Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 67): The King’s Covenant

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang

Annals of Qin Book 3 Scroll 8 (continued)

The 2nd year of the Second Emperor(208 B.C. continued)

Xiang Liang defeated Zhang Han in Dong’e county. His troops advanced westward and crushed the Qin army at Dingtao. Xiang Yu and the Duke of Pei then engaged the Qin forces at Yongqiu county, delivered another severe beating, and beheaded Li You, Li Si’s eldest son. Buoyed by these victories, Xiang Liang grew arrogant and began to underestimate the Qin army. Song Yi, the former Prime Minister of Chu, warned him, “Commanders become cocky and soldiers become sloppy after many victories, which often lead to defeat. Our soldiers are slackening while the Qin army is gaining strength. I worry for you.” Xiang Liang dismissed his advice and sent Song Yi to the Kingdom of Qi as his envoy.

On the road, Song Yi encountered the ambassador of Qi, Lord Gaoling, whose name was Xian. He asked Lord Gaoling, “Are you going to meet Lord Wuxin?” Lord Gaoling affirmed. Song Yi replied, “In my opinion, Lord Wuxin‘s troops will soon suffer a major loss. You would avoid death if you proceed slowly, by rushing in you’ll plunge into a disaster.” 

The Second Emperor sent reinforcements to Zhang Han‘s troops. Zhang Han launched an attack on Dingtao and crushed the Chu army. Xiang Liang was killed in the battle.

There were continuous rainfalls from July to September. 

Xiang Yu and the Duke of Pei laid siege to Waihuang county but failed to break in. They withdrew and attacked Chenliu county instead. Then came the news that Lord Wuxin was dead, which shook the rank and file. They led their troops eastward and joined forces with General Lü Chen. Together, they moved King Huai II of Chu from the capital Xuyi to the new capital, Pengcheng. Lü Chen‘s troops camped to the east of Pengcheng, while Xiang Yu‘s forces camped to the west. The Duke of Pei and his followers took a rest at Dang county.

Wei Bao had taken control of over twenty cities of Wei, and King Huai II of Chu awarded him the title of King of Wei.

In late September, King Huai II of Chu reorganized the troops under Lü Chen and Xiang Yu, bringing them directly under his command. He appointed the Duke of Pei as the prefect of Dang Commandery, granting him the title of Marquis Wu’an and command of the forces there. He also granted Xiang Yu the title of Marquis Chang’an with the moniker Duke of Lu. Lü Chen was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, and his father, Lü Qing, became the Prime Minister.

Zhang Han, believing that the armed forces of Chu were no longer a serious threat after the death of Xiang Liang, crossed the Yellow River and launched a raid on the Kingdom of Zhao. He crushed the Zhao army, conquered the city of Handan, relocated its residents to the south of the Yellow River, and dismantled the city’s fortifications. Zhang Er and the King of Zhao, Zhao Xie, fled to Julu county. General Wang Li of Qin then laid siege to Julu. Chen Yu regrouped tens of thousands of soldiers around Changshan commandery and camped to the north of Julu, while Zhang Han stationed his army in a town Jiyuan, to the south of Julu. The King of Zhao repeatedly appealed to the Kingdom of Chu for reinforcements.

Lord Gaoling, whose name is Xian, met with King Huai II of Chu and shared his conversation with Song Yi: “Song Yi predicted Lord Wuxin‘s demise. I stayed put for a few days, and indeed, the news came that the army of Chu had collapsed. He must be well-versed in warfare if he could foresee the outcome of a battle before it even began.” Impressed, King Huai II summoned Song Yi to discuss upcoming battles and was greatly impressed with his strategic plans. As a result, he appointed Song Yi as Commander-in-Chief, Xiang Yu as his lieutenant, and Fan Zeng as a General. He ordered them to come to the aid of Zhao, placing all other generals under Song Yi‘s command and granting him the title of Generalissimo.

King Huai II of Chu had made a pact among his commanders: “Whoever breaks into the Passes of Qin first will be made the King of Qin.” At this time, the army of Qin remained strong and often chased the allies troops northward through the momentum of victories. All commanders, except Xiang Yu, believed it was disadvantageous to assault the interior of the Kingdom of Qin. Xiang Yu, however, held a deep grudge against the army of Qin for killing Xiang Liang and volunteered to go west, entering Qin territory with the Duke of Pei. A few senior generals who had served alongside him advised King Huai II of Chu, “Xiang Yu has a brutal and devious personality. He obliterated the city and buried all its people alive when he conquered Xiangcheng. He leaves total devastation in his path. Previous expeditions against Qin by the Kingdom of Chu, such as those led by Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang, ended in failure. Our next Western Campaign should be led by a mature leader, with a righteous cause and calling for the support of the people of Qin. The people of Qin have suffered under their rulers for a long time. If a more experienced leader comes along who does not ransack their properties, he may be able to take down Qin‘s defenses. Please do not send Xiang Yu westward. Only the Duke of Pei, who is magnanimous and mature, should lead the Western Campaign.”

King Huai II of Chu disapproved of Xiang Yu‘s request and ordered the Duke of Pei to gather the dispersed soldiers from the troops of Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang and begin the westward campaign against Qin.

The Duke of Pei‘s army marched out of Dang county and attacked the Qin camps at Yangcheng county and Gangli county, successfully trampling down both camps.