Previously introduced to the famous Liao general Yelü Hugo, he participated in many battles against the Northern Song Dynasty, won more than defeated, achieved many major military victories, killed the Song Dynasty people, even children were frightened by his name and did not dare to cry. However, there were very few victorious generals on the battlefield, and although the Northern Song Dynasty had repeatedly lost battles, there were still people who defeated Yelü Hugo, not once, but three times! So who is this famous northern Song dynasty general?
This person's name was Li Jilong, a native of Changzhi, Shanxi, and was born into the Jiangmen family. Li Jilong's father, Li Chuyun, participated in the Chen Qiao Mutiny and was also regarded as the founding father of the Northern Song Dynasty, so Li Jilong became an official by relying on his father's shadow as an adult. However, Li Chuyun was ostracized because of his discord with his courtiers, resulting in Li Jilong also being suppressed, "because of his lack of control, he used hunting as entertainment." Later, Li Jilong got an opportunity in the south, he was a pioneer, brave in battle, and was appreciated by Zhao Kuangyin.
In 976, Zhao Kuangyin, the grandfather of the Song Dynasty, died violently, and his younger brother Zhao Guangyi took the throne, that is, Emperor Taizong of Song. Li Jilong finally ushered in the day of his head, because his sister was the empress of Zhao Guangyi of Emperor Taizong of Song, in other words, Li Jilong was not only a military general, but also an "uncle of the state" of the dynasty. In 979, Emperor Taizong of Song personally invaded the Northern Han Dynasty, and Li Jilong served as the governor of the four sides, leading the army to attack the city day and night, and finally destroyed the Northern Han. In the campaign against Youzhou, Li Jilong, as the vanguard, once broke the Liao army.
After the Battle of Gaoliang River, the Liao army launched a retaliatory operation, and Han Kuangsi and Yelü Huge led the army to Mancheng. After the Song and Liao armies opened their positions, some people found that there was a problem with the formation map granted by Song Taizong, but everyone did not dare to disobey the emperor's will. At this time, Li Jilong, the uncle of the state, stood up, "Things have to be strained, an appointment can be predetermined, and the crime of violating the edict is set, please be alone", and the general of the Song army changed the formation. The Liao general Han Kuangsi did not listen to Yelü Hugo's advice, and the Liao army was eventually defeated.
After this, Li Jilong was also promoted, "moving the palace court envoy, leading the concubine to assassinate the history, and protecting the three jiaotun soldiers.". In the subsequent Yongxi Northern Expedition, the Eastern Route Army led by Cao Bin was defeated at Qigou Pass, and the Liao army took the opportunity to invade again. Li Jilong was ordered to serve as Liu Tingrang's backup, but when Liu Tingrang fought fiercely with the Liao army at junziguan, Li Jilong saw that the Song army was gone and did not come to his aid. Afterwards, Li Jilong was arrested, but was soon released and returned to his post.
In 988, Li Jilong was appointed as the commander of the Guards Ma Army, the envoy of Baoshun Jiedu, and the capital of Dingzhou, and returned to Hebei to defend against the invasion of the Liao army. At that time, after two fiasco defeats of the Song army, the situation was very bad, "the edge of the sore pawn, dissatisfied with ten thousand plans, no fighting spirit, Heshuo was terrified", but Li Jilong led this army to defeat the invincible Yelü Hugo twice in succession, preserving the tranquility of the northern border of the Great Song.
The first time was in the winter of 988, when Yelü Hugo was in a menacing manner, and Emperor Taizong of Song hurriedly ordered that the local guards should clear the field and not be allowed to go to war. When the Liao army "attacked Pucheng and reached the Tang River", the protector Yuan Jizhong proposed to Li Jilong to take the initiative to send troops to fight, and Lin Yanshou and five other eunuchs immediately objected, because the edict did not allow them to fight. If it was someone else, he would certainly not dare to refute these eunuchs, but Li Jilong was different, "The things outside the temple will be handsome."
After that, Li Jilong led the army to take the initiative to attack, which caught the Liao army by surprise, and the Song army won the Battle of TangHe, "cutting thousands of ranks, gaining cattle, horses, and armor." Not content with defeat, Yelü Hugo invaded again the following year, intending to cut off the Song army's grain routes directly. After Li Jilong heard the news, he lined up and waited for the Liao army. While the Liao army was eating, the Song general Yin Jilun launched a surprise attack from behind, and Li Jilong attacked from the front, and the Liao army was suddenly in chaos. During the engagement, Jericho was seriously wounded and fled the battlefield in a hurry.
Resources:
1. "History of Song"; 2. "Continuation of Zizhi TongjianChang"