Han Xin was a very famous general living in the two centuries B.C. when China's first empire, Qin was on the verge of collapsing in face of peasant uprisings. Han Xin, a general in the troops of a main rebel force, had contributed to the eventual establishment of the Han Dynasty.

In his youth Han Xin didn't give much indication of competence. Born into a poor family and orphaned at a young age, he was unwilling to plough the land to make a living. Therefore, he was unable to make a living as a merchant either. So he relied constantly on the generosity of others. He moved in with the family of the head of the imperial courier station in his hometown, Huaiyin, in Jiangsu province. However, after several months, the station head's wife turned him out tactfully.

He tried living on fish he caught in the river. An old woman who came there to wash and bleach silk took pity on him and fed him for many days until her bleaching was finished. Han Xin was most grateful. "I promise to repay you handsomely" he said. The old woman became angry. "Young man, I gave you food because I felt sorry for you, not because I expected repayment". Deeply ashamed, Han Xin made up his mind to make his mark some day. 

Han Xin was a rather tall adolescent at the time. He was fond of wearing a sword at his waist. Other guys thought he was a coward who needed the protection of a sword. A strongly built man challenged Han Xin to thrust the sword at him if he dared, otherwise climb from under his thigh, to great humiliation and admission that he is a coward. After careful thought, Han Xin knelt down and climbed through without a word. All the onlookers guffawed and believed Han Xin to be a man without guts.

However, Han Xin was actually spending his time reading military strategic books, believing that his chance will come during that chaotic period. When peasant uprising broke out, Han Xin joined a strong rebel force, led by Xiang Yu, an aristocrat from the former State of Chu. But soon he realized Xiang Yu's critical weakness, and left for a weaker rebel force, Liu Bang's force.
At first he didn't cut much of a figure there either, for Liu Bang gave him only a lowly position as an official who took care of the provender.

He noticed he has a rare military talent by a close advisor to Liu Bang, Xiao He, who often discussed the situation of the time and military strategies with him. Meanwhile, Han Xin, feeling that he would never be recognized, and deserted Liu Bang's army. When Xiao heard of this, he immediately set off to chase after him without notifying Liu Bang. He rode until nightfall. Finally he caught up with Han Xin and pleaded for him to return and Han Xin agreed.

On learning that his closest advisor Xiao He had disappeared, Liu Bang was very irritated. He was as surprised when the two came back. Xiao He said he had no intention of leaving him, but was preparing a rare treasure for him. He said Han Xin would make a commander unparalleled in the whole army. Han Xin could be of great value to Liu Bang if he wanted to establish his empire. "But if you do not use him properly he will leave again" he added.

Liu Bang finally agreed to make Han Xin chief Marshal. With Han Xin's help, he built an army of high combat effectiveness and gradually established his rule over the whole country as first emperor of the Han dynasty.