“Wei Bao: From Scion to Rebel Leader”
Wei Bao, originally a scion of the Wei clan, had an intriguing journey through the turbulent times of ancient China. His story unfolds amidst the backdrop of Qin’s dominance and the subsequent upheaval caused by the rebellion against the Qin dynasty.
Wei Bao’s elder brother, Wei Jiu, was initially recognized as the Lord of Ningling during the Wei period but was reduced to commoner status after Qin conquered Wei. During the uprising led by Chen Sheng, Wei Jiu joined forces with the rebels. Chen Sheng dispatched Wei people, including Zhou Shi, to reclaim Wei territories. After securing these territories, Zhou Shi was urged to declare himself King of Wei, but he deferred, stating that only after the chaos in the realm subsides can a rightful ruler emerge.
Representatives from Qi and Zhao each sent fifty chariots to support Zhou Shi’s claim to the Wei throne. Despite this show of support, Zhou Shi declined the kingship, choosing instead to fetch Wei Jiu from Chen’s domain. After five returns to Chen, Wei Jiu was finally installed as King of Wei at the behest of King Chen.
Following defeats suffered under Zhang Han, King Wei sought assistance from Qi and Chu. Both states dispatched Xiang Ta and Tian Ba respectively to aid Wei. However, Zhang Han decisively defeated and killed Zhou Shi’s forces, laying siege to Linji. Wei Jiu then negotiated surrender terms for his people. Once terms were agreed upon, Wei Jiu took his own life.
Wei Bao fled to Chu after these events. King Huai of Chu granted Wei Bao command of several thousand soldiers to reclaim Wei territories. After Xiang Yu’s victory over the Qin forces and the surrender of Zhang Han, Wei Bao managed to capture more than twenty cities in Wei, earning himself the title of King of Wei.
Wei Bao brought his elite soldiers to join Xiang Yu in the battle to enter the pass. Xiang Yu conferred feudal titles, desiring control over the Liang region, thus relocating Wei Bao to Hedong with his capital at Pingyang, naming him King of Western Wei.
When Emperor Han returned to secure the Three Qins, crossing Linjin, Wei Bao pledged allegiance to him, following the defeat of Chu in Pengcheng. After Han’s defeat, Wei Bao requested leave due to illness. Upon returning to his homeland, he cut off ties with Han at the border of the Yellow River, saying, “In this fleeting life, time passes as swiftly as a white steed. Han Emperor’s scornful insults towards loyal subjects and nobles alike are intolerable without proper respect for hierarchy, and I cannot bear to meet him again.”
Han ordered Han Xin to attack Wei Bao, eventually capturing him and escorting him to Xingyang. The territories of Wei Bao were divided into Hedong, Taiyuan, and Shangdang commanderies. Han Emperor ordered Wei Bao to guard Xingyang. With Chu’s siege intensifying, Zhou Ke said, “It’s difficult to share a state with a returning king.” He then killed Wei Bao.
Tian Dan, a Di man, was a relative of King Tian of Qi’s clan. Dan’s younger brother Rong and his younger brother Heng, were all capable and powerful, able to influence others. Chen She sent Zhou Shi to land, north to Di, and the city defended by Di. Dan Yang’s son bound his slave, and from a young age, he wanted to kill the slave. See the Di Ling instead of attacking Qi, Dan, and his reign. The siege of Wei Wang Jiu was urgent. Wei Wang asked Qi for help, and Danyo Boli was sent to help Wei. Later killed Dan five of Linji. Dan’s younger brother, Rong, received Dan’s remains in the East to escape. When he heard that Dan was dead, Dan was attacked and killed. Items for King City, Cross City. Angrily returning to attack the city, the city of the North to kill the North King, so the city of the city, dead, Prince Wang is the king, the king, the city, in the field. His death, the city’s brother, the news, and the king’s, for the city, the city’s city, the king’s city, the king’s city, the city’s city.