Fan Zeng

Fan Zeng (; 277–204 BC) was an adviser to the Chinese warlord Xiang Yu, who fought for supremacy over China during the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC) with Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty.

Early life Fan was from Juchao , which is in present-day Yafu Subdistrict, Chaohu, Anhui. Although he had led most of his life as a recluse, he was known for being well-versed in strategy. Around 207 BC, at the age of 69, he met Xiang Liang, the leader of a rebel group seeking to overthrow the ruling Qin dynasty and restore the Chu state of the Warring States period. He advised Xiang Liang to find a descendant of the royal family of Chu and put him on the throne to secure greater legitimacy for the rebel group's cause and attract more people from the former Chu lands to join them. Xiang Liang heeded Fan's advice and found Xiong Xin, a grandson of King Huai of Chu, and made him the figurehead ruler of the Chu rebel group under the title "King Huai II".

Service under Xiang Yu After Xiang Liang was killed in battle at Dingtao against Qin forces, Fan continued serving as an adviser to Xiang Liang's nephew, Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu respectfully addressed Fan Zeng as yafu (; "second father").

In 204 BC, during the Chu–Han Contention, when Liu Bang was besieged by Xiang Yu at the Battle of Xingyang, he requested to make peace. When Xiang Yu wanted to accept Liu Bang's peace offer, Fan strongly objected to it, warning him that he would regret his decision.

Death Fan died of illness on his journey home in Pengcheng (; present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu) and was buried there. His hometown in present-day Chaohu, Anhui is named Yafu Subdistrict in remembrance of him.

One yeshi（; "unofficial historical record") mentioned that Fan lived in retirement under a different identity at Mount Jiuzhe in present-day Tiantai County, Zhejiang, where he worked as a healer and still kept himself up-to-date with current affairs. When he heard that Xiang Yu had died at the Battle of Gaixia, he lamented that Xiang Yu had met his downfall because he did not listen to him. When the locals asked him whether he was Fan Zeng, he denied it, claiming that Fan had already died at Pengcheng. He was never seen again after that.