Battle of Baixiang
910 CE · Baixiang County, Hebei · China · Early modern
Zhou Dewei lured the enemy deep onto the open plain, where the Jin army could make full use of its cavalry, and crushed the Liang army with fire attacks and cavalry charges.
Belligerents
Jin (Li Cunxu)
- Commanders
- Li Cunxu, Zhou Dewei
- Strength
- Jin army of several tens of thousands, strong in cavalry
Later Liang
- Commanders
- Wang Jingren
- Strength
- Later Liang's southern elite troops and the Weibo coalition, reportedly tens of thousands
Background
Later Liang sought to destroy Li Cunxu's power base in Hedong, and the two sides fought a decisive battle at Baixiang for control of Hebei.
Course of the battle
- Luring the enemy into open countryZhou Dewei fought a fighting retreat, drawing the Liang army onto open ground.
- Cavalry chargeThe Jin cavalry charged before the Liang infantry formations had steadied.
- Liang army routedThe Liang lines fell into chaos, and the troops threw off their armor and fled by night.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 910 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Baixiang County, Hebei |
| Result | Zhou Dewei lured the enemy deep onto the open plain, where the Jin army could make full use of its cavalry, and crushed the Liang army with fire attacks and cavalry charges. |
| Winner | Jin (Li Cunxu) |
| Casualties | The Liang main force was almost entirely annihilated, and Wang Jingren barely escaped with his life. |
| Territorial change | From then on Later Liang switched from offense to defense in Hebei, and the Jin consolidated their power and expanded eastward. |
Impact
It reversed Jin's disadvantage in its struggle with Liang for supremacy, laying the foundation for Li Cunxu's later destruction of Liang and founding of Later Tang.
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