Quick Understanding: Hongmen Banquet

The Hongmen Banquet (206 BC) was a pivotal, clandestine political feast on the eve of the Chu-Han Contention. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu outwardly clinked wine cups, but inwardly, the fate of the realm and their very lives hung in the balance. Background and Origin * First to enter Guanzhong becomes King: King Huai of Chu had promised that whoever first captured the Qin capital of Xianyang would be crowned king in Guanzhong. * Liu Bang's Swift Entry: While Xiang Yu was battling the main Qin forces at Julu, Liu Bang entered Xianyang first. Xiang Yu was enraged and marched his 400,000 troops (Liu Bang had only 100,000) to crush Liu Bang. * Apology and Compensation: Through the mediation of Xiang Bo, Xiang Yu's uncle, Liu Bang personally went to Hongmen, Xiang Yu's encampment, to offer his apologies and compensation. Four Climax Moments During the Feast [Xiang Yu's Camp] [Liu Bang's Camp] Xiang Yu (Indecisive) vs Liu Bang (Feigning Weakness to Survive) Fan Zeng (Advocated Assassination) vs Zhang Liang (Wisdom and Response) Xiang Zhuang (Execution by Sword Dance) vs Fan Kuai (Barged In to Protect His Lord) Xiang Bo (Secretly Informed) * Xiang Zhuang's Sword Dance, Aimed at the Duke of Pei Fan Zeng, Xiang Yu's strategist, perceived Liu Bang's imperial ambition and repeatedly signaled Xiang Yu with a jade ring to kill Liu Bang, but Xiang Yu remained silent. Fan Zeng then summoned Xiang Zhuang, ostensibly to 'perform a sword dance for entertainment,' but secretly intending to find an opportunity to assassinate Liu Bang. * Xiang Bo's Protection Xiang Bo (who had secretly become related to Liu Bang's family) saw this and drew his sword to dance, blocking Xiang Zhuang with his body and repeatedly thwarting the assassination attempts. * Fan Kuai's Intrusion Seeing the situation, Zhang Liang