Battle of Fei River
383 CE · Fei River (southeast of present-day Shou County, Anhui) · China · Ancient
The Qin army's withdrawal threw its own ranks into disorder, and the Jin army crossed the river in an all-out assault and crushed the Former Qin
Belligerents
Eastern Jin
- Commanders
- Xie An, Xie Xuan, Xie Shi
- Strength
- Beifu Army, about 80,000
Former Qin
- Commanders
- Fu Jian, Fu Rong
- Strength
- Said to be over 800,000
Background
After unifying the north, Fu Jian of the Former Qin marched south with the full might of his state to destroy the Eastern Jin. The Jin sent Xie Xuan's Beifu Army to block him at the Fei River and asked the Qin army to pull back so a decisive battle could be fought.
Course of the battle
- Opening clash at LuojianThe Jin general Liu Laozhi made a night raid on Luojian and won the first battle
- Challenge to battle at the FeiThe Jin asked the Qin army to fall back a little so they could cross the river for a decisive battle, and Fu Jian planned to strike them mid-crossing
- Retreat turns into routThe Qin withdrawal got out of control; panicked by "the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes," the army collapsed along the whole line
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 383 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Fei River (southeast of present-day Shou County, Anhui) |
| Result | The Qin army's withdrawal threw its own ranks into disorder, and the Jin army crossed the river in an all-out assault and crushed the Former Qin |
| Winner | Eastern Jin |
| Casualties | The Former Qin troops trampled one another and many died in the rout; Fu Rong was killed in battle |
| Territorial change | The Former Qin swiftly disintegrated and the north fell back into division, while the Eastern Jin was saved from peril |
Impact
A famous example in Chinese history of the few defeating the many, it preserved the Eastern Jin and prolonged the division between north and south.
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