Free online viewing of the Hongmen Banquet

The Feast at Hongmen tells the story of how Liu Bang's army, after much hardship, entered Xianyang. Liu Bang and Lü Zhi both began to harbor great ambitions for dominating the world in the future once they entered the Qin Palace. Unfortunately, there was still the formidable Xiang Yu as a stumbling stone. Upon learning that Liu Bang had entered Guanzhong, Xiang Yu immediately returned to Xianyang and waited outside Hangu Pass with an army of 200,000 soldiers. His strength as the Hegemon-King terrified everyone. Zhang Liang also analyzed to Liu Bang that it would be unwise to directly confront Xiang Yu. Thus, Liu Bang had no choice but to retreat from Xianyang back to Bashang, fully realizing his military strength was far less than Xiang Yu's 400,000 troops. Liu Bang even sent everything he had acquired in Xianyang intact to Xiang Yu's camp, stating that he wished for Xiang Yu to become the King of Guanzhong. Fan Zeng already sensed that Liu Bang would eventually become a great man, so he ordered Xiang Yu to set up a banquet at Hongmen with the intention of eliminating Liu Bang. However, this plan was discovered by Xiang Bo who, out of consideration for his old friendship with Zhang Liang, informed Liu Bang's army. Liu Bang knew that the Feast at Hongmen was a dangerous place not worth going to. But Zhang Liang argued that not attending would leave them with only one way out - death. Attending might offer a glimmer of hope. Reluctantly, Liu Bang agreed to attend. On the day of the Feast at Hongmen, Fan Zeng had already laid down a tight web, determined to leave with Liu Bang's head. Unexpectedly, Liu Bang resolved Xiang Yu's resentment with just one kneel. Fan Zeng then ordered Xiang Zhuang to dance with a sword, intending to assassinate Liu Bang during the feast. However, Xiang Bo and Fan Kui managed to protect Liu Bang and defuse the situation. Finally, Liu Bang escaped under the guise of going to the restroom.