Don't study history until you know this secret about Sun Bin!

Welcome back to Battlecry, Chinese Chronicles. One of the most chaotic, war-torn eras in human history was the Warring States period of ancient China. An age when rival warlords rose in force, each vying for supremacy. It was filled with clashes and bloody battles. And above all, it was a golden age of military strategy. There is still debate over when this age of turmoil began. But today, most scholars agree on 403 BCE. That was the year Jin split into Han, Wei, and Zhao, marking the start of the Warring States period. An era remembered for all time as the Seven Powerful States. Once feudal states under the Zhou, the seven great powers, Qin, Zhao, Wei, Han, Chu, Yan, and Qi, steadily grew stronger and swallowed the smaller states. In the end, those very vassals erased the Zhou dynasty, which had lasted 800 years, from history. Throughout this era, wars of every size broke out, claiming millions of lives. And from those wars came the outstanding figures of the age. Among them were the two pillars of Zhao, Grand General Lian Pa and the famed General Li Mu. There was also the killer god Bai Qi, and Qin's veteran General Wang Jian, who helped Qin destroy Chu. And Yan's Grand General Yue, who once led the alliance against Qi, and more. Among the era's brilliant stars, one shone brighter than the rest. He was the grandson of Sun Wu, the founder of military strategy, a famed general who was later crippled. He endured humiliation and hardship before achieving greatness. Above all, he was the father of the classic strategy, besiege Wei to rescue Zhao. His name was Sun Ben, and he stepped onto history's stage. In 371 BC, the Marquis Wu of Wei died without an heir, plunging Wei into civil war and a struggle for power. After three years of civil war, Zhao and Han seized the chance and sent troops against Wei. In 354 BC, Wei launched a massive attack on Zhao. Revenge for Zhao's earlier raids on Wei. By 353 BC, Zhao had suffered repeated defeats. And Handan, one of Zhao's great cities, later the capital of Zhao, was under siege. Facing the collapse of the state, Zhao had no choice but to beg other states for help. One state answered that plea, Qi. The commander of this rescue was none other than Sun Ben. Using the famed besiege Wei to rescue Zhao strategy. A military genius. Sun Ben was originally from Qi, and studied under the great master Ge Guzi. Learning military strategy and statecraft for years. He was one of Ge Guzi's four most gifted disciples. Alongside Peng Yuan, Su Qin, and Zhang Yi. It is said that Sun Ben was a descendant of Sun Tzu. The man who wrote the famous art of war. So it was hardly surprising. Ge Guzi had a close friend, Mo Di, a man of extraordinary military talent. Mo Di, also known as Mozi, founded Moism, one of the three great schools of thought alongside Confucianism and Taoism. One day, Mozi and one of his disciples visited Ge Guzi. Mozi met Sun Ben, and the two talked. He soon found that Sun Ben knew the military classics well and had real talent for command. Mozi asked Sun Ben. You've studied this far, so why not go out and serve as an official? Sun Ben replied. I have a junior brother, Peng Yuan. We agreed that if Peng Yuan made his name, he would surely recommend me. Mozi went on. Peng Yuan's reputation is already huge. I'll ask him about it for you. By then, Peng Yuan had used Ge Guzi's teachings to win battle after battle in Wei. He held great power, rank, and salary, and the king of Wei favored him deeply. So Mozi set out for Wei. But once there, he saw Peng Yuan starting about arrogantly and knew at once that he was too proud to recommend Sun Ben. So Mozi went to the king of Wei himself to recommend Sun Ben. The king of Wei heard that Sun Ben was Peng Yuan's schoolmate. If Peng Yuan was that formidable, then Sun Ben could not be ordinary. The king of Wei then asked Peng Yuan. Why didn't you invite Sun Ben to serve at court? Peng Yuan was pleased. My senior brother Sun Ben is from Qi. I'm afraid that if he comes here, he won't give Wei his all and may still want to serve Qi. That's why I didn't dare ask my senior brother to come. The king of Wei was no fool. He said. A true man of talent will die for the one who knows his worth. Treat him well, and he'll give Wei his all. And so the king of Wei wrote a letter inviting Sun Ben to Wei. When Peng Yuan heard the news, he was deeply uneasy. For he knew exactly how brilliant his senior brother Sun Ben was. Jealousy surged in him. Peng Yuan racked his brain, looking for a way to stop and kill this future threat. A sign of what's to come. After receiving the king of Wei's letter, Sun Ben agreed and packed his bags to leave the mountain. Before Sun Ben left, his master Guguzi told him. Bring me a flower. Let me cast a divination and see what your future holds. At that moment, Sun Ben noticed a bronze vase on the table. A chrysanthemum branch was in the vase. He took the chrysanthemum from the vase, handed it to his teacher, and said. Please use this flower for the divination. Then I'll put it back in the vase. After a long look, Guguzi said to Sun Ben. First, this flower has been cut from its stem. It is incomplete. Chrysanthemums are hardy. They can withstand wind and frost. So although it has suffered a little damage, this is not a major omen of disaster. Then Guguzi went on. It was placed in a bronze vase, and bronze is used to It is a metal used for ritual vessels and ceremonial instruments. So your name will be remembered forever. Guguzi continued. Before, it was cut from its stem before being put in the vase. That was the first time it was elevated. When you took it and brought it to me, then put it back in its place, that was the second time. So on your first trip down the mountain, I'm afraid things won't go as you wish. You won't be able to fulfill your ambition or show your talent. Because before it was first put in the vase, it had already been cut from the stem. After I finish the divination, this flower will return to the vase, so your future path to success will ultimately be in your homeland, Qi. With a single gesture, placing a flower in a vase, Guguzi foretold four things about Sun Ben's future, and all four later came true. Sun Ben's original name was Sun Exian. After that, Guguzi told him, I've changed your name to Ben, adding the moon radical before Exian. Sun Exian becomes Sun Ben. We know that Ben was an old term for kneecapping. So when Guguzi renamed his student, he already knew that Sun Ben would one day suffer that punishment. But heaven's secrets cannot be revealed, so Guguzi never told Sun Ben plainly what was to come. Yet perhaps Guguzi never imagined that this calamity would be brought on by Sun Ben's own junior brother, Peng Huan. Talent, disaster, and jealousy. After Sun Ben came down from the mountain, he went away to meet the King of Wei. Learned and remarkable, he had the bearing of a true sage. The King of Wei planned to appoint him as deputy strategist. Then Peng Huan reported to the King of Wei that. Sun Ben is my senior brother. How could my senior brother serve as my deputy? I think he should be made a guest minister. Peng Huan added, if my senior brother later wins military merit, I am willing to return the post of strategist to him. Though Peng Huan spoke graciously and praised Sun Ben's talent. Beneath it was jealousy. He did not want Sun Ben favored, because a guest minister was only an advisor in name, with no real power. Peng Huan and Sun Ben were once close brothers. They ate and slept together, and Peng Huan often asked Sun Ben about military strategy. And each time Sun Ben explained, Peng Huan knew how far below this senior brother he truly was. So Peng Huan asked Sun Ben, where did you learn all this, senior brother? Sun Ben, trusting him and without guard, answered that. This is the strategy taught to me by Master Gaguzi. And it came from my ancestor Sun Wu. Peng Huan said, Master taught me that too, but I did not pay attention then. Could you write it down for me? I want to learn it too. Sun Ben gladly agreed. Peng Huan felt that, even though they studied the same military classics, Sun Ben was far more capable. He wanted Sun Ben to never take his place. Peng Huan came up with a vicious plan. He found someone to pose as Sun Ben's older cousin. He had the man right to Sun Ben. He wanted Sun Ben to return to Qi, to rebuild the tombs of his long-dead parents. Sun Ben took it as true and wrote back, saying, I now serve as an official in Wei. I can't return to Qi right away. After I make some achievements, I'll ask for a leave and go home for a while. After getting the reply, Peng Huan forged Sun Ben's handwriting and wrote a fake letter. Although my body is in Wei, my heart is always with my homeland. As long as the king of Qi does not doubt me, I am willing to serve my country with all my heart. Seizing this golden chance, Peng Huan immediately handed the forged letter to the king of Wei. Then Peng Huan urged Sun Ben to write another letter to the king of Wei, saying he wanted to go home to rebuild his parents' tombs. Peng Huan told Sun Ben that a few sweet words to the king of Wei and going home would be no problem. After the king of Wei received the letter Sun Ben had been urged to write, asking to return home, he was furious and said, I've treated Sun Ben well, yet he thinks about Qi all day long. Peng Huan kept fanning the flames, saying Sun Ben was extraordinarily gifted. If he returned to Qi, he would sooner or later become a threat to Wei's bid for hegemony. And so the king of Wei decided to kill Sun Ben and cut off the danger at its root. Peng Huan was shocked because Sun Ben still had the military treatise. He couldn't be killed before they got it back. He said, Sun Ben can't be killed yet. Just cripple his knees and tattoo his face. That way, he'll never be able to serve anywhere else for the rest of his life. The king of Wei agreed. When Peng Huan returned to Sun Ben, he put on a kind face and said, The king of Wei is furious. He made you write that letter to Qi just to set you up. He wanted to kill you, and only after I begged him over and over did he spare your life. But the punishment still has to be carried out. Your knees will be crippled and your face tattooed. Sun Ben sighed and said, When I left my master's mountain, he warned me, even if a plant survives frost and snow, once its roots are cut, it will still die. It seems this punishment cannot be avoided. Then Peng Huan gave Sun Ben some wine to get him drunk. After that, he had his knees gouged out and his face tattooed. Sun Ben fainted from the pain. Peng Huan wrapped his legs in bandages. After that, every day he brought fine food and good wine to help Sun Ben recover. He was a treacherous man, smooth-talking on the outside but full of venom inside. He had just vowed and schemed to harm his fellow disciple, yet still treated him courteously to his face. All for one reason, to see Sun Ben's secret teachings. After some time, since Sun Ben was no longer a guest minister, he had no income. And all his food and drink were supplied by Peng Huan. Seeing this, Sun Ben felt uneasy. Then one day, Peng Huan said, Anyway, you have nothing to do here, so why not write down the art of war? Out of gratitude, Sun Ben agreed, and he even thought Peng Huan was a very good man. But Sun Ben's condition was poor then. Crippled and weak, he was already disabled. After his knees were crippled, he could no longer stand and could only lie down. So every day, he could only write a few lines of the art of war on bamboo slips. And so, for about a month, Peng Huan had Sun Ben's attendant Ching Er come and ask him, How much of the art of war can Sun Ben write each day? Ching Er replied, About two or three lines a day. Peng Huan then said, At that pace, when will it ever be finished? Ching Er found it very strange. Why was his master pressuring Sun Ben so hard? So Ching Er grew suspicious and asked one of Peng Huan's close men. That man said it was just because he didn't know better. The current master wanted to keep Sun Ben alive so he could write the military treatise. Once he finished, they'd kill him. Ching and I then relayed those words to Sun Ben. Only then did Sun Ben learn the truth. About the man he had always treated like a blood brother, shocked and bitter. That was all Sun Ben could understand and feel. His suffering seemed to have reached its limit. But this was only the beginning. The most astonishing chapters of his story still lay ahead. Now that he knew everything, what would Sun Ben do? How would he rise above this ordeal? Stay tuned for part 2. Welcome back to Battle Cry, a Chinese Chronicle. People say that after the bitterest hardship comes sweet relief, when suffering reaches its end, good fortune follows. In classical Chinese, sweet means happiness and joy. With strong will and relentless effort, one can push through the deepest pain. Then success and happiness will come on their own. Indeed, after the worst comes the best. Chinese history has seen many figures like this. Confucius, the great teacher of later generations, wrote his masterpiece, The Spring and Autumn Annals, during years of extreme hardship in Chen and Cai. There was also Han Exian, whose youth was filled with poverty and hunger. He even had to beg food from a washerwoman by the river and endure humiliation from a butcher. In the end, he became an undefeated general, one of the most famous commanders in Chinese history. With military power in hand, he turned the tide as Chu and Han fought for supremacy. He helped Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bei, defeat Xiang Yu and bring the realm back to Han. He also founded a dynasty that lasted more than 400 years. There was also Liu Bei, who spent 45 years in hardship, often in tears as his ambitions never came true. Wherever he led troops, he lost again and again, fleeing from place to place. Then, after the Battle of Red Cliffs, he seized Jingzhou and Yizhou and built his power in Hanzhong, laying the foundation for his great cause. All these stories share one thing in common with today's main character, Sun Bin. Gifted in strategy and military arts, yet too trusting. He was framed by Peng Yuan, leaving him crippled and weak. His kneecaps were smashed, leaving him disabled and nearly dead. Stripped of his rank and salary, he suffered hunger and cold, and later even had to feign madness and endure humiliation. Yet above all else, he fought to stay alive and preserve his learning, hoping one day to make his name, take revenge, feign madness, and leave Wei for Qi. While under Peng Yuan's house arrest, with his legs crippled, Sun Bin suddenly remembered the brocade pouch his master Gegezi gave him before leaving the mountain, telling him to open it in danger. Sun Bin opened the pouch, and on the silk were two words, feign madness. That night, after dinner, Sun Bin started vomiting. The next day, he took the bamboo slips of military strategy and threw them into the fire. After that, Sun Bin began speaking strangely, mumbling, then ran to the door and shouted, causing a huge commotion. Peng Yuan arrived and saw Sun Bin with snot all over his face, running around in a delirious mess. Peng Yuan asked his attendant Qing Er, what's going on? Qing Er said, I didn't know either. After dinner, Mr. Sun turned into this state, like a madman. Peng Yuan didn't believe it and came to question Sun Bin. Senior brother, do you recognize me? Sun Bin kept babbling like a madman. Peng Yuan couldn't believe that Sun Bin, who had been perfectly normal, had suddenly gone mad overnight. So he had Sun Bin taken to the prison for examination. Once there, Sun Bin simply lay down and acted completely at ease. Still suspicious, Peng Yuan sent someone at midnight to bring Sun Bin fine food and good wine. The attendant said, I know the honorable guest minister has been wronged, so I sympathize with you. I brought some wine and meat, and General Peng won't know. Sun Bin saw at once that the man was sent by Peng Yuan. He threw the wine, meat, and food aside and said to the attendant, You brought me poison. Then Sun Bin cursed him harshly, and the man tried to feed him a lump of pig dung. Sun Bin felt humiliated and bitter beyond words. But with the skill of a great strategist, he opened his mouth and swallowed it at once. Afterward, the man went back to report to Peng Yuan. Peng Yuan let out a sigh of relief and said, It's over. Sun Bin really is mad. Peng Yuan told his men, from now on, don't leave. Every day, you must report Sun Bin's condition to me. I still can't fully trust him. Sun Bin had no kneecaps left, so he couldn't stand or walk. He could only crawl. Once, when he went out to bask in the sun, he had to lean against the wall just to sit up. The people in the streets knew that Sun, the guest minister, was both ill and crippled, and they took great pity on him. So sometimes others fed him, and sometimes they gave him water. As for Sun Bin, sometimes he ate, and sometimes he refused to eat. After that, he often spoke in mad ramblings. Little by little, Peng Yuan finally began to relax his guard. But Sun Bin still had to be watched. News that Sun Bin had gone mad finally reached Qi. At the time, Mozi was staying as a guest in the home of the Qi noble Tian Ji, and he was deeply shocked. He could not believe that such a brilliant strategist would not only be left unused, but driven to such misery. Feeling sorry for him, he wanted to save Sun Bin. So he and Tian Ji devised a plan, send Qin Yukun to Wei with the tribute money to rescue Sun Bin. Qin Yukun traveled to Wei with Qin Huoli. By day, they handled the official business, delivering the tribute money to Wei. At night, Qin Huoli slipped away to see Sun Bin. Sun Bin was sitting on the ground. When he saw Qin Huoli, he just glared and said nothing. Before this, when Mozi brought Qin Huoli to Gegezi's place, Qin Huoli had already seen Sun Bin. Seeing Sun Bin like that, Qin Huoli burst into tears and said, Senior brother Sun Bin, how did you end up like this? Do you recognize me? He added, This time, I came under the guise of delivering tribute tea, but really to rescue Sun Bin and take him back to Qi. When Sun Bin heard that, tears poured down his face. A cripple like me can only die here. Peng Huan has men watching me every day. I'm crippled, so I can't even walk. How could you take me back to Qi like this? He said his mission in Wei would be done in two days. Just wait here. When it's finished, I'll let you know. That day, he finished his business. At midnight, Wang Yi came for Sun Bin. He put on Sun Bin's clothes, messed up his hair, smeared dirt on his face, and lay down by the well. Meanwhile, Sun Bin was secretly put onto the carriage. The local officials had to report Sun Bin's whereabouts to Peng Huan every day. But today, Sun Bin was nowhere to be found. So the local official said, Could Sun Bin have jumped into the well? The body was never found. Peng Huan searched everywhere, but found no trace. Afraid the King of Wei would ask questions, Peng Huan told him that Sun Bin had jumped into the well and died. Just like that, Sun Bin safely escaped Wei. Besiege Wei, Rescue Zhao. After arriving in Qi, Sun Bin stayed at Tian Ji's residence to recover. There, he met King Wei of Qi, a true wise ruler who valued the worthy and respected talent. Learning of Sun Bin's skill, the King was delighted and appointed him a court minister. From then on, Sun Bin finally had a stage for his natural military genius, and the King of Qi favored him greatly. In 354 BC, Wei launched an attack on Zhao to settle an old score, after Zhao and Han had once joined forces against it. By then, the King of Wei had made Peng Huan commander-in-chief, and he struck with brutal force. He quickly captured Zhao's capital, Handan. Zhao was already on the brink of destruction, so Zhao had no choice but to seek help from Qi. King Wei of Qi then appointed Tian Ji as general. Sun Bin served as strategist to save Zhao. After studying the situation, Sun Bin came up with a strategy that left everyone stunned. He believed that when the enemy is fiercely strong, a head-on battle will surely put us at a disadvantage. We must avoid their sharp edge, strike where they are weak, wear them down, and turn their strength into a weakness we can exploit. It was then that Sun Bin proposed a famous plan, remembered to this day, besieging Wei to rescue Zhao. Sun Bin said that when luring the enemy, we must avoid their spearhead and attack their weakest point. Right now we are fighting Peng Huan, and his army is so elite, that after taking Zhao's capital, Handan, his troops are riding high. A direct battle would end in disaster. The simplest solution is not to rescue Zhao and clash with Peng Huan's elite forces, but to attack Wei itself. Then Peng Huan will have to pull back to save Wei. The road from Zhao back to Wei is long, by the time they are halfway, they'll be exhausted. We will ambush them along the way back. That will be the moment to strike Peng Huan's powerful army. In military terms, this is called using our own ease to wait for the enemy's fatigue. Tian Ji immediately accepted Sun Bin's plan. Instead of sending troops to rescue Zhao, he led the army straight to Wei's capital, Daliang, and attacked it. By then, Peng Huan had already led all 100,000 elite Wei troops to attack Zhao. At home, Wei no longer had enough forces to hold out. The king of Wei immediately sent orders for Peng Huan to return and relieve the city. Zhao was suddenly saved. The Shuoji later only mentions Tian Ji's defeat of Peng Huan at Guilin, and does not mention Peng Huan being captured in this battle. The Romance of the Eastern Zhou Kingdoms describes the story of Peng Huan and Sun Bin in chapter 88 as follows. Sun Bin feigned madness and escaped. Peng Huan was defeated at Guilin. At Meiling Road, Peng Huan died. In 341 BCE, the king of Wei once again sent Peng Huan to attack Qi, hoping to lure him into chasing the Qi army. Sun Bin used the kitchen ruse, reducing the number of stoves in the camp each day. On the first day, there were 100,000 stoves. The next day, only 50,000. By the day after, just 30,000. He did this on purpose to fool Peng Huan and the Wei army. After checking Qi's abandoned stoves, Peng Huan thought the Qi army had fled in terror, with more than half its men gone. Their ranks were thinning, and morale was falling. Eager for glory, Peng Huan left the infantry behind and took only light troops. He forced his men to chase the Qi army day and night, despite their exhaustion. Meiling Road is now near Daming County in Hebei, China. The mountain road there is steep and dangerous, with forests on both sides. It was the perfect place for an ambush. By then, the Qi army had stopped. Sun Bin ordered the trees cut down. The logs were piled across the road, leaving only one tree untouched. Sun Bin had that tree stripped of its bark, then wrote eight characters on it. Then he placed 10,000 archers in ambush across the hills. Sun Bin told the archers, tonight, when you see the fire below, all of you fire at once, 10,000 arrows, one deadly volley. After days and nights of relentless pursuit, Peng Huan finally reached Meiling Road that night. Scouts ahead reported that the road was blocked by fallen trees. Peng Huan said it might be the enemy's doing, cutting down the trees to set an ambush. We must leave the trees at once and clear the road. So the cavalry dismounted and moved forward to clear the way. Peng Huan saw that almost every tree had been cut down, with only one still standing. By then, it was already dusk. Peng Huan saw writing on the tree, but couldn't read it clearly. He only caught a glimpse of his own name. Finding it strange, Peng Huan ordered his men to light a fire and see what was written on the tree. Peng Huan moved closer and began to read the words one by one. Peng Huan will die beneath this tree. At once, flames burst up on Meiling Road. 10,000 Qi archers lay in ambush above and rained arrows down on the firelight. The entire Wei army was slaughtered. Only Peng Huan remained, riddled with arrows, in a desperate state. After that, Sun Bin came to Peng Huan's side. Peng Huan was still alive. He said to Sun Bin, I regret that I couldn't kill you back then. Today, you are famous, while my men lie dead on the battlefield. When Peng Huan finished, he took his sword and killed himself. To the very end, he still refused to admit he was wrong. And only hated that he had not succeeded in killing Sun Bin. In the end, just as Biguzi had predicted, Sun Bin's talent and fame lived on through the ages. Later generations judged him a brilliant strategist, ranked among the greatest military minds of the warring states. Beyond his extraordinary military talent, Sun Bin was also known for his humility and kindness, and he helped make Qi stronger step by step.