Zhang Liang, a master strategist and one of the three heroes at the beginning of the Han Dynasty

There were countless strategists in ancient times, but one man silently built and stabilized nations. He was a civil servant and strategist, capable of assisting kings, stabilizing nations, and pursuing wealth and prosperity while preserving his own wisdom. He is the model for literati throughout the ages, and many people are beyond his reach. He is Zhang Liang, who is known as one of the three heroes at the beginning of the Han Dynasty along with Han Xin and Xiao He. Zhang Liang, also known as Zifang, was born into a prestigious family and was a handsome man from the State of Han at the end of the Warring States period. His grandfather, Zhang Kaidi, served as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty for three generations. His father, Zhang Ping, succeeded as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty for two generations. In 230 BC, when Qin destroyed Han, Zhang Liang invested all his family wealth in the anti-Qin cause. Zhang Liang met with the strongman Canghai Jun and jointly formulated a plan to assassinate the Qin emperor. In 218 BC, during the third eastern tour of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Zhang Liang attempted to assassinate him at Bolangsha but failed and fled. Since then, Zhang Liang's attempted assassination of Qin at Bolangsha has become famous far and wide. In Xiapi County, Zhang Liang leisurely walked on the Yishui Yiqiao Bridge and, after being tested, became a disciple of Huangshi Gong and received the 'Taigong's Art of War'. The book he received on the bridge changed Zhang Liang's life. In 209 BC, Zhang Liang met Liu Bang on his way to join King Jingju of Chu (a noble descendant of the Chu state supported by Qin Jia after the death of Chen Sheng) and followed him. This was the first meeting between Zhang Liang and Liu Bang. From then on, Zhang Liang was highly regarded and trusted by Liu Bang, and his intelligence and talent had the opportunity to be fully utilized. At the end of December in 208 BC (the second year of Qin Ershi), King Huai of Chu ordered Liu Bang and Xiang Yu to divide their troops to attack Qin, and agreed that whoever entered Guanzhong and Xianyang first could be crowned king. During his march, Liu Bang adopted Zhang Liang's strategy, successfully captured Wancheng, Yaoguan, and Lantian, and arrived at Bashang in October 207 BC. Ziying, who had been the king of Qin for only 46 days, surrendered. Thus, the powerful Qin Empire, which dominated the four corners of the world and was awe-inspiring, was destroyed. It took Liu Bang only one year to march west from the order of King Huai of Chu to enter Guanzhong. Because he adopted Zhang Liang's strategy, he ensured the smooth progress of the military and entered Guanzhong before Xiang Yu. After Liu Bang's army entered Xianyang, they forgot themselves. Zhang Liang analyzed the pros and cons to Liu Bang, who accepted the far-sighted advice and ordered the sealing of the Qin Dynasty's palace treasures, government treasury, and property. He also returned the army to Bashang, summoned the people of various counties, and established three laws, winning the unanimous support of the Qin people. Liu Bang adopted Zhang Liang's suggestions, took a series of measures to pacify the people, won the hearts of the people, and laid a good political foundation for his later management of Guanzhong and his struggle with Xiang Yu for dominance of the world. In December 206 BC, he persuaded Liu Bang to be humble and peaceful at the Hongmen Banquet, preserved his strength, and cleared the way with Xiang Yu's uncle, Xiang Bo, allowing Liu Bang to escape smoothly. In this life-and-death struggle, Zhang Liang, with his great wisdom and courage, not only cleverly helped Liu Bang escape safely from the tiger's mouth, but also planted the seeds of discord between the king and his ministers in Xiang Yu's camp. With his outstanding wisdom, he helped King Han Liu Bang win the Chu-Han War and establish the great Han Dynasty, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Liu. In the sixth year of Gaozu (201 BC), he greatly rewarded his meritorious officials and evaluated them at the Nangong Palace in Luoyang, saying: 'The one who plans in the tent and decides victory thousands of miles away, I am not as good as Zifang.' He later helped Lv Hou's son Liu Ying become the crown prince. Zhang Liang was proficient in the way of Huang Lao, did not covet power, and abandoned worldly affairs to concentrate on cultivating his nature. As a strategist and far-sighted politician who could see through the autumn hair, Zhang Liang's retirement in his later years put a perfect end to his life. Zhang Liang gained real knowledge through humility and was able to judge the situation and choose a wise master to display his talents. He became famous all over the world with his wisdom and became a model for literati and strategists to learn from in all ages. He was proficient in the way of Huang Lao and did not covet power. In his later years, he followed Chisongzi to travel around the four seas. After Zhang Liang's death, he was posthumously named Wencheng. It can be said that Zhang Liang was a military strategist, but he did not hold military power. He was a politician, but he did not hold the administrative power of the state. Although Zhang Liang was a weak scholar and never fought in battle, he was known as a military strategist. He spent his life opposing Qin and supporting Han, and his achievements cannot be extinguished. After achieving fame and success, he was still so humble and calm, which made Zhang Liang not follow in the footsteps of Han Xin. Zhang Liang gained real knowledge through humility and was able to judge the situation and choose a wise master to display his talents. He became famous all over the world with his wisdom and became a model for literati and strategists to learn from in all ages. With his extremely outstanding wisdom, Zhang Liang wholeheartedly assisted Han Gaozu Liu Bang in seizing the world and establishing the powerful Western Han Dynasty. His achievements were lofty and ambitious, his cunning plans and military strategies, his planning in the tent, and his decision to win thousands of miles away, have been admired by later generations. Zhang Liang has also become the embodiment of wisdom and is respected by the world as a master strategist.