Populous Nation, Mighty Army

"Populous Nation, Mighty Army" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Xinwu Endgame Collection. Red moves first and wins in 13 moves; the key first move is -C=4. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

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Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, a Horse, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, 2 Elephants, 2 Chariots, 4 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red -C=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
1. Black +P=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
1. Black +P=6
2. Red C1=4 (check, sacrifices the Cannon, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Cannon; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
2. Black P5=6 (captures the Cannon, threatens mate next move)
2. Black P5=6
3. Red P4+1 (check, sacrifices the Soldier, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
3. Black K6+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
3. Black K6+1
4. Red P6=5 (check, sacrifices the Soldier)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Soldier; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 4 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
4. Black R5+1 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
4. Black R5+1
5. Red R3+8 (check)
5. Black K6-1 (threatens mate next move)
5. Black K6-1
6. Red R1+9 (check, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Takes away the General's escape squares.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
6. Black E5-7 (check, threatens mate next move, the only legal reply, the General has no escape square)
6. Black E5-7
7. Red R3=5 (captures the Chariot, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 17 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
7. Black P4+1 (captures the Horse, check, the only legal reply)
7. Black P4+1
8. Red K5=6 (captures the Soldier, threatens mate next move)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
Creates an immediate mating threat that must be answered.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 18 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
8. Black R6+1 (check)
8. Black R6+1
9. Red R5-8 (sacrifices the Chariot)
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Gives up the Chariot; the follow-up must be exact or the sacrifice is wasted.
Not forcing: the defender has 16 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
9. Black R6=5 (captures the Chariot, check)
9. Black R6=5
10. Red K6=5 (captures the Chariot)
Why it works
Wins material: takes the Chariot.
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 11 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
10. Black E3+5
10. Black E3+5
11. Red R1-6
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 14 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
11. Black +P=5
11. Black +P=5
12. Red R1=4 (captures the Soldier, check, the only legal reply)
Why it works
Forcing: the opponent has only one reply, so the line cannot be avoided.
Wins material: takes the Soldier.
What to watch out forNo real drawback in this position.
12. Black K6=5
12. Black K6=5
13. Red R4=5
Why it works–
What to watch out for
Not forcing: the defender has 10 replies, so compare each one before playing it.
13. Black P3=4
13. Black P3=4

Variations and alternative defences

What if Black defends differently? The alternatives below were checked with the rules engine; lines marked with a mating move lose at once, the others are worth trying on the analysis board.

1. Black +P=6
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=6 instead: Red mates immediately with P4+1. Try it on the board
4. Black R5+1
- If Black plays K6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+8. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R3+7. Try it on the board
5. Black K6-1
- If Black plays K6+1 instead: Red mates immediately with R1+7. Try it on the board
7. Black P4+1
- If Black plays P4=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P4=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
8. Black R6+1
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=5 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=3 instead: Red mates immediately with R1=3. Try it on the board
9. Black R6=5
- If Black plays R6=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=8 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6=9 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays R6-1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
10. Black E3+5
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=5 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
11. Black +P=5
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays +P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays -P=7 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
13. Black P3=4
- If Black plays P3+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P3=2 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5+1 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays P5=4 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board
- If Black plays K5=6 instead: no immediate mate; the attack continues. Try it on the board

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Populous Nation, Mighty Army"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Xinwu Endgame Collection.

How many moves does the solution take?

13 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move -C=4 starts the combination. Everything that follows depends on it.

Can I play this position myself?

Yes. Open it on ChessZing, where the board checks your moves and shows the solution if you get stuck.

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