The Tale of Liu Hou

Zhang Liang, courtesy name Zifang, was a Han Chinese, traditionally said to have been from Yangdi. He was a strategist to Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, and an outstanding military strategist and politician in the late Qin and early Han periods. He was one of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty and one of the "Three Outstanding Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty" (Zhang Liang, Han Xin, and Xiao He). With his exceptional strategic wisdom, he helped Liu Bang ultimately win the struggle for supremacy against Chu. Once their great cause was accomplished, Zhang Liang wisely retired, avoiding the fate that befell Han Xin, Peng Yue, and others, who were discarded once they were no longer useful. After his death, Zhang Liang was posthumously given the title Marquis Wencheng. Later generations also honored him as the Sage of Strategy. This story is, in essence, a record of Zhang Liang's legendary life. A scheming strategist in the bottom role VS a rogue emperor in the top role The following is the author's rambling, which you can ignore. For some reason, I've always thought Zhang Liang was fascinating. To say nothing of the rest, Han emperors were famously fond of male lovers. The most famous lovers in history, Emperor Ai of Han and Dong Xian, need no introduction. Emperor Wu of Han had at least five men he was involved with, and one of them was even buried in the empress's tomb in full view of the public. Thinking back on Liu Bang's potential fantasy pairings, aside from the brothers who left that tiny county with him, there were his love-hate rivals Han Xin and Xiang Yu. Then there were Xiao He, who was practically old enough to be his father, and Zhang Liang, who followed him all the way. He killed Xiang Yu, and his wife killed Han Xin. Xiao He died of his own accord. The one who outlived Liu Bang himself was none other than Zhang Liang, who was said to be as beautiful as a young woman, able to devise strategies in his tent and win battles a thousand miles away. Even a formidable woman like Empress Lu didn't dare lay a finger on him. In fact, when he starved himself to death after Liu Bang died, she even forced him to eat. You have to admit, there's a lot of potential for fantasy there! So one night I bought the Book of Han, the Records of the Grand Historian, and other reference books, ready to start digging a new pit. Mwahahahaha!!