The Rise of Peng Yue: Master of Guerrilla Tactics

The Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BCE) was a pivotal conflict following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, pitting the warlords Xiang Yu of Chu against Liu Bang of Han in a struggle for supremacy. Among the many commanders who shaped this era, Peng Yue emerged as a formidable thorn in Xiang Yu’s side. A former fisherman turned rebel leader, Peng Yue mastered the art of guerrilla warfare, striking at Chu’s vulnerable rear areas whenever Xiang Yu was preoccupied elsewhere.

Operating primarily in the eastern regions near the Yellow River, Peng Yue’s forces avoided direct confrontation with Xiang Yu’s main army. Instead, they harassed supply lines, raided undefended towns, and even boldly threatened to capture the strategic city of Xuzhou. His tactics were so effective that whenever Xiang Yu personally led troops to suppress him, Peng Yue would simply retreat across the Yellow River, preserving his forces for future strikes.

Xiang Yu’s Frustration and Strategic Dilemma

Xiang Yu, the formidable “Hegemon-King of Western Chu,” was a peerless battlefield commander but struggled to counter Peng Yue’s elusive tactics. Each time Xiang Yu turned his attention westward to confront Liu Bang, Peng Yue would reemerge, destabilizing Chu’s heartland. This forced Xiang Yu into a costly cycle of marching back and forth, exhausting his troops and resources.

In 204 BCE, while Xiang Yu was distracted by Peng Yue’s raids, Liu Bang seized the opportunity to recapture Chenggao and relieve the siege of Yingyang. Enraged, Xiang Yu abandoned his pursuit of Peng Yue and rushed westward, personally leading a brutal assault on Yingyang. After a fierce battle, the city fell, and its Han defenders were executed—most notably Zhou Ke, who defiantly refused surrender and was boiled alive.

Liu Bang’s Cunning and the Seizure of Han Xin’s Army

With Xiang Yu preoccupied, Liu Bang executed one of the war’s most audacious maneuvers. Disguised as a messenger, he infiltrated the camp of his own general, Han Xin, who had been campaigning independently in the north. Before dawn, Liu Bang seized Han Xin’s command seals, reassigned his officers, and absorbed his army into his own forces. This bold move significantly strengthened Liu Bang’s position, allowing him to resume the offensive.

The Eastern Front: Peng Yue’s Resurgence and Chu’s Collapse

While Xiang Yu was bogged down in the west, Peng Yue—now reinforced by Liu Bang’s generals Liu Jia and Lu Wan—launched another devastating campaign in Chu’s rear. His forces captured 17 cities, including Suiyang and Waihuang, severing Xiang Yu’s supply lines to Pengcheng (Chu’s capital). Faced with this crisis, Xiang Yu was forced to abandon his western campaign and march east once more, leaving his subordinate Cao Jiu to defend Chenggao.

Cao Jiu, however, fell for a Han ruse. After days of enduring insults from Han troops, he impulsively abandoned his defensive position and attacked—only to be ambushed while crossing the Si River. His defeat and subsequent suicide handed Liu Bang a critical victory, allowing the Han to retake Chenggao and reestablish their defensive line.

The Psychological War: Xiang Yu vs. Liu Bang

The conflict’s most dramatic confrontation occurred at Guangwu, where the two rivals faced each other across a deep ravine. In a famous exchange, Xiang Yu challenged Liu Bang to single combat to end the war. Liu Bang refused, instead publicly listing Xiang Yu’s “Ten Great Crimes”—including the murder of Emperor Yi of Chu, the massacre of surrendered Qin soldiers, and his tyrannical rule.

Enraged, Xiang Yu shot Liu Bang with a crossbow bolt, wounding him in the chest. Liu Bang, ever the master of deception, pretended it was only a foot injury to maintain morale. The stalemate continued for months, with both sides unable to break the deadlock.

The Fall of Chu and the Legacy of Peng Yue

Peng Yue’s relentless guerrilla campaign, combined with Han Xin’s northern victories and Liu Bang’s resilience, gradually eroded Chu’s strength. By 203 BCE, Xiang Yu’s once-invincible army was exhausted, his territories shrinking. The final blow came at the Battle of Gaixia (202 BCE), where Xiang Yu, surrounded and outmaneuvered, chose suicide over surrender.

Peng Yue’s role in this victory cannot be overstated. His ability to tie down Chu’s forces, disrupt logistics, and force Xiang Yu into strategic blunders was instrumental in Han’s ultimate triumph. Though often overshadowed by Han Xin and Zhang Liang, Peng Yue’s mastery of asymmetric warfare marked him as one of history’s earliest and most effective guerrilla leaders.

Conclusion: The Tactical Innovations of the Chu-Han Conflict

The Chu-Han Contention was not merely a clash of armies but a contest of strategic philosophies. Xiang Yu represented brute force and personal heroism, while Liu Bang—aided by tacticians like Peng Yue—embraced flexibility, deception, and psychological warfare. Peng Yue’s campaigns demonstrated how smaller, mobile forces could outmaneuver a superior enemy, a lesson that would resonate through centuries of military history.

In the end, it was not just strength but adaptability that decided China’s fate—a lesson as relevant today as it was over two millennia ago.