Zang Tu was originally a military general serving under Han Guang, the king of the Yan state.
Around 207 BC, when rebellions broke out all over China to overthrow the Qin dynasty, Zang Tu was sent to lead an army to assist rebel forces from the insurgent Zhao state, which were under attack by a Qin army led by Zhang Han.
Part of the former Yan kingdom was granted to Han Guang, who was appointed by Xiang Yu as the King of Liaodong.
As a result, Zang Tu attacked Han Guang and killed him at Wuzhong, thereby becoming king of a united Yan kingdom.
Later that year in c.August,[2] Zang Tu rebelled against the Han Empire, invading and capturing territory in the Dai kingdom.