Song-Xia Border Campaign

Timeline

1. 1082Yongle Fortress · YulinOn Shenzong's orders, Zhong E built Yongle Fortress on the Wuding River northwest of Yinzhou, intending to cut Western Xia supply routes and consolidate the Song's northwestern defense line. The site lay in a low river valley, easy to attack and hard to defend, and controversy already existed at court.
2. 1082Yongle Fortress · YulinA large Western Xia army besieged Yongle Fortress, cutting off Song grain routes and water sources. Song generals Shen Kuo, Zhong E and others failed to coordinate relief, and Xu Xi refused to abandon the fortress. In the ninth month the walls were breached; many Song soldiers drowned in the Wuding River. Known as the Battle of Yongle Fortress, it was a major defeat in the Yuanfeng western campaigns.