Battle of Chenjiagu
986 CE · Mouth of Chenjiagu (south of modern Shuozhou, Shanxi) · China · Early modern
Pressured by the army supervisor Wang Shen into battle, Yang Ye arranged for Pan Mei to cover him at the mouth of Chenjiagu; Yang Ye fought his way to the valley mouth only to find the covering force gone, and he was defeated and captured, dying after three days of refusing food
Belligerents
Northern Song
- Commanders
- Yang Ye, Pan Mei, Wang Shen
- Strength
- Yang Ye's troops
Liao
- Commanders
- Yelü Xiezhen, Empress Dowager Xiao
- Strength
- Main Liao army
Background
During Emperor Taizong of Song's Yongxi Northern Expedition, the Eastern Route army suffered a crushing defeat at Qigou Pass, and the Western Route army was ordered to escort the people of the four prefectures of Yun, Ying, Huan and Shuo to relocate inland.
Course of the battle
- Forced to give battleYang Ye advised avoiding the Liao army's main thrust, but the army supervisor Wang Shen mocked him as a coward and forced him to fight
- Agreed relief at the valleyYang Ye asked Pan Mei and Wang Shen to station infantry and crossbowmen at the mouth of Chenjiagu to cover him
- Isolated without supportYang Ye fought his way to the mouth of Chenjiagu, but the covering force had already withdrawn; badly wounded, he was captured and died after three days of refusing food
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 986 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Mouth of Chenjiagu (south of modern Shuozhou, Shanxi) |
| Result | Pressured by the army supervisor Wang Shen into battle, Yang Ye arranged for Pan Mei to cover him at the mouth of Chenjiagu; Yang Ye fought his way to the valley mouth only to find the covering force gone, and he was defeated and captured, dying after three days of refusing food |
| Winner | Liao |
| Casualties | Yang Ye's force was annihilated, and Yang Ye and his son Yang Yanyu were killed or captured |
| Territorial change | The Yongxi Northern Expedition failed completely, and from then on the Northern Song turned to the defensive against Liao |
Impact
Yang Ye's death became the starting point of the "Generals of the Yang Family" stories, and the battle marked the failure of the Northern Song effort to recover Yan and Yun.
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