I’ve read/watched videos of a couple ancient/medieval battles in which both sides essentially end up bumping into each other near a difficult crossing, and for obvious reasons neither wants to be the one to cross while the enemy attacks them in the water, resulting in a stalemate/standoff and the one I read about one side told their enemy they could either cross and they would pull back and allow them, or vice versa- and then after they fought the battle.
Does anyone know which battle it was? I’m tempted to say it was one of pyrus’ vs rome but can’t find anything. I’m sure this or something similar, weird ‘truces’ where the other side allows the enemy to advance or decamp in order to get a stalemate over with.
For future reference , this may be a better fit for our stickied short answers to simple questions thread.
From your description, it sounds like you're thinking of the Battle of the Hong River from the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. After duke Xiang of Song attacked the state of Zheng, a powerful Chu army came to their aid. The Chu and Song troops were separated by the Hong River. The Song army stood deployed in battle order on their bank as the Chu army crossed. Despite his military supervisor Ziyu's protests, duke Xiang patiently allowed the Chu to cross and deploy into battle formation before attacking. In the ensuing clash, the Song were completely defeated; duke Xiang's guard were slaughtered and he was wounded.
After the battle, duke Xiang was severely censured, but justified himself thus:
The noble man does not inflict wounds twice, nor does he take as prisoners those with graying hair. When the ancients engaged in warfare, they did not take advantage of difficult terrain and narrow straits. Although I, the unworthy one, am but a remnant of a fallen domain, I do not bang the drum to urge an attack upon those who have not formed their ranks.
Ziyu excoriated him for this misplaced chivalry:
“You, my lord, do not yet understand warfare. When powerful adversaries are trapped in difficult terrain and have not formed ranks, it means Heaven is assisting us. Is it not proper, while they are in narrow straits, to press an attack? Even then, one should still be fearful of them. Moreover, the powerful ones in this case are all our adversaries. Even though they have reached old age, if they can be captured, then we seize them. Why be concerned about graying hair? We make clear what is shameful and teach about warfare because we seek to kill enemies. If the wounded are not yet dead, why not wound them a second time? If you are concerned about inflicting wounds twice, then you might as well not inflict wounds at all. If you are concerned about graying hair, then you might as well surrender to them. The three armies function through what is advantageous; metal and drums arouse courage with their sounds. Making use of the advantageous, it is proper to attack the enemy in difficult terrain and narrow straits; boosting morale with booming sounds, it is acceptable to drum for battle when the enemy is in disarray.
[quotes from the Zuozhuan, 22.8(4) ]