Historical story

It is said that one day Zheng Banqiao was visiting a friend deep in the mountains. As he passed by an ancient temple, he saw a single couplet written on the wall:

During the Warring States period, the Yan army, led by General Yue Yi and allied with several other states, launched a massive invasion against the state of Qi with hundreds of thousands of troops. The Yan forces swept through Qi like a storm, quickly capturing Qi's capital city, Linzi. The King of Qi fled in terror to Shandong. At this time, the state of Chu sent a general named Nao, who claimed he was coming to reinforce Qi.

The old saying goes, "He who strikes first has the advantage; he who strikes later suffers the consequences." In military affairs, "seizing the initiative" is also an important principle. As early as in the "Zuo Zhuan," there is the expression "the first to act seizes the opponent's will." Later generations also often emphasized "speed is essential in war" and "I would rather attack others than be attacked," all meaning to strive for the advantage of striking first in battle.

One late autumn night in 204 BC, Han Xin's army of several tens of thousands arrived and camped in a mountain valley dozens of li from the Jingxing Pass in Hebei. They had reached this location after three days and nights of forced marching. While the soldiers were taking a brief rest, Han Xin summoned his deputy general Zhang Er to discuss their strategy for defeating Zhao.This campaign was part of a strategic plan Han Xin had proposed to Liu Bang: to launch a northern campaign against the states of Dai, Zhao, and Yan; attack Qi to the east; march southward to cut off Chu's supply lines; and ultimately outflank Xiang Yu.

In 506 BC, on the recommendation of Wu Zixu, King Helü of Wu appointed the great military strategist Sun Wu as his supreme commander, reorganized his troops, and prepared to attack the state of Chu.Sun Wu was a native of Qi, who described himself as a humble farmer from the eastern coast. He had come south to Wu at the invitation of Wu Guo, a minister of Wu. His passion lay in studying military strategy, and he held fame and wealth in low regard. The reason he agreed this time to take up the prestigious position of commander-in-chief was twofold. First, he wanted to help his old friend Wu Zixu achieve his goal of defeating Chu.

In 206 BC, following the collapse of the once-mighty Qin Empire, Chinese history entered a new phase. At that time, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, and Liu Bang, the King of Han, formed two rival factions, sparking the famous Chu-Han Contention for control of the empire. Throughout this nearly five-year-long war, the Han general Han Xin demonstrated exceptional strategic brilliance and military acumen, fulfilling the ideal of "commanding a million troops from the command tent, winning every battle and capturing every objective."

In September of the 8th year of Tianhui (the 4th year of Jianyan in the Southern Song Dynasty, 1130), the Jin army defeated a Song counteroffensive in the Fuping region (north of present-day Fuping County, Shaanxi), as part of their campaign to conquer Shaanxi.

Shangdang, known as the "spine of the world," commands a strategic view over central China and forms the vital link to Hedong and Bingzhou, earning it the title "the throat of the state of Jin." Its terrain is exceptionally formidable, making it a coveted battleground for military strategists since ancient times. In 402 BC, the states of Wei, Zhao, and Han divided the state of Jin among themselves, and Shangdang fell under Han's control. However, the rising power of Qin had long coveted Shangdang. In 280 BC, the Qin general Bai Qi penetrated deep into Shangdang and captured Guanglang City (modern-day Kangying Village in Gaoping).

When the Hongwu Emperor (Ming Taizu) was in power, he learned from historical lessons about eunuchs monopolizing power and causing state chaos. He established a rule forbidding eunuchs from interfering in state affairs. He inscribed this rule on a large iron plaque and hung it in the palace, hoping his descendants would abide by it generation after generation. However, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor (Ming Chengzu), this rule was abolished.

Among the seven major warring states, the state of Qin lagged behind the various feudal states in the Central Plains in politics, economy, and culture. Its neighboring state of Wei was stronger than Qin and had seized a large area of land west of the Yellow River from Qin.In 361 BC, Duke Xiao of Qin, the new ruler of Qin, ascended the throne. Determined to strengthen his state, he first sought out talented individuals. He issued an edict stating: "Whether a native of Qin or a foreign guest, whoever can devise a way to make Qin rich and powerful shall be appointed to an official position."