Stories related to the Last Stand

In October of the third year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (204 BC), Han Xin led 10,000 newly recruited Han troops across the Taihang Mountains and headed east to attack Zhao, Xiang Yu's vassal state. King Zhao and General Chen Yu gathered 200,000 troops and occupied Jingxingkou, a choke point east of the Taihang Mountains, preparing to fight. To the west of Jingxingkou, there is a narrow road about a hundred miles long, with mountains on both sides. The road is narrow and Han Xin must pass through it. Zhao Jun's counselor Li Zuoche proposed a plan: defend the front without fighting, send troops to the back to cut off Han Xin's food route, and trap Han Xin to death in the narrow road of Jingxing. Chen Yu refused to listen and said: "Han Xin only has a few thousand men and can attack thousands of miles away. If we avoid attacking, won't we make the princes laugh?"

After Han Xin found out the news, he quickly led the Han army to enter. The narrow road of Jingxing was set up camp thirty miles away from the entrance of Jingxing. In the middle of the night, Han Xin sent two thousand light cavalry, each carrying a Han army flag, to ambush behind the Zhao army's camp via the trail. Han Xin warned: "During the battle, if the Zhao army sees that our army is defeated, they will definitely come out to chase me." Army, you rush into the Zhao army's camp, pull down the Zhao army's flag, and raise the Han army's red flag." After the rest of the Han army ate some simple dry food, they immediately marched towards Jingxingkou. When they arrived at Jingxingkou, the troops crossed the Naoman River and formed a formation with their backs to the water. When Zhao Jun saw them from a distance, they all laughed at Han Xin.

After dawn, Han Xin set up the general's flag and guard of honor, and led the crowd out of Jingxingkou. Chen Yu led the elite light cavalry to swarm out to capture Han Xin alive. Han Xin pretended to abandon his flag and drum and fled back to his position by the river. Chen Yu ordered the entire Zhao army to attack and attack the Han army's position. Since the Han army had no way to retreat, they all fought bravely to take the lead. The two sides fought for half a day, but Zhao Jun could not win. At this time, Zhao Jun wanted to retreat to the camp, but found that his camp was full of Han army flags, and the team was immediately in chaos. Han Xin took advantage of the situation and counterattacked. Zhao Jun was defeated, Chen Yu died in battle, and King Zhao was captured.