The Conqueror's Story

Cast
Adam Cheng: Liu Bang
Wong Kah: Xiang Yu
Maggie Cheung: Liu Chi
Melissia Ng: Qiu Jiu
Wayne Lai: Han Xin
Ram Tseung: Zhang Liang

Storyline

After the fall of the short-lived Qin dynasty, two men rose up from the many rival powers to be the most likely emperor of the new dynasty. A five-year war soon followed, titled the "Chu-Han contention" - fought by the Chu against the Han (whose armies were leaded by Xiang Yu and Liu Bang respectively)

Xiang Yu was the favorite, being a brave and valiant general and a descendant of Chu nobility while Liu Bang, a man of humble beginnings, doesn't seem capable for the throne. But only the man who has the mandate of heaven could be emperor. The war ended with the total defeat of Xiang's armies and his death at Wu River while Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor. He united the whole central plains and founded the "Han Dynasty", which lasted for over 400 years.

Comments

When watching a TVB historical drama, you never expect them to adhere exactly to the story - they never will. Realism and exact facts are always sacrificed for tighter pacing of story and entertainment value.

For instance – like Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are not sworn brothers, rather they are "comrades in arms" as they had both previously served under the Chu Banner in overthrowing Qin Dynasty.

Adam Cheng as Liu Bang
Was he too old for the role? Liu Bang was around 50+ when he became emperor and so he was in his late 40s when the story begins. So Adam Cheng seems alright for the role. Character-wise - the real Liu Bang was not a great warrior but he was a very cunning, manipulative guy who knew how to make good use of capable men under him, entrusted them with great powers and reasonability. Thus these talents, like Zhang Liang, Xiao He and Han Xin, were instrumental in the defeat of Xiang Yu and declaration of the Han dynasty.

The Liu Bang portrayed in the series was lazy, unambitious and lacking in desire to fight for the throne with Xiang Yu. Adam Cheng's Liu Bang was a very wishy-washy type of character, unlike the real sinister Liu Bang.

Wong Kah as Xiang Yu
Wong Kah portrays a fierce imposing Xiang Yu with his large beard and murderous, staring eyes. The real Xi Chu Bawang was also a fierce, larger-than-life figure.

Xiang Yu was a great general but he treated his aides poorly, thus driving away many great talents like Han Xin, Cheng Pin who all defect to Han. His mistrust and suspicion led to the likes of Fang Zhen, his close advisor, being sent away and his long-time general Ying Bu being forced to stage a revolt because Xiang was going to kill him. Xiang Yu was a man who trusts no one but himself.
The Xiang Yu portrayed in the series was very close to the real McCoy.

Maggie Cheung as Liu Chi / Melissa Ng as Qiu Jiu
The two established actresses play a very minor supporting role. You don't really miss them as the show is all about Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.

The Supporting Cast
Ram Tseung who plays Liu Bang's number 1 advisor, Zhang Liang, really looks the part of an legendary advisor, Wayne Lai's Han Xin who plays the Chu-turned-Han Commander-in-Chief, who proved to be Xiang Yu's ultimate nemesis, left a great impression on me. Han Xin was the third most important character in the show after the main two. Han Xin's decision to side with Han in the later stages of the war, when he could have become King himself or joined Xiang Yu, proved to be the decisive factor in the conflict.

Conclusion
The drama centered on the fictional brotherhood factor between Liu and Xiang when in real history, the two probably disliked each other from day one when they were in Chu's army. Why the character change of Liu Bang from a cunning guy (real) to a kind-hearted indecisive person (story)? Probably the writers wanted to make Liu Bang a more likeable person so that the audiences could root for him in contrast to the more arrogant Xiang Yu.

The "Chu-Han contention" is a famous event from Chinese imperial history and the history buffs might like it.