The Battle Of Backwater - The Battle Of Han Xin'S Destruction Of Zhao

Welcome to Battlecry's Chinese History Series. This is our latest project here at Battlecry. We explore and share our passion for the history of our northern neighbor. I believe to defeat an enemy, you must truly understand them. So, join us as we dive into their history. Welcome back to Battlecry's Chinese History Series. Han Exian was renowned for his unorthodox and daring military tactics. Every battle he commanded was a masterpiece of strategic brilliance. Yet, one battle remains legendary, his defeat of Zhao's 200,000 men with only 30,000. The Battle of Jingxing, which shocked the entire Central Plains. What strategy did Han Exian use to achieve this historic victory? Let Battlecry help you find the answer in this video. Conquering Dai and Challenging Zhao. Han Exian defeated Wei, securing the Han flank. But north of the Yellow River, states like Dai, Zhao, Yan, and Qi. Remained powerful, allied with Chu against Han. The Han army faced a difficult front line. Xingyang had fallen twice, and Lu Bang even considered abandoning it. Han Exian proposed a northern campaign to strike Zhao, Dai, Yan, and Qi, cutting off Chu's supply lines. Conquering these states would create a pincer attack against Chu. This was the first time in Chinese history a strategy combined frontline defense with flanking maneuvers. Lu Bang couldn't fully grasp the brilliance, but because of Han Exian's track record. His immense influence allowed him to approve a campaign against Dai and Zhao. Still, Lu Bang doubted Han Exian's loyalty and wanted him under watch. He converted Wei into Hedong commandery and appointed Zhang Er to oversee him. In reality, it was to keep Han Exian under Zhang Er's constant watch. Zhang Er had a bitter history with Zhao, specifically a deep grudge against its chancellor, Qin Yu. Originally, Qin Yu and Zhang Er were renowned scholars of Wei during the Warring States period. When the Qin Empire conquered Wei, both men were fiercely hunted down. Qin offered a bounty of a thousand gold pieces for Zhang Er and five hundred for Qin Yu. They fled together, dying to live or die side by side. The two were as close as brothers when they joined Qin Shing's uprising. After Qin Shing's defeat, they fled to the land of Zhao. Helping a general named Wu Qin declare himself king of Zhao, with Qin Yu as general and Zhang Er as chancellor. Later, Wu Qin suffered a crushing defeat against Yan and lost significant territory before negotiating peace. Realizing Wu Qin lacked royal blood, Qin Yu and Zhang Er knew the people were losing faith. They conspired to depose him and crown Zhao Xia, a legitimate royal descendant of Zhao. When Zhao was besieged at Julu, Qin Yu and Zhang Er had a major falling out. Zhang Er stripped Qin Yu of all military command, sowing the seeds of their enmity. When Xiang Yu divided the lands, he appointed Zhang Er as the prince of Changshan, ruling from Xindu, while Qin Yu and King Zhao were only given small feasts near Nampi. This biased division by Xiang Yu fueled Qin Yu's hatred, making their conflict irreparable. When Tianrong rebelled, Xiang Yu marched to suppress him, and Zhang Er was forced to assist. Qin Yu used a ruse to mobilize his forces, attacking and seizing the land of Zhao. Zhang Er returned to defend his territory but was defeated, fleeing to seek refuge with Lu Bang. After his victory, Qin Yu restored the title of king of Zhao to Zhao Xia. Grateful, the king made Qin Yu the prince of Dai to oversee the region. Believing Zhao was too unstable, Qin Yu stayed as chancellor and sent his subordinate, Xia Yu, to rule Dai. When Lu Bang rallied the lords against Xiang Yu, Qin Yu demanded Zhang Er's head as a condition for his support. Wanting both their support and Zhang Er's service, Lu Bang tricked Qin Yu with a decapitated lookalike. Qin Yu fell for the trick, allowing the coalition to strike Pengqing. But soon, Qin Yu realized the deception and Plotting with Xiang Yu and becoming a thorn in the Han side. At the time, Dai and Zhao were effectively one state. Zhao was militarily superior and far more powerful. To ensure victory, Han Exian chose to strike Dai first, before concentrating his forces against Zhao. Dai was weak, as most of its troops were sent to Zhao, leaving them unable to In one battle, Han Exian crushed Dai and captured Xia Yu. Dai fell before Zhao could even send reinforcements. The first phase of the campaign against Zhao was a success. Defeating Dai served as a warning to Zhao. The real war had only just begun. After securing Dai, Han Exian planned an immediate attack on Zhao. But fearing Zhao's might and defeat at Xingyang, Lu Bang preferred to Lu Bang ordered Chao Can to reinforce Xingyang and commanded Han Exian to hold his position and retreat from Dai. Seeing victory within reach, Han Exian persisted and petitioned Lu Bang to let him fight. With Han Exian's track record and Chao Can's successful reinforcement, Lu Bang finally authorized the Zhao campaign. A win would make the Han unstoppable, a loss would be the Calculating the risks, Lu Bang stood to gain. He left Han Exian with only 30,000 men to face Qin Yu's 200,000. Yet Lu Bang's hesitation cost them the element of surprise. Zhao had fortified Jingxing Pass, and with seven times the troops, the odds against Han were immense. The territory Zhao held was highly defensible, with the formidable Taihang Mountains acting as a natural fortress. The only route into Zhao was Jingxing Pass, one of the eight narrow gateways of the Taihang Range. It was a deep gorge between towering cliffs, too narrow for carriages or horses to pass side by side, a single defender could hold off an entire army. The pass is so narrow that the army must march in a single line, unable to support one another. That is why Jingxing is known as a place where one defender can hold back 10,000. A small force holding the exit could easily block any attempt to enter Zhao territory. Furthermore, a raging river cuts across the exit of the pass. It means that once inside Zhao, retreating back through the pass is nearly impossible. The Zhao defense at Jingxing is an iron wall, seemingly impenetrable. With their massive numerical advantage, the terrain favors Zhao entirely. The situation for the Han forces has never been more dire. Yet, the arrogant Qin Yu decides to abandon standard military tactics. He wants to crush the Han army in one blow and sets his trap in motion. Instead of defending the pass, he moves his 200,000 men behind it, waiting to strike as soon as the Han army emerges. By then, the Han forces would be trapped with no way out, facing the Zhao army in front and a narrow bottleneck behind. Exhausted, they would surely face total defeat. However, the grand plan that Qin Yu obsessed over was dissected by Li Zuecha, grandson of the great general Li Mu, who pointed out its fatal flaws. Li Zuecha warned that Han Xi'an is coming off a string of victories, and his momentum is currently unstoppable. In a direct confrontation, Han morale will surely overwhelm Zhao. But since the Han army has traveled from afar, targeting their supply lines would be far more effective. That, he argued, is the Han army's greatest weakness. The Jingxing Pass is too narrow, forcing their supply lines to trail far behind. If you block the narrow path and cut their supplies while waiting for the Han army to pass Jingxing and defend the pass to prevent retreat, the Han will be trapped, unable to advance into Zhao or return home. Within 10 days, the Han army will collapse without a fight. Yet, Qin Yu is too arrogant to listen, dismissing Li Zuecha's warning entirely. Across the line, Han Xi'an learned of these plans and immediately mobilized his forces. Under his command, the Han army split into three and formed a U-shape. He sent 2,000 light cavalry with red flags to secretly ambush the Zhao camp. Another 10,000 stood with their backs to the river, beating drums to lure the Zhao out. The remaining troops served as the vanguard to provoke the enemy at the pass. That night, the cavalry moved out. Han Xi'an told his men to eat quickly, promising a feast after victory. The men were stunned. With only 30,000, how could they defeat 200,000 Zhao troops? And a victory feast? Surely, their general was dreaming. Han Xi'an ignored their doubts and skeptical stares. He led 10,000 to the river, initiating the famous battle with backs to the river. He knew Qin Yu wanted a total victory and wouldn't attack until he saw the full Han force. Just as expected, the 10,000 troops took their positions perfectly. At dawn, seeing the Han lineup with their backs to the water, Qin Yu mocked Han Xi'an for knowing nothing of warfare and marching to his death. He grew overconfident, ignoring the Han vanguard and neglecting to guard his flanks entirely. The Zhao army surged forward, intent on crushing the Han with overwhelming force. After a brief clash, Han Xi'an feigned defeat, abandoning drums and banners along the road. Qin Yu saw this as certain victory and ordered his entire camp to attack and capture Han Xi'an. Even the garrison at Jingxing abandoned their posts to join the pursuit. With the Jingxing garrison gone, Qin Yu fell for the ruse. Han's 2,000 cavalry stormed the camp, replacing the Zhao flags with the Han banner. Meanwhile, Han Xi'an led the main force against the 200,000-strong Zhao army. With the river at their backs, the Han troops had no path to retreat. They had to fight to the death to survive. Finding sudden resolve, the Han troops surged forward with desperate ferocity. Their morale soared, every man fought like a hundred. The Zhao were terrified by such unprecedented aggression. Many cast aside their weapons and fled. This was the tactical brilliance Han Xi'an had anticipated. Standard doctrine says that having a river at your back is a death trap. Yet, Han Xi'an turned this disadvantage into a tactic, forcing his men to fight for survival. The brutal stalemate left the battlefield soaked in blood. As the Zhao wavered, the Han pressed on, forcing Qin Yu to retreat and regroup. But turning back, they saw the Han banners flying over their own camp. Believing it captured, panic seized the Zhao army, their ranks collapsed. Han Xi'an's main force, waiting by the river, launched a crushing counterattack. Caught in a pincer, the Zhao army was utterly defeated. Qin Yu fled in chaos, having stayed hidden throughout the battle. Zhang Yeh pursued, intent on both vengeance and total victory. Cornered, Qin Yu was left with only a few loyal guards. The Han surrounded and killed him, finally settling Zhang Yeh's old score. Han Xi'an captured Li Zuecha and the Zhao king soon after. With Zhao subdued, the path to unification became clearer than ever. Thus concluded the Battle of Jingxing, Han Xi'an's greatest military masterpiece.