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Xiang Liang | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 208 BCE |
| Occupation | Rebel leader |
| Father | Xiang Yan |
| Relatives |
|
Xiang Liang (died 208 BC) was a Chinese military leader who led a rebellion against the Qin dynasty.
A native of Xiaxiang (下相; present-day Suqian, Jiangsu), Xiang Liang was a descendant of an aristocratic family whose members had served as generals in the Chu state during the Warring States period. His father, Xiang Yan (項燕), had been killed in action in 223 BC while defending Chu from an invasion by the Qin state, which ultimately unified China under the rule of the Qin dynasty.
After the fall of Chu, Xiang Liang and his family lived as commoners under Qin rule for years. When Xiang Liang's brother Xiang Chao (項超) died, Xiang Liang took Xiang Chao's son Xiang Yu under his care. Xiang Liang, having high hopes for his nephew, went to great lengths to ensure that Xiang Yu was well-instructed in swordsmanship and scholarly arts. However, Xiang Yu displeased his uncle when he failed to master what he had been taught. Upon realising that Xiang Yu had an interest in military strategy, Xiang Liang tried to teach his nephew but the latter stopped after grasping the main concepts, saying that learning military strategy was akin to treating warfare like a game. Xiang Liang ultimately gave up on his nephew, who showed no sign of motivation or apparent talent apart from his great strength, and let his nephew decide his own destiny.[1]
On one occasion, Xiang Liang killed someone and was forced to flee with his family to Wu County (in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) to evade the authorities. At the time, Qin Shi Huang was on an inspection tour in that area. While accompanying his uncle to watch the emperor's procession pass by, Xiang Yu said that he could replace the emperor,[1] prompting a shocked Xiang Liang to immediately cover Xiang Yu's mouth with his hand. From then on, Xiang Liang began seeing his nephew in a different light. Due to his noble lineage, Xiang Liang gradually gained influence among the locals in Wu County and became their representative in dealings with the local government. He also leveraged on his popularity to rally supporters and form a secret militia in preparation for a future uprising against the Qin dynasty to restore the Chu state.
In 209 BC, during the reign of Qin Er Shi, peasant rebellions erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin dynasty, plunging China into a state of chaos. Yin Tong (殷通), the administrator of Kuaiji Commandery which then had its capital in Wu County, invited Xiang Liang to discuss his plan to rebel against the Qin dynasty. However, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu killed Yin Tong instead, and initiated the rebellion on their own, rallying about 8,000 men to support them. Xiang Liang declared himself the new administrator of Kuaiji Commandery and put Xiang Yu in charge of their armed forces.
Xiang Liang then led his followers across the Yangtze later and established a base in Xiapi (下邳; present-day Pizhou, Jiangsu). 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, following Fan Zeng's advice, Xiang Liang sent his men to search for Xiong Xin, a grandson of King Huai 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 was a figurehead to rally support from people in former Chu territories to rise up against the Qin dynasty and help him restore the Chu state.
The Chu forces scored some initial victories against Qin forces. In 208 BC, Xiang Liang engaged the Qin general Zhang Han in battle at Dingtao but underestimated the enemy and lost his life. The following year, Xiang Yu defeated Zhang Han at the Battle of Julu and ordered the 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers to be buried alive as a propitiation to his late uncle.