The Policy of Virtue and the Siege of Hanzhong Campaigns of the Northern Wei

"By spreading virtue and civilizing influence, the Central Kingdom original: "Zhongguo" (中國). In this context, it refers to the heartland under the Northern Wei's control. will find peace. Then, those from distant lands will submit of their own accord." The Lord of Wei The Emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty. followed this advice.

The people of Qi The Southern Qi dynasty (479–502 AD), the southern rival of the Northern Wei. occupied the river islets to intercept the army, cutting off the ferry routes. The Wei commander, Xi Kangsheng, bound rafts together and piled them with firewood. Taking advantage of the wind, he set them ablaze and advanced directly under the cover of the smoke. His men used throwing knives to strike at the enemy in the chaos, and the Qi troops eventually collapsed.

While the Lord of Wei was at Zhongli A strategic city on the Huai River, modern Fengyang, Anhui., Tuoba Ying, the Governor of Liangzhou, requested permission to lead the provincial troops to join the assault on Hanzhong. This request was granted. Xiao Yi, the Qi Governor of Liangzhou, dispatched his subordinate general Yin Shaozu and others to lead troops to occupy the mountain passes, where they established five stockades to resist the advance.

Tuoba Ying remarked:
"Their commanders are not unified. If I select elite troops to concentrate our attack on a single camp, the others will surely not come to their rescue. If one camp falls, the other four will flee."

He then launched a swift assault and captured one camp, causing all four remaining stockades to collapse. Riding the momentum of his victory, he drove his forces forward to press toward Nanzheng The administrative center of Hanzhong.. Xiao Yi sent his general Jiang Xiu to strike back at Ying, but Ying launched a surprise attack and captured them all. As they were about to return to Qi...