From Obscurity to Prominence: The Early Life of Zhang Er

Zhang Er’s journey from a fugitive to one of the most powerful figures in the chaotic transition between the Qin and Han dynasties is a tale of luck, strategy, and survival. Born in Daliang (modern-day Kaifeng), Zhang Er came from humble beginnings. His early life took a dramatic turn when he fled to Waihuang (present-day Minquan, Henan) to escape trouble. There, as an outsider with limited means, his prospects seemed bleak—until an unexpected marriage changed his fate.

A wealthy local family’s daughter, dissatisfied with her mediocre husband, sought a divorce and expressed her desire to marry Zhang Er. Despite his poverty and her prior marriage, Zhang Er accepted, gaining not only a wife but also substantial financial backing. This windfall allowed him to cultivate a network of influential friends, elevating his status. His reputation grew so significantly that he eventually became the magistrate of Waihuang under the Qin Empire.

The Bond and Betrayal: Zhang Er and Chen Yu

One of Zhang Er’s most defining relationships was with Chen Yu, a younger man whom he treated like a son. The two shared an unbreakable bond, described in historical records as a “friendship sworn by cutting one’s neck”—a pledge of mutual loyalty unto death. Both were originally from Wei and became fugitives after Qin’s conquest of their homeland. When Chen Sheng and Wu Guang’s rebellion erupted in 209 BCE, the duo seized the opportunity to join the anti-Qin movement.

Their strategic brilliance shone when they advised Chen Sheng to expand into Hebei (modern Hebei province). Though initially sidelined as junior officers under Chen’s general Wu Chen, Zhang Er and Chen Yu played pivotal roles in securing Zhao territory. Their success was partly due to the counsel of Kuai Tong, a master strategist who advocated psychological warfare over brute force. By sparing surrendering Qin officials and showcasing their leniency, they convinced dozens of cities to yield without bloodshed.

The Fragility of Power: Betrayals and Shifting Alliances

After consolidating Zhao, Zhang Er and Chen Yu persuaded Wu Chen to declare himself King of Zhao—a move that angered Chen Sheng. When Wu Chen was later captured during a campaign against the rebellious Yan, Zhang Er orchestrated his rescue through a clever ruse by a lowly cook. However, Wu Chen’s reign ended abruptly when he was assassinated by his own general, Li Liang.

In the ensuing chaos, Zhang Er and Chen Yu installed Zhao Xie, a descendant of Zhao’s royal family, as a puppet king while wielding real power themselves. But their alliance crumbled during the Battle of Julu (207 BCE), where Zhang Er, besieged by Qin forces, accused Chen Yu of abandoning him. A heated argument over military authority led Chen Yu to relinquish his command in disgust, fracturing their once-unbreakable bond.

Aligning with Liu Bang: A Fateful Decision

Following the Qin collapse, Xiang Yu’s division of territories granted Zhang Er the title of King of Changshan, while Chen Yu received only a minor fief. Resentful, Chen Yu allied with Tian Rong of Qi to overthrow Zhang Er, forcing him into exile. Faced with choosing between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, Zhang Er opted for the latter—a decision influenced by an advisor’s astrological prediction of Liu Bang’s future triumph.

Liu Bang welcomed Zhang Er warmly, cementing their alliance by marrying his daughter, Princess Yuan of Lu, to Zhang Er’s son, Zhang Ao. This union made the Zhangs the only true in-laws of the Han founder, unlike the politically motivated betrothal to Xiang Bo at the Hongmen Banquet.

The Downfall of the Zhangs: Conspiracy and Legacy

Zhang Er’s fortunes peaked when Liu Bang named him King of Zhao in 203 BCE, but his reign lasted barely a year before his death. His son, Zhang Ao, inherited the throne but soon faced disaster. During a visit in 200 BCE, Liu Bang publicly humiliated Zhang Ao, prompting the king’s retainers—led by chancellor Guan Gao—to plot regicide. Though Zhang Ao opposed the scheme, the conspirators nearly succeeded in 199 BCE, fleeing after a botched ambush.

When the plot was exposed in 198 BCE, Guan Gao endured brutal torture to exonerate Zhang Ao, declaring, “Would I trade the lives of my entire clan to spare one man?” Impressed by such loyalty, Liu Bang spared Zhang Ao (demoting him to marquis) and offered Guan Gao a pardon. However, Guan Gao chose suicide, unwilling to serve the emperor he had tried to kill. Liu Bang’s leniency reflected his late-life emphasis on loyalty as a stabilizing virtue for the Han dynasty.

Conclusion: A Microcosm of an Era

Zhang Er’s life encapsulates the volatility of the Qin-Han transition—where refugees became kings, and alliances shifted like desert sands. His rise through marriage, rebellion, and diplomacy, followed by his family’s near-destruction, mirrors the era’s brutal opportunism and fragile loyalties. The Zhangs’ story also underscores Liu Bang’s pragmatism: rewarding steadfastness even in adversaries to forge a cohesive empire. In the end, Zhang Er’s legacy lies not in longevity but in his emblematic journey through an age where fortune favored the bold—until it didn’t.