Enriching and Improving Period
From the end of the third century BC to the 13th century, China witnessed many dynasties including the Qin, Han, Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan. In this long historical period, the military thoughts of the pre-Qin Dynastystill played an important guiding role. Meanwhile, with the development of social economics, politics, culture, and wars, military thoughts experienced substantial further enrichment and improvement.
In the term of classification of war, there were wars unifying the territory of the feudal dynasties, many large-scale peasant and national uprisings, and fights among the domestic local warlords for the dominance of the central government.
In the term of the development of troops, arms of services and weapons experienced noticeable changes. Calvary as an individual branch of the army appeared, and the navy participated in more wars, which required the commanders to strengthen the coordination and cooperation among the infantry, cavalry, and navy. As a result, the use of tactics and strategies as well as the art of commanding both experienced substantial development.
Innumerous wars also produced a lot of strategists and generals, as well as many books on art of war summarizing the experiences of military confrontations.
EmperorQin Shihuang's military measures of building theGreat Walland large-scale roads and guarding the border with a large number of forces were very influential for frontier defense in later ages.
In the famous battle between the Chu and Han states, Zhang Liang, the military counselor advisedLiu Bang, who later became the first emperor of theHan Dynasty(206BC-220AD), to conform to the will of the people, disintegrate the enemy, strive for more allies, and isolate Xiang Yu, king of the Chu State. Liu Bang followed the advice and finally won the war.
In the counterattack war against the Huns in theWestern Han Dynasty(206BC-24AD), famous generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing developed the tactics and strategies of using large-scale cavalries in a creative way.
Liu Tao(The Six Principles of War), a noted military book, raised the notions of rehabilitation and recuperation, cherishing the wealth of the people in the light of frequent wars, and also discussed coordinated fighting with the integration of infantry and cavalry.
San Lue(Three Tactics), another book on war of art, further expressed the discrimination thought that "the weak can also beat the strong." He also pointed out the superlative rulers must extensively admit various talents, and attach importance to the influence of the people and soldiers.
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