River Crossing Deception / 渡河欺敌

River crossing deception / 渡河欺敌 enters the wiki through Hanji 155-2 as 韩信’s method for defeating 魏豹. Han Xin lets Wei Bao see preparations at the expected 临晋 / 蒲阪 crossing, then uses 下阳 as the actual crossing point and strikes 安邑 behind the defended line.

The pattern is related to 战场信息控制 because the visible crossing is a managed signal. It is also related to 多路佯动中央突破, but the emphasis here is different: the obstacle is a river line, and the decisive move is not a central breakthrough but a hidden crossing that makes the enemy’s strongest defensive position irrelevant.

In this source, the tactic depends on material improvisation as well as deception. The army uses wooden boards and jar-floats to cross at the calmer northern point, so the trick works only because Han Xin has a practical crossing method ready before Wei Bao can redeploy.

Hanji 164-2 adds a more aggressive river-line variant at 潍水之战. Instead of hiding only the true crossing point, Han Xin changes the river’s state by damming the upstream water, then crosses, feigns defeat, pulls 龙且 into pursuit, and releases the water to split the Chu force.

Key Claims

• A defended crossing can be bypassed by making the enemy protect the obvious ferry while the real crossing happens elsewhere.
• Deception must be paired with a working mobility solution; a hidden crossing route has no value if the army cannot actually cross.
• The payoff is positional shock: once Anyi is threatened, Wei Bao must leave his prepared line and fight under worse timing.
• The pattern is narrower than general feinting because terrain, ferry access, water conditions, and improvised engineering are part of the tactic.
• Hanji 164-2 adds that a river-crossing deception can make the enemy enter the water line, not only defend the wrong crossing.
• Improvised hydraulic control can turn crossing timing into a weapon rather than only a mobility aid.

Connections

• Hanji 164-2, 潍水之战, 韩信, 龙且, and 战场信息控制 - dam, false retreat, and timed flood at Weishui.
• 韩信 and 魏豹 - commander and deceived opponent.
• 临晋, 蒲阪, 下阳, and 安邑 - visible crossing zone, actual crossing point, and target.
• 曹参 and 灌婴 - commanders whose follow-through turns the crossing into defeat and pursuit.
• 战场信息控制, 多路佯动中央突破, and 诱敌离位 - adjacent tactical concepts.