Xiang Bo Xiang Bo was a noble of the Chu state of the Seven Warring States , and an uncle of Xiang Yu . His given name was Chan ( 纏 ) while his was Bo ( 伯 ) . Xiang Bo is best known for preventing another nephew of his , Xiang Zhuang , from assassinating Liu Bang ( later Emperor Gaozu of Han ) at the Feast at Hong Gate . During the Chu – Han Contention ( a power struggle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang ) , Xiang Bo attempted to reconcile between the two warring factions . After Xiang Yu ' s eventual defeat and death in 202 BC , Xiang Bo and his family were pardoned by Gaozu and became nobles of the Han Dynasty . Biography . Early life . Xiang Bo was a native of Xiaxiang ( present - day Suqian , Jiangsu ) . He was a son of Xiang Yan , a general of the Chu state . He lived as a commoner under the Qin Dynasty ' s rule in his early days . Once , he killed someone in his hometown and fled to Xiapi ( present - day Suining County , Jiangsu ) , where he met Zhang Liang , who befriended him and helped him evade the authorities . In 209 BC , when uprisings erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin Dynasty , Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu followed suit and rebelled in Wu ( present - day southern Jiangsu ) , rallying an army of about 8 , 000 men . Xiang Bo travelled to Wu to join his relatives , and was appointed as an advisor . Feast at Hong Gate . Three years later , the Qin Dynasty collapsed after the last Qin ruler , Ziying , surrendered to Liu Bang ' s rebel army . Liu Bang occupied Guanzhong ( heartland of Qin ) and remained there until Xiang Yu ' s army arrived . Xiang Yu was unhappy that Liu Bang had beat him in the race to Guanzhong and wanted to attack Liu . Xiang Bo heard that Zhang Liang was on Liu Bang ' s side and feared for his friend ' s life . He secretly left Xiang Yu ' s camp and rushed to inform Zhang Liang . Zhang Liang brought Xiang Bo with him to meet Liu Bang and Xiang told Liu everything . Liu Bang knew that he was not powerful enough to resist Xiang Yu , and planned to use Xiang Bo to help him avoid the conflict . He treated Xiang Bo with respect and expressed his intention to marry his daughter to Xiang Bo ' s son . Xiang Bo was touched and promised to help Liu Bang resolve the misunderstanding with his nephew . Xiang Bo returned to camp later and successfully persuaded Xiang Yu to give Liu Bang a chance to explain himself . The next day , Liu Bang attended the banquet hosted by Xiang Yu at Hong Gate and affirmed his loyalty to the latter . During the feast , Fan Zeng hinted to Xiang Yu numerous times to kill Liu Bang but Xiang ignored him . Fan Zeng left his seat and called for Xiang Zhuang , instructing the latter to pretend to perform a sword dance and find an opportunity to assassinate Liu Bang . However , Xiang Bo intervened by offering to join in the " performance " and he blocked Xiang Zhuang whenever the latter thrust his sword towards Liu Bang . The staged duel was stopped by Xiang Yu eventually . Later life . Starting in late 206 BC , Xiang Yu and Liu Bang engaged in a power struggle for supremacy over China , historically known as the Chu – Han Contention . During that period of time , Xiang Bo often tried to reconcile between the two warring factions . The four - year - long war ended in 202 BC with the defeat and death of Xiang Yu . Liu Bang proclaimed himself Emperor of China and became known as " Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty " . Gaozu was grateful to Xiang Bo for saving his life during the Feast at Hong Gate and pardoned Xiang Bo and his family . In addition , Xiang Bo was granted the title of " Marquis of Yeyang " ( 射陽侯 ) , the imperial family name " Liu " , and the lands southwest of present - day Huai ' an County , Jiangsu as his fief .