I was born to like history and literature though I had little talent on both of them. When I was in elementary school, though history was optional subject, I still read the only two history textbooks again and again and hence got really great pleasure. Generally speaking, I read history and literature when I’m available. Literature is the best demonstration of language.

Why should I read history? Because I like it. At the same time it can make people wise. I guess most of Chairman Mao’s wisdom comes from history, especially the twenty-four histories of China. I like reading his review on history of China, it’s a pity he was a politician and didn’t have time enough to do a series of review.

Originally I thought I knew a lot about history of China. After reading history of Jin, I knew my knowledge about Jin was blank. My proud was broken by my ignorance of Jin. Probably I know Han most.

Both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu had ambition. Seeing Qin Shihuang, Xiang Yu said he could replace him while Liu Bang said real man should behave like him. I admired those people with ambition so much before, now I changed my mind, instead, I admire those people with highly self-cultivation such as Zhang Liang.

No doubt Xiang Yu was a good general instead of a good leader. He only showed his power instead of mercy. At the end of Qin Dynasty, the people revolted because of tyranny. But Xiang left only scorched earth wherever his army went, which wasn’t better than Qin. He only depended his personal charisma to gather people around him and that wouldn’t last long. Why did people follow him? Faith without return, I don’t deny its existence, but most of faith need return. Xiang Yu didn’t know it and people followed him without any benefit. Zhang Liang knew it and Liu Bang knew it. They finally won the people.

A poet, I don’t know whether it’s Du Mu, he said it was hard to say what the result was if Xiang Yu came back again. If Xiang Yu didn’t change his character, he was surely defeated without doubt.

At the beginning of uprising, nobody was willing to be the leader except Liu Bang. Our Chinese believe distinguished bird is easily becomes the target of hunter. Liu Bang had the courage to become distinguished bird.

When he became emperor, he killed ministers under the disguise of his wife. Without his permission, how dared his wife to kill ministers? Human desire is limitless. The throne of emperor is really alluring. Just think about it. Being emperor, you can have beautiful women selected from all over the country, you can control other people’s destiny… In a word, who is the most respected man? Of course it’s the emperor. So Liu Bang killed meritorious ministers. Zhang Liang was a wise man and became a hermit after the establishment of Han Dynasty. Money and power meant nothing to him and he saved his life from murder. Han Xin was much inferior comparing with him.

Han Xin was always hesitant. He wanted to be independent, but didn’t have the courage. When someone persuaded him to be emperor himself, he was hesitant and finally decided to follow Liu Bang. He wanted to be minister, but wasn’t willing to sever under other people. Before Han Dynasty was established, Han Xin asked position from Liu Bang. Liu Bang had no reason to like him. Finally before the execution, he even said Liu Bang promised him Three Non-Murders. Really ridiculous, had him ever heard of there was never lack of excuse while criminating a person?