How a clever river feint dismantled the Kingdom of Wei in 205 BC
Following a crushing defeat at Pengcheng, Liu Bang faced a wave of defections. Among the rebels was Wei Bao, whose ambition was fueled by a prophecy about his consort. To restore order, Liu Bang dispatched Han Xin, who executed a brilliant tactical deception that effectively erased the Kingdom of Wei.
In April 205 BC, the Han forces suffered a catastrophic loss at the Battle of Pengcheng. This failure shattered the confidence of various vassal kings, prompting many to abandon Liu Bang. Wei Bao, the King of Wei, was among those who defected. His betrayal was motivated by a prophecy suggesting his consort, Consort Bo, would bear a future emperor. Believing he would be the father, Wei Bao sought to secure his own destiny by aligning with the Chu forces.
Liu Bang initially attempted diplomacy, sending his advisor Li Yiji to negotiate, but the effort failed. He then turned to military force, tasking General-in-Chief Han Xin with the suppression of the rebellion. In the summer of 205 BC, Han Xin launched a campaign that mirrored the strategic ingenuity of Alexander the Great at the Hydaspes. While he left a decoy force under Guan Ying to occupy the Wei army at Puban, Han Xin moved upstream in secret to construct rafts.
Han Xin crossed the Yellow River at Xiayang and launched a direct assault on Anyi. After overcoming Wei forces at Dongzhangcheng and defeating General Wang Shang outside Anyi, Han Xin captured the city. He then advanced toward the capital, Pingyang. The conflict culminated at Quyang, where Han Xin engaged the royal army. Wei Bao fled to Wuyuan but was ultimately captured, leading to the surrender of Pingyang. Following his victory, Han Xin moved immediately to target the kingdoms of Dai and Zhao.
Wei Bao was spared initially but remained under strict surveillance in Xingyang. His life ended in 204 BC during the Chu siege of the city. Han generals Zhou Ke and Zong Gong, fearing that Wei Bao intended to defect to Xiang Yu, ordered his execution. This swift campaign not only neutralized a dangerous internal threat but also established the momentum required for the subsequent Battle of Jingxing.
Source: Battle of Anyi
