Tomb of Fan Zeng

Tomb of Fan Zeng

The Tomb of Fan Zeng is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Fan Zeng is situated on the earthen hill behind the Qianlong Imperial Palace on Pengcheng Road in Xuzhou City. Fan Zeng (277–204 BC), originally from Ju’ao (present-day south of Tongcheng, Anhui), participated in Xiang Liang’s anti-Qin uprising, later serving as an advisor to Xiang Yu and being honored as "Yafu." Due to slander and Xiang Yu’s suspicious temperament, he fell for Liu Bang’s scheme of sowing discord and had to resign and return to his hometown, where he died en route. It is said that the Western Chu army held Fan Zeng in high esteem and buried him here. The Tomb of Fan Zeng is now part of a national scenic area.

The death of Fan Zeng is truly poignant. While Liu Bang had capable civil officials like Xiao He and Zhang Liang, as well as the brilliant general Han Xin, Xiang Yu essentially had only Fan Zeng as a truly exceptional talent who could guide a ruler. When Xiang Liang died at the Battle of Dingtao, Xiang Yu was just 25 years old, while Fan Zeng was already over 70. In ancient times, living to seventy was rare, and high office, wealth, treasures, or beauties held little meaning for Fan Zeng. Thus, his support for Xiang Yu stemmed largely from a brotherly bond with his old friend Xiang Liang and a quasi-fatherly affection toward Xiang Yu. As such, Fan Zeng’s role was unlike that of an ordinary advisor—he was both Xiang Yu’s mentor and his strategic confidant. Xiang Yu addressed Fan Zeng as Yafu, acknowledging this extraordinary relationship.

Yet it was precisely this relationship that led Fan Zeng to speak his mind bluntly and fearlessly in front of Xiang Yu. His tone and demeanor were often condescending and unreserved. When Xiang Yu rejected his advice, Fan Zeng would argue forcefully and even reprimand him loudly, making Xiang Yu feel like a child being harshly scolded by his father. This bred resentment in Xiang Yu, giving Chen Ping the opportunity to drive a wedge between them. Therefore, Chen Ping’s scheming was merely the catalyst. The real factors that shaped the Xiang-Fan dynamic had already been sown at the Hongmen Banquet. Fan Zeng’s death marked the moment when the Western Chu Hegemon was finally left utterly alone—a fatal blow. From then on, Xiang Yu became like a wild bull bereft of guidance—immensely powerful, yet ultimately manipulated and toyed with by Liu Bang, Han Xin, Peng Yue, and others until he was utterly exhausted.