Ming Shi Tong Su Yi Wang

Author: Cai Dongfan / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
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Now that Emperor Shizong of Zhou had returned to the capital, he still planned to launch another campaign against the Southern Tang. However, he realized that his naval forces were inferior to those of the Southern Tang, which would make his army appear weak in comparison. Therefore, he ordered the construction of 100 warships on the Bian River near the city. He appointed a Southern Tang defector to train the naval troops while simultaneously recruiting and reinforcing his army. For several days, he reviewed the drills, preparing for a major joint land and naval offensive.
Meanwhile, the Southern Tang sent Zhu Yuan, an official, to launch an attack on the northern banks of the Yangtze River, capturing the prefectures of Shu, He, and Qi. His forces advanced as far as Yang and Chuzhou. The Zhou generals stationed in Yang and Chuzhou, upon hearing the news, fled in panic and retreated to Shouchun. Emperor Shizong was furious but had to wait for his naval forces to be fully trained. He instead ordered Li Chongjin to remain on high alert and prevent the Southern Tang from taking advantage.
Li Chongjin besieged Shouzhou for another six months. Liu Renshan, the Southern Tang commander, fiercely resisted the siege, making it impossible for Li Chongjin to breach the city. After receiving an imperial decree, Li Chongjin became even more cautious, dividing his infantry into two groups: one to besiege the city while the other guarded key positions to prevent enemy reinforcements. He personally directed the operations day and night. (Li Chongjin was a loyal minister of the Zhou court, so the author described him in greater detail.)
Meanwhile, the Southern Tang generals Zhu Yuan, Bian Hao, and Xu Wenzhen led tens of thousands of troops to relieve Shouzhou. They occupied Zishan Mountain, establishing over ten camps, which communicated with the city through beacons. They also built a causeway southward to supply the city, stretching for dozens of miles. Li Chongjin launched a night attack, defeating the Southern Tang forces and capturing dozens of supply carts. He then returned to his camp in triumph. Zhu Yuan and his men, having suffered a defeat, retreated to Zishan Mountain to provide distant support.
Emperor Shizong, upon learning that the Southern Tang had sent reinforcements to Shouzhou, feared Li Chongjin’s defeat. He appointed Wang Huan as the naval commander and personally led the fleet along the Min River into the Ying River and then the Huai River. His fleet, with banners fluttering in the sky, dominated the waters. When this news reached the Southern Tang camp, Zhu Yuan and his men were terrified and hurried to Jinling for reinforcements. The Southern Tang emperor then sent Prince Jingda and the supervisor Chen Jue with 50,000 troops to aid the Southern Tang forces.
A few days later, Emperor Shizong crossed the Huai River and arrived before Shouzhou. Zhu Yuan climbed a hill and watched the Zhou fleet advancing down the river, its ships moving smoothly and confidently. He was greatly astonished and said, “It was always said that the South excelled in naval warfare while the North excelled in cavalry, but who would have thought that the North could now navigate as swiftly as the South? They are even more agile than us! This is truly unexpected.” (Success depends on effort, regardless of north or south.)
Later, he saw a massive warship sailing across the river, with a grand marshal in imperial robes seated in the center. He recognized it as Emperor Shizong, flanked by a formidable and handsome general even more imposing than the emperor himself. He could not help but admire the general and asked a subordinate, “Who is that?” The subordinate, a veteran of battles, recognized the Zhou general and replied, “That is Zhao Kuangyin.” (The author pays special attention here, vividly depicting the scene.)
Zhu Yuan sighed and said, “I have heard that he is both wise and brave, having defeated my generals many times. Now, from afar, I see his majestic presence, and I realize his reputation is well-deserved.” (His later surrender to the Zhou court was foreshadowed here.)
As he spoke, Emperor Shizong approached Zishan Mountain, and with three blasts of his war drum, ordered his troops to land. Clad in armor, the emperor led the attack. Zhao Kuangyin commanded a detachment to assault the Southern Tang camps on Zishan Mountain. Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen emerged from their camps to engage the Zhou forces. The two armies clashed, with swords and spears flying. After a short battle, Zhao Kuangyin suddenly retreated. Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen, unaware of his strategy, pressed forward.
Zhao Kuangyin fought his way back while retreating. When he reached the southern outskirts of Shouzhou, he suddenly turned and charged, using long spears and halberds to pierce the Southern Tang ranks. The front line of the Southern Tang army fell into disarray. Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen realized they had been tricked and prepared to regroup, but suddenly, a Zhou force led by Li Huazhong surged from the left, while another led by Zhang Qiong attacked from the right. The two Zhou armies crashed into the Southern Tang ranks like tigers among sheep, overwhelming them. Desperate, Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen tried to retreat, but their troops had already been cut into pieces, with no hope of coordination or escape. Only a few dozen riders followed them back to Zishan Mountain.
Zhao Kuangyin then called out, “Those who surrender will be spared!” The trapped Southern Tang soldiers, with no choice but to obey, dismounted, dropped their weapons, and knelt by the roadside to surrender. (This was Zhao Kuangyin’s fourth act of heroism. The author narrated his battles without repetition, showcasing his skillful writing.)
Zhao Kuangyin gathered the surrendered troops and encamped near Zishan Mountain. Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen had lost their entire army and hoped Zhu Yuan’s camp would provide relief. However, they found that Zhu Yuan’s camp had already raised a white flag of surrender to the Zhou army.
The Southern Tang Prince Jingda and the supervisor Chen Jue were leading their troops into the Huai River when they unexpectedly encountered Wang Huan, the Zhou naval commander, and were struck hard. As the two sides clashed fiercely, Emperor Shizong arrived with hundreds of horsemen, joining the battle on the banks. The Zhou navy, seeing their emperor in person, fought even harder. Zhao Kuangyin’s troops also joined the fight, having helped to clear Zishan Mountain.
Prince Jingda and Chen Jue were still unaware of Bian Hao and Xu Wenzhen’s defeat and struggled to hold on. As more Zhou troops arrived, they were shocked and ordered a subordinate to look up the river. Upon seeing the sight, they were horrified to find that the entire Zishan Mountain was covered in Zhou banners.
When they reported this to Prince Jingda, he said to Chen Jue, “Could it be that the Zhou forces have captured all the camps on Zishan Mountain?” Chen Jue replied, “If not, how could they be flying Zhou banners? It seems we have no choice but to retreat. If we don’t, we will be completely annihilated.” (Truly, a mouse’s courage.)
Prince Jingda then ordered a retreat. The soldiers, lacking morale, were easily pursued and defeated by the Zhou forces, losing countless ships and weapons. Some surrendered, while others drowned, with over 20,000 casualties. Prince Jingda and Chen Jue fled back to Jinling.
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