In the year 202 BCE, the Hegemon-King of Chu, Xiang Yu, who had brought the Qin empire to its knees, who had once been the supreme leader across the central plains, arrived at Gaixia with his defeated army. Their numbers were few, and their food supplies exhausted. The Han army already had them surrounded.
Singing of songs from Chu by the enemy travelled into Xiang Yu’s camp. In shock, Xiang Yu exclaimed, “have they taken over all of Chu already?”
He had won impossible battles. He had dominated all his competitors. Kneeling before him after his legendary victory, they hadn’t dared to meet his eyes. If only he had heeded his advisor and rid of Liu Bang, king of Han, during the banquet at Swan’s Gate. Despaired by the devastation of his army, torn by the fate that awaited his loved one once the Han army advanced, Xiang Yu sang to his consort Yu:
“力拔山兮气盖世，
时不利兮骓不逝。
骓不逝兮可奈何，
虞兮虞兮奈若何！”
“With strength to lift mountains, and an unrivalled air of dominance;
Yet times have turned unfavored, my prized steed runs no longer;
My steed runs no longer, what now can I do
Yu, my dearest Yu, what can I do with you?”
Consort Yu took up a sword and performed a dance, answering him in verses:
“汉兵已略地，
四面楚歌声。
大王意气尽，
贱妾何聊生！”
“The Han army has conquered our lands
With our songs surrounding us on all sides
My king’s strength and will are spent,
How can I, a lowly consort, speak of life!”
All who were present wept. His followers couldn’t bear the sight of their proud, valiant leader now a broken man in tears. Not wanting to burden her king's escape and battle, Consort Yu put herself to the sword, ending his dilemma. He buried her at the site of her death.
What ensued was a battle to the death. Xiang Yu cut out a bloody path, killed more than a hundred enemies, and managed to escape to the river banks of Wu. A subordinate rowed a boat forth. He urged Xiang Yu to cross the river and rebuild his forces in the eastern lands, where he had first risen to power.
Xiang Yu laughed. “If it’s Heaven’s will to end me, what’s the point of crossing? I brought eight thousand sons of the eastern lands to advance west, yet not one returns alive. Even if they should make me leader again out of love and pity, can I bring myself to face them? Even if they don’t speak of it, do I not know guilt?”
He gave his treasured warhorse to the subordinate. His horse shall return, but not its rider. Xiang Yu turned back and charged at his enemies, slaying a further hundred enemy soldiers. He too had been gravely wounded in battle. Upon seeing an old friend in the enemy ranks, Xiang Yu called out to him, and said: “I heard the king of Han put a bounty of a thousand gold on my head, and promised the title of Lord of Ten Thousand Households. Consider this a favor for you!” Xiang Yu then put his sword to his neck, ending his life at the age of thirty-one.
The king of Han, Liu Bang, emerged the ultimate victor from the chaos since the fall of the Qin empire, and was titled Emperor Gaozu of Han. Thus began the great Han dynasty, which will last for the next four hundred years in the history of the central plains.
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