Liu Wuzhou - Defeat and Death

Defeat and Death

Li Shimin crossed the Yellow River, and while he initially had problem with food supplies, he was able to persuade the people in the country to supply his army. He then refused to engage Song, trying to wear Song down. Meanwhile, however, another Tang army, commanded by Emperor Gaozu's cousin Li Xiaoji (李孝基) the Prince of Yong'an, assisted by another cousin, Dugu Huai'en (獨孤懷恩) and two other officials, Yu Yun (于筠) and Tang Jian (唐儉), was attacking Liu's ally Lü Chongmao (呂崇茂), then at Xia (夏縣, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). Lü sought aid from Song, and Song sent his subordinates Yuchi Jingde and Xun Xiang (尋相) to attack Li Xiaoji, defeating him, and capturing him, Dugu, Yu, Tang, as well as another key general, Liu Shirang (劉世讓). (Liu Xiaoji soon tried to flee and was executed by Liu Wuzhou.) When Yuchi and Xun then sought to aid another ally, Wang Xingben (王行本), a Sui general still holding out against Tang at Pufan (蒲反, in modern Yuncheng as well), but they were defeated by Li Shimin and forced to withdraw; Wang subsequently was forced to surrender in spring 620, and Emperor Gaozu executed him. Later in spring 620, Liu Wuzhou attacked Tang's Lu Prefecture (潞州, roughly modern Changzhi, Shanxi), and while he was initially successful, he was unable to capture its capital.

In summer 620, Li Shimin, believing Song's army to be worn out, launched a major counterattack, first defeating Xun Xiang, and then advancing quickly, engaged Song at Queshu Canyon (雀鼠谷, in modern Jinzhong), defeating Song eight times, eventually foricng Song to flee. Yuchi and Xun surrendered. Liu, hearing of Song's defeat, abandoned Taiyuan in panick and fled to Eastern Tujue. Song tried to battle Tang forces again, but could not gather his troops any more, and therefore fled to Eastern Tujue as well.

At a later date -- probably 622, as the Book of Tang and the New Book of Tang both stated that Liu's campaigns lasted over a span of six calendar years -- Liu tried to flee back to Mayi to reestablish himself, against Eastern Tujue orders, and when this was discovered, he was executed.