Fa Kong praised Qin and Shu's great connection of troops, Han Yin Chu Huai was defeated by Sima.
In 325 BC, 'Spring' (the fourth year of Chu Huai Wang and the thirteenth year of Qin Huiwen Gong, the first year of Qin Huiwen Wang), this year was when Qin Huiwen Wang began to call himself king and prepare to compete for dominance in the Central Plains.
Here is the translation:
Chu Huai Wang ordered Zhao Yang to lead a large army northward, deploying troops in Xiangyang, Nanyang, Fang, and Ye, while he himself led 200,000 elite soldiers out of Dangyang with Zhao Ying, heading towards Shangyong and Bao Han (Hanzhong) to attack the state of Shu in 327 BC. Why did Chu Huai Wang have to go to Bao Han (Hanzhong) to attack Shu? It turns out that Hanzhong was part of the territory of Shu at that time, and it was a strategic location connecting Guanzhong to the Sichuan Basin.
During the Zhou Dynasty, the area now known as Hanzhong City was part of the state of Bao, with its territory stretching from Lüeyang County to Chenggu County. Therefore, some historical records also refer to this place as Bao Han. In 770 BC, due to the invasion of the Di and Qiang tribes, some people from Zheng (now Hua County) fled to the southern bank of the Han River and settled there, which became known as Nanzheng.
Later, when the Qin state expanded its territory to eastern Shaanxi, the area around Hua County became part of Qin's territory. From 451 BC, the Qin people began building a city in Nanzheng, which they called South Zheng. Later on, after the state of Bao was defeated by Shu, the territory of Bao (Hanzhong) became part of Shu.
According to the "Huayang Guo Zhi: Shu Ji" (Records of the State of Huayang: Annals of Shu), "During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, the Marquis of Shu possessed the territory of Bao Han."
The Marquis of Shu heard that the King of Chu was leading an army of 200,000 to invade Han (Hanzhong) and avenge his grievances. He was so anxious that he could not eat or sleep. On one hand, he led the armies of Shu and Ba to rush to Han (Hanzhong), and on the other hand, he sent a letter to King Huiwen of Qin asking for help.
King Huiwen of Qin received the Marquis of Shu's letter seeking help and immediately summoned his civil and military officials to discuss the matter. He said: "Now that the King of Chu is leading an army of 200,000 into Han (Hanzhong) to avenge his grievances, the situation is urgent and cannot be stopped. The Marquis of Shu has come to me seeking help, what do you think, should we rescue him or not?"
A minister reported: "Han (Hanzhong) is a natural pasture and granary, it is an important strategic location for Qin's southward expansion into Ba and Shu. If the king does not send troops to rescue Shu, the army of Shu will be no match for the Chu army, and within one or two months, the entire Han (Hanzhong) region will be occupied by the Chu army. Once the Chu army occupies Han (Hanzhong), they will march southward to attack Shu, and the entire state of Shu will fall to Chu. By then, it will be even more difficult for the king to plot against Ba and Shu. Moreover, once the opportunity is ripe, the Chu army will march west from Han (Hanzhong) to attack Qin's territory, and the situation will become very dangerous."
King Huiwen of Qin said: "Your words are extremely wise, I also have this concern. However, since the time of King Wei of Chu, their military strength has been strong, and now that the King of Chu is leading a large army in person, it is difficult to stop him. If I lead a large army to go there in person, it will inevitably result in a life-and-death struggle. At that time, if the King of Wei leads his army to attack our western border, Qin's military situation will be precarious."
A minister said: "The king does not need to worry about this. Currently, the Shu army still has over 100,000 troops, and the king can send 100,000 elite soldiers to join forces with the Shu army, which will total 200,000 troops that can defeat the Chu army. Although the distance from Fangshan to Ankang is over 300 miles, this area is all mountainous terrain, and it is inconvenient for the transportation of grain and fodder. Therefore, the Chu army cannot stay in Han (Hanzhong) for long. As long as we confront the Chu army, after a period of time, their grain and fodder will be exhausted, and they will inevitably retreat. At that time, if we take advantage of the situation to attack them, we can certainly defeat the Chu army."
King Huiwen of Qin said: "Good!" He immediately ordered Sima Cuo to mobilize 100,000 elite soldiers (30,000 cavalry and 70,000 infantry) to follow him to Han (Hanzhong) to confront the Chu army.
In the third month of spring in 325 BC (the fourth year of King Hui of Chu), King Hui of Chu led the Chu army out of An Kang (present-day Ankang City) and encountered the allied forces of Qin and Shu, numbering several hundred thousand, at Han Yin (present-day Hanyin County). The area was a flat plain, with both sides' cavalry and infantry arrayed in formation. King Hui of Chu rode forward on horseback and said to King Huiwen of Qin, "Is the one who has come not King Huiwen?" King Huiwen of Qin replied politely, "It is indeed I, Your Majesty. You are King Hui, and your appearance is truly extraordinary, even more majestic than your father, King Wei." King Hui of Chu said, "I am at fault. My late father told me that you were a man who understood reason, and that our two families had a close relationship through marriage. Why do you repeatedly cause trouble for Chu?" King Huiwen of Qin replied, "It is not my intention to cause trouble for Chu. Shu is a neighboring state of Qin, and when they have difficulties, they come to me for help. Can I not assist them? This is the principle of helping one's relatives and neighbors, which you should understand. Chu and Qin are also related by marriage, as my queen is a princess of Chu. How could I not know this? Therefore, I only wish to persuade both Chu and Shu to lay down their arms and make peace." King Hui of Chu said, "Shu took advantage of our country's mourning period and launched an attack on our borders, which was extremely arrogant." King Huiwen of Qin replied, "This is indeed a mistake on the part of the Marquis of Shu. However, you have already vented your anger, and Shu's cities of Zi Yang and Suining are already in your possession. Why do you not spare them? Do you want to destroy them before you will stop? Ah! I will let the Marquis of Shu apologize to you in person, and then we can make peace. Will you give me face?" After finishing speaking, he gestured for the Marquis of Shu to come forward. The Marquis of Shu was afraid because he had been defeated by King Hui of Chu in their previous encounter, and did not dare to approach him. King Huiwen of Qin said, "What are you afraid of? I am here with my beloved general, Sima Cuo." The Marquis of Shu then rode forward, trembling, and said, "King Hui of Chu! Last time it was my fault, please forgive me and spare me." King Huiwen of Qin said, "Is this not settled? Let us value harmony between our two sides!" King Hui of Chu smiled and said, "A great army has been mobilized, involving the lives and property of several hundred thousand people. Can it be dispelled by a few clever words?" The Marquis of Shu asked, "What do you want to do?" King Hui of Chu replied, "We can make peace, but Shu must compensate me for my military expenses." The Marquis of Shu asked, "How much compensation?" King Hui of Chu said, "Cede the area of Bo Han (Hanzhong) as compensation for my military expenses." King Huiwen of Qin said, "Is this not coercion?" King Hui of Chu sternly replied, "This is a matter between Chu and Shu, what business is it of yours? You are an outsider, why do you interfere? I advise you to mind your own business and leave!" King Huiwen of Qin said, "I will definitely intervene in this matter today." King Hui of Chu coldly smiled and said, "Then let us see if you have the ability to do so." After finishing speaking, he waved his hand, and the 200,000-strong Chu army divided into two routes, arrayed in formation, preparing to engage the Qin and Shu armies. King Hui of Chu personally led one route of 100,000 Chu soldiers (30,000 cavalry and 70,000 infantry) against King Huiwen of Qin's 100,000-strong Qin army, while another route of 100,000 Chu soldiers (30,000 cavalry and 70,000 infantry), led by Zhao Yu, engaged the Marquis of Shu's several hundred thousand-strong Shu army. The Qin and Shu armies also arrayed in formation, ready for battle.
King Huai of Chu gave the order to beat the drums. As soon as the war drums sounded, King Huai of Chu and Zhao Ying separately rode their horses and charged forward with their spears, heading straight for King Huiwen of Qin and the Marquis of Shu. King Huai's black horse galloped like lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of King Huiwen of Qin. King Huai's long spear struck with a swift and fierce gust of wind, and King Huiwen hastily raised his twin swords to block it. At that moment, General Sima Cuo of Qin swung his large blade and rode his horse forward, shouting loudly: "Do not harm my king!" With a loud clang, King Huiwen's twin swords were knocked flying, and his arms were shaken with pain. He slapped his horse and fled.
At this time, General Sima Cuo's blade had already struck towards King Huai of Chu, who hastily raised his spear to block it. This General Sima Cuo was a famous general of King Huiwen of Qin, skilled in the art of wielding a knife, with the bravery of a warrior who could withstand ten thousand men.
The battle between General Sima Cuo's blade and King Huai's long spear was intense, with the two sides clashing together in a flurry of blows. The two fought for over ten rounds without either gaining the upper hand. The soldiers on both sides watched with wide eyes, their faces filled with excitement. When the Chu army saw that their king was so brave, they were immediately filled with courage and enthusiasm, cheering and raising their spears.
The Qin army initially thought that King Huiwen would not be able to withstand King Huai's spear, and they all felt a chill run down their spines. But when they saw General Sima Cuo fighting against King Huai, they finally breathed a sigh of relief. Both sides beat the drums to cheer each other on, and after five more rounds, General Sima Cuo gradually began to tire, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Oh! This Sima Cuo, although his knife skills are pure and skilled, but his strength is not as good as Chu Huai Wang. After fighting for ten rounds, Sima Cuo already felt the pressure of Chu Huai Wang's long gun getting bigger and bigger. This Chu Huai Wang fought with great ferocity, let out a loud roar, and thrust his long gun fiercely towards Sima Cuo's head. Sima Cuo raised his knife to block it, but it hit the blade, making a "clanging" sound, and the knife mouth was smashed into a big gap, shaking Sima Cuo's hand numb. Chu Huai Wang struck again with his spear, Sima Cuo hastily raised his knife to block, but this time it hit the back of the knife, making a "ding" sound, and the back of the knife emitted sparks, shaking Sima Cuo's two palms in pain, and he couldn't hold the knife firmly. Chu Huai Wang struck again with his spear, Sima Cuo raised his knife to block with both hands, but it shook him so much that he retreated three steps on horseback, and his two palms were bleeding profusely. Sima Cuo knew he was no match for him, and hastily slapped the horse to escape. Chu Huai Wang clamped his legs together, and chased after him on horseback, when three generals from the Qin army rushed out, shouting: "General Sima, don't panic, we're here to help you!" Chu Huai Wang's black stallion galloped like lightning, with great force, and he swept his spear horizontally to the left and right. The two generals in front of him raised their spears to block, but they were knocked to the ground with a "crashing" sound. Chu Huai Wang thrust his spear towards the Qin general behind him, aided by the horse's momentum, hitting him squarely on the chest armor, making a "clanging" sound. The Qin general was thrown off the horseback five steps away and died instantly. Chu Huai Wang swept his spear horizontally to the left and right again, and the two Qin generals fell off their horses, dead! The Qin army saw this, and suddenly all three armies were silent as cicadas, with morale plummeting to a low point. On the other hand, when the Chu army saw their king so majestic, they immediately became jubilant, with morale soaring like thunder. Chu Huai Wang held his spear in his left hand and drew out the Chu King Sword with his right hand, waving it once. The Chu army suddenly let out a thunderous shout, and the sound of killing shook the heavens. Thirty thousand cavalrymen and seventy thousand infantrymen charged towards the Qin army simultaneously.
Here is the translation:
Furthermore, Zhao Yue rode his horse forward, holding his spear straight and heading towards the Duke of Shu. The Duke of Shu raised his twin forks and rode forward to meet him in battle. Zhao Yue was a tall and sturdy man, this year being thirty-three (two years younger than King Huai of Chu), his strength not as great as King Huai's, but his spear skills were divine. In less than ten rounds, the sound of clashing metal rang out, and the Duke of Shu's left hand fork flew out of his hand, scaring him into retreating on horseback.
Two Shu generals rushed forward to protect their lord, Zhao Yue let out a loud shout, his long spear sweeping across the enemy lines. The two Shu generals, one wielding a spear and the other a sword, raised their weapons to block the attack. The three of them clashed in a fierce battle. Zhao Yue's spear skills were varied and unpredictable, striking with lightning speed and ferocity.
The two Shu generals dodged left and right, desperately trying to defend themselves against Zhao Yue's attacks. Just as it seemed that Zhao Yue was about to strike down the general on the right, he suddenly turned his spear towards the left, avoiding the general's sword by a hair's breadth. The general on the right swung his sword in a wide arc, but ended up striking the head of the general on the left's spear.
At this moment, Zhao Yue's spearhead was already pointed at the chest of the general on the left, who let out a loud cry: "No!" as he tried to dodge, but it was too late. He was struck in the right shoulder and fell off his horse. The general on the right saw this and swung his sword down towards Zhao Yue, but Zhao Yue's spear deflected the blow with a loud clang.
Zhao Yue then counterattacked, his spearhead darting left and right, up and down, striking true once more. The sound of clashing metal rang out again, and the general on the right was struck in the heart. Although he wore armor, Zhao Yue's spear did not penetrate it, but the impact was enough to make him stumble.
The general stumbled backwards, his body swaying, and Zhao Yue took advantage of this to strike him in the face with a loud thud. The general let out a cry of pain as he fell off his horse, defeated. The Shu army was stunned into silence, their morale plummeting.
On the other hand, the Chu army saw this and erupted into cheers. Zhao Yue raised his spear high and shouted: "Kill!" as he charged forward on horseback, leading the three thousand iron cavalry and seven thousand infantry in a fierce charge against the Shu army.
Here is the translation:
As for King Huai of Chu, 100,000 Chu soldiers clashed with 100,000 Qin soldiers in a single location. Within this location, there were two separate battles: one between 30,000 cavalrymen from both sides and another between 70,000 infantrymen from both sides. This was a one-on-one showdown, a fight to the death.
The Chu army, inspired by King Huai's bravery, fought with great enthusiasm, killing three Qin generals in succession. The Qin army, on the other hand, had been defeated repeatedly, and their commander, Sima Cuo, had almost lost his life at the hands of King Huai. As a result, the Qin soldiers' morale was low, and they were constantly retreating.
King Huai saw this and charged forward on horseback, sweeping aside thousands of Qin cavalrymen with his long spear. The Qin army's horses fell one after another, either dead or severely injured. The 30,000-strong cavalry formation was torn apart, leaving no one to stop King Huai.
With his long spear, King Huai aimed straight for King Huiwen of Qin. Sima Cuo saw this and shouted, "Not good!" He swung his large knife with all his might, fighting to protect his king. Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sima Cuo ignored the pain in his arm and fought hard to block King Huai's three consecutive attacks. Earlier, he had already been forced back three steps by King Huai, his palm and tiger mouth bleeding profusely. How could he withstand King Huai's powerful blows now? This was a testament to Sima Cuo's loyalty and willingness to die for his king.
King Huai fought with great ferocity, shouting loudly as he struck. His spear felt like a thousand pounds, and Sima Cuo knew he couldn't resist it. He shouted, "Your Majesty, please escape!" Using all his strength, he tried to block King Huai's attack.
The two clashed, and Sima Cuo was forced back three steps on horseback. His large knife flew out of his hand and landed a few feet away, striking a Qin general who had rushed over to rescue the king, beheading him in the process.
King Huiwen of Qin was frightened, his face turned pale, and he hastily retreated. The Qin cavalry saw this and rushed to rescue him, causing the Qin army's formation to become chaotic. King Huai of Chu took advantage of this and charged into the enemy ranks with a long spear, sweeping left and right, front and back. The Qin cavalry fell one after another.
The Chu army saw their king charge into the enemy ranks and followed with 30,000 iron cavalry, rushing to attack the Qin army. The Qin army's formation was already in disarray, unable to withstand the Chu cavalry's fierce attack, and they retreated in defeat. King Huai of Chu held his spear in his left hand and his sword in his right, sweeping and killing left and right.
The Qin cavalry charged with their long spears, but King Huai of Chu swung his sword and cut off their spears. In an instant, dozens of Chu generals and cavalrymen rushed to protect their king, cutting down the Qin cavalry that had approached. Hundreds and thousands of Chu cavalrymen surrounded the Qin cavalry, attacking them from all sides.
The 30,000 Qin cavalry saw King Huiwen of Qin and General Sima Cuo fleeing in defeat and rushed to protect them. The Qin cavalry's formation was completely chaotic, unable to withstand the Chu cavalry's attack. The Chu cavalry took advantage of this and launched a fierce counterattack, causing heavy casualties among the Qin cavalry.
King Huai of Chu saw this and ordered 10,000 iron cavalry to charge at the Qin army's infantry. The 70,000 Qin infantry were engaged in a fierce battle with the Chu infantry when they were suddenly attacked by the Chu cavalry. They fell one after another, and the Chu infantry surged forward like a raging tide, killing the Qin soldiers.
In an instant, more than half of the Qin infantry was killed or wounded, and their entire line collapsed. The Qin cavalry saw this and hastily turned around to attack, covering the retreat of their infantry. King Huai of Chu led 20,000 iron cavalry to intercept them, while the 10,000 Chu cavalry that had been attacking the Qin infantry turned around to charge at the Qin cavalry.
King Huiwen of Qin ordered his entire army to retreat hastily, but the Chu army took advantage of this and launched a fierce pursuit. The Qin army suffered heavy casualties, with more than half of their soldiers killed or wounded.
Afterward, King Huai of Chu led 100,000 troops in a long pursuit of the Qin army, chasing them for 40 miles until they reached Shiquan County (present-day Shiquan County). Only then did he stop to rest and have a meal.
On this side, the 100,000-strong Chu army and the several hundred thousand Shu army fought as one. In terms of military strength, the Shu army had a few more tens of thousands, but the Shu army's cavalry was only 25,000, which was 5,000 less than the Chu army's cavalry. Moreover, the Shu generals were no match for Zhao Yu, who had defeated two Shu generals with his spear. As a result, the morale of the Shu army was low, while the Chu army saw Zhao Yu defeat the Shu Hou and kill two high-ranking Shu generals in succession, their morale soared instantly. In the fierce battle, the most important thing was the overall morale of the army. The difference in morale between the Chu and Shu armies was that the Shu army was defeated by the Chu army and retreated continuously, unable to hold its ground. Zhao Yu's long spear was invincible, and no one could match it. He swept his spear horizontally and vertically, killing more than a dozen Shu cavalrymen in a row. The Shu cavalry saw this and retreated in disarray. After the 30,000-strong Chu iron cavalry charged, the Shu army's cavalry formation was completely disrupted, and both sides fell into chaos. The cavalry was originally at a disadvantage for the Shu army, and after such a disruption, they suffered heavy casualties. Zhao Yu saw the situation and assessed the overall situation, then dispatched 10,000 Chu cavalry to attack the Shu army infantry from the side. These 10,000 Chu cavalry rushed into the Shu army infantry formation, and although the Shu infantry was numerous, they could not withstand the left and right attacks of the Chu army's 10,000 cavalry. Instantly, the Shu infantry formation fell into chaos, and the Chu infantry in front saw this and charged forward like a tidal wave to kill the Shu infantry. The Shu army could no longer resist, retreated in disarray, and suffered heavy casualties. When the Shu Hou saw that his army was defeated, he knew that the situation was hopeless and hastily ordered his cavalry and infantry to retreat quickly. The Chu army took advantage of the situation and launched a pursuit, killing more than half of the Shu army. Then, Zhao Yu led his main force to pursue the Shu army for 40 miles, almost simultaneously joining forces with King Huai of Chu at Shiquan (present-day Shiquan County).
King Hui of Chu saw the arrival of Zhao Yue's large army and Zhao Yue said to King Hui, "The enemy has just been defeated, with more than half casualties. The combined forces of Qin and Shu have only 100,000 left, they are like a frightened bird. If we don't pursue them now, when will we? I've been chasing and killing the Shu army all the way here, so I ordered my soldiers to capture over 10,000 war horses. Now my 10,000 infantry has become cavalry." King Hui was delighted and said, "Well done! You're really something. On my side, I also captured over 10,000 Qin cavalry warhorses. It seems our battle results are equal, haha! What you said is exactly what I wanted to hear. Now the enemy must be cooking not far ahead. If we launch a surprise attack with our cavalry now, not only can we catch them off guard, but we might even get to eat their free food!" Zhao Yue said, "Right! I'll lead 50,000 cavalry to charge forward and 50,000 infantry will follow behind. Your Majesty can lead the main force to follow up afterwards." King Hui said, "Good!" Then he ordered the whole army to bring enough dry rations for one day. Zhao Yue led 50,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry at the front, while King Hui personally led the main force to follow behind.
At this time, the Chu army was no longer 200,000, but 180,000, with an additional 10,000 wounded soldiers. In the Battle of Han 'Yin', both the Qin and Shu armies suffered 50,000 casualties each, while the Chu army suffered 30,000 casualties. However, at this time, the Chu cavalry was no longer 60,000, but 80,000. In the Battle of Han 'Yin', both the Qin and Shu armies' cavalry suffered over 10,000 casualties each, while the Chu cavalry suffered 10,000 casualties, but they captured over 20,000 war horses from Qin and Shu, so the Chu cavalry became 80,000 strong. Half an hour later, the Chu army had finished eating and drinking, everything was ready, and Xiang Yu led 50,000 Chu cavalry and 50,000 infantry to rapidly pursue forward, while King Huai of Chu led 30,000 iron cavalry and a large group of soldiers followed behind, with over 10,000 wounded soldiers escorting the grain carts.
