生平

早年生活

萧何，沛县人。在沛县时，萧何为主吏，刘邦曾担任亭长，为其下属。萧何与刘邦、曹参、樊哙皆为沛县人，但萧、曹二人已当上官吏，县中多有好名声，刘、樊二人之地位相当于地痞，在乡里父老眼中地位大有不同。刘邦任亭长时，常犯错，萧何皆袒护刘邦为其掩过，刘邦也很感激，与萧何关系良好。萧何在沛县为县令所倚重的主要官僚，但萧何曾经拒绝来自秦朝中央提出的仕宦机会。当时秦国御史来到沛县察看各郡国事务实行情形，并召唤沛县各个从事事务的人问话。萧何头头是道，上论泗水周边情势，而以各项历史典故作终，为秦国御史评为第一。秦国御史想要徵召萧何进入秦国朝中侍宦，萧何坚拒，因此仍留在沛县继续主吏的工作。

反秦战事

前209年，陈胜、吴广假托公子扶苏与楚国将军项燕名号，发动了大泽起义，反抗秦朝，各地纷纷出现响应者，天下大乱。萧何和曹参、樊哙、周勃等沛县人士聚集商议应如何面对。沛县县令原本听从萧何、曹参的意见，认为应该从天下大势反秦，不料却马上反悔，打算将萧、曹二人以反贼罪名逮捕献给秦国官员。此时，担任亭长的刘邦已纵放囚犯，开始反秦起义，萧、曹二人与刘邦里应外合，杀了沛县县令而反秦，萧、曹二人因地位较高，原被推为首领，但两人却有所顾忌，乡中父老卜筮，认为刘邦最适合，因此推举刘邦为沛县反抗军首领，萧何、曹参成为其臣子。

楚后怀王让刘邦攻取关中，刘邦攻克咸阳后，诸将皆争夺金、帛、财物，萧何却独入府库内寻找秦国各种内政资料，接收了秦丞相、御史府所藏的律令、图书，掌握了全国的山川险要、郡县户口，并知民间疾苦，对日后制定政策和取得楚汉战争胜利起了重要作用，使刘邦对于天下的关塞险要、户口多寡、强弱形势、风俗民情等等都能了若指掌。因刘邦先攻下咸阳，平定秦国，项羽先发后至，意图攻击刘邦取咸阳城，刘邦于是向项羽谢罪，表明自己不应急于立功，抢在抗秦军主帅之先，并将统治权让予项羽。项羽接管后，即屠、烧咸阳城，而萧何则随同刘邦离开咸阳城。

楚汉相争

刘邦封为汉王，以萧何为丞相，因萧何收纳了记载秦朝详细国情的图书资料，使得刘邦具知天下关塞、户口的资料、民生疾苦。

推荐韩信

萧何认同韩信的才干，不断向刘邦推荐，但刘邦一时未重用。在刘邦进汉中南郑的时候，韩信认为萧何已经推荐过，刘邦不会重用他而逃离。萧何听到消息，来不及报告刘邦就追上去，这就是后世所称的「萧何月下追韩信」。追回韩信后，萧何极力推荐他，刘邦筑坛封他为大将军。

镇抚关中

楚汉相争时，萧何留守关中，制定法令约束人民，侍奉太子盈，巩固汉中，使关中成为汉军的有力后方，每每提供后勤支援刘邦，不断地输送士卒粮饷支援作战，对刘邦战胜项羽，建立汉代起了重要作用。

汉朝初立

论功行赏位次第一

汉代建立后，以他功最高封为侯，位次第一，食邑八千户。许多功臣见到萧何受封第一，甚为不悦，向刘邦抱怨道：「我们像狗像马一样地作战，在战事中出生入死，冒著性命危险，徒然增加的是自己身上的伤痕。为什么萧何一个文弱书生，拿著一支笔，动动嘴巴大放厥词，居然论功是第一？这又是什么道理！」刘邦说：「你们懂得狩猎的道理吗？知道猎犬的作用吗？今天诸将你们就好像负责追踪的猎狗，但是发现猎物踪迹，并指挥猎狗追杀的人，是萧何！而且你们只以个人身份追随我，但萧何是全家亲族都为我卖命，我不能忘记他的功劳。」群臣听到后都没有怨言。

然而群臣亦认为猛将曹参军功无数，应列第一，但刘邦仍较属意萧何。关内侯鄂君于是解释：「群臣当然也没有错。曹参的确有野战略地之功，但楚汉相争五年，却失军亡众，丧失不少兵将。然而萧何却从关中遣军补足士兵的不足，若不是萧何，汉军早就折损所有兵卒了。楚汉相争在荥阳时，汉军面临缺粮危机，萧何利用关中的漕运，使得我们都有兵粮可吃。虽然萧何没有随军，却守在关中支援，形同随时陪伴陛下一般，这应该是万世之功。我认为论功应该是萧何第一，曹参次之。」高祖曰：「你说的没错。」于是乃令萧何第一，赐给锦带，允许萧何可以配剑，穿鞋子上殿，入朝拜见高祖不用行趋礼。

萧何任丞相定法制

萧何采摭秦六法，重新制定律令制度，作为《九章律》（《盗律》、《贼律》、《囚律》、《捕律》、《杂律》、《具律》，增加《户律》、《兴律》、《厩律》）。

成也萧何，败也萧何

高祖十一年，陈豨谋反，刘邦亲征讨伐，此时吕后用萧何的计谋把韩信骗入宫内，以有人密告他与陈豨共谋，将韩信诛杀，刘邦回来时听说韩信已死，又喜又怜，于是拜丞相萧何为相国。后世有名言，「成也萧何，败也萧何」，说的是韩信的成、败都是萧何一手造成的。

晚年自污

高祖十一年（前196年）征陈豨时，萧何协助高祖消灭韩信，被拜为相国，同时派了五百名士兵以保护之名就近监视；翌年征英布时，又不断派人探问萧何动向。萧何为了避免高祖猜忌，听从门客建议拒绝封赏，更强占民地自毁声誉，试图避开被杀害的危机。但当高祖让萧何向民谢罪时，萧何又忍不住请高祖将上林苑闲置的土地开放给贫苦百姓耕种，高祖怀疑他收买民心愤而回绝，并以勾结富商、谋盗国土的罪名将萧何予以囚禁，所幸获得其他官员直谏才得以释放。

高祖死后，他辅佐惠帝。惠帝二年（前193年）七月辛未逝世。萧何一向很避讳与曹参相比能力，但其病危时推荐曹参继任相国。

家庭

• 父亲：萧□

• 母亲：□氏

• 妻子：□同

• 长子：萧禄，儿媳：□氏

• 次子：萧延，儿媳：□氏

纪念

萧何墓，位于今天陕西省汉中市城固县博望镇谢家井办事处杜家漕村 ，2008年被列为第五批陕西省文物保护单位。

人物逸话

高帝十一年，刘邦征陈豨时听说韩信已死后，拜丞相萧何为相国，加封食邑五千户，并派兵卒五百人为萧何贴身侍卫。群臣都不住向萧何道喜，召平却深以为惧，于是向相国说：「祸害自此开始了。现在淮阴侯刚刚才因谋反伏诛，陛下在外征战，相国你留守京中没有战功却得封赏，是因为怀疑你有二心。陛下给你配置卫士，实在是为了防备监视你而不是宠信你。我劝你拒绝所有封地，并且将自己的私有财产献出用作汉军军费。」萧何听从召平劝谏，刘邦非常高兴。

高帝十二年秋天时，英布谋反，刘邦屡屡遣使问相国在做什么，萧何表示愿谨守本份以奉公，并像陈豨谋反时一样捐献家财充作军需。有人向相国劝说：「我看萧氏距离灭族不久了。你以相国居功第一，陛下再没有什么能封赏于你。自你初入关中以来，已得到十多年的好名声，百姓依附你，你却仍在不断善待百姓。陛下探问于你，是怕你会趁机煽动关中百姓造反。你不如自己贱买强买人民田产，自毁名声，主上就会安心了。」萧何听从劝谏。刘邦讨伐黥布归来时，听说此事，拿著百姓的陈情，笑著讽刺萧何：「相国竟然如此『造福人民』啊！」还把所有投诉萧何的状纸拿给萧何，命令萧何自己跟百姓谢罪。萧何却为为老百姓请愿，请刘邦让百姓进入君王园林没有使用之空地上耕作。刘邦大怒，说：「萧相国一定是收受商人贿赂，居然敢要我的林苑！」于是下令廷尉逮捕萧何，还绑上刑具。

有王姓卫尉随侍在刘邦身边时，问刘邦：「萧相国到底犯了甚么大罪，要这么残暴地被逮捕呢？」刘邦回答：「我听说李斯任秦相国时，好事都归于君主，过错都归自己头上。现在萧相国受商人贿赂关说，想要使人民进入御苑耕种，故意讨好人民，所以我将他绑了以治罪。」王卫尉说：「办事有利于民的方法，向陛下请求，就真的是相国应该做的工作啊，陛下怎会怀疑相国收了商人的钱了呢？况且陛下过去亲自出征抵抗楚军数年，之后又御驾讨伐陈豨跟黥布，相国身在长安，只要稍有动作已轻易夺得关中了。当时相国不觉得占有关中造反是利益，现在就把收点贿赂当作利益吗？而且秦朝因为君主不知过错而亡，李斯为君王分担过失，又有什么值得效法？陛下怎会那么浅薄地会怀疑相国了呢？」刘邦很不高兴，但还是在当天就赦免萧何之罪，派了使者拿著符节到狱中放了萧何，年迈的萧何赤脚向刘邦谢罪，刘邦说：「爱卿不要这样了罢！我不答应你为百姓开放御苑，不过是像桀、纣一样的昏君，而爱卿你才是贤相啊，我把你下狱，就是要让人民知道我的过错。」

世系图

王莽篡汉后，酂侯被废，建初七年，汉章帝采纳韦彪的建议，复封萧何后裔萧熊为酂侯。汉献帝建安九年（204年），封萧何后代为安众侯。

评价

• 刘邦：「夫运筹策帷帐之中，决胜于千里之外，吾不如子房。镇国家，抚百姓，给馈饷，不绝粮道，吾不如萧何。连百万之军，战必胜，攻必取，吾不如韩信。此三者，皆人杰也，吾能用之，此吾所以取天下也。」

• 鄂秋：「郡臣议皆误。夫曹参虽有野战略地之功，此特一时之事。夫上与楚相距五岁，失军亡众，跳身遁者数矣，然萧何常从关中遣军补其处。非上所诏令召，而数万众会上乏绝者数矣。夫汉与楚相守荥阳数年，军无见粮，萧何转漕关中，给食不乏。陛下虽数亡山东，萧何常全关中待陛下，此万世功也。今虽无曹参等百数，何缺于汉？汉得之不必待以全。奈何欲以一旦之功加万世之功哉！萧何当第一，曹参次之。」

• 刘盈：「故相国萧何，高皇帝大功臣，所与为天下也。」

• 司马迁：「萧相国何于秦时为刀笔吏，录录未有奇节。及汉兴，依日月之末光，何谨守管钥，因民之疾奉秦法，顺流与之更始。淮阴、黥布等皆以诛灭，而何之勋烂焉。位冠髃臣，声施后世，与闳夭、散宜生等争烈矣。」；《太史公自序》：「楚人围我荥阳，相守三年；萧何填抚山西，推计踵兵，给粮食不绝，使百姓爱汉，不乐为楚。」

• 班固：「萧何、曹参皆起秦刀笔吏，当时录录未有奇节。汉兴，依日月之末光，何以信谨守管龠，参与韩信俱征伐。天下既定，因民之疾秦法，顺流与之更始，二人同心，遂安海内。淮阴、黥布等已灭，唯何、参擅功名，位冠群臣，声施后世，为一代之宗臣，庆流苗裔，盛矣哉！」

• 曹操：「萧何、曹参，县吏也，韩信、陈平负污辱之名，有见笑之耻，卒能成就王业，声著千载。」

• 司马昭：「昔萧何、张良、霍光，咸有匡佐之功。」

• 荀勖：「昔萧曹相汉，载其清静，致画一之歌，此清心之本也。」

• 陆机：「堂堂萧公，王迹是因。绸缪睿后，无竞维人。外济六师，内抚三秦。拔奇夷难，迈德振民。体国垂制，上穆下亲。名盖群后，是谓宗臣。」

• 葛洪：「邓禹马援田间诸生，而善于用兵；萧何曹参不涉经诰，而优于宰辅，尔则知人果未易也。」

• 应詹：「昔高祖使萧何镇关中，光武令寇恂守河内，魏武委钟繇以西事，故能使八表夷荡，区内辑宁。」

• 朱敬则：「萧何之镇静关中，寇恂之安辑河内，葛亮相蜀，张昭辅吴，茂宏之经理琅琊，景略之弼谐永固，刘穆之众务必举，扬遵彦百度惟贞，苏绰共济艰难，高熲同经草昧，虽功有大小，运或长短，咸推股肱之林。悉为忠烈之士。」

• 司马贞：「萧何为吏，文而无害。及佐兴王，举宗从沛。关中既守，转输是赖。汉军屡疲，秦兵必会。约法可久，收图可大。指兽发踪，其功实最。政称画一，居乃非泰。继绝宠勤，式旌砺带。」

• 独孤及：「汉兴，萧何、张良、霍去病、霍光以文武大略，佐汉致太平，一名不尽其善，乃有文终、文成、景桓、宣成之谥。」

• 薛稷：「恪居尔位，勤不告劳，则萧公堂堂，吴汉纠纠，冯豹伏于阁下，黄公宿于台上：忧国奉公，可以不谓忠乎？」

• 吕蒙正：」张良原是布衣，萧何曾为县吏；韩信未遇之时，无一日之餐，及至遇行，腰悬三齐玉印。「

• 洪迈：「萧、曹、丙、魏、房、杜、姚、宋为汉、唐名相，不待诵说。然前六君子皆终于位，而姚、宋相明皇，皆不过三年。……萧何且死，所推贤唯曹参；魏、丙同心辅政；房乔每议事，必曰非如晦莫能筹之；姚崇避位，荐宋公自代。唯贤知贤，宜后人之莫及也。」

• 陈亮：「汉高帝所籍以取天下者，故非一人之力，而萧何、韩信、张良盖杰然于其间。天下既定，而不免于疑。于是张良以神仙自托；萧何以谨畏自保；韩信以盖世之功，进退无以自明。萧何能知之于未用之先，而卒不能保其非叛，方且借信以为自保矣。」

• 徐钧：「相国人夸佐沛公，收图运饷守关中。不知用蜀为根本，此是兴王第一功。」

• 张闰：「汉祖肇炎图，三杰咸辅翼。功成及酬赏，相国独第一。发踪指示语，谁曰匪其实。焉知英主心，方谨操纵术。勋高疑益深，固异亭长日。守关忠弗念，置卫防百出。堂堂明且审，自计亦无失。护军给饷馈，入秦收图籍。用智既有馀，保身岂难必。逊封散宏财，非真召平力。污名起田宅，犹愈受斧鑕。终加恭谨辞，贤哉史臣笔。」

• 曾国藩：「古人称立德、立功、立言为三不朽。立德最难，自周汉以后，罕见德传者。立功如萧、曹、房、杜、郭、李、韩、岳，立言如马、班、韩、欧、李、杜、苏、黄，古今曾有几人？」

• 周恩来：「刘邦百战百败，却屡败屡起，靠的就是萧何为他当宰相，经营关中作他的根据地，要人有人，要钱有钱，要粮有粮。项羽百战百胜，却经不起一败；一败涂地，一败就亡，原因之一是没有萧何这样的宰相。」

影视形象

• 香港电视剧《楚河汉界》（1985年）：由刘江饰演。

• 香港电影《西楚霸王》（1994年）：由杜少津饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《汉刘邦》（1998年）：由程文宽饰演。

• 香港电视剧《楚汉骄雄》（2004年）：由鲁振顺饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《楚汉风云》（2005年）：由阳光饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《玫瑰江湖》（2009年）：由宋洋饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《大风歌》（2010年）：由林达信饰演。

• 中国大陆与香港合拍电影《鸿门宴传奇》（2011年）：由修庆饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《楚汉争雄》（2011年）：由陈锐饰演。

• 中国大陆电视剧《楚汉传奇》（2012年）：由杨立新饰演。

• 中国大陆电影《王的盛宴》（2012年）：由沙溢饰演。

相关条目

• 汉初三杰

• 萧规曹随

• 酇侯列表

• 萧何如来佛

Early life

Xiao He was born in Fengyi County, Sishui Commandery (present-day Feng County, Jiangsu). In his early days, he served as a gongcao (功曹; magistrate's secretary) in the administrative office of Pei County. He was studious, tactful and amiable. He was well versed in law and had a wide network of friends and acquaintances, among whom include Liu Bang, Cao Shen, Fan Kuai, Xiahou Ying and Zhou Bo.

Insurrection against the Qin dynasty

Once, Liu Bang released some prisoners he was escorting to Mount Li to be labourers, and became a fugitive. He hid in an outlaw stronghold on Mount Mangdang (in present-day Yongcheng, Henan) and maintained secret contact with Xiao He and Cao Shen. In 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started the Dazexiang Uprising to overthrow the Qin dynasty, and was followed by numerous other rebellions throughout China. The magistrate of Pei County considered rebelling as well, so he heeded Xiao He and Cao Shen's advice to invite Liu Bang back to support him. However, he changed his mind later and denied Liu Bang's party entry into the city. As he was afraid that Xiao He and Cao Shen might open the gates for Liu Bang, he intended to have them executed, but Xiao and Cao escaped and joined Liu. As suggested by Xiao He, Liu Bang had letters sent to the townsfolk, fired into the city on arrows, urging them to join him. The people responded to Liu Bang's call and killed the magistrate and welcomed him back into the city.

After returning to Pei County, the townsfolk wanted Liu Bang to lead them to overthrow the Qin dynasty. However, Liu Bang expressed reluctance in taking up the leadership position and the people agreed to decide their leader by luck. Xiao He was in charge of the process and he had the names of ten respectable men in town, including Liu Bang, written on separate pieces of paper and shuffled. Xiao He then asked Liu Bang to pick any piece from the pile, without seeing the name on it, and Liu picked his own name by chance. Liu Bang looked at Xiao He and wanted to decline again. Xiao He immediately grabbed the remaining pieces of paper, put them into his mouth and chewed them to shreds, after which he proclaimed Liu Bang as their leader. Liu Bang became known as the "Duke of Pei" and built his rebel army in Pei County, with Xiao He and his friends supporting him. Liu Bang learnt from Xiao He later that actually all the ten pieces of paper contained his name, and Xiao had deliberately tampered with the system to help him.

In 206 BC, the Qin dynasty collapsed after the last Qin ruler, Ziying, surrendered to Liu Bang. Liu Bang's army occupied the Qin capital Xianyang. Upon entering the Epang Palace, Liu Bang and most of his men seized treasures and women for themselves, while Xiao He rushed to the chancellor's office and ordered it to be heavily guarded. Xiao He then brought a few men with him to collect all official documents in the office and bring them out safely. Xiao He later explained that the documents were more valuable than riches and women, because they contained crucial information about the Qin Empire and would be useful in intelligence.

Chu–Han Contention

Recommending Han Xin

Liu Bang was forced to retreat from Xianyang later as Xiang Yu's army arrived and occupied the city. After plundering Xianyang and destroying the palace, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Liu Bang received the title of "King of Han" and was relocated to the remote Bashu region (in present-day Sichuan), with Xiao He and his followers accompanying him. Liu Bang was unhappy and wanted to attack Xiang Yu because the land of Guanzhong rightfully belonged to him, according to an earlier promise by Emperor Yi of Chu, but was granted by Xiang to three surrendered Qin generals instead. However, Xiao He and others managed to persuade Liu Bang to temporarily remain in Bashu and build up his forces in preparation for a battle for supremacy with Xiang Yu later. Xiao He was appointed by Liu Bang as the chancellor of the Han kingdom.

During that time, Xiao He met Han Xin, who had recently joined Liu Bang's army and was serving as a low-ranking soldier, and recognised Han Xin's brilliance in military strategy. Not long later, many of Liu Bang's men deserted as they were unable to cope with living in remote Bashu, and Han Xin also left as he was disappointed because he felt his talent would go to waste in Liu Bang's camp. When Xiao He learnt that Han Xin had left, he immediately rushed to find Han and bring him back, without managing to inform Liu Bang in time. Xiao He caught up with Han Xin after trailing him for a few days, even at night, and succeeded in persuading Han to return. Meanwhile, Liu Bang thought that Xiao He had also deserted him and was shocked, but was relieved when he saw Xiao returning with Han Xin days later. Liu Bang asked Xiao He, "Of all those who deserted, why did you choose to bring back Han Xin only?" Xiao He then strongly recommended Han Xin to Liu Bang, saying that Han's talent was unmatched. Liu Bang heeded Xiao He's suggestion and appointed Han Xin as Grand Marshal commanding the Han armies.

Conquest of the Three Qin

In 206 BC, Liu Bang conquered the Three Qins and left Xiao He in charge of Guanzhong and Bashu, while he led his army eastward to attack Xiang Yu's Western Chu kingdom. Xiao He governed those territories effectively and provided support to Liu Bang's army at the warfront in the form of supplies, provisions and reinforcements. While in Guanzhong, Xiao He restored peace and order by implementing a new system of governance and reconstructing destroyed buildings. Under the new system, taxes were readjusted to reduce the burden on the poor; land that used to belong to the Qin aristocracy was redistributed to peasants, in order to increase agricultural output; capable and respectable men were selected from among commoners to assist government officials in administration.

Battle of Gaixia

Liu Bang eventually defeated Xiang Yu at the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC and unified China under his rule. He was proclaimed "Emperor" and became historically known as "Emperor Gaozu of Han". The following year, when Gaozu rewarded his subjects according to their contributions, Xiao He received the title of "Marquis of Zan" (酇侯) in addition to his appointment as chancellor. Besides, Gaozu also granted Xiao He a rare special privilege: Xiao was allowed to enter the imperial court carrying a sword and with his shoes on, and not required to walk in briskly while others had to.

In service during the Western Han dynasty

In 201 BC, Emperor Gaozu wanted to build his capital in Luoyang but Zhang Liang suggested Xianyang instead, because it was surrounded by natural defences such as mountain passes, and had fertile land for agriculture. Gaozu put Xiao He in charge of the constructions in Xianyang. Two years later, the project was completed and Xiao He took Gaozu on a tour of Xianyang. The new palace was called Weiyang Palace and served as the central imperial palace throughout the Western Han dynasty and Xin dynasty. Gaozu also renamed Xianyang to "Chang'an", which meant "long-lasting peace".

Role in Han Xins downfall

In 196 BC, while Gaozu was away on a military campaign to suppress a rebellion by Chen Xi, one of Han Xin's servants reported to Empress Lü Zhi that his master was involved in a conspiracy with Chen Xi and was planning a coup in Chang'an. Empress Lü approached Xiao He for help and they formulated a plan to lure Han Xin into a trap. Xiao He had an imperial edict sent to Han Xin, announcing news of Gaozu's victory over Chen Xi, asking Han to meet the emperor and offer his congratulations. As soon as Han Xin arrived in Changle Palace, he was arrested and executed in a torturous manner for alleged treason.

Later life and death

In 195 BC, Xiao He saw that Chang'an was becoming more congested and the imperial garden was full of uncultivated land, hence he suggested to Gaozu to carve out parts of the garden and grant them to peasants as farmland. Gaozu was unhappy and accused Xiao He of accepting bribes and dishonouring imperial authority. Xiao He was arrested and imprisoned, but was released later after Gaozu was convinced that Xiao He had the people's interests at heart. Gaozu summoned Xiao He to see him and he said with jest and embarrassment, "The chancellor was asking for the fields in the imperial garden out of interest for the people, but I did not approve. This showed that I'm only like Jie and Zhou (Emperors of the Xia and Shang dynasties), and that you're the most understanding chancellor. Therefore, I intentionally imprisoned you to show the people that I'm a tyrant."

After the death of Gaozu, Xiao He continued serving Gaozu's successor Emperor Hui as chancellor until he died in 193 BC. Before his death, Xiao He recommended Cao Shen to succeed him. Cao Shen inherited the system of governance left behind by Xiao He and maintained it well but did not implement any new changes.

Descendants

Xiao He's great-grandson, Xiao Biao (萧彪), moved to Lanling (near present-day Zaozhuang, Shandong) and led a reclusive life there.

Two of his descendants would later found imperial dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties period. Xiao Daocheng would found the Southern Qi, while his distant cousin Xiao Yan would found the subsequent Liang dynasty.

Legacy

Some Chinese idioms and sayings originated from the events in Xiao He's life and are listed as follows:

• Xiao He chases Han Xin under the moonlight: Originated from the event where Xiao trailed Han Xin for a few days, even at night, in order to catch up with the latter and bring him back to Liu Bang. It is used to describe an urgent situation in which action has to be taken immediately without notification.

• Success is due to Xiao He, downfall is also due to Xiao He (成也萧何 败也萧何 Hangul: 성야소하 폐야소하): Xiao He helped Han Xin become a general, which enabled Han to put his talent to good use. However, Xiao also played an important role in Han's death. It is used to describe a situation where one's success and failure are both due to the same factor.

• Cao following Xiao's rules (萧规曹随): Cao Shen, Xiao He's successor as chancellor, inherited the system of governance left behind by Xiao and maintained it well but did not implement any new changes. It is used to describe the continuation of the work of one's predecessor.

Modern references

Xiao He is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei. He also appears as a non-playable character in the action RPG Prince of Qin.