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capital of Ch‘in, it being understood that whichever general first entered the capital should receive the Principality of Ch‘in as his reward. But as Sung I showed a tendency to dilatoriness, Hsiang Chi, on the plea that he was at heart a traitor, went one morning into his tent and cut off his head. He then relieved Chii-lu, infiicting severe defeats on the Ch‘in forces; and in BC. 207 he prevailed upon the Ch‘in general, Chang Han, to surrender with his whole army, for which Hsiang Chi gave him the title of King of Yung, with a promise of the territory of that name as soon as the Ch‘in dynasty should be overthrown. He now set out for Hsien-yang; and on his way put to the sword, on suspicion of treachery, the whole army which had recently surrendered, falling upon them and butchering them in the night. On reaching the eastern pass, he found it guarded by Liu Pang’s soldiers. As they offered but a feeble resistance, he easily forced his way through, and Liu Pang found himself obliged to come to terms. There was a meeting between the rivals, at which the latter narrowly escaped assassination; and a few days later Hsiang Chi sacked the city and put to death Tzu-ying, the last representative of the House of Ch‘in. He then proclaimed King Huai of Ch‘u as Emperor, under the title of I Ti, and divided Ch‘in between Chang Han and two of his generals. Liu Pang got Ss1‘ich‘uan and part of Shensi; and he himself became King of Ch‘u and at the same time chief over the other kings, with his capital at P‘éng-ch‘éng. Hence he is commonly spoken of in popular literature as I Chief King. Ere long he caused the new Emperor to be assassinated, which act roused the other rulers into active measures against his bloodthirsty ambition. But he vanquished Chang Han, and then defeated and almost took prisoner Liu Pang. A peace was concluded, which Liu Pang treacherously violated; and in the contest which ensued

Hsiang Chi was completely routed at the battle of 1}: T; Kai-hsia.