To fight a desperate battle with no way of retreat; to make a last stand with one's back to the wall.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Chu-Han Contention, Liu Bang ordered his general Han Xin to lead an army to attack the State of Zhao. The King of Zhao, with an army of 200,000, met them at Jingxing Pass in the Taihang Mountains. At that time, Han Xin only had 12,000 troops. To defeat the Zhao army, he positioned 10,000 men with their backs to a river, forming a 'back-to-water' formation. He also sent 2,000 light cavalry to lie in ambush around the Zhao army's camp. After the battle began, the 200,000 strong Zhao army charged towards the 10,000 Han troops by the river. The Han army, facing a formidable enemy with no retreat, fought desperately. At this moment, the 2,000 hidden soldiers seized the opportunity to attack the Zhao camp. Caught in a pincer attack, the Zhao army was quickly defeated by Han Xin. After the battle, someone asked Han Xin, 'Lining up with one's back to the water is a military taboo. Why did you knowingly disregard it?' Han Xin smiled and replied, 'Placing them in a desperate situation, and they will fight to survive \u2013 this is also recorded in military treatises.'