Background
Han Xin was orphaned at a young age, leaving him poor and with little to eat. Seeing how hungry the boy was, a woman in his hometown fed him for several weeks. This left a deep impression on Han Xin.
military general and tactician
Han Xin was orphaned at a young age, leaving him poor and with little to eat. Seeing how hungry the boy was, a woman in his hometown fed him for several weeks. This left a deep impression on Han Xin.
He had a keen interest in military strategy and spent his time studying military treatises and practising sword techniques.
By the end of the Qin Dynasty, China had fallen into chaos and several states were vying for control. Han Xin approached Xiang Yu the Conqueror, ruler of the most powerful of the warring states, offering to serve him as a general.Xiang Yu rebuffed Han Xin’s talents, giving him only a low-level job. Refusing to give up, Han Xin turned instead to Liu Bang, ruler of the much weaker Han Kingdom, offering his assistance.One of Liu Bang’s military advisers, Xiao He, knew of Han Xin and greatly admired him. He eagerly advised Liu Bang to recruit him, but Liu Bang repeatedly turned him down. Again, Han Xin was granted a lowly position of managing supplies.Liu Bang finally took Xiao He’s advice and appointed Han Xin as his leading general. Han Xin then devised a brilliant, comprehensive military strategy for defeating Xiang Yu and the other states, and Liu Bang agreed to implement it.
Using a variety of innovative strategies, Han Xin then captured King Bao of the Wei Kingdom, King Ge of the Zhao Kingdom, as well as the states of Yan and Qi to the north and east. With these new territories under his forces’ control, Han Xin surrounded the state of Chu, encircling Xiang Yu from all sides. Xiang Yu the Conqueror was done for—he slit his own throat on the banks of the Wu River.With Han Xin’s help, Liu Bang’s forces emerged victorious and he became the first emperor of a new dynasty—the Han.
Han Xin was remarkably loyal. Han Xin’s loyalty stemmed from his belief in following heaven’s will and the traditional Chinese conviction that emperors were endowed with their power thanks to divine blessing.
Quotations:
Liu Bang once asked Han Xin: “How many troops do you think I am capable of leading?”
“One hundred thousand,” Han Xin replied.
“And what about you?” Liu Bang asked.
“The more troops, the better I handle them.”
“If you are so capable, then why are you one of my subjects?”
“Your position is mandated by Heaven,” Han Xin replied. “It is not something humans can change.”
In 202 BC, Zhongli Mo (one of Xiang Yu's generals), who was wanted by the Han government, came to Han Xin and requested for refuge. On account of their past friendship, Han Xin protected Zhongli Mo and let him stay in his house. When Emperor Gaozu heard that Zhongli Mo was hiding in Han Xin's fief, he ordered Han to arrest Zhongli, but Han refused.
