The Battle of Mengjin: Twenty-Four Years and Three Major Stages

The Battle of Mongolia and Jin: After 24 years and three major stages

The first stage: Genghis Khan's attack on gold

In February of the sixth year of Genghis Khan in Mongolia, Genghis Khan The Longju River (now the Kerulun River in Mongolia) vowed to conquer the Jin Dynasty, crossed the desert, and attacked the border areas of the Jin Dynasty. In the autumn of the same year, the troops were divided into two groups and launched a pincer offensive to attack Jin. Genghis Khan personally led the Eastern Route Army and attacked Wuyueying and Wushabao (now northwest of Xinghe, Hebei), forcing the Jin army to abandon Fuzhou (now Zhangbei County, Hebei) and retreat to Xuanping (now Wanquan, Hebei).

In August, Jin general Wanyan Chengyu led an army of 300,000 troops to the north of Yehuling (now northwest of Wanquan, Hebei Province) to fight. Genghis Khan ordered Wanhu Muhuali to lead the death warriors to charge forward, and then led the main force to follow up. The Jin army was defeated and retreated to Huihe (now Yanghe, Huai'an, Hebei), where most of it was wiped out. The Mongolian army then overran Xuande (now Xuanhua, Hebei).

In September, the Mongolian army arrived at Zhongdu (now Beijing). Due to the strong city walls and heavy troops in Jintun, the Mongolian army failed to attack the city and was forced to withdraw from the siege. At the same time, the Mongolian troops on the west route were led by Genghis Khan's sons Shuchi, Chagatai, and Wokuotai. , Shuo (now part of Shanxi) and other states. After hearing the news, the guard general He Shilie and Hu Shahu of Jinxijing (today's Datong, Shanxi Province) abandoned the city and fled. The two Mongolian armies plundered a large number of people, livestock and property and then withdrew (see the Battle of Bianbao Village).

In the seventh year, Jin Qianhu Yelvliu brother rebelled against the Jin in Liaodong. Genghis Khan sent troops to support and defeated the Jin army. In the autumn, Genghis Khan led his army to besiege Xijing. At the same time, he set up an ambush at the entrance of the dense valley northeast of Xijing and annihilated the Jin reinforcements. During the siege, Genghis Khan was hit by an arrow, so he withdrew the siege and returned north.

In December, the Mongolian army pioneer Zhebie led his army to attack Jindong (now Liaoyang, Liaoning) but failed to defeat it, so he pretended to retreat 500 miles. The Tokyo defenders thought that the Mongolian army had retreated and were not on guard. Unexpectedly, the Mongolian army returned with light cavalry and the city was attacked. In July of the eighth year, the Mongolian army again crossed south to attack the Jin Dynasty and conquered Xuande. They defeated the Jin generals Wanyan Gang and Shuhu Gaoqi in Huailai (now east of Huailai, Hebei) and Jinshan (now Yanqing, Beijing). North entrance of Juyong Pass (now Badaling, Beijing). The Jin army relied on the natural dangers of Juyong, smelted iron to seal the gate, spread iron and caltrops for more than a hundred miles, and guarded it with their elite troops.

Genghis Khan avoided the real situation and attacked the weak one, and used a small force to contain it at the north entrance. He led the main force to go south in a detour, attacked Zijingguan (now northwest of Yixian County, Hebei Province), and conquered Zhuozhou (now in Hebei Province); he sent another Zhebie force. He led his army to attack the south entrance through a small road, attacked from the north and south, and captured Juyong Pass. At that time, a coup occurred in the Jin court, Wanyan Yongji was killed, and Wanyan Xun proclaimed himself emperor (i.e., Xuanzong).

Genghis Khan learned that the Jin Dynasty was empty of troops in the interior, so he divided his troops into three groups to attack and plunder the Central Plains, Western Liaoning and other places. By March of the following year, except for Zhongdu and other 11 cities, they had not yet been conquered. Traveled almost all over the vast area north of the Yellow River. The Mongolian army returned to the capital of Zhongdu and forced Jin Xuanzong to sacrifice Wanyan Yongji's daughter, Princess Qi, as well as gold, silk, and horses, and then withdrew from Juyongguan (see Genghis Khan's three-pronged attack on gold).

In May, Jin Xuanzong ordered the capital to be moved to Nanjing (today's Kaifeng, Henan) because he was afraid that the Mongolian army would attack Zhongdu again. In June, the Zou army composed of tribesmen from northern Jin mutinied in the Liangxiang area (now part of Beijing) and surrendered to Mongolia. Genghis Khan took the opportunity and ordered his generals Shimo Ming'an and Sanmohe Batu Lu to lead their troops southward from Gubeikou (now northeast of Miyun, Beijing) and join the Zou army to attack Zhongdu. In order to cut off the connection between western Liaoning and Zhongdu, Genghis Khan ordered Muhuali to lead his army to attack western Liaoning.

In February of the 10th year, Muhua Liping defeated Liaoxi and captured Jin Beijing (southwest of today's Ningcheng in Inner Mongolia). In March, the Mongolian army besieging Zhongdu defeated the Jin reinforcements and obtained all the food and wages transported, leaving Zhongdu in a dilemma of running out of food and aid. May. Jin Zhongdu stayed behind, and Marshal Wanyan Chenghui committed suicide by taking poison. The Mongolian army occupied Zhongdu (see the Battle of Zhongdu). In the autumn of the eleventh year, Genghis Khan ordered Sanmo and Batu Lu to lead ten thousand cavalry, marched from Xixia to Ketongguan (now northeast of Tongguan, Shaanxi), and conquered Ruzhou (now part of Henan). They rushed to Nanjing and arrived at Xinghua Camp in the west of Beijing. Reinforcements arrived and they were forced to cross the Yellow River and head north (see the Battle of Tongguan and Nanjing).

Second stage: Mu Huali and Bolu attacked Jin

In August of the twelfth year (the first year of Jin Xingding, 1217), Genghis Khan made Mu Huali the grand master and king. , ordered him to lead 10 armies including Wanggu tribe, Ulut, Hongjila and other armies of Zou and Han to attack Jin. Mu Huali changed his previous tactics of wanton killing, looting and land grabbing, and recruited surrender and re-employed the armed forces of Han landlords to fight for cities and land for them.

Mu Huali led his army from Zhongdu to the south, and even defeated Jinsui (now northwest of Xushui, Hebei Province), Li (now Li County, Hebei Province) and other prefectures. After defeating Damingfu (now northeast of Daming County, Hebei Province), he turned to Shandong and Kemi Prefecture (now Hebei Province). There are more than 10 prefectures and counties including Zhucheng (now Zhucheng, Shandong) and Yidu (now Qingzhou, Shandong).

In the 13th year, Mu Huali captured Zhang Rou, the marshal of Jinxing, at Zijingkou (Zijingguan) and resumed his original post. Zhang Rou recruited troops and went south to Xiong, Yi, Baoding (now Xiongxian, Yixian, Baoding, Hebei) and other prefectures. Mu Huali then attacked Taiyuan, Fenyang (now Shanxi) and other places from Xijing (now Datong, Shanxi) to the south.

In the fourteenth year, the Mongolian army took advantage of the Jin army's three-pronged attack on the Song Dynasty. Zhang Rou defeated the Jin general Wuxian in Xinle (southwest of Xinle, Hebei Province today) and expanded his territory to more than 30 states and counties. Muhuali sent troops to Keke, Lan, Ji, Xi (now Shanxi Kelan, Lan County North, Ji County, Xi County) and other prefectures.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin Dynasty, in order to defend the territory against Mongolia, he granted Jiugong the title of Jiugong in Hebei and Hedong, and divided the territories for defense. Muhua Li returned to the south from Zhongdu, and Jin Hengshan Gongwuxian surrendered with Zhending (now Zhengding, Hebei Province); the rotating army moved toward Jinan, and the Song and Jin generals surrendered, Yanshi, under their jurisdiction Zhangde (now Anyang, Henan Province), Daming (now Daming County, Hebei Province) South) and other two prefectures and six prefectures, 300,000 households surrendered to Mongolia; then led the army to attack Huanglinggang (southwest of Caoxian County, Shandong today), defeated 200,000 Jin troops, and occupied Huanglinggang.

In the 16th year, Dongping (now Shandong) was broken. Mu Huali led his army out of Shaanxi and attacked Yan, Fu, Fang (now Yan'an, Fuxian, Huangling, Shaanxi) and other states.

In the 17th year, Mu Huali led his army to attack Chang'an (now Xi'an) and Fengxiang (now Shaanxi) but failed.

In March of the following year, he returned to the army until Wenxi (now in Shanxi) died of illness. His son Bolu assumed the post and continued to attack gold. Jin Xuanzong Wanyan Xun died, and his son Wanyan Shouxu succeeded him (Ai Zong).

Twenty years later, Wuxian rebelled against Meng and paid gold. Polo sent Marshal Shi Tianze of the capital to lead his army to defeat Wuxian and restore Zhending. Then Bolu and Shi Tianze joined forces to defeat the red coat army Peng Yibin's tribe. Genghis Khan returned to his old camp after his expedition to the west, preparing to raise his troops to attack Xixia.

In the 22nd year, the Mongolian army besieged Yidu. Genghis Khan defeated the Xixia Zhucheng and died of illness while camping in Qingshui County (now part of Gansu). In the first year of Tuolei Jianguo (1228, the fifth year of Jin Zhengda), Jin Yidu was besieged for a long time. The city was depleted and Li Quan surrendered. Bolu resisted the suggestion of executing Li Quan and entrusted him with important tasks, causing many states and counties to join him. Shandong is all owned by Mongolia.

In order to concentrate his forces against the Mongols, Aizong of the Jin Dynasty stopped attacking the Song Dynasty, opened up Xixia, and made all his efforts to defend Tongguan in the west and the Yellow River in the north. The Mongolian and Jin armies then entered a confrontation across the river.

The third stage: Wokuotai destroyed the Jin Dynasty

Genghis Khan died of illness on the way to conquer the Xixia Dynasty. He failed to realize his long-cherished wish to conquer the Jin Dynasty, so he issued an edict to his descendants in his last will and testament. , taking advantage of the feud between the Song and Jin Dynasties, borrowing the road from the Song Dynasty, detouring to Tang (now Tanghe, Henan) and Deng (now in Henan), uniting the Song Dynasty, and going straight to the Jin Dynasty capital Nanjing's strategy to destroy the Jin Dynasty.

In August of the first year of Mongolian Ogedai Khan (the sixth year of Jin Zhengda, 1229), Ogedai became the Great Khan of Mongolia and led his army to attack Jin the following year. The Jin Dynasty hurriedly adjusted its deployment: increasing the number of troops defending the cities of Fengxiang, Jingzhao (today's Xi'an) and other prefectures; deploying loyal and filial horse troops to enter the pass to strengthen the peripheral assault force of the capital; changing the Shaanxi West Road Province and Shaanxi East Road Province into Shaanxi Province and Shaanxi Province Luxing Province was placed in Neng Township (now northwest of Lingbao, Henan Province) to strengthen the defense of Tongguan.

In February of the third year, the Mongolian army captured Fengxiang, a strategic military base of the Jin Dynasty.

In May, Wokuotai held a meeting of generals in Guanshan (now Zhuozi North, Inner Mongolia) and agreed to divide the attack on gold. In July, the troops were divided into three routes: the left route army, led by Chen Nayan, left Jinan and headed for Nanjing; the middle route army, led by Wokuotai himself, entered Jin from Guanshan and crossed the river via Baipo (now northeast of Mengjin, Henan). Nanjing; the right-leg army, led by Tuo Lei, marched south from Fengxiang, detoured through the Song Dynasty, and marched eastward along the Han River from Jinzhou (today's Ankang, Shaanxi Province) to Nanjing in a roundabout way.

After Jin Aizong heard the news, he urgently mobilized 200,000 defenders along the Yellow River to Yushan in Dengzhou (now southwest of Dengzhou, Henan) to block the Mongolian right army. In December, Tuo Lei and the Jin army failed to win in Dengzhou, so they abandoned Dengzhou and marched north. The Jin army then rushed to Nanjing from Dengzhou. The two armies fought and marched. The Mongolian army continued to send light cavalry to harass the Jin army. As a result, the Jin army was deprived of rest and food for several days. It also suffered from continuous heavy snowfall, and the soldiers were exhausted.

In the first month of the fourth year, the Jin army advanced to Sanfeng Mountain (now southwest of Yu County, Henan Province) to confront the Mongolian army. Xuanwo Kuotai led his army to cross the Yellow River at Baibaipo, and sent General Kou Wenbuhua and others to lead the army to meet the tow mine. Tole then took the opportunity to attack the Jin army, annihilating the Jin army's 150,000 elite soldiers, and captured and killed the Jin commander Wan Yanhe. Da and Yicipua (see the Battle of Sanfeng Mountain).

Then, Tongguan guard Li Ping surrendered to Mongolia, and more than ten states in Henan were occupied by the Mongolian army.

In March, Wo Kuotai sent General Subutai to lead an army of 30,000 to besiege Nanjing. The Mongolian army deployed more than a hundred cannons and attacked the city; the soldiers and civilians defending the city fought bravely with thunderbolts and flying muskets. After 16 days and nights of fierce fighting, both sides suffered heavy casualties.

In April, Wokuo returned to Taipei, leaving Subutai to continue the attack. The Jin sent envoys to negotiate a peace, and the Mongols withdrew their troops and immediately settled in Ruzhou. In July, the Mongolian envoy to Jin was killed, and the peace talks ended.

In August, the Mongolian army defeated more than 100,000 Jin reinforcements near Zhengzhou. At this point, the main force of the Jin army has been depleted, and the capital has run out of food and supplies. In December, Jin Aizong fled to Guide (now south of Shangqiu, Henan) with a few officials and soldiers. In the first month of the fifth year, Jin Nanjing guard Cui Li surrendered to the Mongolian army. In June, Jin Aizong went to Caizhou (now Runan, Henan). Marshal Tachaer of the Mongolian army led his troops to encircle Caizhou.

In November, in response to the Mongolian treaty, the Southern Song Dynasty sent Meng Gong, the deputy commander of Jiangling Prefecture in Ezhou, to lead an army of 20,000 and transport 300,000 stones of rice to join the Mongolian army at the foot of Caizhou City.

In the first month of the sixth year, the Song army and the Mongolian army successively attacked the city. Jin Aizong committed suicide and Jin died.

In this battle, Genghis Khan and his successors used the political call to resist oppression to inspire the fighting spirit of emerging nations; strategically, they were good at exploiting the internal conflicts among Jin, Song, Xia and the Jin Dynasty to jointly attack They defeated them one by one. What is particularly outstanding is the successful use of the strategy of falsely attacking the Song Dynasty, uniting with the Song Dynasty to destroy the Jin Dynasty, and recruiting surrender to pacify them; in terms of tactics, they are good at attacking in the east and attacking in the west, making detours and flanking attacks, and annihilating the enemy in a surprise attack; they pay attention to absorbing the advanced technology of the Central Plains and improving weapons. Equipment, enhance the ability to attack difficulties, so you can win every battle. The rulers of the Jin Dynasty were politically corrupt, made enemies on many sides, had negative tactics, had low morale, and eventually fell.

The destruction of the Jin Dynasty by Mongolia laid the foundation for the subsequent attack on the Southern Song Dynasty and the unification of the country.