The Bombardment of Bolangsha: Zhang Liang’s Assassination of Qin and Its Historical Echo in the Hanshu

Brief Introduction

"The Bombardment of Bolangsha" stands as one of the most legendary political assassination events of the late Warring States period. According to historical records, Zhang Liang, a noble from the State of Han, plotted to assassinate the First Emperor of Qin at Bolangsha (near modern-day Kaifeng, Henan Province) to avenge his nation. However, because he had misinterpreted the description of the jade box carrying the imperial seals, Zhang Liang struck the wrong carriage—the Emperor’s auxiliary vehicle instead of the main one. This failure enraged the First Emperor, who ordered a nationwide search for the刺客 (assassins) that yielded no results. Consequently, Zhang Liang fled and lived under an assumed name. This event was not only a critical interlude before the rise of various warlords at the end of the Qin Dynasty but also left a profound mark on subsequent official histories.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Background and Motivation of the Event: Following the Qin conquest and destruction of the State of Han, Zhang Liang, as a prince of the Han royal family, was determined to eliminate the tyrannical Qin. He recruited strongmen and forged a massive iron hammer (zhui) weighing 120 jin (approx. 36 kg), waiting for the right moment.
2. The Action Process: Zhang Liang tracked the First Emperor’s tour route and planned an ambush at Bolangsha. On that day, as the imperial carriage passed by, Zhang Liang threw the iron hammer. However, due to the misidentification of the carriage’s form, he struck the auxiliary vehicle rather than the one carrying the Emperor.
3. Subsequent Impact: The First Emperor was shocked and ordered a "great search of the realm" (da suo tianxia), but the assassin was not found for a month. The Emperor lamented that this was the "hour of Qin's destruction" (a legend suggests this omen was engineered by Zhang Liang, though it resulted from the accidental hit). Zhang Liang subsequently went into hiding in Xiapi, changing his name to wait for new political opportunities. He did not re-emerge until Liu Bang launched his rebellion.

Connection with the Hanshu

Although the detailed account of "The Bombardment of Bolangsha" is primarily recorded in the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian), specifically in the "Biographies of Assassins" and the "Hereditary House of Marquis of Liu," the Hanshu (Book of Han) also incorporates this event into the political evaluation system of Zhang Liang’s life, holding specific historiographical significance.

1. *Narrative Integration in Hanshu: Biography of Zhang Liang***:
In the opening of the Biography of Zhang Liang in the Hanshu, Ban Gu summarizes that Zhang Liang possessed "the demeanor of an extraordinary man" and states that he was "originally a chivalrous rogue from the State of Han." He then briefly mentions that "later, while attacking Qin, he accidentally struck the auxiliary carriage." Compared to the Shiji, the Hanshu cuts out the redundant details and treats the assassination attempt as the starting point of Zhang Liang’s career of "secluding himself from the world" and "assisting the Han." Ban Gu emphasizes Zhang Liang’s wisdom in "preserving himself through discernment" rather than simple chivalrous revenge, reflecting the Han dynasty historians’推崇 (praise) for the value of "retiring gracefully after accomplishing one's duty."

2. *Interactive Corroboration with Hanshu: Chronicle of Emperor Gaozu***:
In the Chronicle of Emperor Gaozu of the Hanshu, Liu Bang’s early experiences of "hiding as a fugitive" are mentioned, which coincide with the period when Zhang Liang was using an assumed name to hide his identity. By aligning the timeline of Zhang Liang’s early concealment with Liu Bang’s rise, the Hanshu implies an interweaving of "Heavenly Mandate" and "human strategy." The failed assassination paradoxically allowed Zhang Liang to conserve his strength and await the right timing, ultimately becoming the foremost merit of the founding of the Han Dynasty.

3. Differences in Historiographical Perspective:
The Shiji focuses on "chivalric spirit" and "legend," detailing the search for the hammer, the strike on the carriage, and the name change in detail. In contrast, the Hanshu emphasizes "political strategy" and "causality," viewing the assassination as a turning point in Zhang Liang’s political life, highlighting his philosophical realization of "knowing when to stop avoids danger." In the Introductory Legend of the Hanshu, Ban Gu evaluates Zhang Liang: "He preserved himself through discernment, which is why he could safeguard his merit from beginning to end." This evaluation is based on the entire trajectory of his life, including the Bolangsha event. Had the assassination succeeded or had he been captured, there would have been no subsequent meeting with the Yellow Stone Sage or his retreat to follow the immortal Hongyangzi.

Conclusion

The single strike at Bolangsha, though it missed the First Emperor, hit the deep logic of China’s historical progression. It marked the end of the old nobility's will for revenge and the curtain-raiser for the rise of a new political elite. Through the narrative of the Hanshu, we see not just a failed assassination, but a philosophical reflection by Han dynasty scholars on political wisdom and the unpredictability of fate.