and the overall rebel leader Chen Sheng (the King of "Rising Chu"). In 208 he defeated and killed the new overall rebel leader Xiang Liang (Xiang Yu's uncle) and also defeated Tian Dan, Zhou Shi, Wei Jiu, Tian Rong and Chen Yu. In 207 he surrendered to Xiang Yu after discovering that the Qin Prime Minister Zhao Gao intended to have him executed and then suffering defeat at Yushui River, but Xiang Yu's army had been struggling as well due to food shortages, and Zhang Han had halted the Xiang's advance between the rebel victory at Julu in January 207 and Zhang's own surrender in July. Xiang Yu thus recognized Zhang Han's talent and tasked him with defending the passes of the Qinling Mountains should Liu Bang attempt to re-cross north into Guanzhong from Hanzhong to the south. Xiang Yu also rewarded Zhang Han's former subordinates Sima Xin and Dong Yi. Sima Xin received the State of Sai (), occupying present-day northeastern Shaanxi, and Dong Yi received Zhai (), occupying present-day northern Shaanxi. These three kingdoms came to be collectively known as the Three Qins, since they occupied the heartland of the former Qin state. Liu Bang's Decision to Invade Confronted by the sheer distance between Hanzhong and their homeland of Chu in eastern China, Liu Bang's army and its leadership suffered from supply shortages and mass desertions. However, this coincided with the rise of the officer Han Xin. A precocious young talent, Han Xin was well read on the art of war and vocal about his ideas and merits. Having served as a guard or junior officer in Xiang Yu's army, he had deserted Xiang Yu for Liu Bang because Xiang had refused to listen to his suggestions. He was recommended for promotion by Liu Bang's Minister Coachman Xiahou Ying, and in December 207 he and Zhang Liang presented gifts to Xiang Yu on Liu Bang's behalf after Liu fled the Feast at Swan Goose Gate. In early 206 Han Xin was a logistics prefect, and in this capacity he impressed Liu Bang's Prime Minister Xiao He, perhaps because he performed exceptionally well in securing and transporting the food resources of Ba and Shu from the far south-west of China to the army's position in Hanzhong. Although Han Xin had never commanded an army, Xiao He argued vigorously in favour of giving Han Xin command of the army. Liu