Yue conquers Wu
473 BCE · Gusu (in today's Suzhou, Jiangsu) · China · Ancient
Taking advantage of Wu being left undefended while Fuchai went north to the conference, Goujian besieged Gusu for a long time, finally took the city and conquered Wu
Belligerents
Yue
- Commanders
- King Goujian of Yue, Fan Li, Wen Zhong
- Strength
- Yue's entire national army
Wu
- Commanders
- King Fuchai of Wu
- Strength
- The Wu main army was already exhausted after its long expedition to the Huangchi Conference
Background
Goujian "slept on brushwood and tasted gall" for more than ten years, rebuilding his strength and secretly training troops, then launched a surprise attack while Fuchai was contending for hegemony at Huangchi and Wu was left undefended.
Course of the battle
- Surprise attack on GusuWith Wu's elite troops sent north, the Yue army launched a surprise attack on the Wu capital Gusu
- Long siegeThe Wu army could not return in time to relieve it, and Gusu fell after a siege of several years
- Fuchai takes his own lifeDefeated, Fuchai sued for peace but was refused, and took his own life at the Gusu Terrace
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 473 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Gusu (in today's Suzhou, Jiangsu) |
| Result | Taking advantage of Wu being left undefended while Fuchai went north to the conference, Goujian besieged Gusu for a long time, finally took the city and conquered Wu |
| Winner | Yue |
| Casualties | Fall of the State of Wu; Fuchai took his own life |
| Territorial change | Yue took all of Wu's lands and for a time pushed north to contend for the Central Plains |
Impact
The last change of fortunes among the great powers at the end of the Spring and Autumn period; Yue became one of the hegemons of the era.
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