History of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Chapter 1032: A Look at the Chanyuan Alliance (Part )

[Preview of the Chanyuan Alliance]

On July 985, 7, Empress Xiao issued a mobilization order, requiring all places to repair their armor and prepare for an expedition to Goryeo. This was to shock the Khitans on the peninsula a little, to prevent them from joining forces with the Song Dynasty to attack the Liao Kingdom. However, the military action was soon cancelled due to heavy rains and muddy roads.

Now that we are here… Although the expedition to Goryeo was stopped, the Jurchens are still worth a try. The famous general Yelu Xizhen led the expedition against the Jurchens.

In the first month of 986, Yelu Xizhen returned triumphantly after a great victory in the Eastern Expedition.

If Zhao Guangyi had launched a northern expedition before this, he might have had a better chance of winning. At least the Liao Kingdom would have been forced to fight on two fronts, and the Song Dynasty could actually form a pincer attack on the Liao Kingdom together with the Jurchens, Goryeo and other countries.

However, Zhao Guangyi launched the "Yongxi Northern Expedition" only one month after Yelu Xizhen's triumphant return. At that time, the Jurchens and Goryeo had already been completely subdued by the Liao Kingdom, so when Zhao Guangyi went around to organize a group to attack the Liao, they just perfunctorily responded, or did not respond, or would do it next time.

In fact, after the "Yongxi Northern Expedition", the Liao people still launched several large-scale military operations against Goryeo on the grounds of colluding with the Song Dynasty, which is known as the "Three Expeditions to Goryeo" or the "Liao-Li War". This is not in the main narrative of this book and will not be expanded, unless one day I suddenly firmly believe that the peninsula has been Chinese territory since ancient times. I don't fight for the stick, I am only afraid of the stick fighting.

Obviously, the Liao Kingdom had resolved its internal conflicts and external hidden dangers before the "Yongxi Northern Expedition". Empress Xiao completed the integration of resources, changed the sluggish situation that had lasted for more than 20 years since Emperor Shizong and Emperor Muzong, and forced the surrounding forces not to lean towards the Song Dynasty in the upcoming "Song-Liao War". In particular, Li Jiqian of Xiazhou frequently had military conflicts with the Song Dynasty, which helped the Liao Kingdom a lot. However, Zhao Guangyi was still addicted to the inertial thinking of the "Chenqiao Mutiny". Under the confusion of false information, he firmly believed that the Liao Kingdom would inevitably be like the Later Zhou Dynasty after the death of Chai Rong. He firmly believed that the Liao Empire was just a shabby house that would collapse if it was kicked forward.

In fact, the Song Dynasty was doomed to failure before the "Yongxi Northern Expedition" began.

In the fourth year of Tonghe in Liao Dynasty and the third year of Yongxi in Song Dynasty, in February 986 AD, the manly Zhao Guangyi was full of vigor and vitality. He divided his troops into three groups and launched a massive northern expedition to bully the orphans, widows and young widows in the north. The "Yongxi Northern Expedition" officially began.

Empress Dowager Xiao deployed troops and sent Yelu Xiu'ge, who was left in Nanjing, to be in charge of the Youzhou battlefield against Cao Bin; Yelu Xizhen took command of the Yanmen Pass battlefield in the west to confront Pan Mei; then Emperor Shengzong Yelu Longxu and Empress Dowager Xiao led the army in person; the most noteworthy thing is that Empress Dowager Xiao also sent Yelu Qinde to garrison Pingzhou to prevent the Song army from crossing the Bohai Bay from the Shandong Peninsula and landing on the Liaodong Peninsula.

The Song army attacked from three directions, while the Liao responded from four directions. In terms of strategic deployment, the Liao was once again superior.

As described in detail in the previous article, in the first month of the war, the Song army won battle after battle, advancing rapidly, capturing cities and territories, while the Liao army was defeated and the front line continued to shrink.

On April 4, Empress Dowager Xiao arrived at the northern suburbs of Youzhou and took charge of the front line, discussing strategies to repel the enemy with Yelu Xiu'ge and others.

Great minds think alike. Empress Dowager Xiao, Yelu Xiu'ge, and Emperor Taizong of Song should all have the same strategic vision, such as their analysis of the Youzhou battlefield.

The key to fighting a war is to play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses, to use your strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses and achieve twice the result with half the effort.

The Liao army had a small number of troops and was not at an advantage in frontal group battles. However, having a small number of troops also had its advantages, such as relatively less pressure on logistics supply, and the fact that the Liao army was fighting at home further reduced the logistics pressure. The Song army was the exact opposite. Its biggest advantage was its sufficient manpower, but the problem that followed was the enormous logistics pressure. As the main force continued to advance, the battle line became longer and longer, especially after entering Liao territory, the unprotected food routes became more vulnerable.

In terms of military configuration, the Liao army was mainly composed of cavalry, which was highly mobile, elusive, and able to come and go like the wind. The vast plains of North China made the Liao army's cavalry like a fish in water. Therefore, Empress Xiao and Yelu Xiu'ge hit it off: avoid the enemy's main force, scout the cavalry to plunder the grain road, and exhaust the Song army.

This was what Zhao Guangyi was most worried about, so he repeatedly told Cao Bin to be calm and prudent, and to wait for Pan Mei on the western front to bypass Youzhou and cut off the Liao army's logistical supply. However, Cao Bin still did not obey the orders of the emperor, and was jealous of the great achievements of his comrades on the western front, so he quickly advanced to Zhuozhou, exposing the thin and fragile supply line to the Liao army's iron cavalry.

Yelu Xiu'ge avoided the enemy's attack, while tying down Cao Bin's main force, he sent cavalry to detour behind the Song army, specifically to plunder the Song army's transport team and continue to bleed the Song army.

Cao Bin was sharpening his fists, ready to face off against the Liao army. He was like Kai with his ultimate move, a real man for 8 seconds. However, his ultimate move missed and the Liao army stayed away.

8 seconds later, Cao Bin was dumbfounded: the food was gone. Cao Bin had to retreat. According to historical records, Cao Bin's troops were no longer retreating in an orderly manner, but in a chaotic rout (no longer in formation), and this was the opportunity the Liao army had been waiting for.

When Cao Bin retreated to Qigou Pass, he was caught up by Yelu Xiu'ge. The outcome was no surprise, and the Song army was defeated. When the Song army fled to the Juma River, they scrambled to wade across the river to escape, resulting in a major stampede and countless people drowned. Among them, Liu Baoxun and his son, the governor of Youzhou, and Kong Yi, the minister of the palace, were on the list of drowned people. Such high-ranking officials drowned due to the stampede, and the degree of tragedy can be imagined.

Cao Bin's defeat had a domino effect, such as Pan Mei on the western front. After Yelu Xizhen joined the battle, Pan Mei's advance was significantly hindered. After hearing that Cao Bin had been defeated, the Song army on the western front also began to withdraw in order to preserve its strength. The Liao army took advantage of the situation to launch a major counterattack and recovered all the lost territory in one fell swoop. It was at this time that Yang Ye, the old general of the "Yang Family Generals", died for his country.

Empress Dowager Xiao entered Youzhou and held a grand celebration banquet for the soldiers who had participated in the expedition. Yelu Xiuguo was immediately named the King of Song. Everyone toasted and celebrated the victory. Yelu Xiuguo proposed to take advantage of the victory to invade the south and go all the way to the Yellow River, making the Yellow River the border between the two countries.

This suggestion is very exciting, but a bit too radical.

A large-scale invasion to the south, or a retaliatory military action against the Song Dynasty, was necessary. After rejecting Yelu Xiu'ge's proposal to march south immediately, Empress Dowager Xiao also gave a reply: "Wait until autumn to march south on a large scale." Wine should be drunk sip by sip, and steps should be taken step by step. After all, the war on the western front was still unclear.

After the celebration banquet, Empress Dowager Xiao ordered the energetic Yelu Xiu'ge to rush to the western front to assist Yelu Xizhen, and equipped him with the Liao Kingdom's most powerful weapon - the cannon.

Facing the fierce offensive of Pan Mei and Yang Ye in the early stage, Yelu Xizhen continued to receive reinforcements from the rear. After the war on the eastern front ended, the Liao army on the western front not only received reinforcements from the famous general Yelu Xiu'ge, but even the second battalion commander brought his Italian cannon into the battle. The strength of the Liao army was greatly enhanced. A month later, the commander Yelu Xizhen submitted an answer that satisfied Empress Dowager Xiao - recovering all the lost territories and Yang Ye's head.

Thus, the "Yongxi Northern Expedition" that Zhao Guangyi had been so proud of ended in the complete defeat of the Song Dynasty. Yelu Xizhen was awarded the title of Guardian Taibao for defeating the Jurchens first and the Song Dynasty later.

In September, after drinking the first cup of milk tea in autumn, Empress Dowager Xiao fulfilled her promise to Yelu Xiu'ge, "The army will march south."

The following month, Empress Dowager Xiao and her son arrived in Youzhou, marking another time when the emperor personally led the army to fight.

Thanks to my old friend “江湖刘白” for the monthly ticket support!



(End of this chapter)