Battle of Wei River

Battle of Wei River

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Wei River

caption=
battle_name=
partof=the Chu-Han contention
date=204 BC
place=Weifang, Shandong
result=Han victory
combatant1=Principality of Han
combatant2=State of Qi, Western Chu
commander1=Han Xin
commander2=Tian Guang, Long Qie
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=
The Battle of Wei River (濰水之戰) was fought in 204 BC between the Han and a combined force of Qi and Western Chu. The famous general Han Xin led the Han force, while the Qi were led by Prince Tian Guang (田廣), and the Chu were led by Long Qie (龍且). It was one of the most important battles of the Chu-Han Contention.

In 205 BC, Han Xin had captured most of the modern Hebei and Shanxi provinces, the principalities of Zhao, and Dai, and was starting to march on the principality of Qi. At this time, Prince Tian Guang, persuaded by noted diplomat Li Yiji (酈食其), had decided to acknowledge the leadership of Han and its king Liu Bang. However, Liu Bang did not officially notify Han Xin of this fact. Ignorant of Prince Tian Guang's intentions Han Xin decided to launch a surprise attack against Qi, under the counsel of Kuai Che (蒯徹). Tian Guang's forces were completely surprised. Tian Guang fled and sought assistance from King Xiang Yu of Western Chu, pledging fealty. Xiang Yu sent a strong expeditionary force, including some elite cavalry, under Long Qie to relieve Qi.

Han Xin knew that Long, noted for his personal bravery and fighting prowess, was too arrogant. The night before the battle, he set a trap for Long by building a makeshift dam with sandbags to lower the water level in the Wei river. Long was counseled to fight a slow battle of attrition since he had forces to spare (the force ratio is about 1:3 in favour of Chu). Long declined, believing he had overwhelming forces. Long also believed Han Xin was a coward, as a result of an incident when Han Xin served in the Chu forces. In this well-known incident, Han Xin crawled between the legs of some hooligan to avoid conflict when he was outnumbered.

The next morning, Han Xin marched across the lowered river and attacked Long's forces. Then made a strategic retreat, tricking Long into charging his army across the river. When about one quarter of the Chu army had crossed, Han signalled for his men to open the dam. This succeeded both in drowning many of the Chu soldiers, and isolating Long Qie with only a fraction of his force. Cut off by the river, Long Qie had nowhere to go and was cut down in battle. The rest of the Chu army disintegrated when Han Xin continued to press his attack. Prince Tian Guang fled and was eventually caught and killed.

This battle was strategically significant because it cost Xiang Yu between half and a third of his forces, including many veterans, depleted Chu of important reserves and prevented any future possibility of Xiang Yu fighting successfully on two fronts. Eventually, Xiang Yu was deprived of elbow room and lost the war.

It was worth noting that Xiang Yu, for some reason, did not lead the Chu army into battle himself, when fighting against the by then well-known Han Xin.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Battle of Han River — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Han River partof=wars of the Three Kingdoms caption= date=219 place=Hanzhong, Shaanxi casus territory= result=Liu Bei victory combatant1=Liu Bei combatant2=Cao Cao commander1=Zhao Yun commander2=Cao… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Jingxing — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Jingxing caption= partof=the Chu Han contention date=204 BC place= Jingxing Pass, Hebei result= Decisive Han victory combatant1=Principality of Han combatant2=Kingdom of Zhao commander1=Han Xin… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Didao — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Didao partof= of the Three Kingdoms caption= date=July, 255 to September 25, 255 place=Western China casus= territory= result=Cao Wei pyrrhic victory combatant1=Cao Wei combatant2=Shu Han… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Canhe Slope — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Canhe Slope partof= caption= date= December 8, 395 [http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ftms bin/kiwi1/luso.sh?lstype=2 dyna=%AAF%AE%CA king=%A7%B5%AAZ%AB%D2 reign=%A4%D3%A4%B8 yy=20 ycanzi= mm=11 dd=… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of the Yalu River (1894) — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Yalu River (1894) caption=The French built Matsushima , flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, during the battle of the Yalu River partof=the First Sino Japanese War date=September 17, 1894… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Wuzhang Plains — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Wuzhang Plains partof=the Fifth Northern Expedition of Shu of the Three Kingdoms caption= date=April 234 Autumn 234 place=Wuzhang Plains, Shaanxi casus= territory= result=Inconclusive; Shu retreats… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Tong Pass — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Tong Pass partof=the wars of the Three Kingdoms caption= date=March ndash; September 211 place=Tongguan, Shaanxi casus= territory= result=Decisive Cao Cao victory combatant1=Cao Cao… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Hefei — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Hefei partof=the Three Kingdoms period caption= date= (First battle)December 208 209 AD (Second battle)August 215 217 AD (Third battle)December 233 AD (Fourth battle)June July 234 AD (Fifth… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Xingshi — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Xingshi partof=the Three Kingdoms period caption= date=244 place=Xingshi Mountain, Shaanxi casus= territory= result=Shu Han victory combatant1=Cao Wei combatant2=Shu Han commander1=Cao Shuang, Xiahou… …   Wikipedia

  • Wei — /way/, n. any of several dynasties that ruled in North China, esp. one ruling A.D. 220 265 and one ruling A.D. 386 534. * * * (as used in expressions) wei ch i Jiang Wei K ang Yu wei Northern Wei dynasty Northern Wei sculpture Wang Ching wei Wei… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”