Ly Thuong Kiet destroyed Ung Chau with soldiers and catapults

The army of Lieutenant General Tong Dan arrived at Ung Chau citadel first on January 18, 1076. A few days later, Ly Thuong Kiet’s army also arrived in time to gather. Dai Viet troops joined forces to surround the citadel for several rounds. Tri Chau To Giam relied on deep moats and weapons to entrench itself. Due to the plan of Dai Viet’s army, which caused many casualties on the border, Ung Chau’s army was still quite small, the regular army only had 2,800 men. When the Dai Viet army came rushing in, the people of Ung Chau city became frightened and became chaotic, trying to escape. To Giam ordered the soldiers to gather the people, bring all public and private wealth to encourage them, and then use a refutation: “We have prepared enough weapons, and there is no shortage of food. Now the enemy has come under the city. The only way to hold on to the citadel to wait outside the hospital, we will surely win. If anyone runs, the hearts of the people will be disturbed, and the great thing will be ruined. If you listen to me, you will be rewarded. If anyone doesn’t listen and runs away, I will cut them.” Therefore, the whole city people listened attentively. Oversaw both the regular army and the militia, about 5,000 soldiers were able to fight, and the entire population of Ung Chau citadel was about 60,000 people to work as servants, to assist in the war, and to participate in the defense.

The Dai Viet army initially used catapults to shoot at the citadel, killing many Song people and soldiers. Using a ladder (ladder installed on a trolley) to climb up the wall, the Song army used oil torches and rockets to burn the ladder. The high citadel, the statue of Dai Viet soldiers did not promote much. To Giam took advantage of the loophole to use 100 suicide soldiers to row a small boat along the Ung Giang River to attack our troops, causing damage to 10 war elephants and two generals, all of the ambush troops also died. Ung Chau’s army used a crossbow Than Ty – a large crossbow that shot many arrows with great destructive power and shot at Dai Viet’s siege of the citadel, causing many casualties. The Dai Viet army could not fight, so they retreated and used catapults to shoot at the citadel, besieging the army and people of Ung Chau citadel to go out of the city to collect water.

Liu Di in the city of Que Chau heard that Ung Chau was besieged, and sent the governor Truong Thu Tiet to bring his troops to the rescue. Truong Thu Tiet was afraid that Dai Viet army would defeat Ung Chau citadel soon, and heard that Dai Viet’s army was very large, so he stopped his army along the way to hear that he would lose, but not advance quickly. Truong Thu Tiet led his troops to detour from Que Chau to Tan Chau, stationed at Khang Hoa camp to monitor movements. To Giam sent someone to bring a letter wrapped in wax to break through the siege and report it to the Tong Cau prison officer. Tong Cau received the letter and went to urge Truong Thu Tiet. Thu Tiet then advanced. Ly Thuong Kiet was besieging Ung Chau, when he received news from the scouts that reinforcements were on their way, so he divided his army and set up an ambush at Con Lon pass, a dangerous place in the middle of the road from Tan Chau to Ung Chau. Truong Thu Tiet led his army to Kunlun, but was defeated and could not return, the Song army immediately ran away, was captured and killed a lot. Truong Thu Tiet was slashed at the front along with other generals such as Ta Giang Nominee Wen Nguyen Du, Governor Hunan Truong Bien, patrol of Ung – Tan Huu Du provinces, patrol of Lieu – Tan – Statue of Vuong provinces. Tran. This important army reinforcement of the Song was destroyed, Ung Chau was completely isolated.

While our army was besieging Ung Chau citadel, King Song received news that Kham Chau had fallen. The Song dynasty was in an uproar. The strategic unit of Quang Nam, Tay Lo, Tong, moved to Tuong citadel, and asked for an additional 20,000 reinforcements, 1,000 horses and a month’s salary and weapons to fight our troops. King Tong ordered the whole road of Quang Nam Dong Lo (Guangdong), Quang Nam Tay Lo (Guangxi) to strengthen defenses and entrench in dangerous places. Two days later, news of Liem Chau’s fall returned to the Song capital. King Song was confused, and issued two contradictory edicts to Ti on the Guangxi strategy. Initially, King Song issued a decree: “If it seems that there are Giao Chi troops coming, but there are not enough troops to keep them, they will only keep a few dangerous places…” but then said: “If the army leaves the city and goes elsewhere, the people will be afraid. Tell all the officials to return to their cities.” . After that, the Song court planned to rectify and counterattack. Luu Di was removed from the position of Kinh strategist, and Thach Giam was appointed instead. The Song King recruited more recruits, gathered troops, and transferred salaries to Que Chau citadel.

On the other hand, the Song dynasty was still confident that Ung Chau citadel was high and strong, thinking that Dai Viet’s army could not be defeated. Vuong An Thach told King Song: “The city of Ung Chau is very strong, it is determined that it cannot be broken”. The Song King believed that, so he prepared a large army to withdraw from the North of the Song country and gave it to General Trieu Tiet to command, intending to attack Dai Viet directly, in order to indirectly force Ly Thuong Kiet to withdraw his troops and relieve the siege. Ung Chau and for revenge, annexed Dai Viet as the strategy outlined earlier. This army was mainly drawn from the northern border of the Song state, with a total number of about 100,000 with seasoned generals. In addition to the chief general, Trieu Tiet, the Song king also appointed the eunuch Ly Hien and General Yen Dat as deputy prime ministers.

While the majority of the main army of Dai Viet was still struggling with the Song army in Ung Chau citadel, the policy of using an army to attack Dai Viet’s territory was a dangerous blow of the Song dynasty. Ung Chau citadel in the strategy of my king of the Song country, which was the main gathering place of wealth and human resources to attack Dai Viet, has now become a stopping point for Dai Viet’s main army so that the Song army can attack with human forces. another way to hit Dai Viet. From here, the war in Ung Chau citadel was not only a matter of defeating a logistical base for an invasion of the Song country, but the requirement for the army under Ly Thuong Kiet was to lower the citadel early and have a plan to preserve its forces. force to promptly arrange defenses in the country, prepare to welcome the great Song army that is about to come. Because if not defeating Ung Chau citadel but withdrawing soon, the strategic objective of the Northern Expedition is considered incomplete and from Ung Chau the Song army will have a favorable springboard to invade. And if it takes too much time or force for the war in Ung Chau, Dai Viet will be exposed and the risk of being beaten up while the main army is not present in the country, the risk of losing the country is even greater.