In 209 BCE, Xiang Yu and Liu Bang raised armies in Wu County and Pei County respectively, joining forces to attack the Qin forces.
As Liu Bang marched westward, his army swept through everything in its path, penetrating deep into the Qin heartland and crushing the Qin forces. The Qin emperor, Ziying, holding the imperial seals and tallies, arrived in a plain white carriage drawn by white horses to surrender to the future founder of the Han dynasty.
During his early days as a minor official, Liu Bang loved wine and women, often drinking until he collapsed. After defeating the Qin army, believing his success was complete, he wanted to settle into the Qin palace to rest. His advisors Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang both urged him to think long-term, warning, "This is not the time for comfort—the world is still unsettled." Heeding their counsel, Liu Bang sealed the palace's treasures, abolished the harsh Qin laws, and led his troops back to Ba Shang.
Xiang Yu led his allied forces westward, aiming to enter the Hangu Pass, but Liu Bang, having secured the region, had already shut the pass gates. Enraged upon learning that Liu Bang had pacified Guanzhong, Xiang Yu ordered his troops to breach the pass and charged straight in. Arriving at Xi, Liu Bang failed to pay his respects to Xiang Yu.
Liu Bang's subordinate Cao Wushang, hearing that Xiang Yu planned to attack Liu Bang, sought to curry favor with Xiang Yu for rewards. He sent a messenger to Xiang Yu, saying, "Liu Bang intends to become the King of Guanzhong, appoint Ziying as his chancellor, and has taken all the palace treasures for himself."
After hearing this, Xiang Yu grew even more furious and said, "Tomorrow morning, reward the soldiers and prepare to attack Lord Pei's army."
Fan Zeng also urged Xiang Yu to attack Liu Bang, saying, "Liu Bang's ambition likely extends far beyond ruling the Guanzhong region as a king. When he was in Shandong, he was greedy for wealth and fond of women. Now that he has entered the pass, with all the treasures of the palace at his fingertips, he instead refrains from looting and keeps his distance from beauties—this shows he harbors grand aspirations! I sent someone to observe the clouds over Liu Bang's camp, and they took the shape of a dragon—this is the aura of a Son of Heaven. Strike now while he has yet to secure his foothold; do not let this opportunity slip away."
Xiang Yu feasted his troops, preparing for a decisive battle against Liu Bang, the Lord of Pei. At the time, Xiang Yu commanded 400,000 soldiers, boasting a million, while Liu Bang had only 100,000, claiming 200,000—his forces were no match. Through Xiang Yu's uncle, Xiang Bo, who was a friend of Zhang Liang, Liu Bang persuaded Xiang Yu to abandon his attack. The next day, Liu Bang brought just over a hundred attendants to Hongmen to apologize. Xiang Yu hosted a banquet, where his advisor Fan Zeng plotted to assassinate Liu Bang. Yet Xiang Yu hesitated, missing his chance, and Liu Bang escaped with the help of Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang. After the Feast at Hongmen, the tables turned dramatically: Liu Bang, unwilling to be confined to Hanzhong, soon secretly marched through Chencang, sparking the four-year Chu-Han Contention with Xiang Yu.
Later, the idiom "greedy for wealth and fond of women" came to describe someone who covets money and delights in female beauty.
Source: *Book of Han*, Chapter "Annals of Emperor Gao"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "贪财好色" came to describe how someone covets money and delights in female beauty.