Place them in a deadly situation and they will survive; put them on ground where death is certain and they will live.

陛下不過能将十万。臣多多而益善耳。

Han Xin

Military Strategists

Han Xin

The greatest military mind of early imperial China, whose campaigns established the Han dynasty (c. 231-196 BCE). Han Xin's tactical innovations — including the legendary 'battle with backs to the river' — demonstrated that battlefield psychology and terrain exploitation could overcome any numerical disadvantage. His reward was execution by the emperor he helped enthrone.

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Source: 史記 淮陰侯列伝Verified

Han Xin's Other Quotes

When the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is boiled.

The more troops, the better I command them.

When I served Xiang Yu, my rank never exceeded that of a palace guard, and my position was no more than a halberd-bearer. My words went unheeded, my plans unused -- and so I left Chu for Han.

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