In 221 BC, China's first empire Qin established its rein over CHina. But its cruel rule has led to peasant uprisings, which shook its foundations. Among the rebels, Xiang Yu, an aristocrat from the former state of Chu, and Liu Bang were the leading forces.
Xiang Yu was a brave fighter, but was haughty and stubborn. Liu Bang was more cunning and a good leader who was good at putting the right person for the right tasks. At first, Xiang Yu's force was stronger. The two formed an alliance in the fight against Qin. They agreed that whoever first sank Xianyang city, Qin's capital, would be the emperor of the country.

In 206 BC, while Xiang Yu was fighting the main force of Qin army, Liu Bang took the chance and sank the Xianyang city. He abandoned the cruel laws of the Qin Dynasty and put the city back in order. He took the advice from his advisors and didn't stayed in the city. His act has made him very popular with the people.

When Xiang Yu got the news that Liu Bang has sank Xianyang, he was furious. He hurried back to Xiangyang and camped his army at Hongmen, preparing for a major battle with Liu Bang.

Considering Liu Bang's force was too weak to fight Xiang Yu, Liu's close advisor Zhang Liang asked his friend Xiang Bo, who was Xiang Yu's uncle, to persuade Xiang Yu that Liu Bang was only protecting Xianyang in wait for Xiang Yu's coming. Xiang Yu was pleased and extended a banquet to Liu Bang. 

 Fan Zeng, a main advisor for Xiang Yu, persuaded him to kill Liu Bang during the banquet, prophesizing that one day Liu Bang would become Xiang Yu's greatest threat once his wings get stronger. But Xiang Yu was very hesitated.

During the banquet, Fan Zeng secretly directed a general named Xiang Zhuang to present a sward performance for Liu Bang, which was actually meant to assassinate him. Getting the conspiracy in advance, Zhang Liang asked Xiang Bo to help, who than also stood up to join the sward dance. His intension, was to protect Liu Bang.

Meanwhile, Zhang Liang summoned Liu Bang's general Fan Kuai to the banquet. The fearsome general scolded Xiang Yu: "Liu Bang hasn't entered Xianyang city because he meant to leave it to you. Yet you try to kill him." Xiang Yu felt very awkward. Liu Bang then made an excuse to relief himself and fled back to his army.

Seeing Liu Bang's escape, Fan Zeng said: "Xiang Yu is not destined for anything big. Liu Bang will got control of the empire sooner or later."

This proved to be right. Although Xiang Yu proclaimed himself to be King of Chu, Liu managed to reoccupied Xianyang when Xiang Yu was fighting somewhere else. The two began to fight each other, until Xiang Yu was eventually defeated by Liu Bang, who then set up the second unified empire in China, the Han Dynasty. 

Xiang Yu's advisor Fan Zheng secretly plotted Lui Bang's assassination by requesting Xiang Yu to invite Liu Bang for a banquet at Hong Meng.

Liu Bang intended to refuse the invitation, but Zhang Liang told Liu Bang that he must attend due to the size of Xiang Yu's armed forces. Liu Bang accepted the invitation. At the banquet, Xiang Yu's cousin Xiang Zhuang tried to assassinate Liu Bang, but was stopped by Xiang Yu's uncle Xiang Bo and Fan Kuai.

In the same year, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself Prince of Western Chu (Xi Chu Ba Wang) and entitled eighteen Warlords of Chu. Liu Bang was given the title Prince of Han (Han Wang) and moved into the lands of Ba-Shu (Yizhou). Liu Bang left behind his father and wife who were captured by Xiang Yu.

Xiang Yu did not stay in Xian Yang; he left three former Qin Generals: Zhang Han, Sima Xin, and Dong Yi to guard the Liang and Yong provinces, and returned to his Capital: Peng.

When Liu Bang entered Ba-Shu, he ordered his men to burn the Jian path to show that he would not return to Xian Yang.
In Han Zhong, Liu Bang focused his efforts on developing new agricultural methods for the people and trained his troops. He accumulated vast wealth and used it to increase his military power.

In the year 202 BC, Liu Bang signed a treaty with Xiang Yu. They agreed that the west would belong to the Han, and the east belongs to Chu. With this agreement, Xiang Yu lead his troops back to Peng, but Liu Bang who sent Han Xin and Peng Yue to trap his army betrayed him.

Liu Bang's army then trapped Xiang Yu at He Xia, but Xiang Yu was able to make a desperate escape. He finally committed suicide at Wu Jiang and ended the four-year war between Chu and Han.

Shortly after, Liu Bang proclaimed himself Han Emperor and took Xian Yang as his new capital, then renamed it Chang An. He wanted it to become the grandest city in the world and invested many funds in building a palace.