During Emperor Dezong's Reign
During the Zhenyuan era (785-805) of Emperor Xuanzong's great-grandson Emperor Dezong, Gao Chongwen served under the general Han Quanyi (韓全義) in defending Changwu Castle (長武城, in modern Pingliang, Gansu) against Tufan. In summer 789, when a Tufan army, 30,000 in strength, attacked Ning Prefecture (寧州, in modern Qingyang, Gansu), Gao led 3,000 men in an effort to relieve Ning Prefecture, and he battled Tufan forces at Futang Plains (佛堂原, probably near Ning Prefecture), defeating them and killing more than half of the Tufan army. For this accomplishment, Gao was created the Prince of Bohai. Later, on an occasion when Han went to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Dezong, Gao served as acting military governor. In 798, he was promoted to be the commander of Changwu Castle. It was said that he gathered food and exercised the soldiers, leading to greater fighting capabilities for his men.
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