Wei's Strategic Blunders（Warring States 8）
Volume 2 - The Rise and Decline of the Wei State 4
Previous Chapter ：The Super Power in 5th Century BC China III / The Geographical Factors in Ancient Warfare
Wei's strategic misalignment began on day one.
The state's ambition was singular: dominate the Central Plains. Its gaze remained obsessively fixed on the Central Plain heartland.
Wei魏（403-225BC） consistently prioritized:
• Eastern expansion into Henei河内
While neglecting: Western Hexi河西，Hewai河外，Hedong河东
Why this fatal bias?
Henei offered irresistible low-cost/high-reward advantages:
Fertile Lands - Exceptionally high agricultural yields
Flat Terrain - Perfect for rapid military deployment
Weak Opposition - Fragmented minor states meant easy conquests with minimal losses
Political Prestige - The sacred cradle of Chinese civilization carried immense symbolic value
Seduced by this trifecta of economic, logistical, and political benefits, Wei succumbed to strategic myopia—prioritizing immediate gains over sustainable dominance.
After partitioning from Zhao赵（403-223BC） and Han韩（403-230BC）, Wei—except for early westward expansion under Wu Qi's吴起 advice—persistently focused its military campaigns on the Central Plains, particularly the strategically vulnerable Henei region.
Originally Wei's smallest territory, Henei gradually became its largest through successive generations' cultivation.
While economically prosperous, this came with an inherent flaw: its value was obvious to all.
(Analogy: Pursuing an unattainable "goddess" is only viable with overwhelming advantage—otherwise, discretion proves wiser.)
Henei's fatal characteristics:
Geopolitical Trap - Surrounded by four major powers (Qi齐, Chu楚, Han韩, Zhao赵) and minor states (Wey卫, Song宋)
Defenseless Terrain - Easily conquered but impossible to secure—invaders could march straight in
Historical Precedent - Only legendary commanders like Xiang Yu项羽 or Cao Cao曹操 ever held this region successfully
This "delicious but poisonous cake" forced Wei into endless costly detoxification—a strategic disaster in perpetuity.
In the west:
• Stationing 10,000 troops at Hangu Pass函谷关 could suffocate Qin秦（770-207BC） indefinitely
• Zero concern about eastern threats
• Leverage Hedong's economic strength + Hexi/Hewai's geographic advantages to pressure Guanzhong关中
In the east:
• Even committing Wei's entire army to the Central Plains proved inadequate
• Constant state of alert ("fear of wind and cranes" mentality)
Defensive Nightmare:
No natural barriers
Numerous waterways = minimal cost advantage for defenders
10,000 troops became insufficient (vs western efficiency)
100,000 defenders still struggled
The cost disparity was astronomical.
This strategic context directly caused Wei's two decisive defeats (to be analyzed later).