Le Loi besieged Dong Quan citadel, forcing more than 100,000 Minh troops

At the end of 1426, Le Loi and Nguyen Trai moved the headquarters of Lam Son insurgent army from Dong Phu Liet village, now in Dong My commune, Thanh Tri district (Hanoi) to Bo De wharf on the north bank of the Nhi river, opposite the citadel. on the south bank to lay siege to Dongguan citadel. From January 1, 1427, the insurgent army both attacked and lured Vuong Thong to surrender. At this time, the insurgent force was about 350,000 people.

After heavy defeats in the battles of Tot Dong – Chuc Dong (November 5, 1426) and Chi Lang – Xuong Giang (11/1427), the enemy could only keep the citadel: Dong Quan, Tay Do with more than 100,000 troops. . They still risked their lives to entrench hope for reinforcements.

The glorious victory at Xuong Giang completely disintegrated the enemy’s reinforcements, Binh Dinh King Le Loi ordered Admiral Thoi Thu, minister Hoang Phuc and a number of prisoners to carry Lieu Thang’s twin tiger talisman. Two silver royal seals of Ly Khanh and Hoang Phuc and the enemy’s weapons and flags were brought to Dong Quan citadel for Vuong Thong and the enemy troops in the city to see.

At the same time, Nguyen Trai wrote a letter to Vuong Thong. The policy of Le Loi and Nguyen Trai was to continue to besiege and persuade them to surrender.

Vuong Thong has fallen into the situation of “success and exhaustion”, on the one hand sent someone to bring a letter “please make peace, open the way back”. But on the other hand, recklessly launched a counterattack to break the siege and return home. Lam Son insurgent army pretended to lose and ran to let the Minh army chase, falling into an ambush. Vuong Thong’s army was beaten to pieces, Vuong Thong fell from his horse and was almost captured.

Knowing that he could no longer fight, Vuong Thong asked to make peace. King Binh Dinh, Nguyen Trai and the generals agreed.

On December 10, 1427 (November 22, Dinh Mui year) at a place in the south of Dongguan citadel, on the banks of the Nhi River, a historical swearing festival was held, called Dongguan Swearing Festival.

The two sides drank blood and ate an oath and read together the text of the oath written by Nguyen Trai

After the swearing-in festival, Le Loi ordered the siege of the cities to be relieved. On December 29, 1427, the Ming army began to withdraw, the insurgents provided food, horses and boats, and let the Ming troops out of the border safely.

On January 3, 1428, the last army of Vuong Thong set out to return home.

After the victory Nguyen Trai wrote:

“The enemies of the cities are in trouble, take off their armor

The enemy general was imprisoned, like a hungry tiger wagging his tail begging for his life

Than Vu does not kill, our hearts are open to filial piety

Ma Ky, Phuong Chinh, gave five hundred boats, went to the sea but still lost their souls,

Vuong Thong, Ma Anh, distributed several thousand horses, returned to the country but still had a pounding heart and trembling feet.

They were greedy for life, afraid of death, but truly reconciled

I prefer the whole army, let the people rest…”

According to Minh Su, the number of people returning home was 84,640; The number of people detained cannot be counted.

The plan of Le Loi and Nguyen Trai in luring Dong Quan citadel is considered very flexible and clever. Along with resounding victories, Lam Son insurgents clearly showed the Ming that they could not occupy Dai Viet for a long time, Dai Viet army and people resolutely spared no blood, bones and excess strength to crush all invading armies. comb. But on the other hand, with flexible diplomatic letters, the Lam Son insurgents helped the Ming Dynasty keep a little face after its defeats on the battlefields of Dai Viet. As a result, friendly relations were re-established between the two countries, ushering in a long period of peace.

When Le Loi obtained this citadel, the country “came to return to Thai Lai”. The country was clean of enemies, Le Loi ascended the throne, regained the national name Dai Viet, changed it to Dong Quan, Dong Kinh. Thang Long – Dong Kinh continues to play the role of “the first capital of the eternal emperor”.