Idiom story of a last-ditch battle

In October of the third year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (204 BC), Han general Han Xin led his army to attack Zhao, passed through Jingxingkou, and ordered the soldiers to position themselves with their backs to the river to fight the enemy. Han Xin, who was facing a powerful enemy with no way out, strengthened his soldiers' determination to fight to the death and defeated Zhao's army. "A last stand" is a metaphor for being in a desperate situation and fighting to the death for a way out.

Details:

"Historical Records: Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin" says that Han Xin was a military wizard in the Chu-Han War. In October of the third year of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty (204 BC), Han Xin led tens of thousands of newly recruited Han troops to cross the Taihang Mountains and attack Zhao State eastward. Chen Yu, Lord of Cheng'an, gathered 200,000 troops and occupied Jingxingkou, a strategic 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, when the Zhao army sees that our army is defeated and flees, they will definitely mobilize to chase our army. You rush into the Zhao army's camp, pull out the Zhao army's flag, and raise the Han Dynasty flag." The red flag of the army." 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 Mianman 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 his entire army 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.

After the war, someone asked: "In the art of war, it is said that you have to form an array with your back to the mountain and facing the water. This time we fought with our back to the water and actually won. Why?" Han Xin said: "In the art of war, we fought with our backs to the water and we actually won." Isn't it also said that "you will survive after being trapped in death, and you will survive after being trapped in death"? "Extended information

1. The usage of "a last stand"

Continuously. Verb; used as predicate and attributive; metaphor for fighting an enemy to the death in difficult situations

2. Example:

(1) Frustration also has dual nature. It can put people to death, or it can put people to death and survive. He had no choice but to fight.

(2) In order to succeed, you must have a "fight to the last resort" attitude.

3. Synonyms:

Break the cauldron: meaning to break the rice pot, Sinking the ferry is a metaphor for leaving no escape route and having to win the battle. Determined to fight to the end regardless.

Source: "Historical Records·The Chronicles of Xiang Yu": "Xiang Yu led his troops across the river, but all the boats sank, the cauldrons were broken, the huts were burned, and he held three days of food to show that the soldiers would die and none of them would return the favor."

Explanation: Xiang Yu led his troops across the Yellow River. All the boats sank, cauldrons were broken, houses were burned down, and he carried three days' worth of dry food to show that he was certain to die, and no one wanted to return the favor.

4. Antonyms:

Flee in the face of the wind: Seeing the opponent's strong momentum from a distance, you are so scared that you run away, without the courage to face the powerful enemy.

Source: "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong of the Ming Dynasty: "Cao Cao, with millions of people, heard my name and fled in the wind. Who do you dare not to surrender now?"

Interpretation: Cao Cao has millions of people. When they hear my name, they flee. Who are you now? How dare you not surrender!