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During the Warring States period, Wei, once the strongest among the “Three Jins” (Wei, Zhao, Han), watched with alarm as Qin surged ahead under Shang Yang’s reforms. Determined not to be left behind, King Hui of Wei followed Duke Xiao of Qin’s example: he offered lavish rewards to attract brilliant minds from across the…
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In 506 BCE, King Helü of Wu launched a full-scale invasion of Chu, appointing Sun Tzu as supreme commander, Wu Zixu as deputy general, and his brother Prince Fugai as vanguard.
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Wu, originally a backward state, was able to rise rapidly largely due to the strong support of Jin. This was because Jin suffered a defeat in the Battle of Bi in 597 BCE. Jin then adopted the strategy of allying with Wu to jointly confront Chu. Consequently, Jin imparted considerable military technology to Wu,…
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In the turbulent struggle to unify northern China during the late Eastern Han dynasty, Cao Cao faced two primary threats: Yuan Shao, the dominant warlord of the north, and Lü Bu, the fearsome but unstable warrior who controlled key territories to the southeast. While Yuan Shao commanded vast armies and held sway over four…
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The Battle of Rangcheng (or Anzhong) in 198 AD stands not merely as a military engagement between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu, but as a profound case study in strategy, psychology, and leadership.
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In the first chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Yellow Turban Army intended to attack Qingzhou City. Governor Gong Jing sought help from Liu Yan, the governor of Zhuojun. Liu Yan ordered Zou Jing to lead 5,000 troops, along with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei’s forces, to break the siege…