Chapter 2: The Battle of Changchu, the Qin Army Defeated the Wei Troops, and Qin Ping Established Military Merit

  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 Fāng and Yè's Yúzhōu and Gǔchéng. 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 āi Hóu sent out an army of 100,000 to assist the Wei army in attacking the Chu army. Upon seeing this, Chu Xuanwang retreated and defended Fāng, Yè, Rǔzhōu, Yúzhōu, and Gǔchéng, which were then occupied by the Han and Wei armies.

  Wei Yang took advantage of this opportunity to lead the Qin army eastward and engage in battle with the Wei army west of the Yellow River. The Wei army was greatly defeated at Huàyīn, and the Qin army pointed its swords at Tóngguān, Hánchéng, and ānyì. At that time, the main force of the Wei army was stuck fighting the Chu army at Xuchang and Yúzhōu, while the defense of Huàyīn and the west of the Yellow River was weak.

  Relatively weak. Wei Huaiwen heard the news and hastily transferred 200,000 troops from Jincheng and Jinzhong to advance on Anyi, where they defeated Qin Shang at Hancheng and Tongguan, repelling the Qin army's attack. Qin Shang then led his army southward, attacking the Han army in Luochuan, expanding territory north of Shangnan.

  In the 27th year of King Xuan of Chu, that is, in 343 BC, King Huiwen of Wei ordered his general Pang Juan to lead an army of 300,000 men to attack Zhao and Qi. The king of Qi, using the strategy of Sun Bin, retreated and feigned weakness, causing the enemy to become arrogant and disorganized, and then launched a surprise attack from the east and west, defeating Pang Juan at the Battle of Maling, almost annihilating the 300,000-strong Wei army.

  The state of Wei, having been weakened by years of war, was further defeated in this battle, and its national strength was severely damaged. The position of King Huiwen as the overlord of the world began to shake, and the king of Qi became even more arrogant, thinking that he was the only one who could be the overlord.

  Qin Xiao took advantage of the situation and led an army of 200,000 men to attack Wei from the east, intending to capture the land west of the Yellow River. The Zhao army also took advantage of the situation and launched a full-scale attack on Wei's An Yang.

  King Huiwen of Wei faced with the invasion of the armies of Qi, Zhao, and Qin, ordered his generals to lead their troops to resist the enemy. He himself led an army to resist the Zhao army from Handan. Later, due to the defeat of Wei Gongzi Ang at Huaxin in the west of the Yellow River, he was forced to cede land to the king of Qi and give up An Yang to the state of Zhao in order to seek peace.

  Alas! The state of Wei had just suffered a great defeat at Maling, losing tens of thousands of soldiers. Now it had been defeated again at Huaxin, losing another 100,000 men, and its national strength was declining year by 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 lines as if they were unmanned. The Wei soldiers saw this and their morale soared, fighting back against the Qin army.

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

  The next day, both sides formed up in battle array, and Wei Yang rode forward to bow and say: "Wei Gongzi, I have come to pay my respects." Wei Gongzi replied: "You and I are sworn brothers, how could I treat you poorly?" Wei Yang said: "I am grateful for your kindness, but why did you betray me and attack Wei?"

  Wei Yang explained that he had been forced to do so by the Qin king, and produced a letter as proof. The letter read: "The Qin king is cruel and has threatened my family, forcing me to lead an army against Wei. I am deeply grateful for your kindness in the past, but I fear that I will not be able to repay you even if I were to die trying. Tonight, at the third watch, I will secretly cooperate with you to defeat the Qin army."

  Wei Gongzi was moved by the letter and decided to trust Wei Yang. However, his general Wei Jia warned him: "Wei Yang is a treacherous man who would sell out his own family for personal gain. How can we trust him?" But Wei Gongzi refused to listen, and ordered his troops to launch a surprise attack on the Qin camp at the third watch.

  However, this turned out to be a trap set by Wei Yang, and the Wei army was defeated and forced to retreat. Wei Gongzi was captured, and Wei Jia led the remaining troops in a desperate defense of Tongguan. Wei Yang then used Wei Gongzi as a bargaining chip to demand that the king of Wei cede the land west of the Yellow River to Qin.

  The king of Wei reluctantly agreed, and Wei Yang's reputation as a cunning strategist was cemented. However, his treachery would eventually lead to his downfall, and he would meet a terrible end, being torn apart by five horses and struck by lightning. This is a story for another time.

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

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