[colorado tanker]

Interesting battle. I'm a history buff, but know little of Eastern military history.

The campaign took three years. An impatient king fired his general for pursuing a siege strategy. The new guy took the fight to the Qin but was lured into an envelopment. They still held out another 40 days.

And yes, the Qing massacred all but a few of the youngest soldiers. Legend has it 400,000, but that is certainly an exaggeration.

This battle cleared the way for the Qin unification of China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Changping

[SunkenCiv]

I wouldn’t be too surprised if the 400K killed is no exaggeration. Staggering to think of the impact that must have made (irrespective of the actual number) on the genetic and economic heritage of that part of China, and China as a whole.

The first war historian (in the western tradition) may have been Thucydides; during his work on the Peloponnesian War, he disparages Homer’s (et al’s) numbers for the Trojan War effort. :’) So, you’re in good company.

[Steve Van Doorn]

thanks :)