Xiao He vs Zhang Yi

After Liu Bang established the Han dynasty, he appointed Xiao He as his prime minister. Xiao He was responsible for organizing the civil administration, collecting taxes, and supplying the army during the Chu-Han Contention.

Xiao He recognized the military talent of Han Xin and recommended him to Liu Bang, who appointed Han Xin as general. Han Xin's subsequent victories were crucial to Liu Bang's victory in the Chu-Han Contention.

Xiao He compiled the Han legal code, known as the Nine Chapters on Law, based on the Qin code but with modifications to reduce harshness. This code provided the legal foundation for the Han dynasty and influenced later Chinese law.

Xiao He oversaw the construction of the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an, the new Han capital. The palace became the political center of the Han empire and symbolized the dynasty's power and legitimacy.

Zhang Yi served as a strategist for the state of Qin, promoting the 'horizontal alliance' (lianheng) policy. This strategy involved Qin allying with distant states to attack nearby ones, weakening the other Warring States and facilitating Qin's expansion.

Zhang Yi was appointed as chancellor (xiang) of Qin, a position he used to implement his diplomatic strategies. His tenure strengthened Qin's position among the Warring States through a combination of alliances and military pressure.

Zhang Yi promised King Huai of Chu 600 li of land in exchange for breaking the alliance with Qi. After Chu complied, Zhang Yi claimed he had only promised 6 li, causing Chu to attack Qin and suffer a major defeat at Danyang.