From Laborer to Liberator: The Unlikely Rise of Liu Bang

The sight of Xianyang’s walls on the horizon marked a moment of profound personal and historical significance for Liu Bang. A decade earlier, he had approached these same walls as a conscripted laborer, forced to toil on Qin construction projects under the watchful eyes of imperial overseers. Now, in 206 BCE, he returned at the head of a 100,000-strong army, poised to accept the surrender of the Qin dynasty that had once oppressed him.

This dramatic reversal of fortune encapsulates the turbulent transition between China’s first imperial dynasty and the Han period that would follow. Liu Bang’s journey from minor local official to rebel leader reflected the widespread discontent with Qin rule, particularly among former subjects of the conquered eastern states. The Qin’s harsh legalist policies, massive construction projects, and heavy taxation had created deep resentment across the empire.

The Surrender at Ba: A Turning Point in Chinese History

As Liu Bang’s forces approached the strategic location of Ba (modern Baqiao near Xi’an), an extraordinary scene unfolded. The last Qin ruler, Ziying – who had recently ascended after the assassination of the Second Emperor – arrived in the formal posture of surrender. Tied with ropes and riding in a plain carriage drawn by white horses, Ziying brought with him the imperial seals and symbols of authority.

This moment at Ba held deep personal significance for Liu Bang. He recalled his earlier humiliation in the area, when local children had mocked him as a “country bumpkin from east of the passes.” Now, the tables had turned completely. The location’s auspicious symbolism – named for the white deer that once gathered there – seemed to foreshadow the coming transition of power.

Liu Bang’s advisor Zhang Liang recognized the psychological importance of this surrender. “Ba is indeed a fortunate place,” he remarked, understanding that the bloodless transfer of authority would legitimize their cause and appeal to former Qin subjects.

The Temptations of Xianyang: Power Tested

Entering the Qin capital, Liu Bang and his commanders encountered unimaginable luxuries – treasures collected from across the unified empire, magnificent palaces, rare hunting dogs from the western regions, and the famed 3,000 concubines of the Qin harem. For a man of Liu Bang’s earthy appetites, these temptations proved nearly overwhelming.

His general Fan Kuai sharply rebuked his leader’s desire to indulge: “Was this why we fought through hardship all this way?” Zhang Liang offered more diplomatic counsel, warning that replicating Qin excesses would undermine their moral authority. Liu Bang’s decision to withdraw from Xianyang and establish camp at Ba demonstrated his political acumen and ability to accept wise advice – qualities that would serve him well in the coming struggle for supremacy.

The Three Articles: A New Legal Compact

Liu Bang’s most significant policy upon occupying Qin territory was his revolutionary simplification of the legal code. The Qin’s notoriously complex and punitive laws were replaced by just three principles:
1. Death for murderers
2. Appropriate punishment for assault
3. Appropriate punishment for theft

This “Three Articles” policy (约法三章) created immediate popular support among the Qin populace, who had suffered under the previous regime’s draconian system. The contrast with his rival Xiang Yu’s approach – who infamously executed 200,000 surrendered Qin soldiers at Xin’an – could not have been more striking.

The Gathering Storm: Conflict with Xiang Yu

Even as Liu Bang consolidated his position, the larger struggle for post-Qin supremacy was unfolding. Xiang Yu, the brilliant but brutal Chu general, marched westward with 400,000 troops, furious that Liu Bang had entered Guanzhong first despite their earlier agreement that “he who enters the passes first shall be king.”

The political calculus was shifting rapidly. Liu Bang’s inclusive approach – incorporating surrendered Qin troops and winning local support – gave him growing advantages despite his smaller army. Xiang Yu’s reliance on pure military strength and reputation for brutality (exemplified by the Xin’an massacre) meant his forces could only diminish through attrition, while Liu Bang’s could expand through defections and local recruitment.

The Seeds of Han: Administration Before Empire

Liu Bang’s actions during these critical months established patterns that would characterize his later Han dynasty. His ability to compromise, willingness to listen to advisors like Zhang Liang, and understanding of symbolic politics all contrasted sharply with Xiang Yu’s inflexible martial approach. The “Three Articles” demonstrated a pragmatic approach to governance that balanced firm authority with popular appeal.

The stage was set for the coming confrontation at Hongmen, where the personal rivalry between these two leaders would determine China’s next imperial dynasty. Liu Bang’s restraint in Xianyang and legal reforms had won him crucial support, while Xiang Yu’s brutal tactics were already alienating potential allies. In this contest between different visions of power, the former peasant-rebel was demonstrating qualities that would ultimately make him the better ruler.

Legacy of the Conquest: From Rebel to Founder

The events surrounding Liu Bang’s entry into Xianyang represent one of history’s most dramatic reversals of fortune. A man who began as an obscure local official and conscript laborer stood poised to found one of China’s greatest dynasties. His decisions during these pivotal months – accepting surrender gracefully, resisting immediate gratification, reforming oppressive laws – established the template for Han governance.

Modern visitors to Baqiao station outside Xi’an stand near where these world-changing events unfolded. The lessons remain relevant: about the importance of restraint in victory, the power of inclusive policies over brute force, and how personal character shapes historical outcomes. Liu Bang’s journey from “country bumpkin” to empire founder reminds us that history often turns on such unlikely transformations.