With the Qin dynasty just overthrown, the Chu-Han conflict erupted, plunging the land into prolonged chaos and suffering, as innocent people desperately longed for the war to end.
Han Xin was a capable general under Han King Liu Bang. In the fourth year of the Han, Han Xin led a great army to pacify Qi and sent a messenger to the Han King, requesting, "Qi is a state that repeatedly surrenders and rebels. If a temporary acting king is not appointed to suppress it, the situation will surely be unstable. I hope to be allowed to act as the King of Qi temporarily, which would be more advantageous for the current situation."
At that time, King of Han was besieged by Xiang Yu at Xingyang, trapped in a dire situation and forced to reluctantly agree to make Han Xin the King of Qi.
At this time, King Xiang Yu of Chu recognized Han Xin's military genius and feared that with Han Xin's help, Liu Bang's territory would expand daily, allowing him to become a long-term rival. So Xiang Yu sent the persuader Wu She to lobby Han Xin, urging him to ally with Chu against Han. Wu She laid out the stakes clearly: "If King Xiang of Chu is destroyed, then Han's king will come for you next. Your loyalty to Liu Bang now, helping him fight Chu, is very unwise. Better to join forces with Chu—King Xiang will treat you well."
Han Xin rejected Wu She's advice to betray Liu Bang
Han Xin had a strategist named Kuai Tong, a native of Qi. He also believed that Han Xin was the pivotal figure in the world's situation, so he used physiognomy to persuade him.
He said to Han Xin, "A person's nobility or lowliness is seen in their bone structure; joy or worry, in their complexion; success or failure, in their temperament and ability to make major decisions. Using these three criteria to read faces guarantees infallibility."
Han Xin said, "Then please read my fortune."
Kuai Tong gazed at Han Xin for a long time, then asked him to turn around. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Your facial features suggest you will rise no higher than a marquis, and even that comes with mortal danger; but from your back view, your future is beyond measure."
Han Xin asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Kuaì Tōng seized the moment to analyze the state of the realm, saying, "The Chu-Han conflict has dragged on so long that the people are filled with resentment. Unless the most sage and virtuous leader steps forward, this war cannot be ended. If you help the Han king win the empire, you will at most be granted a marquisate. But if you break away from the Han king and declare yourself independent, you can share the realm with Chu and Han, like the three legs of a tripod supporting each other. That way, neither Liu nor Xiang would dare to strike first. With your extraordinary talent and vision, you could stop the struggle between Chu and Han, fulfilling the people's deepest wishes. Who would not be grateful for your kindness? The feudal lords across the land would surely flock to your state of Qi to pay homage. Heaven has given you this golden opportunity—do not let it slip away. Otherwise, if you do not rebel against the Han king, you will surely suffer for it in the future. I urge you to think this over carefully!"
Han Xin was tempted, yet he hesitated. He thought, "I have only risen to my current position by serving Liu Bang, and he may not necessarily abandon me or treat me unfairly." Unwilling to betray his lord and earn a reputation for disloyalty, he rejected Kuai Tong's advice.
Soon after, Liu Bang clashed with Xiang Yu at Guling and suffered a defeat. Heeding Zhang Liang's advice, Liu Bang summoned Han Xin to join the decisive battle at Gaixia. Xiang Yu was routed and took his own life. Though Liu Bang granted Han Xin the title of Marquis of Huaiyin, he ultimately seized Han Xin's military command when he was off guard. In the end, Han Xin was lured into a trap and killed by Liu Bang's wife, Empress Lü.
Later, the idiom "Three-Legged Tripod" came to describe a situation where three powers stand equally opposed.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "三分鼎足" came to describe a situation where three powers stand equally opposed.