History of China

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History of China
History of China
The Real “Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao”(Warring States 9)

The Real “Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao”(Warring States 9)

Volume 2 - The Rise and Decline of the Wei State 5

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Dennis Emerson
May 31, 2025
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History of China
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The Real “Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao”(Warring States 9)
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Previous Chapter :Wei's Strategic Blunders

  • History of Warring States Period(Catalog)

  • History of Three Kingdoms(Catalog)

King Hui of Wei's Decisive Gamble​​

After ruling for over a decade without peace, King Hui of Wei(reigned Wei 370-319BC) saw the strategic consequences of his father's decisions fully manifest. Suddenly, he found enemies on all fronts. Though his armies kept winning battles, the state's vitality dwindled daily.

Determined to change this, he set his sights on one target - Zhao赵(403-222BC), with whom tensions had simmered for years. To crush Zhao, he secured agreements from three powers:

  1. ​​Han​韩(403-230BC)​

  2. ​​Qin​秦(770-207BC)​

  3. ​​Qi​齐(1046-221BC)​

After thorough negotiations, all three pledged neutrality:

"We'll watch the fight, but won't take sides."

With these diplomatic assurances, King Hui launched a full-scale invasion of Zhao, marching straight for Zhao’s capital , Handan邯郸. Under Wei's relentless assault, Zhao's capital teetered on collapse, forcing desperate pleas for aid.

"There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests."

  • Lord Palmerston, 2,200 years later

King Hui believed he'd secured the three powers' compliance. But at least one ruler never intended to honor this pledge.

"Let them fight? Fine. Let one be destroyed? Never!"


When Qi's King Wei齐威王(reigned Qi 356-320BC) saw Zhao nearing defeat, he prepared to intervene.

The Strategic Wisdom of Qi​​

The State of Qi presents a fascinating case in Chinese history. After the economic reforms of Master Guan Zhong管仲(Statesman of Qi State during 7th Century BC) fortified its wealth and military, Qi—endowed with maritime advantages and lucrative salt-fish trade—remained a dominant political force for centuries.

What's truly remarkable is that Qi conceptualized its own "Central Plains Balance of Power" doctrine two millennia before Britain's "Continental Balance" theory. Their geopolitical principle was clear:

"No single power shall dominate the Central Plains to threaten our sovereignty."

This explains why Qi broke its pact with Wei to rescue Zhao—war being merely an extension of strategy, and Qi being a state with exceptional strategic clarity.

When Qi's forces mobilized, its Chief Strategist Sun Bin孙膑 devised a masterstroke: instead of reinforcing Zhao, they attacked Wei's secondary capital and strategic stronghold—Daliang大梁.

This marked China's first recorded application of the "strike-what-they-must-defend" tactic, later immortalized as the classic "Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao"(围魏救赵)stratagem.

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