Battle of Qianshuiyuan
618 CE · Qianshuiyuan, Changwu County, Shaanxi · China · Early modern
The Tang army was first defeated by Xue Ju; Li Shimin then held his troops still until the enemy's grain ran out and its spirit flagged, and then attacked with converging columns, crushing Xue Rengao at Zhezhi.
Belligerents
Tang
- Commanders
- Li Shimin
- Strength
- Tang army of tens of thousands, regrouping for a second battle after losing the first
Xue Qin
- Commanders
- Xue Ju, Xue Rengao
- Strength
- Xue clan of Longxi, several tens of thousands, brave and skilled in battle
Background
Xue Ju and his son held sway over Longxi, contending with the newly founded Tang regime for the gateway to Guanzhong.
Course of the battle
- Setback in the first battleAdvancing rashly, the Tang army was struck by a surprise attack from Xue Ju, and its vanguard was defeated.
- Strong walls, no battleLi Shimin kept to his fortified camp, waiting for the enemy to run out of grain and tire.
- Encircling and crushing the enemyThe Tang army sallied out and cut off the enemy's retreat, and Xue Rengao, at the end of his resources, surrendered.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 618 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Qianshuiyuan, Changwu County, Shaanxi |
| Result | The Tang army was first defeated by Xue Ju; Li Shimin then held his troops still until the enemy's grain ran out and its spirit flagged, and then attacked with converging columns, crushing Xue Rengao at Zhezhi. |
| Winner | Tang |
| Casualties | The main Xue army scattered, and Xue Rengao was forced to come out and surrender. |
| Territorial change | The Tang took all of Longxi, removing the greatest threat to the west of Guanzhong. |
Impact
It cleared away the strong enemy west of Guanzhong, enabling the Tang dynasty to concentrate its strength eastward to pacify the Central Plains.
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