In the second year of Wude, not long after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, it encountered a severe military test. Liu Wuzhou, the "Dingyang Khan" who was attached to the Turks, sent the general Song Jingang south to attack the Tang Dynasty, and the momentum was like a bamboo. Jinyang, Jiezhou, Yuci and other important towns were lost one after another, and Hedong, the birthplace of the Tang Dynasty, was in danger. The reinforcements sent by Li Yuan were defeated one after another, and even his confidant Pei Lin was wiped out. At the critical juncture, Li Yuan once again used his trump card - Li Shimin, the king of Qin.
Faced with the dilemma of disparity in troops and lack of logistics, how can Li Shimin turn the tide? How did he use unconventional tactics in the Battle of Baibi to defeat the strong with the weak? Why did Song Jingang finally lose when he had the advantage? What kind of military talent did Li Shimin show in this battle that was related to the survival of the Tang Dynasty? Let's unveil this little-known historical picture and explore the legendary road of Li Shimin's turning defeat into victory.
Danger lurks: the military dilemma of the early Tang Dynasty
In the spring of the second year of Wude (619), the Tang Dynasty had just been established for less than two years, and the foundation of the Tang Empire had not yet been solidified. At this time, a sudden military storm swept in, threatening the survival of the nascent regime. Liu Wuzhou, the "Dingyang Khan" who was attached to the Turks, accepted the advice of the general Song Jingang and decided to launch a surprise attack while the Tang Dynasty was still unstable, intending to destroy this emerging regime in one fell swoop.
Song Jingang was brave and good at fighting, and he made great achievements for Liu Wuzhou during the period of secession at the end of the Sui Dynasty. He knew the importance of a quick victory, so he adopted a blitzkrieg strategy. Song Jingang led the army south, fought undeclared, and successively conquered important cities such as Yuci and Jiezhou with lightning speed. The successive falls of these cities, like a domino effect, put Tang rule in the Hedong region in jeopardy.
What shocked Tang Ting even more was that Song Jingang's iron hooves soon stepped under Jinyang City. As the land of Longxing of the Li Tang Dynasty, Jinyang not only has important strategic significance, but also carries a special political symbol. However, in the face of the menacing Song Jingang army, Li Yuanji, who was guarding Jinyang, seemed powerless. The third son of Tang Gaozu Li Yuan, when the enemy army was approaching the city, he abandoned the city and fled back to Chang'an overnight, making Jinyang easily fall into the hands of the enemy.
The fall of Jinyang was like a hammer, hitting the hearts of the Tang rulers fiercely. Li Yuan was shocked when he heard the news, and hurriedly dispatched troops to the rescue, and successively sent Li Zhongwen, Pei Lin and others to lead the army to rescue. However, in the face of Song Jingang's fierce offensive, these reinforcements were like papier-mâché tigers, suffering defeats one after another. Especially Li Yuan's confidant Pei Lian, who suffered a crushing defeat of the entire army, fled back to Chang'an in embarrassment.
With the fall of Jinyang, Song Jingang pursued the victory and continued to sweep through the Hedong region. One city after another fell, and almost the entire Hedong region fell into the hands of the enemy. Only Jiangzhou, located in the southwest corner, was still struggling to support and became the last stronghold of the Tang army in the Hedong region.
At the same time, Song Jingang also sent someone to contact Wang Xingben, a diehard general of the Sui Dynasty stationed in the river. The two anti-Tang forces echoed each other from afar, forming a flanking attack on the Tang Dynasty. This undoubtedly made the situation of the Tang Dynasty even more difficult, and the nascent regime faced an unprecedented threat.
Hedong was not only the place where Li Tang arose, but also an important strategic place for the Tang Dynasty to advance eastward. If Hedong fell completely, the Tang Dynasty would not only lose an important strategic fulcrum, but also cut off the channel for eastward expansion. At that time, the Tang Dynasty would be forced to live in the Guanzhong region, where logistics supplies were seriously insufficient, which was tantamount to chronic suicide.
Faced with such a grim situation, Li Yuan once had the idea of giving up Hedong and retreating to Guanzhong. However, at this critical juncture, Li Shimin, the king of Qin, stepped forward, overrode public opinion, and insisted on sending troops to Hedong. Li Shimin's resolute attitude finally persuaded Li Yuan, and the Tang court decided to send troops to the east again to turn the tide.
In this way, Li Shimin shouldered the heavy task of saving the Tang Dynasty, led the army to cross the Yellow River east, and stationed at Baibi on the east bank of the Yellow River. However, at this time, the Tang Army's strength was at a disadvantage, and logistical supply was difficult, and how to turn things around in this unfavorable situation became a difficult problem in front of Li Shimin.
Baibi Confrontation: Li Shimin's Unconventional Tactics
After Li Shimin led his army to Baibi, the situation he faced could be described as dangerous. Song Jingang's army occupied Jinyang, and its strength was far superior to that of the Tang army. In such a situation, the conventional mode of warfare would undoubtedly lead to the total annihilation of the Tang army. Li Shimin knew that a hard-fought head-to-head confrontation was bound to lose at this time, so he adopted a series of unconventional tactics and launched a protracted war of attrition.
First of all, Li Shimin ordered the Tang army to hold on without a fight and start a long-term confrontation with the enemy. This decision aroused the doubts of many generals at the time. After all, in the traditional concept, the way to win is to wait for work and take the initiative. However, Li Shimin did the opposite, choosing a seemingly passive defensive tactic. He ordered his soldiers to build strong fortifications at Baibi, and strictly ordered all his troops to stand by and not act rashly.
This seemingly conservative tactic is actually a hidden mystery. Li Shimin's purpose was to drag Song Jingang's army to Baibi and consume its grain, grass and morale. He knew very well that although Song Jingang's army was outnumbered, the supply lines had been stretched long due to the rapid southward movement. If it can be trapped in Baibi, after a long time, the enemy army will inevitably fall into the dilemma of supply difficulties.
At the same time, Li Shimin also adopted the strategy of cutting off the enemy's supply lines. He sent elite cavalry, dispersed into small forces, and constantly attacked Song Jingang's rear supply lines. These cavalrymen adopted guerrilla tactics, flickering from east to west, and causing great difficulties in the supply of the enemy's troops. Song Jingang had to dedicate a considerable part of his forces to protect the supply lines, which virtually weakened the strength of his main force.
Li Shimin's tactic has achieved remarkable results. As time passed, Song Jingang's army gradually fell into a situation of supply difficulties. The shortage of food and grass began to affect the morale of the soldiers, and unrest began to appear in the army. Li Shimin, on the other hand, took advantage of this time to actively raise grain and grass and strengthen fortifications, so that the strength of the Tang army continued to increase.
In addition to military deployment, Li Shimin also launched an ingenious psychological warfare. He ordered the army to hold a grand banquet every day, with noisy drums and singing and dancing. These voices reached the Song Jingang army, creating a false impression for the enemy army that the Tang army had sufficient food and grass and high morale. At the same time, Li Shimin also sent spies to spread rumors that the Tang army was about to receive large-scale reinforcements, which further shook the morale of the enemy army.
Li Shimin also personally participated in the implementation of psychological warfare. It is recorded that on several occasions he led a small number of elite cavalry and quietly approached the enemy camp at night. Then, suddenly, they lit torches, shouted loudly, and created the illusion that an army was coming, and then quickly withdrew. This sudden harassment made Song Jingang's army sleepless and tired of coping, and greatly depleted the energy and morale of the enemy army.
What's even more subtle is that Li Shimin also used the "discord plan". He secretly sent envoys, pretending to be disgruntled elements in the Song Jingang army, to surrender to the Tang army. These "defectors" brought with them a great deal of "inside information" about the contradictions and discontent in the Song Jingang army. Li Shimin deliberately let these "defectors" escape back to the Song Jingang army, and sent back the news that the Tang army "readily accepted". This move caused an uproar among the Song Jingang army, and the soldiers began to be suspicious of each other, and the army was disheartened.
Li Shimin's unconventional tactics not only prevented the Tang Army from confronting the enemy in the face of disparity in strength, but also skillfully used the weapon of time. As time passed, the situation of the Tang army continued to improve, while Song Jingang's army fell into an increasingly passive situation. This seemingly negative and protracted war actually hides a killing motive and lays a solid foundation for subsequent counterattacks.
Decisive battle against Baibi: Li Shimin's weak defeated the strong
After months of protracted standoff, Mr. Li's unconventional tactics began to bear fruit. Song Jingang's army fell into the predicament of lack of food and grass and the discouragement of the army. And this is the opportunity that Li Shimin has been waiting for for a long time. In September of the second year of Wude (619), a decisive battle that changed the tide of the war began in Baibi.
Li Shimin knew very well that although the enemy army was already in a difficult situation, it still had an advantage in terms of troops. Therefore, he decided to take a bold action to completely turn the situation around. On a dark and windy night, Li Shimin personally led 5,000 elite cavalry to quietly bypass the enemy's main force and go straight to Song Jingang's base camp.
The actions of this raiding force were extremely covert. They chose a rugged mountain road and avoided enemy sentry sentries. In order not to be discovered, Li Shimin ordered the whole army to prohibit the ignition, and even the horses' hooves were wrapped in cloth to reduce the sound. Like ghosts, the team quietly approached the enemy camp under the cover of night.
Just when Song Jingang's army was defenseless, Li Shimin's cavalry suddenly launched a fierce attack. They first attacked the enemy's grain and grass camp, set fire to it, and in an instant the flames soared into the sky, and the entire enemy camp fell into chaos. Song Jingang's soldiers woke up in their sleep, and before they could put on their armor, they were trampled through the camp gate by the iron hooves of the Tang army.
Li Shimin made full use of the advantages of night fighting. He ordered his soldiers to strappen fluorescent materials to their bodies and distinguish friend from foe in the dark. This innovative tactic allowed the Don army to gain an advantage in the melee, while the enemy army fell into a fratricidal chaos.
At the same time, Li Shimin also arranged an ingenious plan to attack the west. He ordered the main force remaining in Baibi to beat drums and cheer in the distance, creating the illusion that the army was pressing. This loud drum beat not only boosted the morale of the raiding troops, but also further exacerbated the panic of the enemy troops.
In the face of this sudden attack, Song Jingang was unable to organize effective resistance for a while. His army, though numerous, became a disadvantage in the darkness and chaos. The soldiers panicked and fled in all directions, and some even mistook their comrades for enemies and killed each other.
Li Shimin seized this favorable opportunity and personally led an elite squad to directly take Song Jingang's Chinese army tent. In the chaos, Li Shimin and his personal soldiers were like no one, and soon broke through Song Jingang's personal defense line.
At the last moment, Song Jingang escaped from the big tent in a hurry under the protection of his own soldiers. However, Li Shimin had already prepared, and another cavalry he sent happened to intercept Song Jingang's retreat. Song Jingang, who was in a desperate situation, was injured by the chaotic army in a panic and was finally captured alive.
With the commander captured, Song Jingang's army completely collapsed. Most of the soldiers abandoned their armor and fled in all directions. Li Shimin took advantage of the situation to command the army to pursue and drive the fleeing enemy troops into an ambush circle set up in advance. The night battle ended in a complete victory for the Don Army.
At dawn, the smoke on the battlefield gradually dissipated, revealing a messy scene. Song Jingang's army suffered heavy losses, in addition to the soldiers killed in battle, there were also a large number of captured enemy troops. Li Shimin's raiding troops were almost unscathed, creating a miracle of winning more with less.
This battle, which was later called the "Battle of Baibi", not only showed Li Shimin's outstanding military talent, but also reversed the trend of the entire war. With the capture of Song Jingang, Liu Wuzhou, the "Dingyang Khan" who was attached to the Turks, lost his most powerful general, and his threat to the Tang Dynasty was greatly weakened.
Li Shimin took advantage of the victory to pursue and soon recovered Jinyang and other lost territories. The Hedong region returned to the rule of the Tang Dynasty, which finally turned the corner in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This victory not only consolidated the rule of the Tang Dynasty, but also established Li Shimin's position in the court, laying the groundwork for his future ascension to the throne and emperor.
Post-War Disposition: The Political Wisdom of Li Shimin
The victory at the Battle of Baibi earned Li Shimin great military prestige, but the real challenge was just beginning. How to deal with prisoners of war, appease the people, and rebuild order all tested Li Shimin's political wisdom. At this critical juncture, Li Shimin has shown maturity and foresight beyond his years.
First of all, Li Shimin adopted a lenient policy towards the captured Song Jingang. He did not immediately execute this former rival, but escorted him to Chang'an and handed him over to the imperial court. This decision demonstrates Li Shimin's political wisdom. By capturing Song Jingang alive and escorting him to Chang'an, Li Shimin not only showed his military achievements to the imperial court, but also left room for winning people's hearts in the future.
Li Shimin also took an unusual approach to the other captured generals and soldiers. He ordered the captives to be divided into three categories: ordinary people who were coerced into joining the army, talented but misguided generals, and die-hard elements who followed Song Jingang with all their hearts.
For the first category of captives, Li Shimin ordered that they be released immediately, and that they should be given a certain amount of food and coils to return to their hometowns. This move not only won the gratitude of these people, but also established the image of the Tang Army as a benevolent and righteous teacher in the local area. After many of the released people returned to their hometowns, they became spontaneous forces to propagate the virtues and politics of the Tang Dynasty.
For the second category of talented generals, Li Shimin adopted the strategy of recruiting and surrendering to rebels. He personally talked with these generals, and he knew that he would be righteous and promise heavy benefits. Among them, many people were impressed by Li Shimin's bearing and took the initiative to ask for submission. Li Shimin entrusted these submissive generals with important responsibilities and involved them in the suppression of other rebellions, using their talents and invisibly supervising their actions.
As for the third category of diehards, Li Shimin did not take extreme measures. He detained them in a centralized manner, but gave them basic livelihood guarantees. At the same time, he sent people to constantly preach the policies of the Tang Dynasty to these captives, and patiently influenced them. Although this approach was slow to produce results, it eventually caused many diehards to change their stance.
In addition to disposing of prisoners, Li Shimin also paid special attention to pacifying the local people. He ordered the army to strictly observe military discipline and forbade harassment of the people. At the same time, he opened warehouses to release grain to help people in distress due to the war. In Jinyang and other important cities, Li Shimin personally inspected the markets to understand the people's situation and solve the practical difficulties of the people.
In rebuilding order, Li Shimin has shown superb administrative ability. He quickly reorganized the local government, appointed capable officials, and rectified the rule of officials. In order to resume production as soon as possible, he ordered tax reductions and encouraged farmers to reclaim wasteland. At the same time, he also organized the repair of water conservancy facilities damaged by the war in preparation for agricultural production in the coming year.
Li Shimin also attaches special importance to the role of culture and education. He rebuilt schools in Jinyang and other places, and invited famous teachers to teach. This not only cultivated a pool of local talent, but also culturally strengthened the sense of identity with these newly reclaimed areas.
In terms of military deployment, Li Shimin also made adjustments. He set up military towns in strategic locations, both to defend against foreign enemies and to quickly quell internal rebellions. At the same time, he paid attention to coordinating the relationship between the military and the government, avoided the army's interference in local affairs, and ensured the stable development of the localities.
Li Shimin's measures have yielded remarkable results. In just a few months, order was restored in the Hedong region, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Many local forces that were originally suspicious of the Tang Dynasty also gradually returned to their hearts. This not only consolidated the Tang dynasty's rule in this region, but also laid the foundation for further development of the north in the future.
More importantly, the political wisdom displayed by Li Shimin in this post-war disposition won him praise from both the government and the opposition. Many ministers began to realize that the young Qin king not only had extraordinary military talents, but also had a unique way of governing the country. This created favorable conditions for Li Shimin to gain a firm foothold in the DPRK and China in the future and finally ascend to the throne.
The historical impact of the Battle of Baibi
The victory at the Battle of Baibi was not only an important milestone in Li Shimin's personal military career, but also had a profound impact on the establishment and consolidation of the Tang Dynasty. The success of this battle laid a solid foundation for the unification of the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time left a deep imprint on the military, political, cultural and other levels.
On the military side, the Battle of Baibi set an example of how less can win more and the weak can defeat the strong. Li Shimin's tactics of surprise attacks, tactics of attacking the east and west, and the skills of night battles have all become classic cases studied by later generations of military strategists. This battle also proved the combat effectiveness and discipline of the Tang Army, and laid the foundation for the future military operation to unify the whole country.
Li Shimin's military talent in this battle also provided new ideas for the reform of the Tang Dynasty's military system. He attached great importance to the role of light cavalry, emphasizing mobility and flexibility, and these ideas were fully reflected in the later military reform of the Tang Dynasty. The famous military system of the Tang Dynasty absorbed Li Shimin's experience in the Battle of Baibi to a certain extent.
Politically, the victory in the Battle of Baibi greatly enhanced Li Shimin's status and prestige in the court. As the second son of Emperor Li Yuan, Li Shimin originally did not have an advantage in the succession to the throne. However, the victory in this battle made him a recognized military hero from both the government and the opposition. Many ministers began to see Li Shimin as a future candidate for the throne, which paved the way for his future accession to the throne.
At the same time, Li Shimin's tolerance and wisdom in the post-war political handling also laid a good foundation for the rule of the Tang Dynasty. His policy of recruiting and accepting rebels not only reduced the hostile forces, but also absorbed a large number of talents for the Tang Dynasty. This enlightened policy was continued in the later Tang dynasty and became one of the important factors in the Tang Dynasty's ability to quickly unify the country and achieve long-term peace and stability.
On the economic front, the victory at the Battle of Baibi gave the Tang Dynasty control of important economic areas. The Hedong region is not only rich in products, but also an important passage connecting the Central Plains and the north. Controlling this region enabled the Tang Dynasty to obtain rich economic resources, and at the same time cut off the connection between the Turkic and other northern forces and the rebel forces in the Central Plains, providing a guarantee for the economic development and border security of the Tang Dynasty.
On a cultural level, the Battle of Baibi also had a profound impact. The battle became the material for many literary works, with poets praising Li Shimin's bravery and wisdom, and painters depicting the thrilling battles. These works not only enriched the culture of the Tang Dynasty, but also left valuable historical memories for future generations.
In addition, Li Shimin's post-war emphasis on culture and education planted the seeds for the Tang Dynasty to become a cultural power in the future. His policy of establishing schools and recruiting talents in the newly conquered regions promoted the spread and exchange of culture and contributed to the prosperity of Tang culture.
In terms of ethnic relations, the victory in the Battle of Baibi and Li Shimin's subsequent policies also provided an example for the Tang Dynasty to deal with complex ethnic issues. His heavy use of the submissive minority generals, as well as the effective management of the frontier areas, laid the foundation for the later ethnic policies of the Tang Dynasty. This tolerant and open-minded attitude made the Tang Dynasty a unified empire with many ethnic groups.
In the long run, the Battle of Baibi was a turning point for the Tang Dynasty from its initial establishment to its strength. The victory in this battle not only consolidated the rule of the Tang Dynasty, but also won Li Shimin high prestige personally. It was after this battle that Li Shimin began to gradually establish his core position in the court, creating the conditions for the later Xuanwumen Revolution and his ascension to the throne and emperor.
It can be said that without the victory of the Battle of Baibi, there would have been no later rule of Zhenguan. This battle not only changed the fate of the Tang Dynasty, but also shaped the course of Chinese history. Its military wisdom, political foresight, and cultural tolerance became an important milestone in ancient China's political and military history, and its influence continues to this day.