16 Facts About Xiang Liang

Xiang Liang was a Chinese military leader who led a rebellion against the Qin dynasty between 209 and 208 BC.

Xiang Liang was from Xiaxiang and he descended from an aristocratic family whose members had served as generals in the Chu state during the Warring States period.

However, Xiang Liang Yu disappointed his uncle when he failed to master what he had been taught.

Xiang Liang ultimately gave up on his nephew, who showed no sign of motivation or apparent talent apart from his great strength, and let the latter decide his own destiny.

On one occasion, Xiang Liang killed someone and was forced to flee with his family to Wu County to evade the authorities.

Yin Tong, the Qin-appointed administrator of Kuaiji Commandery, considered turning against the Qin government so he invited Xiang Liang to discuss how they would start a rebellion.

However, Xiang Liang, aided by Xiang Yu, killed Yin Tong instead and initiated the uprising on his own, managing to rally about 8,000 men to join his cause.

Xiang Liang then declared himself the new administrator of Kuaiji and put Xiang Yu in charge of their armed forces.

Xiang Liang led his followers across the Yangtze later and established a base in Xiapi.

At the time, some other rebel groups pledged allegiance to Xiang Liang, further increasing the strength of his rebel group to between 60,000 and 70,000.

In 208 BC, heeding Fan Zeng's advice, Xiang Liang sent his men to search for Xiong Xin, a grandson of King Huai I of the former Chu state, and installed him on the throne as King Huai II.

Xiang Liang's purpose was to use King Huai II as a figurehead to rally support from people in the former Chu territories to join him in overthrowing the Qin dynasty.

The Chu rebel group, under Xiang Liang's leadership, scored some initial victories against Qin forces.

In 208 BC, Xiang Liang engaged the Qin general Zhang Han in battle at Dingtao, where he underestimated the enemy and lost his life.

However, Xiang Liang Yu took Song Yi by surprise in a coup, accused him of treason, and killed him, thereby taking back control over the Chu rebel group's armed forces.

Xiang Liang Yu ordered all the surrendered soldiers to be buried alive as a propitiation to his late uncle.