In Chinese history, there are many brave generals and war stories. Among them, the failure of the Taiping Army led by Shi Dakai in the Battle of Dadu River has always been a puzzling mystery. This article will explore the reasons why Shi Dakai could not cross the Dadu River and the historical background behind these reasons.

First, the geographical environment was one of the main reasons why Shi Dakai could not cross the Dadu River. The Dadu River is located in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, with rapid currents, steep banks, and treacherous terrain. Under the conditions of the time, Shi Dakai's army lacked modern transportation and equipment, making it difficult to cross such a treacherous river in a short period of time. In addition, Shi Dakai had attempted to use rafts, bamboo rafts and other simple tools to cross the river, but all attempts failed.

Second, Shi Dakai's army suffered heavy losses and low morale in the battles. Before the Battle of Dadu River, Shi Dakai's army had been fighting the Qing army for a long time in Sichuan, Yunnan and other regions, losing a large amount of troops and supplies. When Shi Dakai led the remnants of his army to the Dadu River, the soldiers were exhausted and demoralized. Under such circumstances, even if Shi Dakai had more clever strategies and tactics, it would be difficult to lead the army to cross the Dadu River.

Third, Shi Dakai's decision-making was affected by internal conflicts. On the eve of the Battle of Dadu River, Shi Dakai's subordinates proposed various strategic plans, such as bypassing the river, finding boats, etc. However, due to internal differences of opinion, Shi Dakai ultimately chose the plan of forcing the river crossing. This decision-making mistake made Shi Dakai's army fall into a more difficult situation.

Finally, Shi Dakai's opponents - the Qing generals Zeng Guofan and Li Hongzhang - adopted a tight defense strategy. They fully utilized the geographical advantages of the Dadu River, set up multiple defense lines, and blocked the advance of Shi Dakai's army. At the same time, they also weakened the combat effectiveness of Shi Dakai's army through bribery, differentiation and other means. Under such circumstances, it was even more difficult for Shi Dakai to cross the Dadu River.

In summary, the reasons why Shi Dakai could not cross the Dadu River are multifaceted, including geographical environment, army losses, internal conflicts, and the strategies of opponents. The failure of this war also laid the groundwork for the downfall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. However, it is the brave perseverance and indomitable spirit shown in this war that makes Shi Dakai a respected hero in Chinese history.

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