The mystery of Han Xin’s “Battle of Jingxing”: Where is the ancient battlefield?

(Liu Yushu) In 204 BC, Han Xin and Zhang Er led 30,000 Han troops to set up a formation on the banks of the Mianman River in Jingxing and defeated the 200,000 Zhao troops commanded by Zhao Wangxie and Chen Yu. Xie was captured, Chen Yu was beheaded, and Zhao was destroyed. So, where was the ancient battlefield of the Last Battle? There are four written explanations: Weishui, Weizhou, Tianchang Town (original Jingxing City), Luquan (Huolu) Tumen. In this regard, I would like to share my personal views. The Theory of Tumen This was proposed by someone in an article on the Internet not long ago. This is nonsense. Luquan Tumen was historically regarded as the east entrance of Jingxing Pass and Jingxing Pass. It is about 30 miles away from Jingxing Weishui and also far away from Jingxing Weizhou (the northwest direction of Bailuquan, Hushen, Duanzhuang and Pingwang). Less than 30 miles away, the straight line distance from Mianman River (excluding the mountains and ravines in the middle) is about 25 miles. There is neither river nor water in Tumen. How can we form an array with the water behind us? It is possible to garrison troops here and set up camp to guard Jingxingkou; or it is possible to say that before Han Xin set up the formation with his back to the water, Zhao Jun's base camp was already stationed on the Tumen-Hushen-Pingwang line, but there was still a little bit of it; , its geographical environment does not match. Picture of the Battle of Backwater (original version of "Death of Chu? Battle of Backwater") The theory of Tianchang Town This theory may be related to the two stone tablets. The first is a stone tablet written by Huo Peng in the 29th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (AD 1601) for the newly built Huaiyin Marquis Temple in Xiguan, Jingxing City. However, the inscription only gave a very brief comment on Han Xin and did not mention the formation of the battle against the enemy. Another thing is that there was a stone tablet ""The place where the Marquis of Huaiyin talked about military affairs"" in Hedongpo Village outside the old city. The text on the tablet is ""Inscribed by Fan Zhiwan of Zhongzhou in Chongzhen Wuyin of the Ming Dynasty (1638 AD)". Hedongpo Village is located in The ancient road from Shanxi to Jingxing is divided into two roads, the south and the north. It is possible that when the Han army arrived here, Han Xin taught his troops the art of war, or divided the army into two roads here, and the main force went there. On the northern route (the main road), two thousand Qingqi took the southern route. There is no conclusive written record of whether Han Xin taught the art of war here, it is just a legend; 1842 years passed between 204 BC and 1638 AD. There are good things for future generations. The purpose of erecting a stele here is just to promote this "beautiful legend". These two stele stones can only show that Han Xin once led his army to pass by this place or stationed his army here. It is impossible to say that he formed an array with his back to the water. The river bed here is narrow, making it difficult to set up formations and battlefields. Professor Li Kaiyuan, a famous historian, held this view and wrote "The Battle of the Backwater" and "Jingxing Visit to the Ancient Battlefield" (in "The Death of Chu"). 》Chapter 3). The author went to Jingxing for on-site interviews in June 2012 to look for the ancient battlefield. After the guests came, the Jingxing County Party Committee History Office and the County Cultural Management Office provided enthusiastic assistance and received "" instruction and guidance" ( Li Yuan's words). The "Chronicles of Jingxing County" written by Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty contains a complete map of Jingxing County. After Mr. Li visited the site, he felt that the ancient sites of the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties in Jingxing County were all concentrated on the North Road. Jingxing Ancient Road since the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties. To the north of Bei'an Village in Weizhou Town, there are the ruins of the ancient city of Weizhou. It was built in the Warring States Period and was a fortress guarding Jingxing Road in the southern part of the Zhongshan Kingdom. It was called Manmeng City in ancient times. It was a battlefield in many wars between Zhao and Zhongshan. . "It is believed that" "The ruins of the ancient city of Weizhou are located on the east bank of the Mianman River. They not only controlled the main road from Chujingxing Road to the north to Zhongshan Kingdom (today's Pingshan County), but also guarded the Chujingxing Road to the east to Zhao Kingdom (today's Luquan). The fortress. It can be said to be the most important pass on the east side of Gujingxing Road. Chen Yujun's station should be in this area. The distance between the ancient city of Weizhou and the Mianman River is only two kilometers, and the terrain is open and flat. It is an ancient battlefield where battle formations can be played out. So I thought back to that year, when the general of the Zhao army standing at the top of the Weizhou city saw Han Xin's army arrayed against the water, he couldn't help laughing..." I completely agree with Professor Li. The textual information on "The Theory of Weishui" is mainly written by Wu Wennan This article was reprinted in the "Yiwenzhi Chapter" of "Jingxing County Chronicles" compiled in the 8th year of Yongzheng's reign and the "Jingxing County Chronicles" compiled in the 20th year of the Republic of China. Map of Jingxing County (part) (1981 edition) Wu Wennan was born in Haining, Zhejiang Province. He served as magistrate of Jingxing County from the 21st to the 28th year of Kangxi. The inscription was inscribed in the 27th year of Kangxi.

The main basis for the " " confirmation" is that in "Historical Records: Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin", " " the Marquis wanted to go to Jingxing, King Zhao and Cheng'an Jun Chen Yu gathered 200,000 troops at the entrance of Jingxing. "The prince stopped thirty miles before he reached Jingxingkou," and so on. The magistrate of Wuzhi County used the argument that "the little water is exactly thirty miles away from Tumen" and concluded that " In short, there is no doubt that the formation is in Weishui Village. "Some literature and history enthusiasts also hold the Weishui theory. The evidence is that there are Chen Yu temples, tombs and related inscriptions built on Baishi Ridge, and Han Dynasty weapons and so on were unearthed in the Weishui area. A historian once said: " "History cannot be reversed, but history can be experienced. The real feeling of on-site inspection can transcend time and space and reproduce the image of history. I really believe it! ” He also said, “History is not only the record of past events, but also the interpretation of past events. " Regarding the above four theories, there is no dispute that the ancient battlefield was not in Huolutumen Village and Jingxing Tianchang Town. Here, I can only talk about "Weishui Theory" and "Weizhou Theory" based on personal visits and observations. View of Baishiling Ancient Post Road (Photographed in 1978) From what I saw on the spot, Wu's "Inscriptions on Steles" said, ""We can see Weishui when looking from Baishiling, but not when looking at Weizhou Town from Baishiling. "" "The formation of formations against the water is definitely not in Weizhou." "Wuzhi County has served in Jingxing for 8 years. I wonder if he has climbed Baishi Ridge, set foot on Qingshi Ridge, or set foot on the road from Weizhou to Pingwang before writing this inscription? Also, Wuzhi County has probably not been there or not at all. I didn’t know that there is another road leading to Jingxing outside the boundary of Jingxing and directly connected to Huolu County, that is, the road from Tumen through Bailuquan and Pingwang to Weizhou; and the north road under Qingshiling passes through Weizhou and passes Pingwang to Weizhou. Tumen is about ""exactly thirty miles"". From 1969 to 1975, I worked and lived in Weizhou, and traveled many times between Weizhou and Nan and Beipingwang. This stretch of road has a wide view and is relatively flat. It is much easier than going from Weishui to Baiwangzhuang and crossing Baishiling; and not far from Pingwang Village is the border of Huolu County. If you walk right to Duanzhuang, Hushen, Bailuquan and other villages, you will reach Tumen about 10 miles away. Village. My students in Pingwang said that people in their village often go directly to the deer market from the east of the village. If they go to Shijiazhuang, they take the Duanzhuang, Bailuquan, and Tumen roads, and rarely go around Weizhou and Jingyan. Then, take National Highway 307 after passing Shang'an. When you climb up to Tunao (commonly known as Monkey Mountain) behind Weizhou Nangou and Zhaiwan Village, you will not only have a sweeping view of the wide Mianman River, but you can also directly observe the river. The Gudi Village and Qingshi Ridge on the opposite bank line the Tomb of General Bai Mian on Baishi Ridge (photographed in 1978). Locals often say that "City Land" is a "Feng Shui Treasure Land", which refers to the area occupied by Hongqi Factory behind Bei'an Village. The terrain here is not only flat, but the adjacent Dustpan Palm (Mountain) also holds it tightly in the arms of " ". This "treasure land" belonged to Zhongshan Kingdom during the Warring States Period, and Manmeng City was built there; Experts have verified that the Mianman State was also established around this site, which governs parts of the Jingxing, Pingshan, and Huolu areas today. In the early 1960s, many ancient tombs and cultural relics were unearthed during the construction of the Hongqi Factory. . I often enter the factory area, which covers an area of ​​about 2 square kilometers, not counting the training area outside its walls. In 1975, I was transferred to the county town of Weizhou to work. After that, I stayed at the Baiwangzhuang (then called Xiangyang) school for two consecutive years. The shortest route to Baiwangzhuang is to cross Baishi Ridge. I can’t remember how many times I have walked there. At that time, the Dongmen Gate, stage, tea shed, Chen Yu Temple, Chen Yu Tomb, and stone tablets on Baishi Ridge had all turned into ruins. . I remember the tomb of Chen Yu in the grass. Behind the stone monument was not a mound but a large pit. It was probably excavated when the "Four Olds" were destroyed during the "Cultural Revolution". Standing on the top of the mountain, you can't see the endless... Not to mention that you can watch the troops deploying their troops and forming their formations with their backs to the water. Most of the ancient buildings on the mountains that have become ruins date from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as those from the Republic of China. There is insufficient evidence to say that weapons from the Han Dynasty have been found here. Many cultural relics have been excavated along the Mianman River. More cultural relics have been found in Duanzhuang, Dongyuan Village and other places downstream, and they are of earlier date. Pay attention to the ancient battlefield of the Backwater. Readers of "Jingxing History and Culture" (Cultural Relics and Monuments Volume) can read the two sections ""Ancient Site·Jingxing Ancient Post Road"" and ""Ancient City Site·Weizhou Ancient City Site". The authors Meng Fanfeng, Hu Qiuming and Xu Liyang are all well-known historians and cultural scholars.

Baishiling? Dongtianmen (photo taken in 1978) Looking at the satellite map, it is inferred that the development of science and technology has broadened our horizons. Turn on your computer and go online, and search Google or Baidu for topographic maps taken by satellites in Weishui, Weizhou, Qingshiling, and Tumen. The locations of mountains, rivers, ravines, and gullies are clear at a glance. Was Han Xin's main battlefield at Jingxing located in Weishui or in Weizhou? Combining the above Weishui theory and Weizhou theory and the satellite positioning topographic map, I deduce this: Han Xin attacked Zhao State eastward, entered Jingxing from Gantaoyi and Guguan in Shanxi, and divided his troops into two groups on the east slope of the river in Tianchang Town, Jingxing ( ""Huaiyin Marquis's Military Affairs Office"), the main force took the northern route, namely Tianchang Town-Qingquan-Tianhu-Qingshiling-Weizhou; two thousand Qingqi rushed to the southern route at night, passing Weishui-Baishiling-Bailuquan, the secret Inserted into the Baodu Village area. At that time, the county seat was in Tianhu (located on the northern line), which was the political, cultural and economic center of Jingxing. It was undoubtedly the county seat that passed through the north until the Southern Song Dynasty when the Jingxing County seat was moved to the current Tianchang Town. It was not until the 16th year (1618) that the south road was changed. Due to the replacement of the north and south roads, the north road became depressed and desolate. By the way, Qin Shihuang died of illness in the sand dunes, and his coffin passed through Jingxing through the north road. The battlefield of the battle should generally refer to the area from Weishui on the Mianman River to Weizhou. Two thousand Han troops rushed from Weishan to "Gangshan". It is also a battlefield. It is 30 miles from Tumen to Weishui, and it is only 30 miles from Tumen to Weizhou. 30 Huali. "The place of "Zhishe" should be the bank of the continuous river at the foot of Qingshi Ridge." Zhao Jun laughed when he saw it. "Standing at the top of Manmeng City or on the high ground near Weizhou, facing the Mianman River, I observed the Han army's formation behind the water, and "" laughed at the sight." On the contrary, standing at Baishi Ridge, I couldn't see Mianman. You can't see the formation behind the river. Zhang Er had to distinguish between Qingshi Ridge and Baishi Ridge as the main road back then, so he wouldn't use Weishui as the main battlefield according to the terrain shown by the satellite positioning. The territory of Weizhou is relatively open, so the Zhao army should set up camp at the line from Tumen to Pingwang, which makes it easier to attack. This also creates an empty line from Baishiling to Baodu Village, which creates conditions for the Han army to go around "Gangshan" to hide. The Han army's light cavalry attacked the Zhao army's base camp, and the mastermind was probably Zhang Er. According to "Historical Records: Biography of Zhang Er and Chen Yu", both Zhang and Chen were from Daliang, Wei State. "Yu was young and his father was Zhang Er." The two of them fought each other to death. "Initially, the two men followed Chen She and raised armies at the same time. They successively appointed Wu Chen and Zhao Xie as the kings of Zhao. They were responsible for the Zhao Kingdom. Chen Yu was the general and Zhang Er was the prime minister. After the battle of Julu, the two turned against each other and became enemies. Later, Zhang Er was granted the title of King of Changshan by Xiang Yu, and made Zhixin (now Xingtai) the capital and renamed it Xiangguo. In the third year of the Han Dynasty, he defected to Liu Bang, and after Han Xin destroyed Wei, Liu Bang sent Zhang Er to follow Han Xin to attack. After the destruction of Zhao, Zhang Er was appointed King of Zhao. Zhang Er had been active in the Zhao State for a long time, and he was familiar with the geography and environment of Jingxing. Zhang Er was indispensable to Han Xin's victory. (Sourced from the Internet. Intrusion and deletion)