The Rise and Fall of a Resurrected Kingdom
The collapse of Western Wei in 205 BCE marked a decisive turning point in the power struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu. This episode reveals much about the fragile alliances of the post-Qin era and the military genius of Han Xin, whose northern campaign would reshape the course of Chinese history.
Wei Bao, descendant of Wei royalty, had initially allied with Liu Bang during the anti-Xiang Yu coalition. However, following the disastrous Battle of Pengcheng, Wei Bao abandoned the Han cause, sealing off Yellow River crossings and defecting back to Chu. This betrayal forced Liu Bang to confront a dangerous new threat on his northern flank.
The Strategic Chessboard of Post-Qin China
The territorial arrangements following Xiang Yu’s division of the former Qin empire created simmering resentments. Wei Bao’s Western Wei kingdom received only the Hedong commandery – a fraction of historic Wei lands – while valuable territories went to Chu and the newly created Yin state. This calculated slight by Xiang Yu planted seeds of discontent that Liu Bang would later exploit.
The geography proved crucial. Control of the Yellow River crossings at Linjin and Xiayang meant command of movement between Guanzhong and the Central Plains. The ancient ferry at Xiayang, where legend spoke of carp transforming into dragons, would become the site of Han Xin’s masterstroke.
Han Xin’s Military Brilliance Unveiled
Facing Wei Bao’s defection, Liu Bang dispatched master strategist Han Xin with a formidable command team: Cao Can for infantry, Guan Ying for cavalry. The subsequent campaign demonstrated textbook deception and mobility.
Han Xin’s forces staged elaborate feints at Linjin, convincing Wei Bao to concentrate defenses at Pujin. Meanwhile, the main army secretly marched north to Xiayang, where troops constructed floating bridges using wooden barrels – an innovation recalling earlier Qin river crossings. This unexpected maneuver allowed Han Xin to outflank Wei defenses completely.
The rapid capture of Anyi severed Wei Bao’s lines of communication, forcing a desperate retreat that ended with his capture at Quyang. Within months, Han Xin secured all fifty-two counties of Western Wei, eliminating a key Chu ally and gaining vital territory.
The Northern Theater: A Strategic Masterstroke
Han Xin’s subsequent proposal to Liu Bang outlined an ambitious northern campaign that would prove decisive. Recognizing the stalemate at Xingyang, he advocated striking through Dai, Zhao, Yan and Qi to encircle Xiang Yu’s forces. This “right hook” strategy would:
– Deny Chu access to northern resources
– Threaten Chu supply lines
– Force Xiang Yu to divide his attention
The appointment of Zhang Er as Han Xin’s co-commander carried particular significance. As former ruler of Zhao and longtime Liu Bang ally, Zhang Er’s presence lent legitimacy to operations against former friend-turned-foe Chen Yu.
The Legacy of Wei’s Collapse
The fall of Western Wei demonstrated several enduring military principles:
1. Terrain Intelligence: Han Xin’s meticulous reconnaissance of river crossings proved decisive
2. Deception Warfare: The Linjin feint remains a classic example of operational misdirection
3. Logistical Innovation: The barrel bridges at Xiayang showcased adaptive engineering
Historically, this campaign marked the beginning of Han Xin’s legendary northern sweep that would culminate at Gaixia. The absorption of Wei’s territories provided Liu Bang with critical resources and manpower, while removing a potential second front against his heartland.
The episode also reveals the fragile nature of post-Qin alliances. Wei Bao’s defection – motivated both by strategic calculation and personal offense at Liu Bang’s manner – exemplifies how personal dynamics shaped the contours of the Chu-Han contention.
Echoes Through Military History
Centuries later, Tang generals would study Han Xin’s Wei campaign when planning crossings of the Yellow River. Even in modern times, the Xiayang crossing site maintained strategic importance – Zhu De’s Eighth Route Army traversed the same region in 1937 during the Anti-Japanese War.
The rapid collapse of Wei Bao’s kingdom serves as a timeless lesson about the perils of overextended defenses and the value of strategic mobility. Han Xin’s ability to turn a political betrayal into a strategic opportunity remains one of the most brilliant operational pivots in Chinese military history.