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Dang under Ruling of Empress Wu(武則天), Development and Military Activities of Rebellion of Li Jing-ye(李敬業)

  • military history
  • 2006, (58), pp.177-204
  • Publisher : Military History Institute, MND
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

Yi Sanghun 1

1경북대학교

Candidate

ABSTRACT

In 683, Dang Dynasty experienced disorder caused by death of Emperor Kao-zong(高宗), dethronement of weak Emperor Zhong-zong(中宗), continuing natural disaster and invasions by the outside. Under these circumstances, Li Jing-ye mobilized relegated former government officials's power and brought about rebellion for cause to restore Emperor Zhong-zong in Yang- zhou(揚州), which was the economic center at that time in 684. The rebel army mobilized as many as 100,000 troops of massive power after 10 days and occupied most of the area, called Jiang-su Sheng(江蘇省) now. However, they intended to hold their own ground not marching north but marching south. If they had marched north, they could have extended their power by finding the just cause to restore Emperor Zhong-zong and connection with Shan-dong(山東) power having anti-Tang sentiment. Their failure to march north is mainly considered the reason to have failed the rebellion. However, their situations where they couldn't march north have not been considered. It is the main object of this study to reveal the reason why they intended to maintain their independence going south instead of going north. For the above-mentioned purpose, difference in fighting strength between repressive military and rebel army at that time was compared and the development of nomadic cavalrymen participating in the war in order to recruit insufficient strength of riot military and rebel army's respond to that were examined. Participation of nomadic cavalrymen who were superior in cavalry strategy caused fighting power to change and rebel army to adopt strategy for defending cavalry. In addition, rebel army penetrated that 300,000 soldiers of repressive military had difficulty in getting impedimenta and intended to perform prolonged war. Considering the above facts, rebel army was absolutely short of cavalry, had difficulty in supplying impedimenta, and couldn't connect with Shan- Dong power. Moreover, the rebellion plan was revealed early and people in the southern side of a river(江南) tended to separately hold their own ground. That's why the rebel army gave up marching north and intended to maintain their independence in the southern side of river. It is regarded as a realistic judgement under the circumstances. Study of the development of rebellion, on the one hand, enables to know that Li Jing-ye's tactics were superior contrary existing cognition and that Empress Wu's respond was very appropriate that she committed another reserved division to the battle while suppressing the rebel army with repressive military of 300,000 troops.

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