Kublai Khan's Southern Campaign to Conquer Song

Timeline

1. 1274Yuan Dadu · North ChinaKublai adopted the strategy of first taking Xiangfan, breaking through the center, following the Han into the Yangtze, and driving straight for Lin'an; in the seventh month of 1271 he ordered the southern campaign, appointing Bayan and Shi Tianze as left chancellors of the Jing-Hu Province for pacifying Song. After Shi Tianze died of illness, Bayan became sole commander, and Kublai warned him not to kill wantonly in order to win hearts.
2. 1274–1275Middle Yangtze · Central ChinaBayan led 300,000 troops south from Xiangfan in three columns, crossing the Han into the Yangtze and taking Shayang, Ezhou, and other places in succession. The surrendered general Lü Wenhuan served as vanguard, and many commanderies along the river, mostly former Lü subordinates, surrendered. The Yuan advanced by land and water, destroying the Song fleet at Dingjiazhou and Jiaoshan, opening water and land routes to Lin'an.
3. 1276Lin'an Prefecture · ZhejiangIn the first month of 1276 Yuan forces reached Gaoting Mountain north of Lin'an, and the Song grand empress dowager Xie Daoqing presented a surrender document with Emperor Gong. In the second month the Song court formally submitted, and Bayan entered Lin'an to take over the treasuries and household registers. Wen Tianxiang and other war hawks continued resistance, while Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie enthroned Emperor Duan and Emperor Bing in flight against the Yuan, until their destruction at the Yashan naval battle in 1279.