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田单

战国 · 名将

田单 (战国·名将) was a notable historical figure from 战国 in Chinese history. This page presents a detailed biography of 田单: 田单.

Biography

田单。
史记卷八十二 田单列传第二十二:
  田单者,齐诸田疏属也。湣王时,单为临菑市掾,不见知。及燕使乐毅伐破齐,齐湣王出奔,已而保莒城。燕师长驱平齐,而田单走安平,令其宗人尽断其车轴末而傅铁笼。已而燕军攻安平,城坏,齐人走,争涂,以轊折车败,为燕所虏,唯田单宗人以铁笼故得脱,东保即墨。燕既尽降齐城,唯独莒、即墨不下。燕军闻齐王在莒,并兵攻之。淖齿既杀湣王於莒,因坚守,距燕军,数年不下。燕引兵东围即墨,即墨大夫出与战,败死。城中相与推田单,曰:「安平之战,田单宗人以铁笼得全,习兵。」立以为将军,以即墨距燕。
  顷之,燕昭王卒,惠王立,与乐毅有隙。田单闻之,乃纵反间於燕,宣言曰:「齐王已死,城之不拔者二耳。乐毅畏诛而不敢归,以伐齐为名,实欲连兵南面而王齐。齐人未附,故且缓攻即墨以待其事。齐人所惧,唯恐他将之来,即墨残矣。」燕王以为然,使骑劫代乐毅。
  乐毅因归赵,燕人士卒忿。而田单乃令城中人食必祭其先祖於庭,飞鸟悉翔舞城中下食。燕人怪之。田单因宣言曰:「神来下教我。」乃令城中人曰:「当有神人为我师。」有一卒曰:「臣可以为师乎?」因反走。田单乃起,引还,东乡坐,师事之。卒曰:「臣欺君,诚无能也。」田单曰:「子勿言也!」因师之。每出约束,必称神师。乃宣言曰:「吾唯惧燕军之劓所得齐卒,置之前行,与我战,即墨败矣。」燕人闻之,如其言。城中人见齐诸降者尽劓,皆怒,坚守,唯恐见得。单又纵反间曰:「吾惧燕人掘吾城外冢墓,僇先人,可为寒心。」燕军尽掘垄墓,烧死人。即墨人从城上望见,皆涕泣,俱欲出战,怒自十倍。
  田单知士卒之可用,乃身操版插,与士卒分功,妻妾编於行伍之间,尽散饮食飨士。令甲卒皆伏,使老弱女子乘城,遣使约降於燕,燕军皆呼万岁。田单又收民金,得千溢,令即墨富豪遗燕将,曰:「即墨即降,原无虏掠吾族家妻妾,令安堵。」燕将大喜,许之。燕军由此益懈。
  田单乃收城中得千馀牛,为绛缯衣,画以五彩龙文,束兵刃於其角,而灌脂束苇於尾,烧其端。凿城数十穴,夜纵牛,壮士五千人随其後。牛尾热,怒而奔燕军,燕军夜大惊。牛尾炬火光明炫燿,燕军视之皆龙文,所触尽死伤。五千人因衔枚击之,而城中鼓譟从之,老弱皆击铜器为声,声动天地。燕军大骇,败走。齐人遂夷杀其将骑劫。燕军扰乱奔走,齐人追亡逐北,所过城邑皆畔燕而归田单,兵日益多,乘胜,燕日败亡,卒至河上,而齐七十馀城皆复为齐。乃迎襄王於莒,入临菑而听政。
  襄王封田单,号曰安平君。

About田单Frequently Asked Questions

Who is 田单?
田单 was 战国 Period 名将, whose life is recorded in official historical documents.
In which dynasty did 田单 live?
田单 lived during the 战国 period, with the official title of 名将.
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