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

置之死地而後生、投之亡地而後存。

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

臣事項王、官不過郎中、位不過執戟。言不聴、画不用、故倍楚而帰漢。

The more troops, the better I command them.

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

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A million hearts as one.

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攻撃を一点に集約せよ、無駄な事はするな。

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I came as dew, I vanish as dew — all that I was, all I achieved at Naniwa, is a dream within a dream.

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Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as the mountain.

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