The Rise of a Strategic Mastermind

Han Xin (d. 196 BCE), a native of Huaiyin, emerged as one of the most brilliant military strategists of early Han Dynasty China. Born into humble circumstances during the chaotic transition from the Qin Dynasty, he mastered classical military treatises and developed innovative battlefield tactics that would later earn him legendary status. His career unfolded against the backdrop of the Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BCE), a brutal civil war between the rebel leader Liu Bang (later Emperor Gaozu of Han) and his rival, the formidable Xiang Yu of Chu.

Unlike aristocratic generals, Han Xin rose through merit. His early life was marked by struggle—legend tells of him enduring humiliation from a local bully before dedicating himself to military study. When the Qin Dynasty collapsed in 206 BCE, he initially served under Xiang Yu but defected to Liu Bang after recognizing the latter’s potential to unite China. This decision would alter the course of history.

Decisive Campaigns That Changed History

Han Xin’s military genius manifested in three pivotal campaigns that crippled Xiang Yu’s dominance:

1. The Northern Expedition (205–204 BCE)
After securing Liu Bang’s western base, Han Xin launched a daring northern campaign. At the Battle of Jingxing, he famously arrayed troops with their backs to a river—a violation of conventional wisdom—to motivate his soldiers to fight desperately. His victory over the Zhao kingdom demonstrated his mastery of psychological warfare.

2. The Conquest of Qi (203 BCE)
Against the powerful Qi state, Han Xin employed deception. He feigned retreat to lure Qi forces into a trap at the Wei River, where he manipulated water levels using sandbags to divide and annihilate the enemy. This campaign isolated Xiang Yu geographically and economically.

3. The Gaixia Campaign (202 BCE)
At the climactic Battle of Gaixia, Han Xin orchestrated a multi-layered encirclement. He commanded 300,000 troops—a third of the Han alliance’s forces—to systematically exhaust Xiang Yu’s elite cavalry. The “surrender or die” strategy, combined with psychological tactics (including the infamous “songs of Chu” to demoralize the enemy), led to Xiang Yu’s suicide and Han’s ultimate victory.

The “More Is Better” Philosophy

Central to Han Xin’s strategy was his doctrine of duō duō yì shàn (“the more, the better”). This countered Xiang Yu’s qualitative edge with quantitative superiority:

– Logistical Brilliance: He transformed conscripts into disciplined armies through rigorous training and standardized logistics.
– Political Integration: By absorbing defeated forces into Han’s ranks, he turned military victories into sustainable territorial control.
– Economic Warfare: His campaigns systematically severed Xiang Yu’s supply lines while securing resource-rich regions like Qi’s fertile plains.

When Emperor Gaozu once asked how many troops Han Xin could command, the general famously replied, “For me, the more, the better”—a testament to his ability to scale operations without losing tactical cohesion.

Cultural Legacy and Tragic Downfall

Han Xin’s influence extended beyond warfare:

– Military Theory: His lost three-volume treatise reportedly synthesized classical Chinese strategy with innovative tactics. Alongside strategist Zhang Liang, he curated 35 essential texts from 182 pre-Qin military works.
– Proverbs and Idioms: Phrases like bèi shuǐ yī zhàn (“fight with one’s back to the river”) entered Chinese lexicon as metaphors for decisive action.
– Martial Worship: Later dynasties venerated him as the “God of War,” with temples erected in his honor.

Yet his political naivety proved fatal. After the war, Liu Bang grew suspicious of Han Xin’s popularity. Demoted from King of Chu to Marquis of Huaiyin, he was eventually executed by Empress Lü in 196 BCE on dubious treason charges—a grim reminder of imperial China’s precarious power dynamics.

Enduring Relevance

Han Xin’s campaigns remain studied in military academies worldwide for their operational creativity. Modern parallels include:
– Deception Tactics: Comparable to Allied operations in WWII’s Operation Fortitude.
– Resource Management: His “more is better” principle echoes in industrial-age warfare’s reliance on mass production.
– Adaptive Leadership: His ability to tailor strategies to terrain and enemy psychology prefigured modern asymmetric warfare.

Though his writings are lost, Sun Tzu’s Art of War likely preserves fragments of his thinking. As the Tang Dynasty historian Sima Zhen noted, “Among all strategists past and present, none surpassed Han Xin.” His life—from beggar to general to martyr—encapsulates the triumphs and tragedies of China’s imperial founding.