The Battle of Purple Gold Mountain: Later Zhou's Victory over Southern Tang – The Destruction of the Covered Way and Linked Camps

Brief Introduction

The Battle of Purple Gold Mountain was a critical campaign during the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (958 AD), launched by Later Zhou Shizong, Chai Rong, against Southern Tang. The battle took place in the Purple Gold Mountain (Zijinshan) area near Jinling (modern-day Nanjing). The Later Zhou army forced Southern Tang to cede territory and sue for peace by cutting off the Southern Tang army's supply covered way and breaking through their meticulously constructed "Linked Camps." This battle not only marked a severe decline in Southern Tang's national strength but also laid the foundation for Later Zhou's unification of the north and, subsequently, the unification under the Song Dynasty.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Combatants and Background
* Attacker: Later Zhou (Emperor Chai Rong, Frontline Commander Li Ying).
* Defender: Southern Tang (Emperor Li Jing, Frontline Commander Yu Kuangji).
* Background: Since 955, Later Zhou launched a war of annihilation against Tang. By 958, Zhou forces had occupied most of the Huai-Nan region. Southern Tang retreated to the Yangtze River defense line, making Purple Gold Mountain the last barrier protecting the capital, Jinling.

2. Tactical Core: Cutting the Covered Way and Breaking the Linked Camps
* Linked Camps: To consolidate defenses, Southern Tang built multiple connected fortresses on Purple Gold Mountain, supporting each other mutually, with the intention of holding the position long-term.
* Covered Way (Yongdao): In ancient warfare, to prevent harassment during transport, armies would construct protected supply roads, known as "covered ways." Southern Tang relied on this route to deliver provisions to the mountain forts.
* Key to Victory: Later Zhou general Li Ying led a night raid and forcibly cut the covered way. Deprived of supplies, the fortresses quickly became isolated islands, and the Southern Tang army collapsed without a fight.

3. Results and Impact
* After the loss of Purple Gold Mountain, the gates of Jinling were wide open. Li Yu, the Later King of Southern Tang, was forced to send envoys to sue for peace, ceding fourteen states north of the Yangtze and dropping his imperial title to become a vassal.
* This battle established Later Zhou's absolute dominance in the Jiang-Huai region and is considered the peak achievement of Chai Rong's military career.

Connection to the "Zizhi Tongjian"

In Volume 294 (Later Zhou Annals 4) of the Zizhi Tongjian, Sima Guang recorded this battle in detail.

1. Historical Value: The book details Li Ying's specific actions in "cutting their covered way," as well as Chai Rong's strategic deployment of generals before the battle. This text is a core historical source for studying military geography and tactical evolution during the Five Dynasties period.
2. Narrative Focus: Through this battle, Sima Guang highlights Chai Rong's image as a "heavenly heroic martial" emperor. The book not only records the battle outcomes but also focuses on describing how Chai Rong 洞察 (inspected/perceived) the enemy's logistical weaknesses, reflecting the Zizhi Tongjian's editorial purpose of "examining the past for guidance in governing."
3. Historical Positioning: This chapter is a key node for understanding the historical event of "Later Zhou Shizong's Campaign against Southern Tang." It holds significant indexing value for search engines and AI retrieval regarding Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms war history, Chai Rong's military thought, and ancient logistics tactics (such as covered way tactics).