How can Zhao win in the Battle of Changping?

The Qin State has been attacking Korea for several years, with the purpose of taking the Shangdang Highlands. I don’t know how many people died and how much money was spent. However, Zhao Guo reaped the benefits, and the big pie of Shangdang fell from the sky. Therefore, the State of Zhao immediately sent troops to take over the Shangdang Party. Of course, the State of Qin could not bear it, so it also sent troops to the Shangdang Party. If you send troops, I will send troops. If you increase troops, I will increase troops. The Battle of Changping will have to start.

Wars have to be a process. They are rarely fought on the spur of the moment. They all accumulate bit by bit like this. Therefore, the war must have a strategic origin. The origin of the Changping War between Qin and Zhao was Shangdang, and the person who initiated it was Feng Ting, the prefect of Shangdang in South Korea. The specific incident was that Feng Ting raised 17 cities in Shangdang and surrendered to Zhao.

So, the Battle of Changping is a process. From the brewing of the war to the end of the war, it lasted nearly three years. Over such a long period of time, Zhao Guo was able to make strategic designs and strategic adjustments that were beneficial to him. However, Zhao Guo's rigid operation blocked all possibilities and variables. 01. Qin is the strategic initiative and is very determined

Strategy is a directional choice. For Qin, it can be fought or not. For Zhao Guo, he could join the party or not. Therefore, whether to fight or not is the directional choice of Qin and Zhao.

For the Qin State, from the court to the front line, they had already made a choice, that is, to fight, not only to capture Shangdang County but also to severely defeat the Zhao State.

Qin’s policy of distant relations and close attacks was formulated during the period of King Zhaoxiang, that is, to beat the countries within reach of Wei, South Korea, and Chu, and pay heavy sums of money to Qi and Countries such as Yan State are beyond reach. Therefore, Qin never hesitated to attack South Korea, Wei, or Chu, because the grand strategy had been set long ago.

Before the Battle of Shangdang, these countries had all been frightened by the Qin State. The land that should be ceded was also ceded, and the compensation that should be paid was also paid. Therefore, the strategic trend of Qin State is to rush towards Zhao State, or even directly go eastward and sweep across the world. However, before that, Qin had to do an important thing, which was to capture the Shangdang Highlands.

This highland surrounded by Taihang, Wangwu, and Taiyue directly controls the key passage from the east to Taihang, and also threatens the Central Plains passage. Therefore, Qin must win Shangdang. This is not a problem for the seventeen cities, but a problem for the entire world. In the past, it was a question of not being able to get out of Hangu Pass, but now it is a question of not being able to get out of the Taihang Mountains, and the key to the problem is Shangdang Highland.

After taking down Shangdang, Qin State will first encounter Zhao State, a powerful opponent.

Among the six war states except Qin, Qi destroyed Yan once, and Yan destroyed Qi again. These two things did not need to be fought by Qin. Brothers and sisters in trouble were playing with each other, and they were already fighting each other. Martial arts is useless.

The Chu State was beaten so hard that it moved its capital, the Wei State was beaten so hard that they dared not express their anger, let alone South Korea. After the war, they had to continue fighting, and they are still fighting.

So, there is only one Zhao State left. The national strength is still there, and Zhao State is very capable of fighting. Since King Wuling of Zhao's Hu Fu Cavalry and Shooting Reform, Zhao's military force value has never been lower. If it wants to be literary, Zhao will not be able to do it. If it wants to reform, Zhao will not be able to do it. But if it is to fight, Zhao can at least dominate the three Jin Dynasties. Therefore, the State of Qin will definitely have to fight with the State of Zhao. If it does not submit to the State of Zhao, it will not even think about moving eastwards.

So, facing the situation of Shangdang, Qin made a firm strategic decision and did not hesitate at all. It not only wanted to go to the seventeenth city of Shangdang, but also took this opportunity to give Zhao a good beating. 02. Zhao State is the passive party in strategy and is very hesitant

On the issue of joining the party, Qin State has always been active and proactive, and its decision-making has always been firm. However, there is something tragic about Zhao State.

The problem of Shangdang is a sudden new problem for Zhao Guo.

Qin and Han were fighting to the death, and Zhao was sitting on the sidelines. This was a good situation. There is no need to discuss whether the Zhao State will not forget the danger and worry that Qin will beat South Korea after it defeats it. Zhao State's court does not have this program design, it is just watching the fun, and watching it happily.

The Qin State captured the Wild Queen and completely separated the Shangdang Highlands from the Korean mainland. At this time, the Shangdang, which was separated from the support of South Korea, belonged to Qin. As a result, South Korea signed a city-level alliance with Qin and ceded Dangjun to seek peace. Suddenly, South Korea's Shangdang prefect played a big trick and led Shangdang County to surrender to Zhao. Therefore, when the Shangdang issue suddenly came up, Zhao Guo was not only unprepared but also did not expect it.

Zhao Guo was completely confused as to whether Shangdang Highland was a hot potato or a pie from the sky. Therefore, Zhao Guo had a very passive attitude towards the issue of joining the party. He had not thought of it before and was not prepared now.

Zhao Guo was reluctant to accept Shangdang, because the seventeen cities of Shangdang were really good. After taking over Shangdang, Zhao will soon encounter the next more serious problem, which is going to war with Qin. Zhao Guo was even less prepared for this issue, and did not want to fight Qin at all. During the period of King Zhaoxiang, the political performance of Qin State's Shang Yang's reform had been fully revealed. Qin State was the most powerful country in the Warring States Period. Whoever was beaten would die and whoever was beaten would be subdued. Therefore, the State of Zhao did not want to fight with the State of Qin, and did not even dare to fight with the State of Qin.

Therefore, Zhao Guo has always been hesitant in his strategic decision-making.

The first question: Do you want to accept Shangdang?

The court was divided into two factions: one advocated accepting it and the other advocated not accepting it.

In the end, greed prevailed, and King Zhao Xiaocheng and Lord Pingyuan made a decision: to take over the seventeen cities of Shangdang.

But what is the basis for accepting Shangdang? We sent an army of millions to attack, but failed to capture a single city for more than a year. Now we are sitting on the 17th city. This great gain cannot be lost.

No matter whether they advocated accepting it or refused to accept it, the monarchs and ministers of Zhao State did not consider Shangdang Highlands as a strategic location related to life and death. The issue of Shangdang, in the minds of the kings and ministers of Zhao State, is a question of interests, whether to take advantage or not, and it is a question of money.

Qin’s strategic basis is to establish distant relations and attack close quarters and to expand eastward across the world, which is a major national policy to conquer the world. However, the basis of Zhao State is the city, money, and whether to take advantage or not. This is the difference between the two sides.

Zhao Guo characterized the issue of joining the party as a matter of interest, that is, a matter of money. The issue of money has never been a fatal issue, let alone a sudden fortune like Shangdang. However, strategic issues and national policy issues can be life-threatening.

The Northern Song Dynasty fought to the death of two generations of monarchs, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi, because they had to worry about the Sixteenth Prefecture of Youyun. Because in the eyes of the two generations of monarchs in the Northern Song Dynasty, the Sixteen States of Youyun was not a matter of money at all, but a matter of strategy and national policy. If there were sixteen cities, there would be no need to put in so much effort. The Manchus and the Qing Dynasty separatized the Northeast, and they simply swept it away with a big broom. The Ming Dynasty not only withdrew its troops but also immigrated quickly. Liaodong didn't want it anymore, and gave it all to you. However, the Manchu and Qing Dynasties could not survive the Guanning Defense Line. Because Liaodong is a matter of money, and Guan Ning is a matter of life.

So, the situation of the Battle of Changping is: Zhao State wants money, Qin State wants life.

As a result, Qin's strategic decision-making was very firm, and it came to risk life; while Zhao's strategic decision-making was very hesitant, and it came to grab money. Therefore, Qin must use war to solve this fatal problem, while Zhao tries not to use war to solve this money-grabbing problem.

So, the second question is: whether to fight a party war, that is, the Changping War. And, the third problem that Zhao Guo will soon encounter is: how large-scale the battle of Shangdang will be fought.

Zhao Guo has never thought about these two problems that must be solved with his life.

In April 260 BC, the Qin army attacked Shangdang. Zhao State veteran Lian Po responded, and casualties began to appear on the battlefield.

In June 260 BC, the Qin army captured Erzhang City and Guanglang City, and the Zhao army was defeated.

In July 260 BC, the Qin army launched a fierce attack, and the Zhao army launched a comprehensive defense.

The Qin army was very proactive, while the Zhao army was very passive, because Qin made firm decisions while Zhao made hesitant decisions. The temple issue directly affected military issues.

After that, Qin and Zhao began to negotiate peace.

However, Qin was negotiating peace while increasing its troops. Not only did it send all the elite troops from Guanzhong to the Changping front line, but it also sent the famous general Bai Qi, and even King Qin Zhaoxiang went to the front line in person. Therefore, the State of Qin has no intention of negotiating any peace with the State of Zhao. It can beat you, and there are benefits to beating you. You are so shameless, why not beat you to death.

Where is Zhao Guo? An important period of strategic adjustment was wasted.

Qin attacked South Korea, but the court in South Korea had no brains and was intimidated to the end, so they ceded territory and sued for peace. However, Feng Ting, the governor of Shangdang in South Korea, had the brains to turn the problem between Qin and Han into a problem between Qin, Han and Zhao, that is, to pull Zhao State over and expand the problem.

The State of Zhao can also do this. It has always been close to the State of Wei, and its relationship with the State of Qi and the State of Chu is closer than that of the State of Qin, because Qin State is the public enemy of the world. Therefore, Zhao State can completely transform the Shangdang issue into a Six Kingdoms issue. Even if it does not require Shangdang County, it still has to involve Wei and Qi. However, after Qin and Zhao made peace, there was no need for other Warring States states to intervene.

So, the stormy decisive battle in Changping began. In September 260 BC, the Zhao army surrendered after being besieged for forty-six days, and was then massacred by the Qin army. 03. How should Zhao State correctly deal with the Shangdang issue?

As for the first question, it is the issue of Feng Ting making a mistake and bringing Shangdang's seventeen cities to surrender to Zhao. Zhao Guo basically has no solution.

Two reasons:

One is that going to the party is too tempting. If you accept it, you will have to fight with Qin, but if you don't accept it, it will really hurt. Even if a million-strong army is mobilized to capture Shangdang, they may not be able to recapture it. Now that the pie is falling from the sky, is Zhao Guo still worried that the pie is too big and will kill him?

The other is that not accepting the Shangdang would be a real loss. The Seven Warring States are all big countries. They not only want land and money, but also face. You, the State of Zhao, did not dare to accept Shangdang County, because you were obviously afraid of the State of Qin, and it was really hard for you to come out and hang out in the future.

So, even if the issue of joining the party is not considered from a strategic perspective, Zhao Guo will still have to accept it.

If we think about Zhao Guo, it is this: Qin Guo will definitely not stop after occupying Shangdang, and will have to beat Zhao Guo immediately. Because South Korea and Wei have both been beaten into submission, who else can they beat if not Zhao?

The State of Zhao sent troops to receive it, and the State of Qin sent troops to capture it; the State of Zhao increased its troops, and the State of Qin also increased its troops, and then there was a confrontation between hundreds of thousands of troops. This situation may really exceed the original intentions of the Zhao monarchs and ministers. However, at this time, Zhao State can also make strategic adjustments. In other words, Zhao Guo can make correct strategic decisions in strategic adjustments.

How to adjust it?

One is to learn from Feng Ting, the party governor, and expand the problem.

If Feng Ting can expand the problem of Shangdang between Qin and Han into a problem between Qin, Zhao and Han, then Zhao can do the same.

Before the Battle of Changping, Gongsun Yan launched a joint vertical war in 318 BC. The five kingdoms of Chu, Wei, Han, Zhao and Yan attacked Qin; Mengchang Jun launched a joint vertical war in 296 BC. Qi, Han, and Wei The Three Kingdoms conquered Qin.

Therefore, Zhao State can take advantage of the party's opportunity to organize a joint war between several countries to attack Qin again. Moreover, Zhao State has no shortage of allies. The first ally is naturally South Korea, because Shangdang County belongs to South Korea. South Korea should agree to fight for South Korea. The three families of Han, Zhao and Wei already have an alliance, so Wei can also fight for it. There are also Chu and Qi. As long as Zhao can provide benefits, these two countries will not ignore them completely.

The other is to give up hesitation and fight resolutely, that is, to be determined to join the party.

The defeat of Zhao Guo Changping was not entirely due to military incompetence. The main reason was the hesitation of the temple. Zhao Guomiaotang has always regarded the issue of joining the party as a money issue, so he hesitated whether to fight or not to fight, whether to fight the big ones or the small ones. When Qin State had mobilized the elite troops in Guanzhong and increased its troops to hundreds of thousands, Zhao State really had no need to hesitate. Therefore, we can only fight to the death.

The decisive battle of Changping was initiated by the State of Zhao. Because it was Zhao Kuo who organized the Zhao army to attack across the board, they were ambushed by the Qin army. And why did Zhao Guo take the initiative? Zhao Kuo, who was talking about military affairs on paper, could not kill Zhao's more than 400,000 troops. The main reason was that Zhao could not bear the war consumption and quickly planned to fight a war to end the problem.

After the decisive battle, Zhao Guoquan decided to join the party if he won the battle; if he lost the battle, Zhao Guo withdrew from the party.

So, the Zhao State took the initiative to fight not because it was determined to fight, but because it was starting to quit and stopped playing, so it made a desperate move. If Zhao State can mobilize the whole country, it will fight Qin State to the end. What it should do is to recruit troops, collect grain and supplies, and fight Qin State to the death. In fact, at this time, we have to ask for help from South Korea, Wei, Chu and Qi. Don't count on Yan State, it is Qin State's lackey, and it would be good if it doesn't attack Zhao State.

In the Battle of Changping, Zhao's problem was not that he was defeated, but that he was defeated so miserably that all the more than 400,000 young and strong laborers were scrapped. Therefore, failure is not a problem, but a crushing defeat is.

If you want to avoid this disastrous defeat, Zhao can also withdraw unilaterally.

One is to seek peace completely and give you Shangdang, but I won’t play any more; the other is to unilaterally withdraw the troops, do whatever you want with the love of the Qin State, while I, the State of Zhao, will leave and retreat outside the Shangdang Basin. Taihang barrier. If you do this, Zhao Guo will not be defeated so miserably.

What about Qin?

Of course Qin wanted to beat up Zhao, but what Qin wanted more was Shangdang County, which was the main conflict. Beating up Zhao Guo is something that needs to be considered after occupying the upper party, so there is no need to be so impatient.

Moreover, the Qin army also paid a heavy price in order to fight the Battle of Changping.

The reason why so many Zhao soldiers were buried alive was because they themselves suffered heavy casualties and did not even have food to feed the 400,000 surrendered Zhao soldiers. Therefore, as long as Zhao State quits Shangdang and says no more to Qin State, King Qin Zhaoxiang will not fight to the end and insists on taking Handan and destroying Zhao State.

Because the Seven Warring States have existed for many years, the temple of Qin State was not prepared for a war of annihilation. It can be said that it does not have such a big appetite, or it can also be said that it is not that big. imagination. Therefore, after the Battle of Changping, the frontline general Bai Qi wanted to destroy the State of Zhao, but what about the temples of the State of Qin? But there must be a truce. The direct reason is that Fan Ju is jealous of talents, but the fundamental reason is that the Qin temple has no idea of ??destroying the country.

There is no need to fight or spend money anymore. The Qin State bullied South Korea and Zhao State, and even took Shangdang County. It really wants benefits, benefits, and face. Therefore, the Qin State will not have to kill Zhao's 400,000-strong army to cease the war. Quan Ding Shangdang County will definitely cease the war.

However, the hesitant Zhao Guochatang has been hesitating, hesitating whether to accept the Shangdang, hesitating whether to go to war with Qin, and hesitating about how large-scale a war should be with Qin. Finally, go all out and take the initiative, not to change your hesitation but to hesitate before quitting. The result can only be tragic.

So, for the defeat in the Battle of Changping, the one who is responsible is the Temple of Zhao, not Zhao Kuo, who is just talking about military affairs on paper; King Xiaocheng and Lord Pingyuan should not be Zhao Kuo and the Zhao army on the front line.