Battle of Ye (Battle of Xiangzhou)
759 CE · Anyang, Henan (Ye) · China · Early modern
The Tang army besieged Ye for a long time without taking it; Shi Siming arrived with a relief force, and just as the two sides joined the decisive battle a violent sandstorm suddenly arose, and both armies panicked and fled, the Tang suffering especially heavy losses.
Belligerents
Coalition of nine Tang Jiedushi (military governors)
- Commanders
- Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi
- Strength
- The armies of nine jiedushi, said to number 600,000, with no unified commander
An–Shi rebels
- Commanders
- Shi Siming, An Qingxu
- Strength
- Rebel reinforcements and the Ye garrison
Background
The Tang court sent the combined forces of nine jiedushi to besiege An Qingxu, who had fallen back to defend Ye, but with no overall commander and no unified command their fighting strength was scattered.
Course of the battle
- Combined forces besiege the cityThe forces of the nine commands converged at Ye and diverted the Zhang River to flood the city.
- Reinforcements arrive suddenlyShi Siming led the Fanyang forces south to the rescue.
- Sandstorm throws the ranks into chaosAs the decisive battle began, a great wind suddenly rose, and both armies panicked and broke.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 759 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Anyang, Henan (Ye) |
| Result | The Tang army besieged Ye for a long time without taking it; Shi Siming arrived with a relief force, and just as the two sides joined the decisive battle a violent sandstorm suddenly arose, and both armies panicked and fled, the Tang suffering especially heavy losses. |
| Winner | An–Shi rebels |
| Casualties | The Tang army abandoned almost all of its baggage, and the nine jiedushi each led the remnants of their forces back to their own commands. |
| Territorial change | After infighting among the rebels, Shi Siming absorbed An Qingxu's forces, retook Hebei, and proclaimed himself emperor at Fanyang. |
Impact
Through poor command, the Tang missed a good chance to crush the rebellion, and the An Lushan Rebellion dragged on for several more years.
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