Battle of Hefei (234)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Hefei, also known as the Battle of Xincheng, Hefei, was fought between the contending states of Cao Wei
and Eastern Wu
in 234 during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
.
of 234, Shu
's chancellor Zhuge Liang
launched a Northern Expedition against Wei for the fifth time. Shu requested assistance from its ally, Wu, to attack Wei together, and Wu's emperor Sun Quan
agreed.
. On the other hand, he also sent his generals Lu Xun
and Zhuge Jin
to garrison at Jiangxia (江夏) and Miankou (沔口), and they would attack Xiangyang (襄陽) from there. A third Wu army, led by Sun Shao and Zhang Cheng
advanced towards Guangling (廣陵) and Huaiyin (淮陰). In summary, Wu was attacking Wei from three directions.
The following month, Wei general Man Chong
wanted to lead reinforcements to support Zhang Ying (張穎), who was in charge of defending Xincheng. However, general Tian Yu
opposed Man Chong's idea, as he thought that Xincheng's defenses were adequate, and was worried that the Wu army might turn around to attack the Wei relief force. At that time, many Wei military personnel were on leave, so Man Chong requested for them to be recalled back, and gather them to resist the enemy. Liu Shao
felt that Man Chong should focus on defending instead of attacking, because the enemy was high on morale; the Wei court would first send 5,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry to relief Xincheng, and the troops should be spaced further apart, with more flags, banners, and war drums added, so as to create an impression of a large army. The enemy would retreat upon seeing the arrival of this "large army". The Wei emperor Cao Rui
approved Liu Shao's strategy and dispatched the suggested relief force.
Cao Rui disagreed with Man Chong's view, as he felt that Hefei, Xiangyang, and Mount Qi (祁山) were the three most important positions on Wei's eastern, southern and western borders respectively, so they already had sufficient defenses. In the seventh lunar month, Cao Rui personally led a naval fleet east to lift the siege on Xincheng. Man Chong recruited several men to set fire to the Wu army's siege engines, and Sun Quan's nephew Sun Tai (孫泰) was killed in the battle. At that time, many Wu soldiers were ill and Sun Quan decided to withdraw his troops when he learnt that Cao Rui's army was approaching. Sun Shao and Zhang Cheng also pulled back their forces when they heard that Sun Quan had withdrawn, while Lu Xun pressed on the attack at Xiangyang for some time but also retreated later.
Eastern Wu forces
} Sun Tai (孫泰)
. In the games, the battle is known as the "Battle of He Fei Castle", and is not to be confused with another stage (Battle of He Fei), which refers to the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
. There is also a version where Wu wins this battle.
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
and Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
in 234 during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Background
In the second lunar monthLunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
of 234, Shu
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
's chancellor Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
launched a Northern Expedition against Wei for the fifth time. Shu requested assistance from its ally, Wu, to attack Wei together, and Wu's emperor Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
agreed.
The battle
In the fifth lunar month, Sun Quan's army, claimed to be 100,000 strong, garrisoned at Chaohu (巢湖). Sun Quan personally led his troops to attack Wei's fortress at Xincheng (新城), HefeiHefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
. On the other hand, he also sent his generals Lu Xun
Lu Xun (Three Kingdoms)
Lu Xun was a military general and politician of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is best known for defeating Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Xiaoting in 222.-Early life:...
and Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin , style name Ziyu , was a military general and politician of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life:...
to garrison at Jiangxia (江夏) and Miankou (沔口), and they would attack Xiangyang (襄陽) from there. A third Wu army, led by Sun Shao and Zhang Cheng
Zhang Cheng
Zhang Cheng , style name Zhongsi , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
advanced towards Guangling (廣陵) and Huaiyin (淮陰). In summary, Wu was attacking Wei from three directions.
The following month, Wei general Man Chong
Man Chong
Man Chong , style name Boning , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
wanted to lead reinforcements to support Zhang Ying (張穎), who was in charge of defending Xincheng. However, general Tian Yu
Tian Yu
Tian Yu , style name Guorang , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Tian Yu joined Xiang Yang on the orders of Cao Rui when the Eastern Wu army invaded the northern region in a combined effort with Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. Lu Xun then...
opposed Man Chong's idea, as he thought that Xincheng's defenses were adequate, and was worried that the Wu army might turn around to attack the Wei relief force. At that time, many Wei military personnel were on leave, so Man Chong requested for them to be recalled back, and gather them to resist the enemy. Liu Shao
Liu Shao (Three Kingdoms)
Liu Shao, style name Kongcai , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He often provided advice to the emperor Cao Rui, and was praised by Cao Rui for his good advice, even though Cao Rui did not frequently actually act on the advice. He also...
felt that Man Chong should focus on defending instead of attacking, because the enemy was high on morale; the Wei court would first send 5,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry to relief Xincheng, and the troops should be spaced further apart, with more flags, banners, and war drums added, so as to create an impression of a large army. The enemy would retreat upon seeing the arrival of this "large army". The Wei emperor Cao Rui
Cao Rui
Cao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
approved Liu Shao's strategy and dispatched the suggested relief force.
Cao Rui disagreed with Man Chong's view, as he felt that Hefei, Xiangyang, and Mount Qi (祁山) were the three most important positions on Wei's eastern, southern and western borders respectively, so they already had sufficient defenses. In the seventh lunar month, Cao Rui personally led a naval fleet east to lift the siege on Xincheng. Man Chong recruited several men to set fire to the Wu army's siege engines, and Sun Quan's nephew Sun Tai (孫泰) was killed in the battle. At that time, many Wu soldiers were ill and Sun Quan decided to withdraw his troops when he learnt that Cao Rui's army was approaching. Sun Shao and Zhang Cheng also pulled back their forces when they heard that Sun Quan had withdrawn, while Lu Xun pressed on the attack at Xiangyang for some time but also retreated later.
Order of battle
Cao Wei forces- Cao RuiCao RuiCao Rui , formally known as Emperor Ming of Wei, was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a son of Cao Wei's first emperor Cao Pi according to Liu Song dynasty historian, Pei Songzhi, but was a son of Yuan Xi according to modern...
- Man ChongMan ChongMan Chong , style name Boning , was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
- Tian YuTian YuTian Yu , style name Guorang , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Tian Yu joined Xiang Yang on the orders of Cao Rui when the Eastern Wu army invaded the northern region in a combined effort with Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. Lu Xun then...
- Man Chong
- Zhang Ying (張穎)
Eastern Wu forces
- Sun QuanSun QuanSun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
} Sun Tai (孫泰)
-
- Quan CongQuan CongQuan Cong , style name Zihuang , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He married Sun Quan's oldest daughter Sun Luban. During the subjugation of the Shanyue, Quan achieved great success. Quan afterwards marched with Lu Xun to attack the Cao Wei...
- Quan Cong
Modern references
The battle is featured as a playable stage in Koei's video game series Dynasty WarriorsDynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
. In the games, the battle is known as the "Battle of He Fei Castle", and is not to be confused with another stage (Battle of He Fei), which refers to the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
The Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, also known as the Battle of Leisure Ford, Battle of Hefei, and Hefei Campaign, was fought between the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan between 215 and 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history over the control of Hefei...
. There is also a version where Wu wins this battle.