Battle of Yangping
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Yangping, also known as the Battle of Yangping Pass, was fought between the warlords Cao Cao
and Zhang Lu in 215 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. The battle concluded with victory for Cao Cao.
and presented his head. In the autumn of 215, Cao Cao reached Yangping.
and others to hold Yangping Pass and they constructed a ten-mile wall along the mountain ridges. Cao Cao besieged the pass but was unable to capture it and eventually his army withdrew. Zhang Lu's troops saw that Cao Cao's army had retreated and their readiness waned. Cao Cao then covertly sent Gao Zuo and others to assault the defenses by night and greatly defeated the enemy. They beheaded the general Yang Ren (楊任) and advanced on Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei and the others fled in the night. Zhang Lu broke the encirclement and fled to Bazhong. Cao Cao's army entered Nanzheng and took all the treasures from Zhang Lu's repository. When Zhang Lu surrendered, he was granted honors by Cao Cao, and he ended his days as a comfortable prisoner.
.
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
and Zhang Lu in 215 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. The battle concluded with victory for Cao Cao.
Background
In 215, Cao Cao campaigned west against Zhang Lu, reached Chencang and personally advanced from Wudu into Dizhong. In summer, Cao Cao advanced from San Pass and reached Hechi. Zhang Lu's tens of thousands of followers, relied on the difficulties of the terrain, refusing to submit. In the fifth month, Cao Cao besieged and defeated them. The various generals of Xiping and Jincheng, Qu Yan, Jiang Shi and others, beheaded Han SuiHan Sui
Han Sui was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. For most of his life he was active in Liang Province and was involved in several rebellions against the Han Dynasty and against the warlord Cao Cao.-Biography:With the backing of the Qiang people who populated much of...
and presented his head. In the autumn of 215, Cao Cao reached Yangping.
The battle
Zhang Lu sent his younger brother Zhang Wei, general Yang AngYang Ang
Yang Ang was a military general serving under the warlord Zhang Lu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Yang Ang at one time followed Zhang Wei in defending Yangping Pass, and fought against the army of Cao Cao. Ignoring the advice by Yang Ren, he pursued the main army of Cao Cao...
and others to hold Yangping Pass and they constructed a ten-mile wall along the mountain ridges. Cao Cao besieged the pass but was unable to capture it and eventually his army withdrew. Zhang Lu's troops saw that Cao Cao's army had retreated and their readiness waned. Cao Cao then covertly sent Gao Zuo and others to assault the defenses by night and greatly defeated the enemy. They beheaded the general Yang Ren (楊任) and advanced on Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei and the others fled in the night. Zhang Lu broke the encirclement and fled to Bazhong. Cao Cao's army entered Nanzheng and took all the treasures from Zhang Lu's repository. When Zhang Lu surrendered, he was granted honors by Cao Cao, and he ended his days as a comfortable prisoner.
Modern references
The battle is featured as a playable stage in Koei's video game Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends and Dynasty Warriors 7Dynasty Warriors 7
is a hack and slash video game and the seventh official installment of the Dynasty Warriors series. It is developed by Omega Force and published by Koei. The game has been confirmed to be PS3 exclusive in Japan. The story is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms....
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