driven into the city of Xingyang, and besieged by Xiang Yu.

When Liu Bang was isolated at Xingyang, he asked for advice from Li Yiji about what course of action to take. Li Yiji suggested setting up land and titles for the former Six States so that they would all raise arms with Liu Bang. When Zhang Liang learned of this, however, he sent messages to Liu Bang that destroyed Li Yiji's arguments, and convinced Liu Bang to have the plan aborted.

In the north, while Liu Bang was engaged with fighting Xiang Yu, his general Han Xin was able to conquer Zhao and Qi. However, after conquering Qi, Han Xin requested that he be made the region's King, which angered Liu Bang greatly. Zhang Liang advised him to allow Han Xin to become King, heading off an attempt by Xiang Yu to get Han Xin to turn against them that would have worked had Liu Bang not agreed to let Han Xin take the title.

After Liu Bang was able to break Chu's main army, he was able to chase the remnants into strongholds in the south, but Peng Yue and Han Xin, up to that point his most loyal allies, did not bring their armies to aid him. Zhang Liang pointed out that neither had been offered any additional territory or incentives, and were fearful of losing their positions should they leave their kingdoms. Liu Bang then offered both large estates in the Kingdom of Chu, and both generals brought south the armies to aid him in destroying Xiang Yu.

After conquering Chu, Liu Bang became Emperor and wished to grant Zhang Liang 30,000 households in Qi. But Zhang Liang refused the offer, saying he only wished to be made Marquis of Liu, the city in which he met Liu Bang. Liu Bang accepted his request, and granted him the title.

A few months after he became Emperor, unrest began to spread amongst Liu Bang's officers. Concerned, the Emperor sought out Zhang Liang's advice, and Liang said that the unrest was caused by men who had not yet received any enfeoffment after the defeat of Chu. He suggested that Yong Chi, the general that Liu Bang despised the most, be enfeoffed immediately, so that the other officers would see that he did truly intend to reward everyone. Liu Bang promptly made Yong Chi a marquis, and the rest of the officers quieted.

A few years later, Liu Bang wished to distance himself from the Qin, and began laying plans to move his capital to Luoyang. Liu Jing tried to convince him otherwise, pointing out how exposed the city was to attack, but was failing before he enlisted Zhang Liang to back his position. After Zhang Liang spoke against Louyang as the capital, the Emperor moved his carriages that same day, and made his capital Chang An.

Near the end of his reign, Liu Bang was considering changing the heir apparent, and the mother of the Heir Apparent, Empress Lu, sent Lu Shizhi to speak with Zhang Liang and threaten him into convincing the Emperor to keep his current heir. Zhang Liang refused at first, but eventually accepted, knowing it was the best decision for the succession. He told Lu Shizhi to have the heir apparent befriend four men of very high scholarly standing who had shunned Liu Bang. At a later banquet, Liu Bang asked who the 4 old men were with the heir. When he heard that they were four great scholars that had refused to serve him, Liu Bang was astounded. When each man attested to the virtue of the crown prince, Liu Bang abandoned his plan to change his heir.

Zhang Liang continued to assist the Emperor during the various rebellions that occurred over the next few years. As the old man who gave him The Grand Duke's Art of War had said, he found a yellow stone at the foot of Mt. Gucheng, which he revered and honored with prayer. When he died, the stone was buried with him, and his descendents continued the tradition of honoring the stone.