汜水 / Si River (Chu-Han)

Sishui is the river crossing outside 成皋 / Chenggao where 曹咎 / Cao Jiu’s Chu army is struck while crossing in Hanji 163. The episode distinguishes this location from 睢水: the decisive action here is not a flood or massacre after Pengcheng, but a tactical attack on a provoked Chu force mid-crossing.

Xiang Yu had told Cao Jiu not to fight while he was away in Liang, but Han insults draw Cao Jiu out through Chenggao’s east gate. Liu Bang’s side waits until the Chu troops are crossing Sishui, then attacks; Cao Jiu and 司马欣 / Sima Xin die by suicide after the defeat, and Han recovers Chenggao and 敖仓 / Aocang.

Connections

• 曹咎 / Cao Jiu — loses control after provocation and is defeated at the crossing.
• 司马欣 / Sima Xin — dies after the failed crossing.
• 成皋 / Chenggao — the fortress from which Cao Jiu sorties.
• 敖仓 / Aocang — falls back into Han hands after the defeat.
• Liu Bang / 刘邦 — exploits the crossing vulnerability.
• 项羽 / Xiang Yu — his order not to fight is ignored while he is away.
• Anger-Driven War Decision / 因怒兴师 — the crossing is a concrete example of anger converting a defensive order into a disastrous engagement.