Zhang Han (Qin Dynasty)

Zhang Han (died 205 BC) was a military general of the Qin Dynasty. When uprisings erupted throughout China during the reign of Qin Er Shi, Zhang led the Qin armies and successfully quelled several of these rebel forces. In 207 BC, Zhang was defeated by Xiang Yu of Chu at the Battle of Julu and surrendered with his 200,000 troops. He was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong as his fief when Xiang split the fallen Qin empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Zhang's territory was conquered by Liu Bang in 205 BC, and he committed suicide a year later.

Biography

In 209 BC, the rebel army army led by Zhou Wen was the first to reach the capital city of Xianyang. Qin Er Shi was shocked and discussed with his subjects on how to counter the rebels. Zhang suggested to the emperor to grant amnesty to some of the convicts serving as labourers at Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, and organise them into an imperial army to deal with the rebels. The emperor approved Zhang's proposal and put him in charge of the army to quell the rebel forces. Zhang emerged victorious against Zhou Wen, defeating and driving Zhou out of Guanzhong. The emperor then commissioned Sima Xin and Dong Yi to serve as Zhang's deputies.

Zhang's army continued to advance eastward and destroyed the rebel army of Chen Sheng. Zhang then led his men to attack the Wei rebels, emerging victorious against Wei and enemy reinforcements from Qi. Zhang's armies moved on to attack Tian Rong of Qi, while Xiang Liang of Chu came to help Qi and defeated Zhang. Zhang scored another victory at the Battle of Dingtao against the Chu forces, killing Xiang Liang in battle.

In 207 BC, Zhang attacked and besieged the Zhao forces at Julu and Zhao Xie sought help from King Huai II of Chu. The king sent Xiang Yu to lift the siege and Xiang's army defeated Zhang's forces at the Battle of Julu despite being heavily outnumbered. Zhang sent Sima Xin to request for reinforcements from Xianyang but Zhao Gao deceived Qin Er Shi and the emperor refused to send aid. Sima escaped from Zhao's assassins on his return journey and reported to Zhang that the state power of Qin had fallen into the hands of Zhao. Zhang pondered over the situation and realised that he would not survive even if he attained victory over Xiang Yu, as Zhao would have him killed on false charges of treason. Zhang and his 200,000 troops then surrendered to Xiang Yu and Zhang was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang.

After the fall of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC, Xiang divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms, while Zhang and his two deputies were granted the region of Guanzhong as their fiefs. The three kingdoms were known as the Three Qins because they occupied the lands of the former Qin state. Later that year, the forces of Liu Bang (King of Han) invaded Guanzhong and captured Zhang's territory in a surprise attack. Zhang retreated to Feiqiu (present-day Xingping, Shaanxi) and remained there. A year later, in 205 BC, the Han army flooded Feiqiu and Zhang committed suicide after his defeat.

References

• Records of the Grand Historian, volumes 7, 8
• Book of Han, volumes 1, 31