Chen Sheng was a native of Yangcheng, bearing the courtesy name She. Wu Guang was a native of Yangxia, with the courtesy name Shu. In his youth, Chen She had worked as a hired laborer in the fields of others. One day he stopped his work and sat on a ridge, gazing into the distance with a bitter sigh. After a long silence, he said to his fellow laborers, "If I should ever rise to wealth or honor, I will not forget the likes of you." The laborers only laughed in response. "You toil in another man's fields," they said. "How could you ever rise to wealth?" Chen She sighed deeply and declared, "Alas! How could a swallow comprehend the ambitions of a swan?"
In the seventh month of the second year of the Second Emperor, an order arrived to conscript nine hundred men from the households near the village gates for garrison duty at Yuyang. Both Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were selected for this contingent, serving as squad leaders. Heavy rains fell, rendering the roads impassable. By their reckoning, they had already missed their deadline. Under the law, failure to arrive on time was punishable by death.
Chen Sheng and Wu Guang consulted together: "Flee, and we die. Rebel, and we also die. Since death is certain either way, why not die for something meaningful?" Chen Sheng pressed on: "The realm has suffered under Qin long enough. I have heard that the Second Emperor, as the younger son, had no right to the throne—the rightful heir was Prince Fusu. Fusu was sent to serve as a general beyond the frontier because he repeatedly remonstrated with his father. Word has now spread that Fusu was executed unjustly. The common people have long revered Fusu for his virtue, yet most do not know he is dead. Xiang Yan was a general of Chu who performed many meritorious deeds and loved his soldiers, winning the deep affection of the Chu people. Some believe he died in battle; others believe he escaped. If we now boldly declare that our forces represent Prince Fusu and Xiang Yan, and raise this banner to rally the realm, surely many will answer our call."
Wu Guang agreed. They went to consult a diviner, who understood their purpose. "Your enterprise shall succeed," he said, "and you shall achieve great merit. But have you considered consulting the spirits?" Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were delighted by this cryptic suggestion. "The spirits are teaching us to first impress the people!"
They wrote the message in cinnabar on a strip of silk—"Chen Sheng shall be king"—and hid it inside a fish that had been caught in a net. When the soldiers prepared the fish for cooking, they discovered the silk within, and were struck with awe at this omen.
Chen Sheng also secretly ordered Wu Guang to visit the shrine beside the soldiers' camp one night. There he built a fire and, mimicking a fox's cry, called out: "Great Chu shall rise! Chen Sheng shall be king!" The soldiers were seized with terror throughout the night. By morning, whispers about Chen Sheng had spread everywhere among the men, and everyone pointed and stared at him in secret.
Wu Guang had always been kind to others, and many soldiers were devoted to him. One day, when the officer in charge was drunk, Wu Guang deliberately kept speaking of desertion—enough to provoke the officer's anger—until the officer humiliated him publicly, hoping to enrage the other soldiers. As expected, the officer caned Wu Guang. Then, as the officer drew his sword, Wu Guang rose up, seized the blade, and killed him. Chen Sheng came to his aid, and together they killed both officers.
Chen Sheng then addressed the assembled men: "Gentlemen, you were held up by the rains and all missed the deadline. Those who miss the deadline face execution. Even if some escape the blade, six or seven out of every ten will still die on garrison duty. A true hero either dies in silence or, dying, wins great fame! Are kings, lords, generals, and ministers born to their positions?"
All answered, "We obey your command."