Chapter 303: Survey of the Ancient Top Ten Battles: The Battle of Julu

【Survey of the Ancient Top Ten Battles·Battle of Julu】

【Time: 207 BC】

【Location: Julu (present‑day Pingxiang, Hebei)】

【Combatants: Xiang Yu vs Zhang Han】

【Overview: Late Qin uprising.】

Xiang Yu led tens of thousands of Chu troops across the river to rescue Zhao, ordered "break the cauldrons and sink the boats," burned the camp tents, and took only three days' rations to show a resolve to die.

Nine battles, nine victories, crushing the Qin main force.】

【Why famous: "Break the cauldrons and sink the boats" and "watch from the walls" both originated from this battle.】

This is the most famous historical example of a small force defeating a larger one, completely turning the anti‑Qin situation around.】

When the sky‑screen lit up, the atmosphere in the Eastern Han court was unlike usual.

It wasn't because the battle was especially brutal, but because Ying Zheng's complexion was off.

Not just a normal displeasure, but that kind of displeasure where he wants to kill but has nowhere to.

Liu Bang lifted his tea bowl, furtively glanced at Ying Zheng, glanced again, and the corner of his mouth slowly lifted.

He saw it—Ying Zheng was displeased.

There aren't many things that can displease the First Emperor, and today the sky‑screen happened to list one of them.

Zhang Han.

Battle of Julu.

The Qin main force was shattered by Xiang Yu.

Ying Zheng of course knew who Zhang Han was—Great Qin's last famous general.

But the sky‑screen referred to 207 BC, the year he had already died.

After his death, the sky‑screen shook out the events one by one.

His own Great Qin fell within a few years after his death.

Liu Che lowered his head and wrote in the booklet, pretending not to notice the odd atmosphere.

Liu Xiu sat upright, eyes watching his nose, nose watching his heart, motionless.

Gu Shanhe continued to drink tea as usual, his expression natural as if nothing had happened.

【Detailed Battle Progress】

【Third year of Qin Ershi.】

General Zhang Han of Qin led four hundred thousand troops to besiege Julu, while King Xie of Zhao was trapped defending the city and appealed for aid from the various rebel forces.

The allied lords who came to rescue set up camps, but none dared to send troops—

The Qin army was too strong; who would dare to fight? They all stayed huddled in their fortifications, watching from the walls.】

【Xiang Yu led tens of thousands of Chu troops to arrive.】

He did something that everyone thought insane—

After crossing the river, he ordered the boats to be sunk, the cooking pots smashed, the camp tents burned, and each man to carry only three days' rations.

He told the soldiers, "We have only three days."

"If we don't win in three days, no one should expect to return."】

【The Chu soldiers knew there was no retreat.】

On the first day's charge, the Qin army thought the Chu were mad.

On the second day's assault, the Qin army began to waver.

On the third day, the Qin formation was completely broken.

Nine battles, nine victories, Zhang Han suffered a great defeat, and only then did the allied lords dare to rush out of their forts to help.】

An image appeared on the sky‑screen.

Outside Julu city, Qin's camp tents stretched for dozens of li, banners like a forest, armor like a wall.

Four hundred thousand troops surrounded a city, and the defenders inside dared not even show their heads.

Outside the city, a dozen or so allied lords' reinforcements were stationed, each occupying a sector, building their own walls to defend.

Tens of thousands huddled in the forts, watching the Qin siege, and not a single person dared to move.

It wasn't cowardice; the Qin army was just too fierce.

Then the Chu army arrived.

Xiang Yu stood by the river, with tens of thousands of Chu troops behind him.

He glanced at the forty‑thousand Qin camp tents across the river, then glanced at the allied lords huddled in the forts, and said, "Cross the river."

When the boats reached the opposite bank, Xiang Yu was the first to jump ashore.

He didn't look back, but he issued an order—sink the boats, smash the pots, burn the tents.

The soldiers looked at each other; the boats were sunk, the pots shattered, the tents burned—how could they return?

Xiang Yu said, "No need to return."

"If we win within three days, there will be food."

"If we don't win, there will be no food."

Those three days of battle were fought in darkness and gloom.

The Chu soldiers fought like madmen, charging to the Qin front, neither dodging nor flinching, exchanging blade for blade.

You stab me with a sword, I stab you with a sword; see who falls first.

The Qin army was also battle‑hardened elite, but faced with such a reckless tactic, they could not endure.

On the first day, the Chu broke through the Qin outer defenses.

The next day, the Chu army rushed up to Zhang Han's central main tent.

On the third day, Zhang Han ordered a retreat.

Nine battles, nine victories.

The four characters in the history books are written lightly, but no one knows how many Chu soldiers died in those three days.

Zhang Han stood at the gate of the main camp, gazing at the scene on the celestial screen, and remained silent for a long time.

He is in his early forties, towering in build, with a face weathered by wind and frost.

He is Great Qin's last famed general, having fought many battles and won many times.

The celestial screen told him that he would be defeated by a young man named Xiang Yu.

A deputy general beside him whispered, "General, the celestial screen says we have been defeated."

Zhang Han said nothing, but his fist slowly tightened.

It wasn't resentment, it was incomprehension—four hundred thousand men, how could they be shattered by only a few ten‑thousands?

Another deputy general said, "General, that is something of the future, it hasn't happened yet. We could—"

Zhang Han raised his hand and cut him off.

He looked at the young commander crossing the river on the celestial screen and suddenly said, "That Xiang Yu is a madman."

Outside Julu City, Xiang Yu stood within the camp, looking up at the celestial screen, a glint in his eyes.

That light was not excitement, but battle intent.

He has not yet fought the Battle of Julu, but the celestial screen told him he would win.

It was not an ordinary victory, but a win where the few defeated the many, nine battles nine victories, crushing the Qin main forces into disarray.

Those around him dared not speak, not out of fear of him, but because they did not know what to say.

The celestial screen had spoiled their future, and the feeling was strange.

Yu Ji stepped out of the tent, stood behind Xiang Yu, and whispered, "You will win."

Xiang Yu did not turn his head, but the hand gripping his sword loosened a bit.

Ying Zheng sat on a chair in the Eastern Han throne hall, watching the scene of the Qin army's collapse on the celestial screen, his face as black as a pot bottom.

Four hundred thousand troops were shattered by a few ten‑thousand Chu soldiers.

Liu Che looked up at Ying Zheng, then lowered his head and continued writing the booklet.

Liu Xiu lifted his cup, took a sip, and pretended to examine the tea leaves.

Liu Bang, amused by the spectacle, spoke up: "Brother Zheng, this Zhang Han is your man, right? He's quite a fighter; four hundred thousand men, in anyone's hands that's a massive force."

Ying Zheng ignored him.

Liu Bang added, "But how did he get shattered by only a few ten‑thousand? Was there no support from behind?"

Ying Zheng glared at Liu Bang, and Liu Bang, frightened, dared not speak.

The celestial screen continued to turn the pages.

【Zhang Han's Helplessness】

【After the Battle of Julu, Zhang Han led two hundred thousand Qin troops to surrender to Xiang Yu.】

It was not because he could no longer fight—he still had troops and could still fight.

But someone in the court was stabbing him from behind.

The second Qin emperor, Hu Hai, believing Zhao Gao's slanders, repeatedly sent envoys to question Zhang Han why he did not achieve victory.

Zhang Han sent his trusted aide Si Ma Xin back to Xianyang to report the military situation, but Zhao Gao avoided meeting him.

Si Ma Xin sensed trouble and fled Xianyang overnight.

Zhang Han realized he had no way back.

Press on, and ahead lies Xiang Yu; retreat, and behind are Zhao Gao's knives.

He chose to surrender.

The two hundred thousand surrendered Qin soldiers were later massacred by Xiang Yu at Xin An.】

An image appeared on the celestial screen.

Zhang Han knelt before Xiang Yu, removed his armor, and handed over his sword.

Behind him, the banners of the two hundred thousand Qin troops fell, one after another.

Ying Zheng sprang to his feet abruptly.

His hand trembled.

It was not fear, but anger.

Hu Hai—his eighteenth son—had turned Great Qin into this state.

A famed general like Zhang Han, fighting to the death on the front lines, received no support from the rear, and was even sent envoys to question why he did not win battles.