How did Han Shin reverse the decline of the defeat of the giant deer? In just a few years, he rose from a losing general of the Zhao State to a feared prime minister of the Han Dynasty. Among them, how many exquisite military strategies and tricks are hidden, and how many grievances and blood feuds are involved?
In the years of the uprising at the end of the Qin Dynasty, Han Xin and Zhang Er were called "Zhao Kuo", and the two joined hands to support the restoration of Zhao Wangxie. Originally, they had a close relationship, like close friends.
However, Zhang Er chose to join Xiang Yu at the beginning, and Han Xin worked for Liu Bang, and their friendship changed a lot because of this. Zhang Er found that Liu Bang's power was growing day by day, so he turned his back to obedience, which Han Xin deeply admired.
After that, Zhao Xie was trapped in Julu, and Han Xin failed to rescue him in time, but instead competed with Zhang Er for military power, and the two became enemies ever since. Zhang Er fled to Xiang Yu and was named King of Changshan, while Han Xin dominated the Zhao land.
Friendship is fleeting, and what was once intimate is now incompatible.
In 205 BC, Xiang Yu divided the princes of the world, and Han Xin was only awarded a small city of Nanpi. Han Xin was dissatisfied with this and resisted Xiang Yu, but ended up being defeated and trapped.
In this battle, he lost Nanpi and the power of Zhao Di, and became a loser who fled abroad. His men left him, leaving him in trouble. Han's confidence was full of contradictions, he was both indignant at Xiang Yu's suppression and bitter at Zhang Er's betrayal.
Although he had fully supported Liu Bang at the beginning, there was a relationship of interest between them after all, so now he is taking refuge in Liu Bang, and he will inevitably feel a little awkward in his heart. Just when he was in trouble, Liu Bang's edict flew into his hands.
After reading the letter, Han Xin was overjoyed, because he realized that this was the opportunity he had dreamed of—Liu Bang urgently needed a member of the fierce future to take control of the northern frontier. When Han Xin defected to Liu Bang alone, no one would have thought that only three years later, he would successfully turn things around and wash away his shame with an earth-shattering battle!
In September 205 BC, the Han army greatly increased in strength after defeating Wei Bao and pacifying the Three Jins. At this time, Han Xin, the prime minister of Zuo, proposed a bold plan to Liu Bang, he asked for an additional 30,000 troops, divided the troops into four routes, went north to capture Yan Zhao, attacked Qi to the east, cut off the grain route of the Chu army in the south, and finally joined forces with Liu Bang in Xingyang to encircle and annihilate Xiang Yu.
This strategic plan is shocking, Yan Zhao is the third most powerful country in the world, Qi is also a hero, and Xiang Yu's army is strong and well-fed, and Liu Bang's troops are fighting fiercely with them.
At the same time, a three-front front is opened, and it seems that the odds are undecided. However, there are fantastic tactics hidden in this strategy that can allow the Han army to achieve an overwhelming advantage in a short period of time.
Liu Bang and Xiang Yu were in a stalemate in Xingyang, and he needed to personally command the main force for a decisive battle. Peng Yue created chaos behind Xiang Yu's back, and Yingbu pinned down Long He on the southern front. While they have all achieved some results, they are not yet stable.
At this time, Han Shin's army was the only one that could take charge on its own. Han Xin suggested attacking Yan Zhao first, and then attacking Qi to the east, in order to encircle Xiang Yu from the flank. If the northern front collapses, Xiang Yu's rear will be exposed, his retreat will be cut off, and he will be in trouble in Xingyang.
If Qi needed rescue because of Han Zhao's battle, this would further increase Xiang Yu's troubles. When the Qi State is defeated, Xiang Yu will have nowhere to escape, which will be a perfect tactical layout.
Han Xin's action undoubtedly broke Xiang Yu's alliance system. Yan Zhao has always been an important ally of Xiang Yu in the north, if Yan Zhao is defeated, then Xiang Yu's northern flank will be directly exposed, leaving only the isolated city of Xingyang difficult to resist the enemy army.
Liu Bang, on the other hand, could form a north-south echo trend and implement pincer tactics, forcing Xiang Yu to automatically disintegrate. This seemingly crazy battle plan is actually simple to understand, like probing for things.
This is precisely the wisdom and foresight of the famous generals of the early Han Dynasty. Han Xin is well versed in the general trend, and the subtlety of the strategic layout is amazing.
Han Xin's carefully planned Northern Expedition was fully supported by Liu Bang, who immediately agreed to a request for an additional 30,000 troops and sent Han Xin's old friend Zhang Er to lead reinforcements to join.
Han Xin's wish was fulfilled, and after joining Zhang Er's army, he led his army directly to Taiyuan County, an important stronghold of Zhao. Taiyuan County is located in the Jinji Plateau in the north of Shanxi Province, with superior geographical conditions, connecting Hedong County in the south, Dai County in the east, and Shangdang County in the west, which is the barrier of Zhao State.
In the face of Han Xin's attack, Chen Yu, the general of Zhao Guoda, was already prepared, and he sent Xia Shuo to lead an army of 100,000 to build fortifications near Taiyuan County and defend Taiyuan to the death.
Chen Yu was well aware of the complex terrain of Taiyuan County, and took advantage of these natural hazards to set up an ambush, once Han Xin's army fell into it, he could attack head-on and attack from the flank, so that they could fall into confusion and seize the opportunity to win.
This is Chen Yu's carefully designed strategy.
The battle of Yan and Yan is related to the overall situation, and Chen Yu and Han Xin launched a life-and-death duel. Chen Yu seemed to be fully prepared and victorious by virtue of his superiority in strength and terrain.
However, he overlooked Han Shin's military prowess. After Han Xin arrived, he skillfully used light cavalry to lure Chen Yu to counterattack, and then went around to Chen Yu's army from outside the city to defeat the main force in one fell swoop.
This unexpected tactic caught Chen Yu off guard and fled in defeat. This victory opened a gap for Zhao's northern barrier, and Han Xin quickly captured Taiyuan County.
In just two months, the Western Wei and the Daiguo were wiped out, and the world was shocked, and Han Xin's military strength was terrifying. This victory paved the way for the next step in eliminating the Zhao State.
In the joy of victory, what will Han Shin feel about? Did this victory reconcile him with the Great Deer Rebellion? Or has he already left that period of history behind him and immersed himself in new victories?
This remains an unknown mystery.
Since the Qin and Han dynasties, many generals have defeated the enemy army with fewer victories. However, there are very few generals who can eliminate two countries in the shortest possible time. Among them, Han Xin, the left prime minister of the Han State during the Chu-Han War.
His superior tactical thinking is amazing, and his tenacity and fighting back are even more admirable. It was with such a wise and famous general who guarded the northern frontier that the great cause of the Spring and Autumn Period of the Western Chu State could not be realized in the end.