Zhongli Mo Zhongli Mo ; died 201 BC ) was a military general who served Xiang Yu during the Chu – Han contention period of Chinese history . His name is sometimes incorrectly written and pronounced as Zhongli Mei ( 鍾離眜 ) . Biography . Rebelling against the Qin Dynasty . Zhongli Mo was a native of Yilu Village ( in present - day Guanyun County , Lianyungang , Jiangsu ) . He joined Xiang Liang ' s rebel force around 208 BC when uprisings erupted throughout China to overthrow the Qin Dynasty . Initially a common soldier , he was later promoted to the rank of general for his outstanding bravery and prowess on the battlefield . After Xiang Liang was killed in action at the Battle of Dingtao in late 208 BC , Zhongli Mo continued to serve Xiang Liang ' s nephew , Xiang Yu , and became one of Xiang Yu ' s two most important subordinates , along with Long Ju . Zhongli Mo was a close friend of Han Xin , then serving as a low - ranking soldier in Xiang Yu ' s army . Zhongli Mo noticed Han Xin ' s talent and often recommended Han Xin to Xiang Yu , asking Xiang to promote Han to higher ranks , but Xiang disagreed with Zhongli ' s view and did not put Han in high regard . Han Xin left Xiang Yu later and defected over Xiang Yu ' s rival , Liu Bang . Han Xin ' s talent was recognised by Liu Bang and he was appointed by Liu as a general . Chu – Han contention . Following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty in 207 BC , Xiang Yu and Liu Bang began to engage in a power struggle for supremacy over China , known as the Chu – Han Contention . Xiang Yu initially had an advantage over Liu Bang in terms of military strength , but gradually lost popularity and the tide turned in favour of Liu by 203 BC . Xiang Yu fell for a ruse by Liu Bang ' s strategist Chen Ping and began to doubt Zhongli Mo ' s loyalty towards him . Seeing that his lord no longer trusted him as before , Zhongli Mo left Xiang Yu ' s camp during the Battle of Gaixia , and Xiang lost the battle and committed suicide after his defeat . Liu Bang emerged victorious in the Chu – Han contention and unified China under his rule , becoming Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty . Death . In the meantime , Han Xin was conferred the title of " King of Chu " and was granted a fief by Gaozu in recognition of his contributions to the founding of the Han Dynasty . Zhongli Mo became a fugitive , wanted by the Han government , and he went to join Han Xin to evade arrest . Han Xin accepted Zhongli Mo and protected him from being captured . When Gaozu heard that Zhongli Mo had escaped and was hiding in Han Xin ' s house , he ordered Han to arrest Zhongli , but Han defied the order . In 201 BC , Gaozu heard rumours that Han Xin was planning to rebel against him and intended to lead his army to attack Han . Chen Ping suggested to Gaozu to take Han Xin by surprise instead , by disguising the attack on Han ' s domain as an inspection tour . One of Han Xin ' s followers suggested to him to capture Zhongli Mo and present him to the emperor to prove his innocence , but Han refused . Zhongli Mo told Han Xin later that both of them would die if Han captured him and presented him to the emperor , because the emperor already had suspicions about Han ' s loyalty . Han Xin refused to listen and Zhongli Mo committed suicide in anger . Han Xin brought Zhongli Mo ' s head to meet Gaozu later , and the emperor had Han Xin arrested on charges of treason . Although Gaozu released him later , Han Xin was still demoted to the rank of " Marquis of Huaiyin " and was eventually executed on charges of treason by Empress Lü Zhi .