Xiang Yu, the ruthless boss of Western Chu. Born into an old aristocratic family of Chu, he was strong enough to lift a massive bronze cauldron and excelled in both looks and martial prowess. At the Battle of Julu, he staged a dramatic “burn the boats” last stand, wiping out the main Qin army. He took the lion’s share of the credit for bringing down the Qin.
His motto was “I make the rules.” After entering Xianyang, he set fire to the boss’s office, the Epang Palace, seized the company seal and imperial jade seal, then started handing out titles like a god, appointing eighteen vassal kings in one go and making himself chairman, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.
He exiled his most capable colleague, Liu Bang, to Sichuan as the “King of Han,” thinking it was so remote and mountainous that even the Wi-Fi wouldn’t reach and Liu couldn’t make waves.
Then the four-year corporate war began. Xiang Yu’s team had just one all-rounder: Xiang Yu himself. He led the charges, handled the negotiations, and got angry all on his own.
Liu Bang’s team, meanwhile, had an all-star HR department. CEO Xiao He managed production and logistics in Hanzhong, making sure the front lines never ran out of food.
Marketing director Han Xin went out and “acquired” other small companies, then launched a “Series C” pincer attack on Xiang Yu’s firm from the north.
Chief strategy officer Zhang Liang specialized in setting traps for Xiang Yu. And Liu Bang himself? He drank, admitted his mistakes, and handed out bonuses. When they lost, he said, “It’s all my fault.” When they won, he said, “You guys are amazing!”
The final battle was at Gaixia. Liu Bang put on a massive live psychological-warfare sing-along, surrounding Xiang Yu’s company with songs from Chu. As soon as Xiang Yu’s employees heard them, they were overcome with homesickness, fell into a collective funk, and lost all fighting spirit.
The Hegemon-King fled to the Wu River with his girlfriend, Yu Ji. Feeling too ashamed to face the people of his homeland, he killed himself.
