Battle of Shiting
228 CE · Shiting (between modern Qianshan and Tongcheng, Anhui) · China · Ancient
Zhou Fang feigned surrender to lure Cao Xiu deep into Wu territory, Lu Xun launched a three-pronged pincer attack, and Cao Xiu returned after a crushing defeat
Belligerents
Eastern Wu
- Commanders
- Lu Xun, Zhou Fang, Zhu Huan, Quan Cong
- Strength
- Wu army, tens of thousands
Cao Wei
- Commanders
- Cao Xiu
- Strength
- Wei army, 100,000
Background
Sun Quan ordered Zhou Fang, the Administrator of Poyang, to feign surrender to Cao Xiu, the Grand Marshal of the State of Wei, promising to hand over his commandery and act as an insider.
Course of the battle
- Cutting his hair to feign surrenderZhou Fang wrote seven letters feigning surrender and even cut off his hair in public to apologize, and Cao Xiu believed him completely
- Wei army advancing deepCao Xiu led an army of 100,000 south to Wancheng to receive him
- Three-pronged pincer attackLu Xun put Zhu Huan and Quan Cong on the left and right wings, took command of the center himself, and caught the Wei army in a pincer attack at Shiting
- Pursuit to JiashiCao Xiu fled north after a crushing defeat; the Wu army pursued him to Jiashi, and Cao Xiu escaped only when the Wei general Jia Kui arrived to rescue him
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 228 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Shiting (between present-day Qianshan and Tongcheng, Anhui) |
| Result | Zhou Fang feigned surrender to lure Cao Xiu deep into Wu territory, Lu Xun launched a three-pronged pincer attack, and Cao Xiu returned after a crushing defeat |
| Winner | Eastern Wu |
| Casualties | More than 10,000 Wei troops were killed or wounded, and large quantities of weapons and vehicles were abandoned |
| Territorial change | Wei's southeastern offensive checked |
Impact
The Battle of Shiting is a classic example of Eastern Wu luring the enemy with a feigned surrender; afterward the Wei–Wu standoff in Huainan remained essentially stable.
See the world in 228 on the map →