Character Relationship Map: The Last Supper

Characters

• Liu Bang (played by Liu Ye) — protagonist

  The 61-year-old founding emperor of the Han dynasty and the story's central figure, Liu Bang looks back on the power struggle that established his rule. Haunted by fear of Xiang Yu and Han Xin, he imp...

• Xiang Yu (played by Daniel Wu) — supporting

  Xiang Yu is Liu Bang's principal rival in the struggle for supremacy after the fall of the Qin dynasty. Liu Bang remembers him as one of only two people he truly feared, and the conflict between them...

• Han Xin (played by Chang Chen) — supporting

  Han Xin first served Xiang Yu but later became a general under Liu Bang and helped defeat their former rival. Although one of Liu Bang's most important supporters, he is suspected of plotting rebellio...

• Xiao He (played by Sha Yi) — supporting

  Xiao He is one of the three people Liu Bang considers most important to the defeat of Xiang Yu and the founding of the Han dynasty. Serving as chancellor, he supervises the historical record and reluc...

• Zhang Liang (played by Qi Dao) — supporting

  Zhang Liang is one of the three principal supporters whom Liu Bang credits with helping defeat Xiang Yu and establish the Han dynasty. As Liu Bang becomes paranoid, Zhang Liang claims ill health and r...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Han Xin → Xiang Yu (Professional Former Servant) — Han Xin changes allegiance during the struggle for power.

  The story states that Han Xin previously served Xiang Yu before becoming a general under Liu Bang.

• Liu Bang → Han Xin (Power Suspicious Ruler) — Political authority turns their former cooperation into distrust.

  After becoming emperor, Liu Bang suspects that Han Xin is plotting against him and imprisons him for six years.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Xiao He → Zhang Liang (Alliance Political Associate) — They belong to the same core group of founding supporters.

  Liu Bang identifies Xiao He and Zhang Liang together as two of the three principal supporters who helped establish the Han dynasty.

• Zhang Liang → Han Xin (Conflict Reluctant Political Opponent) — Zhang Liang is pressured into helping construct the case against Han Xin.

  The empress threatens and coerces Zhang Liang into turning against Han Xin and supporting the historical claim that Han Xin plotted rebellion.

• Xiao He → Han Xin (Conflict Coerced Betrayer) — Their former association ends in forced betrayal and death.

  The empress coerces Xiao He into turning against Han Xin. Xiao He then leads Han Xin to the banquet trap and later presents his severed head to Liu Ba...

• Liu Bang → Zhang Liang (Alliance Strategic Ally) — Zhang Liang is central to Liu Bang's political victory.

  Liu Bang regards Zhang Liang as one of the three most important people who assisted him in defeating Xiang Yu and founding the Han dynasty.

• Liu Bang → Xiao He (Alliance Political Ally) — Xiao He is a foundational supporter of Liu Bang's rule.

  Liu Bang regards Xiao He as one of the three most important people who helped defeat Xiang Yu and establish the Han dynasty.

• Liu Bang → Xiang Yu (Conflict Rival) — Their power struggle defines Liu Bang's earlier rise.

  Liu Bang identifies Xiang Yu as one of the only two people he has ever feared. They competed for supremacy over China after the fall of the Qin dynast...

Story Analysis

An aging emperor revisits the victories, suspicions, and betrayals that culminate in the destruction of his former ally.

Plot Progression

1. An Emperor Haunted by Fear — The aging Liu Bang looks back on the dangers that shaped his life. His memories identify Xiang Yu and Han Xin as his defining sources of fear.
2. Victory Over Xiang Yu — The flashbacks revisit the post-Qin power struggle, Han Xin's change of allegiance, and the major events at Swan Goose Gate and Gaixia. Liu Bang's coalition defeats Xiang Yu and establishes the Han dy...
3. Suspicion in the New Dynasty — After becoming emperor, Liu Bang turns against Han Xin and imprisons him for six years. Han Xin is released to Zhang Liang's residence while the emperor's paranoia continues to grow.
4. The Banquet and the Noose — The empress pressures Zhang Liang and Xiao He to support a treason narrative against Han Xin. Xiao He leads Han Xin into a deceptive banquet where the arrest and execution take place.