Battle of Pengcheng
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Pengcheng (彭城之戰) was fought in Pengcheng (now in Xuzhou
, Jiangsu
, China
) in 205 BC
between Chu
forces led by Xiang Yu
and Han forces led by Liu Bang. The Han forces were unprepared and suffered heavy losses. Several of Liu Bang's family members were captured and some of his allies defected to Chu as a result of his defeat.
, following all the way to the northern coast of the Shandong
peninsula a campaign of terror: burning homes; burying alive captured soldiers; capturing women, the weak, and the elderly. Tian Heng, brother of Tian Rong, the slain former ruler of Qi, gathered tens of thousands of soldiers and rebelled in Chengyang (in present-day Qingdao
, Shandong). At the beginning of summer, Tian Heng installed Tian Rong's son Tian Guang as King of Qi. Xiang Yu was unable to dislodge him, but planned on dealing with Qi first before returning his military attention to Han.
With Xiang Yu thus occupied, Liu Bang collected a force of 560,000 troops from his subordinate lands, and marched east to attack Chu. En route, he encountered Peng Yue
, who joined his cause upon promise of a fiefdom in Wei
. Rather than combine forces, Liu Bang sent Peng Yue's 30,000 troops to pacify the surrounding area. Liu Bang's army entered Xiang Yu's capital of Pengcheng apparently unopposed, looting its valuables and taking its women, but discipline was lax and each day found the Han troops deeper in their cups.
, Anhui
. At dawn, Xiang Yu launched an attack on Pengcheng, and by noon had broken the unprepared Han army.
Routing, the Han infantry fled into the nearby Gu (穀) and Si
(泗) rivers, killing over 100,000 of them. The remaining troops fled south to high ground, but were cornered by Chu forces by the Sui (睢) river, where another 100,000 Han troops drowned, their corpses damming up the river.
Liu Bang escaped the city with a handful of mounted bodyguards, heading to nearby Pei
to collect his family. Chu also dispatched troops to Pei in an attempt to capture Liu Bang's family. His family had all fled, but Liu Bang encountered on the road his eldest daughter and eldest son, the future Emperor Hui of Han
. The Chu army coerced a local into leading them to two of Liu Bang's family: his father and wife, the future Empress Lü
. These two Xiang Yu captured and placed in his army as hostages. One account states Liu Bang's mother was also captured.
A famous and possibly fictional account of Liu Bang's flight portrays him as so fearful that he thrice dumps his children out of his chariot in order to move faster, and it is only the repeated intervention of Xiahou Ying
that secures the children's escape.
and Dong Yi
abandoned him for Chu. Xiang Yu gained in reputation and power, but continued to deal with problems in Qi.
Xuzhou
Xuzhou , otherwise known as Pengcheng in ancient times, is a major city in and the fourth largest prefecture-level city of Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
) in 205 BC
205 BC
Year 205 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Africanus and Dives...
between Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
forces led by Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
and Han forces led by Liu Bang. The Han forces were unprepared and suffered heavy losses. Several of Liu Bang's family members were captured and some of his allies defected to Chu as a result of his defeat.
Background
In the spring of -205, Xiang Yu was putting down rebellions in QiQi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, following all the way to the northern coast of the Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
peninsula a campaign of terror: burning homes; burying alive captured soldiers; capturing women, the weak, and the elderly. Tian Heng, brother of Tian Rong, the slain former ruler of Qi, gathered tens of thousands of soldiers and rebelled in Chengyang (in present-day Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
, Shandong). At the beginning of summer, Tian Heng installed Tian Rong's son Tian Guang as King of Qi. Xiang Yu was unable to dislodge him, but planned on dealing with Qi first before returning his military attention to Han.
With Xiang Yu thus occupied, Liu Bang collected a force of 560,000 troops from his subordinate lands, and marched east to attack Chu. En route, he encountered Peng Yue
Peng Yue
Peng Yue , style name Zhong , was a prominent military leader and political figure in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty. He was involved in the Chu–Han contention and served Liu Bang as an ally...
, who joined his cause upon promise of a fiefdom in Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
. Rather than combine forces, Liu Bang sent Peng Yue's 30,000 troops to pacify the surrounding area. Liu Bang's army entered Xiang Yu's capital of Pengcheng apparently unopposed, looting its valuables and taking its women, but discipline was lax and each day found the Han troops deeper in their cups.
The Battle
Hearing of the fall of Pengcheng, Xiang Yu ordered the bulk of his forces to maintain the attack on Qi, while he personally led 30,000 crack troops to retake the capital. He encamped about ten miles from the city, in modern-day Xiao CountyXiao County
Xiao County is a county of Anhui Province, China. It is under the administration of Suzhou city....
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
. At dawn, Xiang Yu launched an attack on Pengcheng, and by noon had broken the unprepared Han army.
Routing, the Han infantry fled into the nearby Gu (穀) and Si
Si River
The Si River is a watercourse located in Shandong Province, China. It rises in the southern foothills of the Mengshan Mountains then flows through Sishui County, and the cities of Qufu and Yanzhou before emptying into Lake Nanyang...
(泗) rivers, killing over 100,000 of them. The remaining troops fled south to high ground, but were cornered by Chu forces by the Sui (睢) river, where another 100,000 Han troops drowned, their corpses damming up the river.
Liu Bang escaped the city with a handful of mounted bodyguards, heading to nearby Pei
Pei County
Pei County is a county of Jiangsu, China. It is under the administration of Xuzhou city. It has an area of 1,576 square kilometers and a population of 1,217,400.-External links:**...
to collect his family. Chu also dispatched troops to Pei in an attempt to capture Liu Bang's family. His family had all fled, but Liu Bang encountered on the road his eldest daughter and eldest son, the future Emperor Hui of Han
Emperor Hui of Han
Emperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape...
. The Chu army coerced a local into leading them to two of Liu Bang's family: his father and wife, the future Empress Lü
Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Lü Zhi , commonly known as Empress Dowager Lü or formally as Empress Gao , courtesy name Exu , was the wife and empress of Emperor Gaozu of Han, founder of the Han Dynasty. They had two known children—the eventual Emperor Hui and Princess Luyuan...
. These two Xiang Yu captured and placed in his army as hostages. One account states Liu Bang's mother was also captured.
A famous and possibly fictional account of Liu Bang's flight portrays him as so fearful that he thrice dumps his children out of his chariot in order to move faster, and it is only the repeated intervention of Xiahou Ying
Xiahou Ying
Xiahou Ying was a Minister Coachman of the early Han Dynasty. He also participated in the Chu–Han contention on Liu Bang 's side and contributed to the founding of the Han Dynasty.-Biography:...
that secures the children's escape.
Aftermath
Liu Bang gradually collected his lost forces, but did not retain his gains in Chu lands. Most of his family remained hostages of Xiang Yu. His allies lost faith in him; Sima XinSima Xin
Sima Xin was a military general of the Qin Dynasty. He surrendered to Xiang Yu after the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. In 206 BC, following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, he was conferred the title of "King of Sai" by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong as his fief when the latter split...
and Dong Yi
Dong Yi (Qin Dynasty)
Dong Yi was a military general of the Qin Dynasty. He surrendered to Xiang Yu after the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. In 206 BC, following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, he was conferred the title of "King of Di" by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong as his fief when the latter split the...
abandoned him for Chu. Xiang Yu gained in reputation and power, but continued to deal with problems in Qi.