The Battle of Baxi (巴西之战) was fought in 215 in the Ba commandery (巴西, also rendered Brazil) region. After Cao Cao had taken Hanzhong, Zhang He led Wei troops south into Ba territory, raiding and contesting the border. Liu Bei sent Zhang Fei to oppose him. The two met at Baxi; after a period of confrontation, Zhang Fei defeated Zhang He in battle, forcing him to withdraw. The Ba region remained under Liu Bei’s control and was integrated into the administration of Yi Province. The victory is recorded in both Zhang Fei’s and Zhang He’s biographies and is one of the main military achievements attributed to Zhang Fei in the historical record.
Context
The conflict took place in the wake of Liu Bei’s takeover of Yi Province and Cao Cao’s occupation of Hanzhong. Zhang He’s incursion was part of Wei’s pressure on the new Shu border; Zhang Fei’s success stabilised the frontier and helped secure Liu Bei’s hold on the south and west of what became Shu territory.