Before dawn, Han Xin had his troops eat a simple breakfast before the battle, stating that they would feast upon destroying the Zhao army. Not even his officers believed him, but they followed his orders. He then sent an advance force of 10,000 men through the pass of Jingxing into the plain and ordered them to take up position with their backs against the Mienman River.
[14] Sima Qian claims that Han Xin correctly judged that Chen Yu would allow this, since if Zhao attacked right away it would simply scare the advance guard back into the pass before Han Xin and the greater part of the Han army could appear. Sima Qian claims that the Zhao soldiers laughed at the fact that the Han were placing themselves in such a vulnerable position, with their backs to the river, but the fact that the maneuver was conducted at night may also explain Zhao inaction against Han Xin's opening move.
[15]
