Chapter 2: The Battle of Changchu, the Chu Army Defeated the Wei Troops, and Qin Er's Meritorious Deed Was Established Through His Alliance with Huan Gong

  In the 16th year of Chu Xuanwang, Wei Huìwén Wáng launched a southern invasion with his army and engaged in a decisive battle with the Chu army south of Xuchang and northwest of Yuzhou, Gu Cheng. Both sides deployed an army of 200,000 soldiers each. The Chu army suffered a great defeat at the hands of the Wei army south of Xuchang. Han Ai Hou led an army of 100,000 to assist the Wei army in attacking the Chu army. Seeing this, Chu Xuanwang retreated and defended Fangye, Ruzhou, Yuzhou, Gu Cheng, which were then occupied by the Han and Wei armies.

  Wei Yang took advantage of this opportunity and led the Qin army eastward, engaging in battle with the Wei army west of the Yellow River and defeating them greatly at Huayin. The army then pointed towards Tongguan, Hancheng, and Anyi. At that time, the main force of the Wei army was stuck in a stalemate with the Chu army at Xuchang and Yuzhou, leaving the defense of Huayin and west of the Yellow River relatively weak.

  Wei Huìwén Wáng heard the news and hastily dispatched an army of 200,000 from Jincheng and Jinzhong to Anyi. He defeated Wei Yang greatly at Hancheng and Tongguan, repelling the Qin army's attack. Wei Yang then led his army southward, attacking the Han army at Luochuan, expanding their territory north of Shangnan.

  In the 27th year of Chu Xuan Wang, that is, in 343 BC, King Huiwen of Wei ordered his general Pang Juan to lead an army of 300,000 soldiers to attack Zhao and Qi. The king of Qi, using Sun Bin's tactics of feigning weakness and luring the enemy deep into their territory, defeated Pang Juan at the Battle of Maling, almost annihilating the entire Wei army.

  As a result of this defeat, the state of Wei was severely weakened, having already been exhausted from years of continuous warfare. The position of King Huiwen as the dominant power in the land began to shake, and the king of Qi became even more arrogant, thinking that he was the only one who could be the dominant power.

  Wei Yang took advantage of this opportunity to lead an army of 200,000 Qin soldiers eastward to attack the Wei army, with the intention of capturing the area west of the Yellow River from Wei. The Zhao army also took advantage of the situation and launched a full-scale attack on Wei's Anyang.

  King Huiwen of Wei faced with the invasion of the armies of Qi, Zhao, and Qin, ordered his generals to lead their troops to fight against the invading forces. He himself led an army to fight against the Zhao army from Handan. However, due to the defeat of his general, Wei Gongzi Ao, at the hands of Wei Yang, he was forced to cede territory to Qi and give up Anyang to Zhao in exchange for a peace treaty.

  Alas! The state of Wei had just suffered a great defeat at Maling, losing tens of thousands of soldiers. Now, they had suffered another defeat at the west of the Yellow River, losing 100,000 more soldiers. Their national strength was declining with each passing year.

  Wei Gongzi was a close friend of Wei Yang, and in the past, when Wei Yang was down on his luck, Wei Gongzi provided him with great help and support. Without Wei Gongzi's assistance, Wei Yang would have long since starved to death on the streets of Wei.

  Wei Gongzi led the vanguard of 200,000 Wei troops from Anyi and Luoyang, and encountered Wei Yang's forward troops at Huayin. Wei Yang thought that his well-trained army was invincible, so he sounded the drums and charged into battle with 50,000 Qin soldiers. However, a great general emerged from the Wei camp, riding a horse and wielding a sword, and charged straight at the Qin army.

  This general was none other than Wei Jia, a renowned general of Wei who was over 40 years old and had a long white beard. He wielded his sword with great skill, cutting down several Qin generals and charging into the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter. The Wei soldiers were inspired by his bravery, and their morale soared as they fought against the Qin army.

  Wei Jia saw Wei Yang and pointed his sword at him, shouting: "You shameless traitor! You sold out your lord and sought glory for yourself, without any loyalty or filial piety. I will take your life, you three-surnamed dog!" With that, he charged at Wei Yang on horseback, causing Wei Yang to turn tail and flee in fear.

  The Qin generals rushed over to protect their commander, but Wei Jia shouted: "Anyone who blocks my way will die!" He swept his sword across the battlefield, cutting down several Qin generals. Wei Yang took advantage of the chaos to escape into the safety of his army's ranks.

  Just then, drums sounded from both the east and west directions, signaling the arrival of reinforcements from both sides. Wei Yang retreated 30 li in defeat.

  The next day, both armies formed up for battle again. Wei Yang rode forward and bowed, saying: "Wei Gongzi, I have come to pay my respects." Wei Gongzi replied: "You and I are sworn brothers, how could I bear to be your enemy?"

  Wei Yang said: "I am grateful for your kindness in the past, but why do you now seek to harm me?" Wei Gongzi asked: "What do you mean? Why have you turned against me and invaded our territory?" Wei Yang replied: "I had no choice but to follow orders. Please read this letter, and you will understand everything."

  With that, he handed over a letter to Wei Gongzi, who retreated back to his camp after reading it. The letter said: "The Qin king is cruel and heartless! He has forced me to lead an army against Wei by threatening my family. You and I are sworn brothers, and you have treated me with great kindness in the past. I am deeply grateful for your favors, but how could I betray our friendship? Tonight, at the third watch, let us join forces and defeat the Qin army together."

  Wei Gongzi was moved to tears by the letter, but his general Wei Jia cautioned: "How can we trust the words of a man who would sell out his own family for personal gain?" Wei Gongzi replied: "I have treated him like a brother, and he has sworn an oath to me. How could I doubt his sincerity?"

  So Wei Gongzi ignored Wei Jia's warning and ordered his troops to launch a surprise attack on the Qin camp at the third watch, in coordination with Wei Yang. However, they fell into a trap set by Wei Yang, and were defeated. Wei Gongzi was captured, and Wei Jia led the remnants of their army in retreat back to Tongguan.

  Wei Yang then used Wei Gongzi as a bargaining chip to demand that the king of Wei cede the territory west of the Yellow River to Qin. The king of Wei had no choice but to agree, and Wei Yang's reputation was forever tarnished by his treachery. He eventually met a terrible end, being torn apart by five horses and struck by lightning.

  From then on, the king of Qin looked at Wei Yang in a different light, and their relationship underwent a fundamental change.