约法三章 — “To establish a few simple rules or an agreement”

In 206 BC, Liu Bang led his army into Guanzhong, arriving at Baxia, just dozens of miles from Xianyang, the capital of Qin. Ziying, who had only been King of Qin for 46 days, surrendered to Liu Bang.

Upon entering Xianyang, Liu Bang initially wanted to reside in the luxurious royal palace. However, his trusted advisors Fan Kuai and Zhang Liang cautioned him against it, fearing he would lose public support. Liu Bang accepted their advice, ordered the palace sealed, and left a small number of soldiers to guard the palace and its treasury filled with valuables. He then returned his army to Baxia.

To win the hearts of the people, Liu Bang convened the elders and prominent figures from various counties in Guanzhong. He solemnly declared to them: "The Qin Dynasty's harsh laws have caused you great suffering; they should all be abolished. Now, I make a solemn pledge with you all: everyone must abide by three simple laws. These three are: those who kill shall be put to death, those who injure others shall be punished accordingly, and those who steal shall also be sentenced!"

The elders and prominent figures all expressed their support for this 'three-point covenant'. Following this, Liu Bang dispatched numerous personnel to various counties and villages to publicize these three laws. When the common people heard this, they enthusiastically supported him, bringing cattle, sheep, wine, and food to comfort Liu Bang's army. By strictly enforcing the 'three-point covenant', Liu Bang gained the trust, support, and allegiance of the people, ultimately conquering the empire and establishing the Western Han Dynasty.