Burn one's bridges Why did Xiang Yu sink and smash a boat?

Xiang Yu served as the commander-in-chief of Zhao Dajun, ordered the soldiers to bring enough food for three days each, and then ordered to smash all the cooking pots used for marching. The soldiers were shocked. Xiang Yu said, "No need for a pot. We can go into battle lightly and save Zhao immediately. He is in danger! As for eating, let's go to Zhang Han military camp and take a pot to cook! " When the army crossed the zhāng River, Xiang Yu ordered the soldiers to sink all the ferries and burn all the marching tents. The soldiers saw that their retreat was gone, and no one could live without winning the battle.

Xiang Yu's Chu army quickly surrounded Wang Li's army and launched nine fierce battles with Qin Jun. The Chu army crossing the river took one as ten, and ten as a hundred. They were all tigers in the mountains and fought bravely. On the battlefield, smoke covered the sky and the sound of ShaSheng was deafening. The soldiers of the Chu army fought harder and harder, and the earth shook and the blood became a river. After many confrontations, the Chu army finally defeated Qin Jun, killed the Qin general Su Jiao and captured Wang Li. The parties concerned were beaten to death and set themselves on fire (fén). Zhang Han hurried back with beaten army. When the reinforcements sent by the old nobles saw Xiang Yu's victory, they both admired and feared. From then on, Xiang Yu became a general, and all the vassal armies were under his command.

Zhang Han led the beaten army to retreat for dozens of miles, and sent people to Xianyang for help. However, Zhao Gao was busy seizing the throne and no reinforcements were sent. In desperation, Zhang Han led the rest of the Qin soldiers to surrender to Xiang Yu.