Zhan Shi Quan Qin Shu's Great Escape
After Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou were defeated by the Chu army in Han Yin, they fled all the way, running over 70 miles without stopping. They escaped to Ma Jia Ping and Gu Er Ping areas, where people and horses were exhausted, especially the infantry who had been running for over 70 miles and were starving. Qin Huiwen King saw that there was no Chu army pursuing them, so he ordered his troops to stop and rest, cooking food and feeding their warhorses while checking their military strength.
After a while, the soldiers reported that the remaining 100,000 troops of Qin and Shu armies consisted of 50,000 Qin troops (18,000 cavalry and 32,000 infantry) and 50,000 Shu troops (12,000 cavalry and 38,000 infantry). Just as the food was ready, a messenger arrived to report that Chu Huai King's army was approaching, with Chu general Zhao Ying leading 50,000 cavalrymen who had already reached Xing Long Village, only three miles away from their camp.
Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou were shocked by the news. Sima Cuo advised Qin Huiwen King: "Zhao Ying's 50,000 cavalrymen have arrived first, but there must be a large infantry force following them. Our army has just been defeated and cannot fight again. Now our soldiers are all starving and cannot walk far. In my opinion, the infantry is in no condition to escape. Your Majesty can order all the infantry to die fighting against Zhao Ying's 50,000 cavalrymen, while the cavalry quickly finishes their meal and protects Your Majesty in fleeing to Han Zhong."
Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou ordered all the infantry (32,000 Qin troops and 38,000 Shu troops) to form a battle line at Gu Er Ping area to block Zhao Ying's Chu army cavalry. All the cavalry finished their meal within seven minutes. Five minutes later, Zhao Ying's 50,000 Chu light cavalry arrived at Gu Er Ping. The 70,000 infantry of Qin and Shu armies formed a battle line in haste and shot arrows to stop the advance of the Chu cavalry.
At this time, the 30,000 cavalrymen of Qin and Shu hastily finished their meal, wrapped up with cloth strips, and mounted their horses to protect Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou as they fled westward. Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou only cared about escaping with their lives and did not care about the life or death of their 70,000 infantrymen, who were so hungry that they could hardly walk.
Ten minutes later, the arrows of the Qin and Shu infantry were almost exhausted. Zhao Ying saw this and ordered his 50,000 iron cavalry to charge in three directions. Alas! The 70,000 starving infantrymen of Qin and Shu could not withstand the impact of the Chu army's cavalry charge and fell down after just one charge.
After two or three more charges, the 70,000 infantrymen of the Qin and Shu armies all fell down, with only a few escaping. At this time, the 30,000 cavalrymen of Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou had already run over 20 miles to a place called Qi Xing Ba. Zhao Ying led his 50,000 Chu cavalrymen in pursuit, and Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou saw that they were being chased and did not dare to stop for a moment, fleeing desperately westward.
At this time, Chu Huai King's 30,000 Chu cavalrymen and 50,000 Chu infantrymen had also arrived at Gu Er Ping.
King Huiwen of Qin and the Marquis of Shu's 30,000 cavalry escaped over Maja Pass. Sima Cuo saw that this was a narrow road, which must be taken by the Chu army in pursuit, so he led 3,000 cavalry to block the Chu army's cavalry here. Before Sima Cuo's formation was set up, Zhao Ying had already led a large group of Chu light cavalry past Huilong Village, less than a mile away from Sima Cuo. As soon as Zhao Ying saw him, he charged forward on horseback, killing towards the Qin army cavalry.
Although Maja Pass is flat, the terrain is not very large, and it's hard for a large number of people to fight, so the advantage of the Chu army's large cavalry cannot be exerted, and it depends on who is brave and has endurance. Sima Cuo saw Zhao Ying coming to kill him, and he rode his horse and raised his knife to fight Zhao Ying. The two men fought with guns and knives, fighting twenty rounds without a winner.
Zhao Ying and Sima Cuo were originally evenly matched in martial arts, and it can be said that they were worthy opponents. Unfortunately, Sima Cuo had fought with King Huai of Chu before, and his palms and tiger mouths were cracked, and his arms were injured. Although he was not injured in the chest, as long as he used too much force, his armpits would ache secretly, while Zhao Ying's long gun was like a dragon turning over, becoming more courageous as he fought, making Sima Cuo's palms and armpits painful and difficult to bear.
Zhao Ying saw that Sima Cuo's knife was raised to block, but because of his injured arms, he had no strength in his hands, and his body stumbled. Zhao Ying saw this and struck three times with his gun, fast as lightning, Sima Cuo couldn't resist, and he retreated with a virtual swing of his knife.
After Sima Cuo was defeated, no one in the Qin army cavalry could withstand Zhao Ying. They only saw Zhao Ying's long gun, left and right, striking down the Qin army cavalry one by one. The Chu army cavalry saw this and rushed forward, each holding their guns and knives, killing and slashing. The Chu army cavalry charged fiercely, and the Qin army cavalry couldn't resist Zhao Ying and the Chu army cavalry's attack, and finally fled in defeat.
In the Battle of Maja Pass, Zhao Ying's Chu army cavalry killed another 1,000 Qin army cavalry under Sima Cuo.
At this time, the cavalry of Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou had already escaped from Xixiang County, and Zhao Yue's light cavalry had chased to Baijia Dam. Although both sides were cavalry running, it was unknown how they did it, but the cavalry led by Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou ran slower, while Zhao Yue's light cavalry chased faster, and the distance between them got closer and closer. When they arrived at Chenggu County, Zhao Yue's light cavalry was about to catch up, Sima Cuo hastily ordered 3,000 Qin army cavalry, 2,000 Shu army cavalry, and 500 Shu army defenders to use the earth wall of Chenggu County as cover, blocking the attack of the Chu army cavalry, and ordering all soldiers to "advance and live, retreat and die", fighting to the death to cover up the withdrawal of Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou's 25,000 cavalry to Bao Han (Hanzhong City). Zhao Yue's large light cavalry arrived at Chenggu County, saw Sima Cuo standing with his sword, leading 5,000 cavalry lined up under the city, and waiting in a strict array. Zhao Yue ordered 10,000 Chu army cavalry to form a line, charging and killing Sima Cuo's 5,000 cavalry, while 40,000 Chu army cavalry divided into two routes, bypassing Chenggu County on both sides, rushing straight to Bao Han (Hanzhong City), capturing Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou alive. Sima Cuo saw the situation and ordered 4,000 cavalry to intercept the Chu army cavalry in two routes, while he himself led 1,000 cavalry and 500 defenders to fight against Zhao Yue's 10,000 Chu army cavalry. Sima Cuo's 5,000 cavalry intercepted Zhao Yue's 50,000 Chu army cavalry, which was undoubtedly a suicidal move, but it could delay for some time, allowing Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou's 25,000 cavalry to run far away. It was just like this, knowing that it would be death, but only with death could he protect his lord, this was Sima Cuo's so-called "abandoning the pawn to save the general" plan. At Guquan County's Guleping, Sima Cuo's "abandoning the pawn to save the general" plan had already made 70,000 Qin and Shu allied infantry into ghosts under the knife and souls under the gun of the Chu army cavalry, in exchange for Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou being able to escape to this Chenggu County. Today, they had to abandon the lives of these 5,000 cavalry and 500 defenders to allow Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou to run out more than 20 miles ahead. Alas! The allied army of Qin and Shu was indeed defeated like a mountain collapse, and their journey was at an end.
