During the Chu–Han Contention, Liu Bang was granted the title of King of Han by Xiang Yu.

He was sent to govern the remote and isolated region of Hanzhong.

After arriving in Hanzhong, Liu Bang followed the advice of his advisers and ordered the destruction of all the plank roads connecting the region with the outside world.

This move was intended to deceive Xiang Yu and make him believe that Liu Bang had accepted his fate and would remain in Hanzhong without any intention of moving eastward.

Seeing this, Xiang Yu lowered his guard.

Later, Liu Bang appointed Han Xin as his supreme military commander.

Han Xin proposed a bold plan to launch an eastern campaign and regain control of the central plains.

To mislead the enemy, he ordered his troops to publicly begin rebuilding the destroyed plank roads with great fanfare.

The enemy assumed that the Han army would attack through these repaired roads.

However, repairing the plank roads was merely a diversion.