Battle of Changshao

The Battle of Changshao was a military conflict between Qi and Lu, two major principality states in the Shandong Peninsula during the Spring and Autumn Period of Zhou dynasty. The battle happened in the January (lunar calendar) of 684 BC at Changshao. Lu claimed the victory under the lead of general Cao Gui (). This battle is described in detail by Zuo Qiuming in his '' Spring and Autumn Commentary of Zuo (Zuozhuan)'', but it is not mentioned in Sima Qian's book of '' Shi Ji''. This battle is considered as a classic example of winning by good military strategies, and the well-known '' chengyu'' 一鼓作氣 (''yī gŭ zuò qì'', lit: "first drum creates spirit", explained below) was derived from Cao Gui's assessment of the battle, as recorded by the ''Zuozhuan''.

Background

Duke Xiang of Qi was assassinated in 686 BC; one month later, his successor was also assassinated. Duke Xiang's younger son, Xiaobai, took the throne in the spring of 685 BC as the Duke Huan of Qi. Duke Huan's elder brother, Lord Jiu, believed that he was the right person to take the throne, so he allied with Duke Zhuang of Lu and launched a war against Duke Huan. However, the army of State of Lu was defeated by Qi in the Battle of Qianshi, and Duke Zhuang of Lu was almost killed in the battle. Realising that the State of Lu was supporting Lord Jiu, Duke Huan of Qi was annoyed. He planned to attack Lu as revenge.

The Battle

In the spring of 684 BC, Duke Huan of Qi ordered his army to attack Lu. Cao Gui was appointed as the general of Lu to defend the state. Duke Zhuang of Lu was also present at the frontline along with Cao Gui. Cao Gui asked the army of Lu to stand still in the battle formation and fortifications and not to fight back until his order. The army of Qi charged twice but the army of Lu stayed in the fortifications and did not respond. When the Qi soldiers started their third charge, Cao Gui ordered the army of Lu to launch a counter attack. At this point, soldiers of Qi were tired and could hardly concentrate, so they were defeated. Duke Zhuang of Lu immediately ordered soldiers of Lu to chase the fleeing Qi army. Cao Gui accepted the order after making sure that there was no ambush. The Qi army was completely destroyed and expelled out of the border.''Commentary of Zuo：''公將馳之，劌曰：「未可。」下視其轍，登軾而望之，曰：「可矣。」遂逐齊師。

After the victory, when the Duke asked for an explanation of the success, Gui replied, " he key to victory inbattle lies in the spirit f courage and fortitude at the first drum beat (i.e., order to charge) he Qi soldiers'spirits were raised. On the second time, their spirits declined. Finally, on the third time, their spirits had been exhausted. Their spirits were exhausted while hose ofour oldiers'still brimmed. Consequently we defeated them."''Commentary of Zuo：''既克，公問其故。對曰：「夫戰，勇氣也，一鼓作氣，再而衰，三而竭。彼竭我盈，故克之。夫大國 (齊) ，難測也，懼有伏焉。吾視其轍亂，望其旗靡，故逐之。」

The direct quote, "the first drum raises spirits" () has become a '' chengyu'' (classical four-character idiom) that expresses the idea that one should aim to complete a difficult task by giving one's best, sustained effort on a favorable occasion when one is most encouraged and confident of success, rather than to waver in one's effort and have to try again on a future occasion, at which time one might well have lost confidence or enthusiasm. Thus the meaning is similar to the English expression, "strike while the iron is hot."

References

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See also

Spring and Autumn Commentary of Zuo, the chapter of Duke Zhuang of Lu

684 BC
Qi (state)
7th century BC in China
Military history of Shandong
Spring and Autumn period