battle battle fought china september forces rebel duke army ruling dynasty army advancing south imperial capital advance stalled weeks heavy rainfall met town elite army men cavalry command eldest sons lured protection city walls clash main armies forces initially driven point possibly behalf arrival rest rebel army flanking manoeuvres cavalry gotten army troops collapsed routed fleeing cavalry cut retreat battle followed capture weakly defended advance fell rebels november year deposed proclaimed emperor beginning dynasty background later reign second emperor dynasty yang dynasty authority began main reason immense material human cost protracted fruitless attempts conquer korean kingdom coupled natural disasters conscription men war scarce grain reserves army needs increased provincial discontent result rural revolts broke empire emperor prestige legitimacy diminished military failure ambitious provincial encouraged challenge rule yang continued korean campaigns unrest spread empire powerful eastern turks turned hostile realize gravity situation abandoned north withdrew remained assassination emperor withdrawal scene local governors emerged claim power major contenders emerged claiming imperial title like time modest titles positioned contenders duke governor northwest modern noble family related dynasty distinguished career obvious candidate throne province possessed excellent natural defences heavily population located near capitals march south traditional historiography emphasizes initial reluctance revolt persuaded senior aides second son eventual successor reality considering rebellion time appointment early began raising additional troops province executed deputies appointed emperor yang watch concluded alliance powerful secured northern frontier turkish invasion provided men importantly horses lacked initially portrayed loyalist proclaimed intention placing yang grandson yang throne campaign recorded detail chief secretary mid july expedition eldest sons launched loyalist south sons succeeded capturing province days returned finally preparations complete august began march south army comprised men raised local soaring hawk militia additional volunteers including strong turkish contingent provided horses year old son left guard accompanied father small force detached advance parallel main army capture loyalist west securing flanks advance stopped place called weeks late august heavy rainfall giving time authorities react general sent secure army elite troops advanced north town miles south confront placed southern exit road passed following course provided excellent position check army coming north army learned presence began advocating retreat fearing absence turks break treaty attack council held sided sons argued continuing campaign september rains stopped army set instead following road chose path southeastern hills allegedly revealed peasant army arrived numbered original men detachments left predominantly composed infantry divided divisions general unclear sons named traditional fashion commanders left right respectively accounts battle army appears formed van middle rear divisions cavalry strong apparently kept strategic reserve little known army troops considered elite warriors sources raise number typical error possibly indicate additional forces recruited battle accounts subsequent battle account later official account dominant version traditional chinese historiography compiled reign role having decide battle cavalry charge role father elder brother murder throne accounts difficult reconcile account despite clearly preferred eyewitness testimony according feared deny battle instead force engage prolonged costly siege town reason soon headquarters cavalry cleared hills came view early afternoon september sent sons head cavalry manoeuvre walls hoping army come hoped exploit reputation slower moving infantry formed bulk army process traversing hills sent officers hurry seen opportunity destroying enemy deployed army outside town wall proved reluctant advance away town retreat cavalry time infantry began arriving van division deploying square fend attack divisions coming account indicating infantry charged army point sons led cavalry flank town small garrison left forced drop gates let spread killed force army began retreat turned rout found retreat cut cavalry barred gates narrative supplemented later account despite bias contains indications went according plans appears clash infantry army upper hand pushed possibly managed bring forces field arrival rest infantry actions cavalry flanks army morale gave way abruptly resistance collapsed battle crushing victory led troops lacked siege equipment garrison town small effectively resist army fell hours aftermath following victory army continued southward advance mid october reached army left contain garrison rest crossed river defeating army tried prevent governor surrendered city vital turned capital way joined daughter princess cousin troops raised time army reached said number men brief siege november troops stormed capital feat established major contender empire moment despite calls generals emperor loyalist imperial family kept safe dignity respected young yang emperor yang delegated position retired emperor june exactly year formally broke executing deputies deposed puppet emperor proclaimed emperor dynasty temple new dynasty face local rebels sprung mixture force succeeded consolidation china rule
Battle of Huoyi