Maling

342 BC
Strategic Context
Of the Seven Warring States in China, Wei finds itself particularly vulnerable following its defeat at the Battle
of Kuei-ling in 353 BC to Zhao and Qi. While not crippling, this major defeat encourages Chu and Qin to
launch border incursions against Wei. King Hui of Wei decides to concentrate against one enemy at a time,

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defeating each in detail. King Hui first improves relations with Zhao and Qin as best he can, and then sends
an army under P’ang Chuan west to invade Han and occupy its capital, Cheng. Han urgently pleads for help
from Qi, situated on Wei’s eastern border. After a brief but heated debate, King Wei of Qi sends an army

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under T’ien Qi and Sun Pin west to threaten the Wei capital of Ta’liang, forcing Chuan to abandon his assault
on Cheng to save his own capital. Chuan’s army unites with additional forces under Prince Shen with the
combined army falling under Prince Shen’s command.

Stakes
No Image
+ A Qi victory would exhaust Wei strength
Available
and ensure good diplomatic relations with
Han.
No Image + A Wei victory would secure its eastern No Image
Available border with Qi and allow it to resume its Available
assault against Han.

By Jonathan Webb, 2013

 Maling, 342 BC
Strength

 Qi  Wei

 T’ien Qi  Prince Shen

 Sun Pin  P’ang Chuan

 100,000  100,000

 Well  Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2013

China c. 350 BC
The battlefield is relatively flat with various small rivers criss-crossing it. The Taihang Mountains and Zhang River restrict
movement northwest off-map while the terrain itself is a mix of plains and forest. The only urban area is the Wei capital of
Ta’liang in the southwest.
Qi
(T’ien Qi/Sun Pin)

Ta’liang

Wei
(Prince Shen/P’ang Chuan)
On
Thethetwofourtharmies
night, theencamp
Wei commanders resolve of
northeast to catch the disintegrating
Ta’liang. Sun Pin Qi army on the
orders hisrun.army
P’ang to
Chuan charges
light lessahead
andwith the swifter
less fires elite
everytroops, 20,000
night tostrong,
give while
the
Prince Shen advances with the main body, mostly heavy infantry. Sun Pin leaves behind most of the Qi artillery in the retreat to bolster the illusion of the Qi army’s disorder. In
illusion
reality, Sun of
Pin mass desertions
withdraws inchosen
to a carefully the Qi army.
ambush site.After
The Qi advancing for10,000
commanders place threecrossbowmen
days straight
along against thelittered
a narrow road Qi, thewithruse further
caltrops. Chariotsemboldens
are employed
the Wei commanders.
as stationary defensive fortifications to establish a blocking position at the end of the road.

Wei Qi
(T’ien Qi/Sun Pin)
(Prince Shen/P’ang Chuan) N
100,000

Wei Qi
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Chariots Chariots
Camp Camp
Crossbowmen
Artillery
Caltrops

Qi
Symbol guide
(T’ien Qi/Sun Pin)
Wei
(Prince Shen/P’ang Chuan) 100,000
At the fourth
On end ofnight,
the kill
thezone, a tree is stripped
Wei commanders resolvetotoreveal white
catch the bark and an
disintegrating attached
Qi army message
on the for Chuan
run. P’ang P’ang charges
Chuan. ahead
Sun Pin withorders his crossbowmen
the swifter to firestrong,
elite troops, 20,000 as soon as
while
they see
Prince a torch
Shen in the
advances darkness.
with the main Sure
body, enough, P’anginfantry.
mostly heavy Chuan,Sunat Pin
the leaves
head of his troops,
behind most oflights
the Qiaartillery
torch toin read the message
the retreat to bolsterand
the is one ofofthe
illusion the first to diedisorder.
Qi army’s from the
In
reality,
deadly Sun Pin withdraws
volley to a carefully
of bolts. The chosentroops
Wei mounted ambushare site. The Qitocommanders
unable maneuver off place 10,000
the road crossbowmen along a narrow
due to the caltrops and rout road littered withright
backwards, caltrops.
into Chariots
the Weiare mainemployed
body,
as stationary
causing defensive
confusion andfortifications
panic. ThetoQiestablish a blocking
main body attacks,position at the
quickly end ofthe
routing theWei
road.
army.
Wei Qi
(T’ien Qi/Sun Pin)
(Prince Shen/P’ang Chuan) N
100,000

Wei Qi
Infantry Infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Chariots Chariots
Camp Camp
Crossbowmen
Artillery
Caltrops

Qi
Symbol guide
(T’ien Qi/Sun Pin)
Wei
(Prince Shen/P’ang Chuan) 100,000
 Maling, 342 BC
Casualties & Aftermath
Qi: Wei:

? ?
or or
? ?

Wei’s defeat allowed Qin and Qi’s power to grow substantially with Qin seizure of much Wei territory
in the immediate aftermath and Qi’s lack of threats along its borders. Reflecting the tumultuous
interstate relations, in 298 BC, Qi gained hegemonic status after defeating Qin with the help of Wei
and Han. This ended abruptly in 285 BC when Qin, Wei, Han and Zhao defeated Qi, allowing Qin to
enjoy hegemonic status. From 230-221 BC, Qin conquered each of the other six warring states,
unifying China for the first time. Another period of warring states occurred when the Qin empire
collapsed in 206 BC; in this renewed struggle, Han reigned supreme, unifying China until 220 AD.

By Jonathan Webb, 2013

 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2013

 Notes
Feb 8 – created file
Feb 24 – completed data and geo slides
Mar 11 – completed landscape
Mar 12 – completed deployment, M2 and M3
Mar 16 – completed M4 and context
Mar 20 – completed narrations and aftermath
Mar 26 – systemic editing