Career
In his early days, he was a butcher and specialised in preparing dog meat. Once, Liu Bang released the prisoners he was escorting and became an outlaw on Mount Mangdang (in present-day Yongcheng, Henan). Following the Dazexiang Uprising in 209 B.C., the magistrate of Pei County also wanted to rebel as well so he heeded Xiao He and Cao Shen"s advice, and sent Fan Kuai to Mount Mangdang to invite Liu Bang and his men back to help him.
However, the magistrate changed his mind later and denied Liu Bang entry into the city.
The citizens responded to Liu Bang"s call and killed the magistrate, allowing Liu and his men to return home. Liu Bang was then known as "Duke of Pei" and Fan Kuai served as one of his close aides and bodyguards.
Fan Kuai distinguished himself on the battlefield as a mighty warrior and capable general. He fought in many battles on Liu Bang"s side and claimed the heads of enemies in increasing order in each battle, and was rewarded with promotions to higher ranks each time.
Feast at Hong Gate He rushed to Liu Bang"s defence when he heard that Xiang Yu"s advisor Fan Zeng intended to have Liu killed.
Xiang Yu was impressed by Fan Kuai"s bravery and offered him a seat at the feast. Liu Bang escaped from the feast later on the pretext of going to the latrine, with Fan Kuai accompanying him. After the fall of the Qin dynasty, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms, appointed Liu Bang as "King of Han" with the lands of Shu as his fiefdom.
Liu Bang seized the lands of the Three Qins and engaged in a long power struggle with Xiang Yu for supremacy over China, historically known as the Chu–Han Contention.
After the establishment of the Han dynasty, Emperor Gao (Liu Bang) granted Fan Kuai the title of "Marquis of Wuyang" (舞陽侯) in recognition of Fan"s contributions to the dynasty"s founding. Fan Kuai"s wife Lü Xu was put to death in the aftermath of the Lü Clan Disturbance in 180 British Columbia and Fan Kang was killed as well.
Several months later, Emperor Wen conferred the title on Fan Shiren, another son of Fan Kuai who was not born to Lü Xu.
