The Dramatic End of a Conqueror

In 202 BC, the legendary Chu general Xiang Yu, known as the “Hegemon-King of Western Chu,” met his end at the banks of the Wu River. According to Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian, Xiang Yu, surrounded by Han forces, recognized an old acquaintance among his pursuers—Lü Matong, a former Qin cavalry officer. In a final act of defiance, Xiang Yu declared, “I hear the King of Han has offered a reward for my head. Let me grant you this favor!” before taking his own life. His body was then torn apart by five Han cavalrymen, all of whom were later enfeoffed as marquises for their role in his death.

But who were these men? And why does their identity matter in the grand narrative of the Qin-Han transition?

The Five Horsemen: A Startling Revelation

Historical records reveal an astonishing fact: the five Han cavalry officers—Lü Matong, Wang Yi, Yang Xi, Yang Wu, and Lü Sheng—were all former Qin military officers from the capital region of Neishi (modern-day Shaanxi). These men had once served the Qin Empire before defecting to Liu Bang’s forces after the Qin collapse. Their backgrounds suggest a deeper connection between the fallen Qin regime and the emerging Han dynasty.

– Lü Matong: A former Qin cavalry commander from Haozhi County, he joined Liu Bang in 206 BC and was later enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhongshui.
– Wang Yi: From Xiagui County, he served under Han Xin before participating in Xiang Yu’s final battle.
– Yang Xi: A Qin cavalry officer from Huayin, he was later granted the title Marquis of Chiquan.
– Yang Wu: Also from Xiagui, he fought at Yangxia before claiming a portion of Xiang Yu’s body.
– Lü Sheng: A Qin cavalryman who joined Liu Bang in 205 BC, later becoming Marquis of Nieyang.

The fact that all five shared a Qin military background raises questions: Was Xiang Yu’s death not just a Han victory but also a symbolic passing of the torch from Qin to Han?

The Last Stand of the Qin Army

To understand the significance of these men, we must examine the fate of the Qin military during the empire’s collapse. The once-invincible Qin army, which had unified China under the First Emperor, fragmented during the rebellions of 209–206 BC.

### The Southern Army: Independence in Lingnan
Under Zhao Tuo, the Qin forces in the south (modern Guangdong, Guangxi, and Vietnam) severed ties with the collapsing empire and established the independent state of Nanyue.

### The Northern Army: Annihilation at Julu
Led by Wang Li, this elite force—once commanded by the famed Meng Tian—was destroyed by Xiang Yu at the Battle of Julu (207 BC). Its defeat marked a turning point in the rebellion.

### The Central Army: Surrender and Massacre
Formed hastily from convicts and conscripts under Zhang Han, this army initially crushed rebel forces but was later betrayed and massacred by Xiang Yu at Xin’an after surrendering.

### The Capital Army: The Last Hope
The only intact Qin force by 206 BC, this garrison in Guanzhong could have prolonged the dynasty’s survival. Instead, its officers—like Lü Matong and Yang Xi—defected to Liu Bang, ensuring the Han’s rise.

The Qin-Han Continuity: Soldiers Turned Revolutionaries

Liu Bang’s victory was not just a rebellion against Qin but also a repurposing of its military machine. After securing Guanzhong in 206 BC, Liu adopted a Qin-centric policy, absorbing former Qin soldiers and administrators into his regime. This decision had profound implications:

– Military Integration: Former Qin officers became the backbone of the Han army.
– Administrative Continuity: The Han retained Qin legal and bureaucratic systems.
– Cultural Legacy: The Han dynasty, often seen as the Qin’s antithesis, was in many ways its successor.

The five cavalrymen who killed Xiang Yu were not just opportunistic warriors—they were symbols of this transition.

The Hidden Connections: Qin, Chu, and the Betrayal

Xiang Yu’s recognition of Lü Matong hints at deeper, overlooked ties between the Qin and Chu elites. Historical fragments suggest that:

– Changping Jun, a Qin chancellor of Chu descent, was briefly proclaimed King of Chu by Xiang Yu’s grandfather, Xiang Yan.
– Fusu, the Qin crown prince, may have had connections to Chu through his protector, Changping Jun.

These linkages complicate the traditional Qin-Chu rivalry narrative, suggesting that personal loyalties and old alliances played a role in Xiang Yu’s downfall.

Legacy: From Battlefield to Historical Myth

Xiang Yu’s death became a cultural touchstone, celebrated in poetry, opera, and folklore as a tragic hero’s end. Yet the real story—of Qin officers securing the Han dynasty’s future—reveals a more nuanced truth:

– Historical Irony: The men who destroyed Xiang Yu were products of the very empire he helped overthrow.
– Military Evolution: The Han’s reliance on Qin veterans shaped its early governance and expansion.
– Oral History: Sima Qian’s account, possibly based on Yang Xi’s testimony, blends drama with historical fact, reminding us that history is often written by the victors—and their former enemies.

Conclusion: The Unseen Hand of History

The tale of Xiang Yu’s death is more than a dramatic finale to the Chu-Han Contention. It is a window into the messy, interconnected realities of China’s dynastic transitions. The five cavalrymen, once footnotes in a larger war, emerge as key figures in a hidden narrative—one where the Qin Empire, though fallen, shaped its successor through the very men who had once served it.

In the end, the Han dynasty did not just defeat Xiang Yu; it inherited the Qin’s legacy through the swords of its former soldiers.