本书主要讲述了西汉王朝的建立和发展，包括斩蛇起义、智过鸿门宴、汉中蓄势、彭城之战、四面楚歌、刘邦建国，以及后来的吕后纂权、文帝即位以及抗击匈奴和削藩之策等。（This book mainly describes the establishment and development of the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – A.D. 9), including uprising after killing a snake, wit battle at a dinner at Hongmen, accumulating power in Hanzhong, Pengcheng battle, being besieged on all sides, founding a state by Liu Bang, later seizing power by Queen Lv, Emperor Wen's enthronement, fight against Xiongnu, and policy for cutting the power of leaders of local independent states.）