Xie Xuan was a member of the prestigious Xie clan of Chenjun and the nephew of the famous Prime Minister Xie An. During the chaotic Sixteen Kingdoms period, he was tasked with defending the northern borders of the Eastern Jin. Recognizing the need for a highly motivated and professional force, he recruited refugees from the north who had lost their homes to the nomadic tribes, forming the legendary 'Beifu Army' (Northern Force).
His leadership and training methods transformed these displaced peasants into a disciplined and fearless fighting machine. At the Battle of Fei River in 383 AD, Xie Xuan faced a daunting challenge: his 80,000 elite troops were outnumbered by Fu Jian's massive host of nearly a million. He devised a daring tactical proposal, asking the Qin army to pull back to allow his forces to cross the river, exploiting the brittle command structure of the overextended enemy.
The result was one of history's most decisive upsets. Xie Xuan's strategic brilliance and the unwavering courage of his Beifu Army shattered the Former Qin empire. After this triumph, he led several campaigns to recover lost territories in the north, significantly expanding the borders of Eastern Jin and ensuring the survival of Chinese culture in the south for generations to come.