The Battle of Fei (肥之戰) was a military conflict between the

Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...

and Zhao states of China in 233 BCE during the

Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...

. The campaign was part of Qin's campaigns to unify China under its rule. It resulted in a decisive victory for the Zhao forces, led by General

Li Mu Li Mu (; died 229 BC), personal name Zuo (繓), courtesy name Mu (牧), was a Chinese military general of the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. He was named by Chinese historians as one of the four greatest generals of the late Wa ...

, against the Qin invaders.

Opening moves

In 234 BCE, the Qin forces defeated the Zhao armies at Pingyang (平陽; south-east of present-day

Ci County Ci County or Cixian () is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Handan City. Administrative Divisions Towns: * Cizhou (), Xiguanglu (), Gaoyu (), Yuecheng (), Guantai (), Lintan (), Huangsha (), Baitu (), Jiangwucheng ...

Hebei Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, and 0 ...

province). In the following year, the Qin army led by Huan Yi (桓齮) embarked from Shangdang (上黨) and attacked the Zhao army from the rear. The Zhao army sustained over 100,000 casualties and its commander, Hu Zhe (扈輒), was killed in action. Huan Yi's force crossed Mount Taihang and conquered the Zhao territories of Chili (赤麗) and Yi'an (宜安), both in the south-east of present-day Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.

The battle

King Qian of Zhao recalled

, a general famous for his success in defending Zhao's northern border from the

Xiongnu The Xiongnu (, ) were a tribal confederation of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Modu Chanyu, the supreme leader after 20 ...

, and appointed Li as the commander-in-chief of the Zhao armies to resist the Qin invaders. Li Mu's army from the northern border met the Zhao forces from Handan at Yi'an and engaged the Qin army there. Li Mu felt that the Qin army's morale was high after its earlier victories, so it would be unwise for Zhao to attack Qin then. He ordered his troops to strengthen their fortifications and defences while waiting for an opportunity to launch an counteroffensive. Huan Yi felt that a swift conclusion to the battle was necessary since his troops were growing weary after so many earlier battles, so he led his force to attack Fei, intending to lure the Zhao army there to defend their position. Li Mu's deputy, Zhao Cong (趙蔥), suggested to Li to send a force to rescue Fei, but Li refused. As the bulk of the Qin army had left to attack Fei, the Qin camp was poorly defended so Li Mu seized the opportunity to order his troops to launch an offensive on the Qin camp. The Zhao forces scored a major victory in the ensuing battle and captured several prisoners-of-war and supplies. As Li Mu predicted that Huan Yi would retreat from Fei to save the camp, he ordered his men to lay an ambush on Huan Yi's retreat route. Huan Yi's retreating troops fell into the ambush. Qin sustained over 100,000 casualties in the battle and its army was almost completely wiped out. Huan Yi succeeded in breaking out of the encirclement.

References

{{coord missing, Hebei 233 BC Fei 233 BC 3rd century BC in China