Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 33

Study of Military Strategy: Jin Dynasty, Part 2

。 "...[We should] rescue him, thereby creating a balance of power like the three legs of a tripod dingzu A classic Chinese metaphor for a three-way stalemate where no single power can dominate the others. If I now lead our troops to advance on Zhongshan, using many decoy soldiers by day and numerous torches by night, the enemy will surely be frightened and return to save their own territory. I will then strike them from the front while Zhao Zhai Zhao, the leader of the Zhai Wei state pursues them from behind. This is a heaven-sent opportunity that must not be lost."

However, Yong Murong Yong, the ruler of Western Yan did not follow this advice.

Chui Murong Chui, the founding emperor of Later Yan, regarded as one of the greatest tacticians of the era moved his army to Liyang, reaching the river with the intent to cross. Zhao deployed his troops on the southern bank to resist him. Chui then moved his camp to the West Ferry, forty li Approximately 20 kilometers or 12 miles away from Liyang. He constructed over a hundred ox-hide boats and displayed weapons and banners as a ruse, making it appear as though he were sailing upstream. Zhao immediately led his troops to follow the movement.

Meanwhile, Chui secretly dispatched Murong Zhen, the Prince of Guilin, and others to cross at the Liyang Ferry under the cover of night and establish a camp on the southern side of the river. By dawn, the camp was fully fortified. Zhao hurriedly returned to attack the new camp. Chui ordered his men to "strengthen the walls" A strategy of staying behind fortifications to wear the enemy out and refuse battle. Zhao’s troops became exhausted from the constant marching back and forth; unable to seize the camp, they prepared to withdraw. At that moment, Zhen and his men sallied out to fight, while Murong Nong crossed from the West Ferry to launch a pincer attack. They crushed the enemy, capturing all of Zhao's forces and the thirty thousand households across the seven commanderies he had ruled.