China in the fifth century, an era of war and strife and splendid culture, is known as the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. During this period, China was divided into two parts: the north was ruled by the Northern Wei dynasty, founded by the Xianbei people, and the south was ruled by the Liu Song dynasty, founded by Liu Yu, a descendant of the Jiangnan Shi clan. The contradictions and conflicts between the two major forces constitute the main theme of this era. In 450 AD, the famous Yuanjia Northern Expedition broke out between the two dynasties, which was not only a military contest, but also a cultural and economic confrontation, and finally turned into a tragedy of losing both.
Liu Yilong of the Liu Song Dynasty and Tuoba Tao of the Northern Wei Dynasty, both emperors had ambitions to unify China. During the reign of Liu Yilong, the Southern Song Dynasty was strong and culturally prosperous, and was known as the "rule of Yuanjia". Tuoba Tao is known for his military talents, and when he was young, he had already pacified many ethnic groups in the north and unified the war in the north for a hundred years.
In the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia (450), when the spring was cold, Liu Yilong held a war meeting in the palace. His eyes were like torches, and he said to the civil and military officials: "Although the Northern Wei Dynasty is strong, it has continuous internal and external troubles, and this is a great opportunity for us to expand our territory and unify the country." "Tan Daoji, Zhi Yanzhi and other generals waved their military letters one after another, vowing to plant the battle flag north of the Yellow River.
At the same time, Tuoba Tao was also planning a strategy against the Southern Dynasty in the imperial palace in Pingcheng (present-day Datong City). He said to the generals around him: "Although Liu Song is rich, he has a lot of infighting, and although his emperor has a civil rule, he is not the hero of our northerners." This southward movement will inevitably incorporate the Song soil into Wei. His words are steadfast and ambitious.
The war soon began. Liu Song's army first captured the important stronghold south of the Yellow River controlled by the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Four Towns, and the initial stage of the war seemed to be quite smooth. The Northern Wei army, under the command of Tuoba Tao, adopted the strategy of luring the enemy deep and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.
As the war deepened, both sides began to feel the cruelty and fatigue of the war. On a snowy night, Tuoba Tao said to his advisers in his tent: "Although the Song army is strong, it is difficult to withstand the cold, we can take advantage of the harsh winter to set up an ambush on the Yellow River, and attack on all fronts when it is unprepared." The plan was quickly implemented, and the Northern Wei army used fire attack technology, which caused heavy losses to the Song army.
When Liu Yilong learned of this, he was furious. He said to his generals: "You must not wait, I want you to build defenses day and night, and never let the Wei army break through the defense line again." However, the blow of experience had caused panic and demoralization in Liu Song's army.
The war entered its most intense phase. In a crucial battle, Liu Song and the Northern Wei army engaged in a massive battle on the north bank of the Yellow River. Tan Daoji, the general of Liu Song, gathered soldiers before the war and announced in a thunderous voice: "Today's battle is related to the survival of our Great Song Dynasty. Tuoba Tao inspected the Northern Wei army and said awe-inspiringly: "Today's battle is the key to the rise and fall of the country, and you are all the pillars of the country, so you must lift your spirits and sweep away the southern thieves in one fell swoop!" ”
The soldiers of both sides fought to the extreme, and the river was stained red with blood. After a day and a night of hard fighting, although the Northern Wei army had a slight advantage in technology and strategy, it suffered extremely heavy casualties and could not continue to invade south. Although Liu Song retained the territory, he was also greatly damaged and was unable to launch an effective counterattack against the Northern Wei Dynasty.
With the end of the war, both dynasties paid a huge price. Tuoba Tao of the Northern Wei Dynasty said solemnly on the way back to the dynasty: "The world is undecided, and it will still take time." And Liu Yilong sighed at the court meeting: "Although the Wei army was not defeated in this battle, it was the best policy to keep the country." In the future, it is necessary to cultivate literature and martial arts to support the people. "The confrontation between the two countries continues, but both sides are exhausted, and the smoke of war has temporarily subsided.
The Yuanjia Northern Expedition was not only a military contest, but also a fierce collision of northern and southern cultures. The war demonstrated the complexity and pluralism of Chinese society during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Although the war brought destruction and suffering, it also allowed the two civilizations to awaken and reflect on each other in the collision. Just as a cold sword can forge a sharp weapon, the tribulations of history have also forged the indomitable national spirit of the Chinese nation. Behind all this, we see the sacrifice and heroism of countless lives, who used their lives to compose magnificent epics, and these stories will forever be engraved on the monuments of history.