Battle of Hefei (253)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Hefei, also known as the Battle of Xincheng, Hefei, was fought between the contending states of Cao Wei
and Eastern Wu
in 253 during the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
.
, returned from Dongxing (東興) to the capital Jianye (建業; present-day Nanjing
, Jiangsu
). Ignoring the advice of several court officials, in the third lunar month
, Zhuge Ke led a 200,000 strong army to attack the state of Wei in the north. By the fourth month, Zhuge Ke's force had reached south of the Huai River
, and started attacking Xincheng (新城), Hefei
in the following month. Zhuge Ke's forces besieged Xincheng and launched fierce attacks on the fortress. Zhang Te
, the Wei general defending Xincheng, managed to hold off the enemy with his 3,000 men for more than a month. The Wu forces sustained heavy casualties but were still unable to take Xincheng.
Zhang Te said to the Wu army, "I've no intention of fighting now. However, according to the law of Wei, when I'm under attack for more than 100 days and reinforcements do not arrive, even if I surrender, my family will be spared from punishment. Since I first started resisting the enemy, it has been more than 90 days. This city originally had a population of more than 4,000, and now more than half of them have died in battle. Even when the city falls, if someone does not wish to surrender, I'll speak to him and explain the possible implications of his choice. Tomorrow morning I'll send a list of names, you can first take my official seal as a token of trust." Having said that, Zhang Te tossed his official seal to the enemy. Zhuge Ke believed Zhang Te and did not take the seal.
That night, Zhang Te ordered his men to tear down houses and fences, and use the wood to reinforce damaged parts of the fortress' walls. The next morning, Zhang Te announced to the enemy, "I'll only die in battle!", and firmly refused to surrender. The Wu soldiers were furious and attacked the fortress but were unable to breach the walls.
At that time, the weather was extremely hot and the Wu troops were growing weary. A plague broke out and killed many Wu soldiers and caused more than half of the Wu army to fall ill. Zhuge Ke grew impatient and vented his frustration on his subordinates, causing much unhappiness among his men. Later, Wei's Grand Commandant, Sima Fu
, led 200,000 relief troops to Xincheng, and attacked and defeated the exhausted Wu army. In the seventh month, Zhuge Ke had no choice but to order a withdrawal and the siege on Xincheng was lifted.
Eastern Wu forces
. In Dynasty Warriors 7
, playable under the new Jin dynasty story, the battle is known as the "Battle of New Hefei Castle", and is not to be confused with another stage (Battle of Hefei Castle), which refers to the Battle of Hefei (234)
and does not appear in the game. In the game, however, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, and Zhuge Dan also appear on the Wei side.
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
and Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
in 253 during the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
The battle
In the spring of 253, Wu's Grand Tutor, Zhuge KeZhuge Ke
Zhuge Ke , style name Yuanxun , was a military general and regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhuge Jin and nephew of Zhuge Liang. He succeeded Lu Xun after the latter's death...
, returned from Dongxing (東興) to the capital Jianye (建業; present-day Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
). Ignoring the advice of several court officials, in the third lunar month
Lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun one or two days before that evening...
, Zhuge Ke led a 200,000 strong army to attack the state of Wei in the north. By the fourth month, Zhuge Ke's force had reached south of the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
, and started attacking Xincheng (新城), Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
in the following month. Zhuge Ke's forces besieged Xincheng and launched fierce attacks on the fortress. Zhang Te
Zhang Te
Zhang Te, style name Zichan , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Zhang became a rather reputed general through his defense of Xincheng, Hefei...
, the Wei general defending Xincheng, managed to hold off the enemy with his 3,000 men for more than a month. The Wu forces sustained heavy casualties but were still unable to take Xincheng.
Zhang Te said to the Wu army, "I've no intention of fighting now. However, according to the law of Wei, when I'm under attack for more than 100 days and reinforcements do not arrive, even if I surrender, my family will be spared from punishment. Since I first started resisting the enemy, it has been more than 90 days. This city originally had a population of more than 4,000, and now more than half of them have died in battle. Even when the city falls, if someone does not wish to surrender, I'll speak to him and explain the possible implications of his choice. Tomorrow morning I'll send a list of names, you can first take my official seal as a token of trust." Having said that, Zhang Te tossed his official seal to the enemy. Zhuge Ke believed Zhang Te and did not take the seal.
That night, Zhang Te ordered his men to tear down houses and fences, and use the wood to reinforce damaged parts of the fortress' walls. The next morning, Zhang Te announced to the enemy, "I'll only die in battle!", and firmly refused to surrender. The Wu soldiers were furious and attacked the fortress but were unable to breach the walls.
At that time, the weather was extremely hot and the Wu troops were growing weary. A plague broke out and killed many Wu soldiers and caused more than half of the Wu army to fall ill. Zhuge Ke grew impatient and vented his frustration on his subordinates, causing much unhappiness among his men. Later, Wei's Grand Commandant, Sima Fu
Sima Fu
Sima Fu was a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:Sima Fu was a younger brother of Sima Yi, and for this reason he served the state of Cao Wei. It was said that although he did not have the extraordinary abilities of his older brother, he was well...
, led 200,000 relief troops to Xincheng, and attacked and defeated the exhausted Wu army. In the seventh month, Zhuge Ke had no choice but to order a withdrawal and the siege on Xincheng was lifted.
Order of battle
Cao Wei forces- Zhang TeZhang TeZhang Te, style name Zichan , was a military general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Zhang became a rather reputed general through his defense of Xincheng, Hefei...
- Grand Commandant (太尉) Sima FuSima FuSima Fu was a politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Biography:Sima Fu was a younger brother of Sima Yi, and for this reason he served the state of Cao Wei. It was said that although he did not have the extraordinary abilities of his older brother, he was well...
Eastern Wu forces
- Grand Tutor (太傅) Zhuge KeZhuge KeZhuge Ke , style name Yuanxun , was a military general and regent of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He was the son of Zhuge Jin and nephew of Zhuge Liang. He succeeded Lu Xun after the latter's death...
Modern references
The battle is featured as a playable stage in Koei's video game series Dynasty WarriorsDynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
. In Dynasty Warriors 7
Dynasty Warriors 7
is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms....
, playable under the new Jin dynasty story, the battle is known as the "Battle of New Hefei Castle", and is not to be confused with another stage (Battle of Hefei Castle), which refers to the Battle of Hefei (234)
Battle of Hefei (234)
The Battle of Hefei, also known as the Battle of Xincheng, Hefei, was fought between the contending states of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu in 234 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.-Background:...
and does not appear in the game. In the game, however, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, and Zhuge Dan also appear on the Wei side.