Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Volume 21

Record of the Tang Dynasty

The Recovery of the Capital

Consequently, three layers of trenches were dug outside the city . Wooden palisades were erected for defense . [Zhang] Xun General Zhang Xun, the defender of Suiyang also [dug trenches] within the city . He constructed these trenches to resist the enemy . After accounting for the casualties among the soldiers , only six hundred men remained .

The Emperor Emperor Suzong, who took the throne during the rebellion rewarded and feasted the various generals, then dispatched them to attack Chang'an The primary capital of the Tang Dynasty, which had fallen to the rebels. Li Siye A legendary giant known for his incredible strength and use of the "wall-breaking" long sword served as the vanguard; Guo Ziyi The Tang dynasty's most famous general, often credited with saving the dynasty from the An Lushan Rebellion commanded the central army; and Wang Sili commanded the rear army .

The rebels The rebel forces of the Yan state, led by the followers of An Lushan led one hundred thousand men and arrayed them in formation to the north of the city . Li Guiren A formidable rebel general of Khitan descent came out to challenge the government army. The government troops pursued him, pressing close to the rebel formation; then the rebel army advanced in unison, and the government army began to retreat .

Li Siye said: "Today, if I do not offer my own body as bait to the rebels , not a single soul will be left of our army !" He then stripped to the waist original: "肉袒" (routan) — a traditional gesture of resolve and fearlessness in Chinese warfare, bared his torso, and wielding a long sword original: "亏" — likely a transcription for the changdao or long-handled saber, he gave a great shout and charged forward, striking out with fury. He killed dozens of men, and the battle formation began to stabilize .

Thereupon, [Li] Siye led the vanguard; each man held a long sword Changdao: a "long saber" or "great sword," often two-handed and over seven feet long, used by specialized infantry to counter cavalry, and they advanced like a wall original: "如墻而進" — one of the most famous tactical descriptions in Tang military history, with [Siye] himself leading the soldiers. Wherever they went, the enemy was crushed and scattered . The rebels had hidden elite cavalry to the east of the formation, intending to ambush the rear of the government army. Scouts discovered this, and Pugu Huaien A prominent Tang general of Tiele/Turkic descent...