The Great Battle Of The Deer - The Battle That Earned Hang Vu'S Name As An Invincible War God

Western Chu's overlord Xiang Yu rose to fame in a single battle. Bearing blood debts, he led Chu and coalition forces to crush Wang Li's 200,000 troops at Julu, achieving an unprecedented feat with military tactics far ahead of his time, forever etching his name in history as a legendary warrior in an endless epic. Fate favored his rise, empire's fall and rise, as is the way of history. Over 2,000 years ago, as the Zhou fell, the feudal system reached its end. The realm fractured, sparking the centuries-long era of the Seven Warring States. Order returned through the unification by Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng. China's first emperor emerged, but his joy was short-lived. Blinded by his feudal obsession with immortality, the people suffered under heavy taxes to build palaces and the Great Wall. When the tyrant suddenly met his end, with him dead, Zhao Gao and Li Si altered the imperial decree, replacing the heir Fusu with the younger son, Qin Ershu. Qin Ershu took the throne, lacking his father's talent. Yet his cruelty surpassed even that of his predecessor. Guided by Zhao Gao, he abandoned his state duties. The court fell under the eunuch's total manipulation. Loyal pillars of the state were systematically purged by the king. With the people weeping, the six fallen kingdoms rose in rebellion, plunging the vast Qin Empire into endless chaos. The legacy Qin Shi Huang built was about to be ruined by his own son. No mention of the anti-Qin uprising is complete without Chen Xing and Wu Guang. The pair raised the banner of rebellion at Deishu, in Shu territory. Chen Xing declared himself king, prompting lords of Zhao, Yan, Han, Wei, and Qi to restore their kingdoms. Hearing of the widespread revolt, the tyrant Qin Ershu was forced to deploy Zhang Han. Records indicate that at the time, Qin forces could provide Zhang Han with a massive army. Yet due to Zhao Gao's slanders, Zhang Han's troops were overwhelmed by the rebels. Zhang Han was forced to recruit prisoners, pardoning their crimes to fight the rebels. Despite leading such a ragtag force, in the winter of 208 BC, Zhang Han managed to suppress almost every insurgent uprising. Upon learning of Chen Xing's death, Xiang Liang and Xiang Yu, who had joined the uprising in his name, knew the time for the Xiang clan to rise had finally come. Guided by the strategist Fan Zeng, the uncle and nephew understood that Chen Xing failed because he lacked the mandate of the people. He used the name of Chu to secure his position, but failed to restore the Chu nobility to the throne, crowning himself instead, an act of disloyalty and injustice. How could one so disloyal and unjust ever win the people's support? Xiang Liang was himself a noble of the Chu state. He also raised his banner in the name of restoring Chu. To succeed, they needed a true king of Chu. Xiang Liang ordered his men to search everywhere for a Chu descendant, ignoring the immense hardships and thousands of miles of travel. Finally, fate smiled upon the Xiang family. They found a shepherd named Mi Xian, a distant descendant of the Chu kings. Xiang Liang used this to mobilize his forces to aid the feudal lords. But after securing two early victories against Zhang Han, he grew arrogant and reckless, a sure path to defeat. Seizing on Xiang Liang's lax discipline and overconfidence, Zhang Han set an ambush and slew him at Dingtao. With their commander dead, the Chu army was leaderless, panicked, and scattered. Having crushed the main Chu force, Zhang Han marched across the Yellow River to strike Zhao. The Qin army surged forward with unstoppable momentum, soon reaching Handan. The two Zhao generals, Zhang Er and Qin Yu, unable to resist, fled to Julu. Upon hearing this, Zhang Han pursued and besieged the city. The Zhao troops fled once more, finally retreating to hold their ground at Julu. With Julu hanging by a thread, with Mi Xian crowned King Huai, news reached him of Xiang Liang's fall at Dingtao. Though facing a crisis, the weak king was paralyzed by fear. Blindly terrified by the Qin, he issued desperate, incoherent orders. He recalled the scattered Chu forces to defend Pengcheng. The entire Chu army was forced to retreat and regroup at Pengcheng. Among them were the forces of Xiang Yu, nephew of Xiang Liang, and Lu Bang. As the Chu forces gathered, an urgent plea for help arrived from Zhao. King Huai of Chu ordered a strike on Qin, declaring to all coalition lords. Whoever enters Guangzhou first shall be crowned its king. On his minister's advice, the king named Lu Bang Marquis of Pei to lead the western campaign. Xiang Yu was named Marquis of Lu, serving as deputy under Song Yi to relieve Julu. The coalition marched toward Julu, the stage for an earth-shattering battle was set. The battle of Julu would signal the collapse of the mighty Qin. As the coalition gathered, Zhang Han learned of the massive force threatening his army of convicts. With the king of Zhao and Zhang Er trapped in Julu, Wang Li's troops formed an impenetrable siege. Zhang Han fortified his position south of Julu, building a supply route to the Yellow River. This blocked the coalition's advance while securing supplies for the tightening siege. The Qin's airtight formation left Julu on the verge of collapse before reinforcements could arrive. Qin Yu, having avoided the siege, went north for help, but gathered only a meager force. Seeing the formidable Qin, his troops were terrified and dared not engage, waiting for the coalition to arrive. Wang Li and Zhang Han held a massive force, with ample supplies and strong coordination to tighten the siege. The Qin grew stronger with every clash, while supplies inside Julu dwindled by the day. Countless soldiers perished, and cries of despair filled the doomed city. Seeing morale collapse and rations run out, Zhang Er sent messengers to seek aid from Qin Yu nearby. Qin Yu wanted to help, but faced with the overwhelming might of the Qin, he felt powerless to act. Zhang Er's messenger arrived and relayed his bitter reproaches to Qin Yu. Qin Yu and Zhang Er were brothers in arms, so despite knowing the risk, he felt compelled to act. He sent 5,000 men to aid Julu, but they were inevitably slaughtered by the Qin forces. Other coalition forces joined Qin Yu, but terrified, they remained in their camps, refusing to engage. With Zhang Han and Wang Li holding the initiative, Julu was on the brink of total annihilation. Amid this crisis, the Chu army under Song Yi reached Anyang, idling for 46 days instead of advancing. The Zhao envoys pleaded for aid, but Song Yi remained unmoved, waiting for an unknown purpose. Xiang Yu, fueled by vengeance for his uncle and hatred for the Qin, urged Song Yi to advance. But Song Yi only replied, a wild beast cannot be subdued by brute force alone. Let the Qin exhaust themselves against Zhao, then we shall strike at their weakest moment. If Qin fails, we march west and surely conquer the Qin state. Therefore, it is best to let the Qin and Zhao destroy each other first. In wielding blades and wearing armor, I may not be your equal, General. But in devising strategy, you are certainly not mine. To suppress Xiang Yu's ambition, Song Yi issued a strict order throughout the ranks. Execute any who are fierce as tigers, stubborn as goats, or greedy as wolves, and refuse to obey. Song Yi sent his son to Qi as a commander, feasting daily while the military crisis worsened. Xiang Yu, long disgusted, saw his starving troops desperate in the rain, he resolved to seize command and save Julu. At dawn, Xiang Yu entered the tent under pretext, slew Song Yi, and displayed his head to the troops. Claiming Song Yi plotted treason, he secured his command, terrified the generals, and marched to save Julu. With Song Yi dead, Xiang Yu's prestige soared across the land of Qiu. Every warlord who heard his name held him in awe. The Qiu forces reached Julu, joining the coalition to assault the Qin defensive lines. Their morale reached the heavens, like tigers descending from the mountains. They swept forth like a gale, determined to crush the brutal Qin. Xiang Yu led his army across the Yellow River and ordered the boats to be sunk. They smashed their cooking pots and carried only three days' rations to show their resolve to die. There was no turning back, they sought survival only through certain death. Such was the brilliance of Xiang Yu's art of war. Xiang Yu pressed the attack, surrounded Wang Li, and won nine consecutive victories against the Qin. He severed the vital supply lines between Zhang Han and Wang Li. The influence of the Qiu army eclipsed all other coalition forces. The coalition armies arrived to relieve Julu, setting up over ten camps nearby. Yet before Xiang Yu arrived, none dared to engage the Qin forces. When Qiu finally fought, the coalition generals could only watch from their walls. Each Qiu soldier fought as if ten men stood against him. The Qiu war cries shook the heavens, striking fear into all the coalition forces. Qiu surged ahead, Xiang Yu's sheer ferocity leading the enemy trembling. After nine consecutive victories, Xiang Yu crushed the Qin and captured Wang Li. Julu was liberated, Xiang Yu had pulled the Zhao army back from death's door. The Zhao king and Zhang heir emerged to endlessly thank Xiang Yu and the coalition. Xiang Yu's name now echoed with unmatched prestige across the central plains. Julu was more than a rescue, it was definitive proof that the coalition forces could crush the Qin armies of Zhang Han and Wang Li. The Qin, once dominant, were now demoralized and crippled by terror. In stark contrast, the coalition, emboldened by Xiang Yu and his Qiu forces, now held the power to sweep the Qin from every front. The victory at Julu threw wide the gates to topple the Qin and satisfy his quest for vengeance. Victorious, he defeated Zhang Han twice more at Sanhu and the Yu river, forcing his surrender. The Qin's greatest commander defected, leaving the empire with no one left to defend it. All coalition armies, including Lu Bang's, marched into Guangzhou virtually unopposed. The Qin fell shortly after, though Xiang Yu entered after Lu Bang, he was the true architect of its demise. History will forever honor him as the unconquered commander who broke the Qin's iron yoke. We have explored the battle of Julu, the defining triumph of the overlord Xiang Yu. What are your thoughts on the legend of Lu Bang?