The mountain is steep and the Wei army retreats in defeat.
The Wei general, with five riders, charged forward, shouting loudly. Chu Huai Wang saw the three Wei generals charging and clamped his legs together, urging his horse to gallop forward. He swung his spear horizontally, striking down two of the Wei generals who were approaching him from the front and back. The first Wei general tried to block with his spear but was knocked off his horse and landed on top of the second Wei general who was charging from behind, killing them both.
The third Wei general turned around and fled, but Chu Huai Wang chased after him, his horse galloping like lightning. In an instant, he caught up and stabbed the Wei general in the back with his spear, piercing through to the front of his armor. Chu Huai Wang lifted the Wei general's body off the ground and flung it into the midst of the Wei army, striking down two riders.
The two Wei generals who were fighting against Zhao Yu saw this and did not dare to continue fighting, hastily retreating on horseback. Chu Huai Wang drew his sword and led the 60,000-strong Chu cavalry in a swift charge against the Wei cavalry, while the 140,000-strong Chu infantry surged forward like a mad tide.
Chu Huai Wang rode at the forefront, charging towards the Wei army with his spear in his left hand and his sword in his right. Zhao Yu followed closely behind him, charging into the fray. The Wei king saw Chu Huai Wang approaching and hastily retreated, but the Wei army was thrown into chaos.
The Chu generals saw this and charged forward to attack, striking down the Wei king's main general, Xi Shou, and five other high-ranking generals. The Wei army had lost its top commanders and could not withstand Chu Huai Wang and Zhao Yu's onslaught. The Wei cavalry fell one after another, and a path was cleared through the chaos.
The Wei generals shouted for the Wei king to flee quickly, but the Chu generals charged forward, striking down hundreds of riders in an instant. Chu Huai Wang swung his spear and sword, while Zhao Yu swept his long spear horizontally, challenging anyone who dared to stand in their way.
The Wei king fled in panic, with Chu Huai Wang hot on his heels, wielding his spear and sword. The Wei cavalry surrounded the Wei king, trying to protect him as they retreated towards the edge of the battlefield. However, the Chu generals and cavalry launched a fierce attack, scattering the Wei cavalry and sending them into disarray.
Zhao Yu and the other generals took advantage of the lack of high-ranking officers in the Wei army and charged forward, killing indiscriminately. Chu Huai Wang swung his spear with one hand and wielded his sword with the other, striking down anyone who stood in his way.
The Wei army's cavalry gradually decreased, and the chaotic battle had been going on for half an hour. The 50,000-strong Wei cavalry was reduced to 20,000, while the Chu army still had more than 40,000. How could there be such a huge difference? Isn't this just the difference between having a commander and not having one? As soon as the battle began, all of the Wei generals were killed by King Huai of Chu, and the Wei army immediately lost its morale. When the king of Wei saw King Huai of Chu, he fled, and how could the Wei army's morale not be in disarray? Without a commander, how could the soldiers withstand the attacks of the great generals of the Chu army? It would be strange if they didn't suffer heavy casualties and collapse!
At this time, King Huai of Chu reined in his horse and surveyed the situation before saying to Zhao She: "You lead 15,000 cavalrymen, divide them into three routes, and attack the Wei army infantry from the sides and rear." Zhao She then ordered two generals to each lead 5,000 cavalrymen, and the three routes charged at the Wei army infantry. Suddenly, the three routes of Chu army cavalry launched a fierce charge against the Wei army infantry from the sides and rear. The 150,000 Wei army infantry were already disheartened due to low morale, and they were being beaten back by the 15,000-strong Chu army. When the three routes of Chu army cavalry charged at them, they immediately fell into chaos, with many soldiers fleeing in all directions. As a result, the 150,000-strong Chu army on the front line charged forward like a raging tide, inflicting heavy casualties on the Wei army. Before long, more than half of the Wei army had been killed or wounded. The King of Wei fled from the battlefield and ordered his troops to retreat. The Chu army took advantage of the situation and pursued them for one li before stopping. The Wei army escaped towards Mount Xing, abandoning countless grain supplies and equipment. In this battle outside the ancient city, the Chu army killed over 120,000 Wei soldiers (including more than 30,000 cavalrymen and 90,000 infantrymen), captured 30,000 warhorses, and seized 120,000 sets of armor and weapons, as well as countless grain supplies. The Chu army lost 50,000 soldiers (including 10,000 cavalrymen and 40,000 infantrymen). However, they gained 30,000 warhorses, which increased their cavalry to 70,000 men. King Huai of Chu ordered his troops to cook meals and rest on the spot. One hour later, the army set off rapidly towards Mount Xing, pursuing the Wei army.
The Wei army fled to the top of Xian Mountain (now 30 miles southwest of Xinzheng County) and set up camp, hoping to use the small hills to block the Chu army. The King of Wei felt severe pain in his hands, which had been injured earlier, and upon inspecting his troops, he found that only 800,000 remained (200,000 cavalry and 600,000 infantry). Just as the Wei army finished their meal, a messenger rushed in to report to the King of Wei: "The Chu king has led his army to pursue us towards Xian Mountain and is now at Zhangzhuang, ten miles from Xian Mountain." The King of Wei immediately ordered his troops to prepare for battle. A general said to the King of Wei: "Our army has just been defeated, morale is low, and if we engage in battle with the Chu army now, our strength will be greatly inferior. If the Chu army surrounds Xian Mountain, it will be dangerous." The King of Wei replied: "I know this, but after a while, the King of Han will arrive with his army, and the Chu army will be exhausted from continuous battles. At that time, we can join forces with the King of Han's army and defeat the Chu army." Half an hour later, the Chu king arrived at Xian Mountain, but the King of Wei did not engage in battle, instead relying on the mountain to defend himself. The Chu king ordered his army to surround Xian Mountain and was about to set up camp when a messenger suddenly reported: "The King of Han is leading 100,000 troops to reinforce the Wei army and has arrived at Tangzhuang, ten miles away, and is advancing towards Xian Mountain."
King Hui of Chu heard the report and ordered his entire army to retreat one li and form a battle array. He then said to Zhao Ying, "Although the combined forces of Wei and Han are as many as 180,000, the 80,000-strong Wei army has just suffered a defeat and their morale is low. Moreover, they have no great generals, while our army has just won a victory and our morale is high. Therefore, the 150,000-strong Chu army can defeat the combined forces of Wei and Han." King Hui continued, "Our army has many cavalrymen, which is an advantage. We can use them to charge at the enemy infantry, and this will also increase our chances of winning."
King Hui then ordered Zhao Ying to lead a force of 70,000 (30,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry) to attack the 80,000-strong Wei army, while he himself led a force of 80,000 (40,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry) to attack the 100,000-strong Han army.
King Hui ordered his 40,000 infantrymen to form four lines, with 16,000 cavalrymen divided into four teams standing on either side of the infantry. They were preparing to attack the Han army's infantry from both sides and two flanks. He himself led 24,000 cavalrymen to attack the 25,000 Han cavalry.
Zhao Ying arranged his 40,000 infantrymen in four lines, with 10,000 cavalrymen divided into two teams standing on either side of the infantry. They were preparing to attack the Wei army's infantry from both flanks; he himself led 20,000 cavalrymen to attack the 20,000 Wei cavalry.
Before long, King Xuan of Han arrived with his 100,000-strong army (25,000 cavalry and 75,000 infantry). When King Hui of Wei saw that King Xuan had brought a large force, he also led all his troops down from the mountain. However, they were blocked by Zhao Ying's forces.
King Hui of Chu rode forward on horseback and said, "Is the one who has come King of Han?" The King of Han also rode forward on horseback and said, "It is indeed!" King Hui of Chu said, "The struggle between Chu and Wei has nothing to do with you. Why do you want to be hostile towards Chu?" At this time, the King of Han was secretly thinking: I originally thought that the armies of Wei and Chu would engage in a fierce battle, even if the army of Chu won, it should have suffered some losses. Unexpectedly, the army of Wei was so defeated. If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have led my troops here. Therefore, he couldn't answer for a moment.
King Hui of Chu saw that the King of Han didn't respond and became furious. He urged his horse forward, and it galloped like the wind. With a wave of his long spear, he charged towards the King of Han. The King of Han was greatly shocked and turned his horse around to flee back to his camp.
A general from the state of Han rushed out of the camp and shouted, "Don't harm my king!" He swung his sword at King Hui of Chu. King Hui of Chu swung his spear once, and with a loud clang, the general's sword was knocked aside. King Hui of Chu struck again, and with another loud clang, the general's sword fell to the ground.
The general was greatly shocked and turned his horse around to flee. King Hui of Chu struck him in the back with his spear, and he fell off his horse, dying instantly.
Two more generals from the state of Han rushed over, but King Hui of Chu charged forward on horseback, swinging his spear. In just one exchange, one of the generals had his spear knocked out of his hand and was thrown off his horse, dead without making a sound.
The other general thrust at King Hui of Chu with his halberd, but King Hui of Chu struck it down to the ground with his spear. With another swing of his spear, he crushed the general's skull, and with a moan, he fell off his horse, dead.
At that moment, the Chu army roared to the sky, and King of Han saw this, his will to fight was gone, and he hastily ordered the army to retreat back to Xinzheng. King Hui of Chu also did not pursue, letting the Han army withdraw. When King Hui of Chu saw the Han army withdrawing far away, he ordered General Zuo to lead 20,000 cavalrymen to attack the Wei infantry. The King of Wei saw that the King of Han had retreated with his army and was shocked, hastily ordering a full retreat. Zuo saw this and ordered the entire Chu army to launch an all-out attack, while King Hui's 20,000 cavalrymen also charged from the side. King Hui of Wei saw that the situation was hopeless and escaped back to Yangdi under the protection of over 10,000 horsemen. The rest of the Wei army scattered in all directions, a small number managed to escape, but most were unable to get away, either being killed or surrendering their arms. Zuo's Chu army killed more than 20,000 Wei soldiers, captured 30,000, obtained 5,000 war horses, and seized 50,000 sets of armor and weapons, as well as a large quantity of grain and fodder.
The ancient city, the battle of Xing Mountain, King Huai of Chu took back the ancient city and Xing Mountain from King Hui of Wei, winning a great victory. A total of 150,000 Wei soldiers were killed (35,000 cavalry and 110,000 infantry), 30,000 were captured, 35,000 war horses were seized, and 1.8 million sets of armor and weapons were obtained, as well as countless grains and grasses. The Chu army lost 55,000 soldiers (12,000 cavalry and 43,000 infantry), but gained 35,000 war horses, making the Chu cavalry grow to 80,000. King Hui of Wei's 200,000-strong army had only 15,000 cavalry escape back to Yang Jun, and the rest were annihilated. From then on, the state of Wei no longer had the ability to confront the state of Chu head-on. Later, King Huai of Chu ordered the Chu army to occupy Yu Zhou (now Yuzhou City, Henan), Xiangcheng (now Xiangcheng County, Henan), and Lushan (now Lushan County, Henan) in Wei. To avenge the king of Han for sending troops to assist the Wei army, he also ordered the Chu army to occupy Ruzhou (now Ruzhou City, Henan), Yichuan (now Yichuan County, Henan) and other places in Han, and established Xincheng Jun in Yichuan, governing Yichuan, Ruzhou, Yu Zhou, Xiangcheng, Lushan and other places.
